In the past few days, thousands of pro-choice people are marching in favor of the so-called “right to choose” because of the leak of a looming Supreme Court decision regarding abortion. Many believe this leak was perpetrated by a Supreme Court clerk or insider who wanted to garner widespread backlash with the hope of influencing the court’s decision before the final vote.

Many on the Left are also trying to incite a frenzy of fear by saying that some of the justices on the court will soon attempt to overturn interracial and same-sex marriage. These two far-fetched scenarios are attempting to connect Supreme Court conservative judges to racism and bigotry (fomenting even more popular protests). The Supreme Court is now under tremendous pressure and likely more divided than ever between those who hold more of a progressive view and those with a conservative ideology.

As a contrast to Judge Alito’s leaked opinion, last year his colleague Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor compared an unborn child to a brain-dead adult who merely responds to stimuli. This devaluation of human life is horrific, especially coming from somebody who sits on the highest court in the United States!

In my opinion, most reasonable citizens on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum agree that racism is abhorrent; however, anti-racists who are pro-choice compromise when it comes to human life. Furthermore, in the past, I found it interesting that a pro-choice person like former governor of Virginia Ralph Northam said that he approved of abortion up until the time of birth. This same governor had pictures of himself in his college yearbook depicted in blackface and another picture of him wearing a KKK hood.

Not coincidentally, Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger, was an avowed White eugenicist. She started abortion clinics in Black communities and openly said she wanted to exterminate the Jewish and Black races. Sanger said, “We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.” Through the years, Planned Parenthood was also caught in recorded telephone conversations admitting their racist tendencies against minorities. (To learn more about the racist history of Planned Parenthood, read this article in the Washington Times.) The anti-racism and pro-life causes go hand in hand. An accurate and consistent sanctity of life position has to include both the values of pre-birth and post-birth (respect, dignity and protection for all people) in order to be legitimate.

Historically, the church has always been pro-life. This is proved by some of the earliest extra-biblical documents such as Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the writings of some great church fathers like Tertullian, Cyprian, Athenagoras the Athenian and more.

Galatians 3:28 makes it clear that as believers, there is no such thing as class or gender discrimination since we are all one in Christ. Additionally, since humankind is made in the image of God as His crown jewel of creation, God forbids the murder of another human being (Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8; Gen. 9:5-6). Scripture says God hates the shedding of innocent blood. What can be more innocent than a preborn human? He even forbids the murder of a human being in His top ten list of commandments (Prov. 6:17; Exod. 20:13). Hence, to devalue human life with ideologies and activities that promulgate racism, sex trafficking, slavery, abuse or abortion is contrary to the gospel since Jesus took upon Himself human flesh (not the flesh of an animal or nature of an angel) to save us (John 1:14; Heb. 2:14). Consequently, it is impossible to have a true gospel without Jesus adorning a flesh-and-blood human body.

This means that if there were no incarnation (Jesus becoming human), there could be no cross. Without the cross, we have no gospel! It is also not a coincidence that the first act of worship concerning Jesus’ Advent came from a babe in the womb (Luke 1:41-44). It is also interesting that Elizabeth blessed the fruit in Mary’s womb. She referred to Mary as “the mother of my Lord” while Jesus was still in the pre-birth stage (v. 43, NIV). She viewed a pre-birth baby, Jesus, as her Lord.

Summarily, I contend that we cannot separate abortion and the pro-life position from the gospel. God made humans in His image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-28), and Jesus’ innocent blood was shed to redeem believers. This is why the shedding of innocent human blood is an affront to God, because His Son’s precious blood was spilled to save the life of fallen humanity.

In light of the above, it is a gross misapprehension of the nature of the gospel when someone considers abortion a very political issue and not a gospel issue. Those with this view fail to understand that when we objectify a post-birth human with sex trafficking, slavery, abuse or racism, or treat an unborn human baby as a mere blob of flesh or a fetus, we devalue Jesus’ humanity. We treat the blood of the Covenant as a common thing, as well as undervalue the price He paid to save us.

Truly, both abortion and racism are gospel issues that should obligate all believers to stand up for the sacredness of human life and blood.

In conclusion, the implications of this “pro-life” gospel should profoundly affect both our internal convictions and our public positions, or else the gospel has no practical application and the church cannot function as the salt and light of the world. Indeed, abortion is both a gospel issue and a policy issue, which then incontrovertibly connects faith and politics. {eoa}

Dr. Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, consultant and theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence culture. He is the founding pastor of Resurrection Church and leads several organizations, including The U.S. Coalition of Apostolic Leaders and Christ Covenant Coalition. Dr. Mattera is the author of 13 bestselling books, including his latest, The Purpose, Power, and Process of Prophetic Ministry, and is renowned for applying Scripture to contemporary culture. To order his books or to join the many thousands who subscribe to his newsletter, go to .

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My wife and I were traveling on a plane, as we often do for the ministry. There was a young man sitting next to us who worked for one of the high-tech companies.

Over the next hour, we talked a bit, and I asked him about his business. I could see that he was very bright. He shared some of the details of his work with me.

He then asked, “What do you do?” I responded, “I teach the Bible. I teach about who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.” I left it at that.

I then picked up my book to appear I was not interested in talking any further. After about five minutes, he said, “Well, who does go to heaven and who does go to hell?” I said, “It’s not what most people think. It has nothing to do with being good.” And I left it at that again.

Remember, we’re fishing, and a fisherman has to be patient. I felt the Holy Spirit say, “This guy is really sharp. You can’t just preach to him. Let him draw it out of you.” And so I acted like I wasn’t interested, even though my wife and I were praying for him to be responsive and curious.

After a few more minutes, he asked me another question. He said, “Who does go to heaven? Isn’t a good person going to heaven?” I said, “No. Being good has nothing to do with it. It’s about a relationship.” This occasional question-and-answer sequence went on for three more hours. He eventually drew everything out of me. I was able to share the entire message of salvation with him because of his own interest. Because every person is different, we must use wisdom and discernment in knowing how to communicate with them.

Wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit. If each of us will just listen for the voice of the Spirit, we can win more people for the kingdom of God. If we will exercise the patience of a good fisherman, we may even witness someone express hunger for truth. {eoa}

Bill Wiese is the author of the New York Times bestselling book 23 Minutes In Hell, the story of his life-changing visit to hell in 1998. Bill has since authored six additional books and continues to share his experience around the world. He and his wife, Annette, founded Soul Choice Ministries in late 2006 and have dedicated their lives to reaching the unsaved. For more information about Bill Wiese and Soul Choice Ministries, please visit us at You can find more of Bill’s teachings at

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More than 11,000 people attended one night of Mario Murillo’s evangelistic meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Now, as a direct result, there are 20 cities in America asking his team to show up in speedways, stadiums, arenas and tent sites.

Murillo explains, “They say, ‘You need to come. We’re ready for you. We’ve got an army. We’ve got thousands that want to do it.'” And Murillo needs thousands, because his evangelistic meetings are not just a one-man show. Thousands of volunteers are needed to knock on doors before the meetings and perform a variety of tasks during the meetings, including ushering and praying with new converts.

In October of 2021, Murillo held four days of meetings that attracted over 4,000 people in Batavia, New York, even though it was raining. Although he saw God move in that meeting, he recently canceled the follow-up meeting.

His workers went to the city streets of Batavia, Buffalo and Rochester beforehand and found that each city was open to the gospel. “Hundreds of people want Christ,” Murillo says. “Our workers found out that the fish were practically jumping in the boat. That wasn’t our issue.”

Murillo says that the issue was a lack of volunteers willing to step up to the plate and go get the harvest. He attributes the lack of volunteers to a group of ministers who have “a very strange view of Trump and the Democrat Party.” He says they also have a strange view of what unity is and what revival is. Because of their strange views, he says that the group of ministers discouraged the army of volunteers that each one of his meetings needs.

Murillo says that back in April they had the “most fiery pastors’ brunch ever.” Although 900 pastors showed up, a group within the 900 ministers didn’t agree with Murillo’s support of Trump, so those ministers discouraged their people from volunteering.

“I don’t talk about Trump a lot. They do,” Murillo says. “They talk about him all the time. I found out that the rule was it isn’t that I can’t talk about Trump, it’s that I can’t say anything nice. It’s very strange. I never encountered it to that degree.”

The tent his team was going to use needed 3,000 volunteers, and because of the vocal lack of support from those ministers, only 300 people volunteered to support the meeting. “How were we going to handle this massive infrastructure?” Murillo asks. “It became very clear that we were going to end up in a situation that was really not sustainable.”

Murillo began to weigh the level of exhaustion the 300 volunteers were facing on the street, and he made the decision to cancel his evangelistic event. “It was a very painful and heart-rending decision,” he says.

Murillo likens what happened in New York to the verses in the Bible where Jesus says that the leaders decorated the tombs of the prophets and even acknowledged that it was their ancestors who killed them. (See Matthew 23:29-32 and Luke 11:47-51.) Murillo says that the leaders in New York like to talk about the revivalist Charles Finney, but although they want revival and they celebrate the revivals of Charles Finney, something different would happen if somebody like Charles Finney showed up.

“Charles Finney would be a lot less friendly than I am,” Murillo says. “And they would not accept him. They would not.”

He concludes, “The funny thing is, they say, ‘We want revival.’ But last October 3-6, in the rain, 4,000 people came out. They repented of their sins. They were healed in their bodies. They heard messages that were not political but were entirely focused on healing and salvation, and they (the ministers) didn’t accept it. The very thing they were praying for, they saw it with their own eyes, and they didn’t accept it.” {eoa}

Rob Vischer is a freelance writer for Charisma Media.

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Inflation is at a 40-year high and is rising around the world. Interest rates are inching up. Consumers are seeing price hikes.

Some economists are predicting a mild recession while other industry watchers are predicting an economic crisis in some parts of the world. And some nations, like Sri Lanka and Venezuela, are already in economic crisis.

We’re now hearing terms like stagflation. Stagflation is persistent high inflation combined with high unemployment rates and a stagnant demand in a country’s economy.

This could be the perfect storm the late John Paul Jackson prophesied about many years ago. Or the economies could bounce back quickly. Only God knows.

What we do know is this: one day Babylon will fall. Revelation 18:1-3 (NKJV) tells us plainly:

“After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.'”

Noteworthy is the verse that comes right after this. Revelation 18:4 (NKJV) reads: “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.'” The Message translation puts it this way: “Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don’t get mixed up in her sins, so you don’t get caught in her doom.”

As Christians, we need to be careful not to get caught up in the world’s system. We must not depend on the arm of flesh. God is our source. He is the minister of supply who supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (See Philippians 4:19.)

Prophetically speaking, now is not the time to stop sowing financially, sowing your prayers and sowing your time into the kingdom. Second Corinthians 9:10 tells us plainly that God gives seed to the sower and bread for food. We are supposed to eat the bread, not the seed. Too many Christians pull back on sowing and then suffer a lack attack as the enemy devours their harvest.

God spoke through Malachi to bring the tithes into the storehouse and gave a twofold promise. Number one, He will rebuke the devourer. Number two, He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing you cannot contain. (See Malachi 3:11.)

I see the enemy attacking Christians with fear of giving. It’s a diabolical plan to tempt you to eat your seed. God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (See 2 Timothy 1:7.) Remember, you are not of the world or subject to the economies of this world. You are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and God owns all the silver and the gold.

Nevertheless, many who do not believe are subject to economic crisis. And we want to stand in the gap for the world economies. Awakening Prayer Hubs is focusing on pushing back economic crisis this month. Will you join us?

Get the prayer points here. {eoa}

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“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Prov. 24:3-4, NASB).

For thousands of years and in a myriad of cultures, women have forged identity, unconditional love and vast purpose in the calling of motherhood. From Eve to Sarah, Leah to Hannah, and Elizabeth to Mary, the Scriptures are filled with the stories of the heart of a woman who was given the divine opportunity to raise the next generation by the call of the Father.

When I get to heaven, I can’t wait to sit down with all of the mothers who went before me and ask them the questions that mothers desire to ask: How did you milk the goats, manage a clean tent, and keep a toddler away from scorpions in the desert? What did you do when Abraham took Isaac up the mountain? Were you embarrassed when John chose to wear camel hair and eat locusts as a teenager? However, the heart that I most desire to inspect is that of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19, NASB).

Inside the soul of every mother lies a heart that becomes a repository of sweet memories, hard lessons, glorious victories, ordinary days, glaring failures and God’s grace over the years of mothering. This tender heart that has given birth to the future of mankind or has lovingly adopted the seeds of the next generation also develops rooms of unsurpassed greatness and quiet strength. These are the rooms of a mother’s heart.

In every generation, mothers must answer the call to be what no one else can and do what no one else is able to do for their children. Mothers must accept the biblical call to motherhood.

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” — Cardinal Gaspard Mermillod

Is there a calling that is more significant or more glorifying to God than motherhood? I think not! Our culture believes that a woman loses her identity in motherhood and that the years spent wiping noses, changing diapers and reading books are the wasted years of a woman’s life. My friend, nothing could be farther from the truth. If you want to change the world, then decide that you will passionately mother the ones you have been given to raise.

Let me hasten to say that I realize that women must often work outside the home in order to pay the bills, save for college and feed their children. Please be kind to yourself as a mother and as a woman whether you are able to stay home, work part-time or work full-time. The chief principle should be to give your whole heart to your children in the times that you are together.

“Home is the nicest word there is.” — Laura Ingalls Wilder

When you truly understand the deep purpose of motherhood, the joy will come rushing into your home and into your heart. You, as a mother, are a woman of eternal and perpetual purpose! You are raising the Daniels, Esthers and Peters of the next generation, so do it with unbridled joy! The most expansive work you will ever complete will be among the ordinary people whom you know the best and love the most.

This is what I can guarantee you: For every long night, God gives His own strength to weary mothers who simply ask for it. For every early and daunting morning, He delivers His faithfulness to mothers who spend time with Him. Cry if you must, knowing that even your tears are precious to Him and not one of them goes unnoticed in the throne room of God. Every prayer you have prayed has been heard, sweet mama. He has inclined His very ear over the gates of heaven and has given you His undivided attention. Every desire you have whispered to your heavenly Father is remembered. Your desires are of utmost importance to Him.

You are enough, dear mother. You are more than enough because you have the Father. {eoa}

Carol McLeod is a bestselling author and popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor.

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When Jesus went to cast out a demon in the Book of Matthew, the demon said to Jesus, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (Matt. 8:29, MEV).

What time was he referring to? Is Satan the ruler of hell? Is hell part of his kingdom?

Satan does have a kingdom. But what does it actually consist of? {eoa}

Bill Wiese and his wife, Annette, founded Soul Choice Ministries in 2000 for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. With hundreds of requests to share 23 Minutes in Hell, they left their careers in 2007 to enter full-time ministry. Since that time, they have witnessed this God-entrusted message transform thousands of lives worldwide. To God be all the glory.

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Each week in synagogues, a parsha, or portion of the Torah is read in a cycle so that each year, in every synagogue, the whole Torah is read. Most of the parashot (plural) are named based upon an important word or event that takes place at the start of the parsha. These names and events help the reader to identify not only the location within the scroll but also its place in the timeline of the greater narrative of Israel.

For instance, the very first parsha is Bereshit (In the Beginning). Another parsha is named Chayei Sara (The Life of Sarah). This should help you understand that the naming of a parsha involves more than simply providing a means to identify chapter and verse. The naming of the parashot provided Israel with a means to recognize not just where they were in the scroll, but where Israel was in their journey.

While this mapping out of the journey through the naming of the parashot didn’t only provide a means for textual location, it also didn’t just provide a means to follow the physical journey of Israel through the wilderness. It helps us to understand the deeper and more important spiritual journey of Israel as they traveled to the Promised Land.

While you and I today are not walking physically along with the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, we are traveling along with them as we make our spiritual journey from Egypt (sin) to the Promised Land (the world to come).

In our walk as believers in Yeshua, every one of these parashot provides lessons and instructions that we can and should apply to our lives. Please understand that when I use the word instructions, I am not speaking solely of the commandments within the Torah, although they are very important. I am talking about the examples of successes and failures of those we read about in the Torah, and the blessings and discipline that follow their actions.

As you read a parsha, let me encourage you to remember three things. First, the main character of every parsha is G-D. Second, the narrative may not be focused on the people but rather the event. Third, no biblical event is disconnected from the greater narrative of the redemptive plan of G-D.

Let me provide an example to help you understand this concept. One of the parashot in the Book of Leviticus is Acharei Mot (After the Death). It begins with Leviticus 16:1-2 (TLV):

“Then ADONAI spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they approached the presence of ADONAI and died. ADONAI said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holiest Place behind the curtain — before the atonement cover which is on the Ark — so that he would not die. For I will be appearing in the cloud over the atonement cover.'”

As we read these two verses, we see the names Moses and Aaron and the mention of Aaron’s two sons. However, none of these people is the focus of or the reason for the naming of this parsha. The focus of the parsha isn’t even the fact that Aaron’s sons had died.

No, the main character of the parsha, as with all parashot, is G-D and the event or thing we need to focus on to understand the greater narrative of redemption. As of this moment in time, Aaron is forbidden to enter the Holiest Place in the tabernacle “at just any time” now. Aaron and all priests that were to follow could only enter the Holiest Place when summoned by G-D, and they would know they were welcome to enter when they saw the cloud appear over the atonement cover.

The result of the sinful actions of Aaron’s two sons was this new separation between the priests and G-D. Just think for a moment how significant this punishment was. Up until this place in the story of Israel, Aaron could simply enter into the Holiest Place when he desired to be there. But now, not only has Aaron lost his two sons, he has also lost the blessing of entering into the Holiest Place when his heart desires to be in the special place of presence.

So, now we’ve established the main character is G-D and the main event is the removal of the ability of the priest to enter into the Holiest Place. But how does this parsha affect the greater narrative of redemption? In order to understand, we must look forward to Hebrews 10:19-21 (TLV):

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have boldness to enter into the Holies by the blood of Yeshua. He inaugurated a new and living way for us through the curtain — that is, His flesh. We also have a Kohen Gadol over God’s household.”

In Acharei Mot, we see in the redemptive narrative that due to the sin of Aaron’s sons, the priest and his children could no longer freely enter the Holiest Place at any time. In Hebrews 10, we find that because of the death of our High Priest, Yeshua, the priests can once again freely, or boldly, enter into the Holiest Place. This redemptive restoration of relationship applies to us today, according to 1 Peter 2:9 (TLV):

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

And Exodus 19:6 (TLV):

“‘So as for you, you will be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you are to speak to Bnei-Yisrael.”

We, as believers, are a royal priesthood, and although the death of Aaron’s sons caused the loss of the privilege to freely enter the Holiest Place, the end of the narrative of Acharei Mot isn’t seen until we read the Book of Hebrews. So, while Acharei Mot starts out with the heartbreaking death of Aaron’s sons, it ends with the wonderful restoration through G-D’s Son. {eoa}

Eric Tokajer is the author of Overcoming Fearlessness, What If Everything You Were Taught About the Ten Commandments Was Wrong?, With Me in Paradise, Transient Singularity, OY! How Did I Get Here?: Thirty-One Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Entering Ministry, #ManWisdom: With Eric Tokajer, Jesus Is to Christianity as Pasta Is to Italians and Galatians in Context.

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Understanding the role of incentives is important to predict varied economic impacts. If taxes or costs are raised, expect to see less of the impacted item. If subsidies are increased or costs lowered, expect to see more of the respective item.

When the arrival of COVID began slowing the economy, congress added a variety of additional benefits designed to help the population. Unemployment benefits were enhanced, food stamps and Medicaid were increased and expanded, payments on many types of loans became optional, and direct cash payments were made to all families regardless of need. Many of the benefits were needed at the time.

However, the additional benefits also changed incentives. When the economy began to open, workers were slow to return to work. Some were making more by not working than when they had jobs. Even when the benefits of not working were reduced, workers were still slow to return. Others enjoyed working from home via online tools and are slow to return to a physical office.

President Trump reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% (one of the highest in the world) to a more competitive 21%. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently analyzed the impact of the cut in an article entitled “Corporate Tax Reform Worked.” The analysis compared Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates of the tax cut impacts with actual numbers. The CBO specifically does not incorporate incentive-based impacts (called dynamic scoring). The WSJ found that corporate tax revenues increased 22% from a year earlier for the first six months of fiscal year 2022. Increased incentives from lower taxes created greater economic activity and larger tax revenues.

Do incentives have any bearing on the kingdom of God? Evidently, the Lord thinks that they do. He spent a lot of time teaching about heaven and hell. Much of the Old and New Testaments tell of the dangers of sin, the blessings of obedience, and the righteousness, peace and joy of kingdom citizens.

We are saved by grace when we sincerely repent and in faith accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We were without hope and have been saved by grace through faith in His name. Our salvation is the gift of God.

“But God … even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-7, NASB).

The Scriptures make clear belief implies obedience. As believers, we need victory over sin. When we sin, God is faithful to forgive us if we ask Him with a sincere heart. But He did not leave us without a Helper. We have the sanctifying work of the Spirit to help us obey Jesus if we are willing.

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36, NASB).

“According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you” (1 Pet. 1:2, NASB).

The Lord was clear, and the Holy Spirit confirms the consequences of accepting and following Jesus, and the consequences of not doing so. But today we have many professing Christians and regular church attendees with deep sin. Some are sincerely striving to overcome their sins, and they will be shown the grace to be successful. Others have accepted the sin. Some attempt to convince others that their brand of sin is good.

Could the root problem be that too many churches do not preach the entire Word of God? Some preachers don’t talk about sin because of fear of offense. Some edit the Word of God to be culturally sensitive instead of using Scripture to bless the people and change the culture. Some sheep erroneously believe that grace is a passport to sin. Some correctly believe that the Lord loves us regardless of our sins but leave out the necessity of our repentance.

Let us preach the Word of God in season and out, using it to correct, rebuke and exhort with great patience and instruction. In love, let us demonstrate the power of God in word and deed.

“For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20, NASB). {eoa}

Dr. James Russell is a professor of economics at Oral Roberts University.

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Did you know that Communion, the Lord’s Supper, is a weapon of spiritual warfare?

It really is.

Some years ago, when I was in a time of worship with a group of prophetic intercessors, the Holy Spirit dropped this phrase into my heart: “Communion, the Lord’s Supper, is one of the highest and most overlooked weapons of spiritual warfare.”

That phrase, and its revelation, has stayed with me ever since.

Days of Increased Spiritual Warfare

There’s a lot of chaos, confusion and many swirls going on in the world right now. There are many competing voices attempting to distract us.

Some of this we could flat-out call an assault from the powers of darkness. These are days of increased spiritual warfare, so we need all the tools on our tool belt that we can get.

I understand and appreciate the different theological perspectives and views concerning the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist. I am a church man, so I honor the diversity of different denominations and their historical applications. But, for a short moment, let me give some brief scriptural insights concerning Communion.

Remember the phrase came to me, “Communion, the Lord’s Supper, is one of the highest and most overlooked weapons of spiritual warfare.” Now, why would that be? It’s because we are celebrating the finished work of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is because we are declaring what the blood of the Lamb of God has accomplished!

An Invitation Into Participation

Let’s look at a few scriptures together.

First of all, let’s consider 1 Corinthians 10:16 (ESV), which says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?” Huh? The cup of blessing that we bless. Is it not a participation, a communion, with the blood of Christ? This is a fascinating concept … “the cup of blessing.”

We know, according to the Jewish tradition, that there were multiple goblets or cups of wine as a part of the disciples’ last supper with Jesus. The last cup that they would drink from was literally called the cup of blessing. Now watch what Scripture says in 1 Corinthians. It’s not the cup of blessing that we bless. So in other words, there is a mutuality, there is an “invitation into participation.”

There are basically three different views in the different sectors of the historical church concerning the Lord’s Supper. First, that it is the literal body of Jesus. This view states that the elements actually or literally become the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is more of a Roman Catholic understanding. Second is what’s called the real presence. This is more of an Anglican perspective, among others. Third is more of a Protestant understanding, that it is symbolic only. “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24, NKJV).

There is one more scripture I want to refer to — 1 Corinthians 11:25 (NKJV): “He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'” It doesn’t say “as seldom,” it says “as often” — but it doesn’t say how often!

So it appears the determination of how often is left up to us. I want you to know this: you can take Communion as often as you decide. I have a traveling Communion set that I take with me on the road. As seldom? No, as often!

And how about this? There is a divine blessing. Is it symbolic only? Is it literal? I personally believe in the real presence. I believe that as you bless the cup of blessing, you don’t only symbolically participate, but I believe you can pick up an additional aspect of the presence of God through the Lord’s Supper.

Remember, we need every tool we can get on our tool belt! So, bless me now, my Savior, as I partake in the cup of blessing by remembering the blood that was spilled by the precious Lamb of God.

May the Lord bless You!

Yes, I believe the Lord spoke to me, “Communion, the Lord’s Supper, is one of the highest and most overlooked weapons of spiritual warfare.” Let’s change part of that statement: “Communion, the Lord’s Supper, is one of the highest and most-honored weapons of spiritual warfare by the body of Messiah to the glory of God!”

So, I bless you. And I’m asking that the Lord lead you into practical applications on how you can take and eat and drink in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen! {eoa}

For the original article, visit .

Dr. James W. Goll is the founder of God Encounters Ministries. He is an international bestselling author, a certified Life Language Coach, an adviser to leaders and ministries, and a recording artist. James has traveled around the world, ministering in more than 50 nations sharing the love of Jesus and imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry and life in the Spirit. He has recorded numerous classes with corresponding curriculum kits and is the author of more than 50 books, including The Seer, The Prophet, The Discerner, The Lost Art of Intercession and Praying with God’s Heart. James is also the founder of GOLL Ideation LLC, where creativity, consulting and leadership training come together.

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For many Christians, there is a disconnect between the Bible and today. In fact, for some, there is a disconnect between the Old and New Testaments.

However, the story that began in Genesis is still going on today, and we are called to be part of it.

Story of the Bible

The Bible tells the story of God’s love for the world, His plan to redeem that world, and the battle against God’s plan of redemption. Central to this plan is the calling and role of the Jewish people.

God’s choice of the Jewish people is not because He loves them more than another. God did not line up all the people groups on earth and choose one over the other. Rather, because of His great love for all mankind, He created a people through whom He would carry out His redemptive plan.

In fact, the story in Genesis actually began far earlier — in eternity. Ephesians 1:4–5 says that before the creation of the world, we were predestined to be adopted as sons through Christ Jesus. Revelation 13:8 confirms this eternal existence of God’s plan when referring to the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (NKJV). This means that Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross was always God’s plan.

The New Testament

Too often, Christians believe God’s work with the Jews ended in the Old Testament, and the New Testament launched a new plan with new people: the church. However, in Romans 11, when speaking of the Jewish people, the apostle Paul said that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (v. 29). There is not a separate Old Testament plan and New Testament plan. Jesus’ ministry, death and future return are all part of Plan A found in the Old Testament covenants and prophecies.

God was not surprised by Israel’s rejection of Jesus — He used their rejection to carry out His plan. The apostle Paul said this rejection allowed the gospel to go to the Gentiles. For this reason, he admonished Christians to approach the Jewish people in humility and give them honor, even if they were enemies to the gospel (Rom. 11:28). God is greater than human weaknesses and failures. His promises are true, He knows the end from the beginning, and He will fulfill His will.

Since the New Testament

When the last New Testament book was written and the canon of the Bible was closed, the Jewish people and the newfound Christian church were scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Over the next 1,800 years the two faiths developed in very different directions, and the church became severed from its Jewish roots, going so far as to teach contempt for the Jewish people. It is an agonizing history of exile and persecution that culminated in the tragedy of the Holocaust.

But God — the sovereign Creator of the universe — has miraculously brought the Jewish people back to their homeland. He is fulfilling everything He promised Abraham, Moses and King David, just as the Hebrew prophets predicted. The story is not over, and what began in eternity long before Genesis was written will not end until eternity comes.

What a privilege it is to be in this generation. God is bringing His people back to the land and setting the stage for His final act in this redemptive story.

The day you get this in your gut is the day the Bible becomes the most exciting book on the planet. It is also the day you will want to become part of the story! {eoa}

Dr. Susan Michael is USA Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and host of the Out of Zion podcast. Subscribe today to listen to her Israel Answers series on the Out of Zion podcast. Plan to travel to Israel on ICEJ Tours.

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