DO YOU WANT GOD’S BLESSINGS OR CURSES?

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The living God says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). He offers us true life and, with it, blessing. But He warns us against sin and the curse that always comes with it. Just as He did in the Garden, God offers us the quality of life that comes from obeying Him. God says, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live” (Proverbs 4:4).

There are many reasons to obey what God commands us in Scripture. Here are five of them:

1) God, your Creator, said it.

2) God knows better than we do.

3) God is in charge, and we are not.

4) Whenever I have obeyed God, I and my family have ultimately benefited.

5) Whenever I have done it my way instead of God’s, with all my rationalizations and excuses, it hasn’t been for His glory, for my good, or the good of others. To obey God is always in our ultimate self-interest. In a universe where God sets up the rules, what is right is also smart.

Finally, we should remember that God gives us the power and strength to obey Him. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the third person of the Trinity to be our helper, our counsellor, our teacher, and our comforter. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for our spirit to function as the lamp of the Lord as God always intended.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

Scripture says we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in holiness.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” Titus 2:12

We are fast approaching the time of Jesus second coming to Earth to fulfill the promises God made to the nation He established for His purposes, Israel.

“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:33-36

ISRAEL SEES ALL-TIME HIGH IN EXPORTS

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Israeli exports increased to about $140 billion in 2021 and hit a record high, an increase of close to 20% compared to about $114.3 billion in 2020, according to estimates by the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry.

For the first time in Israel’s economic history, exports of services exceed exports of goods with a 51% to 49% ratio, while the exports of goods are also on the rise.

Despite pandemic, Israel sees all-time high in exports
Industrial container yard at Haifa Port

The leading sectors in the export of goods are automation and electronic equipment, products of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and optical and medical equipment.

Israel’s top exporting destinations are the U.S., China, Netherlands, Turkey, and Germany.

The two most significant trends that contributed to the change in the balance of power between goods and services are a significant increase in the high-tech industries in Israeli exports – exports of programming services and research and development services that are not start-ups, which grew by 25% and 15% respectively, and the significant increase in transportation services exports that jumped this year by 138% percent. Exports resulting from the sale of start-up companies also jumped by 257% and these trends led to the overall growth of about 30% in the export of services.

The majority of exports, 39%, are directed to European markets, 33% to American markets, and about 25% to Asian markets.

Ohad Cohen, Director of Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, stated Monday that “the year 2021 will break records in Israeli exports and its components. Whether we reach the $140 billion threshold or not, this is an all-time high in exports, which was slightly halted in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic.”

He noted that the exporting sector showed “an impressive recovery” in late 2020 and even more so in 2021, both in the export of goods and services.

This nation which God established for His purposes to be a blessing to the world is being a blessing to the world in the development of high-tech products and services but sadly it will not fulfill God’s purpose until its Messiah Jesus returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom. In fact, we are told in God’s Word only one-third will survive the coming reign of the Antichrist.

“In the whole land, declares the Lord ‘two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people, and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Zechariah 13:8-9

•The prince-of-preachers Charles Spurgeon preached: “I think we do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough about it. But certainly, if there is anything promised in the Bible it is this. I imagine that you cannot read the Bible without seeing clearly that there is to be an actual restoration of the Children of Israel . . . For when the Jews are restored, the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in; and as soon as they return, then Jesus will come upon Mount Zion with his ancients gloriously, and the halcyon days of the Millennium shall then dawn; we shall then know every man to be a brother and a friend; Christ shall rule with universal sway.”

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT END-TIME PROPHESIES

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Dalton Thomas of FAI and Maranatha Global is living eternal now. He truly understands we are living in the last days before Jesus returns to this earth.

Maranatha Global is all about encouraging and challenging us to live out our lives as Christ calls us to live in these last days. We need to live lives that will bring great reward throughout eternity.

We all need to know how God’s covenants are key to our understanding of history and how God works with mankind.

In the video, Dalton explains how God has unfinished business with Israel as the Abrahamic Covenant is everlasting, unilateral and unconditional.

We also need to understand that Israel is still under the Mosaic Covenant which is conditional. It comes with blessings and curses.

Everlasting righteousness only comes by faith in Jesus and it is Jesus who will bring everlasting righteousness to Israel.

“I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
“and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”

Romans 11:25-26

You will be blessed by Dalton’s teaching on Daniel 8: 9-13 as he states it is one of the most important End-Time prophecies. Although I believe Daniel 9 contains the most important O.I. End Time prophecy and I will post Dalton’s video on it in a future post.

BLESSINGS AND CURSES ON NATIONS

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Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin wound up the last day of his trip to Australia on Wednesday with a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra.

Rivlin thanked Morrison for “Australia’s friendship and commitment to the State of Israel and to the Australian Jewish community,” stressing that relations with Australia were among “the cornerstones of Israeli diplomacy.”

Australia Israel
Australia Stands with Israel: ‘There is No State of Palestine’

Australia is adamant that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate alleged war crimes in Judea and Samaria, and Gaza, since it does not “recognise a so-called ‘State of Palestine’” and does not “recognise that there is such a State Party to the ICC’s Rome Statute,” an Australian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated.

Morrison told Rivlin that “Australia is happy to stand with Israel in the international arena,” stressing the “important” relations between the states and its people.

It seems as if Scott Morrison understands that God’s covenant to bless those nations that bless Israel and to curse those nations that curse Israel is still operative and will be until Jesus returns and rules the nations from Jerusalem in the Millennium. Smart move Scott (Australia’s friendship and commitment to the State of Israel and to the Australian Jewish community), you will bring further blessing on this nation. We are extremely thankful to God for the recent rains to break the drought in NSW.

9TH OF AV – PROOF GOD IS IN CONTROL OF HISTORY

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9th of Av is the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. It occurs on the 9th day of the 5th month on the Jewish calendar – Av (30 days, equivalent July- August).

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 9TH OF ARV?

Thousands of years ago God vowed to Abraham that He would “bless those who bless you; and curse those who curse you.” (Gen 12:3) Many individuals, nations, and empires have put God’s Word to the test. As one of the greatest superpowers the world has ever known, has Britain proved the potency and longevity of God’s ancient covenant with Abraham and his descendants?

This documentary film traces the rise and fall of the British Empire as it intertwines with Britain’s complex historical relationship with the Jewish People. What was Britain’s role in the re-birth of Israel in her historic homeland? How did Britain’s rich Christian heritage intersect with geo-political factors surrounding the First and Second World War? Did Britain’s destiny end in a forsaken promise?

Presented by Lance Lambert, the film features interviews with academics and church leaders, alongside eye-witness accounts, historical footage, and live action dramatisation of an epic journey with urgent implications for our modern times. It demonstrates God is in complete control of events on His planet. World history is unfolding exactly as He says it will in His book, the Bible. Another great movie from Hatikvah Films. Check them out for other great prophetic Biblical films particularly relating to the role of Israel in Gods plans.

 

GOD’S COVENANT WITH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE

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NEW JERUSALEM DESCENDING TO THE NEW EARTH

Much of the church appears to be asleep and biblically uninformed when it comes to Israel. The vast majority of Christians in America and around the world have no idea of the importance of their Jewish heritage and why Jews are the key in fulfilling God’s end time plans for the church and Israel.

“‘But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will put My law within them and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people'” Jer. 31:33.

This was an eternal covenant He made with the Jewish people. “God is not a man that He should lie” (Num. 23:19), then why have so many in the church adopted the false teaching that they have replaced the Jews as the “chosen people” Deut. 7:6.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord mentions Israel far more than any other nation in His Word, yet somehow this has become a big “mystery ” to His church.

Imagine the impact, if the church truly grasped God’s heart for Israel, whom He calls “the apple of His eye”? We could see a revival like never before!  Talk about a true awakening!

Now more than ever, Israel needs more than just strong allies defending her, she need true friends, like the global church, who will unwavering, stand with her. It is of course great to see America renew its ties with Israel under Trump.

God promises are clear in Genesis 12:3 on standing with Israel. “I will bless them who bless you and curse him who curses you.”

GOD HAS & WILL JUDGE NATIONS THAT DIVIDE ISRAEL’S LAND

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Israel and Israel’s Land as a Means for Blessing the Earth

If one considers the Abrahamic covenant as a whole we do see a relationship of the covenant to land.

First, Israel was promised a particular land with certain dimensions (Gen. 12:6-7; 13:14-17; 15:18-21) as part of the Abrahamic covenant. “For all the land which you see, I give to you and your descendants forever. (Gen. 13:14-15) Fulfilment of the land promise is even reaffirmed hundreds of years later during times of national apostasy:

‘As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers ( Jer. 16:15).

Second, both Israel and Israel’s land will be used by God to bless all people groups of the world, not just with salvation but blessings to the whole earth (Gen. 12:2-3; 22:17-18; Isa. 2:2-4; Ps. 72:18-19;  Zech. 9:10). As Israel is blessed, ultimately through the Messiah, blessings will spill over to other nations and their lands. Isaiah 27:6 states: “In the days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, and they will fill the whole world with fruit.” Thus, Israel and Israel’s land function as microcosms of what God will do for all nations and their lands. As God blesses Israel, blessings will come to other nations (Isa. 19:15-25).

So it is theologically true that planet earth and the nations of the earth will be blessed. But it is through the means of Israel and Israel’s Messiah that this will occur. God has determined that particular blessings to Israel are the means for bringing blessings to the nations. The particular (Israel and Israel’s land) is the means for universal blessings (Gentile nations and their lands). This is a “both/and scenario,” not an “either or.”  The complete fulfilment of these universal land blessings awaits Israel’s salvation and the second coming of Jesus and His kingdom (Rom. 11:12, 15, 26-27; Matt. 19:28).

In the Scriptures, God specifically warns us that in the last days, He will judge the nations for dividing up His land. This is what Joel 3:1-2 says in the Modern English Version.

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgement with them there regarding My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.”

Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those that curse Israel will be cursed.