Prayer

Here is a word from David Wilkerson on prayer:

THE SECRET CLOSET

“Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).

In the past I’ve taught that because of the demands of making a living, we may have a “secret closet of prayer” anywhere: in the car, on the bus, during a break at work. In measure, this is true. But there is more to it. The Greek word for “closet” in this verse means “a private room, a secret place.” This was clear to Jesus’ listeners, because the homes in their culture had an inner room that served as a sort of storage closet. Jesus’ command was to go into that secret closet as an individual and shut the door behind you. There you will enter into the kind of prayer that cannot happen in church or with a prayer partner.

Jesus set the example for this, as he went to private places to pray. Over and over Scripture tell us that he “went aside” to spend time in prayer. No one had a busier life, as he was constantly pressed by the needs of those around him, with so little time to himself. Yet, we are told, “In the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). “When he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” (Matthew 14:23).

We all have excuses for why we don’t pray in secret, in a special place alone. We say we have no such private place, or no time to do it. Thomas Manton, a godly Puritan writer, says this: “We say we have no time to pray secretly. We yet have time for all else: time to eat, to drink, for children, yet not time for what sustains all else. We say we have no private place, but Jesus found a mountain, Peter a rooftop, the prophets a wilderness. If you love someone, you will find a place to be alone.”

Do you see the importance of setting your heart to pray in a secret place? It is not about legalism or bondage, but about love. It is about God’s goodness toward us. He sees what’s ahead and knows we need tremendous resources, daily replenishing. All of that is found in the secret place with him.

Terror Training Across the U.S.

The Christian Action Network has exposed over 30 training compounds within the United States, specifically devoted to terrorism. It is mind-boggling to think that Islamic terrorists have been given the freedom the train right here in our own country.

Seriously... our government puts out reports that Christians are to be deemed terrorists, people who like Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin are terrorists, people who are against a "new world order" are terrorists- but not these terror training, radicalized Muslims. That would be intolerant! Or Racist!

Watch this video below, and pay attention to a specific detail. Look at who is actually being trained in this video- it is women!!!

Christmas Day

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us

First Jesus-era house found in Nazareth

NAZARETH, Israel — Days before Christmas, Israeli archaeologists on Monday unveiled what they said were the remains of the first dwelling in Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus...

Nazareth holds a cherished place in Christianity. It is the town where Christian tradition says Jesus grew up and where an angel told Mary she would bear the child of God.

Alexandre said limited space and population density in Nazareth means it is unlikely that archeologists can carry out any further excavations in the area, leaving this dwelling to tell the story of what Jesus' boyhood home may have looked like.

The discovery at "this time, this period, is very interesting, especially as a Christian," Karam said. "For me it is a great gift."

To read the entire story, click here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jtdzeesvOZB8jOp_RNPXmUKONtawD9CNOF0G0

"Gulfo"- The New Gulf Currency

ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE ISLAMIC CALIPHATE

My Comments: Please do not overlook the importance of this move!

Telegraph.co.UK- The Arab states of the Gulf region have agreed to launch a single currency modelled on the euro, hoping to blaze a trail towards a pan-Arab monetary union swelling to the ancient borders of the Ummayad Caliphate.

“The Gulf monetary union pact has come into effect,” said Kuwait’s finance minister, Mustafa al-Shamali, speaking at a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) summit in Kuwait.

The move will give the hyper-rich club of oil exporters a petro-currency of their own, greatly increasing their influence in the global exchange and capital markets and potentially displacing the US dollar as the pricing currency for oil contracts. Between them they amount to regional superpower with a GDP of $1.2 trillion (£739bn), some 40pc of the world’s proven oil reserves, and financial clout equal to that of China.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar are to launch the first phase next year, creating a Gulf Monetary Council that will evolve quickly into a full-fledged central bank.

The Gulf currency – dubbed “Gulfo” – is likely to track a global exchange basket and may ultimately float as a regional reserve currency in its own right. “The US dollar has failed. We need to delink,” said Nahed Taher, chief executive of Bahrain’s Gulf One Investment Bank.

...The GCC also agreed to create a joint military strike force – akin to the EU’s rapid reaction force – to tackle threats such as the incursion of Yemeni Shiite rebels into Saudi territory earlier this year.

What is Chanukah? (Hanukkah)

In 2009, Chanukah (Hanukkah) is celebrated from December 11- December 19.

Many Christians do not know what Chanukah is or why it is celebrated.

What you may find interesting is the time period fits in perfectly with the study we just finished on the kings of the north and south (which was eventually narrowed down to the Seleucid Empire). This empire, under Antichus Epiphanes, invaded and controlled Israel, and defiled the temple in a way that foreshadows the future antichrist.

The Maccabean Revolt pushed the Seleucids out of the city, and took back the temple. This is the story told in the Book of Maccabees. This event explains why Chanukah is also called the Festival of Lights, and why the Menorah used during Chanukah is different than the "typical" Menorah (I will explain this in a separate post).

Below is an excerpt from Jonathan Bernis of Jewish Voice Ministries:

By Jonathan Bernis

The events we celebrate at Chanukah happened about 165 years before the birth of the Messiah. Like much of the rest of the world, Israel had been conquered by Alexander the Great. But he was a largely benevolent ruler, allowing the peoples he conquered to retain their religion and customs. After his death, Alexander’s kingdom was divided into four regions, and the Jews fell under the control of the Seleucids in Syria.

One hundred years after Alexander died, Antiochus IV, also called Antiochus Epiphanes, came to power. He greatly expanded the reach and control of the Syrian-based Empire. He had nearly conquered all of Egypt when the Romans stepped in and forced him to return to his native land. Not even Antiochus was willing to take on the power of Rome...

Antiochus placed a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the Temple, and sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Holy of Holies to defile it. When the Jewish priests refused to eat the meat of the pig, he had their tongues cut out before having them killed. Eventually all biblical observance was outlawed, from circumcision to observing the holy mo’edim.

Many chose compromise and accepted a Hellenized form of life as Antiochus killed many adults and children as a terrifying warning to all who would not deny the true God and worship him.

A small band of Jewish People revolted against the cruelty of Antiochus under the leadership of Judas Maccabee (which means “the hammer”) and his brothers, and escaped to the mountains. They refused to bow their knee to a pagan god and they believed the prophecies of Daniel held promise that this “abomination” would only last for a limited time.

Judas and his small band of men fought from the hills and the countryside against the larger occupying Syrian army, and were miraculously successful in driving them out of the country and reestablishing Jewish independence. In 165 BCE the Temple was freed and rededicated to the God of Israel. This is the event that sparked what is known to us as Chanukah, but the Festival commemorates the dedication of the Temple rather than the military victory.

Before the Temple could be used again for sacrifices and worship, it had to be cleansed of its defilement. The stones in the Holy of Holies had been desecrated by pig’s blood. The rabbis faced a dilemma. The stones themselves were considered to be holy, because they had been in the presence of the Shekinah glory of God. But they were also defiled.

The rabbis could not agree on what to do, so the decision was made to pile up those stones in the area of the Temple known as Solomon’s Portico. This way the defiled stones were not in contact with the holy things, but neither were they removed from the Temple. The rabbis taught that when the Messiah came, He would tell them what they should do with the defiled stones. Keep that in mind, because as we’ll see, Yeshua would indeed come to that part of the Temple— during the Festival of Chanukah.

Another part of the cleansing process was to relight the lampstand, or menorah that stood in the Holy Place of the Temple. The menorah was commanded to burn continually before the LORD, called the n’er tamid, the eternal light. (Lev. 24:2) It could only be lit from consecrated olive oil.

But most of the oil had been defiled by the Syrians. The rabbis were only able to find enough oil to light the lamp for one day. It would take eight days to prepare a new supply of consecrated oil. Miraculously, the oil that should only have lasted for one day kept the menorah burning for eight full days. This is why Chanukah is often called the Festival of Lights, and why it is celebrated today by lighting candles.

Ahmadinejad Says US Planning To Prevent Coming of Mahdi

My Comments: OK, so by now we all understand who the Mahdi is right? If you have read a few of my articles, you will know that I believe this Mahdi (aka Hidden Imam, or 12th Imam) to be the coming antichrist spoken of in the Bible.


Al Arabiya: Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he has documented evidence that the United States is doing what it can to prevent the coming of the Mahdi, the Imam that Muslims believe will be ultimate savior of mankind, press reports said Monday.“We have documented proof that they [U.S.] believe that a descendant of the prophet of Islam will raise in these parts [Middle East] and he will dry the roots of all injustice in the world,” the hard-line president said...

“They have devised all these plans to prevent the coming of the Hidden Imam because they know that the Iranian nation is the one that will prepare the grounds for his coming and will be the supporters of his rule." (click here to read the entire article: http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/12/07/93422.html

World Bank Gives Palestinian Authority $64 Million

The headline didn't sound terrible (although it certainly didn't sound wise), but read the rest below:

Associated Press: The Palestinian Authority on Sunday signed an agreement with the World Bank and other donors for $64 million to help it prepare for statehood.

World Bank official Shamshad Akhtar says the goal was to boost Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's plan to set up institutions for a state within two years, though talks with Israel are stalemated.


My Comments: Hmmm... Talks with Israel are at a stalemate, yet they are making preparations for a Palestinian State, including the establishment of "institutions". I'm sure the financing couldn't have anything to do with the EU wanting to create the Palestinian State without regard to Israel. Totally coincidental...

Turkey Signs Contract With Jordan

Examiner: "On December 1 Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Jordanian King Abdullah II agreed to abolish visa requirements between the two countries and create a free trade zone...
During his visit to Jordan Gul also opened an office in Qastal for a Turkish scheme to extract water from a Jordan's Disi aquifer. "Regional cooperation is a must to tackle water issues," said Gul.

President Gul took the opportunity to side with the Arabs against Israel, saying that the "Palestinian issue is not only a matter of Palestinians but of all Muslims. . . . The frictions in Jerusalem are not only a case of the Arabs. It is the case of all Muslims.”

Turkey, under the current mildly Islamist government, has clearly turned from its Western orientation to embrace a Muslim/Arab outlook. Turkey has been improving its relations with Syria, which in turn is Iran's most important Arab ally. A Turkish-Syrian-Iranian axis in the Middle East would be a worrying development. "
(To read the entire article, click here: http://www.examiner.com/x-4814-LA-Middle-Eastern-Policy-Examiner~y2009m12d3-Turkey-and-Jordan-sign-free-trade-agreement)


My comments: Turkey has certainly been busy creating alliances in the middle east (see the post from Dec 1, 2009). There is also no doubt that the current powers in Turkey are moving the country in a more "Islamic" direction, and they are doing it with speed and cunning.

I would expect the calls for the return of an Islamic Caliphate (one Islamic government to rule all Islamic countries) to become much louder in the near future.

EU- Let's Divide Jerusalem

Jerusalem Newswire:

- "European leaders plan to publicly demand next week that Israel's capital be cut in two, to be divided between the Jewish state and the non-existent state of "Palestine."

The EU will issue its call newly empowered by the Lisbon Treaty, which came into affect Tuesday, and which Europeans regard as placing them on a par with the United States."

-To read the entire article, click here: http://www.jnewswire.com/article/2716?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jnewswire+%28Jerusalem+Newswire%29&utm_content=Google+Reader


My Comments:
Whether this happens sooner or later, I believe this situation is described in Revelation 11:1-2, and will eventually come to pass:

1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

Turkey To Spearhead Union in Middle East, Nations Laud Move

Sunday's Zaman:
"The Turkish government has sealed two contracts in the past year with Syria and Iraq to establish a greater economic zone similar to that of the European Union...

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has had talks with... Armenia, the South Caucasus, the Middle East, Iran and the Balkans in the past 12 days. Developments in these regions directly concern Turkey, and Davutoğlu's sustained efforts both in Iraq and Syria have opened a new phase as Turkey will likely spearhead economic and political developments in the Middle East."



To read the entire article, click below:
http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=187630