We’re excited to have a brand new podcast: When Mercy Triumphs. In this first episode, our president, Keith Curlee, shares an encouraging word for Thanksgiving. Ben Ward shares a song to open us up. Enjoy and have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Encouragement
2023 Holiday Open House
You can also text or call Ben Ward at 646-491-1304 for more info or to RSVP.
Israel’s Resolve
Israel and the pressure to ceasefire and stop the war before absolute victory.
When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Lay your hand on the bow.” And he laid his hand on it, then Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot. And he said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, and the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have put an end to them.” Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. Then the man of God became angry at him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you put an end to it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.”
2 Kings 13:14-19 NASB2020
The pressure that is building momentum on Israel to ceasefire, to diplomatically come to a peace, to vilify them in the name of humanity, while Hamas continues its total disregard for humanity, should be rejected by Israel. In both wars, Yom Kippur and the Six Day War, where they were invaded in both instances, they answered with force and were on the verge of dealing with their enemies, and were diplomatically pressured to stand down. Both were victorious, but because the nations brought pressure for peace they could not finish in real victory.
Now, once again the nations say, Israel has the right to defend itself, but that’s enough. The barbaric invasion they are fighting for is the right to exist, not just defend. Where is the nations’ outcry for ceasefire in the Ukraine/Russia conflict? The nations have always put limitations on Israel and held them to a different standard.
The “peacekeeping” UN is anti-Israel. They fought Israel and the 1948 recognition of becoming a nation. The Sovereign God and His prophetic word brought it into being. Israel needs to continue in its resolve to wipe out Hamas and drive them into the Sea of Forgetfulness, never to be again.
In the passage above, the King of Israel cried out to Elisha for Israel’s deliverance from its enemy, Aram, the Arameans, Syria. He was instructed to shoot an arrow out the window and then strike the ground. He did so but not with the resolve to see the enemies totally defeated. Elisha asked, “Why did you stop? Where was the resolve and the desire to see total victory?”
So often we cry out to God for deliverance and settle for relief and for comfort to be restored.
In 1994 I met on the border of Lebanon with a Syrian Senator concerning water purification. After our discussion concerning business, he asked me to talk politics. He said, “You are a Zionist?” I replied that I was American. He then proceeded to tell me Israel is like sugar in water—it will soon be dissolved. I referred him to the historical fact of the above recording in scripture that Syria exists because of King Joash’s lack of resolve and Syria’s history of conflict with Israel was not something to boast about. Not to mention the fate of Damascus prophetically stated in the scriptures. So much for that business deal.
Back to the subject of Israel’s resolve to deal with Hamas. David resolved to kill Goliath by choosing five stones to slay not only Goliath, but his brothers who stood with him. David did not just kill him, but he took Goliath’s sword and cut his head off. Making sure he did not just knock him out, but ensuring his defeat. He took it and paraded it before all of Israel declaring “the Lord of the armies is our God.”
“To You, Lord, I lift up my soul. My God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies rejoice over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.”
Psalms 25:1-3 NASB2020
My prayer for Israel is that they will not be ashamed and give in to the shamelessness of the nations and their vain imaginations. Shame was the first ungodly emotion that Adam and Eve felt that caused them to hide from God. Hamas will not, will not rejoice over Israel and Israel will not be put to shame. May those who deal treacherously with Israel be put to shame. Hallelujah to the Lord of armies!
-KC
Middle East Update
See this update from our partners on the ground in Lebanon. The situation is touch-and-go, but the Lord is proving faithful as always. Please continue to pray and if you’d like to give directly, please go to trimercy.org/giving.
https://mailchi.mp/2fc0996422bb/one-month-into-the-war?e=bf7524257c
Spiritual Warfare
We should all be encouraged and confident when we read in Scripture about all the victories that are recorded in the war for the people of God.
Moses and the Israelites witnessed the deliverance at the Red Sea from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. He sings, “I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea.”
David writes, so often as he ascended to the throne, concerning his enemies and their relentless desire to defeat him and seek his life.
Elijah and his victory at Mount Carmel against Jezebel and her false prophets.
For we as believers, the ultimate victory was won by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ over Satan and death:
…and the living One; and I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades.
Revelation 1:18
Paul ends his letter to the Ephesians concerning our war as believers with a clear declaration:
We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against world forces of this darkness, the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
In Israel today, no one is exempt from serving in the IDF unless they are unable. Everyone is to serve and be ready to be called upon to fight. Paul exhorts Timothy, “to endure hardness (hardship) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Many messages on serving have been preached and taught concerning our service to our Lord, but I have not heard of our service to Him as a soldier. There is no exemption or choice in our place in spiritual warfare and our conscription into His army.
God’s word to Jeremiah tells him to belt himself and arise and declare all He commands Him to say. Do not be dismayed, (disheartened, lacking in courage), or He will make you dismayed before them.
Paul says, just as Jeremiah, stand and gird your waist with truth, belt yourself up. Once Jeremiah does what He was commanded, to wrap himself in truth and to be courageous, God tells him what He will do. For Jeremiah, He will make Him a fortified city, impenetrable. He promises that they will fight but they will not overcome him. For I am with you to save (deliver) you from the rulers in the nations and those who, through religious deception, have set themselves above God. They will not stand against the Lord of armies. Maranatha!
-KC