- REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION—SMYRNA
This week, we focus on the Church of Smyrna, who were exhorted to prepare themselves for the coming persecution.
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’ (Rev. 2:8-11 NKJV)
For greater understanding, here is this passage in the Amplified Bible:
And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again. I know your affliction and distress and pressing trouble and your poverty—but you are rich! and how you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.
He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death. (Rev. 2:8-11 AMP)
“Father God, we stand in the gap for those among us who are false brethren and who, thinking they are following You, are instead following the lies of the deceiver. We ask that You would rescue each one of them while there is yet time, and bring them to Your truth.”
“We ask, too, for the grace to prepare our hearts, that we might be found faithful to stand in the time of coming persecution. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
- REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION: THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
“Special Interest” Groups Terrorize Children’s Hearts
As you have heard me say before, even though the number of movies and other entertainment with positive, morally uplifting, Christian content has increased tremendously in the past decade, there has also been an increase in the “special interest” groups who would seek to undermine the Christian moorings of our nation.
These groups—or Media Terrorists—work tirelessly to put more graphic violence, more explicit sex, more homosexual content, and more corruption into our entertainment media because they know that our children spend their time immersed in the media.
According to the latest research, by the time a child is 17, he or she will have spent 63,000 hours consuming media such as movies, television, music & Internet.
Conversely, by the time he or she is 17, they will have spent only 11,000 hours in school (82% less), only 2,000 hours with their parents (96% less), and only 800 hours in church (99% less)—and that’s if they go to church every week!
Those numbers clearly show who is teaching our children.
The masters of media manipulation know how impressionable our young audience is—especially teenagers, who make up the most influential segment of the entertainment industry’s audience. And, as our children and grandchildren are preparing to return to school, these media terrorists are planning new ways to grab their attention.
Media Smart Bombs Put Children in the Line of Fire
Many media conglomerates are continuing to merge movies, television, videos and the Internet with cell phones and iPods, so that any child can have access to the media anywhere and at any time. . . even the pornography industry is doing it!
This continuous assault of sexual, violent, immoral imagery to which they are being exposed is putting our children in the line of fire. This is mental & spiritual rape!
I cannot guarantee that your children and grandchildren will not be affected by these technological smart bombs and this media terrorism, but I can guarantee that I will fight this battle with you so that we can stop this terrible depravity.
(Source: MovieGuide)
“Father God, in the Name of Jesus, we ask You to forgive us as a nation for our idolatry of the “stars” of Hollywood. We ask Your forgiveness for supporting movies (and television programs through their advertisers) that foment sex, violence, promiscuity, and all kinds of wickedness—parading these vile acts across our television and movie screens every hour of every day of the week. We see the fruit of our participation in this wickedness as we view the confusion and disorientation of our own children and youth.”
“We thank You, Lord, for the passage and signing into law of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, and we ask that this law be enforced to the fullest extent possible. We ask that You would restore hope to our people, Father, for we have lost our way and have become mesmerized in the sea of debris that floods our airwaves now. Thank You, Father, for hearing our prayer of repentance, and we trust You to lead us in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
- THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: PRAYERS FOR SAFETY AT THE NORTHERN BORDER
[Source: Eitan Shishkoff; Tents of Mercy (Ohalei Rachamim)]
Current Developments
[As of Friday, July 21, 2006]
I cannot possibly write these words or send out this e-mail fast enough, to keep up with the developments in the war on my nation of Israel. The entire region around Haifa is under bombardment. Many 100's of rockets have fallen throughout northern Israel, the Galilee, where I, and thousands of Messianic believers live, work, and worship.
Akko, Upper Nazareth, Tiberias area, Haifa, and the Kryot (nearest the large oil refinery Hizbollah is targeting), are the exact locations of the congregations I serve. Towns that have never been hit this way, or at least not for decades, are experiencing the wickedness of Hizbollah, propelled to this madness by Iran (Persia). Israeli citizens have been killed in their own homes, after our government has gone to sacrificial extremes to withdraw from conflict. But conflict is obviously not withdrawing from us.
In recent years, the Spirit of God has been arousing Christians on every continent, to love and pray for Israel. It would seem that you have been brought to the Kingdom for just "such a time as this," when there is a life and death need, to intercede before the King for Israel's enemies to be destroyed.
How then, Shall We Pray?
Here are a few simple suggestions. May God guide you and take you to an unprecedented place of identification with Israel, intimacy with Himself, and intensity in spiritual warfare.
LET GOD ARISE. LET HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED; LET THOSE ALSO WHO HATE HIM FLEE BEFORE HIM. (Psalm 68:1)
This is God's battle. Let us call on Him who loves Israel and has established her for His testimony in the earth. We
can authoritatively pray confusion and dissolution upon Israel's enemies. Pray utilizing passages like Isaiah 41:8-14, in which God makes clear that He has brought Jacob back to his land, and that He will uphold us with His righteous right hand. "Those who were incensed against you, shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.” (Isaiah 41:11)
It is entirely Biblical and would grab the attention of our nation, if this war were to be decided through overtly miraculous intervention on God's part. Let us pray so.
SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD. YOUR BLESSING IS UPON YOUR PEOPLE. (Psalm 3:8)
This entire chapter is vividly relevant to our situation. It also speaks of the danger we are in, of God arising and of the enemy being broken. But God's interest is always ultimately in the salvation of His people.
"How shall we look to Him whom we have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10)
We are surrounded by enemies and pressed to look beyond our previous national conclusions about who or what Messiah is. It is time to pray for our eyes to be opened to Yeshua. This is not the final battle, but it is a prelude. Please pray for fresh BOLDNESS, FAITH, LOVE, UNITY and the SUPERNATURAL LEADING of the SPIRIT for all of Israel's Messianic believers.
BUT YOU, O LORD, ARE A SHIELD FOR ME, MY GLORY AND THE LIFTER OF MY HEAD. (Psalm 3:3)
Clearly, we need God to be our shield. Some missiles have been falling into the Mediterranean Sea. Another hit a grove of trees inside a very crowded residential/commercial area in Haifa. I just spoke with the leader of the Akko Messianic congregation, who told me that the three-story building that was destroyed in Haifa, was EMPTY! He said a synagogue in Akko, was wiped out only 10 minutes after its worshipers walked out. Angelic protection is an established reality in the history of Israel's conflicts...both in Bible times and in recent history such as the Six Day War in '67.
Father, we call upon You, to release angelic hosts to deflect weapons aimed against us, and to place shields over our soldiers, and over our citizens. And may those who are truly innocent in the territory we are having to counter-attack, be spared as well.
Eitan Shishkoff
Tents of Mercy (Ohalei Rachamim)
Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries