Worthy Brief - 8/14/2017
Friend, don't let your circumstances dictate you!
Ephesians 6:19-20 and pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
For over 18 years we've been covering Christian Persecution, and whenever I come across an amazing story of how a saint endured such hardships, it encourages me. I remember reading about Watchman Nee and his imprisonment. The Chinese government would change the guards at his cell daily for fear that Nee would lead them to the Lord. Their fears were justified -- many of those guards did come to faith! Apparently Watchman Nee had learned a powerful lesson from the Apostle Paul.
In Paul's letter to the Church in Ephesus, observe how he describes himself -- an ambassador in chains. Locked away in a prison, Paul adamantly refuses to allow his circumstances to dictate or alter his identity. He may be in chains, but he remains the Lord's ambassador.
Can you imagine Paul chained up in that dungeon, throwing up his hands saying, "That's it; it's over; I'm finished!?
Not on your life! Instead, the apostle grows bolder as an ambassador; not intimidated or ashamed, because Paul isn't chained in his Spirit, he's only bound in the flesh. Remember how he concludes his letter to the Philippian Church declaring, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Friend, don't allow yourself to be defined by your past, or "chained" by your current circumstances. God has also called you to be an ambassador for Him. With so much work to be done, we ought to be growing even bolder, right in the midst of our trials and tribulations!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel
Around the World
Satellite Photos Show North Korea Preparing for Submarine Missile Launch
Recent satellite images appear to show activity at one of North Korea’s submarine bases.
Britain Says Brexit Talks Should Move to Next Phase, as Ministers Show Unity
Britain said on Sunday that it wants talks with the EU to move on to the next phase, as it set out details of the future relationship it envisages with the bloc and senior ministers presented a united approach to negotiations.
Iran filling vacuum left by IS retreat in Syria, Iraq, Mossad chief warns
The head of the Mossad warned Sunday that as the Islamic State terrorist group is beaten back, Iran and its proxies are rushing in to take over its territory.
At least 11 people die in Kenyan post-election violence
Tensions remained high in Kenya yesterday after 11 people died in violent protests and the opposition stood by its demand that the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta be overturned.
At least 18 dead after gunmen attack restaurant in Burkina Faso: official
Suspected Islamic extremists opened fire at a Turkish restaurant in the capital of Burkina Faso late Sunday, killing at least 18 people in the second such attack on a restaurant popular with foreigners in the last two years.
Strong earthquake strikes off Indonesian island of Sumatra
A strong earthquake struck Sunday off the coast of southern Sumatra in Indonesia, causing panic as it was felt several hundred miles (kilometers) away in Singapore.
Russia says Syrian government doubled territory it controls
The Syrian government has increased the size of the territory under its control by two and a half times in just two months, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Sunday, as Syrian forces backed by regional allies and the Russian air force seized thousands of square kilometers from the Islamic State group in the center of the country.
Two U.S. service members killed, five injured in northern Iraq
Two U.S. service members were killed and five injured during combat operations in northern Iraq on Sunday, the military said, adding that initial reports indicated the incident was not due to enemy contact.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Nasrallah threatens 'greater defeat' to Israel in future war
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah marked 11 years to the Second Lebanon War on Sunday with a speech in which he threatened that 'the defeat Israel suffered in 2006, it will suffer again, but it will be a much greater defeat.'
Netanyahu to introduce law making it easier to declare war: report
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promoting a legal amendment that would give him more leeway to declare war without consulting the full cabinet, Channel Two reported Sunday.
Protesting ban on visits, lawmaker to set up office outside Temple Mount
A Knesset lawmaker said Sunday he will set up his office outside an entrance to the Temple Mount in protest of an ongoing ban against MKs visiting the holy site in the Old City of Jerusalem, imposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Inside the United States
Democrats see ObamaCare leverage in spending fights
House Democrats want to use the looming battle over government spending and raising the debt limit as leverage to shore up ObamaCare.
Violence Breaks Out As Alt-Right and Anti-Facist Protesters Collide Leaving One Dead, DOJ to Investigate
US federal investigators said Saturday they have opened a civil rights investigation into the circumstances that led a driver to plow a car into a crowd while white nationalist activists and counter-protesters clashed in Charlottesville.
Trump's apparently split with Hill Republicans could widen when Congress returns to Washington
The breach will come in September. The breakpoint has been coming for a while now. It’s built over the past few weeks as President Trump browbeat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Christian News
Kidnapped Pastor in Nigeria Released from Five Days of Captivity
Suspecting corrupt police and accusing the Nigerian government of failing to contain a rash of kidnappings, Christian leaders announced that a pastor abducted last week was freed on Wednesday (Aug. 9).
Christian Rights Activists in Vietnam Charged with Serious ‘Crimes’
After 19 long months of investigative detention following his Dec. 16, 2015 arrest, renowned human rights attorney Nguyen Van Dai was finally charged with a crime on July 30.
Gospel Being Released into N Korea by Balloon Offensive (Video)
For nearly three decades, one Christian human rights group has carried out an unusual aerial offensive to encourage North Korea's secret believers.