Have you ever imagined yourself standing at Mount Sinai among the Israelites and suddenly you hear a voice booming from within the cloud? This voice, although it was heard by all Israel at one time, also seemed as if it was speaking directly into the heart of each individual standing around the mountain. What a powerful moment that must have been! As I write these words today, it is my hope that you will not just read the words I am writing, but that you will hear the voice of the one who spoke them so long ago on that mountain.

One of the things that the people heard G-D’s voice say was, “Remember Yom Shabbat, to keep it holy.” Before you say to yourself, “Here comes another legalistic teaching on how I should be observing the Sabbath,” then go read something else, please read a little further because I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

Ever since I was a small child and first heard the words “Remember the Sabbath day,” I wondered why this commandment was worded so differently than the other commandments that were spoken that day. The other commandments were written: “Don’t do this, don’t do that,” or “You shall not do this, you shall not do that.” But the fourth commandment started with the word “remember.”

This didn’t seem to make sense to me. After all, we might forget a birthday or anniversary that comes once a week. But how do you forget one of the days of the week? I mean, even on the Greco-Roman calendar used the world over, Saturday is still shown as the seventh day. How would Israel forget a day of the week?

The use of the word “remember,” which on the surface was a reminder for us to remember the seventh day of the week (which we, as believers, should do), carried with it a much more meaningful message to the children of Israel and, by extension, to us today. Remember, the Sabbath day is much more than taking a day off. It is about remembering.

You may ask, “What is it that we are supposed to remember?” Well, what if I told you that what we are to remember on the Sabbath day is something that G-D forgot? For me to explain what I mean, we need to look at the book of Exodus. Here, we find the children of Israel gathered around the mountain where they hear the words of Torah. After they hear the words, Moses is invited by G-D to go up the mountain and receive the tablets of testimony. The last thing that happens before Moses comes down from the mountain is found in Exodus 31:12-13 (TLV):

“Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying, ‘Speak now to Bnei-Yisrael saying, “Surely you must keep My Shabbatot, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so you may know that I am Adonai who sanctifies you.”‘”

The commandment to keep the Sabbath was spoken by G-D to Moses just before Moses was given the tablets of stone. Right after hearing the closing words that we read in Chapter 31, we turn the page and begin to read about the golden calf in Chapter 32, which all would agree was an extremely low point in the history of Israel. Because Moses didn’t return from the mountain when they expected him to, the people made an idol and fell into idolatry at the foot of the mountain.

We can all agree that this was a horrible sin, and if we were comparing sins (which we should not do), none of us has made a golden calf while we could visibly see the very presence of G-D. As we continue to read, we find Moses pleading for G-D to forgive Israel in Exodus 33 and the giving of the second tablets of stone in Exodus 34. It is at this point in the narrative that people talk about G-D’s mercy and forgiveness and His willingness to renew His covenant with Israel, which is all true. However, if you stop reading the narrative of the golden calf at the end of Exodus 34, you will miss the fullness of the message of G-D’s forgiveness, which we find in Exodus 35.

Chapter 34 ends with a renewed covenant between G-D and His people Israel, and it is absolutely a testimony to G-D’s grace and mercy that He renewed or reestablished His covenant with Israel in Exodus 34. However, G-D didn’t then, nor does He today, simply renew His covenant with us when we repent from our sinful actions. G-D doesn’t simply look at us and just say, “Let’s start over.” There is more to it than that.

It is only when we continue reading into Exodus 35 that we can understand what really took place between G-D and Israel.

“Then Moses assembled all the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael and said to them, ‘These are the words which Adonai has commanded you to do. Work is to be done for six days, but the seventh day is a holy day for you, a Shabbat of complete rest to Adonai'” (Ex. 35:1-2a).

Did you catch it? Exodus 35 begins where Exodus 31 ended. Basically, G-D brought Israel back to the place they were before Exodus 32, before the golden calf had ever been made and before they fell into idolatry. Not only did G-D re-enter the covenant with Israel, He didn’t just forgive their sin; He restored them as if they had never sinned.

I believe that this is why we are to remember the Sabbath day. We are not commanded only to keep the Sabbath day. Keeping involves separating the day from the other six days. Keeping involves abstaining from ordinary work. Keeping involves having a holy convocation or gathering. We are not commanded to just keep the Sabbath day; we are to remember it. I believe what we are supposed to remember is that not only did G-D rest on the Sabbath after creation, but we are to remember that when He forgave Israel for making the golden calf, He forgave them so completely that He restored them to a pre-sin condition.

When we remember the Sabbath today as believers in Yeshua, we do it for the same reason. When G-D renews His covenant with us and forgives us, He forgives us so completely that we stand before Him in pre-sin condition. Remember what it says in Exodus 31:13:

“Speak now to Bnei-Yisrael saying, ‘Surely you must keep My Shabbatot, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so you may know that I am Adonai who sanctifies you.'”

The Sabbath is a sign that G-D has sanctified us. Sabbath is a reminder of G-D’s complete forgiveness, which includes His forgetting completely. {eoa}

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Former President Donald Trump was the top pick for the 2024 GOP Presidential nomination straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this weekend.

Trump won 59 percent of the ballots cast in the anonymous survey, based on results announced by CPAC Sunday afternoon.

Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich tweeted that the former president, “continues to grow the conservative MAGA movement, which includes growing his political dominance.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) was runner-up with 28 percent of the vote and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo finished in third place with just 2 percent.

During his speech, Trump argued that President Biden is to blame for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that if he was still president, Vladimir Putin would not have invaded his neighbor.

The former president also slammed Biden for the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and other international conflicts.

“China is threatening Taiwan. Russia is decimating Ukraine. Iran is on the cusp of a nuclear bomb,” Trump said. “Joe Biden has turned calm into chaos, competence into incompetence, stability into anarchy, and security into catastrophe. The Russian attack on Ukraine is appalling. It is an outrage and catastrophe that should never have been allowed to occur. It never would have occurred,” he asserted.

This year’s CPAC attendees said they support Trump, but also showed interest in DeSantis. The governor has become widely popular in recent years for his strong resistance to COVID masking and vaccine rules implemented by the government.

For the rest of this article, visit our content partners at . {eoa}

Canada is leaving the Western world.

In terms of all-encompassing government, suppression of dissent and the denial of fundamental human rights to many of its citizens, Canada is now more similar to Cuba than to any free country. Canada may eventually return to Western civilization, but as of this writing, the majority of Canadians appear to have no interest in it doing so.

According to Maru Public Opinion, “two-thirds (66%) of Canadians support Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bringing in the Emergencies Act … A majority (56%) of Canadians do not support the truckers who are protesting in any way, shape, or form … This is a majority view held in every province/region across the country.”

I suspect that most Americans—and certainly most people outside of America or Canada—do not know precisely what Canada’s Marxist prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is doing to his country.

So, allow me to review.

Last week, for only the second time in Canadian history other than wartime—the first time was under Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau, the other Marxist to govern Canada—Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act. This statute enables a Canadian prime minister to suspend fundamental human rights and rule as a dictator.

The CBC described in detail how Trudeau is using the Emergencies Act to destroy the lives of Canadian dissidents. This should be read carefully. Such policies have never been enacted by a Western country against its own citizens (with the extremely rare exceptions of those actively engaged in terrorism):

“Using powers granted under the Emergencies Act, the federal government has directed banks and other financial institutions to stop doing business with people associated with the anti-vaccine mandate convoy occupying the nation’s capital.

“The government’s new directive, called the ’emergency economic measures order,’ goes beyond asking banks to simply stop transferring funds to protest organizers. The government wants banks to stop doing business with some people altogether.

“The order says that banks and other financial entities (like credit unions, co-ops, loan companies, trusts and cryptocurrency platforms) must stop ‘providing any financial or related services’ to people associated with the protests—a move that will result in frozen accounts, stranded money and cancelled credit cards.

“The Emergencies Act gives authorities the power to freeze the finances of those connected to blockades and protests, and the consequences could last long after the demonstrations end…

“The regulation’s definition of a ‘designated person’ also includes … anyone sending funds to support these protests …

“Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP who specializes in non-profit and charity law. In an interview, he said that while the Emergencies Act gives banks time-limited powers, these institutions ‘may just decide to shut the person’s account down’ because there could be ‘huge risks’ for banks servicing these customers in the future. Banks will be working with law enforcement to decide who should be ‘de-banked.’

“A senior government official said … police could gather the names and license plate numbers of people participating in a protest or an unlawful assembly and share that information with FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) …

“Former CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) senior strategic analyst Jessica Davis (said) ‘the people who are participating in the protest aren’t going to be able to do things like pay bills, pay their hotel bills. They will eventually run out of supplies as well…

“With access to bank accounts and credit cards and other financial instruments suspended, protesters won’t be able to pay for things like hotel and fuel bills…

“Over the longer term, Davis said, it may be hard for some of the truckers participating to ever find work again because they could lack the necessary insurance to operate a big rig. ‘Paying bills, paying rent and any kind of day-to-day financial transaction can be stopped for people who are part of the protest movement,’ she said. There may also be some ‘unintended consequences’ from frozen accounts, such as suspended alimony and child support payments, Davis said. ‘It’s going to be very difficult for them.’

“Banks have been granted immunity against legal action in the event of disputes over whether someone should have been denied financial services. ‘No proceedings under the Emergencies Act and no civil proceedings lie against an entity for complying with this Order,’ the regulations read.”

None of these life-ruining, due-process defying measures is necessary. The truckers’ demonstrations could have been ended by arresting drivers who would not move their trucks or simply just towing their trucks. The purpose of these regulations is to destroy dissenters and deter future dissent. In a word, it is to ruin the lives of those who disobey Justin Trudeau.

As one who has followed Canadian life over the decades—I have lectured in nine of Canada’s 10 provinces—the moral descent of Canada is depressing but not especially surprising. Since I was in college in the 1970s, I traveled abroad every year of my life except in 2020—to some 130 countries. I not only took interest in the countries I visited but in the tourists who visited them. I recall well that when I was young, many young Canadians stitched a Canadian flag onto their backpacks. As almost no tourists from other nations did that, I asked Canadians why they did. Their reason was to identify themselves as Canadian rather than as American.

I am not the first observer of Canadians to note that a major part of Canadian identity—especially among Canadian elites—is being a not-American. Many Canadians were and remain first and foremost not-Americans. Other than that, not much defines Canadians. And when a nation stands essentially for nothing, bad things eventually happen—because nothingness is eventually filled or replaced by bad.

On my radio show, I once asked the late Charles Krauthammer, one of the most insightful commentators of this era, what he saw as the greatest difference between his native Canada and his adopted country, the United States. Without hesitation, he said that in America, the national motto is “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” and in Canada it is “Peace, Order, and Good Government.”

The first inspires a nation. The second doesn’t.

Upon the death of Fidel Castro, Justin Trudeau gave the most positive assessment of the Cuban tyrant of any Western leader. It is worth quoting in full because it demonstrates Trudeau’s affection for communism and because Trudeau is transforming Canada into Cuba:

“It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba’s longest-serving President. Fidel Castro was a larger-than-life leader who served his people for almost half a century. A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation.

“While a controversial figure, both Mr. Castro’s supporters and detractors recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for ‘el Comandante.’

“I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away. It was also a real honor to meet his three sons and his brother, President Raul Castro, during my recent visit to Cuba.

“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and many, many supporters of Mr. Castro. We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader.”

There does remain one major difference between Canada and Cuba. Few Cubans support their Marxist leaders, but most Canadians support theirs. They don’t know what they’re in for. {eoa}

For the original article, visit .

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I had the privilege of meeting two members of the Ukrainian Parliament while I was working in Washington, D.C. Tommye and I entertained them in our apartment for two hours. They contacted me specifically because I was known as a pastor who worked to advance Christianity in government, and they were both Christians.

I will never forget the tenderness of their hearts nor the steel in their spines to advance a righteous agenda in their country, known for its graft and corruption. I can only wonder what they are doing today with Russian tanks rumbling through their country and missiles raining down on their loved ones.

What we see unfolding in the Ukraine may be the beginning of the final chapter of humanity. This is a time when all of God’s children should fall on their faces and cry out to a holy God, repenting for our willful rebellion of His laws and ways.

God has a prophetic time clock, or as I like to think of it, a prophetic combination lock with three rows of tumblers. The unique thing about a combination lock is that even when all three roles of tumblers are aligned, it still appears to be secure—until the owner applies the slightest touch to the heavy part of the lock, and suddenly it reveals all that has been locked away.

Equally unique is the security of the lock when two tumblers are aligned and the third is only one digit from being aligned. It remains as secure as when all three are disarrayed. Everything must be in place for the lock to be released and, today, it appears everything continues as it always has, but for the discerning we know that the end is near.

Tumbler No. 1 has to do with the state of the church when Jesus returns. The Scripture speaks of a huge falling way and a general lukewarmness spoken of in Revelation 3. Clearly, we are there as wokeness seems to be choking out the life of the church as pastors are increasingly embracing a false theology.

Tumbler No. 2 has to do with the nation of Israel. In my lifetime, we have gone from no Israel and over 6 million exterminated by a madman in Europe to Israel becoming one of the most powerful nations in the world. There is no explanation for that phenomenon apart from a holy God. Scripture says the era that sees Israel restored to her rightful place among the nations will not pass away until all things be restored.

The third tumbler has to do with the state of the nations when Jesus returns. It speaks of power to the north and power to the east. Russia and China fill that prophecy and could well be the final tumbler being aligned.

In my podcast, I address these unique moments in history and what they mean for America and the world. I strongly suggest you listen and pass it along to your friends.

Even so … come, Lord Jesus! {eoa}

Recover America exists to equip and mobilize pastors and their congregations to engage in the civil arena, providing biblical solutions to today’s most pressing issues. Recover America is a nondenominational ministry, representing all churches united in their commitment to the lordship of Christ and His call to believers from every faith persuasion to join our mission to take Jesus into the civil arena and provide biblical solutions to practical problems. We believe the Bible speaks to every area of life and that pastors are the key to a Third Great Awakening.

Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.

Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series. For Part 1, visit this link.

It’s enormously alarming when a sober business journal such as The Economist slanders a national leader by referring to him as “delusional.”

In referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the magazine goes further: Vladimir Putin “is driven by the dangerously delusional idea that he has an appointment with history.”

The comment appeared in a Feb. 26 article titled: “Where will he stop?” “He seemingly covets all of the Ukraine, just as American and British intelligence reports claimed all along!” The magazine further points out that a continued Russian thrust into the hapless agricultural country can only result in one of two undesirable outcomes:

1. NATO and its allies can step into the fray and chase the Russians back into their home territory. But, with a deluded leader like Putin, this would surely provoke a nuclear response …. leading quickly to an early Armageddon.

2. The alternative is worldwide financial and trade sanctions. This would lead to a further integration of the communist continent, Russia and China, emerging as trade partners (along with their acolyte border states) and ceasing all trade with North America.

Thus, the country with the largest land mass would essentially combine with the country having the largest number of people (combined, just under two billion). Together, their land mass represents a bit over 10 million square miles. Both figures dwarf the comparative U.S. stats.

But these numbers alone merely suggest a possible negative result for the “outside world.” Thanks to the efforts of the United Nations and other like-minded governmental agencies, the world has already become solidly integrated financially and productively through massive trade mechanisms. And, for the first time in history, the U.S. economy could be hurt badly in two ways by a blockade against the Communist coalition.

We not only have become dependent on China for strategic supplies of computer chips, for example, but Russia and China together supply large quantities of uranium and other strategic minerals/metals along with endless shiploads of cheaply produced consumer goods.

Even worse, and we can thank the Biden troops for this, our deficit spending, fueled by turning up the printing presses to full speed, has placed us in the uncomfortable spot of owing China a lot of money, which they have been lending to us at a prodigious rate. We produce paper, they produce hardware and now we are greatly in their debt.

So, here we are in a tough spot: Nuclear war or a financial disaster equal to the Great Depression.

Let’s get back to our delusional communist leader. The Economist may describe what’s going on in psychological terms, but we Christians know better. Putin has allowed a force greater than anything the world can produce to put us all in danger of annihilation (or worse).

The second obvious gambit at work here is the formation on Oct. 24, 1945, of 29 nations collectively creating the United Nations, based in the greatest economic and military power of that era. Thus was launched the satanic program for gaining control of the entire globe.

We’re there now! We are one big trade, production and economic family. It’s time for the supernatural one-world leader to step in and begin his devilish reign. You know the rest of the story.

Let’s step back for a moment to look at my Charisma editorial of , “It’s No Longer a Guessing Game; End-Times Alliances are Forming.”

The article made some predictions for a possible rapture of the church within a short time; possibly as early as 2025. This attracted some flack in personal circles, as well as some from the outside. I’m not crowing here; I’m just reporting on what seems obvious to me as I look about and read about world events and compare them to biblical accounts.

The additional confirmations of recently translated writings by the Essenes also serve to clarify matters. Check with me in about a year, if you can still afford a computer, and we’ll chat some more! {eoa}

Ron Dee Mallett studied business, journalism, economics and mass communications at Denver, Colorado (Boulder) and Stanford Universities as a Ford Fellow. An Air Force veteran and former news reporter for the Denver Post and others, he also worked 20 years as a corporate executive and consultant for IBM, ITT and other multinationals. He later served as director of Shekinah jail, prison, nursing home and Mexico outreaches based in Longmont, Colorado, and stays active in a men’s intercession ministry called the SWAT Team (Spiritual Warfare Attack Team). At age 84, he remains an active columnist for Charisma and other media outlets.

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Before starting my time with God that morning in 1977, I decided God wouldn’t mind if I finished off the cinnamon rolls staring me in the face. I grabbed the rolls and started reading in Matthew 17.

Then God’s flashlight illuminated words that went straight to my heart.

Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20, NIV).

I Have a Little Faith

I said, “God, I have a little bit of faith. I also have a mountain of flesh on my body. How can this mountain be moved?”

To put things in perspective, it was 1977 and I weighed over 200 for the first time in my life. I was headed toward 250 and I didn’t like it. Still, I loved cinnamon rolls, cookies, cakes, rich casseroles, hot rolls, chips and so much more.

Jesus didn’t answer my question in an audible voice but in the sense of knowing deep in my soul. I know the answer was straight from Him because it is not an answer I expected, had ever heard anywhere before or had ever thought about.

Stop Eating Sugar

He said, “Stop eating sugar. Eat more meats, fruits and vegetables. Stop eating so much bread.”

I said, “Nice plan, Jesus. If I could do that, I could lose weight but I can’t do that.”

I didn’t ask Him if He could help me with this plan. I didn’t tell Him I’d think about it. I didn’t decide if He was telling me to do this, He must have a reason. I simply said, “I don’t need Your advice, after all, Jesus.”

I didn’t want to give up sugar. I knew the Bible well enough to know as a Christian I am free to do whatever I want and if I want to eat sugar, then I’m going to eat sugar. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Thou shalt not eat sugar.”

The Sugar Conundrum

The conundrum I found myself in, though, was I wanted to lose weight and I knew overeating foods containing processed sugar was one of my biggest problems. Still, I didn’t want to give up those foods completely. They were too intertwined with who I was.

For the next 30 years, I tried to lose weight by finding diets that curtailed sugar and most breads and focused on protein, meat, vegetables and fruits. On those diets, I could lose weight but I never learned anything about how to change my habits.

I’d stay on the diet until I got to a goal. Then I’d celebrate by baking one of Grandma’s delicious oatmeal cakes and eating as much of it as I wanted. That always resulted in me gaining the weight back plus more.

Jesus, You’re Mean to Me!

The plan Jesus gave me felt like He was being mean to me. Why could I not eat sugar? Others could eat it and not gain an ounce. Life was not fair.

He made Himself clear and plain to me on that day; it’s a day I will never forget. It’s the day He gave me a lifestyle change plan designed especially for me, but I thumbed my nose at Him and walked away. Even by this time, eating sugar had become more important to me than following Him. I had no clue I would become more than twice the size I was then before I finally implemented His plan.

If I’d been in my right mind and thought about it logically, I would understand eating sugar was not good for me. I was gaining weight, taxing my body and setting myself up to develop diabetes, high blood pressure and many other diseases

I was denying the Holy Spirit access to all of me. I was blinded by a lie I had allowed to grow into a stronghold. I had certainly fed it often enough.

Is Overeating a Sin?

When I asked Jesus how to move my mountain of weight, it wasn’t because I was convinced it was a sin. It was because I saw my weight as an inconvenience. Plus, I wanted to look better. My reasons for losing weight were purely selfish, as were my reasons for eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it.

I’m surprised Jesus even answered such a selfish prayer. He answered, though, because He had a vested interest in what I was doing to myself. He gave me the right answer; I just didn’t realize the depth of the question I had asked.

If I had known then what would eventually happen to me, all the difficulties, missed opportunities, pain and disease I had opened the door to, maybe I would have listened to Him. Sometimes, though, the best lessons are learned through experiencing our failures and brokenness.

To get through this, I was going to have to admit my weakness and rely on real strength, the strength that only comes from God. I was going to have to stand on and understand that when I am weak in human strength, only then am I strong, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength, as it says in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (AMP). {eoa}

Teresa Shields Parker is the author of six books and two study guides, including her No. 1 bestseller, Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds. Her sixth book, Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds, is live on Amazon. She blogs at . She is also a Christian weight-loss coach (check out her coaching group at Overcomers Academy) and speaker. Don’t miss her podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, available on CPN. This article first appeared on .

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I was working part-time at a small but well-maintained nursing and rehabilitation home during my first year at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California. It was an administrative position that paid minimum wage for minimal hours and without much responsibility.

In other words, it was a gloriously low-stress job and perfectly suited for college life. My sole responsibilities were answering the phone and keeping an eye on this and only on the occasional weekend.

Regardless, I was able to interact with some of their patients and was prompted by the Holy Spirit to reach out to one elderly woman in particular. I felt compelled to invite her to consider a relationship with Jesus.

I was a very new Christian, yet I could identify the voice of God speaking to my heart and mind quite often. His loving voice came to me concerning her as a clear prompting within my heart, but an urgent one. Immediately I began to pray in my prayer language and then drove the short 15 minutes to the facility from my home.

I found her easily enough, as she typically sat facing a window in her wheelchair, always bent over in an arch and never fully able to straighten herself up. I approached her as politely as I knew how and then shared with her about the love of Jesus and the power of His forgiveness. At the same time, I mistakenly believed she was ready to receive my words and did not anticipate what happened next.

Instead of her being receptive, almost instantly an ugly stream of blasphemies and curses spilled out her mouth. She continued to make abominably vile and foul statements about Jesus until I gave up and walked out of the facility in both shock and embarrassment.

What was going on here? This usually quiet, elderly woman was not crazy, as we are so apt to label people who behave how she behaved. She was demonized, meaning she was under the control and influence of a demonic spirit.

We read about this phenomenon in the Bible many times; the most severe account being the man from the Gadarenes who was possessed with a “Legion” of demons, meaning thousands of spirits, all of which Jesus successfully cast out (see Mark 5:1–20). In much of American culture, which would also reflect much of Westernized Christian culture, we often misdiagnose or make excuses for people’s outrageously bad behavior. We say things like, “She must be crazy” or “He’s going senile,” then fail to identify the real problem.

This aged woman had a demon and that demon hated Jesus viciously.

If I had understood better, I would have attempted to cast this foul demon out of her according to Jesus’ own words: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons” (Mark 16:17). Demons are fallen angels who serve Satan, not God, and seek to afflict humanity in any way possible, which includes demonization.

Because I did not understand what I had encountered, I neglected to provide a true remedy. I also needed to know what Jesus had been anointed to do and why the Holy Spirit would come to rest upon us believers in the first place. It was certainly a learning experience; one I would never forget. {eoa}

The preceding is an excerpt from chapter 1 of Jennifer Eivaz’s latest book, Inner Healing and Deliverance.

Jennifer Eivaz is a minister and international speaker with a heart to equip the church in the supernatural and for raising up passionate and effective prayer. She is a regular contributor to Charisma Online and The Elijah List. She has been featured on several Christian television shows, hosts the popular podcast Take Ten with Jenn and authored several bestselling books. Jennifer and her husband, Ron, co-pastor Harvest Church that now meets in three locations—two campuses in Turlock, California and one campus in Ripon, California—in addition to hosting a thriving online campus.

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We believers are not punished by God. But what about God’s discipline?

In Hebrews 12, we see a description of God’s loving discipline. However, the word “scourges” appears in some translations and can really throw people off.

Now, if you don’t know what scourging is, check out Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ. You’ll see scourging in vivid detail.

Scourging was not fatherly discipline of a child. It was what Roman soldiers inflicted as punishment upon prisoners, including Jesus. They used an instrument composed of long leather straps and pieces of sharp metal at the end to beat the prisoner. The metal would gouge deeply into the prisoner’s back, ripping away skin and muscle, severely injuring or even killing him.

So, does God “scourge” His children as discipline?

Here’s the truth about this challenging passage: First, the verse includes a quote from the Old Testament, and the bit about scourging doesn’t even appear in the original verse (Prov. 3:12). Also, the Hebrew term biqqoret has a double meaning; it can be translated as “scourge” or as “inquire into.”

Interestingly, the “inquire” meaning is actually older than the “scourge” meaning, as the scourging instrument was invented much later.

Clement (AD 150 to 215) and other scholars thought the epistle to the Hebrews was originally written in Hebrew (which would make sense). The letter mirrors Hebrew poetry in some ways, and there are about 150 words in the epistle that aren’t found anywhere else in the New Testament.

This would mean a scribe translating the text to Greek chose to translate biqqoret as “scourge” instead of “inquire into.” However, given the finished work of the cross and the fact that Jesus took all the punishment for us, the “inquire into” interpretation makes a lot more sense. After all, scourging was punishment, not discipline. Jesus took our punishment in full.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5, NKJV).

Jesus was even scourged so we would never be. By His stripes (not ours!), we are healed.

God does deeply inquire into our lives because we are His children. He cares for us and wants us to experience His best—Jesus. God disciplines us in loving ways to mold us and shape us, and help us think and act in new ways. But He doesn’t scourge us!

Ephesians 6:4 says not to exasperate our children but instead to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. This tells us God’s training and instruction do not exasperate you. He invests in you for your good, so you may share in His holiness (Heb. 12:10).

You’re not a sinner in the hands of an angry God. You are a saint in the arms of a loving Father! Jesus bore all your sins so you would not have to bear them (1 Pet. 2:24). You’re saved from the wrath of God and you have peace with Him (Rom. 5:9).

When tough circumstances come your way, you need to know they are never God’s punishment. The world comes at you, but Christ is working in you. God is for you, never against you. God’s discipline is training for your future, not punishment for your past. {eoa}

Dr. Andrew Farley is a best-selling author, the Lead Pastor of The Grace Church and president of The Grace Message, which exists to proclaim the finished work of Jesus Christ and the love and grace of God with boldness and clarity. This is an exclusive adapted excerpt from his new book, The Grace Message, for Charisma. The Grace Message, from Salem Books, releases Mar. 8. Learn more about Dr. Farley at .

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In the world we live in, we are constantly consuming media that is centered around crisis and tragedy. Whether it is the pandemic, humanitarian crises or strife from our daily lives, it is easy to let yourself be consumed by negativity.

These feelings can make us feel overwhelmed, discouraged, hopeless and out of place. So, what are we to do when we are overwhelmed with these feelings?

In times when we feel completely out of place and hopeless, it is very easy to forget to ground ourselves in God’s Word and continue to stay strong in our faith.

When we experience these feelings of despair, the Bible reminds us that even in the darkest places of our lives, we are capable of growth.

A prime example of this is in the book of Esther, where we learn that she was captured, displaced and uncomfortable on her journey before coming to reign. However, her time of despair and darkness led to her coming into her destiny. Esther is the example of how out of darkness can come new hope and possibility. If she were to never go through what she went through, she would have not been in the position to save her people.

Esther’s story gives us hope. Sometimes when we go through trials and tribulations, they are not just because the world is a dark place but they are to teach us or equip us for what the future may bring. Our experiences equip us for our destiny.

Look at troubling times in your life as a prologue to your success story. And when staying focused and hopeful gets hard, turn to God. Open your Bible and pray, keep your faith. Because this could be the prologue to your success story, this could be what equips you for what your future holds.

No matter what your current struggle is, no matter how big or small, it is an opportunity to rely on God, learn from it and prepare for your future, like Esther did. Just like he had for Esther in the Bible, God has special plans for you.

This can be your success story. {eoa}

Driven by a mission to bring the prophetic Word of God to Southern California and the entire globe, Dr. Michelle Corral, CEO and founder of Breath of the Spirit Ministries International, Inc., provides destiny-focused principles for your life. For more than 35 years, this anointed minister has continued to serve those in need through humanitarian efforts, powerful books and more.

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Is Satan the ruler of hell? Is hell part of his kingdom?

Satan does have a kingdom, but what does it actually consist of?

In studying and researching this topic, I believe Scripture gives us a clear answer to this question. {eoa}

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