Shalom from Jerusalem,

Dec. 17^th, 2014 was the first day of Chanukah. We celebrate a victory of the Sons of Zion against the Sons of Greece (Zech. 9:13). In 165 B.C. the Maccabees, a small Jewish fighting force, retook and cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem, defeating a larger, better equipped Syrio-Grecian army under Antiochus Epiphanes (an anti-Christ figure and 'evangelist' for a Greek humanistic worldview. He also wanted people to worship him). Though the war went on for several years, Chanukah recalls the re-dedication of the Temple, which enabled Jews to honor and worship God biblically.

On this same day, 'Man' rose up in all his anti-Christ fury, mocking God and His nation, Israel. The EU court, due to a 'technicality', temporarily removed Gaza's terrorist rulers Hamas from the EU list of terror groups. (So far, they remain off.) Then the EU parliament voted overwhelmingly for EU foreign ministers to recognize a 'Palestine' on pre-'67 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Also, the Geneva Convention met, condemning Israel for 'war crimes' in 2014's summer war against Hamas. And a UN Security Council [SC] resolution, demanding Israel's withdrawal by 2017 from all 'Occupied Territories' (the biblical land of Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem), was delayed until the end of the month.

In 1917, Muslim-occupied Jerusalem was conquered by British General Allenby - the first time a 'Christian' nation ruled the holy city since 1244. In 1967, fifty years later, (a biblical Jubilee), it was restored to Israeli rule for the first time since the Maccabees' reign ended in 37 B.C. Count another jubilee and the nations want Jerusalem stripped of its God-ordained rulers and Islam given it! Are both the political attack on Chanukah and the 2017 deadline a coincidence? Behold, I make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around… In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples. All who lift it shall be cut to pieces …And in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zech. 12:2-3a, 9)

Stay focused on God's Word and watch His timing. Since God reigns (Ps. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1), let's not reject events as just a coincidence without prayer and studying His prophetic Word!

EU vs. Israel & God

In Nov., an EU secret document on sanctions against Israel was exposed. Sanctions would be applied if Israel does anything that the EU feels compromises the creation of 'Palestine'. The EU's 'red lines' include construction in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, as well as in Jerusalem neighborhoods over the 1949 Armistice line…

An EU diplomat said, This paper…contains 'sticks and carrots' to foist Europe's political vision on Israel, yet he admitted it was mostly sticks. And this, as anti-Semitism skyrockets in Europe. ("Secret EU Document Reveals Israel Sanctions Policy," Arutz 7, 17 Nov. 2014)

When the 4^th Geneva Convention's High Contracting Parties met on that Chanukah day, it was only the third time since 1949, each time dealing only with Israel. An Israeli official said this group which is supposed to deal with war crimes, did not meet, over Syria, Libya, or any Islamic terror groups, but only Israel. ("What elections? Europe presses ahead on Palestine question as Israel prepares for poll," JP, 17 Dec. 2014)

Prime Minister [PM] Bibi Netanyahu opined, It seems too many in Europe, on whose soil six million Jews were slaughtered, have learned nothing. ("…Too many in Europe have learned nothing…," JP, 17 Dec. 2014)

Likud minister Hotovely said the Hamas decision bears witness to Europe being cut-off from reality… those who whitewash an organization like this give terror a hand. Likud MK Danon said the message the court is sending is kill Israelis and get a state.

Jewish Home's Bennett said prophetically, If there's someone who thinks the sacrifice of Israel will save Europe, they're wrong … Terror that receives justification in Tel Aviv will spill quickly to London, Paris and Brussels. ("[Bibi] Demands EU Place Hamas Back on Terrorism List," Arutz 7, 17 Dec. 2014) As he warned, within four weeks, terror struck in the heart of Paris.

Terror stalks the EU

Only days after France voted 'yes' to a Palestine in the UNSC, two terrorist attacks hit Paris, one against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which published cartoons of Mohammed, and the other in a Kosher Supermarket. Netanyahu responded, Fighting terrorism means physically battling it, as well as rejecting its false claims and not accepting any justification for it, boldly adding, Two years ago we saw a great intensification of international terrorism, and the source of that terrorism is radical Islam. We say 'boldly,' because most other Western leaders refused to label these atrocities as 'Islamic'. ("Netanyahu: Terrorists trying to destroy western civilization," JP, 7 Jan. 2014)

Dan Margalit wrote, Jewish history teaches us that every time there is trouble for humanity, it always begins with Israel. [Rom. 2:9] Many thought terrorists would only target places like the Jewish school in Toulouse or the Jewish museum in Brussels. But now Europeans see it is radical Islam against Western culture, Christianity and, of course, the Jews.

Netanyahu is right in saying all civilized societies must band together to fight this scourge. Yet it will not happen. There are nations and governments that believe if they only sacrifice the Jews they can achieve peace for themselves. They are deluded.

Margalit sees that, in one way the Jews in exile are better off than their hosts: The Jews have a homeland to which they can return, or retreat. Where will the Dutch, Belgians, Germans and Swedes flee when the ISIS death seeds planted in the European hothouse grow out of control? ("The Jews are just an excuse," D. Margalit, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 8 Jan. 2014)

Israeli elections - March 17th, 2015 - St. Patrick's Day

Lord, just as Patrick chased all the snakes out of Ireland, help Israeli voters do the same with the next government! Amen.

We understood why Netanyahu dissolved the government and called for new elections, but we were disappointed it had lasted only two years. The day after elections were set, Chuck was leading IFI's noon prayer meeting. Looking out from the 14^th floor, they saw a double rainbow over the city, God's encouraging sign saying that He watches over His covenant promises - to Israel and to us (Gen. 9:11-17).

Since we have been praying in line with God's will, Chuck encouraged us in IFI's Prayer Alert (12th Dec.) to not lose heart or move into doubt over the downfall of Bibi's government and the call for new elections. While this was not what we were hoping for, we have great confidence that God is hearing and answering (1 Jn. 5:14-15) in ways higher than ours. Chuck also said that our prayer before the last elections was that God would give Israel a government through whom He would be glorified. That prayer is always 101% in line with His will since the goal of His kingdom is His glory (Jn. 17:1, 4-5). So, continue to pray that way for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

Is Obama secretly working to replace Bibi? EU officials said the reason US Secretary of State Kerry gave for America vetoing a UNSC resolution on 'Palestine' was because its passing would help Bibi to win the elections. ("Kerry: UN vote on Palestinian bid would strengthen Israeli right-wing," The Times of Israel, 20 Dec. 2014)

Aaron Klein, observing that the US administration has stirred up an unprecedented crisis in US-Israeli relations, asks why? The answer is fraught with policy implications that cut to the very heart of Obama's dangerously myopic, academic view of the world and America's place among friend and foe.

Bibi's stubborn refusal to accept the idea of a sweeping, final deal with Iran that many experts believe will leave the mullahs perpetually within months of a nuclear weapon, upsets the White House.

The administration also openly blames him for the collapse of the 'peace' talks, because he approved building Jewish homes in sections of Jerusalem that will…remain under Israeli sovereignty in any future deal, as well as his insisting that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state…

Bibi's 'peace' gestures are ignored while Abbas' violations are ignored. Bibi halted Jewish construction in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, and released terrorists. Abbas walked out on the talks, seeks unilateral UN recognition, fosters daily anti-Israel, anti-Jewish incitement in official Palestinian Authority [PA] media, calls murderers of Jews heroes and martyrs, and is still partners with Hamas in a 'unity' government.

A recent poll shows an increase of Israelis who do not trust Obama. They see Iran as their single greatest existential threat and…react positively to Netanyahu's tough stance against the US-led negotiations. And remarkably, [Bibi] has the quiet support of the Egyptian and Saudi governments for his regional policies. ("Is Obama secretly working to replace [Bibi]?" A. Klein, JP Op-ed, 11 Dec. 2014)

'Peace'? Does it mean what you think it means?

Daniel Greenfield notes that a Canadian Muslim told a co-worker, There can't be world peace until there's only Muslims, before he started shooting near Canada's parliament. And Arab Muslims in Jerusalem told a reporter that to them, peace means no Jews.

Greenfield: When negotiating peace with other cultures it's a good idea to make sure the words you are using mean the same thing…Ideas carry heavy cultural baggage. 'Peace' in the West contains the idea that it is preferable to war. Yet this concept is not Islamic, as jihad/holy war is part of its very essence. When war is religion then peace through setting aside war is heresy…

Islamic peace means unity through Islam by eradicating all that is not Islam. As Mohammed wrote to non-Muslim leaders, convert to Islam and you'll have peace… If not, you get jihad.

Islam rejects the idea that mutual empathy should transcend conflict. Instead it believes that war should transcend humanity. Or as the Koran puts it, Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you…Allah knows; you know not…

The danger is that the West and Islam lack common ideas. Both sides may say 'peace', but for one side peace really means war.

Language is made up of words and values. It is not enough to bring a dictionary to a negotiation if the two parties are reading from different moral and ethical traditions…The West sees peace as living…with Muslims. Muslims see peace as the end of the West. ("Peace with Islam…," D. Greenfield, FrontPage Mag, 27 Nov. 2014)

Khaled Abu Toameh writes that the recent spike in terrorism in Israel is no surprise, considering the PA's ongoing incitement campaign, which escalated after Kerry's peace negotiations failed. He bears much of the blame, failing to understand that Abbas does not have a mandate from his people to negotiate, let alone sign, any agreement with Israel…

Once the talks collapsed, instead of telling his people peace requires painful concessions, Abbas incited them against Israel, using both the media and fiery rhetoric, saying Israel is not interested in peace, and Israel's goal is 'ethnic cleansing' of the Palestinians. Abbas and Hamas have so radicalized their people that it's absurd even to talk about any peace process with Israel.

Abbas refused to condemn the recent terror attacks, instead praising the perpetrators as heroes and martyrs… In fact, not one PA official denounced these heroic operations such as the stabbing murder of a 26-year-old woman or ramming a car into a three-month-old infant. ("Why Abbas Will Not Condemn Terror Attacks," Khaled Abu Toameh, Gatestone Institute, 12 Nov. 2014)

For Abbas' PLO faction Fatah's 50^th anniversary, Arab rallies were held in Judea & Samaria. Related online social media was rife with expressions of hatred toward Jews. One photo on al-Asifah's (Fatah's military wing) official website was especially gruesome. It depicted dozens of skulls bearing blue Stars of David, positioned against a scene of destruction. A rifle and the al-Asifah flag were featured in the middle…with the caption, We rest on your skulls. This image, a clear portrayal of a 2^nd Jewish Holocaust, brings incitement and hatred to a new level, as it calls for the Jewish people's genocide. ("Fighting Palestinian incitement," Dr. Edy Cohen, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 6 Jan. 2015)

A Palestinian State? On God's land?

International Law Professor, Louis René Beres, wrote about the hypocrisy of the West's obsession with the creation of 'Palestine'. There can also be no justification, ethical, legal, or geopolitical, for waging war against ISIS jihadis in Syria and Iraq, while simultaneously urging statehood for the Hamas/PA jihadis…

He notes that the 'Two-State Solution' is based on numerous errors. For one, it accepts the false Arab narrative of an Israeli 'occupation'. The PLO, birthed in 1964, three years before Israel took over the 'occupied territories', aimed to 'liberate' all of pre-'67 Israel - borders now seen as the starting point for peace negotiations, yet borders called by both US and Israel military experts, the Auschwitz borders.

Beres exposes that the Palestinians' goal is something very different from an end to occupation. Both Fatah and Hamas, in their charters, daily declarations, non-stop incitement to murder, official maps… include all of Israel as a part of Palestine.

And why should Judea and Samaria be called 'occupied' when in 1922, the US Congress unanimously endorsed the [League of Nations'] Mandate for Palestine, confirming the irrevocable right of Jews to settle anywhere between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

A continuous chain of Jewish possession of the land was legally recognized after WW I at the San Remo Peace Conference in April 1920…Great Britain was given mandatory authority over Palestine, based on the expectation that Britain would…prepare the area to become the national home for the Jewish People, according to the internationally affirmed Balfour Declaration. Yet in '22, Britain, unilaterally, and without lawful authority, cut off 78% of the land, all which lay east of the Jordan River, creating Transjordan (renamed 'Jordan', Apr. '49). This new Arab entity was forbidden to all Jews, a betrayal of 'Balfour', and a breach of Britain's core Mandatory obligations

In 1947, the newly formed UN…enacted a second partition, of the land promised to Jews west of the Jordan River. Jewish leaders reluctantly accepted…Arab states did not, with the Arab League's Secretary General promising the day after Israel's birth, a war of extermination, a momentous massacre. This unambiguously genocidal declaration has been at the very heart of all subsequent Arab, Muslim, and PA actions against Israel.

The 'spoils' of the 1967 Six Day War gave Israel control over Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Israel offered it all back - except for Jerusalem - for real peace, but at the Khartoum summit (Aug. '67), Arab states said: No peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with it.

Thus the 'Two-State Solution' is based on ignorance - legal, historical and conceptual - of Israel and Palestine… ("Palestinian Statehood?" L. R. Beres, Gatestone Institute, 22 Oct. 2014)

Daniel Gordis wrote that, Every now and then, something as simple as a tweet is cause for reminder that, in life in general, but in this region in particular, context and history matter…The tweet was simple: When the world supports Palestine state recognition, it is also supporting Israel on 78% of the land between the River & the Sea.

But recognition of 'Palestine' by the nations is an act hostile to Israel, as PA leaders do not recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and refuse to do so. They also insist on their 'refugees' returning to inside the '67 borders, which would destroy Israel as a Jewish state… So Gordis says that when European capitals recognize a state that both does not exist and at the same time seeks to destroy Israel as a Jewish state, he is troubled.

Yet now he's supposed to feel better, because this recognition of Palestine is actually supporting Israel on 78% of the land… But Gordis says the UN's 1947 partition plan, to create yet a 2^nd Arab country on land Balfour had intended for the Jews, left them with less than one-eighth of what they had been promised by Balfour just 30 years earlier. Because of two defensive wars, in '48 and '67, Israel gained some of the territory promised it. Yet today nations are still wanting Israel to divide 'God's land' (Lev. 25:23). ("Tweets, content & history," D. Gordis, JP Op-ed, 25 Dec. 2014)

Israeli UN ambassador Ron Prosor blasted EU governments who recognized a state of Palestine thus giving them exactly what they want, statehood without peace, and removing any incentive for them to negotiate or compromise or renounce violence. ("Israel's UN Ambassador: Europe Has Failed us Again," Arutz 7, 25 Nov. 2014)

These deceived nations think this will help facilitate renewed negotiations and strengthen the positions of moderates. Yet all PA recent diplomatic statements insist on formal recognition of Palestine, without negotiating with Israel at all.

Also, PA statements show no trace of moderation. Abbas' advisor and Fatah Central Committee member Al-Einen recently said, Blessed be your quality weapons, the wheels of your cars, axes and kitchen knives…We are soldiers of Allah. Another Fatah official on PA TV, said, Jerusalem needs blood in order to purify itself of Jews.

Why does the EU come across as being so anti-Israel? After WWII it was rebuilt for globalism, with the idea that the nation state and national identity are the source of all evil. Israel is a nation state [with] a strong national identity, so Israel is 'evil'.

Europe was also rebuilt under the guilt of the Holocaust. By supporting the 'Palestinians', they can pretend Israeli Jews are just as criminal as Europeans were at the time of Nazism. The old saying that Europeans will never forgive the Jews for Auschwitz remains true… ("Obama's Legacy (and Europe's)," Guy Milliere, Gatestone Institute, 23 Nov. 2014)

UNSC Resolution demanding a 'Palestine'

…and an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-67 lines by 2017, as well as setting a 12-month deadline for wrapping up negotiations on a final settlement, was defeated for the moment. Yet it is part of what Shlomo Cesana describes as a diplomacy assault against Israel. His list of recent acts include those mentioned, plus this UNSC resolution, and a PA application for membership to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to prosecute and punish Israel for war crimes against civilian[s]…

Israel's requirements for peace include Palestinian rejection of the right of return of their 'refugees', agreeing to a demilitarized state, and declaring the conflict over. Refusing them all, the PA is working in the international arena to obtain a state, on their terms: No concessions… ("Israel under diplomatic assault," S. Cesana, Israel Hayom, 19 Dec. 2014)

While Israel scuttled the PA's UN resolution, there was no joy in Jerusalem. As 2015 begins, it is obvious the Palestinians are galloping at full speed on a collision course with Israel. There has been escalation, and they have been unwilling to engage in dialogue. As Abbas tries to shift the arena from the negotiating room to internationalization of the conflict, Israel refuses to have the Palestinian position, which tramples on Israel's security principles, forced upon it. The question is will the US and EU adopt the Palestinian view that the time for talks is over and the time for an imposed solution has begun? ("The diplomatic 'tsunami'… averted, for now," S. Cesana, Israel Hayom, 2 Jan. 2015) This all lines up with what God says about the last days - when all nations come against His city and His land (Zech. 12:2-9).

UN = Nations united against Israel

Israeli UN ambassador Prosor sees the UN as a total failure, as one of its main goals was to prevent the reoccurrence of Nazi crimes, yet today it has become an international arena for Arab criminal bullying… Arab and Muslim nations unite, creating a 120-state-strong anti-Israel diplomatic cartel.

Prosor says that of 193 UN nations, only 87 are democracies, resulting in dictatorial and oppressive regimes manipulating the UN's democratic processes, while suppressing any spark of democracy within their borders. Thus the UN has become a theater of the absurd… ("The UN's theater of the absurd," R. Prosor, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 30 Nov. 2014)

UN 'watchdog' Anne Bayefsky notes that in 2014, a minimum of 75,000 people were butchered in Syria. There were violent crackdowns in Hong Kong, bloody take-overs in Ukraine, subjugation of women in Saudi Arabia, brutal lawlessness in Yemen, Libya, Nigeria, Mexico - and so on. Yet the UNGA adopted 20 times more resolutions condemning… Israel for violating human rights than any other nation on earth. ("UN marks Human Rights Day by promoting violation of human rights," A. Bayefsky, FoxNews.com, 10 Dec. 2014)

Prophetic foreshadows

Dr. Kobi Michael says the chaotic fruit of the 'Arab Spring' has shaped a new geostrategic reality in the ME and beyond. The disintegration of the regional order and the disconcerting rise in the power of non-state actors in the area in the shape of radical terrorist groups that seek to form a new world order based on Islamic law, are a wake-up call… The free world must find strength and courage to act and to resist political correctness, so as to truly discern between right and wrong and between what is humane and what is barbaric… ("Qatar: A wake-up call for the West," Dr. K. Michael, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 4 Sept. 2014)

Gog & Magog alert #1: Russia has committed to build Iran two more nuclear reactors, with possibly six more later. ("Russia to build more nuclear reactors in Iran," Israel Hayom, 12 Nov. 2014)

#2: Russian President Putin must be upset that Israel proposed to EU countries to invest in a multi-billion euro pipeline to carry its natural gas to the continent, thus reducing Europe's current dependence on natural gas from Russia. ("Israel pitches 'massive' natural gas pipeline plan to Europe," Times of Israel, 20 Nov. 2014)

#3 Despite disastrous economic effects of sanctions, inflation and the rapidly dropping price of oil, Iranian President Rouhani's new national budget includes a sharp rise in military spending. ("Iranian president increases defense budget…," ICEJ News, 8 Dec. 2014)

Israel Today wrote, It looked like a chilling scene from a Last Days, anti-Christ-takes-over-the-world disaster movie. Hundreds of Muslims take over America's most notable church, prostrate on their prayer rugs as their unified chant echoes out in full volume: There is only one god, he begets not and I bear witness that Muhammad is His only servant and Apostle. Friday, Nov. 14^th, was when this took place as America's iconic National Cathedral in Washington invited Muslim clerics to lead an Islamic prayer service. Other chants were, God has no son; Jesus Christ cannot be his son; There is no god like Allah.

The organizers goal was to promote interfaith dialogue, and to allay fears of Muslims as extremists and reinforce tolerance among faiths. So how does hosting Islamic chants renouncing Yeshua as Messiah contribute to this? ("Muslims Chant to Remove Jesus at Washington's Nat'l Cathedral," Israel Today, 20 Nov. 2014)

On Nov. 18^th, the general synod of the Church of England also invited a UK Muslim to speak. This sort of event has occurred for years, particularly within the interfaith dialogue industry… What is really disturbing is that the first non-Christian to address the Church of England synod can be linked to extreme Islamist networks. ("The Church of England Chooses Extremist Islam," Samuel Westrop, Gatestone Institute, 14 Nov. 2014)

Merry Palestinian Martyr-mas

In what is now a PA 'Christmas tradition', Abbas and other senior figures claimed Jesus as their own. On Dec. 22^nd, Abbas told the official PA paper, We celebrate the birth of Jesus, a Palestinian messenger of love, justice and peace. Making this same claim last year, Israel's Foreign Ministry rebuked him, adding, we forgive him because he knows not what he does.

PA's Supreme Sharia Judge Al-Habbash, added, Christmas is also a Palestinian holiday, because Jesus…was born in Palestine; lived and was sent (as a prophet) to Palestine. The PA's Security Forces Facebook page called Christmas the anniversary of love and peace, the birthday of Jesus the Palestinian.

Meanwhile, the anti-Messianic Jewish Israeli news service Arutz 7 defended Yeshua's kosher credentials, saying these PA lies fly in the face of historical fact… Christianity defines Jesus as a Jewish resident of Judea, and only hundreds of years after Jesus' death did Rome change Judea's name to 'Palestina'. ("PA Co-opts Jesus the 'Palestinian Messiah & Martyr'," Arutz 7, 29 Dec. 2014)

Are we really ready for Messiah's return?

When these things begin to happen, then…lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.

Luke 21:28

• Is our walk with God based on His Word, or experiences? We treasure all the experiences He wants to share with us and receive all of them, but first we must test them by His Word as His Word commands, and not, as many seem to do today, judge His Word by our experiences. God's Word gives total preeminence to His Word!

  His word is faithful and true because He is the faithful and true God. …You have magnified Your Word above [lit: upon] all Your name. (Ps. 138:2b) 'Name' means 'essential nature' in Hebraic thinking. The Psalmist is saying that God's nature is the foundation of His Word.

  As He is eternal, so is His Word. It does not change with winds of doctrine. Forever, O YHWH, Your Word is settled in the heavens. (Ps. 119:89; see Is. 40:8; Mal. 3:6)

  He is the True Light (1 Jn. 2:8), and by His Word we see light (Ps. 36:9). We should only judge through this light. Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)

  His Word includes the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:16-17, cp. Rm. 15:4; Is. 8:20). When we truly see that the Tanach is also God's Word today we close the door against much deception.

• Is Yeshua the focus of our faith? Lance Lambert reminds us that all real revivals have been the result of a fresh revelation of Yeshua, and that Yeshua is the 'center and circumference' of true biblical faith. Yet some involved with Israel shift Him to the side, focusing on God the Father. The Father does receive all the glory - through glorifying His Son. Reread the gospels. Note how often Yeshua makes Himself central. Come unto Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mt. 11:28); All authority is given to Me in heaven and in earth. (Mt. 28:18; etc.)

  And what is the Holy Spirit's goal in our lives? When He, the Spirit of Truth, comes…He will glorify Me, for He will receive of Mine and will show it to you. (Jn. 16:13-14)

  Therefore, …let us run with patience the race set before us, looking to Yeshua the Author and Perfector of our faith… (Heb. 12:1b-2a; cp. 1 Jn. 5:4-5)

• Is our future outlook realistic? Billy Graham once said that he lives as if Jesus will return tomorrow - yet he plans as if he has another 100 years. Still, our plans need to be more about how to glorify Him than how to be comfortable. Are we investing in His kingdom - time, prayers effort, finances? Therefore… whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31)

• Do we know our place in Messiah's Body? If someone is not in his assigned place, the Body operates less effectively. If I've been assigned a place on Jerusalem's walls as a watchman, and I'm doing something else, I leave a gap for the enemy. If you don't know your place, ask Him. One reason you are saved is to fulfill His will - for you. For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, in which God has ordained that we should walk. (Eph. 2:10; cp. Jn. 15:16)

Chuck & Karen Cohen