Thursday, December 24, 2015

Video: When was Yeshua Born? - Ron Cantor, Messiah's Mandate

When was Yeshua Born?



7 Thoughts About Christmas from a Messianic Jew

As you all know, it doesn’t really matter WHEN Yeshua was born, but more that HE WAS born. Nevertheless, our latest video speculates when He may have been born. And the conclusion is quite powerful! But you will need your math hat.




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Dr. Michael Brown - If Jesus Is Not the Messiah of Israel, What Hope Do Any of Us Have? - Jessilyn Justice CHARISMA NEWS

Dr. Michael Brown disputes Vatican report telling Catholics to avoid trying to convert Jews to Christianity.

Dr. Michael Brown disputes Vatican report telling Catholics to avoid trying to convert Jews to Christianity. (Michael Brown )


If Jesus Is Not the Messiah of Israel, What Hope Do Any of Us Have?





Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

The Vatican recently released a report telling Catholics to avoid trying to convert Jews to Christianity. 
But they were wrong, says Dr. Michael Brown. 
"If Jesus is not the Messiah of Israel, then He is not the Savior of the gentiles," Brown says in a new video. 
If Christ isn't our Savior, then is our salvation at stake? Watch the video to see. 

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!
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This Christmas, Israel Celebrates New Trend of Israeli Arab Christians Joining IDF By Abra Forman - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS


Father Gabriel Naddaf hosts a Christmas celebration for Arab Christian IDF soldiers. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.)

Father Gabriel Naddaf hosts a Christmas celebration for Arab Christian IDF soldiers. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.)


This Christmas, Israel Celebrates New Trend of Israeli Arab Christians Joining IDF


“Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’ He said, ‘No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.’” (Joshua 5:13-14)
As Christmas approaches, an Israeli priest is spearheading a program to dramatically increase the number of Christian Arabs enlisting and serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. The Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum, led by Greek Orthodox priest Father Gabriel Naddaf of Nazareth, aims to double the number of Christian Arabs enlisting and serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.
The Forum, which is supported by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, has seen a huge jump in numbers since it began its work. It saw a 50% increase from its founding year in 2012, in which only 40 Christian drafted to the Israeli army, to 2014, when over 100 drafted. In March of 2015 alone, 102 Christian Arabs entered the IDF due to the work of the Forum.
Israeli law does not require minorities in the Jewish State to serve in the IDF, so all of the Arab Christians recruits are choosing to volunteer. A notable exception has always been the Israeli Druze community, which is proudly Zionist and has served in the IDF since the state’s creation in 1948. Now, Father Naddaf hopes that some of the 165,000 Arab Christians in Israel will follow in the Druze’s footsteps.
The Bridge Builder: The Life and Continuing Legacy of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein - Read Now!
The initiative is really part of a larger movement by Father Naddaf to recast the entire Arab Christian population as a group which, like the Druze, identifies as patriotic Israelis, rather than enemies of Israel. He aims to integrate the minority into mainstream Israeli society. Father Naddaf has even coined a new moniker for the community, calling its members “Israeli Christians” rather than Arab Christians.
He explained, “Calling them ‘Arab-Christian’ puts them on the side of Palestinians and terrorists, when in reality they’ve lived in Israel for generations and just want to live in peace and security.”
While the Forum, which also gives financial aid to needy Christian families in Israel and discharged IDF soldiers, does not receive government support, Father Naddaf and the Fellowship were recognized by Israel’s Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, in a Jerusalem ceremony last week.
At the ceremony, Father Naddaf thanked “Christian donors around the world” for supporting him through the Fellowship, saying, “Your assistance is essential for the strength of Israeli society.” He added, “This society will achieve peace and defeat evil.”

Father Gabriel Naddaf hosts Arab Israeli IDF soldiers in a Christmas celebration. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.)
Father Gabriel Naddaf hosts Arab Israeli IDF soldiers in a Christmas celebration. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.)

On Monday, Father Naddaf hosted a festive Christmas party for some of the Israeli Christian soldiers that the Forum has helped to enlist, distributing holiday treats and thanking them for their service to Israel.
The Christian population of Israel is one of the largest Arab Christian communities in the world, and the only one in the Middle East region which is actually showing signs of population growth. While Christians are often persecuted for their religious beliefs in the Middle East, to the point of kidnapping and wholesale murder in the case of the Islamic State, Israel’s Christian population is free to worship as it wishes. It is also one of the best-educated populations in the country.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Even the Simple Things - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Even the Simple Things

Now Think On This
Steve Martin


“What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail — even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.” (Matthew 10:29-31 THE MESSAGE)


The phone call came about 6 pm that Wednesday evening. I had missed the earlier text. My oldest daughter Hannah, eight months pregnant with her first-born Levi, had been in a car accident. She was okay. But her two year old Hyundai Elantra was totaled, trapped between three other stopped cars when rear ended by a high school senior football player who was texting. He was going 40 mph when he slammed into the string of cars, as the eye witness said. The 18 year old hadn’t seen the red light.

Remembering back, Laurie was eight months pregnant with Hannah when, while driving our Chrysler station wagon, was surely thinking about the upcoming Christmas holiday, and didn’t see the red light. Result? Two cars totaled – ours and the other. That was in late December of 1983 in East Lansing, Michigan. Again, a red light missed. 

The devil hates all of our Lord’s creation, especially the unborn, and will try to kill them anyway he can. (Hannah was surprised when we told her about that time, after her accident.)

This time around, Laurie rode with Hannah in the ambulance to the hospital. Hannah was not hurt, bless the Lord, but they wanted to make sure Levi had not been traumatized. Six hours later the word came back that all was good.

But then Hannah needed another car. So the following Monday, after getting off from my office job, I was available to help her in her quest for one. We stopped at Hardee’s to get a sandwich, and then onto the car dealer. Her blessing from the Lord came soon. Though what the enemy of our souls meant for evil, death and destruction, the Lord had other plans. Hannah drove her new crossover vehicle home. It would be big enough for a new stroller and more, for her family of four.

On Tuesday morning I went to get my keys to make the 6 am, 14 mile drive to work in uptown Charlotte. But my keys were not in the usual spot. I looked all over, prayed, looked, prayed, and looked again. In the car, in the bedroom, in the living room chairs; even in the garbage, thinking maybe they fell out of my IDF (Israel Defense Force) fleece jacket when I took out the trash. Nada. Nothing.

The security guard let me into the office, being no other staff would arrive until two hours later for daily work. But with no key to open my desk drawers, I thought my day wouldn’t be too productive. A few times the word “garbage” came to me, so I again checked our recycle bin and the home dumpster when I got home from work. Nothing. Just dirty hands.

So I took the dumpster to the street curb for the weekly early morning pick up the next day. That night I searched again for the lost keys. Nothing. No one else had seen them. I knew I would have to get copies of the six keys that I had on the Messianic One New Man symbol key ring bought in Israel, if not found. What a pain. So the search continued with no good results.

At 5:55 am on Wednesday morning, before I used our spare key to drive to work, I said to the Holy Spirit, “You know where those keys are. Please tell me.” Again the word “garbage” came to me. I got a flashlight and walked to the dumpster on the curb, hoping any neighbors also leaving for work at that early time wouldn’t see me and think I was a garbage picker. (I didn’t have a hoodie or hat on, just to make extra sure of that.) The garbage truck would come within an hour or so.

The thought came to look for the Hardee bag. Why not? So I did. It was just a bit down in the dumpster bin pile. I pulled out hamburger wrappings and an empty shake plastic cup (strawberry if you want to know) to get to the bottom. And there, as they had been for the past 36 hours, were my keys! Hallelujah Lord!!! Why I had not seen them before I may never know. But He does, and the rest is left in His hands.

I quickly wrote a joyous note to Laurie, letting her know of even this simple thing the Holy Spirit did for me, and then drove on to work. And yes, I shared the good news story with the 27 year old security guard James. I wouldn’t need his door opening assistance again.

The Lord cares all about us. He cares for our spirit, He cares for our body, He cares for our soul. He even cares about our lost keys. If we seek Him, He will show us the way.

I bless the Lord and will daily call upon His Name. He is our salvation, which is the meaning of His Name, Yeshua (Jesus) in Hebrew. Thank you Lord!

Now think on this, with His love and mine. And if you lose your keys, ask the Holy Spirit to help!

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.

 

My note to Laurie that morning:


   Note: It was actually a Hardee’s bag, not Burger King.


Especially at this end of year time, we sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.

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 families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 
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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

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Now Think On This - In the year of our Lord 12.23.15 - #223 –“Even the Simple Things” – Wednesday at 7:30 pm

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


Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

Keys of Strategy are Turning Concern to Confirm and He is the Key to Your Family by Lana Vawser

Keys of Strategy are Turning Concern to Confirm and He is the Key to Your Family by Lana Vawser


Dec. 23, 2015 Identity Network
This morning the Lord has been showing me keys of strategy that He is releasing through prayer. This is the second or third time this year that the Lord has shown me these keys and when I asked the Lord why He was showing me again, He began showing me many who were feeling "stuck."  They have tried "so many different avenues" and nothing has seemed to break open and highlight the way forward.


As the Lord was releasing these "keys of strategy" I saw many with a very shocked looked on their faces. It wasn't what they expected, and as the Lord handed them the key, He smiled and spoke, "This key is going to bring about a great REARRANGE, but keep moving forward, for the GREAT REARRANGE is moving you onto a NEW PAGE."


These keys of strategy even though they may not "look like" what you expected are actually going to lead you into a HUGE new beginning. They are actually unlocking the "shift of season."


The Lord then spoke again "I am going to turn CONCERN to CONFIRM. Where many are concerned about these keys of strategy because they are so "out of left field," I am going to begin bringing SUPERNATURAL CONFIRMATION.


Confirmation in a way that only "I" could confirm. These keys may not be what you expect, but they are going to RESURRECT things of old and IMPLEMENT things of the NEW. DOUBLE PORTION FOR YOU."


Trust Him with the key He has given you. Stay prayerful and watch and see the radical fun confirmation He is going to release to you to turn your CONCERN into CONFIRM.


I Am the Key for Your Family


In a vision I was walking past many houses and these houses were lit up with the glory of God. But as I walked past many of the houses, I could hear sobbing. A deep sobbing coming from inside the houses. Instantly, I knew that these houses represented families in the Kingdom. Many crying out for a "strategy" to bring healing, breakthrough, freedom and restoration to their families.


In this vision Jesus was standing next to me and with such sadness and tears in His eyes, He spoke, "Many families are feeling like they have been left in ruins by the enemy's schemes and the brokenness that he has brought upon them. 

I have heard EVERY PRAYER, I have CAUGHT EVERY tear and now I am coming to REPAIR, REBUILD and RESTORE TO BETTER THAN BEFORE. A divine TURNAROUND in family!" I could feel the heartache in His heart for the pain, sorrow, loss and betrayal many families have faced, but I could also feel the HOPE of what was to come.


Suddenly the Lord spoke words that He had spoken to me in my dream at the start of the week, again:


"I am MOVING IN as the KINSMAN REDEEMER."


I saw Him moving into houses that were crying out to Him for healing, for restoration, for deliverances, for freedom, for rebuilding and restoration.


As He moved through room after room, person after person, I saw Him pull out scrolls and they contained ALL THE PRAYERS PRAYED concerning families and family members.


Joy Will Return


He ministered individually and corporately in these houses. Leading many in prayers to forgive one another, removing trauma, imparting vision and hope for the future concerning the family unit through sharing the dreams in His heart for them. Some rooms, He moved into, He closed the door, and I could not see what He was doing, but I KNEW it was a deep, private, beautiful moment with many. 


That He was going into places in the heart that many within families were so afraid for other family members or anyone to see. As He walked out of one house the SOBBING turned to LOUD LAUGHTER. He turned and looked at me and with a smile and tears in His eyes, He began to share His heart.


"JOY will return to MANY homes again. LAUGHTER and HONOR is being restored. The time for UNPRECEDENTED MIRACLES in FAMILIES HAS ARRIVED."


"Next year 2016 will be a year of MANY PRODIGALS COMING HOME!!!


He then began to share with me how He is doing a deep work in families right now and it is going to hit a POINT OF ACCELERATION AND INCREASE next year. Next year will be a year of greater RESTORATION OF FAMILY!!! One of the waves of revival to be poured out across the earth is going to be released in unprecedented ways through the testimony of the restoration of the FAMILY UNITS."


Lana Vawser






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COMMENTARY: Do Christians Only Have Half the Story? | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

COMMENTARY: Do Christians Only Have Half the Story?

Wednesday, December 23, 2015 |  Brian Hennessy  ISRAEL TODAY

If someone started watching the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, in the middle of the film, would they ever figure out the point of the story? Or appreciate the challenges Jimmy Stewart had to overcome? I doubt it. They would learn how the story ended, but remain largely ignorant of what was truly accomplished.
 
Well, that is what happens when Christians focus exclusively on the New Testament, believing the Old Testament is a completely different story unrelated to following Christ. As a result, we fail to see that the story of the “church,” God’s ecclesia, didn’t start in Matthew 1–but in Genesis 12. Or that the unifying theme of the Bible is found in the fulfillment of a promise made to an old man with a barren wife who believed God “he would be heir of the world” (Rom. 4:14).  
 Is it any wonder so many Christians say today, “I just don’t get Israel?”
Not only are many Christians unaware of the unfolding story of Israel, but we have failed to see how we ourselves are included. So few realize their faith in Yeshua has actually brought them into those covenant promises made exclusively to Abraham. And not into a new religion with different promises. “For if you belong to Messiah, you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29).
I have often said, for most Christians Jesus could have been born and died in Toledo, Ohio and it wouldn’t affect their understanding of the gospel one iota. We have been so focused on the theological benefits of our blood-bought salvation we’ve missed the importance of Yeshua’s historical context as a Jew in the land of Israel. We have not studied the still unfulfilled prophecies concerning his kingdom. Or seen that the NT is but the continuing story of Israel’s elect moving forward from the types and shadows of the Old Covenant into the blessings and realities of a New Covenant. 
On the other hand, Jews have the opposite problem. Having rejected the testimony of the NT they only read the first half of the Book and never learn how God is fulfilling the hopes and dreams of the fathers to save Israel through Yeshua, His Messiah. They never read the amazing words spoken by the angel Gabriel to the young Jewish girl, Miriam, that she would give birth to God’s savior. And that this child, who would miraculously form in her womb, “will be called the son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32,33).
We could excuse the Jews who have been temporarily blinded by God from believing those words. But what about Christians who hear them read each year at Christmas, only to have them go in one ear and out the other? Why? Because Replacement Theology has rendered them incomprehensible. How can Jesus, who they see as the founder of their religion, occupy “the throne of his father David” in Jerusalem and “reign over the house of Jacob?” 
My heart breaks when I hear Christians talk about the Church and Israel as being two separate peoples with no common destiny. Does God have two Messiahs? One for the Church and one for the Jews? Does God have two olive trees? Two temples? Hasn’t God promised to show Jews the same mercy He showed us? And to do so precisely “because of the mercy shown to you?” (Rom. 11:30)  
Today, Christians and Jews are reaching out to each other in ways not seen since the first century.As believers we are commanded to put aside our historic animosities and prejudices and stand with them in their struggle for survival, looking forward to the day when we can  “…with one accord with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:6).
In other words, it’s time for us to step into the story.

Brian Hennessy is the author of Valley of the Steeples, available at: ketchpublishing/BrianHennessyBooks.htm
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Love For His People Featured Book


Buy here - Paperback $5.95, Kindle $1.99

Why Israel? Why not? This little booklet consists of messages previously written in my books, which of themselves contain many various themes. I wanted to devote one book to just Israel and the Jewish people, and so this small booklet was compiled.

As you read the following, consider the truth contained in Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, which spell out the commitment of God the Father to choose a people who will be a light to the nations. He chose the Jews, and gave them the Promised Land of Israel. It does not matter what other national governments try to say, do, or accomplish apart from the plans and purposes of the Lord. They will fail. His Word is true. It is eternal. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and thus His commitment in keeping His promises made to the Jewish people will be fulfilled.

I hope you stand with them in these last days.

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.



Franklin Graham Blasts Republicans, Leaves Party - CBN News

Franklin Graham Blasts Republicans, Leaves Party
12-23-2015  CBN News

Rev. Franklin Graham says he is leaving the Republican Party.
The evangelist took to Facebook on Monday blasting the GOP for passing what he called a "wasteful spending bill" that "funds Planned Parenthood."
"There is no question taxpayers should not be paying for abortion!  Abortion is murder in God's eyes," he wrote.
Graham went on to compare the recent undercover videos showing the sale of aborted baby parts to Nazi concentration camps. The videos revealed Planned Parenthood staffers talking with prospective buyers of harvested organs and other body parts from aborted fetuses.
Many Republican congressmen appeared to favor cutting off Planned Parenthood funding, but that didn't happen.
Graham, who has expressed support for presidential hopeful Donald Trump, says America's political system needs a total revamp.
"Unless more godly men and women get in this process and change this wicked system, our country is in for trouble," he concluded.