It Is All About Jesus

“He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

Matthew 8:17

You might be familiar with the verse, Isaiah 53:4, which says, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” But notice how the author of the gospel of Matthew quoted it in today’s scripture.

I love the word Himself because it is so personal and so intimate. Surely He Himself took our diseases and our infirmities. It wasn’t an angel. Your health and wholeness were too important to Him, so He Himself bore your every sickness and disease.

Take some time to meditate on the word Himself. Take some time to remember the One who suffered and died for you, the One who took your infirmities and bore your sicknesses so you need not bear them. Jesus Himself did it because you are so precious to Him.

Whatever condition the doctors have diagnosed you with, Jesus Himself has taken it upon His own body. Don’t focus on looking for healing; focus on the Lord Jesus Himself. Focus on the One “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24).

Many times when you seek Him and simply spend time in His presence, your fears and worries just melt away. You find that in His presence there is shalom-peace. There is healing. There is wholeness. And when you look for your symptoms, you find them no more. Why? Because you are in the presence of the Healer.

When God told the children of Israel, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exod. 15:26), He was introducing Himself as Jehovah Rapha. He was not saying, “I will give you healing” or “I will provide you health.” He was saying I AM your healing, and I AM your health. When you touch Jesus, you touch healing. He does not give healing as though it were a thing. He gives Himself.

You don’t have to seek after healing, provision, and protection. When you have Jesus, you have all you need. If there is an area of death in your body, the Lord says to you, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). If doctors have told you that you will die young, the Lord says to you, “I am your life and the length of your days” (Deut. 30:20). If you have received a negative diagnosis and are fearful, the Lord says to you, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield” (Gen. 15:1). If you have been dealing with relapse after relapse and the discouragement is overwhelming you, the Lord declares to you, “I am your strength and your song” (Exod. 15:2)!

This devotional is taken from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

“Concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Now listen to this, “For as you were once disobedient to God.” I want you to raise up your hand, okay? Okay, watch this. “For when you were once disobedient to God.” Can I see your hand? Yes, yes. Keep them high. You were disobedient. Okay, “Even so these also have now been disobedient that through the mercy shown you,” hands up, “they also may obtain mercy.” See, that’s the mystery. They hardened their hearts. God opened His arms. 

The Gentiles are believers, and now the Jews are looking at you. And now you show them that there is one way, one truth, one life, and His name is Yeshua. He’s their salvation. And they need to believe in Him in order to be saved. “For God has committed them all to disobedience that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Not of man. Man’s ways are foolish. God is wise. He says, “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out. For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be the glory for forever.”

We live in a time where many feel as Elijah did, asking where are all God’s people? Where are the Bible-believing Christians? Where can I find a Bible teaching church? Yet, as was true in Elijah’s day, God has people all over the world who have not bowed to the world system and they are made up of those from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people, including Israel.

Romans 11:1-5
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

This is what Paul was reminding the Gentile Christians of in Romans 11. Yes, blindness in part has come to the Jews through their disobedience, yet in the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, He continues to show mercy on those from all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples who were also disobedient.

We need to be mindful of what Paul said when living in such a time as this – a time where the remnant church exists in an unprecedented season of global blindness in part, a time where those who have not bowed the knee to Baal – meaning become idolatrous – are far outnumbered by those who have.

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The context of the statement here cannot be separated from the content of chapter 11, since there are no chapter divisions or verse numbers in the original manuscripts. This tells us that the church has the divine responsibility to prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God to all the world, including, and maybe even especially, to the Jews.

This can’t happen by saying God has cast the Jews off forever. This can’t happen by saying the church has replaced Israel. This can’t happen if we are conformed to this world and live like those who have bowed the knee to Baal.

Paul says that while the Jews are generally opposed to the gospel, they still constitute a mission field for the church because their blindness is only in part. God is still saving Jews today by the blood of the King of the Jews, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of the true and living God.

Romans 11:25-27
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

This glorious event is recorded in Zechariah 12:10 when at the Second Coming of Christ all Israel will look upon Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. And they will mourn for their own, and their ancestors, rejection of Him as their Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, their Savior.

We live in times where it seems like the church has followed the pattern of Israel. The word of God is rejected as divine and inspired by many who say they are among the chosen of God – a royal priesthood who are called the church. However, you cannot separate the word of God from the God of the word as Jesus is presented as the “word made flesh” in John 1:14. To reject the word of God is to reject Jesus, and, sadly, many do just that today.

So what do we do in times such as these? We do not conform to the world, we do not bow the knee to Baal, even when we feel alone like Elijah did. We stay the course, we keep the faith, and we do not deny His name. Instead, we present our bodies, not as the dead sacrifices that the Jews were accustomed to, but as living sacrifices that prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 11:13-15
For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

When we live as we should in a loving personal relationship with God that is visible to others, especially to the Jews, the difference between religion and relationship becomes evident and provokes those who see it to want the same for themselves.

God is still saving Jews today and He has not cast them off forever. There might be few among them who are saved during the time of the Gentiles, but the fact that God is still saving them in this time of national disobedience should be a reminder to us all that no one is beyond the reach of our mighty and merciful God!

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus

The Spirit of Wisdom

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

Ephesians 1:17–19

If God tells us that wisdom is the principal thing, then it behooves us to know and operate in the “spirit of wisdom.” But do you know what the “spirit of wisdom” is?

Look at the prayer (above) that the apostle Paul prayed over the church in Ephesus. The spirit of wisdom and revelation is in the knowledge of Jesus! The more you know Jesus and have a revelation of His unmerited favor in your life, the more you will have the spirit of wisdom. I challenge you to pray this prayer for wisdom on a regular basis because when you increase in the knowledge of Jesus, He will surely lead you to good success in every aspect of your life.

Note that when Paul was praying this prayer for the believers in Ephesus, they were already filled with the Holy Spirit. But Paul still prayed that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of Jesus. It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit inside you, but it is another thing to let the Holy Spirit inside you flow as the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

And as you pray to be led by the spirit of wisdom today, be confident that you will experience the Holy Spirit leading you in Jesus’ divine and unmatched wisdom. When the Holy Spirit leads you in the wisdom of Jesus, there will be no impossible situation, no insolvable problem, and no insurmountable crisis. The wisdom of Jesus in you will help you to successfully navigate all your trials and cause you to prevail over all your challenges!

This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days of Favor—Daily Readings from Unmerited Favor. Joseph Prince

The Power of the Blood

“And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:13

Did you notice that before the Passover, God promised that when He saw the lambs’ blood on the Israelites’ doorposts, they would be saved from destruction? When the angel of death passed through the land, anyone among the children of Israel who was quaking in fear did so needlessly. They were saved not because they were Israelites and not because of their good behavior or anything they did. They were saved just because of one thing—the blood of the lamb.

You might be feeling anxious because doctors have detected some abnormalities in your recent health check. Or perhaps a few of your relatives have succumbed to a particular disease and you are fearful you might be next. My friend, I want you to know you do not have to be afraid, for you have been saved by the shed blood of the true Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

If you are a believer, you can put your trust and confidence in the royal blood that flows through Immanuel’s veins that is on the doorposts of your life. The cross transcends time, and on that day His blood washed you clean of every sin—past, present, and future. You are completely forgiven not because of your good deeds but because of His blood (Eph. 1:7). Rest in the Lamb who died for you at Calvary!

Stop disqualifying yourself from His healing because of the failures in your life. Stop believing the enemy’s lies that you don’t deserve to be healed because of the mistakes you have made or because you have not been going to church enough. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see you in your failures and frailties. He only sees His Son because you are in Christ.

Because you are in Christ, you are completely accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6), and you are already blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3). This means that even if there are symptoms in your body, God sees you as healed. Each time you partake of the holy Communion, start seeing yourself the way God sees you. See yourself healed, whole, and filled with divine strength and life.

Each time you take up the cup of the new covenant in His blood (1 Cor. 11:25), know that the blood of Jesus “speaks better things” under the new covenant than the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24). Abel’s blood had cried out for vengeance (Gen. 4:10). Jesus’ blood cries out for your redemption (Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19), your justification (Rom. 5:9), your victory over the enemy (Rev. 12:11), and so much more!

This devotional is taken from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

Shalom from the Jezreel Valley in Israel! It is so good to be back home. On my return from vacation, I took the opportunity to stop in Switzerland so that I could teach at ICF Zurich. What an amazing church and what amazing people! The last time I spoke abroad was November 2023, but teaching God’s Word is like riding a bike. The Holy Spirit moved and we had a wonderful time. Thanks to all at ICF Zurich!

The same day I arrived home is the same day that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave what I believe to be the most powerful speech of his political career. Two days earlier, six hostages had been executed by gunshots to the back of their heads because Hamas felt the IDF was getting too close to discovering them. It shocked the world and outraged the nation. In response, and under fire from Israeli leftists, families of hostages, international governments, and the United States’ White House, Netanyahu risked his political life by taking the unpopular stand against appeasement for the sake of hostage returns. As the saying goes, “With friends like these….”

There was one truth that Netanyahu communicated that could not be misunderstood. As long as he is prime minister, Israel will not back down. Despite the liberal politicians, Bibi’s stand will stay strong. And despite IDF generals who prefer plotting with one another rather than listening to the government, the PM is going to ensure that the military serves the government’s wishes rather than the government serving the military’s. After listening to the speech numerous times, I believe there are four main takeaways:

1.    Unity is vital to winning the war. This was a message to the Israeli public, and it came in the wake of protests and a failed labor strike that the courts declared illegal and political. The majority of our citizens agree with Netanyahu that we must remain strong together as we push to finish this war. Unfortunately, those who stand contrary to him – leftist media, big-mouth politicians, and buttinsky foreign governments – have the microphones and the television screens and the news sources.

2.    We received a detailed explanation of the history and importance of keeping the Philadelphi Axis in the hands of the IDF. It is through that area along the Egypt-Gaza border that most of Hamas’s armaments pass into the country. It provides the military oxygen that keeps the terrorists breathing, so it must remain cut off. Passing it back over to Hamas is like committing martial suicide for the IDF.

3.    Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, U.S. President Joe Biden, and all the others exerting political pressure on Netanyahu need to back off and let him work. As always, the left-wing media took up the cause of the anti-Bibis and grilled the PM mercilessly. But Netanyahu responded masterfully. No matter how hard they tried to trip him up, he was able to communicate his point clearly and concisely.

4.    Yahya Sinwar now knows in no uncertain terms that he is a walking dead man. No pressure from the U.S. or our own far-left elements will change Bibi’s stance on the Philadelphi Axis or on the removal of Sinwar from this planet. By saying it so publicly, Netanyahu has locked himself in and he can never go back.

Again, I think it is the best I have ever seen the prime minister. If you want a more detailed breakdown of his speech, check out my special Breaking News Update from Tuesday.

Once again, I am angered and heart-broken at the barbaric loss of life. But I am not surprised. In fact, I remain optimistic, because biblically I know that we must win this smaller war for the big one of Ezekiel 38 to begin. A time of peace and security is coming for Israel. Once that is finally achieved, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and others will pour out of the north with the intention of destroying and pillaging Israel. All that has happened, God knew before. And He has planned out the perfect path that will ultimately lead to His people crying out to Him, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35).



The Middle East

Once again, I remind you to check out my Telegram channel to get all the latest news. Make sure you only subscribe to the one with over 560,000 followers, so that you can avoid scammers. In addition, with the future of Telegram possibly a little sketchy, I’ve been increasing my presence on X, formerly known as Twitter. Once again, for safety’s sake only subscribe to the one that has over 112,000 followers.


Gaza and the Massacring of Hostages
Last week we celebrated together the rescuing of Arab Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi from a Hamas tunnel. Just a few days later, Israel was once again outraged and mourning as six of its innocents were executed via gunshot to the back of their heads by their Hamas captors. Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, were stolen away nearly 11 months ago from the Nova Music Festival and forced to live underground up until their lives were unceremoniously taken from them in just a moment. Carmel Gat, 40, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, was massacred alongside them. Hamas readily admits to the executions, saying that these are the new rules. But they don’t accept responsibility. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said, “Netanyahu killed the six prisoners, and he is determined to kill the remaining ones.” The lie is so transparent, and it is so evil. And the media is printing it as if it came from the lips of an archangel.

What about an agreement? Is Hamas begging for Israel to put down their weapons? After their tremendous losses, are they pleading with their hands folded desperate for relief? Hardly. Khalil al-Hayya, senior member of the political wing of Hamas, boldly asserts, “Without an Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, from the Nezarim Corridor, and the Rafah crossing there will be no agreement.” In other words, “Israel, you are defeated. You must give up and go home.” It sounds asinine, but is it really? Hamas is counting on the two weapons that might be big enough to defeat Israel. The first is international pressure, and the second is the left-wing inside Israel. Hamas can’t do it themselves, but they have some pretty powerful allies.

It's not all bad news from Gaza. On October 7, Ahmed Fozi Nazer Muhammad Wadia, the commander of the Nukhba Company in the Daraj Tuffah Battalion, paraglided into the Netiv HaAsara community and took charge of the slaughter. While the children of slain father Gil Taasa were forced to stare at his body, Wadia looked on as he casually a coke. On Tuesday, Wadia and seven others were killed in a Gaza City compound.

Hezbollah and the North
The battle in the north continues. On Monday, the IDF attacked ten rocket launchers belonging to Hezbollah. Unfortunately, there are many other locations where rockets are stored and from which they can be launched, as evidenced by the 60 rockets they launched during the morning hours yesterday. The IDF responded immediately with a heavy strike. It will be interesting to watch how and when the prime minister will address Hezbollah. So far, it seems that the terrorist group is content to let their chicken-killing rocket attack of August 25 serve as a strong message to Israel that they should stop killing Hezbollah commanders like they did with Fuad Shukr. Unfortunately for the terrorists, the only ones who really seem to be upset are the members of the National Poultry Lobby who apparently took to the streets soon after, crying, “Fowl!”

The West Bank
The violence inside and coming out of the West Bank is only getting worse. On Sunday, a Palestinian gunman belonging to a group known as the Khalil al-Rahman Brigade ambushed an Israeli police car, killing the three officers inside. Later that day, the terrorist was dispatched while hiding out in a home in Hebron. Terrorism has become rampant in the West Bank. In recent weeks, Shin Bet has thwarted two significant terrorist attacks originating in the Nablus area. This is the same region that sent the failed suicide terrorist of August 18. Since the beginning of the year, about 200 terror attacks have been thwarted by Shin Bet.

UK Bans Arms
In a case of the worst timing ever, just a few days after Hamas cold-bloodedly executed six Israeli hostages, the United Kingdom announced that it was suspending a whole series of weapons exports bound for Israel. This move brought criticism from all corners of the land, including former prime minister Boris Johnson and former home secretary Priti Patel. British columnist Allison Pearson called the Labour party’s ban “a shameful betrayal of a heroic ally”, adding that doing so immediately following the execution by Hamas of six innocents “presents a bold challenge to the limits of satire.” Hey, UK, at least let us mourn our dead for a few days before you stab us in the back.


Russian Missile Attack on Ukraine
As Ukraine struggles to push farther across the border, Russia is fighting back. On Tuesday, two ballistic missiles hit a military educational institute and a nearby hospital in Poltava. More than 50 were killed and hundreds were injured. Russia defended its actions, saying that the military institute was a viable target.

The Ministry

Have you wondered what it would have been like running for your life from the terrorists on October 7? Have you thought about how life has changed here in Israel since that horrendous massacre? Those two themes lay the foundation for our new Nir Tavor thriller, The Sick Man’s Rage, and give the story a depth like none that we’ve written before. After giving you a glimpse into what that fateful day was like, we’ll take you into Israel’s response and the resulting repercussions that triggered a global reaction. Preorder your copy today of The Sick Man’s Rage, releasing December 3, and prepare to be drawn into the Israeli mind deeper than you’ve ever been before.

On Monday, I have an exciting opportunity to be interviewed on the “Got Questions?” podcast. If you have ever done a Google search on a biblical question, then chances are you have seen Got Questions. It’s a great opportunity with a solid organization. Once I learn when it will be aired, I’ll pass the information on to you.

Also on Monday, it will be time for another live Q&A CONNECT with Pastor Barry Stagner and me. We’ll talk Israel, the Bible, and Israel as it relates to the Bible. Come loaded with your questions at 10:00 AM PDT. Then, be sure to join me the next day, Tuesday, for a fresh edition of MidEast Update.

While the vacation was good and the time with family was great, it’s still wonderful to be back at work in the office at CONNECT. Thank you for your prayers and your support. Your faithfulness to God allows Him to be faithful through you. May He bless you as you trust Him day by day.

Awaiting His Return,

Jesus Paid Our Debt

John 12:31 'Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.'

JOHN 12:31

There is still a future judgment of the world coming, where the wicked will be separated from the righteous and cast into the lake of fire. This verse refers to the sins of the world that were about to be placed on Jesus and that He would suffer our punishment.

Jesus suffered the punishment for our sins, so there is no reason why we should suffer for them too. The price for sin has already been paid by the only one who could fully pay it and that is Jesus. All Jesus asks of us to make His redemption ours, is faith in Him as our Lord.

Sin has a wage it must pay and no one can avoid payday without faith in Jesus. Anyone who does not receive the new birth will be held liable for all the wrong they committed as a result of their sinful nature. However, those who receive the new birth through faith in Jesus, don't have a sin nature and therefore, will not receive the payment of death.

Physical death as well as every result of the sin nature (i.e. sickness, depression, fear, etc.) is only a by-product of the spiritual death that was already inside of us. The Lord told Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden tree, he would surely die (Gen. 2:17). Adam didn't die physically that day but he did die spiritually. Physical death came 930 years later for Adam (Gen. 5:5) as a by-product of his spiritual death.

Eternal life is a gift. The dictionary defines a gift as 'something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation; a present.' We have nothing to do with earning this gift. All you have to do is receive it by faith. Andrew Womack

What Are You Hearing?

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17 NASB

Allow me to show you something from the story of the woman in Mark 5 whom Jesus healed from a “flow of blood” that had caused her great suffering for twelve years. We see in Mark 5:27 that her miracle began when she “heard about Jesus.” What do you think the woman heard about Jesus that was so powerful?

For twelve years she had been bleeding. According to Levitical law, she was “unclean.” Whoever touched her or even touched anything she had sat on was also considered unclean (Lev. 15:19–25). This means for twelve years she had been shunned and ostracized. For twelve years she was not allowed to touch anyone so she would not defile them. Can you imagine living a life where every single day, you are painfully reminded of how unclean, how impure, and how disqualified you are?

But then she heard something about Jesus.

She heard something that caused hope to spring up in her jaded heart and gave her the faith to believe she would be made well simply by touching His clothes.

She heard something that gave her the boldness and resolve to press her weakened body through an entire crowd, even though Levitical law forbade her from touching anyone.

Most of all, she heard something that caused her to believe that in spite of the fact she was unclean, she could receive healing. That is what I want you to hear about our Lord Jesus today.

In spite of the fact you are unclean, in spite of the fact you have failed, in spite of the fact there is sin in your life, you can receive healing!

Don’t allow man’s traditions to keep you away from your loving Savior. Come to Him just as you are. You do not need to do anything to qualify yourself. You do not need to wash yourself clean before you can approach Him. You do not have to long for His touch from a distance, wishing you were good enough or pure enough. Come to Him with all your sins and all your burdens—He will make you clean. The same Jesus who gave His body for your healing also gave His blood for your forgiveness. Just come to Him!

This devotional is taken from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional. Joseph Prince

Hearts Purified by Faith

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. . . Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

John 8:31–32, 36

What is “the truth” that Jesus says has the power to set us free? Remember, our Lord was speaking to the Jewish people, so “the truth that they shall know” could not have been the old covenant of the law, which they were already well versed in. Knowing and attempting to keep the law to earn their righteousness had not given them the freedom they sought. It had, in fact, become for them an impossibly heavy yoke to bear.

To understand what “the truth” is, I want to bring you to Acts 15, where the Jerusalem Council had convened to debate which of the old covenant laws should be imposed on Gentile believers. Look at what Peter said:

“So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
—Acts 15:8–11

When Peter spoke about God giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentile believers in the same way that He had given the Holy Spirit to the Jewish believers, he was referring to his preaching to Cornelius’s household and how the Holy Spirit fell upon all the Gentiles there who heard him as he was speaking these words: “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43–44). Notice that when the Gentiles there simply put their faith in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, they were filled with the Holy Spirit!

The Jewish believers who were present with Peter then were astonished to see how even Gentiles could receive the Holy Spirit in the same way they did (Acts 10:45–46). It was an unprecedented, unthinkable phenomenon for the Jews of the early church to witness, since under Old Testament laws, Gentiles were considered unclean (Acts 10:28). Later, the Jewish believers acknowledged that God had also granted to the Gentiles “repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18 KJV)!

This brings me to my next point. At the Jerusalem Council, Peter stated that the hearts of the Gentile believers were purified by faith (Acts 15:9)! Not by works, but by their believing right—believing that those who believed in the Lord would receive the remission of sins and be made the righteousness of God. Can you see that?

How are we made righteous today? How are our hearts purified today? By faith in our Lord’s finished work at the cross!

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Now, who are the pure in heart? Those whose hearts have been purified by faith. Amen! This is how we use scripture to interpret scripture. So don’t let someone tell you that in order to have a pure heart, you need to do this and that, and if you fail to keep to their list of dos and don’ts, your heart will not be pure.

Can you see how dangerous man’s opinions can be? Just like that, precious believers can come under great fear that if they aren’t doing something hard enough to continually keep their hearts pure, they will lose their salvation and end up not seeing the Lord.

According to the authority of God’s Word, our hearts are purified by faith in our Lord Jesus. Hallelujah! Let this truth put an unshakable confidence in your heart concerning your salvation, your relationship with the Lord, your future, and good things happening to and for you.

This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

For all those who are pro-abortion, [just so you know] life begins at conception. So if you’re talking about a lifespan – a lifespan begins at conception and it ends at death. It is just that he’s having fun swimming for nine months. Where is he? Swimming. He’s alive. You always make sure he is alive, but he’s just swimming and he has some weird food that you don’t have to buy. You just produce it. That’s all. Amazing, amazing to see. I always was amazed when I touched my wife’s pregnant belly, when I could see the foot of the baby. And I was like, I don’t know if I could be a pregnant woman. Forget about the birth pangs and all of that. I’m talking about the fact that there’s a living creature inside of you. Amazing. How can people say it’s not a living creature? He’s there. He’s kicking. It’s amazing, and he’s swimming and he’s so happy, has no clue what’s going to happen next.

It is quite amazing that people today can repeat the mantra “trust the science”, because so many of them don’t trust the science themselves. They don’t even know what a woman is! And there is no new evidence that inside a pregnant mother’s womb is anything other than a human baby. There no new scientific evidence that the baby at such and such a time during the pregnancy suddenly becomes human.

So, the pro-choice crowd has decided that they can make things up that are unscientific and untrue. These are things like, it’s not a baby until it breaths air, or it’s not a baby until it has sentience (the ability to perceive or feel things). How foolish to think that a baby that reacts to touch can’t feel its precious little body being torn apart during an abortion. That means that the true force behind the “my body, my choice” movement is not science but rather the great deceiver, Satan. 

Matthew 24:12
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

There is no other way to describe the pro-choice movement other than loveless and demonic. They say they care about women’s health, yet half of those aborted babies are female. Since 1970, the estimated number of human children killed in their mother’s womb ranges from 1.72 billion to 2.15 billion. 

Remember when King David had an adulterous encounter with Bathsheba and she became pregnant? Later, after arranging for the death of her husband, David married Bathsheba and the child became gravely ill and finally died.

2 Samuel 12:20-23
So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

David believed that when an infant child died, it would go to where he would later be, which is in the presence of God. This makes it likely that we can expect to see this massive number of slain human beings when we inhabit the New Jerusalem.

There is too much scientific evidence and far too much history to think that inside of a pregnant woman’s womb is anything other than a growing human baby. It is not simply a clump of cells or fetal tissue.

The one positive thing to remember in all this ugliness is that God is gracious and merciful and the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cover all sins, including that of taking the life of a baby inside the mother’s womb. The denial of this scientifically proven truth of life beginning at conception is preparation for the loss of of respect for human life at any level. This will set people up for the joining of the masses of the world in support of the first beast of Revelation 13, whom we call the antichrist, when he slaughters anyone who refuses his mark and who has the testimony of Jesus and the word of God! (Revelation 13:17)

The world has been made ready for the arrival of the lawless one which tells us that Jesus is coming for us soon.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,

Freedom from Destructive Habits

. . . And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

John 8:11

I have received so many testimonies from people who have been set free from destructive habits. These are sincere and precious people who desired to experience breakthroughs but did not know how to. However, once they learned about righteousness that comes from Christ apart from their works, they began to confess that they were still the righteousness of God every time they felt tempted.

And bit by bit, the more they started to believe that they were righteous in Christ, and the more they refused to accept the condemnation for their past mistakes and for their present temptation, the more they became set free from the very addictions that bound them!

A brother from the US, who has been listening to my messages for some time, wrote to share that he had been addicted to pornography and had lived a lifestyle of sexual immorality since he was 14 years old. Although he had accepted Jesus when he was 18 years old, he continued to struggle with this aspect of his life. This is what he wrote:

As a result of some bad influences and some of my own bad choices, I became a pornography addict and began to lead a sexually immoral life at the age of 14. I got saved when I was 18 years old, but I still struggled with those kinds of thoughts and some old, bad habits. I tried everything to break free from immorality and lustful thoughts.

Then, I heard Pastor Prince’s message titled, “Good Things Happen To People Who Believe God Loves Them.” I listened to it over and over again, and for the first time, God's love became consistently real to me. I was able to receive God's unconditional love over and over again, and it healed my heart.

God’s love has set me free! Thank you so much for the message that your church sends out to the world. It is truly changing lives!

The revelation that God loves him unconditionally despite his failures and imperfections was what helped this brother break free from habits that had gripped him for many years.

Beloved, God does not want you to sin because sin will destroy you. But even if you have failed, you must know this: There is no condemnation because you are IN CHRIST JESUS and your sins are washed away by His blood! When God looks at you, He does not see you in your failures. From the moment you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, God sees you in the risen Christ, seated at His right hand! As Jesus is spotless and without blame, so are you!

God sent His Son to die on the cross for you while you were still a sinner. Obviously, He does not love you only when you are perfect in your behavior and thoughts. His love for you is unconditional. Receive it afresh today and break free from every sin and addiction in your life!

This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days of Favor—Daily Readings from Unmerited Favor. Joseph Prince

Speaking Out in Faith

Speaking Out in Faith

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.

2 Corinthians 4:13

Do you know that as God’s child, you can speak positively into your negative situation and see it change for the better?

Let me show you some scriptures about faith and speaking that will help you. Romans 10:9 tells us that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Our Lord Jesus also said, “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).

Now, reread what the apostle Paul wrote in today’s verse. Do you notice a pattern here? Faith involves believing in your heart as well as speaking with your mouth. You and I, we are made in God’s image. When God first saw darkness, He didn’t say, “Gosh, it’s so dark.” What did God do? He called forth light by speaking. He said, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3).

In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus spoke to the storm and it subsided. He spoke to the fig tree and it withered. He spoke to the demons and they fled. He spoke to the sick and they were healed. He spoke to the dead and they lived.

Similarly, when we are faced with darkness in any area of our lives today, or trapped in a storm of challenges, let’s not be mired in looking at the problems and despairing. We should also call forth what we want to see! If we find ourselves caught in a dangerous situation, we should declare, “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress.” If there is a sickness in our body, we can call forth our healing by saying, “Thank You, Jesus, by Your stripes I am healed!” Start speaking forth your protection, your health, and your victory today!

This devotional is adapted from the book The Prayer of Protection Devotional—Daily Strategies for Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times. Joseph Prince

The Power of Redeeming Thoughts

The Power of Redeeming Thoughts

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 NLT

What mental movies are you playing in your head today? Are they thoughts of defeat and despair or thoughts of victory and favor? Faith is simply saying what God says about you and seeing what God sees in you and your situation.

It takes a thought to heal a thought. Unlike the world, which teaches you to empty your mind to achieve peace, God’s way is to fill your mind with fresh, powerful, and redeeming thoughts.

The apostle Paul tells us, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Phil. 4:8 NLT). So it’s not just trying to blot out bad thoughts with your willpower. It takes a thought to replace a thought. It takes a right belief to replace a wrong belief. You need God’s truth to replace the enemy’s lies that have kept you in bondage.

My friend, if a wrong, bad, or negative thought is lodged in your mind today and you can’t seem to shake it, stop trying! Perhaps you’re lying in a hospital bed and can’t help but think of the worst-case scenario. You’re attempting to suppress it, but it’s not working. Well, stop! Stop trying to erase it from your mind. That just won’t work. What you need to do is replace that destructive thought with a thought that’s from God. That’s the only way to deal with a wrong thought and begin the healing process.

Start to meditate on truths such as, “Surely Jesus has borne my sicknesses and carried my pains. The chastisement for my wholeness fell upon Him, and by His stripes I am healed. With long life He will satisfy me” (Isa. 53:4–5 and Ps. 91:16). Begin to play mental movies of yourself getting well, being discharged from the hospital, having fun with your kids, or going on a nice holiday!

This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days of Right Believing—Daily Readings from The Power of Right Believing. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

Shalom from Europe on my way back from vacation! What an amazing few days it has been in Israel. The IDF rescued the first living hostage from Hamas’s underground tunnels in Gaza. And wouldn’t you know it? He was an Arab Muslim. Qaid Farhan Alkadi was at his job in a packing house in Kibbutz Magen on October 7 when he was taken by Hamas terrorists. For more than ten months he was held as a hostage, malnourished and mistreated. But then some IDF and Shin Bet forces operating in the tunnels discovered him and brought him to safety. All of Israel is now celebrating!

Of course, Hamas quickly reported that they had released him, but that is not what the IDF or what Alkadi himself is saying. The Bedouin emphatically reported on the harsh treatment that the hostages receive, and he pleaded with the Israeli government to do whatever it takes to get them out. It didn’t take long for him to have the opportunity to go to the top of Israel’s government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself called Alkadi to celebrate, saying, “Our brother has come home! Our brother has returned!”

This is what the antisemites who march against Israel and criticize the war don’t get. Israel is not making this a racial war. They are not fighting the Arabs or, more specifically, the Palestinians. Israel is fighting against the terrorist group Hamas. Throughout the war, they have gone above and beyond to warn civilians of the actions they were going to have to take to root out the terrorist cancer. No other nation has ever done so much to protect the innocent. Have civilians been killed and wounded? Sadly, yes. But that is because Hamas has persisted in using the Palestinian population as human shields, whether it is in neighborhoods, schools, or hospitals.

In the south, Israel fights Hamas. In the north, Israel fights Hezbollah. In the West Bank, Israel fights both terrorist organizations, along with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other terrorist groups. In contrast, the terrorists in all those areas fight the Jews. They are the ones who make this racial. The protesters around the world also make this racial. We are not in a fight against the Arabs. But these terrorists and antisemites are in a fight against the Jewish people. That is the difference between them and us.

Unfortunately for them, God has made it clear that targeting Israel is not a healthy choice. Even when He allowed other nations to bring harm against the Jews, it was only for a season and for a purpose. When the time was past, His arms were open to His repentant people, but His hand was against those nations who followed their sinful inclinations to persecute Israel. Both the Jewish people and the church can take great comfort in knowing that God never fully turns His back on those He calls His own.

Psalm 121:1-4
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.


 The Middle East and the World

Operation Summer Camps
While the media has focused on the war in Gaza and the battles in the north, there is a third front that is less talked about. Terrorist attacks by Arabs coming from the West Bank have increased exponentially since October 7 – most (but not all) attributed to Hamas, the PIJ, or the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB). Yesterday, the IDF moved to tamp down that activity by implementing Operation Summer Camps. This is the largest operation in Judea and Samaria in 20 years and is aimed at the Iranian effort to arm and train terrorists in the West Bank. Already, as of Wednesday morning, ten terrorists were killed, and more are being taken out each day. As always, the IDF is taking precautions to protect civilians. Before the action began, residents of the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm were warned to evacuate so that they could avoid the coming action. We cannot allow the terrorists to perpetrate another October 7 massacre from the West Bank. Even after we move into Lebanon, we must make sure that Judea, Samaria, and the northern Jordan Valley remain an extremely high priority.


Hezbollah Strikes Back at Israel
Early Sunday, Hezbollah launched its promised strike across the southern border, and the Israelis paid dearly. At least the Israeli chickens did. In a major barrage, 230 rockets and 20 drones were fired toward Israel – the rockets to the north and the drones toward the center. Unfortunately for Hezbollah, the flying explosives missed the military facilities they were aimed at. Instead, they blew the heck out of a chicken coop. We’re still waiting for a condemnatory response from PETA.

The fact that only poultry was damaged by their paltry attempt didn’t stop Hezbollah from taking a victory lap. In a speech following the attack, Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the terrorist group, celebrated by alleging that they fired twenty more rockets than they had originally intended. That is hard to believe. Hezbollah planned their attack to begin at 5:00 am. Learning of this fact, the IDF, at 4:30 am, sent 100 Israeli fighter jets peremptorily across the northern border into Lebanon, hitting 200 launching sites before they had a chance to send their missiles. If not for this action, it was very likely that more than just chickens would have died. Following the attack by Hezbollah, Israel pounded the terrorist group’s sites in a major airstrike. These strikes have continued through the week, mostly focusing on the Baalbek region.


The Battle in Gaza
The fight continues in Gaza. The enemy is deeply entrenched and there are miles and miles of tunnels. As Israel simultaneously fights above ground and below ground, the soldiers must be incredibly careful. First, there are thousands of vulnerable citizens being used as human shields. But secondly, there are still 103 hostages being held, although 33 of them have been confirmed dead. According to a report by the Jewish Chronicle, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip and the terrorist organization’s newly minted chairman of the Political Bureau, Yahya Sinwar, surrounds himself with 22 handcuffed hostages. Apparently, Israel has had several chances to eliminate him, but they held back due to the hostage risk.


U.S. Warns of Iranian Threat Against Israel
We’ve all been wondering when Iran’s retaliation will come against Israel for the targeted killing of chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The ayatollahs have been holding it over the Jewish state’s head for weeks. Now, John Kirby, national security spokesman for the White House, has said that it could come soon, and warned Iran to reconsider carrying their plan out. “Our messaging to Iran is consistent, has been and will stay consistent,” he said. “One, don’t do it. There’s no reason to escalate this. There’s no reason to potentially start some sort of all-out regional war. And number two, we are going to be prepared to defend Israel if it comes to that.”


Ukraine vs. Russia
Ukraine continues its push into Russia, using drones to reach deep into the enemy nation. Yesterday, they attacked the Ryazan hydroelectric plant approximately 200 km from Moscow. Russia is fighting back in a huge way. On Monday, the Russians launched 127 missiles and 109 attack drones aimed at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. At least four people were killed, and in Kyiv there were seven or more explosions reported. One missile hit the road over the Kyiv hydroelectric plant. If that plant took major damage, it could mean severe flooding in and around Kyiv.


France Arrests Telegram’s Pavel Durov
In an action that illustrates the continued deterioration of free speech in Europe, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested Saturday by French police in Paris. The charges against him are that his social media platform is being used for illicit activity including drug trafficking and child porn. The move by French authorities set off a firestorm of protest by free speech advocates, while opponents of free speech thought “Phew, I’m glad it was the French who did it.” On Wednesday, he was released from his temporary hold, but that doesn’t mean that all his problems are over. He was immediately sent for questioning, while it is being decided whether to put him under indictment. If he is formally charged, he can end up going right back into detention. It will be interesting to see if Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, or the United Arab Emirates, all of whose citizenships he holds along with his French citizenship, steps up to put pressure for his release.


The Ministry

Operation Extended Hand became our mission after we were made aware of the extremely difficult economic situations our ministry partners in Israel have been facing ever since the horrific terror attacks of October 7, 2023. Many Israeli small businesses heavily rely on consistent tourism in order to provide for their families. Tragically, tourism has been nearly absent since the attacks. Our partners in Israel consist of custom jewelers, gift providers, cosmetic specialists, a tour guide, and a professional bus driver – all of whom will be immensely blessed by your business and generosity during this trying time. You will deal directly with them, so that we can be left totally out of the deal. Thank you in advance for joining us on this mission to extend a hand to those who need it most.

Our Weekly Prayer Meetings have been moved from Monday to Friday. Join us at 10:00 AM PDT live on Zoom for this special hour of intercession each week. You’ll be blessed as you spend time praying with fellow believers from all over the world! Also, don’t forget about our Public Reading of Scripture that takes place every Thursday night at 6:00 PM PDT. It’s a blessed time where we pause from the busyness of our daily lives just to enjoy listening to the Word of God being read out loud.

Make sure to take the time to visit our Behold Israel Shop to check out our most recent additions! We have even added a build-your-own-bundle feature in order to provide you with efficient pricing as you add more books to your cart. At the end of the day, our passion is to get resources into the hands of people everywhere. We have also added new accessories and apparel!

For those of you in Canada and the U.S., I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. Next week, I’ll write to you from back home in Israel. Until then, may God bless you all.

Awaiting His Return,

Little by Little

Little by Little

“I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.”

Exodus 23:29–30

You can receive healing through the prayer of faith (Mark 11:24), and many times during our services, people are instantaneously healed as the gifts of healings flow (1 Cor. 12:9). There is a powerful corporate anointing at work when the church gathers together because Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Where Jesus is, death turns into life and resurrection (John 11:25), weakness becomes strength, little becomes much, and in His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

While I would love for everyone to receive immediate and complete healing all the time, you don’t have to have an instantaneous manifestation or feel something tangibly happening in your body to know God is healing you. The moment you partake of the holy Communion in faith, your healing has begun.

Most people who have sent in their healing testimonies to my ministry weren’t healed in a spectacular prayer meeting or when a man or woman of God laid hands on them. They were healed gradually by the Lord as they partook of His ordained channel through which we receive His supernatural life and health—the holy Communion.

Sometimes teachings on the prayer of faith can put pressure on you to believe you have complete healing the moment you pray. But truth be told, most of us don’t have that kind of faith. As for the gifts of healings, they operate as the Spirit wills (1 Cor. 12:11) and not as man wills. When it comes to the holy Communion, there is no pressure. Each time you partake in faith, you receive a measure of healing and get better and better.

Sometimes we get impatient and want the Lord to drive out all our enemies at once. Read the verses above from Exodus 23 and see what the Lord said to the children of Israel as they were preparing to enter the promised land. Little by little. Little by little.

Today we don’t face the Hivites, Hittites, or Canaanites like the children of Israel did. But our enemies might be renal failure, leukemia, or high blood pressure. Whatever it is, don’t be discouraged. The symptoms might still be there even though you have partaken of the holy Communion, but keep partaking. The manifestation of your healing is coming. The enemy is being driven out from your life. Your healing might not be taking place as quickly as you would like it to, but it is taking place. My friend, don’t give up!

This devotional is taken from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional. Joseph Prince

Submission Releases God’s Favor into Your Life

Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand . . .”

1 Samuel 17:17-18

When God wanted to bring down a mighty giant who was terrorizing the nation of Israel, He sent someone who was weak in the flesh. Think about it. In the eyes of the world, what could be weaker against a trained and fearsome soldier than a young boy who had no formal military training, no armor, was dressed in a humble shepherd’s garb, and did not even carry any real weapons other than a sling and five smooth stones from a brook? It is no wonder that Goliath mocked this young shepherd boy and his strategy. When David stepped into the battlefield, Goliath asked him sarcastically, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (1 Sam. 17:43).

The implications of this battle were massive. It was not just a duel or contest between two individuals. The Israelites and Philistines had agreed to each send a warrior who would represent their nation. The defeated warrior would commit his entire nation to become servants to the other nation. It would be an understatement to say that a whole lot was riding on this one fight. And who does God send to represent Israel? In natural terms, He sent possibly the most unqualified person onto that battlefield in the Valley of Elah.

David was not even a soldier in the army of Israel! Do you remember how this shepherd boy ended up at the battlefield to begin with? David was there to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers who were in the army (1 Sam. 17:17-20)! And yet, David found himself standing on the battlefield as Israel's representative against the haughty Goliath. From delivering bread and cheese, he was now called upon to deliver the entire nation of Israel.

David was at the right place at the right time because he humbled himself and submitted to his father’s instructions to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers. Beloved, this is something you need to understand. Submission to God-appointed leadership will always cause God's favor to flow in your life, and you will find yourself, like David, at the right place at the right time!

The Bible says that we should not despise the day of humble beginnings (Zech. 4:10). There is nothing glamorous about delivering bread and cheese, but David did not despise it. And that put him right in the Valley of Elah, the wind blowing in his hair—a young shepherd boy with no military experience representing the nation of Israel against a mighty giant who was a man of war from his youth.

This is what God loves to do. He loves to take the foolish and weak things to shame the wise and mighty things of the world. So beloved, humble yourself and submit to the authorities that God has placed above you. And when you are faithful to carry out small tasks assigned to you, His favor is released in your life and you might just find yourself doing great exploits for God!

This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days of Favor—Daily Readings from Unmerited Favor. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

I want you to know that God is not done with Israel. Israel is a miracle, and Israel is a picture of God’s faithfulness. And Israel is your insurance policy that God is faithful to His covenants. And if you do not follow Him today, time is short. I want to tell you something. The rapture can take place any minute, and I want you to know that today, today is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow. Don’t push it. Israel is a picture of God’s faithfulness. God wants to get your attention. He’s using His nation over there to tell you, “I love you in the same way I love Israel. Now you are My people. You who were once not My people are now My people.”

And I called you also from bondage to the freedom that we have in Christ, from darkness into His marvelous light. But you cannot find that light, unless you believe and put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross who came to die for you. He’s the king of Israel. He will come to save Israel, but He came two thousand years ago to save you.

Romans 11:16-18
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

This arboricultural metaphor is a beautiful reminder of the relationship between Jews and Christians. At the same time, it is catastrophic to the Replacement Theology heresy. Replacement Theologists hold that the root we are grafted into has been severed and is no longer representative of God’s chosen people, the Jews. Thus, the root is now the church. But that would mean the church is grafted into itself because no branch can survive with severed roots.

Romans 11:29-31
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

While there are a multitude of takeaways we can glean from God’s ongoing relationship with the land and His chosen people, one of the most significant is that God is merciful. Another important reality is that if God is omniscient (knows everything), then what would be the purpose of choosing the Jews knowing He would later cast them off forever?

The only lesson we could learn from that belief is that God will choose you because He loves you at the time, but then will later stop loving you and reject you. It is also curious that many who believe the church has replaced Israel also believe in eternal security, that those chosen by God cannot be lost. Yet, they depart from that position when it comes to Israel. 

If we are going to learn anything about God from His relationship with the Jews it is this:

2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

The Jews are back in the land today because God is faithful. They are also back in the land today because there is one last week of the 70 weeks prophesied in Daniel 9 which is yet to be fulfilled. Israel today is living proof that the entirety of God’s word is true!

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus

We Are in This World but Not of This World

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

Psalm 91:3

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler. Not “maybe” or “sometimes,” but an unqualified “surely.” Not a conditional “He might” but a definitive “He shall.” What blessed assurance we have that our God will deliver us from the snare of the fowler!

The Bible depicts the devil as a fowler. A fowler is a professional bird catcher. He lays traps and carefully conceals them so that he can ambush unsuspecting birds. The Bible also depicts the devil as a thief and murderer who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

What we need to understand is that the world we live in is a fallen world. Adam committed high treason and gave the keys of this world to the devil. Because of what Adam did, the devil is the ruler of this world. The apostle Paul calls him “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). That is why as long as the devil is still the ruler of this world, the world will continue to get darker and darker and there will continue to be accidents, sicknesses, calamities, tragedies, and deaths.

But we can rejoice in the knowledge that the devil’s lease on this world is quickly running out. Apostle Paul also tells us that our Lord Jesus is coming back and all His enemies will be humbled or put under His feet, with death as the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26).

In the meantime, we will see the world getting darker and darker. But as believers, we do not need to live in fear. Our trust is in our Lord Jesus. We are in this world, but we are not of this world (John 17:16). There is a very real and active fowler that is setting up snares. Even as I write this, I’m reading and hearing reports of bombs going off, shootings, a commercial airplane crashing upon landing, and viral outbreaks in different parts of the world.

In the natural, this can be extremely disheartening. But don’t forget that we have a Savior who is even more real, and He has promised to deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from perilous pestilences (dangerous diseases and viruses). The bottom-line is, we need to realize how much we need our Savior and His protection daily. We need to involve the Lord Jesus in our lives every day. Only He can deliver us and keep us safe!

This devotional is taken from the book The Prayer of Protection Devotional—Daily Strategies for Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times. Joseph Prince

Supernatural Transformation

Supernatural Transformation

“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

1 Samuel 17:45

Christ-occupation makes you bold but not superior, humble but not inferior. When our minds are occupied with Jesus, we don’t have to try to be humble. In the presence of the Servant-King, our hearts become supernaturally transformed, and we will carry His servant heart. In other words, when you hang out with Jesus, all that He is will rub off on you. Your thoughts and your words will be full of the fragrance of His sweet presence and grace. All your inferiority and insecurities will melt away in His marvelous love for you. It takes people who are truly secure in Christ to be able to bow down and serve others with genuine humility.

Similarly, when you are courageous and bold in Christ and in His love for you, it doesn’t manifest as fleshly pride and arrogance, but rather as complete dependence on Almighty God. Think of how young David charged down the Valley of Elah and challenged the giant Goliath, while the rest of the well-trained and full-grown men of the army of Israel cowered in fear. Was that simply a display of youthful bravado or a genuine dependence on God?

To the untrained eye, David could have appeared like an impudent little brat. But we know where this steely chutzpah comes from when these bold words of a mere teenager resonated throughout the valley: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Sam. 17:45). From his words, we can tell that young David was clearly occupied with the Lord of hosts and not with himself or his abilities.

When your thoughts are occupied with the Lord, you become a giant slayer! Are there giants in your life today that need to be slain? Like young David, occupy your mind with the Lord, and God will fill you with the courage and audacity to overcome all your adversities. Listen to the words of David in Psalm 18:29: “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.” Let these words of faith and boldness be established in your heart. With God on your side, nothing is impossible!

This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days of Right Believing—Daily Readings from The Power of Right Believing. Joseph Prince

Falling From Grace

Falling from Grace

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:4 KJV

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “fallen from grace”? Today, when someone sins, ministers say that the person has “fallen from grace.” Yet, interestingly, when the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he never told the Corinthians that they had fallen from grace despite all their sins.

Today’s scripture gives us the true definition of “falling from grace.” It tells us that to fall from grace is to fall into the law, that is, to try to be justified by obeying the law. Notice from here that grace is the high ground. In other words, when you are under the law, you have fallen from your high ground of grace. In the same way the mercy seat in the ark of the covenant is positioned above the Ten Commandments, so falling from grace is to go back to the Ten Commandments.

I want you to know what the Scriptures really say about falling from grace so that you don’t rob yourself of the power to reign in life. When you fail, don’t have this idea that you have “fallen from grace” and then try by your own efforts to get back into “the good graces” of God. No, God’s grace cannot be merited, earned, or deserved. It can only be received. And you become a good receiver of His grace that empowers you to reign in life when you come to the end of yourself—to the end of your own efforts to save yourself. When you see your need for Jesus and receive and rest in His finished work (especially when you have failed), that is when God’s undeserved favor—His saving grace—is unleashed in your life.

Miriam, who lives in Texas, found this to be so true in her life:

Pastor Prince, I was a believer for a long time but was very frustrated in my Christian walk because I was not living a victorious life. I was angry at the church, angry at God, and questioning what this life in Jesus Christ was about. I was also angry with my family, particularly my son for his rebellious behavior. According to the teachings I’d received and what I was doing to obey them, everything was supposed to be smooth going.

I started taking early morning walks and pouring my heart out to God. I told Him how frustrated I was and asked Him to show me where I’d gone wrong. I also told Him that I couldn’t love my son for what he was. I asked God to love my son, because even though I couldn’t, I knew He could.

I gave Him all my anger and started to see improvements in those areas where I had struggled. I told God I just wanted to live the life Jesus came to give me, because I didn’t believe Jesus went through the horrible death for me to live a defeated life.

Shortly after that, I read a book of yours and realized that I was living under a mixture of law and grace. I began learning to keep my eyes on Jesus’ finished work and to rely on Him for the kingdom life. No one had ever taught me the grace of our Lord Jesus and the love given to us by Father God through the finished work of His Son, and I had never understood what living a new creation life in Christ Jesus was.

I’ve since learned that it’s not about my trying to believe or my trying to be good to earn God’s grace. I’ve learned that it’s a free gift, and my response now is always, “Thank You, Father God, for loving me so much and giving me this abundance of Your grace and the free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ.” Your teaching of the grace of our Lord Jesus has changed my focus to see Jesus’ love and finished work. My heart’s desire is to be the light in the world, representing Jesus in spirit and in truth, and to be transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit from the inside out! And praise God, my relationship with my son has been restored because I allowed Father God to love him. Now, I always see my son through His eyes.

My friend, just as Miriam did, it is time for you to come out of mixture, confusion, and defeat. It’s time to break free from the crippling grip of all that has held you back. How? By falling into the arms of grace. Grace is the high ground that God wants you standing upon. Only the grace of God has the power to get you out of the cycle of sin and failure. The good news is, you can embrace the undeserved, unearned, and unmerited favor of our Lord today and begin to have dominion over sin!

This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

Shalom from the Balkan Peninsula! My family and I have taken some much-needed vacation, so that we can spend time together here along the Adriatic Sea. Thankfully, for the short period that I’ve been here, no Iranian retaliation has taken place nor has there been a great offensive by Hezbollah to the north.

It could have been a different sort of week. On Sunday, a clean-shaven, very normal looking man, Jaafar Mona from Nablus, walked along Lehi Road in Tel Aviv. On his back was a backpack that looked like any other backpack. What was inside, though, had the potential to kill dozens, if not more. While just ten minutes away from a crowded event at a stadium, the terrorist’s plot was thwarted when the explosive in his backpack prematurely blew up. He was immediately shredded to pieces, while just one bystander was moderately injured.

Hamas quickly took credit for the attempted bombing. As for the early detonation, I would also like to give credit where it is due. Thank you, God, for protecting your people. This had all the makings for another horrible massacre. You didn’t allow it to happen. While we don’t know why You step in at times and hold Your hand back at others, we trust You knowing that You will always do what is best. So, all credit for the premature blast goes to You, Lord.

On the flip side of the coin is what happened on October 7. I will admit to you that I am writing this paragraph on Wednesday immediately after viewing my Telegram premier of “October 7th: Unfiltered”. This is not my first time seeing this footage, but I once again find myself stunned at the brutality of what took place that day. How can people do this? I am angry, heart-broken, aghast, and devastated. It takes my breath away.

As I watch the Democrat National Convention in Chicago and hear the chants of “Free, Free Palestine”, I want to round all those people up into an auditorium and show them the heinous violence of these “innocent” Gazans. And, yes, I know that it is not all of those who are living in Gaza. But there is a huge majority there who cheered the massacre and only wished that more Israelis had died. The people in Chicago and at the Olympics and in London and all over the world who are wittingly or unwittingly chanting for the perpetrators are brainwashed by an antisemitic ideology that the enemy has spread across the globe. They believe the perpetrators are the victims, and the victims are the perpetrators.

That is why it was so important for Behold Israel to show “October 7th: Unfiltered” on my Telegram channel. We must never forget what took place. We must never let time reverse the roles of who is the aggressor and who is simply fighting for their own peace and safety. If you have not watched the video yet, I would encourage you to do so. I’ll warn you, it is not easy. Some of the images you see may never leave your mind. The benefit, though, is that you will never again doubt who started this whole mess, and you’ll have complete understanding why Israel is compelled to finish it.

Despite the ugliness of October 7, we’ve been provided with an opportunity to display hope in an hour of such darkness. I’m asking you to consider joining us on this mission – Operation Extended Hand.

Operation Extended Hand became our mission after we were made aware of the extremely difficult economic situations our ministry partners in Israel have been facing ever since the horrific terror attacks of October 7, 2023. Many Israeli small businesses heavily rely on consistent tourism in order to provide for their families. Tragically, tourism has been nearly absent since the attacks. Our partners in Israel consist of custom jewelers, gift providers, cosmetic specialists, a tour guide, and a professional bus driver – all of whom will be immensely blessed by your business and generosity during this trying time. Thank you in advance for joining us on this mission to extend a hand to those who need it most.


The Middle East

Below is just a brief snapshot of the news that’s taken place over this last week. If you want the full story, please subscribe to my Telegram channel. There are quite a few fake channels out there using my name, so be sure to only sign on with the one that has over 560,000 followers.

Hezbollah in Lebanon
The conflict between Israel and Lebanon has been very noisy of late. Hezbollah has been launching dozens of rockets towards Israel. On Tuesday, more than 200 projectiles were fired at two IDF positions in the Golan Heights and at other places in northern Israel. The next day, the terrorist group launched more than 50 more. Many of the rockets were directed at and around Katzrin. A number of private homes were hit, and a 30-year-old man was moderately injured.

Israel has been striking back with very precise and targeted fire. Last Saturday, a warehouse containing Burkan missiles was destroyed in Nabatieh. The target of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) then turned the eastern Lebanon Beqaa Valley region. On Monday night in Beqaa, secondary explosions in Baalbek following an airstrike confirmed to Israel that they had hit an ammunition storage location. Then, yesterday there were more strikes. Also, yesterday, the IAF ended the life of Khalil Hussein Khalil Al-Maqdah, a terrorist affiliated with the Iranian IRGC, who was involved in directing attacks and transferring funds and weapons to Judea and Samaria. Then, last night, the IDF launched an extensive campaign, striking ten sites across southern Lebanon. This is believed to be the most widespread attack on southern Lebanon since the beginning of the war.


West Bank
Justice was meted out in the West Bank on Saturday. Two senior Hamas terrorists, Ahmed Abu Ara and Raafat Dawasi, were killed when an explosive drone struck their car in Jenin, West Bank. Both were involved in the planning of last week’s Jordan Valley attack during which 23-year-old Yonatan Deutsch was shot and killed.


Daring Recovery of Hostage Remains
In a courageous operation during an offensive in Khan Yunis, IDF special forces and members of the Shin Bet made a beeline to a specific tunnel. When they arrived, they found what their tipster had told them would be there – the bodies of six male hostages, ranging in age from 35 to 80. All six had been kidnapped and taken into Gaza alive, but were murdered at some point over the past 10 months. So they will not be forgotten, the names of the dead are Alex Dancyg, 75, Yagev Buchshtav, 35, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78.


Iran
Israel and the rest of the world are still waiting for the Iranian response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. IRGC Deputy Commander Brigadier General Ali Fadavi warned Tuesday that Iran will definitely strike Israel at an appropriate time and place, and promised that Israel “will be punished more severely than before.” However, Iran will not risk themselves by going head-to-head against Israel. Instead, they will use their mad dogs, Hezbollah, to carry out their bidding. That’s why Hezbollah is currently paying the price for both their own and the Iranians’ sins, and they will continue to pay because wiping out the terrorist group is the only way for Israel to win this war.

But prior to setting their eyes on problems outside their borders, Iran may want to deal with issues on the home front. The morality police began arresting women in Qazvin, north of Tehran, on Tuesday, but the people weren’t having it. Crowds quickly formed and rescued the women. But they didn’t stop there. They beat the policemen, all while chanting Death to the Dictator. The unrest spread to some surrounding towns, as well. 


The United States
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with American Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday to discuss a “hostages for ceasefire” agreement. For the first time, the PM walked away from the meetings backing the latest proposal. It is likely he did so because this deal would take into account Israel’s security needs. Not surprisingly, Hamas rejected the previous proposal outright and has already indicated that they will reject this one, too.


Colombia
Last week, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro followed through with a threat to ban coal exports to Israel. Angry over Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza, the president signed the ban eight days ago. This will be a hard hit for Israel. Colombia is Israel’s largest supplier of coal, accounting for approximately 30% of the nation’s need.


Russia and Ukraine
Yesterday saw Russian President Vladimir Putin kissing a copy of a Quran at the dedication of a mosque in Grozny, Chechnya. In this first presidential visit to Chechnya since 2011, Putin, flanked by the Grand Mufti of Chechnya and by the crazy Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, pressed his lips to the gold-covered book and pressed it to his heart. It may be that we have to give the president a pass, however. In Chechnya with Kadyrov standing next to you, not kissing the book and pressing it to one’s heart would quite possibly be a death sentence for anyone, even if you are the president of Russia.

One more reason for his equanimity is that Putin needs all the friends he can get right now. After moving into the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces are now reaching northwest into Bryansk. The fighting is heavy on the region’s border. Meanwhile, back in Kursk, the Ukrainian Air Force destroyed a major bridge over the Simeon River, in order to prevent Russian reinforcements and supplies being brought to the battlefield.


The Ministry

This Monday at 10:00 AM PDT, be sure to tune in to Explore the Bible CONNECT with Dr. Rick Yohn and me as we dig deep into what makes the Bible the incredible book that it is. This week, we’ll be looking at the “Reliability of the Bible”. How do we know we have the real Bible? How can we trust the words that are between the covers? Join us as we examine how we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Bible we have is exactly the one that God intended to give to us. And don’t forget that you can check out our Explore the Bible webpage where you’ll find slides and more information about our topics.

Our Weekly Prayer Meetings have been moved from Monday to Friday. Join us at 10:00 AM PDT live on Zoom for this special hour of intercession each week. You’ll be blessed as you spend time praying with fellow believers from all over the world! Also, don’t forget about our Public Reading of Scripture that takes place every Thursday night at 6:00 PM PDT. It’s a blessed time where we pause from the busyness of our daily lives just to enjoy listening to the Word of God being read out loud.

Our newsletter is just a little shorter this week so that I can enjoy my family. Thank you again for your love and your support of this ministry. You bless me and the Behold Israel team greatly. May God watch over you and keep you close to His heart.

Awaiting His Return,