Worthy Brief - 3/15/2016
Friend, walk in the power of the resurrection!
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Phillipians 3:9-11 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Numerous modern critics of the Bible say the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) is simply a myth based on pagan stories of "resurrected gods" from around the world, and that the authors of the New Testament borrowed from these myths and incorporated them into the Bible. But the similarity of two stories proves nothing about their origin or truth content. The Jews of Yeshua's time were steeped in Old Testament monotheism which had a well developed tradition of resurrection believed and taught by the Pharisees. Polytheistic pagan ideas would have been abhorrent to men who understood and practiced the Judaism of the apostles and New Testament writers.
But the strongest evidence for the historical truth of Yeshua's bodily resurrection comes from the testimony and lives of its eyewitnesses. Eleven of the twelve apostles suffered violent deaths for simply refusing to renounce their conviction and stop preaching the message that Yeshua was alive, that he was the Son of God and savior of the world. People don't generally give their lives for something which they know to be untrue. But they had seen him, and touched him, and eaten with him after his crucifixion; and they were filled with wonder. And because the apostles lived in the power of the resurrection their message went out to the whole world, not as a pagan myth, but as a deep revelation of life-changing truth and hope, for which they were willing to suffer and even give their lives.
King Solomon wrote: "He (God) has placed eternity in the hearts of men..."; [Ecclesiastes 3:11] The resurrection stories of ancient pagan civilizations point to this deep desire in the hearts of men...to be resurrected and to live forever. Is it such a strange thing to hope that there is a life after death?
Friend, we know that the resurrection of Yeshua is true because it has been revealed to us by God Himself, and because of what it has accomplished in our own lives. Our faith is a conviction centered in this one, historical fact, and evidenced by the undeniable effect it has upon us. Resurrection of the dead is not a myth or a fable; and resurrection power from God's Holy Spirit is the very source of our new life. Live in the real power of the resurrection. It will transform everything you are and everything you do...especially knowing that you too, will soon obtain the resurrection from the dead, a glorified body just like the Lord's!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Baltimore, Maryland
Editor's Note: We hope to see you on our travels across the United States. Check out our schedule online.
Editor's Note: Watch George's message: Which voice will you listen to in the last days?
Around the World
Iran says it's not bound by UN resolution banning missile tests
Tehran's recent ballistic missile tests did not violate a UN resolution and were not illegal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday after being questioned on the issue by Australia.
Putin orders start of Russian forces' withdrawal from Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered his military to start the withdrawal of the main part of Russia's forces from Syria, saying that the Russian military intervention had largely achieved its objectives.
North Korea leader orders nuclear warhead test, missile launches
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered an upcoming nuclear warhead test and multiple ballistic missile launches, escalating Pyongyang's face-off with the international community just days after being slapped with tough UN sanctions.
Senior U.S. general wants to start striking the Taliban again
A senior American general has proposed resuming offensive strikes against the Taliban, exposing a rift between the military and senior administration officials over the U.S. role in the war in Afghanistan, according to military officials.
Why Putin orders substantial Russian military withdrawal from Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that the Russian military had largely accomplished its mission in the Syrian civil war in support of the Assad regime, ordered the Russian military to begin withdrawing a substantial amount of forces from the region.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli defense chief sees inevitable Syrian collapse amid Russian exit
Israel's top defense official said Monday that the collapse of Syria as a functioning country is inevitable, asserting that the United Nations and the great powers need a 'different grand strategy' for ending the country's brutal five-year civil war.
Hamas chief: Palestinians don't seek war, but will fight to end occupation
A top Hamas leader told French television on Tuesday that while the Palestinian Islamist group 'is not aiming for war,' it will continue to 'fight for freedom out of a desire to rid [our nation] of the occupation.'
Inside the United States
House will try to advance $1.07 trillion budget deal this week
House Republicans will try to advance a budget resolution on Wednesday despite protests from conservatives who want to reduce spending.
House pressures Obama to label ISIS actions as genocide
The House unanimously passed a resolution Monday that calls on the United States to characterize the Islamic State's atrocities against Christians, Yazidis and other groups as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Up to 13 Million Americans Are at Risk of Being Washed Away
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U.S. Politics
NC Sheriff Drops Effort to Charge Trump With Inciting Riot
A North Carolina sheriff's office has dropped its idea to file charges of inciting a riot against Donald Trump over an incident where a protester was punched by a Trump supporter at a recent rally, saying the evidence doesn't 'meet the requisites of the law.'
John Kasich defends immigration stance at Ohio rally
Gov. John Kasich defended Monday his support of an immigration overhaul that includes the legalization of nonviolent illegal immigrants, telling supporters on the eve of the Ohio primary that it is unrealistic to think that the federal government is going to boot illegal immigrants out of the country.
Trump faces worst night since Iowa loss as leads dwindle in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri
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Christian News
Human Rights Group Calls on Egypt to Stop Sending Christian Children to Prison on Blasphemy Charges
A human rights group has called on Egypt to drop charges against four Christian teenagers and their teacher who were accused of blasphemy for making a private video that mocks the Islamic State terror group.
Christian genocide: The U.S. White House and State Department remain stubbornly silent
Among the many anomalies of the Obama Administration's foreign policy, none appear so anachronistic as its refusal to label the persecution and annihilation of Christians in the Middle East as genocide.