Middle East Update from Amir Tsarfati

There is a lot of disappointment going on in the Middle East. Some of the most disappointed are found in Hamas in Gaza. The terrorists had hoped that their actions on October 7 would be the beginning of the end for the Israeli regime. That didn’t happen. Their Plan B focused on getting world opinion against Israel as Hamas fought hard against them. That also didn’t pan out. Sure, much of the world turned against Israel, but that was bound to happen anyway. Most of the United Nations would condemn Israel just for putting sour cream and onion chips in the Gazans’ humanitarian supplies when they had asked for barbecue. But, as a whole, the UN could never find a way to shut Israel down. And, rather than making a stand against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas might as well have exchanged their fatigues for bull’s-eye patterns.
 
However, it must be admitted that after 15 months Hamas still exists. But credit cannot go to them for their survival. That honor is reserved for the Biden administration in Washington, D.C. This is Israel’s disappointment in the conflict. They could have gotten back the hostages and finished off Hamas months ago, but the American government slow played everything. Biden’s cronies used the threat of an arms embargo to force Israel into fighting with only one hand, while the other hand they demanded be used to provide humanitarian supplies to the Gazans. Because all humanitarian aid goes through Hamas, Israel became the first nation in history forced to feed and supply the enemy they were fighting. Incoming president Donald Trump has promised that it will be very different with him, promising that there will be “hell to pay” if the hostages are not immediately returned. We pray that it is true.
 
Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza continues. Currently, much of the battle is taking place in the northern part of the region. The IDF raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Hania last month, causing an international uproar. The usual international pearl-clutchers quickly condemned Israel for their policy of consistently attacking innocent places designated for healing. Obviously, these are people who understand nothing about Gaza or Hamas. More than 240 terrorists were arrested from within the hospital. Just a few days ago, one of these prisoners admitted in an interview that the Kamal Adwan Hospital was a hideout for terrorists, a stash for weapons of all types, and a base from which raids were carried out. It’s time this war is over. Hopefully, after January 20 we will be able to finish it off.

Lebanon’s Disappointment
There is disappointment in Lebanon amongst many when they look to the south of their country and still see the flag of Israel waving. People question, “Weren’t they supposed to be out?” Yes, according to the ceasefire, Israel was to move out of Lebanon. However, there was a caveat added that during the withdrawal, any enemy war materiel found that could be used against Israel would be destroyed by the IDF. Unfortunately for Hezbollah, we keep finding rockets and missiles and all sorts of weapons stashed everywhere along our path. So, the IDF must take out the Hezbollah troops who are hiding the weapons, then we must destroy the weapons themselves. But progress is taking place. The Lebanese army is moving into Naquora, just to the north of the Israeli border, even as the IDF is moving out.
 
But it isn’t the Israelis that the Lebanese need to be most worried about. Rather than looking south, everyday Lebanese folk should be keeping their eyes to the east in Syria. The new de facto head of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, no matter how much he seeks to moderate his look and his tone, is al-Qaeda at heart. Numerous radical groups are currently having their way in the broken-down country, but they aren’t content to stay on their side of the Syria/Lebanon border. Said one radical terrorist last week, “We can take Lebanon in two hours.” Said another, “All of the coastline of Lebanon is Syrian.” With strong leadership, it’s possible to stand up against a terrorist onslaught. But Lebanon has no leader. Despite attempting to elect a president a dozen times, Lebanon’s presidency has remained vacant since 2022. Today, parliament is gathering once again to elect a president. One candidate is pro-Hezbollah, one is anti-Hezbollah, and one is a military candidate who could be a compromise between the two. Will the thirteenth vote be a charm? I’m not counting on it. As of the first vote today, no decision has been made.

You Are Beloved and Well Pleasing

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16–17

After Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness, and the devil came to tempt Him saying, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matt. 4:3).

Many years ago when I was studying this, the Lord opened my eyes and showed me that the devil had subtly left out the word “beloved.” Just moments ago, God the Father had just affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son at the Jordan River. However, when the devil came to tempt Jesus, he removed the word “beloved” and simply said, “If You are the Son of God . . .”

The Lord unveiled to me that if you are reminded that you are the beloved of the Father, you can never be successfully tempted! Even the devil knew this, and that’s why he removed the word “beloved” when he spoke to Jesus. Now that’s a powerful truth!

So every time you are tempted, just remind yourself, “I am God’s beloved child, and my Father loves me.” No temptation can triumph over you when you rest securely in your Father’s love.

Now observe Jesus’ reply. He didn’t have to prove to the devil that He was the Son of God. Secure in His identity as God’s beloved Son, He simply replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4). And what words had the Father just said at the Jordan River? “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

I want to encourage you to personalize this and meditate on it every day! That’s how the Father sees you today. He sees you in Christ, and in Christ you are His precious, beloved child, in whom He is well pleased. Place your hand on your heart and hear your Father in heaven saying these words to you:

“You are My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”

Would you believe that with all your heart today? If you are struggling to overcome a disorder or addiction, close your eyes and hear your Father saying to you, “You are My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.” Every time you are fearful, every time you are consumed by worry, anger, or depression, hear your Father saying to you, “You are My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”

Yes, right in the midst of whatever failures you may be experiencing, you are His beloved child, and He is well pleased with you because you are in Christ. Keep hearing it and repeating it until you find rest, peace, and joy overflowing in your heart.

If you feel like just crying in His presence, cry. He knows what you are going through and He understands—in a way that no one else can—the pain, hurt, suffering, and loss that you are experiencing. Let His perfect love cast out every fear and bring healing and wholeness to your heart.

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

Desert Training

Luke 1:80, 'And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.'

John the Baptist had the most important job assignment ever given to any mortal in the history of the world. He was to prepare the way for the coming of the long awaited Messiah (v. 76).

How did the Lord prepare John for such an important task? What university could teach him all he needed to know? Who offered a course in becoming the greatest prophet who ever lived? (Mt. 11:11) Of course, no one could prepare John for such an important position, so the Lord taught him personally. John was in the deserts until he was thirty years old. He was tutored directly by the Lord through the Holy Spirit.

The personal touch of the Lord became very obvious. Six months after John began his ministry, the whole nation of Israel was experiencing revival and anticipating the coming of the Christ. When Jesus came, the Jews wondered how he could know things he was never taught (Jn. 7:15).

This special knowledge which comes directly from the Lord through the Holy Spirit is now available to every believer.

It's a part of the new covenant (Heb. 8:11). The Holy Spirit has been sent to be our teacher, but we have to show up at class and expect to receive (Jn. 14:26). He'll even show us things to come (Jn. 16:13). Andrew Womack

God’s Wisdom Brings You Promotion

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you."

Genesis 41:39–40

In Genesis 39:3–4, we see how when Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and that everything he touched prospered, Potiphar immediately promoted Joseph and placed him in charge over all the affairs of his house. Similarly, when Pharaoh saw that the Spirit of God was in Joseph and that there was none who was as wise and as discerning as Joseph, Pharaoh placed him in charge of the whole of Egypt (Gen. 41:38–41).

My friend, I want you to note this: Joseph knew that God was the source of his wisdom. When Pharaoh said, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it,” Joseph immediately replied, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Gen. 41:15–16).

Joseph knew that his wisdom was a result of the Lord’s unmerited favor and would not take any credit for it. Clearly, here was a man who understood grace, and could be trusted with increase, promotion, and more good success.

Observe the wisdom of Joseph in action. Joseph did not just interpret Pharaoh’s dream. He went on to advise Pharaoh on how to take advantage of the seven years of abundance to prepare for the seven years of famine that were revealed in his dream. Did you notice how Joseph’s wise advice led to the creation of a position of influence for himself?

That is how the wisdom of the Lord operates. Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” Joseph knew that his wisdom was a gift from the Lord. He knew that he did not earn it and that it flowed from the Lord’s unmerited favor toward him.

The Lord’s ways are amazing. See the extent of Joseph’s promotion in Genesis 41. In the space of less than an hour, he rose from a lowly prisoner to the highest possible office in all of Egypt. That, my friend, is the unmerited favor of God! No striving, no self-effort, no compromises, and no manipulation, just pure grace and grace alone made all the difference in Joseph’s life!

Remember that when the Lord is with you, you are a successful person. It may feel like you are in a prison now, stuck in a hopeless situation, cast away and forgotten like Joseph was, but the story is not over yet! The Lord’s promotion is around the corner. Whatever situation you are in right now, do not give up.

If you are caught in a situation where you don’t know what to do, it is time to humble yourself and ask the Lord for wisdom. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

To ask the Lord for wisdom is to say, “I can’t, Lord, but You can. I give up on my own efforts and depend entirely upon your unmerited favor and wisdom.” As you receive His wisdom, riches and honor, as well as long life, will follow after you (Prov. 3:16). Run to Him right now!

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

Message from Amir Tsarfati

When I accepted the Lord, and when I came to faith in the Messiah, the first thing that I remember that really shocked me was when I read the first chapter of the book of Isaiah. In fact, I had not even read a single verse in the New Testament when I came to faith in Yeshua, who, by the way, was in my eyes all throughout the book of Isaiah.

So I came to Isaiah 1, and I heard this, “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.” That was how God described Israel at that time, just like Sodom. And then look what He said. “To what purpose is the multitudes of your sacrifices to Me, says the Lord. I had enough of burnt offerings of rams and that fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls or the lambs or goats when you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hands to trample my courts.” God said, “I’m not interested in religion. I don't need all of these sacrifices and all of those things when your heart is not right.” He said, “Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to me. The new moons, the sabbaths, and the calling of the assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meetings.” And look what He said. “Your new moons and your appointed feasts, my soul hates.”

When I read that I nearly fell off my chair. I mean, God is telling the people of Israel that the Rosh Chodesh as we say in Hebrew – the New Moon – and the festivals – the Moadim, Chagim – all these things that we read in the scriptures, especially in Leviticus 23, that He appointed them to celebrate, He hates those things? It is true. He hates when we only act on automatic pilot, and we do stuff, we do religion. He hates it. He said, “I’m not interested in all of this.”

It seems as though some have the perception that the Old Testament was for the Jews and the New Testament for the church. The content may indicate that by volume, but the truth is both Testaments are for everyone. 

We can know that because you can find Jesus through either Testament for He is the Savior of the world! The Jews need Him, the Gentiles need Him, and the church, which is comprised of Jews and Gentiles, is because of Him.

John 5:38-40
But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Jesus had just healed a man who had an infirmity for 38 years. He told the man to take up his bed and walk, and he did. The Jews confronted him and said, “It’s the Sabbath! You’re not supposed to carry your bed.” Having told the Jews it was Jesus who had healed him, the Jews sought to kill Jesus because He violated their manmade religious requirements.

Yes, it was the Sabbath. Yes, God had said to do no customary work on the Sabbath. But He never said the things the Jews had added to God’s word regarding the Sabbath.

Isaiah 1:13-14
Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

This is what religion does. It take the beauty of a relationship and exalts rituals above it, and God hates it. 

God sent His Son into the world as the Holy One of Israel, the Lamb of God, Emmanuel, so that something never experienced since the garden of Eden could be possible, That is that people could have a personal, tangible relationship with God. They could walk and talk with Him, touch Him, and break bread with Him. But instead of enjoying the beauty of that relationship, they sought to kill Him over their religion.

As Christians we need to make sure that our relationship is with Him and not our manmade denominational traditions and associations. A relationship with us is what He came to bring and we must not do what the Jews had done by preferring religion over a relationship with the true and living God!    

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus

God Is on Your Side Today!

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

Romans 8:31 contains a powerful rhetorical question and I encourage you to memorize it. Unfortunately, there are still some believers today wondering, “Is God really for me?”

Well, my friend, the Word of God does NOT say “maybe God is for us” or “hopefully, God is for us.” It simply says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Indeed, when God is for you, what opposition can succeed against you? When God Himself fights for you, defends you, and vindicates you, what adversity or adversary can stand against you? There are none! Hallelujah!

“But Pastor Prince, how did God come to be on our side? Even though I am a Christian today, I still fail and fall short of God's holy standards. I still lose my temper on the road now and then, and from time to time, I still get angry with my wife and kids. Why should God be on my side when I fail? Don’t you know that God’s holy?”

All great questions. Let me tell you why God is on our side. The answer is found at the cross. The blood that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shed on the cross put God on your side. Today, God can be for you even when you fail because Jesus’ blood has washed you whiter than snow!

Have you seen Cecil DeMille’s movie, The Ten Commandments, or the animation, The Prince Of Egypt? Do you remember what happened on the night of the Passover? The children of Israel put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.

What did the blood do? The blood put God on their side! None of the families who had applied blood on their doorposts had to fear the death of their firstborn children.

Now, think about this for a moment. Were the firstborn children of Israel spared that night because of their perfect behavior and conduct, or were they spared because of the blood of the lamb? Of course, it was because of the blood of the lamb!

In the same way, God does not bless you, as a new covenant believer, based on your perfect behavior and conduct. He is for you today because of the blood of the perfect Lamb—Jesus Christ.

That is why as believers today, we don’t have to fight for ourselves. I like to say it this way: “If God is for us, who can come successfully against us?”

Always remember that God is on your side today because of Jesus’ blood. His holiness and righteousness that men are afraid of are now on your side because of Jesus’ blood. His unmerited favor is on your side and all of heaven’s resources are yours because of Jesus’ blood!

Now, who can come successfully against you? No sickness, no disease, no creditor, no evil accusation, no gossip—no weapon formed against you, can come successfully against you (Isa. 54:17)!

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

The Power To Serve

Luke 1:41, 'And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.'

Upon hearing the greeting of Mary, John the Baptist leaped for joy inside his mother's womb (v. 44). A six month old fetus experienced unbridled emotion, voluntarily leaped for joy and was actually filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is no coincidence that the man who was called the greatest of all Old Testament prophets by Jesus, was the only man in the Bible to be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb (Lk. 7:28).

The anointing of God that breaks every yoke is simply the manifest presence and working of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 10:27). The Holy Spirit is the part of the Godhead that empowers us for service.

God is not asking us to live for Him. He is asking us to let Him live through us (Gal. 2:20). The Christian life is not a changed life but an exchanged life. This can only be accomplished when the Holy Spirit is leading and empowering us.

Even Jesus didn't begin His ministry until he was anointed with the Holy Spirit and He was the sinless Son of God. How much more do we need to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. Today, be conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you and expect Him to supernaturally guide and empower you.

If you ask, you will receive (Lk. 11:9-13). Andrew Womack

Message from Amir Tsarfati

Happy New Year from Israel! “But, Amir, how can you say that this new year is happy? Have you not seen the atrocities in Syria? Have you missed the ballistic missiles coming from Yemen? There is war in Gaza and Ukraine and Russia and Mali and Somalia and Myanmar and other places. And did you watch what happened in New Orleans, Louisiana?” Yes, my friend, I have seen all that. It is tragic and I will get to those topics later in this newsletter.
 
However, despite the struggles taking place in this world, I refuse to let the negative destroy my positive. I will not let the sad kill my happy. My glass will always be half-full because I am the child of the true, compassionate, loving God. He is not a distant deistic Creator, but is involved in His creation. He has a perfect plan for this world and for me, and He is carrying it out to perfection. I must admit that there were times in 2024 that it was difficult to remember these truths. When the missiles flew overhead and I worried for the safety of my family, when countries were abandoning my nation and the verbal threats were overwhelming, when I thought of the hostages held in misery in Gaza and the hopelessness that they must feel every moment of every day – those were dark days when I wrestled, not with my trust, but with my understanding of what God could possibly be doing.
 
It is in dark times that faith often becomes stronger. Just ask Elijah when he fled from Jezebel or Paul when he was locked in a Roman prison. If there is nothing left but to trust God, then there is nothing you can do except – you guessed it – to trust God. When you do, it is one hundred percent guaranteed that He will show Himself faithful and your dependence on Him will grow.
 
So, yes, there are difficult things around this world, but I will still choose to wish you a Happy New Year! Let 2025 be a year of change for you. Let it be one in which you intentionally seek to draw closer to God through prayer and studying His word. And ask the Lord to make this year one in which you are able to make an impact on those around you. My dear friend, Dr. Rick Yohn, prays each morning that the Holy Spirit will put at least one person in his path whom he can encourage with the hope of Christ. Do you know that there has not been one day in which the Lord has not come through for him? It may be sharing the Gospel or giving away one of our books or just offering words of hope and truth. If this 87-year-old man can do it, so can you and so can I.
 
I don’t know what God has planned for this next year, but I am excited about it. For me, it will mean traveling to many places around the world to teach the word of God. Here at CONNECT, we will continue to grow in excellence as we produce online programs that share what’s happening in the world and how it all relates to Scripture. With Behold Israel as a whole, we see greatly expanding opportunities to reach people through books, videos, and social media. We know that as long as we keep our eyes on the Lord, this will be a great year no matter the circumstances around us.
 
So, let me encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus this year. Expect Him to use you as you open yourself up to His lead. Be ready to make a difference. Let 2025 truly be a happy new year!

Can You Believe It?

Luke 1:18, 'And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.'

Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous people (v. 6) who prayed for a child for many years. They felt the same disappointments and frustrations that any of us would feel and yet they kept believing God. The Lord finally answered their prayers and sent His angel to announce the good news.

What was Zacharias' reaction? He couldn't believe it! The very thing that he had been praying for was granted and he doubted that it was true. In Zacharias' case he received his miracle anyway. Perhaps his wife's faith pulled him through.

Likewise, you may be praying for the right things. You may even be sincere and earnest, but would you be surprised if those prayers were suddenly answered today? Have you made preparations for your prayers to be answered?

Before the children of Israel were actually delivered from Egypt, they ate the passover meal by faith. Their bags were packed and ready to go. We need to anticipate our prayers being answered.

Right now, imagine how you would feel or what you would do if the answer to your prayers was manifested this very minute. Then, as much as possible begin to think and act that way. You'll find out that your whole attitude will change as you focus on your answer instead of the problem. Andrew Womack

You Matter to God!

He calls his own sheep by name.

John 10:3

Do you sometimes feel like you are just a face in a crowd or a number in a system? You are identified by your social security number. Even when you see the doctor, you are called by your queue number. If you feel depersonalized and dehumanized, that is exactly how the devil wants you to feel—that you do not matter much to anyone, especially to God.

But you do matter to God! He calls you by name. He knows exactly what you are going through and where you are hurting. He sees you and cares for you, just as He cared for the people when He first walked on earth.

My friend, He will do for you what He did for the woman in Samaria. The Bible says that “He needed to go through Samaria” to get from Judea to Galilee (John 4:4).

Now, any Jew of His day would have taken a different and longer route to avoid going through Samaria because they hated the Samaritans, though the way through Samaria would have taken much less time. But Jesus deliberately took the shorter, avoided route, just so He could stop by Samaria to speak to the woman who had been searching for something in her life to satisfy her.

This woman had had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband. Clearly, things had not been going right in her life. She was probably looking for answers and fulfillment, and must have felt ashamed about her failed marriages and current lifestyle.

Yet, in spite of all this, she mattered to Jesus! He needed to go to her to minister to her. And indeed, after she met Jesus, the perfect Man, she was transformed. She was no longer ashamed, and went into the city to tell the people about Him (John 4:28–29).

Beloved, Jesus wants to meet you wherever you are at in life and minister His grace to you. You certainly matter to Him. He came to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

You are not just a face in a crowd or a number. No, He knows you by name and has a personal love for you. And in spite of the mess that you might be in, He wants to meet your every need and make your life beautiful!

This devotional is taken from the book Destined to Reign Devotional—Daily Reflections for Effortless Success, Wholeness and Victorious Living. Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

The Bible says in Romans 11 when Israel will be saved. When will Israel be saved? When Jesus comes back. When will He come back? After the…? Thank you, after the tribulation. I didn't ask when will the rapture happen because that’s not something that we know. But I know that seven years after the tribulation begins, it ends. How do I know that? The Bible tells me. And when Jesus comes back, He is not coming back for us. He’s coming back with us. Wait. And He’s landing on where? Mount Rushmore? No, where? Mount of Olives. And the Bible says, “They look at Me whom they pierced and they will mourn and they will cry.” And that’s the repentance of the remnant of Israel. And all Israel will be saved. The times of the Gentiles will come to an end. I didn’t say that. Paul said that. Jesus told it.

Romans 11:1-2
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. 

Of the many reasons to reject the heresy of Replacement Theology, one word in what Paul wrote in Romans 11 is the proverbial nail in the coffin for this errant teaching. The word is “foreknew.” God foreknew the majority of Jews would reject Jesus as the Messiah, yet He brought Him into the world through them.

He foreknew this rejection would last for over two millennia. He also foreknew that someday all Israel would be saved when they looked upon Jesus as His feet touched down on the Mount of Olives. At that time, they mourn in a way one would mourn the loss of an only child.    

Hosea 5:15
“I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

He also foreknew that the afflictions of the 70th week of Daniel would be the catalyst for this awakening and, in the end, lead to their earnest seeking of Him.

That doesn’t mean the Jews will be saved because they are Jews. It means the Jews will be saved through the same means as the Gentiles, through the shed blood of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Leviticus 17:11
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”

Hebrews 10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Hebrews 10:10
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

No one, including the Jews, can be saved through any other means than the blood of Jesus Christ shed for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). The fact that Zechariah 12:10 says “they will look upon the One whom they pierced” tells us they will finally realize who Isaiah 53 was referring to when he spoke of the one who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. When they do so, it will include all of the Jews who survived the tribulation.

What a tremendous reminder of the grace and mercy of God, the same God who has shown such grace and mercy to us! 

Someday soon, it seems, Jesus is coming for His church to take them to the Father’s house. Seven years later, He is coming back with His church to the earth and, at that moment, all Israel will be saved.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus 

Use Your Delegated Authority

Mark 16:18 'They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.'

This either speaks literally of supernatural protection if we pick up a snake, or symbolically of protection in our fight against the devil. Since the other four signs in this list are literal, it is most probable that this means physically taking up snakes.

The apostle Paul experienced this supernatural protection from a viper when he was shipwrecked on the island of Melita (Acts 28:3-5). However, this is the only recorded example of this type of protection in the New Testament.

There is no record of the disciples picking up snakes just to prove they were believers. That would be tempting God (Lk. 4:9-12). This, as well as drinking any deadly thing, is a promise that if we pick up snakes accidentally or are forced into that position because of our stand for Christ, we can believe for supernatural protection.

The power that is now working in believers is the same power that worked in Christ to raise Him from the dead. Everything we have as believers in Christ comes from our union with Him. Therefore, what is true of Him is true of us too. We have come to share in Christ's throne, to partake in the authority that the throne represents, and to exercise divine power and dominion. There is no place in the New Testament that tells us to ask God to do something about the devil. Rather, we, (the church) are told to do something about the devil. This is because we have been given delegated authority over the works of the enemy. God desires that the church be enlightened to this, and walk in victory. Andrew Womack

His Perfect Will, His Final Word

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:9–10

I want to share with you a precious testimony from Caleb, a father in Texas who wrote to my team:

My youngest son was diagnosed with scoliosis when his X-ray showed a seventeen-degree curve in his spine. Upon receiving the news, fear, doubt, anger, sadness, worry, and condemnation began to set in our hearts. We were also concerned about potential disabilities and surgeries for our son in the future.

As a pastor, I found myself struggling with my Christian beliefs. Nevertheless, I could feel the Lord’s loving embrace and peace as I prayed for my son. My church also prayed for him, and we believed the Lord could, and would, heal him.

The doctor referred him to a children’s hospital and arranged for an appointment. By faith, we decided to go for the appointment to confirm the healing had already begun. Even though doubt, condemnation, and fear crept into our hearts, we kept declaring the finished work of the cross and we kept partaking of the holy Communion.

During the appointment, the doctor examined my son and took more X-rays. Then she said, “I have good news for you!” and showed us the X-rays that displayed no trace of scoliosis. Our son’s spine had straightened out. The Lord had healed him! There is victory and power in the cross indeed!

We now distribute a copy of Pastor Prince’s book The Power of Right Believing to every new member in our church. We believe miracles happen as we fill ourselves with the good news of the gospel.

I really felt for Caleb when he described the feelings he went through on hearing his son was diagnosed with a condition that could potentially lead to lifelong disability. Every loving parent wants their child to be well and to enjoy a quality life, and that’s also our heavenly Father’s heart and will toward us.

Despite his fears and uncertainties, Caleb did the best thing he could for his son. He kept declaring the finished work of the cross, and he kept partaking of the holy Communion. And just like that, with nothing spectacular happening, no voice booming out from heaven, and no earth-shaking demonstration of power, his son was healed.

Are you also concerned about a health issue today? I pray that as you do what Caleb did, you will also see God’s supernatural healing manifest for you!

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

How To Baptize

Matthew 28:19 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:'

In the same way that this commission is to every believer, not just to ministers, the command to baptize is also for every believer. It is proper for any believer to administer the ordinance of water baptism.

Jesus commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, yet there is no recorded instance where the believers did so. Instead, the instances of baptism that are recorded in the book of Acts, show people being baptized in the name of Jesus only.

Because of this noticeable difference, doctrines have arisen that teach there is no Trinity, and that unless water baptism is administered in the name of Jesus (only), with faith in the water baptism, a person cannot be saved. This is a false teaching that has led many people astray.

Water baptism is an outward witness of the inner change that has already taken place. In Acts 10:44-48, Cornelius and his friends were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues, proving that they were already born again before they were baptized in water.

The harmony between the commission of Jesus and the practice of the early church is simple. When we baptize people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we are baptizing them in the name of Jesus because 'in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily' (Col. 2:9).

Therefore, baptizing in the name of either, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or the name of Jesus, is correct as long as Colossians 2:9 is understood. Andrew Womack

Be Led by the Holy Spirit

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

Acts 16:6–7

The more areas of your life you involve the Lord in, the more you can experience His protection. You can even ask the Lord to guide you in something as seemingly natural as your travel itinerary. In fact, read the passage above. The apostle Paul allowed the Holy Spirit to lead them at every step.

We see from those scriptures that closed doors are not necessarily negative, and could be signs of God’s protection over our lives. The challenge for some of us is that we are so adept at planning and scheduling our busy lives that many times, we don’t make room for the Lord to intervene and to guide us to be at the right place at the right time.

Let’s not put our trust in our intelligence and planning, but in His wisdom, leading, and counsel. There is a proverb that says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). Even as we plan, I pray that we will always remember to commit all our ways to the Lord, and allow Him to direct our steps.

Being led by the Spirit does not have to be something complicated. When you walk close to the Lord and have a close relationship with Him, He can lead you in supernaturally natural ways.

Some years ago, a couple in our church were vacationing at a beach resort on Penang Island in Malaysia, when the wife felt like eating something in another location on the mainland. Because of that “prompting” in her belly, they headed off earlier than they had originally planned. While they were loading their vehicle, a man kept hurrying them and asking them to move off as they were apparently blocking the hotel driveway, and that had really irritated them at that time.

In any case, just fifteen minutes after they had crossed from the island to the mainland, they heard the news that an earthquake in the Indian Ocean had triggered a killer tsunami that crashed onto the beachfront they were at, killing more than fifty people.

Had they left just a little later, they could have been among the casualties of the tragedy that day. Looking back, the couple believes that the man at the hotel might even have been an angel sent by the Lord to get them out of harm’s way quickly.

I don’t know about you, but I want the Lord to direct all my steps! Call upon Him today and He will answer you.

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

Precious in God’s Eyes

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

Revelation 3:5

I want to show you an aspect of how God sees you today through a beautiful truth about the breastplate of the high priest of ancient Israel. Today, Jesus is our High Priest, and as we examine the breastplate, I want you to see something powerful about the way the Lord sees His people.

Notice in the illustration that there are twelve stones on the high priest’s breastplate, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are engraved on the stones. For example, “Judah” is engraved on the sardius stone set in the first row, and “Gad” is engraved on the diamond set in the second row.

The high priest of Israel: The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are engraved on 12 precious stones found on his breastplate.

These twelve stones represent God’s people today. Notice how God depicts His people, you and me, as precious stones. He didn’t use common rocks and pebbles. He deliberately chose very costly, rare, and precious gems such as sapphire, topaz, emerald, amethyst, diamond, onyx, and jasper to represent you and me (Exod. 39:9–14).

Also, of all the garments donned by the high priest, the breastplate is closest to the heart. This speaks of how much the Lord values you and His desire to keep you close to His heart. In His eyes, you are very costly, precious, and loved.

Notice also that the names of the tribes of Israel were not merely written on the gems; they were engraved (Exod. 39:14). This means that once you become a believer in Jesus, your name is forever engraved in His Book of Life. If your name were only written, you might think that it could easily be erased or blotted out. But the truth is that Jesus has engraved your name on a precious stone, and He keeps it close to His heart.

Can your name ever be blotted out of its place on God’s heart? Just look at what Jesus promises those who are born again: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Rev. 3:5).

Beloved, through Christ Jesus, you are an overcomer, and in Christ Jesus, you are eternally secure. Rest in the assurance that your name will not be blotted out from the Book of Life. It will remain engraved on stone and close to God’s heart for all eternity!

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

Born to Die so That You Might Live

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

You are probably familiar with the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The Bible says that when the time had come, Mary “brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:6–7). But have you ever wondered why the angel told the shepherds that the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger was a “sign”?

A manger is actually a feeding trough for livestock. Do you know what a feeding trough in those days looks like? I have seen a similar one at Solomon’s stables in Meggido, Israel. It is basically a big rectangular block of stone with the trough hewn out of it. So baby Jesus, who was wrapped in swaddling cloths, was placed in such a stone trough.

But why was that a sign? Because if you have seen the empty tomb of Jesus at a place called The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, you would have noticed that the place where His body was laid, inside a tomb hewn out of rock, resembles a stone trough. The Bible says that after Jesus’ crucifixion and death, Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb hewn out of a rock (Mark 15:43–46).

Can you see the similarities? Wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger, baby Jesus would one day be wrapped in linen and laid in a tomb. That was the sign the angel was referring to. It pointed to Jesus’ death.

Jesus was the only child in all of humanity born to die. Once you realize that, you will realize how much God loves you. You will realize that He gave up His Son for that one purpose, and that His Son willingly came for that one purpose—to die for your sins and mine.

Beloved, can you imagine living your life knowing that you are just qualifying yourself to die on the cross to save the world? That was the life that Jesus lived. He lived to die, so that we might live and enjoy life abundantly today! Joseph Prince

Message from Amir Tsarfati

Should we celebrate His birth? Should we take part, God forbid, in this very Hollywood-style, sticky, pagan display? So I’m telling you, take an example for Jesus Himself. When Jesus came to Jerusalem on the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah, He came to Jerusalem to speak, not about the Maccabees and not about Antiochus, and not about the Hanukkah, and not about the miracle of the oil, and not about the dreidel, and not about anything. He came to speak about Himself, who He is, what He was, what He came for. He is the reason for the season. And in the Feast of Lights, He talked about himself as the light of the world. In that Feast of Dedication, He was speaking about how He is indeed of the Father, with the Father, the Son of the Father.

Celebration is an expression of joy and thanksgiving, and I think that for us, the birth of the Messiah should be a reason for joy and thanksgiving anyway. So we could actually celebrate his birth any given day. Luke 2, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill towards men.’” The birth of Jesus was the cause for great celebration, not only on Earth, but even in heaven

Amidst all the wonderful traditions surrounding the Christmas season, it is also a time for the annual visit of the naysayers who like to condemn as pagan all things about Christmas.

Jeremiah 10:3-5
“For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. They are upright, like a palm tree, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor can they do any good.”

The mention that “they cannot speak” and “must be carried” tells us that Jeremiah is talking about that of which Isaiah wrote years earlier. In Isaiah 44:15-18, God spoke of cutting down a tree, carving an idol out of it, adorning it with silver and gold, then bowing down before it saying, “This is my god!”

Jeremiah 10 and Isaiah 44 have nothing to do with Christmas trees and everything to do with an idol. Christians don’t worship the tree at Christmas, they decorate the home with it. The Christmas tree naysayers are just as guilty as the Santa Claus crowd at negating the real reason for the season.

Think about all that happened on that fateful night. Joseph and Mary, weary of travel in search of lodging, were turned away over and over until, finally, an innkeeper offered them shelter in a stable. There, Mary had the Christ child.

Matthew 2:1-2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

In their acts of worship, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus. We also give gifts to one another as expressions of love. Truth be told, Christmas is a wonderful example of how we should live all the time. We should always be thinking of and showing love for one another and always talking about Christ, which is what happens every time anyone says the word Christ-mas!

No, you wont find the command to “celebrate Christmas” in the Bible. However, if there is anything worth celebrating annually, the birth of Christ should top the list.

CS Lewis said: “The birth of Christ is the central event in history of the earth, the very thing the whole story is about.”

Lewis is right. The central event in the history of the earth is certainly a cause worth celebrating!

Merry Christmas,

More than a Conqueror

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10 KJV

My friend, do you have a revelation of God’s personal love for you today? His love has to be experienced in your heart. Head knowledge—just knowing intellectually that God loves you because He loves everyone—isn’t going to cut it. It is when you really encounter the person of Jesus and His grace, and really know in your heart that He loves you, that positive and profound changes begin to happen in your life.

Is there a scriptural basis for saying this? Yes, there is. The Bible tells us clearly, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). The word for “knowledge” here is the Greek epignosis, which refers to a heart experience of what and Who God is, rather than mere intellectual knowledge of facts about Him. It is a knowledge that is gained through an intimate and personal relationship with God.

In other words, when you hear and hear until you know in your heart that the Lord loves you and is for you, you will experience His unmerited favor and supernatural peace in the area of your challenges. That is when you will find His strength, wisdom, and supply multiplied tangibly in your life.

Do you remember Gideon, who saw himself as least in his family and who was threshing wheat in a winepress for fear of being seen by the Midianites?

We read his story in the book of Judges and see how he overcame his insecurities and fears and singlehandedly saved Israel from the Midianites, because he first heard gracious, encouraging words from the Angel of the Lord: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! . . . Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judg. 6:12, 16). When he began to see how the Lord saw him, and believed that the Lord was with him and for him, he fulfilled his destiny!

If, like Gideon, you feel small and powerless in the face of your challenges, I encourage you to keep hearing how, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and finished work, nothing can separate you from God’s love. I want you to know right now that He has already made you more than a conqueror in Christ (Rom. 8:37–39).

When you know who you are in Christ and believe in God’s love for you, you will become strong and you will see God do great things in and through you. When you know that God is with you and for you, who or what can stand against you (Rom. 8:31)? You will surely win the fights of life and live the amazing destiny God has prepared for you!

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

Intimacy with the Lord

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:28–29

The Lord does not want you to simply claim His promises of protection. He wants you to come close to Him. Running to Him and coming under His feathers speak of closeness. It’s not about how many times you have recited Psalm 91; it’s about having an intimate relationship with Him.

As a child, if it was thundering at night and I was afraid, I would run into my parents’ room, jump into their bed, and hide in my mother’s arms. After a while, I would fall into a deep sleep even if the storm was still raging outside.

You see, you don’t have to learn the seven steps of overcoming fear. Having the presence of a loving parent right with you is enough to drive out fear. Our Lord Jesus who loves you wants you to come close to Him and to take shelter in His love. Will you do that today?

I heard the story of a farmer whose farmhouse got burned down. As he walked around the smoldering wreckage, he saw the burned carcasses of his chickens. He happened to move the blackened body of one of the hens with his foot, and to his astonishment, little chicks came running out from under the body. What happened? They had taken refuge under the wings of their mother, who had given her life to save her little ones.

That’s a picture of what our Lord Jesus did when He took upon His own body the full punishment for our sins. The fire of God’s judgment fell, not upon the scribes and Pharisees who had rejected the Messiah, and not upon the Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross, but upon His own beloved Son—for the nation of Israel, for the Gentile nations, for you, for me, so that whosoever believes in Him would be saved.

But here’s something I want you to see: when Jesus was offered on the cross, He absorbed the judgment of God in His own body, and, as the sacrifice, He was greater than the fires of judgment. The Offering was greater than the judgment because the Offering was not consumed.

On that cross, our Lord declared, “It is finished!” before He gave up His Spirit (John 19:30). The Offering remained after all of God’s judgment was exhausted. Hallelujah! That is why we can come boldly to His throne of grace today!

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