Lessons We Can All Learn From Jim Bakker's Fall and Rise - STEVE STRANG CHARISMA NEWS

I appeared on the Jim Bakker Show earlier this year. (Facebook )

Lessons We Can All Learn From Jim Bakker's Fall and Rise

11/15/2016 STEVE STRANG  CHARISMA NEWS

Pain is a part of life. The infilling of the Holy Spirit helps us deal with pain but is no guarantee Christians won't be immune to our share of it. The question is not whether you will experience pain, but how you will respond when the pain comes.

It's been said the heat that melts the butter hardens the clay. Too many Christians, I've observed in my six decades on Earth, melt at the slightest problem. They've been led to believe following Christ means a life of joy and fulfillment. That's absolutely true, but the way that message has been preached, at least in America, has left some with an unhealthy expectation that the Lord only allows smooth sailing in our lives.

On top of this, an overemphasis on the so-called prosperity gospel based on a mistranslation of 1 John 3 that God wants you to prosper has caused many a shipwreck for Christians who bought into it without understanding being a Christian is more than living like you won the lottery.

Jim Bakker should know. He told me he got off base partly because of an overemphasis on the prosperity gospel. And he has experienced far more pain in his life than almost anyone I know. In this month's cover story of Charisma magazine, I tell how Jim Bakker lost everything—his ministry, his reputation and his wife, and even his home burned to the ground. In addition, he lost his freedom and was in prison for almost five years. Despite it all, he has come back—in some ways stronger than ever.

Sometimes I will write an editorial about our cover story in Charisma. You can click here to read the digital version of that issue about Bakker, who I have covered since before the infamous "fall" in 1987. Here I share my own thoughts and conclusions on his life and I ask how you'll respond when the inevitable crises in life cause you to despair.

You may never experience the depth of what Jim Bakker experienced. But all of us will experience loss, whether it's the loss of a dream or a job or one's health. Maybe it will be the loss of a marriage. And even if it's not the loss of any other of these things, each of us will experience the loss of a loved one because no one can escape the inevitability of death.

We can all learn valuable life lessons from how Jim Bakker fell and how the Lord raised him up in this hour:

Humble yourself. If Jim Bakker was haughty before the fall, he is humble today. What happened to him was unjust in my opinion. Maybe he couldn't help being humiliated as he lost everything as the world press covered every twist and turn. Read how low he was when he came out of prison. Yet I've known others who were humiliated by lesser "scandals," and they tried to justify themselves and remained prideful. Whatever your pain is, embrace humility and ask God what He is trying to teach you.

Learn something new. While Jim was in prison cleaning toilets, he took time to get a doctorate degree by correspondence. But more than that, he did an in-depth study of the words of Jesus and also the book of Revelation. It was unplanned and unwanted, but it was like a five-year sabbatical, and he took advantage of every moment to study Scripture. So if you are bedridden due to your health or out of work, what creative way can you spend the time learning something new or growing spiritually?

Realize the Lord may be preparing you for something you can't anticipate. Most of us don't change unless we go through a difficult time. If this is happening to you, realize God has a bigger plan and allow your trial to shape your character. In Jim Bakker's case, it was becoming an expert on end times so he could help ready the body of Christ for whatever difficulties may be ahead. If PTL had continued to go and grow, would he have learned that? No. But look at the people he has been able to help. What is the equivalent of this in your life?

Finally, never give up. As long as there's life, there's hope. Nothing will continue as it is now—either very good or very bad. So you may feel overwhelmed, but that doesn't mean the sun won't rise tomorrow. Meanwhile, remember the words of Winston Churchill: "Never give up."

One of the things I admire about Jim Bakker is that he didn't give up. Instead, he started over, built a great organization and a great legacy, and served as an example for us all.

You can read my article on Jim and the entire November issue of Charisma by clicking here for the digital edition.

A few months ago, I interviewed Jim while I was on a visit to Morningside. I made it into a podcast which had the most downloads up to that time. Plus, I wrote about it in my newsletter which you can read here if you missed it. Take time to listen to the podcast again and to share it with others.

Take time to like my Steve Strang page on Facebook. During this election season, my audience has really grown! And as usual, share this with others you think would enjoy it.

Jim Bakker Has the Heart of a Changed Man

There is only one Jim Bakker. In this show, Jim opens up to discuss his career, Lori's house and his passion for America. Be open to hear how his life is an example of how God is a God of second chances.

Steve Strang is the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to the Strang Report podcast, and hereto sign up for the Strang Report newsletter.

Draw closer to God. Experience the presence of the Holy Spirit every month as you read Charisma magazine. Sign up now to get Charisma for as low as $1 per issue.

Get to know the Holy Spirit and how to interact with Him on a daily basis. Learn to enter God's presence and hear His voice clearly for yourself! Go deeper in your faith with Life in the Spirit and change your life and destiny. Are you ready to start your journey?

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11 Very Depressing Economic Realities That Donald Trump Will Inherit From Barack Obama - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

11 Very Depressing Economic Realities That Donald Trump Will Inherit From Barack Obama Posted: 15 Nov 2016 Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG It would be a grave mistake to understate the amount of damage that has been done to the U.S. economy over the past eight years.  In this article, I am going to share some economic numbers with you that are extremely sobering.  Anyone that takes a cold, hard, honest look at the numbers should be able to see that our economy is in terrible shape.  Unfortunately, the way that we see things is often clouded by our political views.   Up until the election, Democrats were far more likely then Republicans to believe that the economy was improving, but now that is in the process of completely reversing.  According to Gallup, only 16 percent of Republicans believed that the economy was getting better before the election, but that number has suddenly jumped to 49 percent after Trump’s election victory.  And the percentage of Democrats that believe that the economy is getting better fell from 61 percent to 46 percent after the election.  Here are some additional details from Gallup… After Trump won last week’s election, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now have a much more optimistic view of the U.S. economy’s outlook than they did before the election. Just 16% of Republicans said the economy was getting better in the week before the election, while 81% said it was getting worse. Since the election, 49% say it is getting better and 44% worse. Conversely, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents’ confidence in the economy plummeted after the election. Before the election, 61% of Democrats said the economy was getting better and 35% worse. Now, Democrats are evenly divided, with 46% saying it is getting better and 47% saying it is getting worse. The truth, of course, is that the result of the election did not somehow magically alter the outlook for the U.S. economy. We still have a giant mess on our hands, and the following are 11 very depressing economic realities that Donald Trump will inherit from Barack Obama… #1 Nearly 7 out of every 10 Americans have less than $1,000 in savings.  That means that about two-thirds of the country is essentially living paycheck to paycheck at this moment. #2 Reuters is reporting that U.S. mall investors are poised to lose “billions” of dollars as the “retail apocalypse” in this nation deepens. #3 Credit card delinquencies have hit the highest level that we have seen since 2012. #4 Approximately 35 percent of all Americans have a debt that is at least 180 days past due. #5 The rate of homeownership has fallen for eight years in a row and is now hovering near a 50 year low. #6 The total number of government employees now outnumbers the total number of manufacturing employees in this country by almost 10 million. #7 The number of homeless people in New York City (where Donald Trump is from) has hit a brand new record high. #8 About 20 percent of all young adults are currently living with their parents. #9 Total household debt in the United States has now reached a grand total of 12.3 trillion dollars. #10 The total amount of corporate debt in the U.S. has nearly doubled since the end of 2007. #11 When Barack Obama entered the White House, the U.S. government was 10.6 trillion dollars in debt.  Today, the U.S. national debt is currently sitting at a staggering total of $19,842,173,949,869.58. Despite nearly doubling the national debt during his eight years in the White House, Barack Obama is going to be the only president in United States history to never have a single year when U.S. GDP grew by at least three percent. So will Donald Trump waltz in and suddenly turn everything around? Just like when George W. Bush was elected, there is a lot of optimism about the future right now among Republicans. And in 2017, Republicans are going to have control of the Senate and the House in addition to being in control of the White House. But does that mean that they will actually get anything done? For a moment, let’s review what didn’t happen the last time the Republicans were in this position.  The following is an extended excerpt from an article by author Devvy Kidd… —– The Republicans had control of both houses of Congress part of the time during Bush, Jr.’s two terms. Did they lock down our borders? NO. Did they pass legislation to stop ALL funding for illegals which would self-deport millions of liars, cheats and thieves? NO. (READ, please: How to Self-Deport Millions of Illegals) Did they stop trillions in unconstitutional spending? NO. Did they get rid of any of Clinton’s unconstitutional Executive Orders? One or two but otherwise let Comrade Bill Clinton crap in our faces. Did they get rid of one unconstitutional cabinet like HHS, Department of Education and EPA? NO. Did they stop the unconstitutional foreign aid? NO. Did they stop unconstitutional spending for Planned Parenthood? NO. Congress just continues to use borrowed money to spend more debt. Did they stop unconstitutional spending for the gigantic hoax called global warming or climate change? NO. Trump: The Left Just Lost The War On Climate Change Did Bush, Jr., get us out of all the destructive trade treaties killing American jobs? NO. Did they crack down on visas bringing in tens of thousands of foreign workers when American workers who want to work are left in the unemployment line? NO. Did they stop more and more federal regulations strangling America’s businesses? NO. Did they impeach one single activist judge destroying our freedom and liberty? NO. A Republican controlled Congress with a Republican in the White House and they did virtually NOTHING to restore America to a constitutional republic and constitutional spending. —– So will things be any different under a Trump administration? We shall see. There will be tremendous pressure to maintain the status quo in many instances, because the process of fixing things would undoubtedly make conditions worse in the short-term. A great example of this is the national debt.  As I discussed yesterday, the only reason why we are able to enjoy such a massively inflated standard of living in this country is because we have been able to borrow trillions upon trillions of dollars from the rest of the world at ultra-low interest rates. If the federal government started spending only the money that it brought in through taxes, our ridiculous debt-fueled standard of living would begin collapsing immediately. We consume far more wealth than we produce, and the only way that we are able to do this is by borrowing insane amounts of money. Either Donald Trump will continue to borrow money recklessly, or we will go into a major league economic downturn. It really is that simple. But when our politicians borrow money, they are literally destroying the future of this country.  So the choice is pain in the short-term or greater pain in the long-term. There is a way out, and that would involve shutting down the Federal Reserve and going to a completely debt-free form of money, but that is a topic for another article. And unfortunately that is not something that is even on Donald Trump’s radar at this point. No matter who won the election, the next president was going to be faced with some very harsh economic realities. There are many out there that have faith that Donald Trump can pull off an unprecedented economic miracle, but there are others that are deeply skeptical. Let us hope for the best, but let us also keep preparing for the worst.

India, Israel Reaffirm Strong Ties During Rivlin State Visit - JNS BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

India, Israel Reaffirm Strong Ties During Rivlin State Visit

By JNS November 16, 2016 , BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son; but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.” Genesis 21:22 (The Israel Bible™)

Rivlin reaffirmed the strong ties between Israel and India in meetings with India’s leaders during a state visit Tuesday.

“I have no doubt that my visit here will help the ties and the cooperation between our two peoples grow stronger in security and our ability to keep our people safe, in agriculture, in water, in technology, in culture and in education,” Rivlin said in a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

In his remarks, Modi noted the threats of terrorism and extremism both countries face, and the need for more international cooperation to combat these forces.

“President Rivlin and I deeply value our strong and growing partnership to secure our societies,” Modi said. “Our people are constantly threatened by forces of terrorism and extremism. The international community must act with resolve and determination against terror networks and the countries that harbor them. We agreed to intensify our cooperation to combat the forces of extremism and radicalization that threaten all peace-loving nations.”

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World-Renowned Cantors Gather in New York for Benefit Concert - Tsivya Fox BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

World-Renowned Cantors Gather in New York for Benefit Concert

By Tsivya Fox November 16, 2016 BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Shaul, that Shaul said: ‘Is this thy voice, my son David?’ And Shaul lifted up his voice, and wept.” I Samuel 24:16 (The Israel Bible™)

On Sunday, November 6th, American Friends of Meir Panim, in collaboration with world-renowned cantors and influential community synagogues in northern Long Island, New York, hosted a benefit concert to raise urgently needed funds to help disadvantaged children in Israel.

The event, called “Voices for Children in Need”, was attended by 500 enthusiastic participants who were inspired by both the performances as well as the outstanding work of Meir Panim.  

The benefit concert took place at Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn, New York. It was Chaired by Beth Sholom’s Cantor Ofer Barnoy, along with Honorary Chair Rabbi Myron Fenster and Vice Chairs Allison and Martin E. Levine.

The event honored and paid tribute to Mrs. Lee Steinberg,  long-time friend of Meir Panim, with the Spirit of Humanity Award. As Meir Panim’s most devoted and beloved friend, Mrs. Steinberg’s unwavering generosity, inspiring leadership, and everlasting dedication to global philanthropy, the State of Israel and enrichment of its citizens’ lives truly reflect the spirit of humanity of the Jewish people. Among the extensive help which Mrs. Steinberg has provided to Meir Panim, she is credited with establishing the free restaurant-style soup kitchen in Israel’s northern city of Tiberias.
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If Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, Then Why Don't Most Jews Believe in Him? - SAM NADLER CHARISMA NEWS

Many Jews wanted a Messiah who would immediately remove Roman domination from Israel and return it to its former glory. (YouTube)

If Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, Then Why Don't Most Jews Believe in Him?

 11/16/2016 SAM NADLER  CHARISMA NEWS

To many Jewish believers, it seems rather strange to think that the Messiah could have come but that comparatively so few of their people believe in Him. The question is often expressed like this: "So, with all the scholars and rabbis searching to discover the Messiah, you're the only genius to figure this out?"

The number of living Jewish people who believe in Yeshua numbers somewhere between 200,000 and more than a million. Though this number is not insignificant, it is still not the majority of the Jewish people. Many believe truth is determined by majority vote. However, as much as this may play a role in the politics of men, it has little to do with the truth of God.

In the Hebrew Scriptures (the Tanakh), the prophet Isaiah declares that most Jewish people would not recognize the Messiah when He first came: "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground. He has no form or majesty that we should look upon him nor appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him" (Is. 53:1-3).

God knew and revealed to Isaiah a truth that seems obvious once we understand it: The majority of people don't want God's way of salvation—not even religious people. In fact, that's exactly what Isaiah goes on to say: "All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (Is. 53:6).

It was prophesied that although He would be our sin-bearer, the true Messiah would be rejected by the majority of the Jewish people when He first came. Isaiah makes this matter crystal-clear by further stating: "The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob to the mighty God" (Is. 10:21).

God recognized that only a "remnant," a tiny portion of the whole nation, would believe and make teshuvah (repentance). Only this remnant would "return ... to the Mighty God." This prediction is fulfilled in the Jewish people (like me) who have come to believe in Yeshua.

The New Covenant (see Jer. 31:31-34) also compares the present situation with the time of Elijah the Prophet, when the majority of the Jewish people were apostate: "So then at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Rom. 11:5).

Though the Scriptures make clear the phenomenon of general unbelief, there will be some who still wonder how the rabbis could have missed it. It helps to understand that the Messiah whom God promised and sent was not the Messiah for whom the world or the rabbis were looking. Instead, they wanted a Messiah who would immediately remove Roman domination from Israel and return it to its former glory.

But the purpose of Yeshua's coming was to die for sins as the perfect Passover Lamb. Rather than vindicate the self-righteous judgment of the rabbis, Yeshua insisted the religious leaders of Israel repent as well. This was intolerable for the rabbinical leaders, and, though many in Israel did accept Yeshua as Messiah, the majority of the Jewish people and rabbis rejected Him, just as the prophets had predicted.

However, there will come a time when our people as a nation will come to believe in Him. The Prophets also spoke of this future day: "And I will pour out on the house of David and over those dwelling in Jerusalem a spirit of favor and supplication so that they look to Me, whom they have pierced through. And they will mourn over him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly over him as a firstborn" (Zech. 12:10).

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (Ps. 118:22).

One day our people will trust in Yeshua, their Messiah and King.

But before this glorious time, we are told that a "remnant" of Israel will believe in the Messiah. You can be part of this remnant if you will acknowledge Yeshua for what the Tanakh and the New Covenant declare Him to be: the true Messiah of our people. Shalom! 

Dr. Sam Nadler is a Jewish believer in Jesus who has been in Messianic ministry for over 40 years. Sam is the president of Word of Messiah Ministries, which is bringing the gospel to the Jew first but not to the Jew only, and planting Messianic Congregations in Jewish communities worldwide. To encourage and equip the Body of Messiah in our shared calling, Sam is invited to speak in churches across the country and has written multiple books on Jewish evangelism, discipleship and the Feasts of Israel. For more information and resources, to subscribe to Sam's new podcast or to invite him to speak at your church, visit: www.wordofmessiah.org.   

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go deeper!

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Our Annual Digital Magazine Subscription Now 30% Off! - ISRAEL TODAY

Our Annual Digital Magazine Subscription Now 30% Off!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 |  Israel Today Staff

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Jews Now Have As Many Children As Arabs - Israel Today

Jews Now Have As Many Children As Arabs

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 |  Israel Today Staff

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Israel’s Bureau of Statistics this week announced that for the first time in the history of the modern State of Israel, the Jewish birth rate is on par with the Arab birth rate. Both Jewish and Arab women are having an average of 3.13 children.

Several years ago, the birth rate for Arab women stood at 4.3 children, while their Jewish counterparts were only having 2.6 children on average. But for around a decade now, the birth rates have been converging, with Jewish women having more and more children, while the trend in the Arab sector has been the opposite.

Further to the birth rates, the government body noted that at the end of 2015 there were 2,798,000 children in Israel (33 percent of the population), out of which 1,996,000 were Jewish and 718,000 were Arab (the discrepancy between these two numbers and the total number of children is due to other, smaller minority groups).

Taken as a whole, these new statistics are yet another repudiation of the notion that Israel faces a demographic threat if it does not surrender Judea and Samaria for the creation of a Palestinian Arab state.

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