"The Weapon of Honor!" - Bill Yount

"The Weapon of Honor!"

Bill Yount, Hagerstown, MD

The Elijah List

My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy honor all the day. Psalm 71:8

I saw what appeared to be high-ranking angels descending upon the earth decreeing: "Honor! Honor! Honor! Release the power of honor upon the earth!" "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king!" (1 Peter 2:17).

The word honor means to set a price on, value, esteem, regard or respect. From Heaven's perspective, whole nations, cities, and people are dying from the lack of honor. But through one simple word of respect, I saw the hand of God coming upon the earth to move upon whomever we honored.

A Scepter and Scroll of Honor

I saw a scepter of honor rising over the earth. Crowns, medals, and ribbons were now being handed out to weary, worn saints! I saw strong angels swooping down to pin medals and ribbons of overdue honor upon many of God's saints in this hour. Medals for "wounded" hearts were being given out. Your heart was wounded, but you went on! 

Those who have been hidden, receiving no recognition (while others were taking the credit for your labor), were now receiving medals of honor! There were medals and ribbons being pinned upon many for not quitting. You have gone through Hell without stopping! Even after you had fallen down, you got back up and kept going! (Photo by Donna Smallenberg"A New Name" via elijahshopper.com)

Great honor was coming upon you now! Gold medals were being given to those who took the blame, making peace with others even when you knew you were right. Crowns were now being placed upon heads while wearing your gold medal too. 

There were also medals being given for "unanswered" prayers. You cried out earnestly for God to answer your prayer, but there was seemingly no answer (or at least not the answer you had been looking for), but yet having not seen, you still believed.

Through great brokenness and humility, honor was now coming upon many. Proverbs 15:33 says, "...humility comes before honor." With this honor was coming great authority. And with this great authority came responsibility for us to honor others.

I also saw an "honor" scroll being opened as a great cloud of witnesses in glory stood to their feet! This honor scroll was opened and unfurled across the earth. High-ranking military angels began stepping down out of Heaven, and appeared to be disengaging in Heavenly warfare to release overdue honor upon the earth that would ultimately change many hearts and minds of mankind, bringing Heaven down to earth.

Honor the Unborn

A strong cry was heard throughout the earth to honor the unborn! Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." (Photo by Jennifer Page "LIFE" via elijahshopper.com)

Great honor in Heaven was being given to unborn babies whose destinies would have turned the world upside down by now. 

Love and hugs from earth would have squeezed out many cures of infirmities and diseases on the earth had they been loved and honored when they were sent. God was alerting us with one more opportunity to respect the womb and the treasure inside of it, which He wants to bring forth to bless us.

Honor Thy Father and Mother

Honoring thy father and mother all the days of thy life was releasing long awaited healings and miracles! Exodus 20:12 says, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

A doctor attending our church felt led to take time off work and visit his father and mother who lived in Florida. He took a month off to bless them and love on them. Upon returning home, this doctor had a physical check-up and was diagnosed with colon cancer. He said that when his physician said the word "cancer" to him, he had a strange peace come over him and the Lord spoke, "Since you have honored your father and mother, I am going to heal you and give you a long life!" That doctor has no cancer now!

I sense that even as our fathers and mothers age, the first commandment promising long life becomes vital in fulfilling our long range purposes on the earth.

Honor the Children

Honoring children will bring forth their gifts and callings like nothing else. Psalm 127:4-5 says, "As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate." (Photo by Linda Harris-Iorio "Quiver Flaming Arrows" via elijahshopper.com)

I once heard a story about a little boy who came to school one day carrying his little plastic guitar. Because that was so unusual, the teacher asked him what he was doing with it. He told his teacher, "I am going to be a great country singer when I grow up." The teacher took the little boy by the hand and walked him down to the principal's office. She said to the principal, "I want to introduce you to a great country singer legend. Would you allow him to sing over the PA system this morning?" The little boy sang his heart out. Years later, that little boy became a country singer. While doing a documentary of his success, he mentioned his teacher in elementary school who believed in him and respected his dream.

Honor All Men

As a result of not honoring others, we have not been honored. 1 Timothy 2:1-4, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."

A seemingly forgotten command was now coming forth from the Throne Room to the Body of Christ to decree honor to all men, including kings and leaders of nations. By not honoring them with our prayers, as well as not praying for the salvation of their souls, we were actually tying the hands of God from moving upon their lives! Because we didn't like the person God had put in power, we therefore despised their position. But to God, position and the person is everything! (Photo via Freeimages)

Romans 13:1 ...for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.

Many will be called at this time to stand before nations, kings, cities, tribes, orphans, widows, babies, and even the unborn to honor them. 

When we honor someone, something powerful happens in us, because in honoring others we are honoring God as well, since "all men" were created in His image. Don't wait to find a good reason to honor someone. You may be waiting forever. Let's honor them because God said so.

LET THE "HONOR" ROLL!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministry

Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
Website: billyount.com

Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, for the past 36 years where he is now an elder and a home missionary. He is currently an advisor at large for Aglow International. Bill faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope for 23 years and now travels full-time, both in the U.S. and internationally, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. "Humility and humor" characterize his ministry as he brings forth a fresh word that is "in season," proclaiming the Word of the Lord! 

The shofar (or ram's horn) is often used in his meetings, breaking the powers of darkness over regions, churches, and households. The shofar represents God's breath blowing into the nostrils of His people, reviving them and awakening the lost. Many of God's messages, which Bill ministers prophetically, come out of his everyday life with his family and friends.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

Upcoming Jewish Holidays Begins Period of Cataclysmic Events for Israel

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz August 23, 2015  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord… For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.”(Leviticus 23:26-29)

(Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
)

You don’t need prophetic vision to know that the world is on the verge of a new period heralding in global changes unlike any ever seen before. The signs are obvious and the pieces are all in place. With the Jewish holiday’s fast approaching, God’s plan for change and redemption is unfolding before our very eyes with grave implications for the nation of Israel.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, will begin on the evening of September 13 and end after sunset on September 15. According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashana is the day that God begins the process of judging the entire world.

This year’s Rosh Hashana is especially unique in that it will signal the end of the Shemittah year, the Sabbatical year which occurs in a seven year cycle. According to the Talmud, the written text explaining the oral Torah, the Messiah will come in the year following the Shemittah year.

As the second and final day of the holiday of Rosh Hashana ends on September 15, the 70th United Nations General Assembly will commence. The issue of the creation of a Palestinian state is expected to be decided by world representatives during the General Assembly. While not having yet happened, the upcoming session is already fraught with tension as it is unclear whether the US will continue to use its veto to prevent the Palestinians from unilaterally declaring a state.

Conflict over the Holy Land is prophesied to be part of the process of redemption. In Zechariah 12:6, the end times are described: “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among sheaves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure.” In Amos 9:15, we are told that once the Jews are re-established in their land, “they will not again be rooted out from their land.”

After the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana is an interim period referred to as the Ten Days of Awe. It is during this period, on September 17, that the US Congress will vote on whether to reject or accept the nuclear deal negotiated by US President Barack Obama with Iran over their nuclear program.

Religious leaders have characterized the Iran deal as a cataclysmic and fiery conflict as part of the apocalyptic war of Gog and Magog. In Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39, this was is described as involving several nations, none of whom border Israel. However Persia (Iran) is specifically mentioned as a main actor of the war.

It should be remembered that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his fateful address to Congress protesting the Iranian deal on March 3, the day before the Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim celebrates the Jewish victory over Haman, an officer in the Persian court, known today as Iran. Jewish holidays indeed play a significant role in the process of heavenly warning to the nations.

Pope Francis praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. (Photo: @MickyRosenfeld/ Twitter)

Concluding the Days of Awe is the holiday of Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement on which God seals his judgments. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year and falls on September 23. Oddly enough, September 23, Yom Kippur, is the day on which Obama has chosen to host Pope Francis at the White House on his first visit to the United States. Pope Francis, in his role as leader of the Catholic world, has chosen to involve himself in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, recently recognizing the “State of Palestine.”

The weeklong Jewish Holiday of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, begins September 28, also the date for the last of the four blood moons in a special tetrad cycle. Previous lunar tetrad cycles have coincided with important historical events that impacted the nation and State of Israel. For example, four blood moons followed the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. In 1967, before the Six Day War in which a divided Jerusalem was liberated and united by Israel, there was one blood moon with three following.

The upcoming blood moon will be clearly visible from Jerusalem and a similar pattern of eclipses happened just before and just after the destruction of the Jewish Temple by the Romans in 70 AD.

Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/47435/upcoming-jewish-world-holidays-ushering-in-period-cataclysmic-events/#WHlpCkO1XJoqX5H8.99

Why Does God Take So Long?

 8/23/2015 R.T. KENDALL  charisma magazine

It's hard to wait on God, but He knows best. (iStock photo )

Are you tired of waiting on God? Have you been saying, "I've waited long enough?" Waiting on God to act can truly be one of the worst things we have ever done. One of the most exasperating aspects of God is His slowness to step in on our behalf. But the more we get to know Him, the more we see that His slowness is not such a bad thing after all; it is for our good.

What if you could ask for anything you honestly want?

Have you ever fantasized that God might come to you as He did to Moses and ask you what you want Him to do for you? What if He did come to you and invited you to ask for anything you like? What do you suppose you would ask for? And what if there were no conditions—that is, you need not ask for what is noble, altruistic or even God-honoring—that it could even be a selfish request? You simply have an opportunity to ask for one thing and it will be answered. What would you request?

God had let Moses know He was pleased with him: "You have found favor with me," the Lord said to him. Moses seized the moment and replied to God, "If I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You" (Ex. 33:13, emphasis added).

One of the things Moses learned about God's ways is His slowness to act.

Moses was arguably the greatest leader of men in human history. He might have asked for any number of things—vengeance on His enemies, for example. But the truth of his heart surfaced: Moses wanted to know God's ways. This convicts me. I ask: Would I want to know God's ways above any other request?

I will admit to you that Moses's request puts me to shame. I cannot remember asking that of God. I certainly asked for a lot of other things.

I want to finish well. I would have thought that the safest guarantee that one will finish well is to make Moses's request—to know God's ways—your true desire.

The apostle Paul's supreme wish was the same—"to know Him," that is, Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10). You may want to ask, "Paul, are you saying you don't know the Lord?" Of course Paul knew the Lord. But his deepest longing was to know Christ better. That is what he meant by the words, "To know Him."

I have learned this. The better you get to know God, the more you want to know Him. The more you know Him, the more you are in awe of Him. The more you know Him, the more you want to spend time with Him. The more you spend time with Him, the more you feel you need him. The best way to get to know anybody is to spend time with them. So too when it comes to knowing God.

Moses frequented what was called the tent of meeting. It was there that the Lord spoke to Moses, "Face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend" (Ex. 33:11). It was in the tent of meeting that Moses put his request to the Lord—that he might know God's ways.

God lamented that ancient Israel did not know His ways (Heb. 3:10). God wants us to know His ways. But we must be prepared for this: His ways are different from our ways (Is. 55:8-9). What if we don't like God's ways?

One of God's ways is His slowness, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Pet. 3:8). Time is His domain. He is in no hurry. But we are. God can—to us—seem so slow.

Yet God can act so quickly when He chooses. Once Jesus was born, suddenly, a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel (Luke 2:13-14), and after waiting hundreds of years for Joel's prophecy to be fulfilled, suddenly a sound of a violent wind came from heaven (Acts 2:1-2).

So why is God slow in making things happen? He tells us why. We may or may not like the reason: that He might gain greater glory. The God of the Bible is a God of glory (Acts 7:1-2). Whatever He does, it is for His glory. The longer He waits, the greater the glory. But it also means greater the reward and greater the joy for us.

Adapted from It Ain't Over Till It's Over by R. T. Kendall, copyright 2015, published by Charisma House. If you've ever gotten tired of waiting for God's answers, this book is for you. It will encourage you to persevere, not give up, keep keeping on, run the race, and finish well.  To order your copy, click here.

Prayer Power for the Week of August 24, 2015

This week, dare to ask God to show you His ways, and not just His works. Honor Him for who He is, and not just for what He does. Ask Him to draw you into greater intimacy in your relationship and tell Him you trust Him to fulfill every promise He has made no matter how long it takes. Continue to pray for worldwide revival, laborers for His harvest field, our government and spiritual leaders, Israel and the church (Ex. 33:13; Heb. 3:10; 1 Tim. 2:1-5).

Messianic Jews: 'Brothers in Faith'

8/23/2015 STEVE STRANG   charisma magazine

The Beth Israel Jerusalem Center in Wayne, New Jersey, led by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, is the largest Messianic Jewish congregation in America. (Facebook)

Listen to the new Strang Report podcast weekly at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

---

Recently I had the privilege of visiting the largest Messianic congregation in America—Beth Israel Jerusalem Center led by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn in Wayne, New Jersey.  I thoroughly enjoyed the service and, as a Gentile, was completely with the music and the message. I enjoyed the Hebrew style melodies and some of the Hebrew blessings that were interspersed.  

Over the years it's been exciting to report the growth of the Messianic movement, which basically began only a few years before Charisma started in 1975. In fact, Charisma may have contributed to its growth because we've given it so much coverage.  

Only a few months after Charisma first published, I attended a service in Orlando led by an early Messianic named Manny Brotman. I was so moved by his message and what I learned about the Messianic movement that it resulted in a cover story for our seventh issue.

The headline read, "Is It Kosher To Believe In Jesus," and we featured Sandra Sheskin, a talented singer who was one of the first to popularize Messianic-Hebrew type of worship music.  Interestingly, she and Manny married a couple of years later.

We've run other stories, like "Believing in Messiah Yeshua" in the September-October 1976 issue, and "Have You Hugged a (Messianic) Jew Lately?" from the April 1997 issue.

Several times I have spoken to Messianic leaders who have expressed sincere appreciation for the coverage Charisma has given the movement. I was unaware that we were giving that much coverage. From our view, we were only covering what God was doing. I also had a heart for the Jewish people and for Israel, and the stories seemed to come naturally.

Over time I began to observe and to appreciate the hostility that the Messianics encounter—not only from the Jewish community but also from many Christians who believe in replacement theology. There are some that don't have theological reasons not to support the Messianic movement—they just are uncomfortable with it and tend to ignore it. This has been true of most Christian media. Our coverage is legitimate and its growth has, leaders have told me, contributed to its recognition in the mainstream and spirit-empowered community.  

Charisma has also been a strong supporter of Israel. In fact, the Israeli tourism office actually gave us an award in the late 1980s because, they said, we were the most pro-Israel Christian magazine in the country. Over the years, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various causes both on our own as well as through Christians United For Israel.

I had a small part in helping to start CUFI in 2006, mainly by hosting a "Night to Honor Israel" in Orlando that prompted John Hagee to believe that these events could be held around the country. I also helped him organize the meeting in which Christians United For Israel was kicked off in San Antonio, Texas on February 6, 2006.  

At the first Christians United For Israel event, we made friends with the Jewish community in Central Florida—friendships that continue this day. One of the rabbis who was concerned that this was going to be a proselytizing event (it wasn't)—it was a sincere show of support by Gentile Christians for the Jewish people and the State of Israel—wanted me to exclude Messianics from participating).

I knew this was a touchy issue. I didn't want to offend my new rabbi friend nor did I want to be disloyal to my Messianic brothers. The rabbi wanted me to publicly distance myself from the Messianics. I told him I could not do that because I consider them "brothers in faith."

I remember that it shot through my mind to say brothers in Christ (which is how we refer to other believers), but the Holy Spirit must have given me the phrase "brothers in faith" because the rabbi seemed to accept that. In fact, he said to me "we consider them that too," and we never discussed it again.

I can only assume that the rabbi meant that he considered them former Jews who had become Christians. But, I believe that Messianic Judaism is actually the fulfillment of Judaism in that they accept Jesus as Messiah, and all the early church fathers were Messianic Jews. The Book of Acts said that they turned the world upside.

Charisma is proud of its association with the Messianics. We praise God for what we see happening both with the Gentile church understanding their Jewish roots and also thousands of Jews recognizing that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.

Steve Strang is the founding editor and publisher of Charisma. Follow him on Twitteror Facebook stephenestrang.

For the month of August we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Charisma.
READ: The 40-Year Odyssey of Charisma

Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive CHARISMA MAGAZINE by email.

God Is Bringing Divine Reconnections Full Circle in This Hour

8/23/2015 JENNIFER LECLAIRE  charisma news

(Flickr )

Divine connections. We all want them. Many of us pray for them. We certainly hear a lot of prophecies about them. Hopefully, you've had a few along your narrow path.

Divine connections—those God-breathed relationships that seemingly come out of nowhere and have the potential to radically impact your life—are vital to fulfilling Father's call on your life. To be sure, these relationships can be absolutely life changing, even if they are only seasonal in intensity.

Divine connections are Scriptural and necessary. Moses and Joshua had a divine connection. Samuel and David had a divine connection. Elijah and Elisha had a divine connection. Paul and Timothy had a divine connection. In each case, we see destiny arising from those relationships. Joshua took the Promised Land baton from Moses. Samuel anointed David as king. Elisha grabbed Elijah's mantle. And Timothy carried on Paul's gospel mission.

Sudden Divine Reconnections

I'm grateful for the many divine connections God has brought into my life. I've been blessed with many godly relationships that have strengthened me, opened doors for me and imparted wisdom that would have otherwise taken me decades to glean. Over the last year, though, God has put an emphasis on divine reconnections in my life that have been as powerful as any divine connection I've ever experienced.

JOIN JENNIFER ON FACEBOOK FOR SPIRITUAL COMMENTARY AND ENCOURAGEMENT. CLICK HERE. 

Indeed, I've seen three especially significant divine reconnections that have brought spiritual increase into my life I wasn't expecting and could never have walked into on my own two feet. One of them was with Ryan LeStrange, with whom I co-founded awakeningtv.com and my now fellow New Breed Revival Network leader. After a decade, we reconnected about a year ago and it's been explosive.

Another divine reconnection was with Rich and Dottie Kane of the Healing Rooms Ministries of South Florida. They have stood with me, walked by me and helped me launch Awakening Healing Rooms at the Awakening House of Prayer in Hollywood, Florida. During the training session, a woman came in with terminal cancer seeking prayer. We prayed for her, the power of God overtook her, and the doctors could not explain how her cancer markers dropped from 16 to 1.5. It was God—and through a divine reconnection.

Divine reconnections are what I call a "full circle experience." Dutch Sheets has a strong message on this topic of coming full circle. In this revelation, he explains when you come full circle in God you come up to a higher level. I'm not doing the teaching justice in this small snippet, so I encourage you to click the link and listen to the entire word. My point is that divine reconnections are relationships that come full circle—at a higher level.

Reconciling Divine Relationships

For all the divine connections I see in the Bible, I also see powerful divine reconnections or full circle relationships in Scripture that reveal God's redemptive, reconciliatory power.

One of the most powerful divine reconnections is Paul's relationship with John Mark. When Saul and Barnabas set out to the mission field they took young John Mark with them (see Acts 12:12). For whatever reason (likely connected to the spiritual warfare that raged against Paul's ministry) John Mark abandoned the mission (see Acts 13:13-14).

Later, Saul and Barnabas split because Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them but Paul thought it was better not to take him since he bailed the first time around. But God brought the relationship full circle. In one of Paul's last letters from prison he mentioned John Mark, telling his spiritual son Timothy to "get Mark, and bring him with you, for he is profitable to me for the ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).

Lot also experienced a divine reconnection with Abraham that may have saved his life. Lot and his family were taken captive by five kings (see Gen. 14:8-12). When Abraham heard it, he gathered 318 men from his household and set out to rescue Lot—and succeeded. Although they did not continue walking together as they had before Lot chose to dwell in Sodom, it was a powerful, divine reconnection.

Just like divine connections, you can't make divine reconnections happen. That's part of the reason they are called divine. It is God's doing in His way and with His timing. When they do come, full circle relationships manifest in His season and for His reason. I believe in this season God is bringing forth many divine reconnections and also breathing new life into established relationships so we can run swiftly into His purposes and redeem the time because the days are evil.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of AwakeningTV.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.

To celebrate our 40th anniversary, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

The Charisma Podcast Network is now live. Subscribe now for free!

Did you like this article? You'll enjoy Jennifer LeClaire's book, The Spiritual Warrior's Guide to Defeating Jezebel

COMMENTARY: Are We Witnessing the Conclusion to Story of the Prodigal Son?

Sunday, August 23, 2015 |  Brian Hennessy  ISRAEL TODAY

If you recall, when Yeshua (Jesus) ended his famous parable (Luke 15), the older brother was still having a hissy-fit. And the father, who had organized a wonderful homecoming celebration for his younger brother “who was lost and has been found,” was desperately trying to talk him into joining the party. But the older boy was having none of it. He couldn’t understand how his father could have a party for that worthless, no-good brother of his when he had served so faithfully and nobody had ever thrown him a party.

And that’s where Yeshua left us. Wondering if the older son would ever understand and receive his father’s unconditional love. Or if the two brothers would ever reconcile.

Well, after 2000 years, we may be watching the conclusion to this parable unfold before our eyes. And it seems headed for a happy ending. Of course, what happened to the angry older brother in the interim, sad to say, was pretty devastating. In fact, he ended up in the same pitiful homeless situation his younger brother had experienced. I know that because the parable was clearly a prophecy about to be fulfilled. And hindsight tells the tale.

The older brother surely represents the Jews. And Yeshua was revealing how his own brethren would react when Father God began to bring Gentiles (the Prodigal) into the house. They’d go ballistic. Why? Because the Jews, who had been dutifully following God’s commandments, believed righteousness was the reward for their diligence. Seeing un-kosher Gentiles, who didn’t know Moses from Adam, claiming they’d been forgiven and declared righteous through faith in Yeshua pushed them right over the edge.

History records how the older brother’s hardened heart soon drove him from the Father’s estate. And how the brothers’ relationship went from bad to worse. In fact, there was a complete role reversal. The Prodigal (now called “Christian”) began to consider himself the favorite son and persecuted his older brother, driving him further away from knowing his Father’s love.

Centuries passed. Then two miracles occurred.

First, the older brother was allowed to return home from his bitter exile. Secondly, the younger brother came to his senses again and remembered the unconditional love and mercy he had been shown. Yes, suddenly, we saw how poorly we’d been treating our older brother. And we wept bitter tears. And began to love again.

So here we are today. Two brothers, separated for centuries by jealousy and persecution, trying to trust one another again. Still not on the same page, but letting the mutual worship of our Father in Heaven and desire to see Israel restored heal our self-inflicted wounds. The story is almost complete.

In Yeshua’s parable, we know the father wanted to celebrate with both sons. But only the forgiven son had reason to rejoice. That tells me this unconditional love we have been given for our embattled brother is a preparation for him to enter God’s “covenant of peace.”

Which means Abba is about to throw a huge party – this time for the two of us!

“How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1).


Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates from ISRAEL TODAY.

Obama Trying to Shame Israel?

Sunday, August 23, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff

RELATED STORIES

• Israeli officials down, but not out over Obama win
• Israel slams Obama, unsure Syria strike will work
• Israel launches Obama visit app for Android, iOS

Topics:

America

While it flew somewhat under the radar of the mainstream news cycle, the Obama Administration last week apparently tried to shame Israel into supporting its dangerous Iran nuclear deal by declassifying historic documents regarding the Jewish state’s own nuclear program.

Many saw it as no accident that the Nixon-era State Department documents were made public just as Israel is leading the charge to have Obama’s Iran nuclear agreement defeated in Congress.

The release of the 1,100-page official report, which covers meetings from 1969–1976, would seem to be an effort to draw moral equivalency between Israel and Iran, and between America’s approach to both nations’ respective nuclear programs.

Most notably, a July 19, 1969 memorandum from then-national security adviser Henry Kissinger to President Richard Nixon outlined the proposed approach to Israel, and highlighted disagreement between the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense, and State Department on what demands to present the Jewish state.

All involved agreed that Israel must be made to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“Everyone agreed that, as a minimum, we want Israel to sign the NPT. This is not because signing will make any difference in Israel’s actual nuclear program because Israel could produce warheads clandestinely,” the memo said. “Israel’s signature would, however, give us a publicly feasible issue to raise with the Israeli government — a way of opening the discussion. It would also publicly commit Israel not to acquire nuclear weapons.”

The Joint Chiefs of Staff “felt that if Israel’s program becomes known, we should be in a position to say we did everything in our power to prevent Israel from going nuclear,” while the Department of Defense felt that “we could live with the existence of Israeli nuclear weapons provided they were not deployed.”

The State Department, meanwhile, believed “we should try to keep Israel from going any further with its nuclear weapons program — it may be so close to completion that Israel would be willing — and make a record for ourselves of having tried.”

The Obama White House claimed the release of the documents was routine declassification that just happened to coincide with debate over the Iran deal.

But many say it is even more cause for concern that the Obama Administration and the West intend to do very little to actually stop Iran from attaining nuclear weapons.

The content of the documents would suggest that, just as it did with Israel, when Iran goes nuclear the White House will simply throw up its hands and say, “We tried.”

Except, Iran isn’t Israel, and trying to subtly draw moral equivalence between the two again demonstrates for many the moral bankruptcy of America’s policies.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates from ISRAEL TODAY.