Worthy Brief - 6/8/2018
Friend, confound the wise of this world!
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
If He was a man of the world, Yeshua (Jesus) would have chosen the elite of His day to accomplish His mission -- however He used simple fishermen. These men were considered uneducated, lacking "social status", wealth or worldly distinction of any kind -- yet these "simple" men were the ones the Lord selected to build the Kingdom of God.
When the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, God didn't send an army to deliver them, He sent a single man. But a single man of God was shown to be greater than the most powerful kingdom on Earth.
Throughout the Bible, we read of the Lord choosing and using the weak things of the world to confound and shame the wise and powerful. God seems to love revealing His awesome power through humble vessels, so that no flesh can glory in His presence.
Friend, don't allow the enemy to convince you that God cannot use you because you are "flawed", weak, or seemingly inconsequential. No, instead, remember that He uses the base, despised, nonentities of this world, ordinary, often broken, people...to do extraordinary things. Our God is not looking at your wealth, your social status or your education -- He's looking at your heart! If your heart is willing and your life is available, then He is more than able to perform miraculous work through you for His Kingdom's sake. With so much work to be done, don't allow the enemy to stifle or steal the Lord's vision for your life –- He has a plan to use you to confound the wise of this world, and to bring to naught the things that are!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel
Editor's Note: My wife, Baht Rivka, will be coming to America and Mexico to sing at a number of conferences and events most of July and beginning of August. We don't know what we'll do without her but I need to stay in Israel and take care of things on the ground and also work on my long overdue book, while our kiddos focus on school. Let us know if you want her to stop in and bless you with some fun Israeli Music and testimony! Please also keep us in prayer.
Merkel Urges Europe to Step Up in Trump’s New World Order
Chancellor Angela Merkel made a forceful pitch for Europe to play a more assertive role in global affairs as U.S. President Donald Trump dismantles the post-World War II order, setting the stage for a potential tense standoff at the Group of Seven summit this week.
Canada clears major hurdle in legalizing recreational marijuana
Canada’s Senate on Thursday voted to legalize recreational marijuana, clearing a major hurdle that puts the country on track to become the first Group of Seven nation to permit national use of the drug.
Trump trades barbs with leaders of Canada, France ahead of G-7 summit
President Trump engaged in some long-distance trash talking with the leaders of France and Canada over trade Thursday night as he prepares to meet them face-to-face Friday at the Group of Seven summit in Quebec.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF gears up for massive Friday protests in Gaza amid peak tensions
The Israeli military is preparing for massive riots along the Gaza security fence on Friday afternoon, potentially on par with violent clashes that took place on May 14, in which tens of thousands of people participated and some 60 Palestinians were killed, a senior army officer said Thursday.
Israeli drones downed over 350 incendiary terror kites, balloons
The most effective method to date of countering helium balloons and kites fitted with flammable materials that are being sent over the border from Gaza to set fire to Israeli fields and nature reserves has proved to be — drones.
Tel Aviv readies for region’s largest gay pride parade
Much of Tel Aviv will shut down on Friday as hundreds of thousands of Israelis are expected to flock to the streets to celebrate the city’s 20th annual Gay Pride Parade.
Following Gaza border blazes, ‘terror kites’ see first use in West Bank
Mimicking tactics that have been increasingly used as part of violent Gaza border protests in recent weeks, Palestinians in the West Bank launched what are believed to be the first incendiary kites used there Thursday.
Inside the United States
House approves Trump's bill to slash $15 billion in federal funds
The House late Thursday passed President Trump's proposal to rescind $15 billion in previously appropriated funding by the government that was never spent.
Suicide rates rise across the US
More than 45,000 people in the U.S. killed themselves in 2016, with the rate increasing in almost every state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
$3 billion payoff: 101 utilities cut rates, credit GOP tax cuts
The number of electric, gas and water utilities cutting customer charges due to the recently passed Republican tax cuts has passed 100, and the total savings is about $3 billion.
DOJ watchdog finds James Comey defied authority as FBI director, sources say
The Justice Department's internal watchdog has concluded that James Comey defied authority at times during his tenure as FBI director, according to sources familiar with a draft report on the matter.
Judge: 'In God We Trust' on money isn't religion endorsement
A federal court has ruled that printing 'In God We Trust' on U.S. currency doesn't amount to a religious endorsement and therefore doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution.
Christian News
US missionary, captive for 20 months, is alive, reports Niger’s president
A US missionary kidnapped in Niger in October 2016 is alive, according to the West African nation’s president.
Freed American pastor says he shared the Gospel with North Korean official before his release
Kim Hak Song, an American pastor released last month from North Korea after spending a year in prison, recently spoke about his detention under one of the most brutal regimes on the planet and explained how he was able to share God's Word despite the circumstances.
Wycliffe Associates Looks to Begin Bible Translation for 10 Previously Unknown Language Groups
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization involving people in the advancement of Bible translation, has recently discovered 10 remote, previously unknown language groups in the Middle East and parts of Asia where Christians live in hiding and are without any of the Bible translated into their language.