Thursday, January 4, 2018

Former Radical Muslim Issues Urgent Prayer Alert as Iran Burns - TBN/Charisma News

Former Radical Muslim Issues Urgent Prayer Alert as Iran Burns

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

Iranian-American Pastor Reza Safa, a former radical Muslim and founder of the Farsi-language Christian network TBN Nejat Television, has issued an urgent request for Christians around the world to pray for Iran and its people as political unrest rages in the Muslim-controlled nation. Since Dec. 28, tens of thousands of Iranian citizens have taken to the streets of the northern city of Mashhad and elsewhere to protest political oppression, with at least 20 individuals killed in violence.

Safa, whose TBN affiliate network reaches deep into Iran with the gospel message, noted that the protests mark the second time in less than 10 years the people of Iran have risen up against the nation's oppressive Islamic government, which first gained control with the overthrow of Shah Reza Pahlavi in 1979. "For the past 39 years, the Islamic regime has done nothing but oppress the people of Iran," said Safa. "The Iranian people are fed up with the government's corruption and its squandering of the nation's wealth to fund terrorism abroad."

Iran's economy is in shambles, with an unemployment rate that Iran's Interior Ministry estimates may be as high as 60 percent in some areas of the country. Safa said that young people under 30, a demographic that constitutes more than half of Iran's population, are particularly affected, which has helped to fuel the anger against the government.

"In Iran today the people have virtually no freedom," said Safa. "Even the way they dress publicly is controlled by the government. So now, for the second time since 2009, the people have taken to the streets in cities across Iran to protest against economic hardship and political repression."

However, he added, there is a major difference this time around. "Today in Iran the gospel is going forward as never before," said Safa. "Through outlets like TBN Nejat Television, the message of salvation through Jesus is impacting literally every major population center across the nation—despite aggressive efforts by Iran's government to stop it. Over the past several years, countless thousands of Iranians have come to faith in Christ, so that today the nation of Iran is poised for positive change."

Safa emphasized the importance of Christians around the world joining together in spirit to pray for the people of Iran at this crucial time. "It is important to think in terms of the church and salvation of souls when we read historical events and political changes," he said. "I believe that God is preparing an army of ex-Muslims to evangelize the Islamic world in the days ahead. If this is the time for a political change in Iran, our prayers today need to be that a proper and right government is established in this nation and people loved by God. Will you join me in interceding on behalf of Iran and its people?"

CLICK HERE to find out more about Pastor Reza Safa's efforts to bring the gospel message to the people of Iran through TBN Nejat Television, and CLICK HERE to watch TBN Nejat live.

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Set Your 'Spiritual GPS' for the New Year - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA NEWS

I call this exercise "resetting my GPS." I encourage you to try it. (Getty Images/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Royalty-free/Peopleimages)

Set Your 'Spiritual GPS' for the New Year

1/4/2018 J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA NEWS

At the beginning of every New Year I always reassess my goals, sharpen my objectives and pray for God's blessing. I ask myself: What do I want God to accomplish in my life this year? How do I want to grow personally, in my relationships and in my career? Then I seek the Lord to hear what He is saying to me about the next 12 months.

I call this exercise "resetting my GPS." I encourage you to try it. Here's how it works:

G stands for "Goals." People with goals have a sense of purpose, and they aren't easily distracted. On the other hand, those with no ambitions wander aimlessly. If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it. Setting a goal is the first step toward success.

I see the power of goal setting in the life of the apostle Paul. He was motivated by a fiery passion to take the gospel to the Gentiles. In his lifetime he traveled on foot or by ship, chariot or horseback to what is now Turkey, Syria, Greece, Crete, Malta and Italy. His goal drove him forward.

He also set a goal to preach in Spain (see Rom. 15:24, 28). We don't know if he reached Spain or not, but that goal certainly stoked his zeal and motivated him to wake up every morning. When he wrote these words--"I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14)—he was in chains in a Roman prison. Paul didn't let obstacles deter him.

There's a difference between a dream and a goal. Dreams can be elusive—always "somewhere out there"—if the person dreaming never takes a first step. Your most vital step is to write down your goal. State it clearly and aim at it. The prophet said in Habakkuk 2:2: "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run." You can't run toward your vision unless it is clearly articulated.

P stands for "Prophetic Word." For many years I've developed the habit of seeking the Lord for a word for the coming year. Sometimes God gives me a verse from the Bible. Other times I get a phrase or simply one word. As I was praying for 2018, for example, the Lord said, "Advance" and "Take possession," and He gave me Joshua 1. He also encouraged me to study the book of Joshua during 2018.

You don't have to be a prophet to receive a personalized directive like this. God knows you, and He knows your future. He also knows the challenges you face and the storms that may come this year. Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God loves you. If you seek Him, He will speak a word to your heart.

Once you receive that prophetic word, hold onto it no matter what happens. God gave Abraham and Sarah a promise about an heir, but it took 25 years before Isaac was born. God does not work according to your timetable; you must submit to His schedule. The prophetic word is certain; you can bank on it. It will fill your heart with the hope and encouragement you need to move forward, in spite of delays, setbacks, personal failures, relationship breakups, illness, job loss, miscarriages, deaths or disasters.

S stands for "Special Prayer." The most important part of resetting my spiritual GPS is setting aside time to pray. I call it "special" prayer because it's beyond the norm of my daily routine. I feel most prepared for a New Year if I can unplug and devote a block of time to commit my plans and goals to the Lord.

Setting goals is a great step toward success, but goals are nothing if God did not inspire them. Proverbs 16:9 says: "A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps." When we take our goals to God in prayer, we allow Him to override them if they are misguided; we also give Him permission to expand our goals if they are limited. We bow before God's throne and tell Him that we only want His plans, not ours.

Proverbs 16:3 says: "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." You can facilitate special prayer in several ways. You may want to fast for a few days; you might go away for a weekend prayer retreat; or you could stay up a few nights and have a prayer vigil. Some churches also organize special days of corporate prayer at the beginning of the year.

You don't have to adopt the same prayer routine every year. The important thing is to take your plans to God and ask for His grace, power and strength to overshadow you during the next season. Ask for big things. Seek God's wisdom and strategy. Knock on heaven's door for His miracles.

Expect God to speak to your heart. He will reveal His plans, rekindle your dreams, calm your fears and stir your faith so you can experience your best year ever.

J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.

Connect with God in a deeper way as you read His Word. Select Bibles are now 50% OFF plus Free Shipping and a Free Gift. Show me the Bibles!

Encounter the Holy Spirit and develop a relationship that saturates you in His peace, love and joy. Explore the Life in the Spirit Series.

FREE GIFT! Download Pastor Bill Johnson's 40-page mini eBook, The War In Your Head, and unlock your supernatural lifestyle. CLICK HERE

Demonic Entity Harassing Muslims Seeking Christ - GARY CURTIS CHARISMA NEWS

We discovered that her husband is a devout Muslim and she had ventured to some kind of spiritist and encountered what she described as a "jinn." (geralt/pixabay/public domain)

Demonic Entity Harassing Muslims Seeking Christ

1/4/2018 GARY CURTIS CHARISMA NEWS

Recently, my wife and I prayed with a woman during a prayer occasion following a Sunday service at our church.

She was distraught about an evil presence she felt that frightened her often. We discovered that her husband is a devout Muslim and she had ventured to some kind of spiritist and encountered what she described as a "jinn."

I recognized this term as describing, in Islamic teachings, spiritual beings, which we would understand as demons. An individual jinn is called a jinni (genie). This woman wanted us to pray for her to be set free from this evil presence, which frightened her.

I knew that "The House of Islam" denies the basic beliefs we hold about our Savior. This false religion (1 John 4:1-4; see also John 3:35-36) denies that:

Jesus is the divine Son of God. Rather their holy book, the Koran, teaches Jesus (Isa) is to be respected (not worshipped) only as a miracle-working prophet to the Jews and messenger of Allah.
Jesus died on the cross outside Jerusalem and was buried in a tomb for three days. Rather, they are taught that Jesus' disciple Judas died on the cross in place of Jesus.
Jesus was resurrected from the dead by the power of God and lives forever in heaven at God's right hand, where he intercedes for us to the Father. Rather, the Koran claims that Jesus prophesied the coming of Mohammad, as the last and greatest prophet. Many Muslims believe Jesus is in heaven now and will be sent to earth again by Allah at the last hour to wage jihad on behalf of Islam, at the end of the world.

As we began to pray with her, I quoted Romans 10:9 and 10: "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, or with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

I explained that she needed to acknowledge that Jesus is the almighty Lord (not a prophet or messenger) and He needed to be accepted as such and her new beliefs confirmed by her own lips. She needed to sincerely believe Jesus died to pay the price for her sins and mine. I related that God forgave us both because of Jesus' sacrificial actions, which Father God approved by raising Jesus from the dead.

By honestly believing these new truths about Jesus' deity, death and resurrection and then telling others about it, she could find the forgiveness of sins and remove the jinn's right to torment her.

The woman pulled away, mumbling, "I cannot say that!"

She had told me a friend had given her a Bible, so I urged her to read the Gospel of John and then to come back to church in the weeks ahead, and we could talk more. My wife and I have since prayed for her that her spiritual eyes will be opened and divine truth will be established in her by the Holy Spirit.

When a Muslim hears the truthful claims of Christ and is drawn to the call to the commitment that is required to follow Him, they have to wrestle with the heavy costs they must pay. Such a decision may mean the loss of family, the loss of community and even the loss of life.

Muslims (and others) with inquiring minds and harassed souls are not to be feared but loved into God's kingdom, in the name of Jesus.

In these last days, may we all be enlightened and empowered by the Holy Spirit to point people of all backgrounds to the loving Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ordained to the ministry in 1969, Gary Curtis is a graduate of LIFE Bible College at Los Angeles (soon to become Life Pacific University at San Dimas, California). He has taken graduate courses at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois. and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. Gary served as part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, California, for 27 years (1988-2015), the last 13 years as the Vice President of Life On The Way Communications, Inc., the church's not-for-profit media outreach. Now retired, Gary and his wife have been married for 50 years and live in Southern California. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Connect with God in a deeper way as you read His Word. Select Bibles are now 50% OFF plus Free Shipping and a Free Gift. Show me the Bibles!

Encounter the Holy Spirit and develop a relationship that saturates you in His peace, love and joy. Explore the Life in the Spirit Series.

FREE GIFT! Download Pastor Bill Johnson's 40-page mini eBook, The War In Your Head, and unlock your supernatural lifestyle. CLICK HERE

Is Ripple The Next Hot Cryptocurrency? Some Are Calling It ‘The Bitcoin That Banks Like’ - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Is Ripple The Next Hot Cryptocurrency? Some Are Calling It ‘The Bitcoin That Banks Like’

Posted: 03 Jan 2018 Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

After Bitcoin, can you name the second largest cryptocurrency? Until recently it was Ethereum, but now it is Ripple. At the start of last year, Ripple was trading for less than a penny, and even just a few months ago you could still get Ripple for about 20 cents. But now the price of Ripple has absolutely exploded, and as I write this article it is sitting at $3.15. At this point Ripple has a market cap of more than 120 billion dollars, and those that got in when Ripple was under a penny have seen their investments go up by more than 40,000 percent.

If you can believe it, the price of Ripple is up more than 1,000 percent in the last 30 days alone. So why is Ripple doing so well right now?
Well, many analysts are pointing to the very strong relationships that Ripple has been building with financial institutions…

XRP’s price has benefited significantly from Ripple’s new partnerships with banks, noted Chris Keshian, co-founder of the Apex Token Fund, a tokenized crypto fund-of-funds.
He added that as XRP “surpassed ETH as the second largest cryptocurrency, market hype continued to drive the price.”

There are some that believe that Ripple will eventually surpass Bitcoin simply because it is a better way to send and receive money.

And without a doubt, functionality is the key for the long-term survival of any cryptocurrency. Speculative investment can take a cryptocurrency a long way, but at the end of the day it needs to function well in the real world, and that is one key advantage that Ripple appears to have. According to the Express, Ripple is being called “the Bitcoin that banks like”…

Bitcoin is feeling the pressure from another cryptocurrency hot on it’s heels.
Ripple has attracted tens of millions of dollars worth of investment leading to it being dubbed the Bitcoin that banks like.
The company uses block chain technology, powered by its own cryptocurrency, to send money across the world in real time settlements, according to the company’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
It does not hold the level of anonymity that bitcoin does, which makes the currency more favourable to banks.

One thing that has been holding back the price of Ripple is the fact that it is not listed on some of the key exchanges. But there are persistent rumors that Ripple will be listed on Coinbase very soon, and that could potentially drive the price of Ripple much higher.

Before you get too excited, let me share a word of caution. Investing in cryptocurrencies is extremely risky, because they are purely digital creations that do not actually possess any intrinsic value at all. Right now there are more than 1,000 cryptocurrencies in existence, and most of them are eventually going to zero.

But for the moment, those that were able to capitalize on the cryptocurrency trend in a major way have become incredibly wealthy. Ripple’s co-founder Chris Larsen is now worth an astounding 37 billion dollars, and that makes him the 15th richest person in America.
Of course he doesn’t actually have 37 billion dollars. If he does not sell his coins and Ripple eventually goes back to zero, all of that “paper wealth” will be gone.

The big danger is that global governments will start cracking down on cryptocurrencies in a major way, and in late December we did see South Korea impose restrictions on the trading of cryptocurrencies in order to “limit speculation”. If more governments start piling on, that could absolutely crush the cryptocurrency bubble.

For now, Bitcoin has been rebounding from that announcement, and Ripple just continues to roar higher. But let us not forget that a single big announcement could change all of that in a single moment…

The South Korean Government’s threats of shutting down exchanges seemed to have little influence on Ripple at the end of the year, but with news hitting the wires of just how much of an impact South Korean exchanges had on Ripple’s December rally and it’s not surprising that Ripple has been defending its gains at the start of the year.
Bitcoin may have been the fallout guy when it came to the regulatory chatter at the end of the year, but if the exchanges are closed, it’s not just Bitcoin that will suffer and, if the reports are correct of the South Koreans driving up Ripple trading volumes, things could get messy very quickly.

Whatever happens in the short-term, it appears that Ripple has a real chance to be a long-term solution for global payments. In a recent statement, the Ripple team noted that using Ripple is faster, cheaper and more efficient than using Bitcoin…

In a year punctuated by the dramatic rise of digital assets, XRP has out performed the entire sector and looks likely to end the year up more than 45,000%. XRP’s performance is driven by a keen focus on solving a real global payments problem for real customers – and at fractions of a penny and about 3 seconds per transaction – it is cheaper, faster and more efficient than BTC or ETH. As others have pointed out, Bitcoin isn’t going to solve a payments problem when a transaction costs $40 and takes hours to complete.
The market seems to increasingly understand that there’s real utility for XRP in solving a massive cross-border payments and liquidity problem that is measured in the trillions of dollars.

It is that sort of utility that could make Ripple a long-term success.

But of course new competitors are coming online with each passing day. The “Facebook of cryptocurrencies” may not have even been invented yet, and this industry is evolving at an absolutely breathtaking pace.

So Ripple may be the hottest cryptocurrency for the moment, but that could change completely by next week.

Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen next, and that is what makes the cryptocurrency market so exciting. Fortunes will be won and lost in the blink of an eye, and there will be some very big winners and some very big losers.

Michael Snyder is a pro-Trump candidate for Congress in Idaho’s First Congressional District, and you can learn how you can get involved in the campaign on his official website. His new book entitled “Living A Life That Really Matters” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.

US Threatens to Cut Palestinian Funds; Is this 'Blackmail'? US Threats Unlikely Revive Peace Talks - World Israel News

US Threatens to Cut Funds to Palestinians Unless Negotiations Resume Read Now

Palestinians to Trump: Threats to Cut Aid are ‘Blackmail’Read Now

Analysis: US Threats to End Palestinian Aid Unlikely to Revive Peace Talks Read Now

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Poll: Most Israeli Jews Think Trump is Helping Israel - Israel Today

Poll: Most Israeli Jews Think Trump is Helping Israel

Thursday, January 04, 2018 | Israel Today Staff

Topics:

America

There has been wild speculation that US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will damage the peace process and ultimately hurt the Jewish state.

It's a scaremongering tactic that has long been used to coerce Israel into abandoning its historical claims and red lines.

But Israelis are no longer buying it.

The monthly Peace Index survey released this week revealed that a firm majority of Israeli Jews believe Trump truly understands Israel's concerns and is helping the Jewish state, despite hysterical reactions to the contrary.

According to the poll, 65 percent of Israeli Jews believe Trump's Jerusalem declaration was in Israel's best interests. Roughly the same percentage of Israeli Arabs said the opposite.

A strong 59 percent majority of Israeli Jews said that in general, Trump understands Israel's interests and is acting to their benefit.

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Thursday, January 4, 2018