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After the Prayer and Fasting (WARNING: This Is a Lengthy Read)

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Job 33:14-17 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, 16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, 17 that he may turn man aside from his deed…” ESV

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. ESV

Recently our church family, along with many other believers in our country, have completed 21 days of prayer and fasting. I trust that you have already seen the Lord answer some of your requests, and other requests are yet to manifest into reality. Php. 4:5-6 exhorts us to remember, The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Note what Paul just stated in verse 6: “…by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests…” NIV If you have yet to see the answer to your prayers – begin thanking the Lord for the unseen as if it is seen.

Along with testimonies of answered prayers I want to remind you to take notice of the ways in which God is speaking. Recently I was reminded by this – even startled by it – coming from an unlikely source. What source is that you may ask? A Jewish Rabbi, and an Israeli news article. I pasted the two Scripture above to remind all of us that God speaks in multiple ways. In this lengthy article a Jewish Rabbi reminds the Jewish people that their redemption is drawing near. In other words that the Messiah is coming. (true, practicing Jews, do not believe that Jesus was their long, awaited Messiah – they believe He has yet to come to earth). Let me encourage you to take the time to read it. Although I don’t agree with all of His theology (for example, your sin has brought suffering upon you), nor his referencing the Zodiac, I do hear faint whispers of the Lord’s Voice echoing what is true for every human being – Jew, Christian, Muslim, Atheist, or Agnostic – we need to repent. In other words there are some things we need to change: our thinking, vocabulary, actions, and lifestyle. It’s time to get ready for the Second Return of Jesus. Also, this Jewish Rabbi, puts current world events into perspective. Something that our national news propaganda is not going to do for you. He mentioned many things I really had no idea about. So please take the time to read this.

Rabbi Anava: Trump’s geopolitical moves are divine messages for Jewish repentance:  by ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ  JANUARY 29, 2026   14 MIN READ

Recently, Rabbi Alon Anava delivered a lecture that cut through the noise of global politics to reveal the spiritual reality behind current events. Speaking to a packed audience, the rabbi connected Trump’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, threats against Iran, and the Greenland crisis to ancient prophecies—and issued a stark warning to Jews worldwide.

The timing couldn’t be more relevant. Just weeks ago, Trump ordered what officials called “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a military strike that extracted Maduro from Caracas and flew him to New York to face narcotics charges. The president has threatened military action against Iran if protests escalate, and he’s demanded control of Greenland, threatening NATO allies with tariffs. Meanwhile, antisemitic attacks continue surging worldwide, with 20 Jews killed in such incidents in 2025 alone—15 of them massacred at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.

Rabbi Anava began by acknowledging the unprecedented nature of recent events. “Two weeks ago, we witnessed the unprecedented kidnapping of Venezuela’s president,” he said. “The week before that, we had discussed these very possibilities. Now we see threats against Iran, and all eyes are pointed at Greenland.”

The question Rabbi Anava posed cuts to the core: Why is God orchestrating this global drama?

The Sages teach that rulers lose their free will upon assuming power. “According to Torah teaching, when you become a king, president, or ruler, you lose your free choice. It’s 100% Hashem,” Rabbi Anava explained. “Kings and leaders don’t have free choice—their decisions are guided by divine will.” This principle transforms how we must view Trump’s actions—not as political strategy, but as divine messaging.

The Talmud records in Sanhedrin that in the years preceding Mashiach’s (Messiah) coming, nations will provoke each other with threats, sanctions, and economic warfare. The Yalkut Shimoni,  an aggadic compilation on the books of the Hebrew Bible compiled centuries ago, provides an eerily accurate description of our current moment. It describes how the king of Arabia will clash with the king of Persia, and then seek help from the king of Edom.

“The Yalkut Shimoni states that in the year when Mashiach comes, all nations will start having frictions with each other,” Rabbi Anava noted. “They will provoke each other with threats, sanctions, customs, and taxes—and we’re seeing this now.”

The text describes Saudi Arabia (modern Arabia) confronting Iran (Persia), then turning to America (Edom) for assistance. The Persian king rises up and threatens the world. The prophecy concludes with Jews everywhere becoming frightened by world events—and Hashem telling them they have nothing to fear because redemption has arrived.

As King Solomon wrote: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will” (Proverbs 21:1). Trump, Putin, Erdogan—all are instruments in Hashem’s hands.

Venezuela: The Opening Move

Rabbi Anava dissected Trump’s Venezuelan operation with precision. “Many people think the kidnapping of Venezuela’s president was just to eliminate drug cartels, which is partially true,” he said. “But that’s not sufficient reason to kidnap a president and deploy an army.”

The rabbi identified the deeper strategic layers. Venezuela served as Iran’s proxy in America’s backyard, hosting Iranian military bases and terrorists. “This is a dangerous front, having Iran in America’s backyard,” he explained. “Iran can’t send missiles to America easily—unless they’re in Venezuela, where they’re much closer.”

Drug trafficking provided another motive. “At least 90% of drug money from Venezuela funds terrorism,” Rabbi Anava stated. “Hezbollah is one of the richest terror organizations, funded primarily through drugs.”

But the ultimate target is China. “In Trump’s view, China is the biggest enemy,” the rabbi said. “China is trying to change the world’s economic regulation from being based on the US dollar to being based on gold.” Venezuela supplies 90% of China’s oil. By taking Venezuela, Trump cut off China’s energy supply.

The facts support this analysis. According to NBC News, the CIA deployed a team into Venezuela months before the operation, tracking Maduro’s movements. Elite troops trained using a replica of the presidential compound. On the night of January 3, U.S. forces struck Caracas with precision, neutralizing Maduro’s guard and extracting him. Oil prices have climbed since, as China scrambles for alternative suppliers.

Greenland: Military Necessity or Prophetic Positioning?

Trump’s obsession with Greenland initially seemed bizarre to many observers. Not to Rabbi Anava.

“From a military perspective, if you look at Greenland from above, there’s a sea channel between Greenland and Scandinavia where all Russian submarines come through,” he explained. “Russia has built most of their military based in the Arctic. If Russia ever attacks America, it would be from the north, and America isn’t built for such defense.”

The rabbi noted Greenland’s vast mineral wealth—titanium, precious metals, everything needed for modern warfare. “But the reality is that Greenland is one of the richest lands with minerals, expensive metals, titanium—Greenland apparently has everything and in abundance.”

Then Rabbi Anava dropped a bombshell, citing Jewish sources. “If you want to go into deeper territory, many Midrashim indicate that Gog and Magog are coming from the north,” he said. “The Midrashim suggest Gog is supposed to come from beyond the ice wall. So there’s an ice wall somewhere where Gog is hiding. Many indications say it will come from the north.”

Trump threatened eight European nations with tariffs ranging from 10% to 25% unless Denmark agreed to sell Greenland. Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the move “great for Putin, Xi, and other adversaries who want to see NATO divided.” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre received a message from Trump demanding “Complete and Total Control of Greenland” and attributing his aggression to not receiving the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

On January 21, Trump backed down after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte brokered a “framework” deal on Arctic security. But the damage to transatlantic relations is done. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen warned that Trump’s threats could trigger “a dangerous downward spiral between allies” that would “only embolden the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out.”

Iran and Turkey: The Real Endgame

Rabbi Anava identified Iran as the central threat, but with a crucial twist. “What’s most interesting is that the Iranians don’t seem afraid,” he observed. “Whether it’s the Ayatollah, the president, or the chief of staff—they all threaten back. Either they’re very good poker players and bluffing, or they’re not afraid because they’re armed.”

His conclusion is stark. “I guarantee Iran has nuclear bombs. They might say they don’t, but they do. For sure, they have dirty bombs—lots of them.”

On January 21, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in The Wall Street Journal that Tehran’s “powerful armed forces have no qualms about firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.” This came after Trump repeated his threat to wipe Iran “off the face of this earth” if it attempts to assassinate him. Iranian General Abolfazl Shekarchi responded: “We will not only sever that hand, but we will set their world on fire and leave them no safe haven in the region.”

But Rabbi Anava identified Iran’s true weapon: Turkey. “My hunch is that Iran’s secret weapon is Turkey,” he said. “That’s going to be the next big problem.”

The rabbi cited the Rabbeinu Bachya, a commentary on the Torah written by Rabbi Bachya ben Asher (1255–1340) in Spain, who explicitly identifies Edom (the Christian world) as falling to Persia (Iran) in the end times. “The Rabbeinu Bachya states that the Christians will be like blind people—they won’t even see how the Muslims are taking over them,” he said. “And sure enough, in the last 50 years, Europe didn’t see this happening.”

The statistics are damning. Muslims have transformed European demographics. “Go now to Denmark, Sweden, London, Paris, Spain, Amsterdam—the Muslims have essentially taken over Europe,” Rabbi Anava said. “All statistics say that by 2030-2050, Europe will be Muslim.”

America follows the same trajectory. “It started with a Muslim president—Barack Hussein Obama, who was born in Kenya, not even an American-born citizen,” the rabbi stated. “Now you have a Muslim mayor in the most powerful city in the world—New York. He’s a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, meaning he’s pledged allegiance to become a martyr.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams removed four laws protecting Jews on his first day in office. He canceled protections that made BDS illegal and removed security from synagogues and Jewish schools. Antisemitic incidents in New York City reached 330 in 2025—57% of all hate crimes, targeting Jews every 26 hours despite Jews comprising only 10% of the population.

Turkey’s role is becoming clearer. Recent reports confirm that Erdogan’s government struck an agreement with Iran to arrest anti-regime protesters on Turkish soil. NewsNation sources revealed that Turkey will detain Iranian dissidents, who are then extradited and executed in Iran. Turkish President Erdogan stated he would “stand against any initiative” that disrupts the Islamist regime in Iran, calling them “our brothers.”

Rabbi Anava referenced the Talmudic debate about Togarmah, a descendant of Noah. “In the Midrash, the sages debate: one opinion says Paras (Persia), the second opinion says that Togarmah is Turkey. According to the Talmud, Turkey is the nation that will cause problems.”

The Palestinian Authority now maintains 60,000 officers—triple the 20,000 permitted under the Oslo Agreement. Half are trained soldiers who were trained in Turkey. Meanwhile, reports emerged of 50-70 Chinese cargo planes landing in Iran within three hours, delivering unknown quantities of weapons.

Why Is Hashem Doing This?

Rabbi Anava cut through the geopolitical analysis to reveal the purpose. “Now comes the big question: Why is Hashem doing all this?”

He compared it to the ten plagues in Egypt. Hashem could have simply removed the Jews from bondage instantly. Instead, He orchestrated a public spectacle demonstrating His power to all nations.

“If you’re looking at what’s going on in the world and it doesn’t bother you at all, there’s a big problem,” the rabbi said. “If you see what’s going on and it raises questions, then the main question needs to be: Why is Hashem showing us this?”

The answer is direct. “So we will do teshuvah (repentance). Everything you see is for you to repent.”

Hashem is saying: “The redemption is coming. The wheels are in motion. Everything has started. You cannot reverse the situation. Decrees are set. The timeline is all set. Everything is prepared. You cannot be sleeping right now.”

The Urgency of Repentance

Rabbi Anava’s message intensified. “The reason why you all have a rollercoaster of disasters in your life is only to set you straight,” he said. “Because when the storm comes, only those holding onto Hashem will survive.”

He warned of earthquakes predicted for northern Israel but identified them as divine wake-up calls. “Hashem is taking many actions for you to wake up and do teshuvah. That’s it. It’s not for anything else.”

Trump, Netanyahu, Erdogan—all are merely pawns on Hashem’s chessboard. “They don’t decide anything. Hashem decides everything. Hashem is moving everything. All the wars you see were predicted, all written.”

The rabbi posed the critical question: “If the redemption came today, are you ready?”

He answered immediately. “No—you see how quickly I answered? Because you’re not ready for the redemption. I guarantee neither you nor I am ready. No one is ready.”

Time Accelerates

Rabbi Anava pointed to the accelerating pace of time itself as proof. “You know what day it is today? Thursday. It was just Sunday a minute and a half ago. Doesn’t it look weird to you? The week just goes by like that.”

He noted that everyone—Jews and non-Jews alike—feels this acceleration. “Everyone feels time accelerating. They just don’t understand what it means. The world is on fast forward. It’s like when you listen to WhatsApp messages at 2x speed. Hashem just made the world go times two in speed. That’s Hashem telling you: it’s coming.”

Physical preparedness is lacking. “Let’s say hypothetically, tonight they attack Iran, and tonight nuclear missiles go out, and tonight the war begins. Are you ready? Can you live in darkness for two weeks? Do you have food? Do you have batteries? Your phone will die in 3 hours, and you’ll have nothing.”

More importantly, spiritual preparedness is absent. “Corona came like that. October 7th came like that. The next one is coming too. You’re not prepared physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.”

Personal Suffering as Divine Education

Rabbi Anava connected individual suffering to the need for repentance. “All the problems you’re dealing with—your financial issues, emotional issues, health issues, all the pressure you’re going through—it’s to get you ready for the redemption because you’re not doing it yourself.”

Financial struggles are epidemic. “Most people have financial issues right now—rich or poor, it doesn’t matter. Most people find it very hard to finish the month. Take that as a reference for where you need to repent.”

He identified specific sins. “Obviously, you have something going on there—whether you steal, you cheat, you engage in lashon hara (slander), you commit defamation. This is your indication.”

The rabbi was particularly harsh about slander among observant Jews. “I’ve seen people who pray three times a day, and they still speak lashon hara. I don’t understand that. You observe Shabbat, eat kosher, learn Torah, pray three times a day—and you speak slander? Something’s wrong.”

He traced specific consequences to specific sins. “You’re going through hardship because you did something. And the reason you’re receiving that hardship now is that Hashem wants to educate you. You did something—that’s the result. Repent quickly.”

The Imperative of Aliyah

Rabbi Anava issued a powerful call for Jews to move to Israel. “From this day on, focus only on your teshuvah—not on your money, not on anything else. Only on how you’re holding with Hashem.”

He acknowledged the problematic founding of the State of Israel. “Even though the State of Israel was declared by a corrupt organization (the United Nations) and Zionism was against Torah, nevertheless, the fact is we did come back to our land. That is Kibbutz Galuyot (ingathering of exiles).”

Denmark’s Prime Minister recently demanded that Israel be removed from all international platforms—political, economic, everything. “If I were Prime Minister of Israel, I would send three missiles to Denmark right now,” Rabbi Anava said. “You’re telling me I need to be eliminated? Here are my missiles. I guarantee no other nations would ever say anything again to Jews.”

The writing is on the wall. “We know all nations will go against us. But now there’s no shame—now the intentions are written on the wall where they tell you straight to your face.”

The spiritual benefit of aliyah is critical. “I push everybody to go to Israel—not only because of the dangers waiting for you outside, but because the more Jewish observant, Torah-observant people live in the land of Israel, the more powerful we are spiritually.”

Demographic reality weakens Israel. 

“Right now, to be fair, about 50% of Jews living in Israel don’t observe Shabbat. The land is angry. We’re not allowed to desecrate Shabbat on this land. We need to raise the ratio. If 80% observe Shabbat on the land, imagine how powerful we get. We won’t need an army if we have enough observant Jews in the land of Israel.”

The Global Threat to Jews

Rabbi Anava delivered a chilling assessment. “Nowhere is safe anymore for Jews—whether now, a month from now, two months from now, or half a year from now. There will not be one safe place in the world for Jews.”

The statistics support this warning. In 2025, the World Zionist Organization documented 20 Jews killed in antisemitic attacks worldwide, with thousands more incidents. The Anti-Defamation League recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents in America in 2024—a 5% increase from 2023 and the highest number since tracking began in 1979. Physical assaults rose 21%.

“Just in the last 2-3 months, from the attack in Sydney until today, there have been thousands—not hundreds, thousands—of anti-Semitic attacks, from spray paint to physical attacks to murder,” the rabbi said.

He drew the comparison to pre-Holocaust Germany. “In the last 2-3 weeks, I’ve collected maybe 400 pictures and reports from all over the world—America, Canada, Australia, Bulgaria—just of spray-painting graffiti of swastikas and ‘Jews get out.’ That looks normal to you? It’s not normal. You know why? Because that’s how Germany looked in 1938.”

The mechanism is identical. “You accept the swastikas and spray-painting and ‘Jews get out’ and all that. You don’t stand up. Nobody does anything. Then… I don’t want to continue saying it, but that’s what’s going to happen.”

The Month of Shevat and Tu B’Shevat

Rabbi Anava noted the timing. “Two days ago, we entered a very powerful month. The zodiac sign is Aquarius—in Hebrew, it’s called D’li (bucket).”

The month of Shevat represents beginnings. “The advantage of the month of Shevat is like a seed starting to grow in the ground. It’s the beginning of growth. You don’t see anything, but it started. That’s the month where you can start growing anything you want. You can start the rebirth process.”

Tu B’Shevat arrives in a few days. “I highly recommend you take it seriously and not pass it as a regular day. There’s a Tu B’Shevat Seder we do—some compare it to the same equivalent spiritual power as the Pesach Seder. That’s how seriously one needs to take it.”

The holiday connects to personal transformation. “The Torah says, ‘the man is compared to the tree from the field.’ The Torah is called the tree of life. You now have… to get yourself ready to a very high level of teshuvah.”

The First Light of Redemption

Rabbi Anava issued a final warning about the nature of redemption. “The first spark of redemption will be such a huge light that whoever didn’t repent the right way, that light will eliminate them, and they won’t have any place in this world.”

This applies universally. “It has nothing to do with Jew or non-Jew. It has to do with how you’re dealing with yourself in the world during the time of exile.”

The disasters will intensify. “The disasters will become more and more. Your rollercoaster in your own life has just started because that’s going to continue until the day of redemption. So it’s not going to get better.”

He referenced Jacob’s story. “Finally, he wanted to relax after years of exile in Haran and years of headaches. Boom—Yosef gets kidnapped. Jacob says, ‘What did I ask? I’m a tzaddik (righteous man) in my 90s. I want to relax.’ Hashem says, ‘Relax? Relax? I didn’t send you to the world to relax.’”

The message is clear. “Don’t think you’re going to find any relaxation in the next 2-3 years. Hashem is not designing the world now for you to relax. Hashem is designing the world for you to be right now walking on your toes—not in fear, but in great expectation of current events that are going to come and evolve.”

The choice determines everything. “You can see it with your own eyes. You can see it with fear, or you can see it with a smile. You can see the redemption evolving and be under emotional collapse, or just stand from the side and say, ‘Wow.’ It all depends on your repentance.”

The Only Protection

Rabbi Anava’s conclusion was uncompromising. “All the current affairs are important and interesting, but really, it’s what you do with it. If you pass another class and another world event and another terror attack and nothing changes in your life, you’re in a bad place—you’re in big trouble.”

The enemy is complacency. “That’s exactly what Amalek wants to do: numb you, make you think the situation is okay. But the reality is nothing is okay.”

Protection comes from one source alone. “The only thing that will protect you from today onward is your Torah, your mitzvot, your good deeds, and your teshuvah. And Hashem is doing all this only for us to wake up and do teshuvah. That’s the only reason.”

He rejected false comfort. “A lot of people say, ‘That’s not fair’ or ‘Hashem wouldn’t do it to us.’ Remember the Holocaust 80 years ago? There were many other holocausts too—you’re just not educated. Every hundred years there’s a holocaust.”

The historical pattern is undeniable. “If Hashem did that to us in Egypt, in the siege of Jerusalem where the Talmud says people were eating each other, rivers of blood—do you have the arrogance and stupidity to say ‘Hashem wouldn’t do this to us’? Don’t be naive.”

Hashem’s mercy is the opportunity to repent. “Hashem is being kind to us, saying: ‘I’m bringing the redemption with or without you—without suffering or with suffering. Join.’”

Rabbi Anava’s final words carried urgency. “Stop whining about all your problems. That’s what’s cleansing you. Get closer to Hashem. You’ll see the problems will reduce. That’s how it works.”

Never Forget!

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Amos 1:9,11 ….because they [as middlemen] delivered up a whole [Jewish] population to Edom and did not [seriously] remember their brotherly covenant….11 because he pursued his brother Jacob (Israel) with the sword, corrupting his compassions and casting off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually and his wrath he kept and heeded forever.

Human nature is a funny thing. We are only a month and a few days to an event that happened twenty-four years ago: September 11, 2001. Never Forget was the common refrain used to remember the September 11th terrorist attacks and honor the victims, first responders, and all those affected by the tragedy. Fast forward twenty-four years later and the headlines read: Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral primary over Andrew Cuomo. He is known as a Shia Muslim, and a democrat socialist. Never Forget? We can rest assured many have fallen back to sleep and have totally forgotten. In fact it’s an interesting parallel between the Scripture reference above, Esau and his descendants, who kept his wrath and heeded it forever.

Forgetfulness is a big deal to God. Some say we are to forgive and forget based on the Scripture in Micah 7:19 that states God hides our sin in the sea of forgetfulness. Isaiah 43:25 echoes this metaphor stating: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. One Biblical theologian from my teen years stated: It’s not that God forgets our sin – it’s that He chooses to not bring them up anymore. He chooses to release us from the debt He knows we owe Him. This is why forgiveness is an even bigger deal with God than forgetfulness. There is an interesting connection between forgetfulness and forgiveness. Dt. 4:23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you,… Dt. 6:12 states: …beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Don’t forget where you came from, and don’t forget Who you have made covenant with. Jesus amplifies this in His Parable of the Unjust Servant. Matthew 18:23-30 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 

We fail to forgive when we forget the debt that has been paid for our sins. It’s really that simple. Only those who aren’t aware of the depths of their sin can casually throw another in to the prison of their making. Sadly many a person have forged their own chains through unforgiveness being tormented by something far worse than a measly offense. Psalm 119:165 states: Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. Those who know the Word know it’s Jesus. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the Law or the Instruction or Teaching. Those who can’t remember, can’t forgive, stumble over the Stumbling Stone of the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus. Why? 1 Peter 2:7-8 explains: Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. They stumble because of their disobedience, and their disobedience reveals what they consider to be precious.

Earning Your Stripes

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Hosea 1:9-11 And the Lord said, Call his name Lo-Ammi [Not-my-people], for you are not My people and I am not your God.10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and instead of it being said to them, You are not My people, it shall be said to them, Sons of the Living God!11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves one head, and they shall go up out of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel [for the spiritually reborn Israel, a divine offspring, the people whom the Lord has blessed.]

The Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible states the following regarding this passage: There is a play on words between Jezreel and Israel; they look and sound more alike in Hebrew than in English. Hosea’s reference to Jezreel in verse 5 states: And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel – has a significant opposite meaning to that in verse 11. The scene of the breaking of the bow of Israel will become the scene of mending and reunification. The place of thorough disruption and scattering will become the place where God sows, which is the meaning of Jezreel: God sows.

Hosea 10:12 states: Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you. In both passages the place of breaking becomes the place of mending; the place of harvest. Question is, what are we harvesting from that which is breaking? To those who have learned from both, the breaking and mending, become the sons and daughters of God ruling and reigning with Jesus. It’s interesting to note that Israel was one who wrestled with God and overcame. But that wrestling came with a price. For from that day Israel walked with a limp, his walk forever changed. Fast forward approximately 1600 years and Israel had blossomed and bloomed into a full blown nation – yet walking without a limp. Israel had quit wrestling with God for His promises; for His blessings. As a result God had to come to Israel and do the breaking so that many sons and daughters would be raised up like the sand of the sea. What’s the bottom line of all of these things? God’s people are broken people. Karl Marx once noted that religion was a crutch for the masses. He added, Religion is the opium of the people. Unfortunately for Marx, he failed to take a deep look into a mirror to see we are all broken people in need of a crutch. Spoiler alert: the crutch isn’t religion. Religion is what crucified Jesus (and is still crucifying Jesus). But Jesus is the Broken-hearted One Who is a friend to the broken-hearted, and broken. He has nothing to do with the religion of man. Jesus, the Son of Man, isn’t welcome. But into those who recognize their need He has sown His life, purpose, love, and joy. To the outside world we look weak and broken – but from an eternal perspective we cause Heaven to cheer and hell to tremble; we are the sons and daughters of God shaking the earth with the soon, approaching Kingdom of God.

One last observation: Military rank is designated by the stripes on their uniforms. In the Lord’s Army we are earning our stripes – our ranking in Heaven’s Armies – through our faithful suffering. The more faithful (FAITH-FILLED) we are – through the suffering – the higher the rank and esteem in Heaven’s Armies. This ranking equals authority, and that authority gives us power to set others free from their prisons. So get out there and trample on those serpents and scorpions.

Who or What is Your Jericho?

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Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho [a fenced town with high walls] was tightly closed because of the Israelites; no one went out or came in. AMPC

Jericho was the first fortressed city that Israel encountered in their advancement into the Promised Land. It was the first thing that stood between them and the manifestation of their inheritance, and their promises from God. And it was the first thing they were going to have to fight through to break through into all God had for them.

I don’t know about you but I hate conflict and confrontation. Unfortunately, it’s what all the saints of Jesus are called to. The Pre-incarnate Jesus is mentioned in Joshua 5:13-15 and He is described as a Man…with His drawn sword in His hand and Prince of the Lord’s host. King David referred to God, the Father as Lord of Hosts, or Lord Sabaoth, literally interpreted as Lord of Angelic Armies. If you consider yourself a lover and not a fighter – think again. You are called to both. Even the title assigned to Jewish people, Israelites, is an indicator of Jesus’ followers job description. If you remember, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, because he had wrestled with God and overcome. In other words, Jacob had to wrestle or “fight” God for the blessing.

Jericho was tightly closed because the Prince of Heaven’s Armies, as well as His warriors, were just outside its walls. Now that is an interesting thought. Jericho being tightly shut because King and Warrior Jesus, and His people, are just outside getting ready to conquer and cause its walls to fall in submission, and surrender.

But here’s another thing to consider: In the spring, when kings go forth to battle,….2 Samuel 11:1. In Biblical times wars were going to be fought in the spring time. Guess what? Not a whole lot has changed. Ecclesiastes reminds us that To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:…(Eccl. 3:1) We are presently in one of God’s Biblical seasons. There are seasons, or cycles of manifestation, or mountaintop highs, and then there are seasons, or cycles of wildernesses, or valley lows. And presently, we are in a season, or cycle of warfare – spiritual warfare to be more exact. But there’s a sad verse that follows 2 Samuel 11:1 and its this, One evening David arose from his couch… (2 Samuel 11:2) HIS COUCH? What was David the giant-killer, lion smashing, bear stomping warrior of God doing on a couch? He was sending others to battle. He was being tempted to lust after his next door neighbor’s wife. It did not end well for David. It’s true All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) but that doesn’t mean you are going to be unscathed by the poor decisions you have made.

Why do I bring all of these things to your attention? Because now is time when you are called to battle for what God has promised you. In this season, who or what is your Jericho? Who or what is tightly closed to you because you brought Jesus to the fight? Is your Jericho a person, a circumstance, a healing, or a broken-hearted hurting? Is your Jericho an unfulfilled promise or prophetic word you have yet to see manifested that was given years or decades ago? What would happen if you listed those and presented them to the Lord as something to fight towards, and for? What would happen if you got off the “couch” circumstances have assigned you and began to thank God for the unseen as if it is seen?

You might be tempted to think, Well I’ve been dealing with this for decades; I’ve been waiting for the manifestation of this promise for decades. But let me ask you a question, Have you waited for 40 years? Wilderness, wandering Israel had. Have you waited as long as Jesus? He’s still waiting on the Father to answer some of His prayers. Besides, what other plans do you have? Get off your “couch of resignation” and armor up for the fight. We just celebrated Jesus’ fight for our salvation. Fight from victory not towards victory. If you are fighting for victory you have already lost the battle. You aren’t fighting from a place of faith but from unbelief. Ask forgiveness for that and press on. Stand up in and through the finished work of the Cross and Resurrection. Put your trust in His Blood and begin to rigorously give thanks for the unseen as if it is seen.

Small Things

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2 Samuel 1:14-15 David said to him, Why were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? 15 David called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him so that he died.

Throughout Scripture from the fall of Adam and Eve to the crucifixion of Christ, from the writings of Paul to the end of the Book of Revelation – one fact remains: the wages of sin is death! The Amalekites had proven themselves enemies of God since the Exodus as described by Moses in the Book of Exodus: And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens.…And he said, Because [theirs] is a hand against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. (Exodus 17:14,16) On the surface David’s response against this messenger of doom seems to be a little extreme. But underneath this narrative lies a larger monster that hides beneath the shadows lurking along the edges like a ravenous wolf ready to pounce upon its prey. First of all, this Amalekite is lying. He did not slay King Saul. Saul had taken his own life. Secondly, the messenger had looted what belonged to King Saul and the people of Israel – Saul’s kingly crown, and the bracelet on his arm. Thirdly, this man exposed his greed and lust for more. It wasn’t enough that he had plundered the crown jewels. His plot was much more twisted and devious. He had reasoned that there must be an even greater reward for the one who would kill Saul. Rather than taking the crown and bracelet and cashing in on his prize. He chose to up the ante. Finally, this man failed to realize that David was God’s man – God’s anointed – and God’s enemies were his enemies. But there is an even greater story unfolding before our eyes and Exodus 17:14,16 gives us the clue: I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens.…And he said, Because [theirs] is a hand against the throne of the Lord…

Did you catch that last part? The Amalekites had not simply lifted their hand to destroy God’s people. They had actually lifted their hand against God Himself. Against His Throne, Kingdom, and Reign. Consciously or unconsciously, this Amalekite was participating in the sins of his fathers and mothers. Ultimately, he was reflecting the heart of his spiritual father – Satan himself. For you see, the Amalekites, and their descendants could be traced all the way to King Herod himself, an Idumean (a descendant of the Edomites from which Amalek had come). Amalek had come from Esau’s son who had married a descendant of the Horites – and they were descendants of the demonic hybrid of the Nephilim (half-demon, half human. Think Goliath)

King Herod sought to kill Jesus – God’s Anointed King of Israel. Why had God said that He would personally fight against Amalek? Because they represented an Anti-Christ spirit. An anti-Christ agenda.

But how does all of this apply? Romans 8:7 states the carnal mind is at enmity with God. The carnal mind being our soulish mind or our propensity to rely more on our thinking, will, emotions, and personality or temperament to have things our way. This way of doing things is an enemy to God and the things of God because it hearkens back to the Garden of Eden, and you shall be gods. In other words having it our way is not doing it God’s Way. God’s Way obviously being Jesus Himself – The Way. But rest easy: the Lord will have war with (it) from generation to generation.

In Mark 8 Jesus warns of the leaven or yeast of the Pharisees, Herod, and the Herodians. (Matthew 16 adds the Sadducees). Leaven is a small thing – but it’s the small things that lead either to the anti-Christ rising in our lives or Jesus, the Bread of Life. Question is, Are we utilizing the yeast of the Kingdom of God or the yeast of satan himself? Remember it’s the small things that make all the difference in the outcome of what’s reigning in your life. What we sow into will determine the “rain” that falls in our lives.

Threshing Floors, Separation, and Christmas

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Genesis 50:5, 10, 13 My father made me swear, saying, I am about to die; in my tomb which I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me. So now let me go up, I pray you, and bury my father, and I will come again.…And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond [west of] the Jordan, and there they mourned with a great lamentation and extreme demonstrations of sorrow [according to Egyptian custom]; and [Joseph] made a mourning for his father seven days....For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre, which Abraham bought, along with the field, for a possession as a burying place from Ephron the Hittite.

2 Samuel 6:6 And when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled and shook it.

2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

I am often amazed at the symbolic patterns which are hidden within seemingly, insignificant verses. The reoccurring topic of the threshing floor is one that yields rich treasures of wisdom and truth. Consider again the story of Ruth which on the surface should be the last Scripture a pastor chooses for Christmas – but here we must arrive. Ruth 3:2 And now is not Boaz, with whose maidens you were, our relative? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rachel, Jacob, Leah, Boaz, Ruth, and David – all have one thing in common: the significance of the threshing floor. Why does this topic appear throughout the narrative? Threshing floors were used for one thing: separating. Separating through threshing (crushing), and separating through winnowing (tossing grain and chaff in the air).

In the Gospel of John Jesus refers to Himself as the Temple, and the Old Testament informs us that the Temple was built on a threshing floor. Thus the “rock” on which Jesus stands is the place of threshing and winnowing. It was the foundation of His life, and the path His feet walked. The threshing floor of Jesus is the foundation of the who’s who of the Hall of Faith. It is what Christmas is all about. John 3:19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. His Light has entered our darkness. That by itself is separation. Are you cooperating with His process of threshing and winnowing the grains of His Word to rise in your life into Living Bread? Are you becoming living bread?

Freedom From Religion

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The Prophet Ezekiel provides a stern warning for all who claim to be spiritual shepherds of God’s people prophesying: And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them. 5 And they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts of the field. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; yes, My sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought for them. Ezekiel 34:1-6 AMPC

The Bill of Rights of these Untied States guarantees the free exercise of religion – but it does not guarantee the freedom from religion. Religion without a relationship with Jesus is what crucified Him in the first place (and still does). Religion is self-centered, and self-focused, on the self-effort of “do-it-yourself” adherents. Religion is rutted routines without Life or Substance. Religion puffs up its adherents with pride having knowledge void of experience. Religion generously measures its own performance while stingily judging the efforts of others considered inferior and lacking. Religion, according to Genesis 3:19, is plowing the fields for your own bread while eating it in the sweat of the curse of the knowledge of good….AND evil.

Christmas reminds us of the Good News declared to the first shepherds, and echoed in Ezekiels’ prophecy: Therefore will I rescue My flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will raise up over them one Shepherd and He shall feed them, even My Servant David; He shall feed them and He shall be their Shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God and My Servant David a Prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. 25 And I will confirm with them a covenant of peace….Ezekiel 34:22-25

Prepare the Way

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Yad Vashem (“a memorial and a name”) is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need. The name “Yad Vashem” is taken from a verse in the Book of Isaiah: “[To] them will I give in my house and within my walls a [memorial] and a [name], better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting [name], that shall not be cut off [from memory]. Outside of the Holocaust museum and memorial is a plaque which reads: Let me prepare the way for Thee, remove each stone that might hinder Thee to make Thy coming sure and soon. These words express both the hope and faith of the Jewish people for the coming Messiah. These words were taken from the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted
and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(chapters 40:3-5)

Interestingly enough the Holocaust Museum is found in a village south-west of Jerusalem called Ein Kerem. Traditionally, Christians have longed believe that this was where John the Baptist was born. If the plaque remains at the Second Coming of Jesus, and John the Baptist happens to stroll by there, he will most likely chuckle to himself as he understands the prophetic implications behind these words. You see every stone was removed; the last and most important stone being the one which covered Christ’s Tomb. As Jesus stated at His triumphal entry: “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Lk. 19:40) The stone of His empty stone has been crying out for 2000 years up until this present day.

Which raises some interesting questions: What stone(s) need to be removed in your life? How can you prepare the way of the Lord? What stone is hindering the coming of Jesus into your place of hiddenness? Keep praying and praising Him till the rocks roll away.

Encouraging Words

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I trust everyone is doing well and adjusting to all the stay at home policies being encouraged by our government. As we are in lockdown (that’s how it feels) many of us are finding new ways of reaching out through a new tool called Zoom. Through it we’ve been able to gather together for prayer, and through internet streaming we are able to maintain a semblance of connection. Just recently I got off the internet doing a conference call through Zoom that enabled 5-6 people to join another 8 of us who were meeting to pray at the church. Since March 1 prayers have been released from 6:30-8:30 asking God to release a wedding of the Spirit and Word in our church, community, nation and the world. We have been calling on Heaven to invade our earth through Spirit sent revival and awakening. Lastly we have been beseeching God to release a sovereign move of His Spirit throughout the globe. Several passages of Scripture have come to the surface repeatedly:

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

James 4:7-10 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].9 [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection andheartfelt shame [for your sins].10 Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

Hosea 10:12-13 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.13 You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

Hebrews 12:27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Recently Kristy received a word from the Lord that all the idols of America are being shaken, and that’s what we are seeing. As believers, those who truly cling to Jesus, we are finding out if we built our lives on idols of sand, or the Rock that can’t be moved.

Recently I received an email from a Christian organization out of Israel, Mike Evans, and I thought that I would share it with you:

Dear Robert,
God has given me a word that has shaken me to my knees. As I was working on this revelation that God put in my heart, I picked up an old Bible, and a handwritten note fell out. It was from a meeting I had with Dr. David Wilkerson at the Embassy Suites near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport on a Tuesday in 1986 when we were having breakfast. The letter he wrote was addressed to Rev. Richard Dortch, who ran PTL under Jim Bakker. It said, “Within 12 months from the date of this letter, the judgment of God will fall on PTL. You are fornicating with brick and stone. Flee now and repent. Bats will fly through the empty building.” It was exactly 12 months to the day that the Charlotte Observer broke the PTL scandal story. In that meeting in 1986, Dr. Wilkerson said something else to me: “I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars and churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless Believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.”
Plan to join us in watching this amazing and prophetic message tomorrow at 6:00 PM (CST) on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1094173014269685/
Your ambassador to Jerusalem,
Michael David Evans
Make an online donation here: https://giving.jerusalemprayerteam.org
Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer. —Isaiah 26:20-21

We are seeing the manifestation of this word as I write this. Over 70,000 believers are praying, fasting, and seeking God for a global awakening and revival. Please join them, and us, as we seek God – not simply for an end of this virus, but for the very Face of Jesus to manifest, calling people to repentance, and brokenness.

We love you and miss all of you. It will be a great day when we all can gather together and sing His praises. Remember again to check in on those who are shut in, the elderly, and those alone. Know that you are in our prayers as I trust that we are in yours. It’s time for all God’s people to awake and prepare. Heed the call to show up for the Last Day’s dress rehearsal, and turn to see Jesus.

Confession & Declaration 13

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Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The Greek word for “brought near” comes from a root word which implies to “take into the arms and embrace.” But the fullness of the verse and what Christ actually did doesn’t really share the depths of what He actually did. You have to back up and begin in verse 10 and proceed through verse 16. Check this out. It’s really amazing: Ephesians 2:10-16 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. 11 Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. 12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. 14 For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, 15 By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. 16 And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.

When Jesus brought us near – the moment we trusted in the shed blood of Jesus – several things were activated at once: you were recreated to do the works Jesus does; brought into the rights of Israel’s covenant promises; we came into His Peace – Shalom; the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile was torn down – the separation was ended; He annulled the affects of the consequences of breaking the Law; one new man was created; we were reconciled in relationship with God; He destroyed the enmity between us; and He brought the feud to an end.

This act is powerfully demonstrated in an Old Testament prophecy found in Ezekiel 37:16-24 Son of man, take a stick and write on it, For Judah and the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel his companions; 17 And join them together into one stick that they may become one in your hand.18 And when your people say to you, Will you not show us what you mean by these? 19 Say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph—which is in the hand of Ephraim—and the tribes of Israel his associates, and will join with it the stick of Judah and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.20 When the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes, 21 Then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations to which they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land.22 And I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and one King shall be King over them all; and they shall be no longer two nations, neither be divided into two kingdoms any more.23 They shall not defile themselves any more with their idols and their detestable things or with any of their transgressions, but I will save them out of all their dwelling places and from all their backslidings in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them. So shall they be My people, and I will be their God. 24 And David My Servant shall be King over them, and they all shall have one Shepherd. They shall also walk in My ordinances and heed My statutes and do them.

Remember Joseph is a prophetic symbol of Gentiles or nations, and Ephraim was his son, whereas Judah is a symbol of Israel and the Jewish people. In essence the prophecy is stating that the two sticks will become one stick. This prophecy is even more powerful when you recall that Jesus is referred to as the Branch, or Rod, and then Jesus refers to us as branches. Jesus is the Nazarene (the Branch). In the Ephesians passage Paul states that through the Cross of Jesus the two houses have become one. Now we need to stop and ask, How many trees were in the Garden? You could say there were two sticks in the Garden – could you not? But it get’s better than that. The cross was made up of how many “sticks?” Jesus has taken the horizontal bar and the vertical bar and brought peace between man’s horizontal relationships with man and his vertical relationship with God. Even more profound is that the two sticks were designated with some names: Israel which means “God is Upright!” Jesus was upright on the cross drawing us to Himself. Judah means “Let Him Be Praised!” Joseph means “increase, or may He add.” And lastly there is Ephraim, which means, “two-fold increase, doubly fruitful.” The two sticks have been brought together to make One New Man. From the Jews the Nations or Gentiles have been born, and from the Gentiles, the Jewish people will be provoked to jealousy to embrace Yeshua (Jesus) as their Mashiach or Messiah. How powerful is that? We have been brought near – embraced by the Godhead to be covenant sons and daughters.

Now if that’s not something to marvel in amazement at I don’t know what is. Let’s get our praise on and begin declaring His Truth for the universe to hear.

Declaration 13: My Almighty, Mysterious Savior and Lord, I praise and worship You. Thank You that through Your precious Blood You brought me near. Not until now have I paused long enough to see the wonders of Your Love and the Power of Your Word. Through Your Blood I’ve been recreated to do the works Jesus does. Through Your Blood I’ve been brought into the rights of Israel’s covenant promises. Through Your Blood I have been embraced by Peace, and brought into the Fullness of Your Shalom. Through Your Blood You have torn down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile and that separation was ended. Through Your Blood You annulled the affects and consequences of my breaking the Law. Through Your Blood I’ve been made into one new man. Through Your Blood I’ve been reconciled in my relationship with Father God. Through Your Blood the enmity, hatred and hostility that existed between us has been abolished. Through Your Blood the feud has been brought to an end. Yet the sweetest thing of all is how on the Cross You stretched out Your Arms in an Eternal Hug revealing the answer to the question the world’s been asking for centuries: God do You love me and if so, How much? And You stretched out Your Arms, took me into Your Embrace, using the two trees from the Garden. Through two sticks You brought that which was horizontal in me to live again vertically. Hallelujah! Lamb of God You are Worthy of My Praise! I exalt and lift You high! I run into Your Embrace. I love You My Precious Savior, Lord and God. You are Matchless and Worthy of all my Praises!