The Most Important Things: Have Many Christians Forgotten Them?

When I created my Word Press site a few years ago, the Lord impressed upon my heart that the front page – the page where readers would land if they came to my site – should be about Salvation.  What is more important than showing a lost person how to be saved?

Is that not why we believers are still here?  I think that it is.

Last words of our Lord

 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”  (Matthew 28:19-20).

Biting and devouring 

The timing of the Rapture has taken precedence over sharing the Gospel with others. This article is in no way meant to debate Rapture timing. It is about our priorities in the Lord. It is about our hearts.

I wonder about the millions of Christians who have been martyred for Christ throughout the ages.  They were persecuted before they were killed.  I doubt that they fought with other believers over when Jesus would come in the clouds and rapture them.  I believe that these people wondered when they would be slaughtered, and they prayed that they would be strong and not deny their Lord before they were killed.

This is not something that American Christians have had to consider – NOT YET.

Persecuted Christians have more faith

I remember when I was a baby Christian in the 1980’s, and I would read about Christians who had to go underground to secretly worship Jesus. Of course, these believers were from other countries where Christianity was not tolerated by their governments.

The thing that struck me more than anything was that these persecuted Christians were praying for the Christians in America. Why?  Because they knew that with all of the distractions, and that many American believers were wealthy (comparatively speaking) that we needed to be lifted up in prayer to the Lord Jesus. They prayed that our faith would be strengthened.

We should want to be more like Jesus

I understand that we are to watch for the signs of His coming, but I believe that if Jesus were to sit among us right now, that He would focus on His teachings. Remember He said this:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).

Read the response from our Lord when asked which Commandment was greatest:

 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”   (Matthew 22:36-40).

Jesus spoke of our hearts and our love for others

The Sermon on the Mount:

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”    (Matthew 5: 1-12).

Calling out False Teachers

This is necessary and right for believers to mark and avoid those who preach a different gospel.  To some this may seem unloving, but in reality it is one of the most loving things a Christian can do for others.

 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”  (Romans 16:17-18).

We must expose these false teachers/preachers. It is the loving thing to do – especially for baby Christians who are most vulnerable to the lies and deception of the evil one.

The fighting and bickering over the Rapture timing is wood, hay and stubble

Millions have gone and will go to hell – not because they didn’t understand  the timing of the Rapture, but because no one told them to Repent and Trust the finished work of Christ on the Cross – the payment in full for their sins- and that Jesus conquered death and hell when he rose to life three days later.

No one told them that Jesus loves them, and wants to reconcile them to His Father in heaven.

Is there someone in your life whom you want so desperately to know the Lord?  That burning in your heart to share the Good News of the Gospel comes directly from God.  That is His priority.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”  (John 3:16-17).

Some may be upset with me and may say that I am downplaying Bible prophecy and our need to be watching.  That is not at all what I am attempting to say in this article.

I believe that we need to get our priorities in order.  Saving lost souls is what sent the Lord Jesus to the Cross.  His love for us caused Him to die that excruciating death on the Cross because He knew that He would rise again; and He knew that this was the only way to have our sin debt paid.

Nothing needs to happen before the Rapture of the Church

This is clear in Bible prophecy.  He can come at any time. Isn’t it better to be ready at every moment, and be looking for Him daily to come and get us? When I lay my head on my pillow each night, I think to myself that He could come during the night and we would be with Him in heaven!  But as I lay there, all the people I know who are unsaved will be heavy on my heart and I will pray for them to know Him.

Pastor J.D Farag

Pastor J.D. is one of the best known Bible prophecy teachers.  I have watched him for years. But have you noticed that he ALWAYS ends his sermon with the ABC’s of Salvation? He knows that the Salvation message is of utmost importance when thousands tune in to watch his updates.  This always warms my heart.

Brethren, I too want the Lord to come soon for His people.  But the real heaviness comes over me when I think about those who are bound for hell if they do not submit to our Lord.

Pray for them without ceasing!

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA!

Grandmageri422@gmail.com

 

Israeli “Druze” Officers Gave Their Lives For the ‘Love Of the People’

There is a certain group of people of which very little is known. But in light of the recent terror attack on the Temple Mount, which took the lives of two Israel Police officers, I believe that it is time for the Jewish people to recognize and give thanks to the Druze people.

They are well known in Israel, but not so much in the rest of the world. There are many Druze soldiers in the IDF. They passionately love the nation of Israel.

From timesofisrael.com

‘Their pain is our pain, their grief is our grief,’ says Roni Alsheich

Families, friends mourn ‘beloved’ officers killed in Temple Mount attack

Haiel Sitawe, 30, was not supposed to be on patrol Friday, filled in for friend, police chief reveals at funeral; thousands attend funeral for Kamil Shnaan, 22, son of former Labor MKsraeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan speaks at the funeral of Israeli Druze police officer Kamil Shnaan in the northern village of Hurfeish, July 14, 2017. (Basel Awidat/Flash90). Inset: Master Sgt. Shnaan, left, and Master Sgt. Haeil Sitawe, right, the police officers killed in the terror attack next to the Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem on July 14, 2017. (Israel Police)

The two Israeli Druze police officers killed in a shooting attack at the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem were laid to rest in separate funerals in their respective northern villages on Friday evening.

Haiel Sitawe, 30 was buried in the town of Maghar, a mostly Druze and Arab city in northern Israel, Friday afternoon. Sergeant Master Kamil Shnaan, 22, was laid to rest in the Druze village of Hurfeish, also in northern Israel.

Sitawe joined the Border Police as part of his mandatory national service. He joined the Israel Police in 2012 and had served in the unit responsible for securing the Temple Mount ever since. He leaves behind a wife, Irin, a three-week-old son, his parents and three brothers.

Shnaan joined the police directly after high school. He decided to stay on the police force seven months ago, signing on as a career officer. He was the youngest son of a former Labor Party Knesset member, Shachiv Shnaan. His engagement party to his girlfriend was to be held next week.

Shnaan leaves behind his parents, one brother and three sisters.

Speaking at Sitawe’s funeral, Police Chief Roni Alsheich hailed the officer as “beloved” among his peers.

“Today you went out as head of a patrol, you weren’t even supposed to be this patrol where you found your death but a friend asked for your help and you immediately responded. This is who you were — a true friend…” he said.

“Your friends cannot process the fact that you are no longer alive…. Members of the family, they don’t have the words to describe the pain. Their pain is our pain, their grief is our grief… We embrace you and promise you that you will never walk alone,” he said to the families.

Family and friends carry the coffin of Israeli Druze police officer Haiel Sitawe, 30, during his funeral in the northern village of Maghar, July 14, 2017. Haiel Sitawe and Kamil Shnaan where killed early on Friday in a shooting attack near the Temple Mount complex in the Old City of Jerusalem. (Basel Awidat/Flash90)

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan also spoke at the funeral, saying of Sitawe that in his courageous actions, he saved many lives.

At Shnaan’s funeral later in the afternoon, his father told media he raised his son to “love the country, love the life, love the people.”

He said his son’s death marked a “moment where we thank God for everything he has given us, 22 years.” After a brief pause marked by grief, he said his son was no longer with us and “pray that he is the last victim [of terror] and that people understand that enough is enough.”

Thousands attended the procession.

Alsheich, who also spoke at Shnaan’s funeral, said he too was “loved by everyone,” adding that the two “died defending Jerusalem.”

The police chief said “great grief has descended…on the State of Israel.”

The attack in which Sitawe and Shnaan were killed began just after 7:00 a.m. Friday morning when three Israeli-Arab terrorists opened fire at the paid of officers in an alleyway outside the Temple Mount complex.

The two were critically injured in the attack, later succumbing to their wounds.- source

A personal story 

When I was a very young woman, living in Washington, D.C., I met a young man who was from Lebanon. We became friends, but during the time we knew one another, I always wondered why he and his brother spoke fondly of my people. They both knew that I was from a Jewish home, and I sensed a love for my people from both of them.

I would ask them why they were not hostile towards me. They would just smile and say that they supported my people. They told me that they were Druze. I had never heard of this religion and they were not willing to talk about it.  They did tell me that it was a very secretive religion. When I moved away from the city, I lost touch with my friend.

A few years ago, I looked up “Druze” online to find out what I could about this secretive religion. I found that they were a sect of Islam, but that they loved the Jewish people. I found out that many enlisted in the IDF.

At last I knew why my friend felt such warmth towards me and my people. I think that one of the main reasons why they were so secretive is because most of the Islamic world probably hates them for loving the Jewish people.

When I read the story of the two Israeli Druze police officers, I wept. These people hold a special place in my heart – forever.

Pray for their families during this incredibly sad time for them. Pray that many will meet Yeshua and will be saved.

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA

Grandmageri422@gmail.com

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