The Christian Messenger May 2018 English

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The God Who Justifies 1

From your Brother And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Charles Spurgeon once said in one of his sermons that the wedding garment is a distinguishing mark of grace, a symbol of respect for the King, a sign of honour for the Prince and an attire that conforms to the requirements of the occasion.

which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name

that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:19-23).

GREETINGS to you in the Name of Jesus Christ who fills all in all! God has opened the door to another month for us. Even as you read this, VBS meetings in Chennai and Hosur have come to an end. We give all glory to God who encourages us to move forward in His ministry.

This year’s VBS theme is ‘Be among the Chosen’. The theme verse is Matthew 22:14 where Jesus Christ said: ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’

That was not the first time, Jesus Christ said it. Earlier, while trying to make His disciples understand the principles of God’s Kingdom, He had told them another parable and summed it up by saying: ‘So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.’

In Matthew 20, the householder went out to hire labourers for his vineyard early in the morning. He recruited them for the job for a penny a day. He must have got the best in the business and the hardworking chaps because those are the ones who hit the market early in the morning. Diligent employers know where to find them and when! But the householder went out to the marketplace in the third hour, the sixth and the ninth and put some more guys on the job. He hired the second and the third best and even those whom nobody would hire. And, then he went out at the 11th hour and recruited a few more.

Only those who were roped in for the task of tending the vineyard early in the morning were told what their wages would be. To all the others, the householder merely said they would receive whatsoever was right. Again, when it was time to pay them off, the householder called the latest appointees first. The parable in Matthew 20 is not about salvation because salvation is by grace and not by works. The parable in Matthew 20 speaks about God’s rewards for those who labour in His vineyard. Jesus Christ wanted to impress upon His disciples that when it comes to rewards, His yardstick is quite different from that of the world’s. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD’ (Isaiah 55:8).

However, the parable in Matthew 22 talks about salvation. It’s about a king who got his son married off.

Here in this parable, the King is God the Father, the son is Jesus Christ and the bride is the church. We are the church as well as the invited guests.

The parable in Matthew 22 tells us three things: Everyone’s invited ?

Everything’s prepared ?

Take every effort to make it to the wedding feast. ?

The one condition to make it to the wedding feast is accept the invitation and wear the wedding garment. The wedding garment is not something that you can pick from your wardrobe. It is provided by the king himself. It is the robe of righteousness. It is the garment of salvation. You cannot knit it. You cannot buy it. You cannot rent it from anyone. It is custom made for you and the king has the garments in plenty for anyone who wants to be at the wedding feast.

Charles Spurgeon the great orator once said in one of his sermons that the wedding garment is a distinguishing mark of grace, a symbol of respect for the King, a sign of honour for the Prince and an attire that conforms to the requirements of the occasion.

Let that sink into our hearts. Have you accepted the invitation of the King to be at his wedding feast?

Have you said yes to see the glory of the Prince of Peace? Have you dressed yourself up in the wedding garment yet? The time’s running out. The wedding feast may begin any time soon.

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THE MESSAGE

The God Who Justifies

BY ROBIN SAM SEVERAL years ago when I was working in a US company that has presence in India I went through a turbulent phase in my life – that was the time when some events threatened to blow my reputation and standing in my profession. It was during that dark hour of my life that I came across this verse in Romans 8:33. The verse swept me off my feet, lifted up my spirit and changed the way I perceived God and related to Him. Before this, I knew God as my Creator, Saviour, Healer, Father and Counsellor, but that God could be my Defender and the One who lifts up my head was not fully known to me. To put it in other words, the experience of God moving things and people to defend my honour was something new to me before I came across Romans 8:33. I’ll share more about this relating to my testimony sometime later, if God allows.

Romans 8:33 says: ‘Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.’ There are three persons mentioned in this verse: God, God’s elect and the accuser (the one who brings up charges). We’re going to examine each one of the persons listed in the verse for a better understanding of God’s character and His purposes for those He has called.

non-Christians alike. It is one of the most-quoted verses in the Bible – one that has generated several hundreds of thousands of sermons. I am sad the very next verse (John 3:17) is not as well-known. John 3:17 reveals the character of God the Father and the mission of God the Son. It says: ‘For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ In John 12:47, Jesus reiterated the same point when He said: ‘And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.’ While Jesus does not judge the one who does not believe His words even though he has heard them, those that have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ have an even better standing with Him. Romans 8 begins with a wonderful assurance for those that believe in Him. It says: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1). Our response to the wonderful promise in Christ should be, ‘Lord, make us worthy of your promise. Thank you, for we will not be condemned because we are in Christ. Help us to walk in the Spirit always.’

Yes, the Holy Spirit convicts us. That is His job.

Jesus said this in John 16:8 about the Holy Spirit, GOD ‘And when He has come, He will convict the world He does not condemn us: It is not in God’s nature of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…’ to charge or condemn anybody. John 3:16 is a verse However, this conviction is different from the that is universally the favourite with Christians and conviction of the legal system of the world. To THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER w MAY 2018

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understand the word ‘conviction’ better we need to look up John 16:8 in couple of other versions. The NIV has translated the verse thus: ‘When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment…’ The Message translation says, ‘When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment…’

The Hebrew word ‘satan’ means an ‘adversary, one who resists.’ The Bible calls him the ‘accuser of our brethren’ (Revelation 12:10). His daily and nightly job is to accuse us, God’s elect, before God.

GOD’S ELECT 1. Jesus Christ, God’s chosen: God accepts us as His children when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Through Jesus Christ, we come to the knowledge of God our Father. If we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, says Romans 8:17. Before God accepted us as His children, He elected Jesus Christ. Isaiah 42:1 says, 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.’ This was a prophecy given to the Israelites about the coming Messiah – Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ knew of His election.

Jesus’s disciple Matthew, who wrote one of the Gospels, quoted this verse from Isaiah in Matthew 12:18 when he saw the impact of Christ’s ministry on earth. Apostle Peter likened Jesus Christ to a living stone in 2 Peter 2:4 and said even though He was rejected by men, Christ was chosen of God and therefore is precious.

2. Israel, God’s chosen: The nation of Israel was chosen by God not because they were the greatest, the mightiest and the noblest of the human race at that point in world’s history. Moses grasped this truth and decided to let the people of Israel know about it in Deuteronomy 7:7, 8: ‘The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors…’ Israel’s election was because of God’s inexplicable love and His steadfastness to His own Word. Isaiah 41:8 says, ‘But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend…’ God chose Israel to make it a great nation, bless it and make it a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). He chose Israel to bring the Messiah into the world. God’s desire for Israel is that it will be a nation of priests, prophets and ambassadors of Christ spreading the Good News to the world.

3. The Church, God’s chosen: God chose the church – the congregation of the redeemed – for a purpose. Ephesians 1:4 says, ‘For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.’ That’s a tall order, yet by God's grace we can be holy and blameless if we are washed by the blood of the lamb (1 John 1:7). We Website: www.christianmessenger.in Email: contact@christianmessenger.in

were chosen before the creation of the world, says the Bible. Think about it for a moment and you will be blown away by the awesomeness of the thought.

Before He laid the foundations of the earth, He thought about you…………(Yes, you may write your name there!) Yes, it is true that when the Lord decided to confront Job out of the whirlwind in Job 38:4, He hit him like a ton of bricks when He asked him: ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?’ Job was not born then. We were centuries away from life on the earth, yet the right answer to God’s question would be, ‘we were in God’s mind.’

While the weight of that wonderful thought sinks in us, we need to lift up our spirits and thank God for having us on His mind – even before He opened His mouth to command the world into being.

THE ACCUSER: The Hebrew word ‘satan’ means an ‘adversary, one who resists.’ The Bible calls him the ‘accuser of our brethren’ (Revelation 12:10). His daily and nightly job is to accuse us, God’s elect, before God. The primary reason why Satan’s accusations don’t hold water is because the Bible calls him a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). The other reason why Satan’s charges don’t stick is because for the elect, God is the one who justifies. Satan is intrinsically evil. He is evil personified. He is a deceiver (1 Timothy 2:14), and because he deceives he masquerades as ‘an angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:14). Even his roar is fake because 1 Peter 5:8 says, ‘Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion’ (emphasis mine). However, the good news is that the devil has been cast down from heaven to earth (Rev. 12:11). Soon, he will be bound and imprisoned in the bottomless pit for one thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3) and ultimately he will be banished in the fiery lake to suffer eternal torment (Rev. 20:10).

In Zechariah 3 we see Satan accusing Joshua, the high priest, in God’s presence. Sure, Joshua was clothed in filthy garments, but Satan had no business accusing God’s chosen vessel; it is God who

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THE MESSAGE justifies. Did God justify Joshua? Sure, he did. Verse 2 says the Lord rebuked Satan and took up Joshua’s defence. “Is this not a brand plucked out of fire,” the Lord asked Satan. Joshua was a chosen vessel of the Lord and hence, he escaped eternal hellfire. God also changed Joshua’s filthy clothes and clothed him in rich robes. He put a clean turban on Joshua’s head.

The rich robes stand for God’s salvation and righteousness. The turban is the spiritual authority God bestowed upon Joshua. God did not stop with that, He glorified Joshua. In Zachariah 6, we see God commanding the prophet to take gold and silver to make an elaborate crown that will be set on Joshua’s head. The head that carried the turban will now be glorified with the royal crown. The crown signifies kingship. God glorified Joshua and set him as a shadow of Jesus Christ in whom the twin roles of priesthood and kingship will be fulfilled one day.

What a glory to be chosen by God for justification and glorification! The God of Joshua is alive even today and He is willing to justify and glorify you too.

If Satan does not accuse you directly, he will get his minions to do the job for him. Apostle Paul was shipwrecked along with fellow prisoners and soldiers. We read in Acts 27 that all the 276 people on board the ship reached the island of Malta safely as Paul had prophesied. In the island, the natives called Paul ‘a murderer’ when they saw a viper fasten on his hand. The natives expected Paul to drop down dead and were sure that justice had prevailed on the man who escaped the sea but now was bitten by a deadly snake.

However, Paul shook off the snake and suffered no harm. When they realized they were proved wrong, the natives changed their mind about Paul and called him ‘a god.’ The same people who called him ‘a murderer’ were now calling him ‘a god.’ Paul was a chosen vessel and there was no way God would let him down before a bunch of heathens.

Dear child of God, who can lay a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies! Hallelujah!

Believers need to know that it’s not just the devil and his agents who accuse us. Our own family and friends (co-workers included) will also accuse us.

They will also hurl accusations at us for the stand we take for Christ.

Job was accused by Satan (Job 2:4), his own wife (2:9) and his friends (chapters 3 to 31). His friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar meant well and began on a comforting note but soon they lost track of why they were there and hurled accusations one after the other at Job. They begin their conversation in the 3rd chapter and go on for the next 29 chapters accusing Job of some ‘secret sin’ that he had to confess before God. THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER w MAY 2018

GOD’S 4 STEP PLAN FOR US: No matter what charges are laid up against us, no matter who accuses us, Romans 8:33 says ‘…it is God who justifies.’ Justification is one out of the five-step process of salvation that God works in each one of us who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The 5-step process is explained in Romans 8:29-30. They are foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification. The sequence is never interchanged.

So, did God justify and glorify Job, His servant?

There are at least four things that God did for Job that prove that He justified and glorified Job. First, God justified Job by silencing his three • friends (32:1). However, Elihu, a younger friend of Job takes off from where the trio have left. God does not spare Elihu, either. He trashes his contentions calling out to Job from the whirlwind and wanting to know ‘who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?’ (38:1). Why did the three men cease ‘answering Job’? Because Job was righteous in his own eyes. That would have been a hypocritical act if it were not for the fact that quite early in the book of Job God found him to be 'blameless and upright and one who feared God and shunned evil' (1:1).

Secondly, God justified Job by finding fault • with his accusers themselves. In Job 42:7, he called one of Job’s friends and told him, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.’

Thirdly, God glorified Job by making him a • type of high priest who would pray for his friends when they offered burnt offerings to God. Job was a contemporary of Abraham and God would not institute the priestly order through Aaron the first 6

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high priest until the time of Moses. A little over 400 years separated Moses from Abraham, yet God made Job a type of high priest who would intercede with God for the sins of his people. Now, Job was not only blameless, upright, God-fearing and one who shunned evil, he was the servant of the Living God! What a glory God bestowed upon Job! What an honour it is to be considered worthy to serve the Living God! • If God had done all these and had not restored Job’s lost health, wealth and children, the world would still have viewed Job with doubt, but the Lord who justifies and glorifies His elect did not let that happen. He blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. That was the fourth and the final act of God in justifying and glorifying Job. Why did God do this for Job? Because He foreknew him. Now, the foreknowledge of God should not be misunderstood as a divine act that randomly picks and chooses people for salvation.

God does not pick and choose people for salvation.

‘For God so loved the whole world that He sent His only Son…,’ says John 3:16. Again, 2 Peter 3:9 says, ‘The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.’ So, how do we really

Training the trainers:

understand the foreknowledge of God? When the Bible says, God foreknew us, it simply means what Apostle John says in 1 John 4:19, ‘We love Him because He first loved us.’ The foreknowledge of God simply means that He took the first step; He initiated the process of love toward us. And He loved the whole world.

So, what does God expect in those He foreknew, predestined, called, justified and glorified? The Word of God points us toward two key verses. The first thing we ought to do is to make our calling and election sure. Secondly, as the elect of God, we ought to reflect the character of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble (2 Peter 1:10).

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:1214).

May the Lord our God graciously help us do these things in the days to come. Amen.

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GOSPEL MELA 2018 24-Hour Chain Prayer

15 Specific Prayer Points For a 30-Minute Intercession And, I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none (Ezekiel 22:30).

Praying with one accord for 2,234 people groups spread across 1.2 billion people in 29 states and 7 UTs in one nation.

Every nation, every tribe, every people and every tongue shall say: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10).

1. Pray that the powers that be in India do not use rape as an instrument to assert power and intimidate the powerless in the society. In a hierarchical, patriarchal and increasingly polarised society such as in India many believe that hate is being used to divide people and harvest votes. Pray for this hate culture to end.

2. Pray that the Government will deal sternly with illegal sex selection abortions in India. The country sees 112 boys born for every 100 girls, which is against the natural sex ratio of 105 boys for every 100 girls. A preference for boys has meant that more than 63 million women are statistically ‘missing’.

Many believe such skewed ratios can contribute to increased crimes against women.

3. Pray for Haryana, which records the highest number of gang rapes in India. Haryana also has the worst sex ratio in the country. Several incidents of violence against women were reported in a single month this year in this state. Pray that the mind-set of the people which sees women as an object to satiate their lust is changed.

4. Pray for Assembly elections in Karnataka. The state will go to polls on May 12 to elect its representatives for the 224-member assembly. The results will be out on May 15.Pray that the people elect a secular, stable and efficient party to administer the state.

5. Pray for monsoon rains. The onset of monsoon is expected in Kerala from the end of May or the first week of June, and will cover the country in the next 45 days. Pray that the country does not face water shortage this summer and farming is not affected.

6. Pray for the children who are appearing for board examinations and NEET, IIT entrance examinations. Pray that God gives them good health, strength, wisdom, protection and memory power in their exams.

7. Pray over the Promise Verse God has given us for 2018. May what Jesus Christ told us through John 1:50: ‘You will see greater things than these’, Website: www.christianmessenger.in Email: contact@christianmessenger.in

be realized literally in our spiritual life, material blessings, at our workplace and in our families.

8. Pray that fundamentalism and terrorism to be a thing of the past in our country. Pray that the people of the nation are delivered from superstitious beliefs, alcoholism and the scourge of drugs. May the powers of darkness over the nation be removed and the light from the Son of Righteousness deliver those who are bound by the powers of evil.

9. Pray for Messenger Missions’ leader and his family. Pray that God will grant him the wisdom and grace needed to fulfil the visions God has given him.

Pray for his health. May God use him mightily in the ministry this month!

10. Let us pray for the north-eastern states.

Uphold Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in your prayers. Pray that the nefarious plans of fundamentalist forces will not fructify. Pray God’s divine protection over the peoples of these states.

11. We need to pray that God will raise His children to pray for the nation and its people in every church, missions’ organization, mission field and family. We need to acknowledge our sins and pray for the mercy of God to be upon us. May God prosper this nation! Amen.

12. Pray for the VBS ministries of Messenger Missions to be conducted across our mission fields in May and June. Pray that hundreds of children will come to know the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ through these summer outreaches. Ask the Lord of Hosts to remove every obstacle from our path. Pray that God raises His children to meet the needs of the ministry.

13. Pray for the economic condition of the nation.

Pray that instances of banking frauds committed by the high and the mighty are brought down. Indian public sector banks are facing an estimated loss of 7.34 lakh rupees in bad loans. As much as 70% of the country’s fixed deposits are in the 21 public sector banks. Pray.

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GOSPEL MELA 14. As the attacks on minorities, especially Christians and their worship places, are on the rise pray that every state government in India will constitute a special body to bring down the attacks against the minority communities.

In some states the government is inimical to the minorities. Pray that this despicable situation will change for the better.

15. There are several roadblocks to the evangelization of the nation chief among them is the spiritual darkness prevailing over the country. Pray for God’s intervention to break the powers of sorcery, witchcraft, spirit of adultery, prostitution and jealousy in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth. May the love of Jesus Christ touch the hearts of those against Him!

PRAY FOR THE BAKARWALS PRAY for the Bakarwals, to which 8-year-old Asifa, the child who was brutalized in Kathua, Jammu in January this year, belonged. The Bakarwal community is a Muslim pastoral tribe situated in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with the other tribal Muslim Gujjar group called Banihara, they form the third largest community in the state.

While the Baniharas deal in dairy farming, the Bakarwal herd sheep and goats. A nomadic tribe, the Bakarwals are often recognised by the hundreds of kilometers long journey they take with their cattle every summer to Kashmir and Ladakh and back to Jammu in the winters.

The Bakarwals are known to be part of the larger ethnic group known as Gujjars who dominate large parts of Northern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Interestingly, the Gujjars in different parts of the subcontinent variously follow Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. In Jammu and Kashmir, the group practices Islam, but was listed as a Scheduled Tribe in 1991. However, despite professing the Islamic faith, anthropological study of the community shows that they have retained large parts of the Hindu belief system followed by Gujjars across the country.

The Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir, essentially the Baniharas and the Bakarwals, are a migratory group. It is difficult to ascertain the precise date of their migration, but a plausible theory is that they moved to the hilly terrain from the plains of Punjab counterparts. Pray that the Gujjars, particularly the in response to insufficient grazing facilities, Bakarwals and Baniharas, will find out that the God increasing population and religious persecution. of the Scriptures is the True, Living God. Amen.

Another theory also states that the Gujjars moved to Jammu and Kashmir from Rajputana and Kathiawar MATRIMONY owing to a serious famine that broke out in the Parents seeking Christian protestant groom region.

Having broken away from the Gujjar population for their only daughter aged 27 years, 5’, in the plains, however, they retained intrinsic M.Com., B.Ed., slim, fair complexion, cultural ties with them nonetheless. It is interesting working as lecturer in private college to note that the Muslim Gujjars of J&K continue to at Bangalore. follow the Gotra system with names of Gotras being the same as that among the Hindus. They believe that Contact: 0-94490 01461 their ancestors were Hindus and hence they share the E-mail id: vsr1361@gmail.com same blood and history with their Hindu THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER w MAY 2018

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We are keen to introduce Lord Jesus Christ and His love to over 800 children this year through the Vacation Bible School ministries in May and June.

3. Name : __________________________ In Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, schools close for summer holidays only in June so VBS will be Address : ___________________________ held in those two states only that month. In all our ___________________________________ other states, VBS will be conducted by end of April ___________________________________ or in May I urge you to pray for the VBS ministry Telephone No.: _______________________ from now onwards?

Pray that God will remove every obstacle that 4. Name : __________________________ prevents children from getting close to you. Pray Address : ___________________________ also that the teachers’ VBS training will go on as ___________________________________ scheduled and every child who comes to the VBS ___________________________________ gatherings will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Telephone No.: _______________________ Saviour.

Each child's expense for a day will be Rs.50/5. Name : __________________________ Going by that estimate, the VBS ministries across all Address : ___________________________ our fields in India will require not less than ___________________________________ Rs.1,20,000/- for the three day meetings. It’s my ___________________________________ desire that this expense will be met by your prayers Telephone No.: _______________________ and generous contributions. May God remember (Please remember to send the phone number those who support this ministry a hundredfold!

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MAY 2018 w THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER

DATELINE ISRAEL

Examining Israel in Prophecy

BY DON DAVIS THERE IS something in the wind. It’s not the Middle East sand or the Mediterranean rain. It is the resonating tempest of brooding war.

The ancient armies used to prepare for wars in late spring and summer, targeting victory or superiority before winter. Weather dictated everything. And today, countries without comprehensive, allweather combat equipment and technology still prefer the historical season. This is particularly accurate in the Middle East.

This tactic is presently happening in and around Israel. A major flex by enemies sporadically attacking and prodding Israel, countered by Israeli retaliation, preempt strikes, along with internal widespread testing and preparation.

Now, there are those that claim it is simple posturing. But, patterns and unguarded behavior reflects the precise objective. Whenever there has been this kind of hostility by the enemy and Israel alike, it has been followed by severe battles.

Then when war is undeniable, there is a clamor to match parallel events to prophecy, or ‘prophecy fever’, coercing equivalence to corresponding beliefs, predictions or agenda.

Plus, as a Christian, Middle East behavior analyst, permanently living in Israel, I too am frequently asked how regional scenarios might apply to prophecy.

With that said, I don't have the luxury of a devoted column or website to expand prophetic material.

Once I write on such subjects, it’s hard to choose what I want from the massive data, along with editorial preferences, and then try to fit everything into an 800 word article.

Therefore based on the calculated probability of fierce, geographical and population altering war, and expanding on a previous article, the following are bullet points on where this may lead in prophecy.

If war erupts, it's feasible to entangle USA, Israel and coalition verses Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Islamic State, local Arab terror groups in Gaza and inside Israel, and some Iraqi, Egyptian, and Jordanian elements. In the meantime, the fracas would humiliate the al-Assad regime axis and cement the Russia, Turkey and Iran alliance, along with others, for a later juncture.

If bio/chemical and dirty nukes are used against Israel, it is credible Israel will reply nuclear, conceivably fulfilling scripture by destroying Damascus and other cities and regimes associated with weapons of mass destruction.

THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER w MAY 2018

But it’s unlikely Israel will escape unscathed even though Israel has a vast military edge. Perhaps suffering land contamination and population losses from the substantial enemy rocket and missile weaponry. Maybe fatalities equal to the Isaiah 3:2526 & 4:1 prophecy levels.

Regional and peripheral devastation would be considerable thus leading me to surmise if these terrible events do play out Israel might soon after enter the time frame of the Ezekiel 34, 35, 36 phases and eventually, chapter 37.

Ezekiel 34 could as well apply to the alleged, chronic corruption and mismanagement confusion in Israeli leadership. Although after the war-horror, Israel emerges with a second Modern-day rebirth, becoming safe, populated, grand and acquiring wealth as referred to in Ezekiel 36, 37 & 38.

In support of these deductions, the armies in the region and their state of affairs do not line up with prophecy in Ezekiel 38. Besides at this point, reportedly Vladimir Putin is not ready to directly confront neither Donald Trump nor the strength of the American military. Nevertheless, it would be viable that the two sides could exchange violent struggle in a limited format.

And, it’s basically the United States that keeps Israel from being crushed by Russia, unless they, USA, are taken out of the way. This may give some credence to USA being the Biblical, Babylon the Great. And if USA is, who or what will the USA leadership be? The first (White) Horseman of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6, or one of the seven kings who sets up USA into ten districts for the Ten Kings of Revelation 17, someone darker, or nobody of consequence? How beit, that is an entirely different subject.

Returning to Ezekiel, it’s strongly debated whether the ‘dry bones’ the ‘exceedingly great army’ of Ezekiel 37 has occurred and I believe it has not.

There is yet much room to expand in Israel in contradiction to Isaiah 49 and Zechariah 10.

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In addition, the purported, anticipated return of the Ten Lost Tribes, the extensive research by Israeli, YairDavidiy of Brit-Am, and the scrutiny of the Tribes return by many unconnected peers (this does not suggest Mr. Davidiy agrees with this article, only to point out the inclusive investigation of the future return of the Ten Lost Tribes).

Nonetheless prophecy is obscure. Some of the disciples with Jesus thought His return would be

forthwith. Also, for hundreds of years prominent Christians have unsuccessfully forecasted the end times.

Events can change rapidly and unseen interventions can abruptly transform or calm the anxieties in the Middle East causing even me to amend my prophecy-timetable hypothesis.

But for the time being, the wind of Israeli and regional war is gathering strength.

What’s it going to take?

BY PETER KENNEDY “TO whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” – Jeremiah 6:10.

Jonathan Laurie wanted to be like every other kid.

He wanted to blend in. However, teachers would single him out because of his famous father Pastor Greg Laurie.

As a teenager living in Southern California, he wanted to be his own man.

At 16, a friend persuaded Jonathan into smoking marijuana. Soon he began spending a lot of time at the beach getting high on pot and drinking alcohol.

As his new friends spent time with him, they would introduce him as “Greg Laurie’s son,” the very thing Jonathan was trying to escape.

At 17, Jonathan was arrested for marijuana. He confessed to his parents that he had been living a double life. His parents put him on restriction including taking away his car. Jonathan also confessed his sin to his older brother Christopher.

Chris prayed for him and counseled him to get new Christian friends.

Chris also confessed that he had tried drugs and found it to be a life of lies and only temporary fulfillment.

But after a few months of gaining his parents’ trust, Jonathan returned to his partying ways. For the next six years, he lived a life of deceit and lies. He became more lonely and depressed. “I had too much of the world to be happy in the church and I had too much of the church to be happy in the world” Jonathan remembers.

In 2008, Christopher then challenged him “What’s it going to take to give your life to Christ?”

Jonathan did not have an answer.

Then a few weeks later, Christopher died in a car accident. Jonathan felt vacant; he had lost the only person he had been truly honest with. Soon Jonathan remembered his brother’s words: “What’s it going to take?”

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This time Jonathan was sincere, he asked Christ into his life and he gave up the drugs.

Today Jonathan is a fervent follower of Jesus, sharing his testimony with others.

When we follow the Lord, our lives go so much smoother. Today in prayer, ask Jesus to give you an attentive ear to hear His Word and to act upon it.

“God never ceases to speak to us, but the noise of the world without and the passions within bewilder us and prevent us from listening to Him.” – Francois Fenelon God’s Word: “You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.” – Isaiah 42:20.

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GUIDING LIGHTS

4 Traits Church Members Look For In Their Pastor

BY DAN REILAND PEOPLE intuitively seek traits of the heart over skills of the trade when choosing a pastor to connect with and follow spiritually.

Yes, things like good preaching, wise administration and strong ministry programming matter, but they are not at the top of the list.

There’s a lot of grace for a “good not great” sermon when the pastor is fully trusted, loved and is a good leader.

The size of the church does play a significant role.

The larger the church becomes, the more difficult it is to be close to the senior pastor. This is logical and understandable. In this case, the more important things like ministry program excellence become.

But, the things of the heart never fade from importance.

People don’t leave a church because a particular ministry was less than perfect. After all, that person could stay and help make that ministry better.

Further, a reasonable person doesn’t leave a church because they don’t get their way. But they will leave if they don’t intuitively connect at a heart level with the pastor or a key leader in the church.

Again, let’s talk size of the church for a moment.

In a smaller church, that heart connection happens in some way at a personal level.

In larger (and huge) churches, that heart level connect happens more because the pastor’s communication gifts and skills are so strong he or she can communicate that authentic love from the platform. Also, other leaders in those very large churches help make that needed and wanted personal touch with the people.

No matter what the size, style or culture of the church, the heart wants what it wants.

1) Authentic faith People want to know that their pastor loves and follows Jesus. As a spiritual leader, your faith must be real.

That doesn’t mean your faith isn’t occasionally flawed or that you never have a spiritual doubt. In fact, a spiritual doubt during a difficult time is part of authentic faith. No one is willing to follow a spiritual leader who hasn’t walked a few difficult roads themselves.

Authentic faith reveals that you trust God both in the good times and in the difficult seasons of life and ministry.

2) Genuine love Jesus modeled love better than anyone, and He is

our example.

People want to know that their pastor loves and cares about them. They want to know he or she has compassion for those who are hurting and patience for those who struggle.

As I reflect on my years at 12Stone Church, it’s obvious to me that our senior pastor Kevin Myers loves the people. For 30 years he’s laid his all on the line and sacrificed for the good of the people.

3) A disposition of grace Grace and love are certainly connected, but here’s how I would differentiate.

Love is what you give to the people. Grace is the spirit by which you lead the people. I’ll be candid with you, I’ve met some pastors who are tough on people. They love the people, but they can be hard on them. High expectations are good, but not if that turns into a demanding relationship.

There is little that is more powerful than that between a pastor and the people.

When I think about my kids, there is nothing they can do that will prevent me from loving them. I might be disappointed, or feel a need to correct or challenge them, but grace keeps my heart tender.

As a pastor I have received so much grace from God and others, I can’t help but extend it freely to those I love and serve.

4) Trustworthy character Trust may be difficult to define, but we all know what it means. You know if you trust someone or don’t. You might not be able to say why, but you know.

When you encounter an auto mechanic, a doctor or an insurance broker, you know if you trust them.

The same is true with a spiritual leader, the profession or trade. It doesn’t matter.

This matter of trust, particularly about personal character or integrity, is essential. The life of a spiritual leader must be lived with openness and transparency that allows people to know and trust them.

The good news is that trustworthiness is not based on talent or ability.

Owned and published by Elsy Robin from 329/4, Poonga Apartments, HIG Flats, II Avenue, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040. Printed by L Cyril Sagayaraj at VS Printograph Pvt Ltd., No. 15, Natesan Colony, Sri Ram Avenue, 1st Street, Kottivakkam, Chennai 600 041. Editor: Elsy Robin THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER w MAY 2018

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