Mary visits Elizabeth in Luke 1.50. It was a baby in utero who 1st rejoiced and recognized Jesus’ arrival! But what does he bring us? Check it out by clicking the play button below!
As we check out Luke 1.16-17, the Angel Gabriel tells us our main responsibility this season! Take a couple of minutes and check it out here at the play button!
Just to be clear: Eagles In Leadership stands firmly with Israel and blatantly condemns Hamas for its ongoing hatred of Israel.
We pray for the grieving and those terrorized and plead with the Lion of Judah to deal with these doers of evil swiftly, completely, and unequivocally.
Doc was asked by a radio station this weekend to share his thoughts on what’s going on in Israel right now. Here’s what he shared with them. And hopefully it will be encouraging and illuminating to you as well.
First, we have to remember God is in control. He prophesied that Israel would become a nation, he birthed it and it’s not going away.
Second, Jesus said, “In this world, you will have many tribulations. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We don’t get easy street as the people of God, including our Jewish cousins.
Third, the legacy media will always paint Israel badly because they hate the nation because they hate the God of the nation. Sift what you see and what you hear. They have an agenda and it doesn’t include the people of God, specifically Israel at this moment.
Fourth, we need to pray by faith. They’ve come against the Lion of Judah. And he isn’t happy about his people suffering. Trust God. He’s in control and knows what’s best and how to defeat evil.
Fifth, Don’t react in the moment. Let God’s power and plan work itself out. What may appear to be awful may be used to accomplish a greater victory. The Bible is filled with such stories. Faith trusts God in the midst of adversity.
Sixth, remember these are the Last Days. And so, the focus of Satan is on the destruction of Israel. Anyone who knows anything about prophecy knows that the bitter comes before Jesus returns. Remember the Valley of Armageddon and its ultimate purpose. Whether any of this is a precursor or not to that last battle isn’t ours to know yet. What we do know is that wars are part of these Last Days.
Finally, choose hope in King Jesus. He is working the Father’s plan written before the foundation of the world. In the end, we win. In the middle, we suffer. It’s not a popular message to Americans, but to Biblical Christians, we’ve known this for decades. So, it’s time to pray for Israel and our own nation. It’s time to pray for revival in our churches. And. It’s time to repent of any sin we’ve allowed to creep in to our daily routines. After all, Jesus may visibly return sooner than we think for His Bride. We don’t want to be caught napping!
As someone who’s been to Israel 7 times and has many, many friends in Israel let me tell you that God has kept them safe so far.
And, Lord willing, Kate and I will lead another group to walk where Jesus walked starting November 29 this year.
“My enemies speak maliciously about me: “When will he die and be forgotten?” When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully; he stores up evil in his heart; he goes out and talks. All who hate me whisper together about me; they plan to harm me. “Something awful has overwhelmed him, and he won’t rise again from where he lies!” Even my friend in whom I trusted, one who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:5–9, CSB)
David knew the sting of verbal attacks that happen behind our backs! He understood that even so-called friends can whisper and attempt to derail our work for God! Notice their strategies which he outlines …
Saying the worst about us (5)
Speaking insincerely about us (6)
Gathering falsehoods while with us (7)
Spreading bad reports about us (7)
Imagining the worst about us (8)
So, how do we combat these attacks? What do we do when we feel the knives of the whisperer in our backs? Listen to David’s next steps in prayer …
“But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up; then I will repay them. By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. You supported me because of my integrity and set me in your presence forever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.” (Psalm 41:10–13, CSB)
David chooses to ask God to …
Have pity on him (10)
Put him back on his feet so he could pay them back (10)
Show him God is pleased with him by not allowing his enemies to defeat him (11)
Uphold him because of his innocence (12)
Establish him in God’s presence forever (12)
Bless God with praise (13)
How will you handle your enemies who whisper about you? Will you be like David? Will you hand the job of dealing with them over the the Almighty, All-Creative One?
We have pastors in India who are reporting distressing news coming from Northeast India.
Pastor Rao, a dear friend in ministry there, reports:
Manipur the north-eastern state of India is burning due to Ethnic Violence, Hindu religious extremists, RSS, BJP government. Our hearts are broken when we heard 2 women were made naked, sexually harassed, molested, raped, and killed by the riots. 357 Churches are burned, 129 people are killed, 1500 Christian villages are targetted, 40,000 people are injured, 6,000 villagers left their houses and sheltered in the mountains, and 4,550 houses are demolished this is the story of Manipur. No idea when the situations are going to be normal but we cannot sit quietly and observe until the Christians are destroyed and the law is completely eradicated.
So I am planning to visit Manipur by next month’s 2nd week to encourage morally, join the wounded hands with prayers, and to help them with some groceries. I had a phone conversation with the Manipur Baptist Convention secretary and found the details of the needs of Manipur people.
Pastor Ebenezer, our friend whom Doc and Henry did a mission trip in 2019 with, reports:
We Churches together in Eluru city have conducted a peace rally seeking peace and justice and represented to Govt to protect Christians from atrocities by fanatics who have demolished 300 churches (burned), several killed and women made naked and published nude videos of Christian women in MANIPUR state in India. Please pray for peace and protection of Christians in Manipur state in India.🙏🙏🙏
By his grace I still need to hear from our previous students it’s up northeast and for 79 days the internet was stopped there by the government. It was only restored a few days back we are receiving updates slowly. Please pray pastor.
Please join Eagles In Leadership as we pray for God’s intervention and peace to return to Northeast India. Pray for …
These families are consoled
These women to be emotionally healed
These Church buildings are replaced
These other religions be shamed
Peace to return
THE GOSPEL SPREAD LIKE A WILDFIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS PERSECUTION!
We hear it all the time in the Mythology of Churchianity:God blesses all people the same, or God doesn’t have favorites. But, does God treat everyone the same way?
David tells us, “No! He does not!” In fact, we are told that God treats us the way we are, based on the Content of our Character! Listen as He explains …
You deal faithfully with the faithful;
You show integrity toward the one who has integrity.
You are pure toward the pure,
But toward the crooked, you are tricky.
You are the one who saves people who suffer and
You bring down those with proud eyes.” (Psalm 18:25–27, CEB)
Today, think about your choices, they reflect your character – who you really are. And remember …
We are the way we are BECAUSE we are the way we are!
Choose a better choice each time because God will treat us the way we are, not the way we want Him to!
“For the leader. By David: In Adonai I find refuge. So how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains! See how the wicked are drawing their bows and setting their arrows on the string, to shoot from the shadows at honest men. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:1–3, CJB)
Have you ever been so stressed because of the constant attacks from your adversaries and enemies? You do have enemies, don’t you? If not, you’re not a child of God. For His children have a legion of enemies in Lucifer and his armies of fallen spirits (demons).
Here David refocuses us on the truth: We have a foundation and that foundation is God!
“Adonai is in his holy temple. Adonai, his throne is in heaven. His eyes see and test humankind.” (Psalm 11:4, CJB)
Today, don’t get so focused on the enemies and the attacks that you miss seeing the Almighty God and His watch care over you! There is nothing to fear, for He is here!
Attacks come from all sides! You just suffered a huge personal loss and NOW your enemies jump you in your darkness. What does the disciple of King Jesus do?
David responds prays! “He said: “I love you, Adonai, my strength! “Adonai is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I find shelter, my shield, the power that saves me, my stronghold. I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise; and I am saved from my enemies. “For the cords of death surrounded me, the floods of B’liya‘al terrified me, the ropes of Sh’ol were wrapped around me, the snares of death lay there before me. In my distress I called to Adonai; I cried out to my God. Out of his temple, he heard my voice; my cry reached his ears.” (Psalm 18:2–7, CJB)
Note this isn’t one of those soft, churchy, powerless prayers. This is an all-in, loud distress call to the Almighty God sitting on the Throne of Mercy! When David “called on and called to” Adonai (Hebrew word replacing the too-holy name, Yahweh), he tells us what that meant: I cried out to my God.
That must have been some prayer! It was heard all the way into Heaven! And what did God DO in response to David’s drained, desperate, and determined call for mercy and to find help in his time of need? The passage goes on to say, Adonai …
Heard David (7
Got angry with David’s enemies (8
Blazed against David’s enemies (9
Came down to David (10
Flew on a cherub (type of angel) (11
Stormed against David’s enemies (12-13
Thundered His voice against David’s enemies (14
Scattered and routed David’s enemies (15
Rebuked David’s enemies (16
Rescued David (17-18
Supported David (19
Moved David to safety (20
Rewarded David (21-25
So when you have had enough. When you are too down to look up! Make some noise before God! Cry out to your God. Out of his temple, he will hear your voice; your cry will reach his ears!
Entering Into Death’s Shadow Valley is Dr. Matthew Lee Smith’s journey through the horrific process of losing his life-partner, Melodee Joy. It is meant to help others who enter this treacherous and often perilous path.
These books will help guide your daily Bible reading with insights into each passage you read.
This series is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.
These journals will help you keep track of your daily reading and prayer requests.
Hope Enabler is the real-life story of one Christian parent’s struggle with a runaway child and the hope that God enabled her to have during the darkest moments of that struggle.
Hope Enabler is the real-life story of one Christian parent’s struggle with a runaway child and the hope that God enabled her to have during the darkest moments of that struggle.
