Worthy Brief - 8/2/2016
Friend, walk in prophecy!
2 Kings 23:16-17 And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.
This is an interesting passage of Scripture which details how Josiah, a young and Godly king, went forth to cleanse the land, and in doing so, finds that he was fulfilling a prophecy given years before. Josiah went forth doing what was right -- and in doing so, was walking out the works that God preordained for him -- he was fulfilling the calling that God had set into motion years before!
Each of us is alive for such a time as this, living in this day and hour, and all around us prophecy is being fulfilled. Quite honestly, the prophecies of these last days seem to be being fulfilled faster than I anticipated -- but nevertheless, we are witnessing the signs all around us, and they are not so comforting.
So what is our mandate, our calling, our destiny for these days? Will we walk as Josiah, steadfast after God? Because in our day as well, there is prophecy spoken by Jesus himself concerning these last days in which we live: "because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." [Matthew 24:12] Josiah walked amidst incredible idolatry and sin in Israel, (just like we are now), but instead of catering or yielding to it, he used all the authority he had to tear it down. He was fearless in his hatred of sin because of his intense love for God. Jesus' words imply a specific calling for us in these last days: Don't allow your love to grow cold!
Friend, sin abounds all around us, and maybe to some extent, IN us– but it's already written that we can triumph over it if we will just keep our love for him HOT! On the cross he won an astounding victory which we can claim and walk in each and every day of our lives! If we walk in his victory, we too can fulfill the prophetic words of the greatest prophet, because he did not say "the love of ALL will grow cold". So let us be those who fulfill this prophetic destiny the way King Josiah did. We CAN be the ones who keep that passion for God, even in these terrible times!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Negev Desert, Israel
Editor's Note: Watch George's message: Which voice will you listen to in the last days?
Around the World
As 'caliphate' shrinks, Islamic State looks to global attacks
ISIS, losing territory and on the retreat in Iraq and Syria, has claimed credit for a surge in global attacks this summer, most of them in France and Germany.
EU won't budge on Turkey visa demands
The EU commission will not relax demands for Turkey to rewrite its anti-terrorism laws, a chief spokeswoman told reporters on Monday (1 August) in Brussels.
ISIS details 'Why We Hate You' in new magazine
In the new edition of its full-color, glossy magazine, ISIS mocks those who claim Islam is a peaceful religion, and even wades into the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and the parents of a dead Muslim U.S. soldier.
'Breaking the Cross': Islamic State Magazine Mocks Christianity, Claims Jesus Is 'a Slave of Allah'
In the latest issue of its English-language magazine Dabiq, the Islamic State calls on Christians to abandon Christianity, arguing that Jesus himself was 'a slave of Allah' who will 'wage jihad' upon returning to earth.
Texas shale oil has fought Saudi Arabia to a standstill
Opec's worst fears are coming true. Twenty months after Saudi Arabia took the fateful decision to flood world markets with oil, it has still failed to break the back of the US shale industry.
China Holds Live-Fire Navy Drills in East China Sea
China's navy has fired dozens of missiles and torpedoes during exercises in the East China Sea that come amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, underscoring Beijing's determination to back up its sovereignty claims with force if needed.
Khamenei says talks with US are 'lethal poison' to Iran
Amid growing Iranian complaints that world powers have failed to live up to their obligations under the nuclear accord with Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that dialogue with the US had proven to be 'a lethal poison,' as Washington had shown that it could not be trusted.
Turkey navigates tense relations with key allies
Turkey summoned a German diplomat Monday over a court decision that prevented President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from addressing a demonstration in Germany, while the top U.S. military official visited Ankara as Turkey navigated through increasingly strained relations with key allies.
US opens new front against ISIS with airstrikes in Libya
The United States launched a round of airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Libya on Monday, Pentagon officials confirmed, opening a more persistent front against the terror group that had no specific 'end point' as long as the fragile Libyan government needed U.S. help.
Khamenei: Saudi ties with Zionist regime a stab in the back to Muslims
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slammed Saudi Arabia on Monday for allegedly tightening its ties with Israel.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
White House 'aims to conclude' defense deal with Israel, official says
US inter-agency officials began a week of meetings with Israeli national security leadership on Monday, entering the final stage of talks over a new decade-long US defense package.
Iranian official accuses PA's Abbas of being CIA collaborator
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian diaspora opposition group, met in Paris on Saturday, renewing tensions between the Palestinian leadership and Iran.
Israel could be overwhelmed by lengthy rocket campaign, says emergency authority
Israel's home front is sorely lacking in preparation for a future conflict, Haaretz quoted the National Emergency Management Authority as saying on Monday.
Israel's Magal Eyes Trump Wall, Boasting Gaza-Tested Smart Fence
The border security business is thriving and that's good news for Magal Security Systems Ltd. boss Saar Koursh. His biggest showroom: the Gaza Strip.
Inside the United States
Satanic Temple preps 'After School Satan Club' rollout
The Satanic Temple plans to host after-school activities in districts across the country.
DHS grants Syrians temporary amnesty
Homeland Security granted a new temporary amnesty Monday to more than 8,000 Syrians living in the U.S. right now, saying they can remain for up to 18 months longer no matter what their legal status.
Federal judge blocks North Dakota voter identification law
North Dakota on Monday became the latest state to have its voter identification law blocked by a federal court, adding to a string of recent rulings across the United States on the grounds that such measures disenfranchise poor and minority voters.
From California to Nevada, wildfires burn in seven Western states
Wildfires were burning Monday in seven Western U.S. states, from California's famed Big Sur region to tribal towns and hamlets near Reno, Nevada.
'No first use' nuclear weapons policy a dangerous Obama idea
With only six months to go in the Oval Office, President Obama is contemplating 'fundamental change' to U.S. national security policy: a declaration of 'no first use' regarding nuclear weapons.
FBI tech pleads guilty to acting as agent of China
A veteran FBI electronics technician - who had top secret clearance - pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of acting as an agent of China, and faces up to 10 years in prison.
With 10 new Zika cases in Miami, CDC advises pregnant women to avoid Wynwood
Federal health officials on Monday advised pregnant women to avoid a Miami neighborhood -- marking the first time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned against travel to any area within the continental United States -- as a Zika outbreak in South Florida has led to 10 more local cases spread by mosquitoes.
Foreign Appetite For U.S. Securities Has Taken a Drubbing
In fact, net foreign flows to the U.S. have been decidedly weak this year, thanks to an exodus by foreign central banks and sovereign wealth funds, who've been dumping U.S. securities in order to raise cash to put to work at home.
U.S. Politics
Trump: 'I'm afraid the election is going to be rigged'
Donald Trump fears he may lose in November because of the "rigged" political system he's been railing against for months.
Pat Caddell on 'Cooked' Reuters Poll: 'Never in My Life Have I Seen a News Organization Do Something So Dishonest'
On Sunday's Breitbart News Daily with SiriusXM host Alex Marlow, political strategist Pat Caddell outlined his charge that Reuters tampered with its own daily tracking poll to manufacture a sudden surge for Hillary Clinton.
Trump says election may be 'rigged,' Clinton is 'the devil'
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested Monday that he fears the general election 'is going to be rigged' -- an unprecedented assertion by a modern presidential candidate.
Christian News
Sabah, Evangelical Church of Borneo opposes introduction of sharia
We will defend our borders 'from any attempt made by anyone to approve sharia law in this state', says Reverend Jerry Dusing, leader of the Evangelical Church of Borneo (Sidang Injil Borneo, Bb) commenting on the desire of some political parties to impose Islamic rules to the entire population of Sabah (North Borneo).
Christians' Future Uncertain as Islam Tightens Its Grip on Turkey
Some warn that Turkey is on its way to becoming an Islamic republic like Iran. Recent developments put Christians there at even greater risk.
Franklin Graham rips pope over Islamic terror
Franklin Graham, who heads up the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Samaritan's Purse relief charity, has rebuked Pope Francis for saying that while the world is at war, the conflict has nothing to do with religion.