The Original “300”

The year was 480 BC when King Leonidas and 300 Spartan soldiers defended the pass at Thermopylae to their death; against King Xerxes and the massive Persian army. It was said to the Spartans that the arrows of the Persians would blot out the sun. Their response is legendary stuff;  “Then we will fight in the shade.”

700 years before King Leonidas and the famous Spartan warriors there was a man who thought he was the weakest of the least of his fathers household. His name was Gideon and he too led “The original 300” men into battle against an overwhelming army of Midianites. They defeated the enemy not with sword or spear for their weapons of warfare were not carnal but mighty in God.  

The Jews, The Nations And The Church

Pastor Tony Hallo, now the Ambassador of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, shares from his 57 years of ministry. Having been to Israel more than 30 times and ministered extensively throughout Ukraine and other countries, his experience and depth is highly valued.

What is the responsibility of the believer in Christ and the church to the Jewish people and to Israel as a nation? The book of Genesis made clear to Abraham that God would “Bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  

Isaiah 66

In the year king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. Not just a vision from the Lord but a vision OF the Lord saw Isaiah the prophet a young man volunteer and declare these now famous words, “Here Am I Send Me “

Sometimes our earthly king in our lives needs to die before we can see the King Of Kings and embrace what God has for us.  Isaiah’s ministry spanned four kings and is to the Old Testament what Paul is to the New.    

Love Vast As The Ocean

The gestation period for mice is 21 days, for a hen 22 days, a whale 547 days and an elephant 624 days. But the whale and the elephant had nothing on the birth of Isaac the child of promise. Abraham waited 25 years. It could be said that “The word of the Lord tested him.”

God further tested Abraham the father of the faith, when he commanded him to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain of Moriah, although not in God’s heart for Abraham to carry through. God provided the sacrifice for Abraham and 2,000 years later on the same mountain gave His only begotten Son Jesus. It was an eternal sacrifice demonstrating a Love Vast As The Ocean. 

In Everything Give Thanks

If you could do just one thing in your life that had the potential to change your whole outlook, giving you rose coloured glasses that allowed you to see everything with a freshness and exuberance that would make you even good company, would you do it?

Many people often say “I don’t know what the will of God is for my life.”

The apostle Paul has the solution to both these issues while writing to the Church in Thessalonica. 1 Thes 5:18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Try giving thanks today, you’ll be glad you did!!!

Let The Redeemed Of The Lord Say So

Psalm 107: 1-2 is worthy to read in the Modern Language Bible.

"Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies."

This mighty Psalm 107 reminds us that the Lord has delivered us from adversity, trouble and distress, misery, labour, affliction, destruction, oppression, and sorrow. We know that the Lord our mighty deliverer has also redeemed us from the fire of affliction, the pit, Egypt and the world, sin, flesh and the devil, the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We have so much to be thankful for and every reason to “Say So.”

Don’t Miss The Rapture

The next great event on God’s calendar is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. When the church; that is believing Christians as the bible describes are “Caught Up” or “Raptured,” to meet the Lord in the air. Jesus is coming for His church, and it could happen at any time in the twinkling of an eye. So fast will this global event be, that the naked eye will not capture the moment for those that are left behind.

The parable of the Wise and Foolish virgins describes the tragic situation when the Lord returns for His bride, which is the church, that half of those expecting to be with the Lord at that time will be turned away. The Tribulation period after the rapture will see 100’s of millions of people come to Christ through this traumatic period on the earth.

“So Pants My Soul For You.”

3,000 years ago the wearied and discouraged psalmist king David quilled the words in Psalm 42 “As a deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You. Discouraged and distressed believers, filled with the Spirit of God, can go through spiritual dry periods and feelings of emptiness.

What is the answer? David found help from a surprising source. After talking to God describing his woes, David then speaks to himself. “Why are you cast down, O my soul… Hope in God.” Perhaps you and I could benefit from speaking to ourselves in this direct manner.

The Writing Is On The Wall:

The Prophet Daniel was summoned to the king of Babylon’s party when an inscription or writing appeared on the wall, that no one else could interpret. The message was made clear to the king that his kingdom was to come to a swift end. History records this very day as the 11th October 539 BC. Before the night was to finish, the Babylonian kingdom would be no more.

There will come a point in time when God says again that I will not contend or My Spirit shall not strive with man forever. (Gen 6:3) As the Lord says to the waves “This far and no further.” So the Lord still says to individuals, tribes and nations for The Writing Is On The Wall