In the end, this election is about one thing, and one thing only: Israel. While all these issues matter—and more besides—there is only one issue that comes with a promise from God to either bless or curse our nation. That “issue” is Israel. Our country’s support for Israel has distinguished our young nation from every other nation on the earth.
“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.” Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6 (NKJV)
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)
Only one candidate will continue to make the peace of Jerusalem a priority. Only one candidate loves the Jewish nation. Only one candidate is called by Jews “the best friend Israel has ever had.” That man will get my vote, because as much as it all matters, Israel is what it’s really all about for me. ❤️
P.S. Here is a very engaging and relevant teaching from Amir Tsarfati.
I cannot bear looking at his pictures. They are images of a dead man. They make me sad, and my heart hurts for him.
Don’t get me wrong. Criminal behavior must be prosecuted. Justice is always the right thing.
HOWEVER, this man’s need for Jesus is clear.
As I have been reading the news, I found an article that excerpted an email he wrote himself in 2018. He reminisces about going to mass as a child, and then talks about what happened at the mass for his brother.
He writes: “For the first time in my life [I] prayed to [not] just my dead mother and my dead sister but also to my dead brother. And for the first time in my [life, I] prayed for me-and I asked please let me be with you please let me know you love me please let me forget please let me come.”
I don’t know what was behind this email, and it doesn’t matter.
What matters is that this guy is not really any different than most of the men we’ve met through New Brothers Fellowship. He has a much higher profile, and much bigger budget than anyone I’ve ever met in or out of jail, but money and fame don’t make a bit of difference when it comes to Eternity. One day Hunter will stand before God. He will either be washed by the blood of Jesus, or not. The sin he has committed in this life will either be remembered no more, his record expunged, or it will be the evidence that seals his conviction and condemns him to eternal death.
So, I am going to pray for Hunter to be saved. I feel very sad for him. I am very angry at what he and his father have done, but that doesn’t keep me from being so sorry for him and caring for his spiritual need.
Below is my prayer for Hunter. Will you pray with me for him—at least this one time?
Dear Heavenly Father: I am coming to You today on behalf of Hunter Biden. My heart is troubled for him, Lord, and that has to be because of You. So, I will lift him up and intercede on his behalf, because I know that You love him.
Lord, my first request is that You please protect this man from harm at the hand of others or himself. Please, protect him.
I also pray that somehow You would make a way for him to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, I don’t think he is seeking redemption, but an escape. I pray instead he would have a divine encounter with truth. I pray he would be saved and delivered.
Lord, I cannot begin to understand his choices. I don’t want to know the things that have been done to him, or the things he has done to others. I don’t want to know the debauchery that has defined his life. He’s excelled at every sin on the list! He’s a perfect specimen of a life lived for self.
Yet, I know that his sin is not so different than mine, in that all sin separates us from You. We are who grade our sins against some imaginary scale, but all sin is equal at the Cross. All sin can be covered by Your precious blood. So, I pray for Hunter what I have prayed for many other men these past 16 years: please, stop him. Put an end to his running. Sit him a jail cell next to a New Brother, Lord. Let him be humbled, that pride broken, so that he will recognize his need for You. God, please, forgive him for what he has done. Bring him to justice, and bring him to salvation.
Oh, Lord. Please, give him one more chance to know You as his Lord and Savior.
When President Trump presented his Deal of the Century, his peace plan for the Middle East, I consulted with the two Bible prophecy teachers I follow. The Israeli said the plan was great, and did not divide Israel. The Arab said it did.
As this was January 28th, my focus was already on the “Wuhan flu,” as it was then called. I decided the Israeli teacher had to know better—he lives there, after all—and just continued to prepare for what this virus might bring our way—it seemed more urgent.
Well, in recent weeks I have been talking to God about what I see happening in our country. I don’t understand why things were going so badly; why evil seems to be winning. Our nation is being destroyed right before eyes! It doesn’t make sense. “Our nation is not blessed! What is going on, Lord? You said You will bless the nation that blesses Israel. Our President has been called Israel’s greatest friend! We were enjoying your blessings before, so what changed? Where is Your favor on our President? This doesn’t make sense.”
“Our nation is not blessed! What is going on, Lord?”
I know these are the End Times, and I know there are going to be troubles, but it felt like something more was happening. Not only was I seeing our nation destroying itself from within, more divided than I could ever imagine, I was also not seeing God’s favor on this administration. Throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, his support for Israel has been incredibly significant. God says He will bless the nation that blesses Israel, and we have reaped the reward of President Trump blessing Israel. In fact, there is nothing more President Trump can do for Israel. He has done everything that needed doing. Yet, that favor seems to be gone, and as hard as it is to believe, our nation is on the verge of embracing Marxism. Violent riots are taking place in every state in our nation. Small businesses that were thriving six months ago are gone. An economy that was breaking records almost every week is now struggling to survive. What the virus started, the riots finished. Speaking of the virus, just as we were reopening our country, we are seeing more cases than ever.
I began to pray for wisdom. I wanted to understand what was going on, so that I could pray more effectively for our nation—I would know what the need really was, and how to intercede.
Well, as I began seeking God, The Holy Spirit almost immediately reminded me of the peace plan I had ignored in January—and the question of Israel being divided. “Doug, I think the peace plan may divide Israel,” I told him. “I need to do some research.”
The first thing I did was go back and listen to J.D. Farag’s message from February 2, concerning the Deal of the Century. He is the Arab, and he expressed his concern and conclusion, after studying the plan. He was only one voice, though.
So, I did more research. I found Israeli newspaper articles about Israeli politicians who were decrying the plan for the same reason. Other biblical prophecy websites added their opposition. There were, in fact, many voices saying the same thing: Trump’s Peace Plan Divides Israel.
One of most significant things I learned, though, is that though there have been many peace plans over the years, President Trump’s plan is the first to have a map!
During our nightly Praise and Prayer services last night, I was praying about this concern. There were two specific things I prayed:
First, I prayed that the part of the plan that divides Israel would be revoked. Is that even possible? I don’t know! I do know, though, that nothing is impossible for God, and ye have not, because ye ask not. So, I asked! I told the Lord that I didn’t want our nation to be responsible for dividing His land.
The second thing I asked God to do was to send someone of influence, someone who has the President’s ear, to counsel him against this part of the plan. I know they are a godly men and women with whom he consults, so I prayed that one of them recognize the error in this plan and have the courage to tell the President it must be stopped. I prayed that the President would humble himself and receive this counsel.
GOD ALWAYS CONFIRMS HIS WORD!
After our service ended, I watched Jan Markell’s weekly Bible prophecy broadcast. She was interviewing Michelle Bachmann, whom you may recall served in Congress for eight years from the state of Minnesota. As Jan is based in the Twin Cities, I looked forward to hearing an update on how things are going since the murder of George Floyd. However, at the very end of their conversation they began to discuss Trump’s Middle East Deal of the Century. I couldn’t believe my ears! “Doug! She’s talking about it! She’s talking about it! Did you hear what she said?!” I replayed those last few minutes several times.
Since leaving public office, Michelle Bachmann has been busy about God’s business, serving in some very interesting and unique ways. One thing she has been doing is serving as the President’s Evangelicals Advisory Board. She has been in meetings at the White House these past three years, and was present on January 28, when the peace plan was revealed. In other words, she knows and is known by the President: she has his ear!
In those last few minutes, Michelle Bachmann presented a clear and succinct explanation of the history of this land, God’s promised land to Israel, and a biblical case for it to not be divided. She reminded us of The San Remo Agreement, signed 100 years ago, which restored Israel to the biblical boundaries God first drew. She points out that this agreement is still international law! She acknowledged that the blessing of God on our nation has been lifted, and points to the redrawn maps of Israel that cede parts of Jerusalem to form a Palestinian capital. She is praying for these maps to be withdrawn!
Considering how quickly God has answered and confirmed my prayer request, I believe it is very important for the Body of Christ to quickly respond. We need to pray. We need to beg God’s mercy. We need to pray Trump will listen and receive this godly counsel from Michelle Bachmann. She truly is a modern-day Esther, called for such a time as this. ❤️🕊🙏🏼
P.S. This is the video of Michelle Bachmann on Jan Markell’s show. They begin discussing the peace plan at approximately 43:00.
SPECIAL REQUEST: I think I have only asked people to share one other post, my ovarian cancer awareness post. However, I would like to ask you to share this post, too. I am so convinced that we must pray for the dividing of Israel to be stopped, that I urge you to share this with everyone you know. Please, the Body of Christ must pray for the President to recognize the error of dividing God’s land, and for him to withdraw this plan.
I think this pandemic is the most insidious thing anyone alive today has experienced.
Almost 200 countries have been invaded by an unknown and deadly enemy whose only objective seems to be to infect as many people as possible. It propels itself through the airwaves, where it can be inhaled by any unsuspecting passerby. The remaining droplets fall and settle, unseen and undying, lingering for many hours or several days—surface matters.
Then, once landed or inhaled, it is secretly transported from one victim to another. And, another. And, another.
On, and on, and on it travels, disguising itself as a common cold, or it simply remains hidden. Out of site. Undetectable. An otherwise perfectly healthy person has no idea they are carrying a time bomb, until it pulls its trigger. Within hours, its victim might be near death.
And, after a death as agonizing as one dares to imagine, it continues to multiply, feeding off its dead host.
If there has ever been any illness or disease with a character more like Satan, I haven’t heard of it. All disease is evil, and a result of evil, but no other disease is as insidious as this virus.
IS ANYTHING WORSE?
There is something worse. It is a sin that works in the heart, mind, and spirit, bringing nothing but death, if allowed to go unchecked.
It is like a spiritual virus, a sin far more dangerous than lust, greed, or hate.
It is spiritually insidious.
It invades our spirit, soul, and body, a deadly enemy whose only objective is our death.
It propels itself through the airwaves, Satan’s domain. It travels on the heels of the unknowing, through innocent words or deeds. The unsuspecting and unperceptive are easily caught in its trap, and quickly absorb its poison. It can affect anyone, of any demographic, potentially lingering forever in the willing.
On, and on, and on it travels, disguising itself as a knowledge or maturity, or it simply remains hidden. Out of site. Undetectable. Indiscernible. An otherwise spiritually sound person has no idea they are carrying a time bomb, until it pulls its trigger. Within hours, its victim might be near spiritual death.
And, after a spiritual death as agonizing as one dares to imagine, it continues to multiply, feeding off its dead host.
THERE IS NO CURE
It’s hard to accept, but there is no cure for this sin-virus. It’s hapless victims can only prepare for death.
A daily death.
Daily denying the flesh; dying to self; and finding new life in Christ. That is, life everlasting.
That is the only treatment. The only hope for Pride’s victim. Not a cure, but a daily application of the identity of Christ: a daily choice to live in Him.
One of the churches that supports us as missionaries asked The Saxophone Player, my husband, to record a ministry update and saxophone solo. I thought you might like to hear his solo.
This is not a sermon, and not really a teaching. It’s almost a book review, a chapter-by-chapter survey. I thought it was great. Plus, it’s a book that comes with a blessing!
“Blessedishe who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; forthe timeisnear.” Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)
“Revelation,” from Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel.
I know there are a lot of men and women struggling with sin in their lives right now. You are doing everything you know to do, being as faithful to God as you can be, yet there is a struggle inside you for freedom. Something keeps pulling you back into bondage.
Well, if you are willing to give some time to listen—and, you really do need to stop and pay attention, because he packs a lot into every minute—I want to encourage you to check out The Saxophone Player’s video series called Living This Out. He is posting videos about once a week, but you should probably subscribe and turn on the little bell, so you get notifications of his updates. You really don’t want to miss these teachings.
This is his most recent video:
Here is a link to the whole series. Be sure to subscribe and click the bell icon by the subscribe button, if you don’t want to miss a teaching. LIVING THIS OUT!
Friend, you really can walk in freedom and peace.
God bless you today. ❤
Have we made God into an image that suits us? Have we have brought Him down to our level, and made Him someone we can understand? Someone whose thoughts and ways are like our thoughts and ways?
I don’t think we aren’t seeking God, but I think we’re impatient with Him. Instead of being willing to wait for His answer or for His will to manifest, we move forward based only on our assumption that our happiness, good intentions, and/or success matter. Without waiting on Him, we step out in what feels like faith, but is more like wishful thinking. Our ways have become what we call His ways. Whatever seems right to us. We’ve become the judge, which means we have placed our seat on His throne.
Consequently, we fall into compromise. We embrace false doctrine and reject truth outright. We have to, because our lives no longer line-up with His Word. Therefore, we must reinterpret His Word. It’s a dance. We juggle the truth and play games with it. As long as we believe Jesus is Savior, we’re all set. We have given ourselves permission to be as carnal a Christian as we want. Of course, we don’t say that out loud, but our lives are the proof. How we live does not reflect a respect for God, or a fear of the consequences of disobedience.
You see, the god we have created not only receives us as we are, but never require we change. We’ve devised a religion that requires no faith, no consecration, and no death. We haven’t forgotten about righteousness, but we’ve redefined it.
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)
The God of the Old Testament has not changed, and He never will. He required great things of those Saints of old, yet we expect Him to be satisfied with our measly “sacrifices” today. We give Him our “extra” time. We yawn and watch the clock. We decide how much we serve according to what we’re already doing, not according to how much there is to be done. We give more time to entertainment, than we do to knowing Him. There is more Eastern idolatry on Christian’s Facebook pages, than the Word of God. What’s that about, folks? We feast on witchcraft, violence, perversion, and anti-Christ indoctrination under the the label of entertainment. We laugh at things that should make us jump up and run out of the room. Why do we want to be a part of glorifying that which nailed our Savior to the Cross?
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Friends, the days are getting short. Christ is coming soon. That is not an inevitability that we just wait to arrive. I hear some say, “Why think about it? Why preach about it? It’s going to happen anyway.” If that is how we think, we are missing the point. Paul described this Christian life as a race to finish (2 Timothy 4:7). What athlete enters a race unprepared to finish? He doesn’t amble around aimlessly, straying off course and unconcerned about whether or not he reaches the end. He knows that finishing isn’t inevitable, but a byproduct of running the course to its end. Well, Eternity is a deadline we are supposed to prepare for, and daily be working towards achieving. We know we’ll be with Jesus, but are we running the course He set before us? That’s a willful choice we have to make everyday. We can’t run just any race and say it counts.
So, what’s a sincere Believer to do? What we should be doing every day: repenting and asking for the Holy Spirit to help us; reading God’s Word and praying. Simple. Simple obedience. We must stay the course He set before us, and pursue righteousness as we have been called to do—picking ourselves up as many times as needed along the way, staying in fellowship with the Body of Christ, and equipping ourselves daily. An end is coming, sooner than later. Let’s meet at the Finish Line.
I had three major confrontations with the Lord in 2001. They began at the women’s Bible study (testimony here) and continued through the summer, when I finally dipped into a pile of articles Doug had given me to read.
Those articles would eventually be life changing, but I didn’t want anything to do with them at first. Oh, I was very happy for him, because he’d finally found a ministry that actually addressed his spiritual need. It was the first time we’d heard anyone use the term sexual addiction, and these men* had testimonies to back up their articles. He felt so much hope, and I was hopeful, too. Maybe, this was the answer we’d been waiting for, and all my suffering would finally be over.
You see, while I recognized there was a spiritual war going on, I didn’t realize Doug and I each had battles to fight. I thought this war was his war, because it was his fault. If he would just do the right thing, we’d win the war and live happily ever after. Wasn’t I doing my part? Keep the home fires burning, Caroline! Despite the fact God had been dealing with me all year long, calling me to yield to His will for my life, I just didn’t understand that there was something for me to do. I was sure our problems started with him, and would only end when he stopped living a chronic cycle of Sin-Repent-Repeat. In the meanwhile, I would be the good Christian wife I thought I was and endure this suffering. Isn’t that what longsuffering means?
HOLD UP
Wives, God doesn’t call us to endure our husband’s sin. If we’re just holding our own, trying to get better at enduring, we’re wasting our time. That’s as far away from being a help meet as we can get. Yet, I know that’s what most wives think they’re supposed to do: don’t quit on him. Without meaning to, they become his enabler.
You see there is a difference between godly endurance and human endurance, and too often we confuse them. Godly endurance stands out, because it bears spiritual fruit in both you and him. It doesn’t enable him to stay unchanged and in sin, but instead reminds him that his race isn’t over. We don’t ignore his fall and fail to hold him to account, but urge him to get up (repent) and keep going.
WAIT A MINUTE
I’m not sure when I gave in and picked-up an article, but I do remember the words took me by surprise. Like a tsunami. The first article was called, “Why People Remain in Sin and Bondage,” by David Kyle Foster. I remember thinking that maybe this article would help me understand Doug better, but instead it helped me understand myself better. It was an incredible experience. Yes, it was life changing. I very clearly recall sitting in bed and sensing the presence of Christ beside me. I could see myself next to Him, my head down, looking at the pure white drapes of His robe. It was then I finally saw my filthy rags. I wept, I repented. My eyes were opened. For so long I had seen myself somehow ahead of Doug on this course, but suddenly I realized we were in the same place. I had no advantage over him, because I didn’t struggle with his brand of sin. I was not further ahead, because I had grown-up in Sunday school classes. We were equally wretched sinners, both in need of a Savior.
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN IT
Looking back now, I realize that God was preparing me for what was soon to come. If our family was going to survive the onslaught Satan had prepared for us, I was going to have to rise up out of my selfish version of Christianity and become a woman God could actually use. I was going to have to put my flesh in its place, just as much as Doug would—though in very different ways. I was now in the war.
❤
*David Kyle Foster (Pure Passion) and Steve Gallagher (Pure Life Miniseries)
The Saxophone Player's Wife 