Worthy Brief - 7/26/2017
Friend, persecution is coming? Are you ready?
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Being hated without cause is an aspect of Messianic prophecy that applies to both Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David. Just as Joseph was hated by his brothers, and David was hated by Saul without cause, is it any wonder that Yeshua (Jesus) was hated by the world without cause -- thus fulfilling a Messianic Psalm. [Psalm 69:4]. And should it surprise us that He is still hated? And if Yeshua was hated without a cause, should we expect our lives be to any different?
As thousands of saints suffered intense persecution in ages past, and thousands are still being persecuted today (126,000 martyrs last year alone), they prepare(d) the way for the salvation of millions of others. Since Yeshua said "Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends", the love expressed by the martyrs is a tremendous source of inspiration to all of us.
Friend, as we are rapidly approaching the end of the age, we can expect persecution to be on the rise. We're sent out as sheep among wolves – so lift your head high when suffering persecution for the Lord. Your response of faith and love could well lead to the salvation of the ones persecuting you!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel
Around the World
Trump warns 'emboldened' Iran to comply with nuclear deal
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a veiled threat against Iran on Tuesday, warning Tehran to adhere to the terms of a nuclear deal with world powers or else face 'big, big problems.'
US and China report progress on new North Korea sanctions
The United States and China said Tuesday they are making progress on a new U.N. resolution that would impose additional sanctions against North Korea following its test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Fatah calls to ‘intensify’ struggle over Temple Mount
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction has called to 'intensify the popular struggle' over the Temple Mount, despite the removal of metal detectors and security cameras from the holy site after a week of protests over the increased security measures.
Trump: Hezbollah threatening 'another conflict with Israel'
US President Donald Trump called the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah a threat to the entire Middle East on Tuesday, accusing it and Iran of fueling a humanitarian disaster in Syria.
Fatah to Hamas: Dismantle the government in Gaza
Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of the Fatah Central Committee who is responsible for internal Palestinian affairs, revealed on Tuesday that over the past 10 days he had held direct and indirect contacts, through other countries, with the leadership of Hamas.
Abbas warns security coordination with Israel will remain frozen
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday he will maintain a freeze on security coordination with Israel, despite the removal of metal detectors and security cameras from the entrances to the Temple Mount.
White House 'applauds' Israeli action on metal detectors
The Trump administration on Tuesday night welcomed Israel's decision to remove metal detectors from entrances to the Temple Mount, after introduction of the new security measure led to violence regionwide.
Inside the United States
Senate Republicans win health care vote, but the fight has only begun
Senate Republicans voted Tuesday to begin the debate on how to overhaul Obamacare, overcoming a series of false starts and setting up a weeklong showdown over options ranging from a full repeal to a complicated Republican replacement.
Trump Eyes Tax-Code Overhaul, With Emphasis on Middle-Class Break
On the day the Senate moved on long-promised health-care legislation, President Donald Trump signaled his next priority: overhauling the tax code to push corporate rates down and give middle-class taxpayers a break, even if it means some of the wealthiest pay more.
Attorney General Sessions issues new financial warning to sanctuary cities
The Justice Department issued a new warning to sanctuary cities Tuesday, saying they must prove they fully cooperate with immigration agents in order to claim federal law enforcement grant money.
Wisconsin company to implant microchips in its employees in August
A Wisconsin tech company says they are about to become the first business in the U.S. to offer microchip implants to its employees.
House approves sanctions on Iran, North Korea, Russia
The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to toughen sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia in legislation expected also to be backed by the Senate.
D.C. law requiring ‘good reason’ to carry concealed handguns is ruled unconstitutional
A strict D.C. gun law that prevents most firearms owners from carrying concealed handguns in public in the nation’s capital is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday, saying the city government cannot demand citizens prove a 'good reason' before being issued permits.
Christian News
Big Pro-Life Win: Federal Court Protects Christian Doctors from Promoting Abortion
A federal judge in Illinois has blocked enforcement of a law that would have forced doctors to promote abortions, no matter their religious beliefs.
Pastor Forced to Move After Being Targeted by LGBT Activists
A pastor who openly criticizes the LGBT movement is being forced to move after receiving an onslaught of violent threats from gay rights activists.