Worthy Brief - 8/30/2023
Friend, blow wind blow!
John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Often in the Bible, you will see the word wind or breath. The root meaning of these words, both in Hebrew and Greek, is almost always Spirit. It is important to keep in mind that we can never dictate which direction the wind will blow. It would be absurd to think we could! The wind blows as it will. And in the same way, the Spirit of God blows where it wishes. Well if this is so, how can we be filled with the Spirit? Must we jump up and catch it and just hope for the best? No.
We need to be like a windmill. Windmills were designed to be propelled by the wind, no matter which direction it's blowing, in order to generate power. To be empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must do the same. We must be sensitive to which direction He is blowing in order make sure we are getting filled!
Friend, let's submit ourselves once again to the Spirit of God today! Take heed to which direction the Spirit is blowing and be empowered to do the work He has called us to!! We can do nothing without Him!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX)
(Baltimore, MD)
Editor's Note: We are planning our Fall Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia’s Bali and Java islands, causing panic across the country
A powerful earthquake and two strong aftershocks rocked Indonesia’s resort island of Bali and other parts of the country early Tuesday, causing panic but no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Nile Dam Talks Restart in Cairo With High Stakes for Regional Stability
Talks between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over the contentious $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam resumed on Sunday in Cairo, according to officials. Last month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed intentions to reach an agreement within four months on operating the dam, situated on the Blue Nile. The river merges with the White Nile in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum before flowing into Egypt and eventually the Mediterranean Sea.
Leaked ‘secret’ meeting between Israel and Libya sparks riots in Tripoli
The White House is reportedly "furious" with the Israeli government after they publicized a meeting between Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Syria says Aleppo airport to reopen, two days after alleged Israeli airstrike
Less than two days after Aleppo International Airport was shuttered when its runway was damaged in an airstrike attributed to Israel, Syria’s Transportation Ministry announced Tuesday evening it would reopen overnight.
Sierra Leone and Papua Guinea to open embassies in Jerusalem instead of Tel Aviv
Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone have announced they will be opening embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, CBN News reports.
Inside the United States
Hurricane Idalia forecasted to be ‘extremely dangerous’ Category 4 at landfall
Hurricane Idalia is forecasted to become an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 intensity storm when it makes landfall in Florida Wednesday morning.
Total Federal Debt Spikes $5T Under Biden
The federal debt has now increased more than $5 trillion during President Joe Biden’s administration, according to data released by the U.S. Treasury.
Trump trial date set for middle of Republican primary
A federal judge in former president Donald Trump’s election interference case set his court date for March 4, in the heart of the Republican primary battle.
DeSantis declares state of emergency as Idalia takes aim at Florida’s Big Bend
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 46 counties in Florida on Monday as Tropical Storm Idalia is predicted to make landfall as soon as Wednesday as a major hurricane. The National Hurricane Center predicts Idalia to stroke the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Christian News
Haiti: Seven Christians killed after pastor tells them to confront heavily armed gang
Seven evangelical Christians were murdered by heavily armed gang members in Caradeux, Haiti on Saturday after their pastor told them to pray for the “anointing of David” to confront the “Goliath” bandits with only sticks and machetes, the Christian Post reports. The murders took place as Haiti continues its descent into lawlessness and gang rule since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse two years ago.
India: At least 40 Madhya Pradesh churches issued with suspicious, “discriminatory” police questionnaires
Christians in India’s Madhya Pradesh state say police have issued at least 40 churches with suspicious, discriminatory, questionnaire notices requesting information they believe could be released to Hindu extremists to attack them with, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.