Worthy Brief - 5/15/2023
Friend, be endued with power from on high!
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Shortly after WWI, Lawrence of Arabia was entertaining some of his Arab friends in Paris. He showed them the sights of the city: the Arc d'Triomph, the Louvre, the Champs Elysees. It was a remarkable irony to Lawrence that these amazing sights were not what most impressed his Arab friends -- but rather the bathtub faucet of their hotel room. They were completely astonished that someone could turn a handle...and get all the water he wanted.
As they were preparing to leave Paris, Lawrence found his foreign friends in the bathroom with wrenches trying to disconnect the faucet.
They said, "It is very dry in Arabia. What we need are faucets. If we have them, we will have all the water we want." Lawrence had to explain that the water did not come from the faucets, but rather from the water supply to which they were connected. It doesn't matter if you have a faucet -- if you're not connected to the water supply!
As we approach the Jewish festival of Shavuot otherwise known as the day of Pentecost, we're reminded of how God endued those in the Upper Room with power from on high! They waited – and waited – and waited, for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. They didn't go forth proclaiming the gospel UNTIL they were filled with power from on high. I believe as they were in prayer in the upper room, God was revealing different sins in their lives that He wanted them to deal with, so that He could fill them to overflowing. The Lord did not want these saints just to be faucets -- but rather, conduits of his power!
Friend, let's spend time today making sure all the obstructions are cleared -- so that we can be the spirit-filled saints God has called us to be in these last days! There's so much work to be done -- but let's be sure we're doing the work, fully endued with power from on high!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
George and Obadiah (Dallas, Texas), Baht Rivka (Arad, Israel)
Turkey’s President Faces Tough Opposition Challenge (Worthy News Radio)
The polls closed Sunday in elections in which the opposition may unseat the country's autocratic President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But it remained unclear whether an opposition victory would improve the plight of minority Christians in the country and others targeted by authorities.
Ukraine Claims Limited Victory Around Bakhmut (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine says it has recaptured ground in Bakhmut, in a rare advance after months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern city. But Moscow has denied the claims while the death toll is mounting in one of the longest and bloodiest since Russia's invasion began more than 14 long months ago.
Christians Anxious As Court Frees Pakistan’s Ex-Premier Khan
Christians expressed anxiety Friday as Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was released on bail Friday, a day after the Supreme Court ruled his detention on corruption charges was illegal.
Soul Searching In New York, Amsterdam Subway Attacks
The U.S. city of New York and the Dutch capital of Amsterdam were united Friday in dealing with the aftermaths of violence in their railway stations.
Germany Rocked By Deadly Shootings, Explosion
Germany was shaken Thursday by deadly shootings at a massive Mercedes-Benz car factory while police officers and firefighters were injured, some seriously, in a separate explosion in the western German town of Ratingen.
Russia Threatens Britain Over Missile Pledge To Ukraine
Russia has threatened an “adequate military response” after Britain pledged Thursday to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles to use in its battle against invading Russian forces.
Thailand Votes On Path To Ending Military Rule
Voters in Thailand prepared to go to the polls on Sunday in an election that could set the Asian nation on a path toward ending eight years of military rule, but uncertainty remains for Christian refugees.
Turkey’s Erdogan Might Lose Poll; Christians’ Plight Uncertain (Worthy News In-Depth)
The opposition may unseat the country’s autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in upcoming elections, but it remained unclear whether that would improve the plight of minority Christians, Worthy News established Friday.
Jordan air strikes kill prominent drug smuggler, target Iran-linked amphetamine factory in Syria
Jordan carried out airstrikes on southern Syria on Monday, targeting an Iran-linked drugs factory and killing well-known drug smuggler Merhi al-Ramthan and his family, The Medialine reports. The strikes came as Syria was reinstated in the Arab League earlier this month.
DRC: Over 400 people confirmed dead, 5000 missing in flooding, landslide
At least 422 people are now confirmed dead, and 5,000 are missing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following an overwhelming combination of devastating floods and a severe landslide, the Watchers reports.
US: ‘Religious Freedom Worsening Worldwide’
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has warned of “worsening religious freedom conditions around the world,” including for Christians and other groups.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel, US, UN thank Egypt for role in mediating ceasefire with Islamic Jihad in Gaza
Israel, the United States, and the United Nations thanked Egypt for its role in mediating a delicate ceasefire with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in Gaza on Saturday night, bringing five days of intense fighting between the two sides to a cautious end.
Fragile Ceasefire In Israel, Gaza After Attacks
A fragile Egypt-brokered cease-fire between Israel’s army and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip appeared to hold Sunday after nearly 1,500 rockets reigned down on Israel in a five-day clash that killed dozens of people, mostly Palestinians.
Israel Kills Head of Islamic Jihad’s Rocket Force
Israel’s military confirmed Friday that it had killed the head of the armed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement’s rocket force and his deputy after hundreds of missiles were fired at the Jewish state.
Inside the United States
China expands targeting of U.S with Russian-style covert influence operations
China’s government is expanding the use of covert influence operations targeting the United States and is expected to exploit the White House-congressional clash over the debt limit crisis as part of growing anti-U.S. activities, the director of national intelligence said.
CNN Defends Trump Town Hall
The U.S. Cable News Network (CNN) has defended its recent decision to provide former President Donald J. Trump an opportunity to speak to voters in a controversial live televised town hall meeting.
Federal judge stops Biden admin from releasing migrants without setting court dates
A federal judge has barred the Biden administration from enacting policies to release migrants without setting court dates.
After School Satan Clubs gaining popularity, looking to extend reach
With support from the courts, After School Satan Clubs are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to religious clubs in US primary schools, and organizers are working to expand their reach into high schools and colleges, the Hill reports. The clubs are associated with the Satanic Temple organization and began in 2020; the Satanic Temple itself was founded in 2014 and claims its mission is to “encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority.”
Christian News
120,000 Armenian Christians Still Trapped In Nagorno-Karabakh
Some 120,000 Armenian Christians remained trapped Saturday in the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh and struggled to survive as Azerbaijan continued to block the only land route from Armenia, Christian aid workers told Worthy News.
Communism poses greatest threat to Christians worldwide says former member US Commission on International Freedom
A Christian leader and former member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom has stated that communism, not Islamic terrorism, presents the greatest threat to Christians worldwide, the Washington Times reports.
Iran executes two men for blasphemy
Amid a spike in the number of executions it has carried out since last year’s nationwide anti-government protests, Iran has just executed two Iranian men charged with blasphemy for insulting Islam and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, there are currently more than 150 people imprisoned in Iran for their religious beliefs.
Southern Baptist Convention membership fell by nearly half a million in 2022
While continuing as America’s largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday announced that its already declining membership dropped by 457,371 in 2022, returning it to the same level it was in the late 1970s, the Washington Times reports.
Nigeria: Gunmen abduct 40 Christians from Baptist church service
Islamic gunmen in Nigeria’s Kaduna state abducted 40 Christians during a Baptist church worship service on Sunday, Reuters reports.