Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The 2 Spies - "What are you waiting for?" by Paula R. Stern

Posted: 25 Feb 2014

If you haven't noticed lately Jew-Israel hatred is on the upswing in the world. In line with what The 2 Spies are seeing happen world-wide and along the reasons for this blog in the first place~ we want to share with you an article by Paula R. Stern. She wrote what we wish we could have. Please take her words to heart. The 2 Spies

Paula R. Stern Paula R. Stern is CEO of WritePoint Ltd., a leading technical writing company in Israel. Her personal blog, A Soldier's Mother, has been running for more than 5 years. She lives in Maale Adumim with her husband and children, a dog, too many birds, and a desire to write her thoughts and dream of a trip to Italy, Scotland, and beyond.

Sometimes, simple truths really are… well, simple.

In a complex world, we worry about all the angles, all the issues. And, in hesitating until everything becomes clear, we miss the simple truth, the simple solution. We paralyze ourselves as time passes and, worst of all, we rationalize away the dangers of today, as we magnify the potential dangers of the unknown.

It was safe before, we kid ourselves, it will be safe again. Tomorrow will be better. They can’t really hate us that much, or worse, they don’t really hate us — they hate Israel and as soon as they realize… it will be okay. Just one more day, one more week, one more month…

So what prompts all this philosophizing?

For the life of me, I don’t understand the Jews living in France. I don’t understand the Jews living in Poland. I don’t understand the one Jew living in Afghanistan (nor the one living in Eritrea) and I can’t believe there are still 100 Jews in Egypt, Algeria, Iraq or Botswana. I don’t understand the Jews living in the Ukraine and, to be honest, I don’t much understand the Jews living in America either.

The only place, at this point, where I can understand Jews living is Israel — and maybe Canada and Micronesia. I don’t necessarily agree with Jews staying in Canada, but at least for today, I can understand it.

As for Micronesia, I don’t actually know where Micronesia is and as far as I can tell, Google and common sense say there aren’t any Jews living there but they support Israel time after time (maybe because they figure the Arabs can’t find them either?).

But seriously — if you are a Jew living in the Ukraine today, why aren’t you packing your bags? If you are a Jew living in France, do you really expect it to get better? And, if you are a Jew living in the US, do you expect your grandchildren to still be Jewish?

Don’t tell me how hard moving to Israel is — I did it. I came here with three small children and no savings in the bank. We were lucky and blessed and have worked very hard to get where we are. I was lucky — I was offered a job three days after I moved here; my husband came a few months before and a company promised to hire him.

Why? Because he told them he was willing to start the next day and his wife would ship him clothes. They told him to go back to the States, pack his bags and come home to Israel in two months. He did.

We were lucky because we came when our children were young enough to learn the language quickly and we weren’t picky about where we would live. We were blessed because out of the job I was offered, I built a career and a company. We were blessed because when the first place we chose to live didn’t work out, we moved into the most amazing of cities and communities here in Maale Adumim.

It wasn’t easy and it won’t be easy for the Jews who move here from wherever they are now. But it isn’t nearly as complex or dangerous as remaining in places where you aren’t welcome; where you have to hide who and what you are.

Once the road to Israel was physically dangerous — now, you are a flight away. That’s all it takes. Pack your bags, go to the nearest Israeli embassy or consulate and say, “I want to go home.”

Can Israel handle a mass immigration? We did it before. No one asked Israel if it could accommodate a mass influx of Jews from the Arab countries or from the Soviet Union. They came, they were helped. They learned; they assimilated into the country.

We have absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jews who came because they couldn’t stay. My next door neighbors are Moroccan, Yemenite, French, American, Russian, South African, British and even some who are several generations Jerusalemites.

Easy? No, not easy, but not nearly as complex as you would imagine and the journey that will change your life begins with a first step. Decide to leave now.

One of my uncles just visited Israel for the first time since 1971. Everywhere we went, he was amazed — by the roads, by the buildings, by the technology. There are few countries in the world as modern as Israel, and none, not a one, that is as safe. Yes, that’s right — safe.

Crime is very low here; healthcare unbeatable, even with the recent Hadassah strike and even with limits to the national healthcare packages. The air is clean; the water of excellent quality. The vegetables are fresh; the bread baked daily and brought to the stores. Yes, life really can be that simple if you don’t insist on making it so complex.

Why, why are you staying in frozen lands where you have to hide your Jewishness when today, in the middle of our winter, it was sunny and in the 70s. Where today, the Jewish Sabbath, our synagogues were full and bursting with song and pride. And tomorrow, we’ll start our work week. Our children will go to school or to some of the best universities in the world.

What holds you to a place where honestly, you know you aren’t wanted? Why would a Jew remain in Poland in the shadow of the concentration camps? Why live in France and worry about the safety of your children?

“Jews, out of France,” they screamed out in a protest attended by 17,000 people. No, not in the 1940s but just last month. What I want to ask the Jews who live there is what in God’s name, are you waiting for?

The European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights did a survey of almost 6,000 Jews living in eight countries. More than 75% said they felt that anti-Semitism is on the rise. An amazing 38% of the Jews polled in Sweden, France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Italy, Hungary and Latvia said they frequently avoid wearing anything that would indicate they were Jewish (skullcaps, jewelry with Jewish symbols, etc.). Many said they have been harassed or encountered anti-Semitic acts.

While anti-Semitism appears to be down in the United States overall, there is a marked increase on US colleges. That means while you might be safe, your college-age children are not.

Is life easy in Israel? Compared to what Jews are going through now in the Ukraine, France and elsewhere, actually, it probably is… on one condition — that you come here ready to be Israeli, ready to live here as we do.

You might not be able to afford such a big house, two large cars and Hershey’s chocolates. The house might be smaller, maybe even an apartment. You might have to take public buses and trains and eat Elite chocolate — but you’ll be safe, you’ll have a present and a future as human beings and as Jews.

Your sons and daughters will grow tall and proud; your grandchildren will walk in a land they own.

No, life isn’t easy in Israel, but it isn’t nearly as hard as living where you are waiting, just waiting until an ancient and modern disease strikes too close.

What, what in God’s name are you waiting for?

The Times of Israel: For the original Article: Click here

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/what-are-you-waiting-for/#ixzz2uTOCgxlM

#5 - as much fun as riding a camel in Israel.

NOW THINK ON THIS

- THE INSPIRATION CONTINUES

March 7, 2014

25 Messages.

157 pages.

165 photos.

My 5th book.

Amazon Paperback & Kindle.

Steve Martin

Love For His People

INTRODUCTION

Page

Now Think On This – The Inspiration Continues are more messages that I have written for Love For His People and Now Think On This blogs. They cover a variety of topics to encourage you, believers in Jesus (Yeshua), for your daily walk and stand for His plans and purposes.

Many times these messages came as a result of inspiration by the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh). I would be driving along, and He would give me a thought, which I would then write down on a notecard or whatever piece of paper was handy.

Two of my previous books, Ahava Love Letters (2013) and Now Think On This (2014), came as one result of my 10^th trip to Israel in 2010. We had just established our ministry to bless friends in Israel and the nations, which we named Love For His People, Inc, in April of 2010. I was asking the Lord for the next directive. His response was to use one of the gifts He had given me – to write. Some would call it a teaching gift. It took me a long time to see it that way, but now I do. And so I write in obedience to Him.

Daily we are bombarded with negative news, pressures of the job, and conflicts to be dealt with. We all need encouragement. We need the assurance that our Creator, the One who knows the plans He has for us, is still in control. These messages will bring you hope, give you the solid sense of His hand on all, and increase your faith to stand strong on your convictions. I purposely kept each one short so you can read them alongside your Bible or other daily material.

Plus more than 165 photos that I took!

Steve Martin

Prophecy foretold the revival of the Hebrew language! By Dr. David R. Reagan Founder & Director, Lamb & Lion Ministries

Prophecy foretold the revival of
the Hebrew language!

By Dr. David R. Reagan
Founder & Director, Lamb & Lion Ministries

For many years I have been taking pilgrimage groups to the Holy Land. One of the places we always visit is the Dead Sea Scrolls Museum in Jerusalem. The centerpiece of the museum is the Isaiah scroll that is displayed in a circular glass case.

I usually gather my group around the scroll, explain its importance and then turn the group loose to explore the rest of the museum. One year, after releasing the group, as I was walking away from the Isaiah scroll, I heard someone behind me suddenly start speaking loudly in Hebrew. When I turned around to see who it was, I discovered a young boy about 13 years old with his parents. The boy was reading the scroll, using a pointer. I supposed he was practicing for his Bar Mitzvah, for reading a section from the Scriptures is always a part of that ceremony.

As I listened to the young man, I realized I was witnessing a miracle. It occurred to me that a Greek boy of his age could not read the Greek writings of Homer (ca 8th Century BC) nor could an American or British boy read the English of Chaucer (14th Century AD). Yet this boy could read Hebrew written 2,000 years ago.

How was that possible? Because biblical Hebrew has been revived from the dead and is spoken as the national language of Israel today.

The Death of the Hebrew Language

But I am getting ahead of my story. Let's return for a moment to the days of the Bible.

The worldwide dispersion of the Jewish people began in 70 AD when the Romans ruthlessly ended their revolt against Roman rule by destroying the city of Jerusalem, including their marvelous Temple. This dispersion from their homeland was accelerated after their second revolt was put down in 136 AD.

As the Jews were scattered, they gradually stopped speaking their native language during the centuries that followed. Those in Europe took German and mixed it with Hebrew, producing a hybrid tongue called Yiddish. The Jews who settled in the Mediterranean basin mixed Hebrew with Spanish and developed a language called Ladino.

Hebrew became confined to the synagogues where it was used for Torah readings. By the beginning of the 20th Century, most Jews could not understand the Torah readings. For them, it was like a Gentile experiencing a Catholic mass conducted in Latin.

But all this was to change miraculously, and in the process, the fulfillment of a very important end time Bible prophecy began.

The Key Prophecy

The prophecy I have in mind is the prophecy about the revival of the Hebrew language. It is found in Zephaniah 3:9 —

For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord. (NASB)

The New International Version states that the Lord will "purify the lips of the people." The New Living Translation says God will "purify the speech." The English Standard Version puts it this way: "I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech."The Living Bible paraphrases the verse to read: "At that time I will change the speech of my returning people to pure Hebrew so that all can worship the Lord together."

The more literal translations of this verse leave the clear implication that the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy will occur when all the peoples of the world are once again unified in their language, likely speaking biblical Hebrew.Whether this will occur during the Millennium or the Eternal State is not made precisely clear in the Scriptures.

For example, Isaiah 19:18 says that during the Lord's millennial reign, there will be cities in Egypt where people will be speaking Hebrew. And our key verse, Zephaniah 3:9, is set in the context of being fulfilled after God has poured out His "indignation" on the nations (Zephaniah 3:8). That's speaking of the Tribulation, so the implication is that the establishment of a universal language will occur at the beginning of the Millennium.

On the other hand, Zechariah 8:23 tells us that during the Millennium, "ten people from all languages and nations will take hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you'" (NIV). So, it sounds like national languages will continue during the Millennium, and thus the unity of language will not occur until we reach the Eternal State.

But, as you will see, the revival of biblical Hebrew as the spoken language of the Jewish people today must be considered a miracle of God and at least a partial fulfillment of Zephaniah 3:9. In that regard, it should be noted that there is no other example in world history of an ancient language being revived as the spoken language of a modern nation. The restoration of biblical Hebrew to a modern day spoken language is a unique historical phenomenon.

God orchestrated the revival of spoken Hebrew through a baby born to an Orthodox Jewish family in 1858 in Lithuania, which at that time was part of Russia. He was given the name of Eliezer Yitzhak Perlman and would later be known as Eliezer Ben-Yehuda.

Read about the fascinating person who was key to
prophetically reviving the long dead language of Hebrew!

6 Ways to Prevent an Embarrassing Ministry Scandal - J. Lee Grady

2/26/2014 J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

The recent sentencing of Dr. Yonggi Cho of South Korea is a reminder that we need a fresh commitment to integrity.

I was devastated to learn last week that South Korean megachurch pastor David Yonggi Cho was found guilty of embezzling $12 million in church funds. I was aware that the famous hero of faith was struggling with problems at his massive congregation, Yoido Full Gospel Church, which is in Seoul. Cho’s 56-year effort to build what is now the world’s largest church made him one of the most respected spiritual fathers in the Pentecostal movement.

Some American leaders knew that Cho’s problems were linked to his son Cho Hee-jun, who was also convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for his role in an elaborate stock scheme that involved millions of dollars of church money. Hee-jun was immediately jailed. Thankfully, the elder Cho will not have to serve his prison sentence (it was suspended), but he will have to pay a $4.7 million fine.

I still respect Dr. Cho. A former Buddhist, he had a dramatic conversion to Jesus and was used by the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel to a nation that for centuries was closed to Christianity. Cho remains a legend. But the events of last week serve to remind us that even the greatest spiritual giants have feet of clay, and even the biggest ministries can fall into scandal if principles of integrity are not practiced.

This seems the best time to offer the simple reminders below. Today a new generation of megachurch pastors and ministry leaders has emerged, and this generation may not be aware that a few wrong moves could put them in the middle of the next big ministry scandal. If you are a leader, please post these rules in your board room, in your CEO’s office and in your ministry’s employee manual. If you are not in leadership, please pray that these rules are followed at your church, no matter how big it is:

1. Never build a cult of personality. The top reason ministries fail is that the organization starts revolving around a person instead of Christ. I don’t care how gifted or anointed the leader is—if he (or she) allows others to put him on a pedestal or if he climbs there himself, a fall is coming. Paul told the Corinthians, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11, NASB). Paul didn’t build his ministry on himself. In addition, he shared the spotlight with his successor, Timothy, and his other team members. If a leader can’t share power, he is headed toward disaster.

2. Develop a culture of openness. Healthy ministries encourage staff members and church members to give input. I’ve found that in ministries that experienced scandal, employees constantly felt intimidated, controlled or even threatened. Did you know that the word occult comes from a Latin word that means “secret” or “covered up”? Ministries that engage in cover-up or secrecy are not managing their work in a Christian manner.

3. Insist on financial transparency. Churches and ministries are funded by donors, and donors have a God-given right to know that their funds are being used properly. Ministry leaders also have a God-given stewardship, and they must acknowledge that the funds given to them are not for personal gain. All financial transactions of a ministry should be scrutinized by designated leaders (including an outside accountant) to prevent corruption.

4. Don’t build a family dynasty. There is nothing in the Bible that says a Christian leader is supposed to turn his ministry over to his family. And nepotism is often the cause of financial scandal. If a leader stacks his board or church staff with family members, they will be tempted to make financial decisions that benefit themselves. And in many cases, parents who employ their children find it difficult to bring correction when there are serious offenses.

5. Beware of creating a greed monster. In today’s megachurches, huge amounts of money begin to roll in on Sundays—and if leaders are not careful, this kind of success can eventually destroy them. We must remember that God entrusts us with these funds in order to engage in the work of ministry, not to provide leaders with mansions, luxury vehicles, bodyguards, private jets, shopping allowances and second or third homes. When you feed greed, it will always come back to bite you. I personally believe that pastors and ministry leaders should voluntarily put a cap on their salaries instead of insisting on being treated like corporate bigshots.

6. Never tolerate a spirit of entitlement. Financial blessing can affect people in dramatically different ways. One person can humbly receive it, thank God for it and live in constant gratefulness and humility. The next person can accept the blessing and then begin to think they deserve royal treatment. This spirit of entitlement can invade a church or ministry subtly at first, until leaders begin to make demands. I once knew a preacher who asked to be driven from her hotel to the conference in a limousine—yet the distance was less than one block! This insane behavior should be confronted, not coddled.

Paul told his spiritual son Timothy that church leaders must be “free from the love of money” (1 Tim. 3:3) in order to assume that responsibility. We would do well to revisit that mandate today. Instead of tarnishing ourselves with another scandal, let’s show the world that we can handle money right.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of the Mordecai Project(themordecaiproject.org). You can follow him on Twitter at @leegrady. He is the author of 10 Lies Men Believe and other books.

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

Hollywood Gets Religion at Movie Guide Awards

Hollywood Gets Religion

at Movie Guide Awards

Charlene Israel, CBN News Reporter
Charlene Israel serves as a general assignment reporter and helps anchor for the CBN News Channel. Follow her on Twitter @CharNews and "like" her atFacebook.com/CharleneIsraelCBNNews.
HOLLYWOOD -- Hundreds of celebrities came out to celebrate faith and family friendly movies and TV shows at the 22nd Annual Movie Guide Awards in Hollywood.

Feb. 26, 2014 CBN News

With the Oscars just a few days away, Hollywood is getting a touch of religion. Two new studies show movie-goers prefer films with a Christian worldview.

These movies are getting more attention and praise.

'Two Cents' from the Stars

"I'm a huge fan of those type of movies and TV shows and I want to see them pushed more to the forefront than have or be in a smaller award show," comedian and master of ceremonies Bill Engvall said.

Actress A.J. Michalka received her honor for the inspirational movie "Grace Unplugged."

"I want people to feel like they can make great, legitimate beautiful stories that really have a great message that families are going to not just be entertained by but also maybe talk about it in the car on the way home. To me that's the biggest thing," Michalka said.

Actor and Disney star Jacob Latimore starred in the film "Black Nativity," a story about keeping your faith and family even in the tough times. It's a message the young actor says is needed now more than ever.

"We have a lot of people that are lost in this world and we can insight people and reassure people on certain messages through movies, through film because they're really just life on the screen," he said. "I think 'Black Nativity' definitely played a part in that."

'The Bible' Influence

"The Bible" series won the ratings and hearts of America when it aired on the History Channel last year.

It also scored big at this year's Movie Guide Awards.

Roma Downey, co-creator with her husband Mark Burnett of "The Bible" project, won the Grace Award in Television for best actress for her role of Jesus' mother.

"I think ... the success of the Bible series really got the attention of the nation and certainly of our industry," Downey said.

"One hundred million people showed up and I think it was really extraordinary. And now we're seeing lots of other faith-themed films coming down the pipeline so I think that's very encouraging," she said.

Willie Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" agreed. The popular show was given the Faith and Freedom award for TV.

"I think we see it, we see it in our numbers," he said. "I was speaking with Mark about 'The Bible,' between that and 'Duck Dynasty,' there was a whole lot of people that tuned in, so hopefully we see that catching on."

"We see more and more things that are positive come out. We're happy to be part of it," he said.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete said demand for wholesome entertainment is growing.

"I just think that family movies are so important. I'm not sure why Hollywood is not getting the message that we need something every Friday when movies open up. We need something we all can go to as a family together," she said.

'Alone yet not Alone'

Perhaps the night's biggest highlight came when 64-year-old quadriplegic Author Joni Eareckson Tada performed the song "Alone yet not Alone" from the Christian film of the same name.

The true life movie tells the inspiring story of two women and their journey of faith and survival during the French and Indian War.

Tada's rendition of the song had also received an Oscar nomination. But huge backlash resulted in an investigation into why the little known film received such recognition.

The Academy later pulled the nomination, accusing composer Bruce Broughton of using his influence in an email as a former Academy governor to get the nomination.

The Academy president said sending the email crossed the line because it gives the appearance of an unfair advantage.

Broughton said that's ridiculous and all he did was ask others to consider the song.

"If you actually read the rules, you can go on the Oscar.com website and read the rules, I didn't really break any rules," he said. "What I admit to doing was sending some emails to people who I thought would overlook the song."

"They don't agree with me on what I did and that's basically what it is. As far as the rule breaking, you know all of the songs that are nominated and all the songs that weren't nominated have tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars of promotion," he added.

"Our assignment when we were doing it was to write a song that's inspirational as Amazing Grace before Amazing Grace ever existed. We tried to make it simple, universal, and just timeless and memorable," Dennis Spiegel, the song's lyricist, said.

Many see the Academy's move as bigotry against the song and message. Other members of the Academy, including famous film composer Hans Zimmer, said the ruling is unfair.

But Tada is taking it all in stride. She said she is hopeful that good will come from the controversy surrounding the song.

"Well when I heard the nomination was rescinded my first thought was, 'Oh, come on. Really?'" she said. "But God's purposes are working out because some of this controversy I think might be drawing more attention to the song and even to the film than had it just sailed through to the Oscars."

'Indivisible' Film Tackles Crusade to Destroy Israel - Laurie Cardozza Moore

'Indivisible' Film Tackles

Crusade to Destroy Israel

Chris Mitchell

CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief

ARIEL, Israel -- Does the modern State of Israel have a right to the land on which it exists? Do the Palestinians? A new documentary tackles those questions and the longest-running conflict in the Middle East.

"Israel Indivisible: A Case for the Ancient Homeland" highlights Israel's latest challenge.

"Today the world media has joined the Islamic campaign to extinguish Jewish history as part of their effort to delegitimize and destroy the Jewish state," producer Laurie Cardozza Moore told CBN News.

The film lays out a compelling and comprehensive case for Israel's right to the land.

"The evidence for Israel is overwhelming," Cardoza continued. "From archeological science to historical record to biblical scriptures to political resolutions and laws, there should be no dispute to the rights of the Jewish people to all the land the Roman Empire called Palestine."

The producers chose to premier the film in a symbolic site -- Ariel, the center of Israel's biblical heartland. At the premier, the film's producers shared what motivated them.

"The goal is to educate Christians to bring this message because this message is being distorted, and there are lies being propagated about Israel and this whole Middle East conflict," Moore explained.

"I feel what we're doing at PJTN is just coming alongside God's biblical narrative and telling a story that nobody seems to want to tell and then using the film, using the program, to mobilize Christians to action to stand with our Jewish brethren."

Many Jews believe disinformation is one of the main weapons used against the Jewish state.

"The first step in -- God forbid -- the physical destruction of the State of Israel is the intellectual destruction undermining the whole reason for being of the Jewish state of legitimacy," Rabbi Ken Spiro said.

The film unmasks some common misconceptions in this disinformation campaign, such as the term, "West Bank."

"Why is it called the West Bank?" filmmaker Stan Moore asks. "It's called the West Bank because when Jordan, basically in 1948, when they took it over they called it the West Bank of their country, the West Bank of the Jordan River. They named it the West Bank. You know for centuries, forever, it's [this area] been called Judea and Samaria."

1948 Independence Hall in Tel Aviv

Many see the film as a tool to give Israel's supporters the facts they need in this battle.

"And if they don't have the facts at hand, they become apologetic. The minute they become apologetic, they lose the argument," Dr. Shmuel Katz explained. "They need to be knowledgeable. Once they are knowledgeable, they can stand up for what's right."

Rabbi Spiro sees the information as the first line of defense not only for Israel, but also for the West.

"It's not only threatening Israel. [It's threatening] the whole foundation of Western civilization," he warned. "So movies like this -- that present information and facts -- are the most basic and powerful tool we have. Not just the case for Israel, but for the case for truth."

Watch here: CBN News video

Paul Keith Davis: Defeating Compromise

Paul Keith Davis:

Defeating Compromise

The Elijah List

One of the last conversations I had with Bob Jones dealt with our great need to remain true to God's Word and alleviate spiritual compromise. Bob was a man who clearly remained true to his beliefs and represented the prophetic Gospel with boldness, without yielding to the compromise of political correctness.

I wrote this article based upon the revelatory encounter that he had and the understanding we gleaned from our conversations on the subject. I believe it is a very relevant word for this hour.

Paul Keith Davis
WhiteDove Ministries

Defeating Compromise

Clearly this nation and the Church are presently going through a great shaking.

Naturally, our first question is to understand the Holy Spirit's objective during this season. What do we need to gleam from these tests and trials?

As I have been asking the Lord this question, I was reminded of a prophetic article that Bob Jones and I brought several years ago.

Much of our ministry has been centered on understanding prior moves of the Spirit to discover what was done properly and what caused the downfall of many.

According to Hebrews 13:7, we should study and contemplate the lives of our spiritual fathers and examine carefully the conduct of their actions. We are given the admonition to imitate their faith, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:7-8). If we meet the Lord on the same conditions of faith as our fathers, then He will do through us what He did through them and much more.

Many noble qualities exemplified the men and women who went before us. They were great pioneers and forerunners who paved the way for us to enjoy the many spiritual benefits we hold dear. Nevertheless, we also learn, historically, that every prior revival has been lost or never fully accomplished its original mandate.

Scrutiny of these revivals will highlight one principal spirit of a diabolical nature that has facilitated this demise. It can simply be identified as the "spirit of compromise."

It is our belief that a portion of this present shaking is intended to help us address this undermining snare so that the Spirit's release that is coming can be perpetually sustained.

A Graveyard of Warriors

In Bob's original vision he saw many churches and spiritual movements allegorically portrayed as powerful warring women who had won many notable victories. Even so, he also discovered they came to an untimely demise.

He was taken to a graveyard that held the remains of this army of God. Clearly, their lives had been taken prematurely without the full accomplishment of their destiny, and Bob's mission was to discovery how such a thing could occur.

The churches portrayed in Bob's revelation had been mightily anointed. They had won great victories on behalf of their Bridegroom. Even though these "women" were incredible warriors, something tragic had occurred to precipitate their demise. How could such a powerful, warlike clan end with such violence and certainty as characterized in the graveyard Bob observed?

This resulted from unknowingly embracing the "spirit of compromise" that facilitated the substitution of the spirit of this world for the Holy Spirit.

What the enemy could not accomplish in head-to-head battle, he easily achieved through this deceptive snare.

This is actually the same strategy that Balaam utilized against Israel. When he was unsuccessful in cursing God's chosen people, he altered his approach. What he could not perpetuate in direct confrontation, he easily accomplished through stumbling blocks and snares facilitated through compromise.

It is our present intent to again highlight this blueprint of the enemy in hopes of strengthening the Church with the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that our heritage is not lost in this generation.

The New Testament reminds us of this demonic strategy from the spirit of Balaam in both the Book of Jude and the Book of Revelation. It is a battle that we must learn to win.

Work In Daylight; Rest At Night

Prophetically, there are appropriate times and seasons in God. There is a time to sow, and then a time to reap; a time for working, and then a time for rest.

(Photo via Stock.xchange by mckenna71)

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under Heaven – a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up. Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

Logistically, the Church has not been very efficient in recognizing these seasons. As a result, we expose ourselves to the spirit of this world and end up compromising our standards when we do not adjust with the ebb and flow of God's Spirit. There is a way that seems right and appropriate to man's reasoning but the end is destruction.

We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. John 9:4

Spiritually speaking, the day is the proper time for work – night is not. This is the general and universal sentiment related to the release of spiritual light into a grossly dark generation. While the day lasts, it is proper to labor.

In Bob's vision he saw Churches represented as noble women who had fought gallantly during daylight hours. However, they grew weary and impatient waiting upon their Bridegroom and eventually ventured out during the night hours and entered into promiscuity.

They had grown weary waiting upon their Bridegroom to fulfill His promises to her.

Unwisely, they had joined themselves to men (who represented the spirit of this world or human reasoning) whose initial appearance seemed good and beneficial but whose hearts were evil. This resulted in spiritual assassination when these women least expected it. However, the question remained, "What led them to such an inadvisable decision?" Of course this is an allegorical depiction of spiritual realities.

After making these few observations, Bob desired to leave the graveyard, which was actually a shrine to commemorate our enemy's victories.

However, before he could do so, a very naturally-appealing, "smooth talking" man approached him. This man confronted Bob with the confidence and assurance of a professional salesperson.

He explicitly displayed a mastery of the human language and could easily deceive someone with this gift. No doubt this is the way satan approached the Lord Jesus during the 40-day wilderness temptation.

(Photo via Stock.xchange by tatlin)

Immediately, Bob asked this man his identity. The man responded by identifying himself as "compromise." It was "compromise" that was responsible for the death of these powerful women.

They had compromised the genuine for a counterfeit. They had substituted the revealed Word of God for the traditions of man.

And He (Jesus) said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." Mark 7:6-8

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons; by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron... 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Despite the women's powerful attributes and their numerous victories, their strength was no match for "compromise."

Compromise will always destroy the most powerful of warriors.

Samson was the most anointed man of his day; yet compromise in one small area of his life cost him the anointing and the many victories that could have been achieved had he remained faithful.

It was the Lord's great grace that restored Samson in the end and allowed one final victory with his death. However, it would have been the much greater testimony to remain faithful to the end, giving no place to compromise.

Inconceivable as it may seem at first, this was the same bold form by which the enemy embodied the idea of entrapping the Lord by a compromise with evil at the outset of the Lord's earthly ministry.

It was an appeal to the holy purpose for which the Lord came into the earth, but upon the grounds of doing evil that good might come.

Satan offered the kingdoms of this world to the Lord through an unholy alliance and a compromise of the plan of God.

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons by Ranosonar)

The Kingdom was to be won, but in the way ordained by God and in the manner foretold in Scripture.

"Compromise" will claim to carry us to the goal we are destined to achieve in a way that seems expedient and convenient, but the end is destruction. "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

The Death of Compromise

In Bob's vision, a holy jealousy and righteous anger arose in his heart because of the damage caused by "compromise."

He knew that compromise had to be destroyed and the only weapon for this purpose is the same one the Lord Jesus utilized in His confrontation with this spirit – the Word of God.

The living Word is like a mighty sword that forges deep into the heart of this enemy.

As the Scriptures declare:

"For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:12-13).

With this discovery, Bob confidently walked toward "compromise" and allowed the sword of God's Word to fall into position in his hand and buried it deep into the heart of "compromise."

It was "compromise" that had caused the death of the "warring women" (the churches). Authority from God's Word is now placed in our hands to destroy this life threatening spirit.

By grace, the Lord is releasing to this generation the wisdom and authority needed to identify and defeat this great enemy of the Church.

This victory is assured if we are willing to obediently heed the Lord's voice and do the will of the Father. Faithful adherence to the Word of God will always bring death to the spirit of compromise.

Learning From the Past

Instead of being at home caring for their family, the "women" (churches and movements) allowed "compromise" to deceive them into unlawful relationships. There are appropriate times and seasons for the purposes of God. And there is a time to minister unto the Lord and oversee His sheep. We have been in a season focused on equipping the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.

The Song of Deborah by Donna Smallenberg

In Bob's symbolic vision, the "women" left their post of duty and wandered into promiscuous relationships with the spirit of this world, resulting in defeat.

Sometimes things do not appear fruitful to the natural eye that are actually exceedingly rewarding in the realm of the Spirit. That is why our eyes must be focused on the eternal realm rather than the natural. Otherwise, a door can be opened to the spirit of compromise.

Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.Revelation 2:22-23

The Lord is to be the Husband of the Church, and any relationship with man that usurps the rightful position of the Lord as Bridegroom is considered spiritual adultery.

The spirit of compromise will always try to convince the covenant people of God to relinquish their promised heritage for a counterfeit relationship that seems appropriate at the time.

That was the teaching of Balaam that eventually led Israel into God's judgment. Balaam was unable to curse Israel, therefore he convinced her to compromise her covenant with God by intermingling with Balak and the people of Moab.

And Moses said to them, "Have you spared all the women? Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves." Numbers 31:15-18

Ours is an admonition of separation and purity while patiently waiting on the promised union with the Lord Jesus. It is the counsel of "compromise" to lead us away from that position at all costs.

The "way of Balaam" is the covetous conduct of the ones structurally described as "hirelings," whose primary motive is to commercialize their divine gift.

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons by Pieter Lastman)

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. 2 Peter 2:15

The "teaching of Balaam" is the teaching of the mercenary ministry counseling the Church to abandon godly separation and noble character in favor of worldly conformity.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. Revelation 2:14

Very often, following this path will seemingly bring quick results and attract scores of people with much less spiritual resistance. Nonetheless, the conclusion after all has been done is death and fruitlessness.

Balaam taught Balak to corrupt the people who could not be cursed by seducing them to marry Moabite women and commit spiritual adultery.

That is the motivation of "compromise," as outlined in Bob's vision. He could not conquer these gallant "warring women" in battle, therefore the only hope for victory was to corrupt them by seduction with the spirit of the world.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12

If the "women" had remained at their appointed abode, as was their initial responsibility, they would have become fruitful and productive. Because they allowed "compromise" to deceive them, their lives were ended and their children were left to be raised as orphans in an unsupervised manner. The Lord desires women (churches) to be loyal to their Husband and abundantly fruitful – producing offspring to the glory of God.

Compromise will always lead us into wrong relationships.

Concession leads to death, while faithfulness leads to repentance, answered prayer, and victory. Even though the "night hours" seem long and sometimes lonesome, it would be compromise to depart from that place of responsibility and enter relationships unlawfully, leading to our demise.

With those conclusions, Bob departed the mountain, realizing the destructive qualities of compromise.

A Glorious Future

The Sword and the Song by Donna Smallenberg

The most grievous aspect of the vision was the great future forfeited by the powerful women (churches) here illustrated. Even though they had been victorious and productive, their most rewarding years were ahead of them if they could have overcome the deceptions of "compromise."

These churches had been powerfully anointed warriors of the faith. The enemy was unable to destroy them during the "day" seasons, but only during the "night." If the women had remained in their post of duty, the enemy would have had no access or opportunity to destroy them.

Nevertheless, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes with the morning light.

All of the strongholds of the enemy are designed to obscure our knowledge of God and His thoughts and ways through discouragement, depression, and self-pity. When our vision has been thus impaired, alternative courses are introduced that will seemingly take us to our desired destination but are not the "thoughts and ways" of God. We must not be willing to give an inch in our commitment to the Lord and our walk with Him – not even for the most noble of causes.

Through this prophetic analogy, the women lost their first love and compromised their chastity to follow the leadership of men whom they perceived would make them more fruitful and productive. In reality, their decision cost them their lives. Our battlefield is in the souls of men where our mind, will, and emotions reside.

The weapon of our warfare is divinely powerful...the Word of God rightfully appropriated by the Spirit of Truth.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

It is through faith AND patience that we inherit the great promises that are rightfully ours. The greatest days for the Church of Jesus Christ are directly ahead of us.

Our desolate heritages are being restored to be mingled with the fresh and unprecedented release of God's great grace.

Even so, Lord Jesus...come.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries

Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org
Website: whitedoveministries.org

Paul Keith Davis has written numerous articles appearing in various Christian publications, including the MorningStar Journal, Charisma, and Church Growth International. He has also written four books, including, "Thrones of Our Soul," "Engaging The Revelatory Realm of Heaven," and "Books of Destiny," all dealing with prophetic mandates placed upon the end-time generation.

His newest book, "Angels That Gather," provides a biblical outline for the harvest and insight to help access our end-of-the-age inheritance. Paul Keith and Wanda reside in Orange Beach, Alabama. Together they have five children.

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February 26, 2014

Paul Keith Davis:

Defeating Compromise

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

This is one potent word by Paul Keith Davis about the spirit of compromise. God always reveals what we need to hear AND at the right time. This is a Now word for this Time.

Paul Keith shares in his intro: One of the last conversations I had with Bob Jones dealt with our great need to remain true to God's Word and alleviate spiritual compromise...I wrote this article based upon the revelatory encounter that he had and the understanding we gleaned from our conversations on the subject. I believe it is a very relevant word for this hour.

I would encourage you to pray and seek the Lord to reveal if there are any areas of compromise and then to take steps to defeat those areas. For HE is GOOD and His mercy endures forever!

Blessings,
Steve Shultz

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