All posts by Kameel Majdali

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Prophet to Nineveh: Why Study the Book of Nahum? Part 02

THEME OF BOOK OF NAHUM
Nahum is one of the 12 minor prophets in the Bible. Like Obadiah and Jonah, his prophecy is primarily directed to a foreign entity: Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, located in what is now known as Northern Iraq. Though this same city repented at the preaching of Jonah, 150 years later, its pride, arrogance, and sin made it ripe for irreversible judgement. It has passed the point of no return.
(Capernaum Church, near the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum means ‘village of Nahum.)

In Part 02, we will learn the key verses, summary, and outline of Nahum.
KEY VERSES OF NAHUM
Nahum 1:7: The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nahum 3:5-7: Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. 6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock. 7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
SUMMARY OF NAHUM
Like Babylon the Great, Nineveh was an impressive city. It had 200 towers, 30 metre high walls, wide enough to race 3 chariots abreast, with a 50 metre wide water-filled moat. It was meant to last forever. Yet, like Babylon, it came to a swift and final end. It was unknown to the world for centuries until an Englishman named Layard discovered it in 1820.
The Book of Nahum consists of three oracles, corresponding to its 3 chapters. The Divine Declaration: God gives Nahum a word for Nineveh: the Lord is just, righteous, good and powerful. Assyria, because of its sins, including idolatry and cruelty, will be destroyed and Judah will no longer under their imperial thumb. Visit the British Museum in London and see the carved reliefs of Mesopotamia – they show this cruelty in graphic terms.
Description: Nahum gives the vivid details of Nineveh’s destruction, as if he were watching it on a large screen, with the scarlet uniforms. Though the lion represents authority and strength, Nineveh will be the toothless lion, incapacitated and no longer a threat to anyone.
Why: Nineveh’s destruction was due to its cruelty and idolatry. Nineveh will be caught unprepared and its demise will be like Thebes in Egypt. Once destruction comes, the world will not mourn Nineveh’s passing.
Nahum prophesied in Nineveh and apparently never left. His traditional grave is on the west bank of the Tigris River. The city of Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus had His headquarters, may have been named after him (Kefar Nahum, village of Nahum), though this is only conjecture.
Lessons for Life: No earthly empire, no matter how powerful, lasts forever. Some of history’s greatest imperial realms have seemed to be invincible but in the end they all collapse. The only enduring kingdom is the one God builds and leads.
History is written by the victor: Since the kingdom is the Lord’s, it is His Word and kingdom that lasts forever. The entire Bible is inspired by the Great Victor, the first and last word on sacred history and divine destiny.
Peace: In this midst of judgement, conflict and destruction, God proclaims peace for His people (1:15). That’s the message of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27).
Promise: In this prophecy of Nahum, despite the horrors of judgement, is the promise that the Lord God is a stronghold in the day of trouble and He knows those who belong to him (1:7). Contrast this with Jesus’ warning ‘I never knew you,’ which is a judgement unto condemnation (Matthew 7:23).
Bottom Line: Get to know God personally (John 17:3), and make sure He knows you.
Your future depends on it.
OUTLINE OF NAHUM
I.        God the Judge and His Judgement (1:1-15)
A.     How God judges (1:2-17)
B.      Demise of Nineveh is at Hand (1:8-11, 14)
C.      Reassurance to Surviving Judah (1:12-13, 15)
II.     Declaration of Nineveh’s Fall (2:1-13)
A.     Introduction (2:1-2)
B.      Military confrontation (2:3-5)
C.      City destroyed (2:6-12)
D.     God speaks (2:13)
III.  Why Nineveh is Being Judge (3:1-19)
A.     Nineveh’s transgression (3:1-4)
B.      The justice of God (3:5-19)

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Issues Facing the Church: Road to Mental Health Part 02

One of the much neglected but pressing issues today in society, and the church, is in the area of mental health. In Part 01 we defined mental health as a fully operative cognitive skills, sense of understanding one’s gifting and limitations, an ability to cope with stress, living a productive and fruitful life that contributes to society. The opposite of mental health is mental illness.
Causes of mental illness are numerous, but they have to do with personal challenges and adverse circumstances. While some people may need medication, all who suffer can gain wholeness through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. At the end of this article we offer some Scriptures to meditate on.
Some Practical Solutions
On the practical side, we suggested a balanced diet as a help to mental wholeness. Here are some other helpful tips:
Sleep: Getting adequate sleep is important, though experts disagree on how much is enough. It is not just the quantity, but the quality that matters. A couple of points: try to unwind for 15-20 minutes during the day, and then again before bedtime. Smart phone, tablets, and PCs can stimulate the brain, so avoid using them before bedtime. If you wake up in the middle of the night, and cannot go back to sleep after 20 minutes, get up, do something relaxing (e.g. warm drink, reading, soothing music, etc.) for about 20-40 minutes, and then return to bed.
Managing your ‘body clock’ is very important, therefore go to bed around the same time, especially if you are sleepy, and get up the same time every day, including weekends. These proven suggestions will help you get a better night’s sleep.
As the old adage goes: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Vitamin D, Sunshine, and Exercise: Vitamin D is very important and it comes from sunshine and supplementation. It even builds up a cold-and-flu resistant immune system. Have your doctor check your Vitamin D levels. A recent study suggests that 45 minutes a week of vigorous exercise may be all that is necessary for fitness, but if you have time, more activity is good.
Activity: Be involved in meaningful and fulfilling activity, be it your job, volunteer work, or ministry involvement.
Attitude: This is very important – believing for the best, being grateful and positive, and avoid negativity and cynicism. Trust God and let Him dominate all thoughts. Jettison all vestiges of bitterness and un-forgiveness. Bad attitudes have a nasty way of holding back or even shipwrecking the holder. As the late Bob Gass said: A bad attitude is like a flat tyre. Unless you change it … you aren’t going anywhere.
Devotion & Discipleship: We who have come to Christ are new creation: the old passes away and the new takes its place. However, the lack of discipleship is causing people to live far below the Biblical standard of a Christian life. Discipleship is to follow Jesus with all of your heart, all of the time. Only by discipleship can you gain the full benefits of Biblical, Spirit-filled Christian living.
Your devotional life is not optional: incorporate Bible reading, prayer, confession the Word, praise and worship in your time with God. Meditate on Scripture promises and confess them aloud can do wonders. Find a spiritually mature, trusted friend, and pray with them regularly until you have your breakthrough. Finally, Scripture meditation is very powerful; practice it regularly and you will succeed in all you do (Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 1:2-3). All these things will bring you on the pathway to wholeness. If you’re having trouble disciplining yourself to do these things, again, get a trusted person to work with you.
Scriptures to Meditate On
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the help (or health) of my countenance, and my God.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You. 4 Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength: 
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Why is 2020 Such A Crazy Year?

Street Riots. Looting. Student protests. Buildings occupied. Police attacked. A home-grown leftist rebellion shaking the institutes of power. It was a full-blown rebellion, even a cultural revolution. No, this is not about the George Floyd riots of 2020. It’s the key year of 1968. While China was having its own Mao-inspired cultural revolution at that time (1966-1976), the West was rocked by home-grown leftism, which includes communism, socialism, fascism, and Nazism (Note: while some say Nazism was ‘right-wing,’ not only were its methods leftist, but it used the words ‘National Socialism’ in is title).

On April 4th, 1968, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, a crime that spawned riots in over 100 American cities. Protests in Paris became frighteningly close to a leftist takeover. In June, US Presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down in Los Angeles. Two months later the Democratic Party’s Presidential Convention was disrupted by violent protests and riots in Chicago. It was the apotheosis of rebellion, like the overflow of lava from a volcanic eruption.
The 1960s were the age of the contraception (birth control) pill, the sexual revolution, with ‘free love,’ banning of prayer in public schools, the Beatles, eastern religion, hallucinogenic drugs, anti-Vietnam War protests, rise of the New Age Movement, Age of Aquarius, and Woodstock 1969. Leftism was cool and trendy. Despite the potency of the rebellion, anti-communist Richard Nixon was elected President in 1968 and calm eventually returned.
Despite the rhetoric and eftism was exposed in all its horror:
1.        1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union;
2.        Repression in Castro’s Cuba, with a stream of boat people fleeing the island nation and landing on the Florida coast;
3.        Backlash in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975;
4.        Soviet clampdown on Poland in 1981;
5.        Tiananmen Square 1989;
All these events, and more, made people think twice about utopian leftism, where 120 million people died under its banner in the 20th Century. Then the Cold War ended, the Soviet Union disappeared off the map, and it seemed Marxism-Leftism was truly dead and buried.
Not so. Leftism is having a revival and its is manifest by the on-going cultural civil war, as well as the unrest triggered by the death in police custody of George Floyd.
Topic
1960s
2020s
Villain
Bourgeoise
White privilege
Area of Oppression
Economy
Culture
Apostles
Marxism-Leninism
Gramsci & Marcuse
Seminal Writings
Das Kapital – Marx
Repressive Tolerance – Marcuse
Victims
Working class – proletariat
Minorities
The Challenge
Class Structure
Ethnicity
Rights Sought
Worker’s Rights
Transgender Rights
Burning Issue
Imperialism
Racism
Ethnic Focus
Cuba’s paradise
Palestinian victims
Enemies:
Western capitalism
Western capitalism & Soviet totalitarianism
Physical gesture
Black power fist
Taking the knee
Focus of Hate
President Richard Nixon
President Donald Trump
Celebration
Rock and Roll
Pride parades
Status
Left as Counter-culture
Left as Dominant culture via media, academia, Hollywood, & judiciary
Marxism-Leftism: 1960s and 2020s
Introducing Cultural Marxism
Back to our original question: Why is 2020 such a crazy year? The pandemic lockdown caused a bored, frustrated, confined population ready to explode. Yet there is a socio-cultural reason in understanding the crisis in America and the West. There are several streams flowing that support leftism and neo-Marxism: Progressivism, Postmodernism, and Cultural Marxism. The unrests and riots of 2020 are highly dominated by the latter, though they are influenced by the others. In some ways, there is a coalition of all three streams which is causing a volatile cocktail (another reason for the craziness is that there are potent spiritual forces at work – but we will address this issue in a subsequent article).
Cultural Marxism goes beyond the economic theory of classic Marxism in seeking the liberation’ of ‘oppressed groups’ in areas of gender, race, sexuality, and other identities. Notable Cultural Marxist groups include ‘Occupy Wall Street,’ ‘Black Lives Matter,’ ‘Antifa,’ ’Extinction Rebellion,’ ‘Safe Schools,’ ‘School Strike for Climate,’ and ‘Liberation Theology.’
The goal of Cultural Marxism is not reform, but revolution; not change, but chaos; not building up but tearing down. To them, the system is irredeemably broken and must be completely destroyed. The ‘system’ includes democratic government, authority figures like leaders, police and military, capitalism, small business, private property, marriage, family, and the Church.
Cultural Marxists see oppression in heterosexuality, the white race, cisgender (personal identity and gender corresponded to their birth sex), and Christianity. So they want to tear this all down and champion pansexuality, diversity, transgenderism, and Islam.
Social justice, feminism, transgenderism, neo-progressivism, post-colonialism are under the banner of Cultural Marxism. Key terms, like ‘tolerance,’ ‘justice,’ and ‘racism’ are subject to redefinition – you would not recognise the meaning of these terms today.
And there’s more: as individuals, every aspect of our identity like race, family, culture, sexual orientation, and gender is no longer taken as a given; it is questioned and traditional things are to be altered for the sake of liberating oppressed minorities.
A History Lesson
How did Marxism, which killed millions, failed in its mission of a worker’s paradise, and collapsed into a heap at the end of the Cold War, make such a virile and vicious comeback in the West? By a clever and patient strategy.
In the year Karl Marx died in 1883, the Fabian Socialists came into being. Their goal was socialism by evolution rather than revolution. The pathway to the worker’s paradise would be incremental and done ‘inside the system,’ in other words it would be quietly subversive. Of interest, their logo included a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing.’
Following the Fabians was Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937), who founded the Italian Communist Party. Imprisoned by Benito Mussolini, he had time to write 1000s of pages on ‘cultural hegemony’ of the bourgeoisie, which they used to control society. He was noted for advocating the undermining of Judaeo-Christian culture from the inside, thus a quiet neo-Marxist revolution.
Around the same time in the 1930s was the Frankfurt School. Their claim to fame was ‘critical thinking’ where every aspect of culture was criticised incessantly. One of the key intellectuals was neo-Marxist Herbert Marcuse, who taught on ‘repressive tolerance.’ The idea of the Frankfurt School was to translate Marxism from an economic theory into a cultural dynamic.
Then came Saul Alinsky (1909-1972), an American Marxist who wrote the playbook which is being used today.
Next time, we will learn how Alinsky’s methods have become standard procedure with Cultural Marxists, the role of education, and the best response to this rising phenomena. To be continued.

Articles, Education, Persecution, Prophecy, Teaching

Beyond Covid-19: Is There A Word from the Lord? Prophetic Times & Signs

Whether in times of peace or pandemic, calm or crisis, weariness or war, it is of the utmost importance that we have ‘ears to hear’ what the Holy Spirit is saying. Fortunately for us all, He is saying a lot.
The Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns, economic downturns, protests and riots are a societal shaking. One of the purposes of shaking is to get our attention. This is not to say necessarily that God instigated these things (much of it He did not); however, He can and will use the unsavoury to fulfil His glorious purposes.
So far, we have learned that God is always speaking (Hebrews 1:2) and we live in a time of increasing deception (Matthew 24:4; II Thessalonians 2:9-12). This creates a dangerous scenario of false messiahs / false christs (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).
The last thing you want to do is following the wrong Jesus; the first thing you should do is follow the right Jesus. And we learned that the right Jesus is the Son of David, Messiah/Christ, Son of God, and Saviour.
We Need the Prophetic
Amos 3:7: Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
From here, the Lord of Glory, as the Good Shepherd who guides His sheep, wants to give us a prophetic early warning service. In times like these we should cherish the prophetic books of the Bible, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the ministry of prophecy, more than ever. After all, prophecy is the brightest light we have in this planet until Jesus, the ‘light of the world,’ comes (II Peter 1:19). Prophecy provides a ‘heads up’ on the future, an ‘early warning’ service – what a priceless benefit.
God wants us to be the first to know, not the last to find out.
And there is more. Prophecy  is an incentive for evangelism and holy living, and provides edification and comfort of the Church. We impoverish ourselves by deliberate or inadvertent neglect.
One the interesting concepts in prophecy is that God provides a way of escape, even salvation, throughout Scripture. Noah’s ark is the first major example: those who were found therein were saved from the judgement of the flood. Joseph’s storehouse saved people from famine. The blood of the passover lamb caused the death angel to pass over. Rahab’s scarlet coloured cord, tied in the window of her house, was a mark of salvation to all who came under her roof. Her faith and obedience converted her home into ‘God’s safe space.’
Word from the Lord?
We live in a period of Prophetic Times and Signs
In answer to the question of what will be the sign of His coming and the end of the age, Jesus offered some very practical advice in Matthew 24:6-13. We can summarise these in the following signs:
1.         Wars: There will be the tumult of wars and rumours of wars. War is always a costly and deadly activity, yet there will be increase in frequency, cost, and lethality. Hebrew Christian scholar Arnold Fruchtenbaum says that the phrase ‘wars and rumours of wars’ is an idiot for world wars. If so, remember, it was only in the 20th Century that we had world wars. Each one slaughtered millions of  soldiers and civilians, then creating a new world order once they finished;
2.         Pestilences: Despite many wonderful breakthroughs in medical science and procedure, we still face the prospect of deadly diseases. The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic has cause more disruption to life on this planet than any other global health emergency since the 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed millions in the aftermath of the Great War;
3.         Earthquakes: Whether earthquakes are increasing may be subject to debate, but earthquakes today have a greater potential of damage simply because everything is more costly;
4.         Persecution: The God of the Bible is represented by two groups of people: the Jewish people and the Christians, hence the phrase Judaeo-Christianity. As we get closer to the end of the age, Satanic opposition will increase and he will be full of wrath, knowing his time is short. Since Satan cannot attack God, who is far more powerful, he targets those who symbolise God. Therefore, do not be surprised at the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Christian persecution, which are at levels higher than we have seen in living memory, except for the Holocaust;
5.         False prophets: These guys (and a few gals) have been around a long time, but there will become more numerous, vocal, and perhaps potent, conjuring up signs and lying wonders. Ask God for the gift of discernment so you can detect the wolf from the sheep (hint:knowing the Bible and being led of the Spirit is the chief way to cultivate discernment. Jesus gives us specific keys to discernment in Matthew 7:15-20);
6.         Increased sin: While we don’t hear much about sin like we used to, be aware: Sin is alive, well, and thriving on planet earth. The erosion of Judaeo-Christian values has resulted in an explosion of depravity and devilish behaviour. The salt has lost its savour. Prophetic-oriented people don’t dive into the cesspool, they keep their garments spotlessly white, for they are worthy;
7.         Decreased love: The temporary flourishing of iniquity will cause love to grow cold. The exception: those who have the ‘fruit of the Spirit,’ which is love (Galatians 5:22), will not decrease in love, anymore than God’s love will;
8.         Good news about the good news: By now, one would feel discouraged by the explosion of evil. Yet, take heart, the light is getting brighter on the ‘path of the just’ (Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 60:1-2), just as the dark is getting darker. Along with the growing apostasy will be the greatest revivals ever. The gospel of the kingdom will go forth in growing power and platform during these days.
It has been said that when the moon goes down from the sky, the night becomes its darkest. Yet, the profound message is that the moon goes down just before the dawn. Take heart: God is still on the throne and He is preparing a light that can never be put out.
—To be continued

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

TAKE YOUR REST: THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT PART 02

Jesus and the Sabbath
As a Torah-observant Jew, Jesus certainly recognised the Sabbath; after all, He was regularly in a synagogue on that special day. Like a normal rabbi, He ‘worked’ on the Sabbath by reading the Law or teaching in the synagogue. Yes, Jesus observed the Sabbath day, but not the tradition of the elders.
Healing on the Sabbath
 In the famous incident in Mark 3:1-6, Jesus healed the man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. While most reasonable, normal people would rejoice at such a great miracle; indeed, the pious could view this as a sign that Messiah had come. Yet the Pharisees had a different view. Threatened and jealous over His success, they saw their power base eroded by this unordained rabbi from Galilee. They were losing the warm glow of the spotlight. Therefore they watched with suspicion if He would healed the crippled man. If the miracle occurred, they would use it as a basis to accuse and silence Him.
Jesus puts His critics on the spot: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or evil? To save life or kill it? They simply said nothing, thus incurring His anger because of their hardness of hearts. No longer willing to wait for the slightest sign of compassion, Jesus gave the command to the man to stretch forth His hand and as he did, the healing occurred. Glory to God.
While most people were impressed, perhaps to the point of believing in Jesus as Messiah, the Pharisees and a rival Jewish sect called the Herodians, were incensed. They conspired together on a simple goal: How they could destroy Him (Mark 3:6)?
Other ‘Sabbath violations:’ Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:10) and the blind man at the Pool of Siloam (John 9:14); both of these miracles were on the Sabbath day. The legalistic interpretation of the 4th Commandment blinded the Pharisees and others from Messiah’s glory.
Theology of the Sabbath
Jesus’ theology on the sabbath was very simple: The Sabbath exists for the benefit of man; man is not there to serve the Sabbath. We will learn more about this soon.
We would do well to examine Matthew 12:1-8
Of course, it is the Sabbath day. Jesus and His followers are walking through the grain fields and they were feeling peckish. So they picked the heads of the grain and ate them. This would appear to be a harmless and understandable action for 13 hungry men. Yet, from the view of the Pharisees, they were ‘sinning by working’ on the sabbath.
How could this be? Their Sabbath work included harvesting, threshing, winnowing, and preparing the grains for consumption, all in one mouthful.
Over the centuries, the rabbis developed elaborate traditions on how one could and could not keep the Sabbath. There were regulations on how to carry objects, which hands to use, whether you could tie a knot, and even how to draw water from the well (or go thirsty), light a candle … the list goes on.
In defence of His conduct, Jesus uses two illustrations: one of David (I Samuel 21). The other was how the priests violated the Sabbath every single week and yet are blameless.
In the case of David, he and his followers were fugitives, fleeing from the murderous machinations of a frenzied Saul. They arrived at Nob and met with Ahimelech the priest, father of Abiathar (I Samuel 22:20). David asked for bread yet the only loaves are consecrated. Yet the once reluctant priest gave them the holy bread to eat. Even if the meeting was on the Sabbath day, which it possibly was, the surrendering the consecrated bread was justified because it was a humanitarian gesture; not to mention the fact that David was anointed as the next king.
What about the priests profaning the Sabbath on a regular basis? They lift up the animal sacrifice, slaughter, clean, remove, burn on the altar, sweep the ash, and other tasks. Sacrifices may have been twice as many on the Sabbath, hence twice the work. Yet no Pharisee, Sadducees, or chief priest would dare utter a word of criticism of the ‘work’ that was done at the temple. It was most necessary.Jes
Son of God
Quoting Hosea 6:6, which says, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ Ahimelech’s gesture to David regarding the shewbread was an act of mercy. For that matter, so was the plucking of the grain. Then Jesus makes two audacious statements:
1.        Temple: ‘But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple’ (Matthew 12:6). Considering how important the temple of Herod was to pious First Century AD Jews, this statement would have been an outrage, if not a sacrilege. Beautiful a building as it was, the temple lacked several things:
A.      The ark of the covenant: representing the throne and presence of God, His law and word;
B.       Shekinah: The glory was not there, either;
C.       Urim and Thummim: This may have been precious stones on the breastplate of the high priests in the Old Testament, actually representing ‘lights’ and ‘integrities.’ Not there in Jesus’ day.
D.      Holy fire: None from heaven, either.
E.       Found in Jesus: Yet all these things that Herod’s temple lacked, can be found in Jesus Christ – presence, glory, light, integrity, and fire.
2.        Lord of the Sabbath: Like the previous statement, Jesus is attesting to His divinity and prerogative. Rule One: As Lord of the Sabbath, it is He, not the rabbis, who set the rules. Rule Two: The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath is our servant, not our master, and was made for our well-being.
An obvious point that totally escaped the Jesus’ blind critics: if God was displeased with Jesus healing on the Sabbath, there would have been no miracles of healing on the holy day. Yet, on the contrary, healings abounded on the Sabbath because that was the day people were found in the synagogue, as well as the open air meetings. These healings were a sign of divine approval and validation of Jesus’ Messianic claims.
For the Christian, the Lord of the Sabbath has a higher and more glorious way besides the countless rules and regulations that were demanded in His day.
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Take Your Rest: The Fourth Commandment Part 01

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it — Exodus 20:8-11
It has to be seen to be believed. Go to any major city in Israel: it is busy, bustling, traffic jams, full of noise and activity. Tel Aviv is where the party never stops, almost
Then comes Friday sundown and when the horn sounds, everything comes to a grinding halt. Businesses close, cars come off the roads and get parked for a day, while a holy hush comes upon the streets.
Congratulations. You have just experienced the beginning of the Sabbath. During the evening a special family meal is prepared and the Sabbath candle is lit. The Sabbath is synonymous with food, family, and fellowship, which occurs the next morning in the synagogue. It is clearly a highlight, even the Queen, of the week.
Sabbath-keeping is not just part of Jewish tradition; it is the 4th of the 10 Commandments. The key command is that you can and should work 6 days a week; but on the 7th day, as the Lord’s commandment, you, your family, and even the livestock shall not do any work at. Failure to observe the Sabbath was a capital crime (Exodus 31:15) and in one instance a man was executed for gathering sticks on the day of rest (Numbers 15:32-35).
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made – Genesis 2:1-3
The Sabbath is tied to the act of creation. After 6 days of ‘working’ on creation of the heavens and earth, God finished everything on the 7th day. According to Genesis 2:2, the LORD ‘rested,’ blessed,’ and ‘sanctified’ this day. From here came the 4th Commandment and one of its great features is a memorial to creation. Of course, the notion of God being tired and needing a rest may seem strange, since God doesn’t slumber of sleep (Psalm 121:4). A better way to understand it is that God is completed His creative work, paused to reflect, and He saw it ‘was very good.’
While the command to ‘not work’ sounds simple enough, in practice it became complicated and controversial. The rabbis were in a constant conversation on how to practically observe the Sabbath. Many rules and regulations have been made during the centuries. Is turning on a light switch ‘work’ which violates the Sabbath? Is walking more than a kilometre a violation? Today Jewish hotels have ‘Sabbath-elevators’ that stop on every floor, so no one will transgress the sabbath by pushing the button. Trying so hard to not violate the Sabbath can be hard work.
What was Jesus’ attitude to the Sabbath? What should the attitude of Biblical Christians today? If we believe in a Sabbath’s rest, then what will that look like?
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Beyond Covid-19: Is There A Word from the Lord? Pt 02

“YES” Without question, the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown, and shutdown of the global economy, is the most significant event since World War II. This is followed by the international protests and riots in the aftermath of the death on the street while in police custody of George Floyd. Who could have a imagined, even six months ago, that life as we know it would change radically? Indeed, it did and we still are not sure where it will all end.
In Part 01, we learned that, ‘Yes,’ there is a word from the Lord. In fact, there are several key words and phrases. The Introductory Key Phrase: ‘God is always speaking.’ In these last days He speaks through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).
After this, The First Key Phrase is: Prophetic Times. We believe that our days were spoken by the ancient Hebrew prophets millennia ago. There are numerous passages regarding this but a favoured place to start is Matthew 24:4-5:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Second Key Phrase: Time of Deception
We covered this in Part 01; so now we come to
Third Key Phrase: Watch Out for False Christs, otherwise known as False Messiahs or Antichrists.
Since Jesus Christ is the personification of truth (John 14:6), and combined with the Holy Spirit’s truth (John 16:13) and the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17), forms the bulwark of divine universal truth. It is God’s truth and truth alone that protects us from devilish deception. Not surprisingly, the devil wants to hijack such truth. He is a liar and the father of lies; in fact lying is his native language (John 8:44). He can’t even say, ‘Good morning’ without lying.
One of the key ways he promotes lies is by introducing false christ or false messiahs as a counterfeit to the genuine one. That’s why Jesus warns us that many will come in His name, saying they are the Messiah, and shall deceive man (Matthew 24:5). These are antichrist figures who seek to oppose the real Jesus or replace Him.
Throughout church history there have been dozens of false messiahs, who have managed to attract a large following. Eventually the truth came out and the myth died out … until the next pretender came to the scene. Secular charismatic figures have also fit this description of false christ or antichrist; they start out with great promise and end up being genocidal dictators; the 20th Century had a few notable ones.
False messiahs can also come from erroneous doctrines or portraits of Christ. Today, there are several false portraits of Christ and we need the discernment to recognise and refute them. Like so many deceptions, it takes a kernel of truth and wraps it in lies – attractive lies. These include the following:
1.            Sentimental Jesus: This is the all-loving, non-judgemental Jesus who wouldn’t dream to send anyone to hell. Jesus is love but this does not preclude His role as coming king and judge;
2.            Mystical Jesus: He is like an eastern religion or new age guru who does magic tricks; Jesus’ supernatural acts were in the power of the Holy Spirit.
3.            Marxist Jesus: This is liberation theology which comes from Latin America: This Jesus came to liberate the poor people who will inherit the wealth of the rich, like a Messianic Robin Hood.
4.            Progressive Jesus: This Jesus is ‘sublimely tolerant’ and ‘radically inclusive,’ accepting lifestyles that are clearly rejected in Scripture.
5.            Life-Coach Jesus: This Jesus invites you to come to Him, so He can make you healthy and handsome, wealthy and wise, popular and prosperous. If you prosper, you will have friends but once those riches sprout wings and fly away, so will the friends.
In training agents to discern counterfeit money from genuine, it is reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) teaches it employees to become very familiar with genuine money. Once they master every detail, they are optimally prepared to spot a counterfeit note.
Likewise, the more familiar you are with the real Jesus, the more immunised you will be from following a false one.
The Real Jesus
The genuine Jesus Christ of Nazareth can be discerned because of His three-fold roles. All are indispensable and uniquely found in this one person.
First, Jesus is known as Son of David. This is synonymous to the title Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek). God promised King David that he would have a Son to sit on his throne forever, and that the Son of David would also be God’s Son (II Samuel 7:12-17; I Chronicles 17:11-15; Psalm 132:10-12). ‘The Messiah’ means ‘the anointed one,’ thus making Jesus ‘the anointed of the anointed.’ That’s why when believers are born again by the Holy Spirit, they become ‘Christians’ or ‘christianos’ meaning ‘little anointed ones.’ What a wonderful title!
Second, Jesus is the Son of God, the ‘Word’ that was God, with God in the beginning, and was made flesh (John 1:1,2,14). His identity/divinity is vouched for by the resurrection (Romans 1:4), as well as the 5 credible witnesses of John 5:31-45. They include:
1.              John the Baptist (v 31);
2.              Works or miracles (v. 36);
3.              Heavenly Father (v. 37);
4.              Scriptures (v. 39);
5.              Moses (v. 45)
Jesus’ divine and earthly Fathers are alluded to in Luke 1:32-33 and John 20:31. Jesus had to be God to save us and man to die for us.
Finally, we learn that the real Jesus is Saviour. It says in Matthew 1:21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.’ The name of Jesus was used 938 times in the New Testament. The Hebrew name is Yeshua, which is the diminutive of Yehoshua (Joshua), which means ‘saviour.’ He is a great Saviour that grants a great salvation from sin, sickness, danger, the world (or worldliness), devil, death, and hell. These are formidable foes of which no one else on earth has even been able to defeat one. Jesus defeats all 7.
Now that you have a better understanding of the real Jesus, why settle or anything less or anyone else?
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

e Prophet to Nineveh: Why Study the Book of Nahum Part 01

INTRODUCTION TO NAHUM
The Book of Nahum belongs to three minor prophets in the Bible that are directed primarily to a foreign entities: Jonah to Nineveh and Obadiah to Edom are the others. Nahum prophesied to the city of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, but he came much later than Jonah. Using dramatic speech, Nahum graphically tells about the fall of the city that once terrified the ancient world, including Jerusalem and Judah.
Jonah came to Nineveh 150 years earlier and his ministry was stunningly successful. Despite his reluctance to go, Jonah’s preaching spawned mass repentance; this is impressive for a heathen nation. Would to God we had these kind of results today!
After Jonah’s day, Assyria grew to be a great empire. In the time of King Ahab, the Assyrians tried to conquer the 10 tribes of Israel but failed. Then during the reign of Ashurbanipal III, the little tribe of Benjamin was taken. Finally, in the year 722 BC, under Shalmaneser, the other 9 tribes were conquered and exiled to the far-flung reaches of the Assyrian empire. Heathen people were transplanted in their place (see II Kings 17) and by the New Testament era they became known to the world as Samaritans.
After the Northern Kingdom of Israel was deported, Assyria set its sights on the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the House of David. The siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC was one of the great, though harrowing, events of Scripture, told 3 times: In II Kings, II Chronicles, and Isaiah.In the natural, Assyria’s military was so formidable and numerous, Jerusalem should have fallen with ease. Yet, through divine intervention, the Assyrian troops were smitten. Assyria continued its march of conquest, taking Thebes in Upper Egypt. The empire expanded but fortunately, Judah was spared and even outlasted Nineveh.
Yes, despite their conquest and victories, Assyria’s pride and arrogance was its undoing. Nahum predicted that Nineveh’s days were numbered and there was no way out.
HEBREW NAME OF NAHUM
Nahum means ‘comfort, consolation’ and is the abbreviation of Nehemiah, ‘comfort of Jehovah.’
AUTHOR OF NAHUM
Nahum is the author of the book that bears his name; however, we know nothing about him except he is an Elkoshite (1:1) . We are not even sure whether his village of Elkosh is in the regions Judah or Galilee.
DATE OF NAHUM
Written between 660-620 BC, Nahum does not mention the Judean king, possibly because it was evil Manasseh, son of righteous Hezekiah. Attacked by the Medes from the North and by the Babylonians from the South, Nineveh fell in 612 BC. The Babylonian empire succeeded the Assyrian.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN NAHUM
There are no Messianic prophecies in Nahum, but we know that Christ will be judge at His second coming (1:2-8) and He is the good Lord, a stronghold in the day of trouble (1:7; Proverbs 18:10).
THEME OF BOOK OF NAHUM
Nineveh, since the time of Jonah, presided over a growing empire whose tentacles reached out to the land of Israel. Known for pride, arrogance, and cruelty, the Lord had had enough. Though known for His slow anger and long-suffering, Nineveh and Assyria passed the point of no return and their judgement would be swift and sure.
While this prophecy is bad news for Nineveh, it is good news for Judah. It provides comfort that God punishes (Assyrian) wickedness and will fulfil His covenantal promises. It also shows that God is the righteous judge (II Timothy 4:8), rewarding people and nations according to their works, whether good or evil.
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Issues Facing the Church: Road to Mental Health & Well-Being Part 01

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. — Psalm 42:11
One of the great challenges of our time is not external issues — the economy, geo-political challenges, or pandemics. It has to do with mental health. Whether one is young or old, male or female, Christian or non-Christian, mental health is one of the issues, even crises, of our day and it’s not going away soon. Today’s church needs to begin a conversation on this vital issue.
This author claims no expertise whatsoever on this important subject, but after years of Bible teaching and pastoral ministry experience has some thoughts to offer.
Mental health includes a fully operative cognitive skills, sense of understanding one’s gifting and limitations, an ability to cope with stress, living a productive and fruitful life that contributes to society. The opposite of mental health is mental illness. If one had to choose between a physical ailment or mental illness, often times the latter proves to be more challenging, even harrowing, than the former. What is even more concerning is that Christians are not exempt from mental illness, including those in the ministry.
Some of life’s events that can contribute to mental illness include, but by no means are limited to, sexuality, illness, rejection, divorce, death of a loved one, family history, abuse, betrayal, bullying, or even a chemical imbalance. If left unaddressed, mental illness can develop, which includes worry, a spirit of fear, anxiety, depression, despair, low-mood, and/or self-harming. In some instances, mental illness can lead to addiction in tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, pornography, or illicit sexual relations. These life-controlling items only help make the situation worse than ever.
In trying to understand, let alone overcome, mental illness, a few points need to be kept in mind:
1.        Mental illness is common, and in some cases, growing. Modern living can be compact, complicated, over-busy and highly pressurised. Ironically, in peaceful and prosperous country like Australia, there is an alarming amount of depression, often manifested and masked by apathy.
2.        Those who suffer from mental illness should not be stigmatised. It can happen to anyone, including those who seem to ‘have it together:’ The educated, successful, and prominent.
3.        While medication may be necessary in a few cases, balanced, practical, and Bible-based principles should be employed. A holistic approach to body, mind, soul, and spirit is what is needed.
On the practical side, some issue to consider include:
Diet: A healthy, balanced diet is strongly recommended. You are what you eat and you can’t go wrong having a menu including whole grains, 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, protein, and a measure of carbohydrates and fats (yes, our body needs fats – the right kind in the right amount);
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

AMERICA ABLAZE: Making Sense of the Senseless

It all started as a simple tragedy. George Floyd, age 46, a 6’ 7” African-American was arrested in Minneapolis for allegedly trying to buy cigarettes with counterfeit money. Mr. Floyd was handcuffed and pinned to the ground for 30 minutes. ‘I can’t breath’ said the gentle giant’ as the officer continued to place pressure on his body. He lost consciousness, was taken to hospital, and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The four Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident were immediately fired. However, Devin CHAUVIN, age 44, a white former police officer, was charged with 3rd degree murder and manslaughter.
For many in the African-American community, this arrest was not enough. Why did it take days to arrest the former police officer? Why only a 3rd degree murder charge, not 1st degree? Why weren’t the other officers charged with murder, at least as accessories to the crime? The perception that a black man under white police is in greater peril than a white, continues on.
Peaceful protests were held but what happened next was an explosion – first in Minneapolis, where protests turned violent and looting ensued. The protests spread to 140 cities across the United States, morphing into violence and looting. Local police were attacked. Thousands of National Guardsmen were called out. The protests spread to Britain, Germany, and even New Zealand.
The protests appeared to be hijacked by ANTIFA (anti-fascist). ANTIFA had its origins in the 1920s and 30s, had a resurgence in the 1980s, and then came to life after the election victory of Donald Trump and his populist movement (just like the Tea Party came into being in response to the rise of Barack Obama and Christian Coalition to Bill Clinton). ANTIFA is against neo-fascism, neo-Nazism, white supremacy, racism, and what is termed the ‘Alt-Right.’ They dress in black, try to disrupt conservative events, and are willing to resort to violence, though some claim it is only for defensive purposes. They have been accused of using fascist means to fight ‘fascism.’
The Trump Administration has announced that ANTIFA is a domestic terrorist organisation. US Attorney General Bill Barr stated that the violence was planned, organised, utilising ANTIFA-tactics, and left leaning anarchy.
Recent circumstances have helped to contribute to this atmosphere of violence. Like a dry summer facilitates bushfires, so have stay@home edicts and lock-downs, which have caused the population to be restless, filling up once empty urban streets with angry protestors. There is record unemployment. Schools and universities are closed for the summer, giving student time to promote a ‘worthy cause.’ Normal entertainment and sporting events are currently suspended, thus creating a perfect storm for a caged, bored, outraged population with time on their hands.
Yet there’s more. The highly partisan, polarising atmosphere in Washington (including Russian collusion, impeachment), the on-going culture war, the default into tribalism. Remember Hurricane Katrina in August 2005? New Orleans was cannibalised – looters were even firing guns at helicopters trying to rescue stranded residents from the flooding. This kind of tribal chaos was happening years ago.
ASSESSMENT
What are we to make about this tragic turn of events? Please consider the following.
1.       George Floyd had a definite Christian connection https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html
2.       True justice, based on verifiable facts, must be the goal. Thuggery, whether it is police brutality or damaging and looting property, must not be tolerated.
3.       Racism is wrong and so is rioting. None of this brings justice or helps anyone.
4.       The needed conversation about apparent racism in America was derailed by the riots;
5.       The African-American community is receiving negative publicity, even though many of them decry the violence being done in their name (especially by black clad white people). Some of the nicest, sweetest, most courteous people you can meet in America are the African-Americans, and many are Christians. This is not fair on them.
6.       The violence is destructive and hurtful by everyone and is fuelled by groups with evil intentions.
HOW SHALL WE RESPOND?
Let us recognise America Ablaze for what it really is — a spiritual issue. According to John 10:10:
Jesus Himself comments that ‘The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’
The wanton destruction, theft, and injury, is satanically-inspired with the goal of stealing, killing, and destroying. Christ takes the opposite approach to of bringing people into abundant life.
In Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The greatest enemy is not the one you see, but the ones you don’t. For this reason we are exhorted to put on ‘the whole armour of God.’
Our readers are urged to pray for the following points:
1.       Justice: For George Floyd and the African-American community. May it be based on facts and reality, not narrative and rumour.
2.       Patience: May calm and maturity take over across America and may leaders lead in this area.
3.       Peace: May the rioting and looting cease and may affected neighbourhoods and cities receive the much needed peace and security they deserve.
4.       Restoration: To the people, buildings, businesses, and homes that have be damaged in the unrest. As small businesses are struggling to overcome the Covid-19 economic downturn, may there be a miraculous recovery for all concerned.
5.       Revival: For years now, this author has advocated what has become the only solution to our political, economic, social, and spiritual problems. It is called ‘revival,’ meaning to ‘come alive again.’ II Chronicles 7:14 is the classic verse on this topic: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (emphasis mine).
If you cannot remember any other point, remember this one — for the good of us all.