Monday, March 31, 2014

When Jezebel’s Witchcraft Keeps You Up at Night by JENNIFER LECLAIRE - Charisma Magazine

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When Jezebel’s Witchcraft Keeps You Up at Night

Every year about this time there’s an onslaught of witchcraft attacks against me—and many people I know. This year the enemy used a different tactic. Since the spiritual forces of darkness could not slow me down by day, the attacks are coming at night.

First, let me explain what I mean by witchcraft. During Lent, some people have a tendency to exalt Mary, the mother of Jesus. But we know that's not God's will. God has "highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that He is Lord, to the glory of the Father" (Phil 2:9-11). Let me be clear: I am not Catholic-bashing here. This is not about a religion or a denomination. It's about spiritual practices in which some are engaging.

Where Mary is exalted, I believe it empowers the spirit of Jezebel and her witchcrafts. Some people in some religions refer to Mary as the queen of heaven. But Ashtoreth, the chief pagan goddess of war and sex mentioned in the Old Testament, is also known as the queen of heaven. And it’s the Ashtoreth spirit that’s behind Jezebel. The Lord speaks of the queen of heaven in Jeremiah 7, noting that the people of Judah were giving offerings to other gods and provoking Him to anger. The Old Testament Jezebel’s father, Ethbal, was the high priest of the goddess.

What Witchcraft Feels Like

Again, exalting Mary seems to empower the queen of heaven, also known as Jezebel. When Mary is lifted up to a place where only Jesus belongs, it unleashes demonic activity in that territory. As demonic activity increases, people report feelings of oppression, fatigue, strong spiritual warfare against the mind that makes you feel like quitting, and even physical manifestations for which doctors can’t find a reason. Are you experiencing any of these things?

When witchcraft is particularly heavy in the spiritual climate, my eyes actually burn. Everything seems like a much bigger deal than it really is because witchcraft works to take your eyes off Jesus by magnifying the problem. The enemy can use people to release witchcraft against you through word curses, but this spiritual force seems to sometimes hang over your head like a dark cloud—unless you break it.

This year, witchcraft couldn’t get me by day. I was ready for the onslaught. So instead, witchcraft attacked me at night—in my sleep. I have had some of the worst nightmares in the last two weeks that I’ve ever had in my entire life. Things I won’t even speak out loud because the power of death and life is in the tongue. Indeed, the enemy wants me to speak out the disturbing pictures he offered to give them life. But I refuse. And I break that assignment in the name of Jesus!

What’s more, I’m waking up to especially nasty messages via email. Although it’s not unusual to get a nasty message, the religious spirits have come out in droves to attack—out of the blue. They are releasing shame upon me, making false accusations and otherwise releasing word curses over my life. I bind them in the name of Jesus, bless those who curse me, and move on.

Pushing Back Powers of Darkness

Of course, these witchcraft nightmares left me exhausted. Don’t you know it’s so much more difficult to work with one hand and battle with the other when you are physically exhausted? And to wake up to a string of email attacks from the religious spirit starts your day focusing on the wrong thing if you let it.

And if you let it, it’s all downhill from there. The devil wants your thoughts and words because then he can sway your actions. Thankfully, I discerned what was going on, and I’m changing my battle plans. I've spent many, many hours in worship and prayer seeking revelation on how I can better gird up the loins of my mind.

Always remember, we aren’t wrestling against flesh and blood, yet we do need to put on our whole armor and engage in the battle. Passivity isn’t going to deliver you from Jezebel’s witchcraft.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

When it comes to witchcraft, we have to withstand it. The Amplified Bible says to “be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined]” (1 Pet. 5:9). It’s easy enough to give in to witchcraft, especially if you don’t know what is attacking you. So again, when you feel like giving up, when you feel tired for no reason, when you have strong confusion, when you are fighting an intense battle in your mind and when infirmities are manifesting, it could be witchcraft. Resist it at its onset. Cast it off. Submit yourself to God. "Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you" (James 4:7, AMP).

Again, submit yourself to the lordship of Christ. Exalt His name. Thank Him for His blood. Rejoice in the Lord. Praise and worship carry breakthrough. That’s often all it takes to change the spiritual climate in your home. And worship is where we should start because He is worthy of our adoration.

If worship doesn’t break the witchcraft, take authority over it in the name above all names. Witchcraft has to bow at the name of Jesus. But make sure you don’t have any common ground with the enemy. Repent for any rebellion in your heart, and surrender your will anew to God. Remember, we are more than conquerors in Christ, and no weapon formed against us can prosper—not even witchcraft. Our job is to be spiritually discerning enough to catch the devil at his onset, resist him, rebuke him and praise God for the victory. Amen.

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including The Spiritual Warrior's Guide to Defeating Jezebel and The Making of a Prophet. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website at www.jenniferleclaire.org.

Just Unbelievable

Just Unbelievable

There are some unbelievable natural formations located all around the globe. Due to distances involved, many of us never have the chance to visit these sites.

The following photos display a mountain range called " Rainbow Mountain " located in China . I thought you might enjoy seeing these photos. The mountains are part of the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in China . Layers of different colored sandstone and minerals were pressed together over 24 million years and then buckled up by tectonic plates.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I did.

It reminds me of the little joke I recently saw about a little girl who saw such a beautiful thing as that and remarked that it's even more wonderful considering God did it all left handed. Somebody asked why she thought He did it all left handed?

She answered, "Because the Bible says that Jesus sits on His right hand...."

Where Did the Palestinians Come From, Anyway?

Sunday, March 30, 2014 | Israel Today Staff

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Palestinians

There are many competing claims at play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the simple question of who was here first, as childish as it might sound, remains central to the contest.

That is precisely why, in addition to leveling all sorts of other accusations at Israel, the Palestinian Authority is engaged in an effort to invent a new historical narrative that puts the Palestinians in the land long before the Hebrews ever arrived from Egypt.

If, as the Palestinians also claim, they are part of the wider Arab world, then this new narrative is easily debunked by any number of historical documentation and archeological finds. And yet, it is catching on at an alarming rate with those who would likely consider themselves cognizant of regional history.

One of the latest proponents of what can only reasonably be labeled a “fairytale” is chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat, who told a diplomatic gathering in Munich last month that his particular tribe had been residents of Jericho thousands of years before the arrival of Joshua Ben Nun, the Israelite leader following Moses.

In a thorough expose, Ambassador Alan Baker of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs picked apart Erekat’s assertion and those like it.

In summary, Baker noted that Erekat’s own genealogy, which is easily researched, puts his ancestral Huweitat tribe back in the Arabian peninsula as recently as the 19th century. Only after the Jews began returning to the land en masse did the Huweitat tribe take up residence near Jericho, Jerusalem and other parts of what are now Israel and Jordan.

“Several leading scholars of Middle Eastern studies and Islamic history have confirmed that the Palestinians do not have ancient roots in the area and are trying to invent origins for themselves that predate the Jewish people’s presence,” wrote Baker.

By contrast, “the historical presence of the Jewish people in the ‘Holy Land’ is well-documented, not only in the scriptures of all three monotheistic religions, and visible in extensive archeological remains, but also in historic writings by early Greek, Roman, pagan, and other visitors to the area,” he continued.

Baker’s full essay on the topic is well worth a read. Click here to do so.

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Blessed To Be A Blessing - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Blessed To Be A Blessing

Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 Holy Bible, New Living Translation

Abram, whom later the Lord changed his name to Abraham (see added note below), was a blessed man. When he was called, he heard and obeyed. He left his known surroundings, his extended family, his father’s relatives, and began the journey.

Did he know where he was going? No. Had he done this before? I don’t think so. But I do believe the Lord had asked him to do smaller acts of obedience prior to this time, to build his faith up for this, one of “the big ones”. (Later, when asked to sacrifice, literally kill his only son Isaac, his faith had by that time grown even more, for that level of commanded obedience.) That is usually how the Lord works, even in our lives today. For He is the same – yesterday, today and forever.

Was Abram a great man before he was chosen? We are not told that he was. But based on the examples of other men and women, chosen by God over the centuries to fulfill a great purpose of our God - most likely he was not. He was probably just an “average Joe”, living and trying to be faithful daily to his wife Sarai (later Sarah) and his children in their provision and care.

The Lord chose this man Abram to be blessed, so Abram in turn would be a blessing. It was not solely for Abram’s own present and eternal joy and happiness alone, nor just for his family, but primarily so that all the families on the earth, throughout the centuries, would be blessed. The goal was to have him blessed, so he would be a blessing. That is God’s purpose in our lives today too.

History proves over and over again that the descendants of the Father of Faith, as Abraham is now known, have certainly blessed the nations. The Jews have given the world untold new inventions, technology, cultural and societal foundations, while continuing life even when being surrounded by all seeking to destroy them.

“Abraham believed this, and because he believed, he was blessed. All people who believe are blessed the same as Abraham was.” Galatians 3:9 (Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version)

As fellow believers in the One True God, the God of Israel, Who is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, we are called to walk in obedience as Abraham did. We too have been chosen by God, not because of our greatness or accomplishments, or because we were born in this country, to this family, with this education, etc., but because the Lord’s heart wants to bless, and use us to do so.

God our Father wants to bless the nations, His creation, for eternal enjoyment with Him. Having a true Father’s heart, we have been chosen to receive His blessings, so we in turn can bless those we are among, and those we are going to, all the while extending His Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.

“Give us this day our daily bread” - part of the Lord’s prayer Himself while walking the streets of Jerusalem, and training men and women to be His disciples - is included in His priestly prayer. Receiving daily gifts in order to sustain life, to give out of that which we have received, continues to be His heart. His children, His disciples, receiving from His heart, to give to others who will then come to know of His love.

In your seeking His daily path today, be aware of that placed within you, given to share with those He brings you in contact with. Seek to be a blessing, as you have been blessed. In this way the nations of the world will be blessed too.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Note: Abraham was originally named by his father as אברם (Abram) and later changed to אברהם by God. As every Hebrew name has a meaning, always related to the character of the person, it is important to know what their names mean. In the case of Ya'acov (Jacob - he grabs the heel) it was changed by God to yisrael (Israel - turns the head of God). As there was a change in character, there is also a change in the name.

While many suggest that Abram means "exalted father" and Abraham means "father of a multitude", both names in fact mean exactly the same thing "father lifted up" or "exalted father". The beginning of both names is אב (AB) meaning "father". The "ram" in Abram is דם meaning "lifted", a parent root. The "raham" in Abraham is רהם also means "lifted", a child root derived from the parent root Mr.

It does not make much sense to change a name if the new name means the same thing. This is why many attempt to make a change in meaning. But, to understand the real meaning behind a name change is important for understanding why God changed his name and the names of others such as Jacob to Israel.

In Genesis chapters one and two we have the naming of all of creation. We find that Adam named Eve, his children and all of the animals, while God named the light, darkness, sky and land. From this we find something very interesting. Adam had authority over his wife, children and the animals, while God has authority over the light, darkness, sky and land.

If you have authority over something, you have the right and responsibility to name it. Abram was named by his father Terah, the one who had authority over him. But, when Abram left his father's house and headed out on his own, God, who respected the authority of Terah previously, now takes the role of his authority and changes his name indicating a change in authority, not necessarily a change in character.

(Source: Jeff A. Benner, www.ancient-hebrew.org/emagazine)

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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Now Think On This #136 “Blessed To Be A Blessing” by Steve Martin

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.31.14) Monday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This

Sunday, March 30, 2014

"Prophetic Stories - Signs Along The Way" by Steve Martin - Available Now

Order here: Amazon - paperback edition $5.60

Order here: Kindle edition - $1.99

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Dreams Do Come True – Part I

2. Dreams Do Come True – Part II

3. Dreams Do Come True – Part III

4. Dreams Do Come True – Part IV

5. The Western Wall

6. Jerusalem

7. The Great Wall of China

8. Heritage USA -The Prophetic Drive

9. The Ceiling Will Be Removed

10. That You May All Prophesy

INTRODUCTION

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28 New King James Version (NKJV)

‘Adonai says: “In the Last Days, I will pour out from My Spirit upon everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Acts 2:17 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

“Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:39 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

We are living in the last days, the times prophesied long ago, right before the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, returns. Even as He spoke to the prophets of old in Israel, continuing through Jesus’ time on earth, and with the early church, the Lord is fulfilling His promise. His Eternal Word that He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, and we would prophesy.

Prophesy comes in many ways – through the spoken word, signs, dreams, visions, tongues. All are used by the Lord to speak to His people, give them guidance along the way, and show His provision for the plans He has for us. As we walk along His path chosen for us, He desires to encourage and reveal His plans to us. He most certainly uses His Written Word. He also uses prophetic words.

Here are a few that He has given to me. I am continually amazed at how He speaks, how He directs, and the assuring results of His guidance.

We need the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in these times. As the Bible says, He desires that all would prophesy, in order to assist believers in knowing His will, and speaking to non-believers that we serve an All-Knowing God, Who shows us the way.

The gifts of prophesy, seeing signs and wonders, and experiencing His love through His fascinating methods is for all. I hope you are encouraged in seeking Him as you read these stories of how He moved in my life.

Shalom and ahava,

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Charlotte, NC

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Midnight snack...or breakfast?

I love taking photos of Israeli food. Here are a few of my shots from Nov. 2013 in Jerusalem.

Midnight snack, breakfast or another meal? All work for me!

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Challah bread

Thanks girls for the Challah bread!

Need to get back

to Jerusalem

and get some more!