Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...• Featured Article: Heirs of God, Joint heirs with Jesus Christ
• Why Iran Supports Palestinian Terror Groups • What's Your Battle Plan? • Did Isaac Newton Study Solomon's Temple to Learn About Physics? • Daily Jot: Of Global Warming and Russian Meddling • Daily Devotion: The Belt of Truth 
Heirs of God, Joint heirs with Jesus Christ - by Pastor Mike Taylor - http://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2018/07/heirs-of-god-joint-heirs-with-jesus.html
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."(1st John 3:1-3) Romans 8: 4 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:4, 15-16) Of all the passages that Paul wrote, Romans chapter 8 remains one of my favorites. And the Apostle John confirms what Paul spoke of in this glorious chapter. The chapter is full of promises to the children of God. When I look at these particular passages, I become almost awe struck at its implications that speak of the plans that God has for each of His children. But let this passages sink in for a moment as you meditate on its deep meaning. "Heirs and joint-heirs with Christ" and we will be "like Christ" is what Paul and John under the Holy Spirit's direction wrote. What does this mean to the believer.? I wrote about this very fact in times past about Church Age saints being adopted into the "family of God". It's a most glorious promise to those who have accepted the payment for their sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Besides being our Lord and Savior, our King and our God, Jesus could also be given the title in relationship to other children of God, as our "Big Brother" as He is our "Kinsman Redeemer". I've heard that expression plenty of times, and I find it very hard to use the term "big Brother" , as I would never speak it to Him as such, since Jesus is God in the flesh, but in the family sense of what God our "Abba" Father has planned along with His Son from the very beginning of time, it is a family relationship that has been planned since before time even began. Jesus became what Adam could not accomplish. He became the perfect man in His life upon this earth and the perfect sacrifice to cover the sins that each of us could not shed to join God the Father in a family unit. In His resurrection, the old body that Jesus dwelt upon this earth became a glorious body, a body of flesh and bone. Jesus was the second Adam from the portals of heaven, as our common ancestor Adam was the first from born from the earth. When describing the risen Lord, note that there is no mention of blood. Jesus was not alive as we are, in that the blood is the source of life providing oxygen to the cells of our body. But His life source was the Spirit of God, as ours will be. Note that in scripture, Jesus was able to perform actions that we are not able to perform, such as walk through walls, disappear while men looked upon Him, and rise into the clouds out of the apostles sight and many other actions that John said if they were all recorded, the books of the world could not hold them. Jesus became our redeemer in every sense of the word. He became what we will become, a new creatures that will follow the trail He blazed into glory. We will become the sons of God. We will be heirs of God's promises made to His Son, and by extension, to those of us who believe in the "One whom God hath sent." (John 6:29b) WHAT DOES HE MEAN HEIRS AND JOINT HEIRS? Just think of what Paul is saying when he says we will be heirs and joint-heirs with our King, our God, and our Savior. What is an heir? In Jewish thinking, being an heir speaks to adoption into a family. An adoption would make the adopted one legally eligible for an equal share in the father's estate. Now Jesus was intended to be the firstborn among many brethren as Paul wrote further in this chapter v. 29-32: 29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (many brothers and sisters) my emphasis. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 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 8:29-32) This is beyond my comprehension, but within a finite mind that only grasp in part what Paul is saying that God will give us all things in an equal share all that belongs to our King Jesus. All the rights of a family member will be given in equal parts to each of those who have been called the "children of God". When we speak of sons or children of God, that is not to say that we will be Gods ourselves, as some so erroneously believe Paul is speaking of here. No, we will be Kings and Priest to our God for all eternity. We will be given duties and responsibilities that any family that is headed by a family Patriarch, will work for the family in following the commands and the will of the Head of the Family. The Head of the family is God our Father, whom we call our Father "Abba", and God Almighty. But I liken it to the phrase, we will be of the "God Kind". We cannot begin to know in complete knowledge or begin to comprehend all that God has got planned for us. 9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."(1st Corinthians 2:9-12) God, who is a loving God, a Father to all of His children will and has given good gifts to us this side of eternity in this life. But can you even imagine what God who is infinite, without limit, and the Creator of all things will bestow on those that love Him in the next life? First in this life, we have been pardoned, our sin washed away by the blood of Jesus and given eternal life and future immortality. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.(Romans 8:1-4) We have been separated, called out of this world to the glorious light of our Savior, who saved us and who loved us, before we even loved Him. 6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."(Romans 5:6-9) Second we have been given an earnest deposit of God's Holy Spirit that seals us as His possession. I liken it to a layaway plan at your local department store. The down payment has been made and the contract signed for purchase. Along the way, more payments are made for the final purchase price until the day of taking possession of the prize. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians: 13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14) There is a future reception of more of the fullness of God's Holy Spirit and a future redemption! The Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). The apostle is teaching us that redemption, like salvation, is a process that has begun but has not yet reached its conclusion. Salvation is irrevocable and God will finish what He has begun. Both of these processes began when we believed and accepted Jesus Christ, but they will not end until we receive God's Spirit in full measure and are glorified in His Kingdom. That will come when we are called either in the removal of God's Church before the Tribulation, or the tribulation saints resurrection and glorification at the end of the Tribulation. This is all part of the 1st resurrection, which Jesus was the beginning of. WE AWAIT OUR REDEMPTION But in the meantime, we must be about our Father's business. As Paul writes that we are not of the flesh, but of the Spirit, as we walk after the things of the Spirit and do mortify the deeds of the flesh: 7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."(Romans 8:7-11) This almost sounds like an impossible task, as we are still mortal. I don't know about you, but I sin every day, because of my flesh even if it's just a thought. Paul had the same problem when he lamented in Romans 7: 14 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:14-19) But fear not brothers and sisters, Paul gives us the remedy for the sin that dwells in our flesh. "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7:24-25) Each of us, who are the called of God battle the forces of evil. Sometimes, because of our mortal flesh, sin has it's way with us in our weakness. But if God's Holy Spirit rest in your spirit, then you, just as I am, are convicted of that sin, sometimes almost immediately. How do you get victory over sin? You put on the whole armor of God. Brethren, we do not war against flesh and blood, but against powers of spiritual darkness and the evil of this world. 10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Ephesians 6:10-18) Even with the armor upon us, and we fight the good fight as we use the weapons God has given us, we still fail, we stumble and fall...it's inevitable, my brethren, because we still have the curse upon us, called the flesh and this side of glory we will continue the need to repent. John the apostle wrote what we must do when we sin: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1st John 1:6-9) My brothers and sister in Christ, and all who read this message, it is God's Holy Spirit that cleanses us daily. When we fail, we confess. We are not suddenly lost from God's grace, but sin causes loss of fellowship with God our Father. But with remorse and prayerful repentance that relationship is restored, as if the sin never happened. Oh, but some say, "How can God forgive me for I have sinned a great sin?". I imagine that is what King David thought when his sin was revealed through Nathan the prophet and David repented of fornication with Bathsheba and indirectly murdering Uriah, her husband by placing him at the front of the battle. What did David do? David repented in anguish for His sin, and that was before God's Holy Spirit was given in it's fullness at Pentecost. David cried out : "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." (Psalms 51:1-13) Even David, a man God called "a man after God's own heart" was subject to temptation and sin. King David humbled himself, and did not try to hide his sin from God, but confessed it and asked for forgiveness in tears and anguish. God honors a broken and contrite heart, when it is done in genuine guilt and repentance. And God said that our sin would be as far as the east is from the west, and would remember it no more. Only Jesus and God's Holy Spirit can deliver us from the law of sin found in our flesh. Paul explains this even further in the chapter that I love, Romans 8: 33 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:33-37) WE NEED JESUS MORE THAN EVER, ESPECIALLY NOW We have evil all around us, and in this day and age, it seems evil is growing exponentially. When I was a little kid, I remember that there were bad people in the world around me, and I was warned to not accept candy from strangers, but most people were basically honorable and moral people in the majority. I would have not fathomed at such an early age, to see what I am seeing after almost 68 years of life. But OH, how the world has changed, and not for the better. How can the average person on this planet survive the evil that is becoming common place in this country and even more so in other countries around the world? No wonder the suicide rate is growing with people who have lost all hope. Or people who resort to crutches of alcohol, or dangerous drugs (either street drugs, or prescriptions) that rob them of the last shred of hope and security as they try and escape reality. Unfortunately, I see it all the time in the area of my ministry. People are dying all around us and it seems we can't stop the destruction of people who are determined to bring on their own demise. But every now and then, one is saved from the fire. One person is reached that was thought beyond help. And what is the one thing, the one Person who brings them up out of despair? The answer is Jesus Christ. When a person finally sees that they are beyond hope, beyond fighting for themselves, and beyond anything on this earth used as a remedy. Not drugs, not alcohol, not bath salts, not promiscuity, and not main stream religion, because each fails the individual if its root is not anchored in Jesus Christ. When they hit rock bottom, the burden on their shoulder is weighing them down with their head hanging and the only place to look is up, we pray they see Jesus and someone is there to bring them to a saving knowledge of His mercy and grace. That person must cry out and seek safety from the only Source of that safety. "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." (Psalms 40:1-3) HAVE YOU FOUND MY ROCK, MY SAVIOR? To my unsaved friend out there, I say this. Jesus is the only way in finding safety in this life, leading to the next life. You can search from around the world from Los Angeles to New York City, from the USA to the far reaches of the third world and back, but you will be as you were, EMPTY and unfilled. We each have a void in our spiritual lives that must be filled. As mentioned, some search for it in pleasures of this world, in illicit drugs and alcohol, but in the end, many will attempt suicide because they just cannot cope with what is going on in this world. We all search for a way back to God or their definition of God. They search for peace and a place called Heaven. They put their trust in "religions" and spiritual enlightenment or many put their trust in themselves and don't think they need God. Oh, how wrong each of them are. That void in your heart, that void in your mind, and that void that is searching for what makes life worth living, is found in only one place, AT THE CROSS. (I call this our God Hole, that must be filled with Jesus Christ). That is where our Savior died, my Savior, your Savior if you would only choose Him and repent of your sins and turn to Him in all humility and repentance. 37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."(John 6:37-40) Jesus further told us the truth, when He said in John chapter 14: 6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." And there is no one that can separate you from the love of Christ our Lord, when you profess faith and belief in His saving grace, in His blood and resurrection that began on Calvary's hill and fulfilled at His resurrection from the dead. We are told by Paul the Apostle in closing the chapter that started this message, that no one can separate us from Jesus Christ after we are saved by grace. 38 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Romans 8:38-39) I invite you to call upon the Lord Jesus right now. Humble yourself and realize that you can't do it alone anymore. You and I are the same, we are sinners. Only difference that may be between us, is that I have asked forgiveness of Jesus of my sins and as a faithful and loving God, He has done just that. He can do the same for you if you humble yourself and believe these verses that sum up the whole of the Bible. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."(John 3:16-18) 8' But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:8-11) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Believe these words of John 3 and Romans 10 in the void found in your heart and mind, and God will make you along with many others who have gone on before you...Sons of God and joint heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ...Praise God. This is Pastor Mike Taylor, proclaiming my Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. My God who came in the flesh and is coming again soon. If I can introduce you to my Savior and provide you with support from God's Word, then give me an email at [email protected] , or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com , for more biblical instruction in Christian living or the way back to God. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a friendly ear, drop me a line...God bless you all, TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET Why Iran Supports Palestinian Terror Groups - by Khaled Abu Toameh - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12729/iran-palestinian-terrorism While the United Nations, Israel and the US are proposing plans to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Iran is pledging to continue its financial and military aid to Palestinian terror groups. Iran's meddling in the internal affairs of the Palestinians is not new. The Iranians have long been providing Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups with money and weapons. Were it not for Iran's support, the two groups, which do not recognize Israel's right to exist, would not have been able to remain in power in the coastal enclave. Iran's support for the Palestinian terror groups has a twofold goal: first, to undermine the Palestinian Authority, which is headed by Mahmoud Abbas, and which Tehran sees as a pawn in the hands of the US and Israel; and second, to advance Iran's goal of destroying Israel. Just this week, we received yet another reminder of Iran's true goal. The leader of Iran's "Islamic Revolution," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that the Palestinians will win over their enemies and will "see the day when the fake Zionist regime" vanishes. He said that US President Donald Trump's "evil policy" is doomed to failure. So, Iran does not care about the harsh conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Instead, its leaders are hoping that the Palestinians will live to see the day Israel is eliminated. This is also why Iran continues to support any Palestinian group that seeks to destroy Israel. On the same day that Khamenei made his statement in Tehran, one of his senior generals, Gholamhossein Gheybparvar addressed a conference held in the Gaza Strip and Tehran simultaneously. Gheybparavar is a senior officer in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and commander of its Basij forces -- the "Mobilization Resistance Force." This force's main mission is to suppress protests against the regime in Tehran. In his speech via video conference, the Iranian general told representatives of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terror groups that he was "proud" of their "resistance" against Israel. He said that the conference, which was being held under the title, "Wet Gunpowder/Resistance Is Not Terrorism," was an expression of Arab and Islamic unity against the enemies of the Arabs and Muslims. The Iranian general said that Iran and the "axis of resistance" were not afraid of Trump's "threats." The Palestinian terror groups said after the conference that they were encouraged by the Iranian general's pledge to support them in their fight against Israel and the US. Khader Habib, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad official in the Gaza Strip, said that the Iranian-Palestinian conference was both "symbolic and significant." The conference, he said, served as a reminder that Iran continues to support the Palestinian "resistance" and would deter Israel from attacking the Gaza Strip in response to terror attacks on its citizens. The speech by the Iranian general, he added, was aimed at sending a message to the many countries to support the Palestinian "resistance" groups in the Gaza Strip. "Israel is a potential threat to the Arabs and Muslims," Habib said. Buoyed by the Iranian backing, several speakers at the conference called for the formation of a "unified Arab-Islamic front" against Israel and the US. They also stressed that the terror attacks against Israel would continue and praised Iran for its full support for the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip. By promising to continue helping the Palestinian terror groups, Iran is offering the two million residents of the Gaza Strip more bloodshed and violence. The Iranian general did not offer to build the Palestinians a hospital or a school. Nor did he offer to provide financial aid to create projects that would give jobs to unemployed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. His message to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip: Iran will give you as much money and weapons as you need, as long as you are committed to the jihad (holy war) against Israel and the "big Satan," the US. The Iranian message to the Palestinian terror groups came at a time when several international parties are trying to resolve the "humanitarian and economic" crisis in the Gaza Strip. These efforts are spearheaded by the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, who in recent weeks has been on a mission to prevent another war in the Gaza Strip. These efforts are unlikely to succeed, however, as long as Iran continues its support of the Palestinian terror groups. Iran apparently wants to retain control over its Palestinian proxies to prevent any peace and stability between Arabs and Israel. Iran is not helping the terror groups out of love for the Palestinians, but in order to advance its goal of eliminating the "fake Zionist regime." If anyone is worried about the Iranian meddling in the internal affairs of the Palestinians, it is Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his ruling Fatah faction. "We don't want to become a pawn in the hands of Iran," said Ra'fat Elayan, a senior Fatah official. "Iran is using Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as a maneuvering card against Israel and the US, and this will have a negative impact on the just Palestinian cause. We have repeatedly warned the two groups of the Iranian intervention in Palestinian affairs." Meanwhile, it appears that Hamas wants to have it both ways. On the one hand, Hamas wants the international community to step in and help the people of the Gaza Strip. On the other hand, Hamas wants Iran to continue funding its terrorism. The same Hamas that is telling UN representatives that it wants to improve the living conditions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is the one that is reaching out its hand to Iran to receive funds and weapons. We can take a tip from Abbas's and Fatah's anxiety: If they are worried about Iran's ongoing efforts to infiltrate the Palestinian arena, the US and the rest of the world need to find ways to stop Iran from using the Palestinians as a weapon in its battle to extend its control over more and more countries in the Middle East and carry out its deadly schemes. Iran has brought nothing but disaster to Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and Syria. Now, someone needs to step in and stop Iran from setting foot in the Gaza Strip and using the Palestinians as cannon fodder in Tehran's campaign against the US and Israel. How might someone do that? It is not so complicated. Any international aid to the Gaza Strip must be conditioned on ending Iran's destructive effort to recruit Palestinians groups as its soldiers. It is that simple. What's Your Battle Plan? - Nathele Graham - [email protected] Ask any general and he'll tell you that you need to have a battle plan before you go to war. For instance, before Joshua went to battle at Jericho he needed a battle plan. The plan was given to him by the LORD Himself. "And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go around about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days." Joshua 6:3. The plan also required the Ark of the Covenant to be carried ahead of the army and seven priests were to carry trumpets made out of ram's horns. On the seventh day they were to circle the city seven times then the priests were to blow the trumpets. At the sound of a long blast of the trumpet they were all to give a great shout. Well, that was the battle plan but it's a little unusual. Nevertheless, Joshua informed his army and they followed orders. Never mind that this isn't exactly the way an army usually fights, but it was the Lord's way. By being obedient the walls of Jericho fell and the Israelites won the battle against the mighty men of Jericho. We may not always understand God's ways, but if we're obedient we can also break down walls and win our battles against the enemy Another interesting battle plan happened when Gideon was a judge over Israel. The Midianites were a problem and the Lord called Gideon to deal with them. So, Gideon gathered a large army and was ready for battle. "And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." Judges 7:2. It would seem that the bigger the army the better, but God said it was too big. So Gideon had to reduce the size of the army. The first step was to tell anyone who was afraid to return home. There were a lot of fearful men and 22,000 went home, leaving 10,000 who were willing to fight. The LORD told Gideon that the army was still too big and more would have to leave. The LORD had a plan as to how to reduce the army again. They were to go to the water and drink. "...Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink." Judges 7:5b. The ones who bowed down to drink were sent home and this reduced the army to only 300 men. Then, God's battle plan became more interesting. The remaining 300 were each given a trumpet and a container with a lamp inside and were divided into three companies. About midnight they surrounded the enemy's camp. Then they blew their trumpets, broke the containers to let the light shine, and shouted "The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon". The Midianites were startled out of sleep and first began fighting each other then they fled. Following the battle plan of God will always work best. Then there's the battle that Jehoshaphat fought with the Moabites and the Ammorites. He was outnumbered and he was afraid. The Lord knew his fear and told a Levite named Jahaziel to tell Jehoshaphat "...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15b. The battle plan was for them to go out to a certain place, stand there, and let God do the fighting. "And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." 2 Chronicles 20:20-21. The armies of Ammon and Moab began fighting against the army of mount Seir instead of fighting Judah. They destroyed themselves and all the army of Judah had to do was go in and take the spoils. The victory belonged to the Lord. That was in Old Testament times. Today we still face enemies and our battle plan needs to be one that God has devised. As Christians we need to look to Christ for answers. The enemy is the same evil being who lied to Adam and Eve. Satan is the enemy of all mankind. His influence is such that he can make you your own enemy. How can that be? If you aren't looking at your own life and judging your thoughts, words, and deeds by Scripture then you're allowing Satan's ways to guide you. Gossip and backbiting will hinder your right walk with the Lord. Pride will get in the way of you humbling yourself before the Lord and allowing Him to fight your battles. When you have a problem with a friend, co-worker, or family member do you allow anger to cloud your mind? Don't seek revenge but seek the Lord. "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44-45. Bless someone who curses you? Do good to them that hate you? That's what Jesus said. That's the Lord's battle plan. People aren't the enemy, Satan is. Everyone who has not accepted Christ for salvation is in Satan's clutches. They naturally follow his tactics, but a Christian needs to put Christ first. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9. Resisting Satan may be difficult, but with God's help it becomes easier. Satan will use many tactics to get you to turn away from God. When you face an attack, confound the enemy by praising the Lord. Live as a Christian. Don't gossip, back bite, or retaliate because those are the weapons that the enemy uses. Instead, conduct yourself in a way that reflects Jesus. Like Gideon's 300 man army, break the container and allow God's light to shine brightly before the enemy. We are God's children and like every child we need to learn to follow rules. Children are naturally selfish and they naturally lash out if they think they've been mistreated. If somebody takes their toy they'll scream and cry. A child must learn a better way to handle situations as they grow and mature. This is also true in our Christian walk. We start out reacting as worldly people, because that's what we're used to. As we mature in our Christian walk we need to study Scripture and become more like Jesus. This will lead us to put away our immature ways and grow in Christ. "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11. When you put away childish things you'll react to situations in a different way than a non-Christian. Christ's love will show in your life. Instead of treating someone in the same way they treat you, a Christian will let Christ's love shine through and treat the other person with Christian kindness. Don't react like a child of the world but react like a child of God. Sing His praises, let His light shine in you. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16. You can't see the battle plan without light. Jesus is the light and His battle plan is love. One way to fight against the enemy is through prayer. Pray for God's guidance then look for His answers. Search the Scriptures earnestly. Move your selfish motives out of the way and look for God's solution. His answer may not be the easy way, but God's ways are always best. We need to look to Christ for our example. It wasn't the easy way for Him to leave Heaven and enter into this fallen world, but it was the only way He could provide salvation for us. Even though He was God in the flesh He faced many confrontations with mere humans. He showed love and compassion to people who needed His love, but He stood firmly against those who used religion for their own purposes. His love for His creation was the reason He came and He knew that He would be crucified as our sacrificial Lamb. When the time came for Him to lay down His life He prayed to God the Father that there would be another way to accomplish His purpose. "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Luke 22:42. That needs to be our attitude. We need to submit to God's will and follow His battle plan. We also see that Jesus prayed for His enemies. He could have been angry when they mocked Him, He could have lashed out when they blindfolded Him and hit Him, He could have called the angels to rescue Him instead of being crucified for our salvation. Had He done that He would not have followed the battle plan. Instead, He prayed for those who abused His mortal body. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." Luke 23:34. Those who He prayed for just went along in their sin, but our perfect Saviour prayed anyway. Pray for your enemies. People in your life who cause you strife are to be pitied rather than despised. They are losing their own battles, but if you pray for them you'll win your own battle. You might not get the results you want, but by following God's battle plan you'll be doing all that God asks of you. Remember, our enemy isn't people. Our enemy is Satan and his evil minions. This means that our battle isn't with flesh and blood, but with the powers of darkness. The real battle is spiritual. As Christians we need to fight that battle every minute of every day. To do that we need to be fit for the fight. Train daily by reading Scripture and apply what you read to your life. How many of us neglect devotional reading? That's the best place to start in order to draw near to our Commander in Chief. The Holy Spirit lives inside each of us, but we can tune out His promptings. If Scripture is in our hearts and minds it's easier to be guided by His words rather than hearing Satan's words of hate and discord. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12. Whether you want to believe it or not, the battle is a spiritual one. In God's battle plan we need to pray. Talk to the Commander in Chief and let His guidance win your battles. He alone is worthy of our praise so lift your voice and praise Him. Fill your heart with His love and the enemy will lose his foothold in your life. Study Scripture and go into the battle armed for the fight. Take up your cross and follow Jesus' battle plan. God bless you all, Nathele Graham [email protected] www.straitandnarrowministry.com [email protected] Ron and Nathele Graham's previous commentaries archived at http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html All original scripture is "theopneustos" God breathed. If you'd like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. Did Isaac Newton Study Solomon's Temple to Learn About Physics? - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com "He made the sea of cast metal 10 amot across from brim to brim, perfectly round; it was 5 amot high, and its circumference was 30 amot." II Chronicles 4:2 (The Israel Bible™) Saul Kullok, a scientist with many patents to his name who has used his mathematical genius to study the Bible, has discovered clues in the construction of Solomon's Temple that describe scientific principles with remarkable accuracy. Kullok believes that these clues were used by Sir Isaac Newton to establish the basis of modern science. Kullok, originally from Buenos Aires, has been a scientist his entire life but as a religious Jew, he sees no separation between what is written in the Holy Scriptures and textbooks. "The scientific community developed along the line of finding explanation of whatever happened without God. They view God as getting rid of the question without coping with it first. In Judaism, Torah and Science are parallel. But since nature is codified in the Bible, many of the answers to scientific dilemmas can be found there." As a scientist, Kullok looks to Sir Isaac Newton, a 17th-century British scientist who was one of the most influential scientists of all time, for inspiration. Newton was a mathematician, astronomer, theologian, author, and physicist. Newton was a devout Christian and studied the Bible in its original Hebrew. In his work, The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms published after his death in 1728, Newton inserted his own detailed drawings of Solomon's Temple in Chapter V: "A Description of the Temple of Solomon". "Newton dedicated much effort during many years to analyzing the sacred design and metrical properties of the First Temple of Jerusalem, also known as the Solomon's Temple," Kullok explained. "I believe that Newton was searching for sacred geometrical proportions in the design of the Solomon's Temple that connected to scientific principles. I am continuing Newton's work." Kullok has discovered some of these geometrical proportions. He has made a study of the Sea of Solomon, the brass basin that stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court of the Temple. It was used for the ablution of the priests before performing the Temple service. According to the Bible, it was five cubits high, ten cubits in diameter from brim to brim, and thirty cubits in circumference. "Encoded in the proportions of the Sea of Solomon as given in the Bible is the precise size of earth," explained Kullok. "This is based on the Moses cubit that is the basis of the Sea of Solomon. The proportions of the Sea of Solomon show us that the Moses cubit is precisely 523 millimeters. This Moses cubit is precisely related to the radius of the planet that corresponds to the meridian. It is an exact mathematical proportion of one in ten million of the size of the Earth." It is this precise relation between the Biblical measurement used in the Sea of Solomon that Kullok believes Newton used in his studies. Not only is Kullok a scientist and a Bible scholar but he is also a Kohen, descended from the Aaron the High Priest. This gives him an additional interest in discovering this mathematical proportion in the Sea of Solomon. "This is important because the dimensions of the Temple are given in Moses cubits," Kullok explained. "We cannot build the Third Temple until we know the precise length of the Moses cubit." Kullok also discovered another characteristic of the Sea of Solomon that was connected to natural properties of the earth. "The projection of the lid that covers the Sea of Solomon has a geometric relation to the planet," he explained. "The lid projects upward from the Sea of Solomon like an inverted bowl. The projective angle of the lid is precisely 8.00895975 degrees, which was found to be mathematically related to the earth axis mean inclination value." In a previous article, Breaking Israel News described how Kullook discovered that major events affecting the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel can be numerically obtained by a mathematical relation between two observable physical factors: the inclination of the planet and the latitude of the Biblical borders in Israel. "Taken all together, we see that the design of the Temple is mathematically proportional to the movement of the world. This connects the design of the Temple to history, past, present and future, and to the geography of Israel," he explained. "It is all interconnected." "But also, the measurements used in the Bible, are all related to the body of man. The ama (cubit) is the length of a forearm. This sounds subjective and even random but what it shows is that the body of man is related to the Temple and even the size of the earth." Kullok believes that his Biblically based scientific discoveries should be a guiding principle in science. "Since the Temple and the Bible are so much a part of the essence of the world, science will be able to learn much more about the world if they integrate the Bible into their study of the natural world," Kullok said. "The basis of modern of science as established by Sir Isaac Newton may have done this. It is clear that he looked into scriptures. He may even have based much of his science of gravitation on his studies of the Temple. He may not have been able to quantify that connection but I have and the connection is clearly there." Daily Jot: Of Global Warming and Russian Meddling - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The media sharks are in a frenzied state with anticipation that their prey will finally fall. In a normal July, there wouldn't be much news for the mainstream media to feed on. So the current Russian meddling fever is at a high pitch and President Trump hasn't helped himself climb to safety as yet. The point is that the Russians may have tried to meddle in the presidential election, but they always do. And once again they were not successful. Hillary Clinton is a horrible candidate and a worse person. She is unelectable. Plus, it was her, her husband, her campaign manager and their foundation who benefited most from Russian deals. Now, however, denying Russian meddling is become like denying global warming. The news media has made it so that if someone disagrees that the Russians influenced the presidential election to defeat their savior of the world Clinton, that you are a true ignorant villain and labeled with all the "phobes" and "isms" that accompany such ignorance. They do the same with those who disagree with the global warming narrative. The regressive left, led by Al Gore and even the immediate past "president," chastise anyone who remotely questions their belief system when it comes to global warming. Yet they do not practice what they preach about reducing their "carbon footprint" or limiting their ozone-destroying consumption of resources. Russian meddling is the new global warming. Truth doesn't matter. Scientists at the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit (CRU), the official source of global warming/climate change data, fabricated the data. The UK Telegraph, once an advocate of global warming, had a turn about in 2008. Environmentalist reporter James Delingpole blew the whistle on scientists after he obtained 1079 emails and 72 documents from the CRU. He wrote in 2009 that scientists were practicing "Conspiracy, collusion in exaggerating warming data, possibly illegal destruction of embarrassing information, organized resistance to disclosure, manipulation of data, private admissions of flaws in their public claims and much more." Also in December of 2008 some 650 scientists refuted the concept of global warming. Same is true for Russian meddling. There is no way the Russians changed the outcome of the election. It is true, however, that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dealt nuclear grade uranium to Russia scoring $145 million to the Clinton Foundation, Bill Clinton received $500,000 for a speech in Moscow, John Podesta received $35 million from an energy deal with Russia, and the Clinton Foundation received $2.35 million from Ian Telfer, head of Russia's uranium company. The Clinton-Democratic National Committee emails hacked by Russia revealed damning shenanigans, unethical practices, and possibly illegal acts as routine. Jesus said in Matthew 24:4, "Take heed that no man deceive you." Just like global warming, Russian meddling is a deep deception designed to cover up dark dealings at the expense of others. Daily Devotion: The Belt of Truth - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. -Ephesians 6:14 When the apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus, saying, "Put on the whole armor of God," he was speaking of the kind of armor a Roman soldier would wear. There were six pieces of armor Paul referred to. The first three, the belt, the breastplate, and the shoes, were attached to the soldier's body and really never removed. The second three, the shield, the helmet, and the sword, were for specific purposes and methods of attack. First, there is what we might call the utility belt, which Paul called "the belt of truth" (Ephesians 6:14 NLT). The Roman soldier would wear a large belt that all of his equipment was attached to. The breastplate was attached to the belt. The sword and the sheath were attached to the belt as well. It was a key piece of his armor. This belt, however, wasn't an offensive piece of the soldier's armor. He didn't attack his enemy with his belt. He had better weapons for that. But he needed the belt. It was essential. For the believer, the belt of truth means that, at the outset, if we're going to prevail in the spiritual battle, if we are going to live successfully as Christians, then we must be truthful before God. It means not living a life of duplicity or hypocrisy, trying to live in two worlds. There are some Christians, some people in the church today, who are living a lie. They have a good game going on. They're putting on a good show, but it's a performance. It isn't real because they're living a double life. They're doing things they shouldn't do. If you haven't put on the belt of truth, the rest of the armor won't actually matter. So let's commit to living truthfully before God. 
FROM THE HEART
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