Worthy Brief - 2/21/2017
Friend, the waste cities shall be restored!
Isaiah 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
For nearly 2000 years the Jewish people were scattered across the world without a homeland. In one day, according to the meticulous preparation of God, on May 14th 1948, the nation of Israel was restored. As millions of Jews were returning to their homeland they began rebuilding the ancient cities that were destroyed, restoring the desolations of many generations, and fulfilling Biblical prophecy. [Ezekiel 36-37; Isaiah 66]. This historical miracle illustrates the power of resurrection and the process of restoration which follows.
In our own lives, the new birth is a resurrection miracle. Born again by the sovereign power of God we begin a lifelong process of cooperating with Him to rebuild and restore our lives. Like the Israelis who rebuilt this nation, we work under the power and unction of a Divine mandate. And it is a mandate of restoration! What was broken, scattered, decimated, and as good as dead, perhaps for many generations, is being repaired, reintegrated, and reinvigorated with tremendous vitality. This dramatic parallel between the restoration of the Land of Israel and the restoration of our individual lives is a central theme of all God's Creation, and a source of tremendous encouragement in our day to day living.
Friend, God is at work in you, and His restoration is a meticulous labor of love. Give Him the time to repair what is broken in your life; especially the intimate time. The transformation process is a Divine mandate and a sure promise we can absolutely count on. We will be conformed to His image. Let us so encourage one another daily as the Day draws near.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Portland, Oregon
Editor's Note: Join us, along with thousands of others in sending a strong, encouraging message to President Trump concerning the importance of the nation of Israel in relation to God’s Word, and encourage him to FOLLOW THROUGH on his affirmations concerning Jerusalem and the Promised Land! Our goal is to deliver a petition of 1,000,000 signatures! Sign and share on your pages and email lists! Sign our Petition!
Editor's Note: We are on a cross-country speaking/music tour this winter and early spring in the United States! If you see that we will be close to your area and you want to hear a timely word from Worthy News Founder and Director, George Whitten and powerful Israeli Worship Music from Baht Rivka Whitten, Lazman Hazeh Music, as well as testimony of life and ministry in the Land, we invite you to join us -- or even invite us to speak/sing at your Congregation, Conference, Church, Midweek Meeting or Israel focused Event, especially if you see a free date on our way! We hope to hug you! Send us an email to george [ @ ] worthyemail.com for more information. Check out our calendar and see if we're speaking near you!
Around the World
Is Iran Preparing For War In The Middle East? Russia To Send $1B In Weapons To Tehran
Russia was set to send Iran about $1 billion worth of missile defense systems, Russian news agency Tass reported Monday. The deal was the result of a contract Iran signed with Russian defense manufacturer Rostec Corporation in 2007, but it was put on hold by Russia in 2010. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently ended the delay and paved the way for the contractual obligation for the S-300 air defense systems to be met in full starting this past November.
Mideast militaries dominate global arms market, new analysis states
Mideast monarchies, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are flooding their arsenals with foreign weapons at a staggering pace in the region now accounting for 23 percent of all global arms procurement.
Iran launches 'advanced' rockets during new military exercises
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard has launched several sophisticated rockets during military exercises, Iranian media reported on Monday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Islamic State fires more rockets Into southern Israel from Egypt
The Islamic State in Egypt seems to be gaining in strength and notoriety in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt as the group claimed responsibility for more rockets fired into southern Israel Monday. The rockets landed in the Eshkol region in the south of the Jewish state.
PA leader calls on EU to recognize 'Palestine'
Rami Hamdallah, the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) government in Ramallah, on Monday urged all the European Union member states to recognize 'Palestine'.
Israel to ease regulations on arms and defense exports
Israel is set to relax its regulations on the exports of arms and defense products, amid a reform program for the industry taken by the Defense Export Controls Agency, a branch of the Defense Ministry.
Inside the United States
'Not My Presidents Day' protests planned nationwide
President Trump will see another weekend of protests against him: Thousands of activists will be part of 'Not my Presidents Day' rallies across the nation.
Supreme Court set to hear case on how far constitutional rights extend outside U.S.
Supreme Court justices will grapple Tuesday with how far American constitutional protections extend outside the U.S. as they hear oral arguments on a case that saw a Border Patrol agent fire his gun into Mexico, which struck and killed a 15-year-old boy.
Eleven Jewish centers receive bomb threats in fourth wave of calls
Another wave of bomb threats was called in to Jewish community centers across the United States on Monday, marking the fourth morning this year that hoax calls were received by multiple centers in several states.
Christian News
Egyptian Christian Gunned Down By Suspected ISIS Militants
An Egyptian Christian school teacher has been gunned down on the way to work by suspected ISIS militants in Sinai, Egypt.
God Shows Up Big at Will Graham's Celebration Tour in China
It is no secret that China's communist government is far from friendly to Christianity. That hasn't stopped hundreds of Chinese citizens from giving their lives to Christ this weekend at William Graham's 2017 Music Celebration.
ISIS Egypt affiliate: Christians are our 'favorite prey'
An Islamic State affiliate released a video Monday vowing that Egyptian Christians are their 'favorite prey,' showing images of a suicide bomber who killed nearly 30 people inside a packed Cairo church in December.