JUST A MINUTE, PLEASE! [THE PREACHER'S CORNER] NO PAIN, NO GAIN, NO CROSS, NO CROWN! {HEB.12:4}

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Heb 12: 4)

For anyone who has followed us up, we've have talked so much about what a fellow minister called COMMUNAL AFFLICTIONS...used to describe a not "too far now" global situation characterized by famine and hunger. That's why it's very imperative that pastors should save for what is traditionally refered to as the "rainy day," including an aggressive diversification into agriculture. This is what the following scriptures actually mean;
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat[food] in mine house... (Mal 3: 10a)

Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: (Joe 2: 19)
8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9. As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10. Now he[God's Church]that ministereth seed to the sower[unbelievers"gentiles"]
both minister bread for your food,
[those who shall run into God's House seeking for food]
and MULTIPLY your seed sown, and INCREASE the fruits of your RIGHTEOUSNESS{salvation};) (2Co 9: 8-10)
And again;
2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa 2: 2-3)

This scripture refers to Christ Jesus' ace or trump card that He will play. Like I previously said,we have studied this before.As at this event which will happen just before Christ Jesus' Return, you can only get food "in and from" the House of God.And the currency to buy the food isn't silver or gold[money],but AN AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT CHRIST JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOUR!

At this point,your millions and billions,cars, mansions and jets don't count. All roads will lead to the Household of Faith. For those,who will still refuse Christ Jesus,they will be hiding in fear of one another...no security details, convoys and motorcades, for Man will kill man for food.

And look at today's settings, it's obvious that we gradually getting to that point. There will be a great falling away of primary figures in the church(still in the church,but have fallen in our hearts), and also there will be a mark of great influx of the supposed secondary people(those of us, hitherto are unnoticed) into the Household of Faith(God's Church).

When we notice this scenarios around us, it's a sign that Christ Jesus' Cleansing of His Bride has begun, before His Second Advent. At least, even for unbelievers and atheists, though they may termed term it as a natural disaster to divert attention,the LA , California's series of Fires should give us food for thought.

In those fires,THE TRUTH STANDS OUT... IT'S A POINTER TO THE FACT THAT THE CLEANSING MAY HAVE BEGUN.GOD BEGINNING TO RESPOND (lightly though,compared to what is coming.) TO ANYONE OF US THAT HOLDS HIM IN DERISION OR MOCKS HIM!
IT'S EVIDENT IN STRANGE DISASTERS AND OCCURRENCES THAT HAVE BESIEGED THE WORLD OF LATE, ESPECIALLY IN THE RECENT DECADES.

RESISTING UNTO BLOOD!

I had to digress to put us in a better position to understand this verse below...a symbolically a testament of our Faith and Hope in God

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Heb 12: 4)

The main idea of the text is that in our struggles against sin, we should recognize the Sacrifices made by Christ Jesus and the great examples of faith in the Bible, encouraging us to resist sin and run life’s race with perseverance. Because,we are in the times of the FULFILLMENTS of BIBLE PROPHECIES.
(plural tense, because the incidences aren't isolated)

I have always maintained and will continue to, that no one can pray away Bible prophecies,we can only align with them for God's Purpose,and leave the rest for Him. Otherwise,we may find ourselves fighting God

Hebrews 11 celebrates examples of faith from the Old Testament, showcasing a mix of miraculous outcomes and suffering, leading to eternal glory. We are not to twitch in face of adversity, but to engage it heads on, fortifying our territory(our hope in God),Who is able to deliver from all afflictions.

Chapter 12 encourages believers to shed sin and distractions, urging them to focus on Christ Jesus’ Ultimate Sacrifice. It's 90% through sin that the devil has entrance into our lives;
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. (Ecc 10: 8) The hedge is God's Fortification and breaketh is "sin."

The verse from Hebrews 12:4 reminds us that our resistance to sin has not yet reached the extreme of shedding blood, suggesting we can strive for greater sacrifice in our discipleship. To groan(complain) in our trials and afflictions of life is normal(we're flesh and blood),but to dwell(remain in complaining as believers) is abnormal.

Reflecting on our personal struggles can help us identify areas where we may not be fully committed to resisting sin. Very important.

The text encourages practical steps such as prayer, community involvement, accountability, and removing temptations from our lives. Stay away from places or things that are likely to trigger our weak spots(we all have).STAY AWAY FROM TEMPTING AND COMPROMISING SITUATIONS. PRACTICE SELF-CONTROL!

The call to take up our cross and follow Christ Jesus implies that sacrifices in our walk with God are necessary but ultimately rewarding.

Trusting in God’s provision means believing that, giving up sin will lead us to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him.

Our journey and effort in resisting sin, cannot be underemphasized. They are vital for experiencing true freedom and fulfillment in faith.

We should be mindful to consider specific actions we can take today to live a life unencumbered by sin.

Overall, let us be challenged to recognize our own reluctance to sacrifice for God compared to the immense Sacrifice Christ Jesus made for us.
This isn't a message of yesterday, but of today and the remaining part of our pilgrimage in this world already rejected by God. No true child of God can experience true external peace in this world ruled by the devil. But we internal peace that our tomorrow(eternity) will be better, as by His Grace and Mercy, we cross into life Eternal, Amen!

A WORLD AT WAR WITH ITSELF!

BREEDING UNBELIEF IN OUR SYSTEM!

Today, I brought out this *self-destructive issue*,as a sharp rebuke to myself,a warning to myself, from God's Word,and it's left to me if I will heed it. I also pray that someone out there will be helped and encouraged by it.

It's said that tough times NEVER last ,but tough people do. Well,if it was true before now,it certainly isn't today, because, tough or hard times now oftentimes,outlast the the tough people. This is a personal opinion yet,and I stand to be corrected.

I began with the parody above, because it's the secular motivational version of our Christian Faith. All earth dwellers in one way or the other live by faith,(though they won't call it that).

Faith is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, and a whole chapter was dedicated to it(Heb.11)! We can't serve God without the Faith,that God is more than able to do or execute every bit of His Word. For the believer, FAITH is our OXYGEN!

However,some difficulties pop-up in life,that regularly question and threaten our Faith, oftentimes leading to helplessness,which in turn create room for backsliding...no longer believing that God is able to perform His Word. And of course, it's no longer news that the *curator*of these seemingly impossible challenges is the devil.

THE BIRTHING OF UNBELIEF!

We begin the breeding of unbelief in our lives, when we feel stranded between God's promises and their fulfillment, stuck between the prayer we pray and the answer. When we allow our gaze to be fixed on the problem rather than the solution,when we begin to see only impossibilities that we NEVER cared to see before...that we NEVER paid attention to,even though they were there.
Periods like this,is when the devil sets in our hearts a lot more of questions than answers,as regards God and His Word.

I am far deep in that point now,which is why I said this message was and is a rebuke to me. Perhaps,if there's a tiny difference for me, it's in the premise that,mine isn't really unbelief perse, but DESPAIR,BORNE OUT OF ELONGATED YEARS OF AFFLICTIONS. But WHY it's an UNFORGIVABLE FAILURE for ME is that,I EQUALLY have SEEN far MORE THAN I DESERVED of God's Hand of provision and protection, in these flaunted YEARS of SELF TAGGED AFFLICTIONS.

If it wasn't so,I wouldn't be here writing this. The truth is,man by nature hates discomfort,pains,hurts and suffering generally...why... because God NEVER created us to suffer,but our inherited sin nature brought it upon us.

But I tell us this morning,by His grace and mercy,that regardless of the moment you are living, hold on to HIS promises, to the TRUTH of GOD! He NEVER fails...we are the ones failing HIM
The truth modifies reality!
You were designed by God to fulfill an eternal purpose!
And the onus is upon us,by faith in God,to deny devil the pleasure of ruining that purpose .

What you see today in the mirror is not what you will see in the future, because God will take you from power to power! To great things! To great heights we can never imagine!

We're going to learn a few things from the scripture below, to better understand the term *UNBELIEF*
Allow me put to put it this way... UNBELIEF FOR THE CHRISTIAN,IS THE INABILITY TO SEE WHAT GOD SEES IN US FOR OUR LIVES...and nothing can be more tragically sad for us as believers.

Mark 9:23-24 “Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. And immediately the boy's father cried out and said: I believe; help my unbelief.”

This narrative took place just after the Transfiguration of Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus comes down from the mountain, transfigured, and meets the unbelieving disciples who cannot do what He has said they are going to do.

(1)The man cried*help my unbelief*
The man's unbelief started from the disappointing disciples...if he didn't believe in the first place, it's probable,he won't spend resources to get his boy to Christ Jesus. But, unfortunately Christ's ambassadors (you and me),failed in our duties...we couldn't execute what we were mandated to do... because deep down somewhere in our hearts,seeds of doubt are still sprouting.
And when we failed,the man lost faith in God's ability to settle his issues.

To how many people does our lives, instead of producing faith, produce disbelief? How many people know that we visit our church and when we leave, we talk like the old creature?

And there is a contradiction between where we come from and how we live; between the God we serve and the God we represent. AS CHRISTIANS WE CANNOT PREACH A GOSPEL THAT HEALS WITH A MOUTH THAT HARMS.

Do we believe in the promises that God gave us? In all? Do we act according to what God told us?

What a sad disappointment it was for the man to see that the disciples could not free his son from that spirit, a situation that produced an argument between them!

Since the disciples couldn't, so he goes to Christ Jesus directly. For this man, the fact that someone couldn't take away his faith ,that something could change, drove any unbelief to the pit of hell.

We must say *I was not born to live this way, and if the last thing I do is die looking for the answer I need, I will do it because it shows my faith that God created me for something greater, and that there has to be a solution for this*

We cannot deny that all attempts create doubt; that all past failures lower expectations. But that is no excuse to stop believing in the Lord.
My personal rebuke continues...this is what I know and yet refused,or perhaps it's better to say, unable to practise. *SO, WOULD DAD BE UNFAIR TO BE WROTH WITH ME? An emphatic no! When diplomats and ambassadors fail their home government, they're recalled home and sanctioned... oftentimes fired.

To be continued...stay with us...GOD BLESS YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH,AMEN!

A WORLD AT WAR WITH ITSELF!

BREEDING UNBELIEF IN OUR SYSTEM!

Today, I brought out this *self-destructive issue*,as a sharp rebuke to myself,a warning to myself, from God's Word,and it's left to me if I will heed it. I also pray that someone out there will be helped and encouraged by it.

It's said that tough times NEVER last ,but tough people do. Well,if it was true before now,it certainly isn't today, because, tough or hard times now oftentimes,outlast the the tough people. This is a personal opinion yet,and I stand to be corrected.

I began with the parody above, because it's the secular motivational version of our Christian Faith. All earth dwellers in one way or the other live by faith,(though they won't call it that).

Faith is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, and a whole chapter was dedicated to it(Heb.11)! We can't serve God without the Faith,that God is more than able to do or execute every bit of His Word. For the believer, FAITH is our OXYGEN!

However,some difficulties pop-up in life,that regularly question and threaten our Faith, oftentimes leading to helplessness,which in turn create room for backsliding...no longer believing that God is able to perform His Word. And of course, it's no longer news that the *curator*of these seemingly impossible challenges is the devil.

THE BIRTHING OF UNBELIEF!

We begin the breeding of unbelief in our lives, when we feel stranded between God's promises and their fulfillment, stuck between the prayer we pray and the answer. When we allow our gaze to be fixed on the problem rather than the solution,when we begin to see only impossibilities that we NEVER cared to see before...that we NEVER paid attention to,even though they were there.
Periods like this,is when the devil sets in our hearts a lot more of questions than answers,as regards God and His Word.

I am far deep in that point now,which is why I said this message was and is a rebuke to me. Perhaps,if there's a tiny difference for me, it's in the premise that,mine isn't really unbelief perse, but DESPAIR,BORNE OUT OF ELONGATED YEARS OF AFFLICTIONS. But WHY it's an UNFORGIVABLE FAILURE for ME is that,I EQUALLY have SEEN far MORE THAN I DESERVED of God's Hand of provision and protection, in these flaunted YEARS of SELF TAGGED AFFLICTIONS.

If it wasn't so,I wouldn't be here writing this. The truth is,man by nature hates discomfort,pains,hurts and suffering generally...why... because God NEVER created us to suffer,but our inherited sin nature brought it upon us.

But I tell us this morning,by His grace and mercy,that regardless of the moment you are living, hold on to HIS promises, to the TRUTH of GOD! He NEVER fails...we are the ones failing HIM
The truth modifies reality!
You were designed by God to fulfill an eternal purpose!
And the onus is upon us,by faith in God,to deny devil the pleasure of ruining that purpose .

What you see today in the mirror is not what you will see in the future, because God will take you from power to power! To great things! To great heights we can never imagine!

We're going to learn a few things from the scripture below, to better understand the term *UNBELIEF*
Allow me put to put it this way... UNBELIEF FOR THE CHRISTIAN,IS THE INABILITY TO SEE WHAT GOD SEES IN US FOR OUR LIVES...and nothing can be more tragically sad for us as believers.

Mark 9:23-24 “Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. And immediately the boy's father cried out and said: I believe; help my unbelief.”

This narrative took place just after the Transfiguration of Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus comes down from the mountain, transfigured, and meets the unbelieving disciples who cannot do what He has said they are going to do.

(1)The man cried*help my unbelief*
The man's unbelief started from the disappointing disciples...if he didn't believe in the first place, it's probable,he won't spend resources to get his boy to Christ Jesus. But, unfortunately Christ's ambassadors (you and me),failed in our duties...we couldn't execute what we were mandated to do... because deep down somewhere in our hearts,seeds of doubt are still sprouting.
And when we failed,the man lost faith in God's ability to settle his issues.

To how many people does our lives, instead of producing faith, produce disbelief? How many people know that we visit our church and when we leave, we talk like the old creature?

And there is a contradiction between where we come from and how we live; between the God we serve and the God we represent. AS CHRISTIANS WE CANNOT PREACH A GOSPEL THAT HEALS WITH A MOUTH THAT HARMS.

Do we believe in the promises that God gave us? In all? Do we act according to what God told us?

What a sad disappointment it was for the man to see that the disciples could not free his son from that spirit, a situation that produced an argument between them!

Since the disciples couldn't, so he goes to Christ Jesus directly. For this man, the fact that someone couldn't take away his faith ,that something could change, drove any unbelief to the pit of hell.

We must say *I was not born to live this way, and if the last thing I do is die looking for the answer I need, I will do it because it shows my faith that God created me for something greater, and that there has to be a solution for this*

We cannot deny that all attempts create doubt; that all past failures lower expectations. But that is no excuse to stop believing in the Lord.
My personal rebuke continues...this is what I know and yet refused,or perhaps it's better to say, unable to practise. *SO, WOULD DAD BE UNFAIR TO BE WROTH WITH ME? An emphatic no! When diplomats and ambassadors fail their home government, they're recalled home and sanctioned... oftentimes fired.

To be continued...stay with us...GOD BLESS YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH,AMEN!

A WORLD AT WAR WITH ITSELF!

BREEDING UNBELIEF IN OUR SYSTEM!

Today, I brought out this *self-destructive issue*,as a sharp rebuke to myself,a warning to myself, from God's Word,and it's left to me if I will heed it. I also pray that someone out there will be helped and encouraged by it.

It's said that tough times NEVER last ,but tough people do. Well,if it was true before now,it certainly isn't today, because, tough or hard times now oftentimes,outlast the the tough people. This is a personal opinion yet,and I stand to be corrected.

I began with the parody above, because it's the secular motivational version of our Christian Faith. All earth dwellers in one way or the other live by faith,(though they won't call it that).

Faith is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible, and a whole chapter was dedicated to it(Heb.11)! We can't serve God without the Faith,that God is more than able to do or execute every bit of His Word. For the believer, FAITH is our OXYGEN!

However,some difficulties pop-up in life,that regularly question and threaten our Faith, oftentimes leading to helplessness,which in turn create room for backsliding...no longer believing that God is able to perform His Word. And of course, it's no longer news that the *curator*of these seemingly impossible challenges is the devil.

THE BIRTHING OF UNBELIEF!

We begin the breeding of unbelief in our lives, when we feel stranded between God's promises and their fulfillment, stuck between the prayer we pray and the answer. When we allow our gaze to be fixed on the problem rather than the solution,when we begin to see only impossibilities that we NEVER cared to see before...that we NEVER paid attention to,even though they were there.
Periods like this,is when the devil sets in our hearts a lot more of questions than answers,as regards God and His Word.

I am far deep in that point now,which is why I said this message was and is a rebuke to me. Perhaps,if there's a tiny difference for me, it's in the premise that,mine isn't really unbelief perse, but DESPAIR,BORNE OUT OF ELONGATED YEARS OF AFFLICTIONS. But WHY it's an UNFORGIVABLE FAILURE for ME is that,I EQUALLY have SEEN far MORE THAN I DESERVED of God's Hand of provision and protection, in these flaunted YEARS of SELF TAGGED AFFLICTIONS.

If it wasn't so,I wouldn't be here writing this. The truth is,man by nature hates discomfort,pains,hurts and suffering generally...why... because God NEVER created us to suffer,but our inherited sin nature brought it upon us.

But I tell us this morning,by His grace and mercy,that regardless of the moment you are living, hold on to HIS promises, to the TRUTH of GOD! He NEVER fails...we are the ones failing HIM
The truth modifies reality!
You were designed by God to fulfill an eternal purpose!
And the onus is upon us,by faith in God,to deny devil the pleasure of ruining that purpose .

What you see today in the mirror is not what you will see in the future, because God will take you from power to power! To great things! To great heights we can never imagine!

We're going to learn a few things from the scripture below, to better understand the term *UNBELIEF*
Allow me put to put it this way... UNBELIEF FOR THE CHRISTIAN,IS THE INABILITY TO SEE WHAT GOD SEES IN US FOR OUR LIVES...and nothing can be more tragically sad for us as believers.

Mark 9:23-24 “Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. And immediately the boy's father cried out and said: I believe; help my unbelief.”

This narrative took place just after the Transfiguration of Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus comes down from the mountain, transfigured, and meets the unbelieving disciples who cannot do what He has said they are going to do.

(1)The man cried*help my unbelief*
The man's unbelief started from the disappointing disciples...if he didn't believe in the first place, it's probable,he won't spend resources to get his boy to Christ Jesus. But, unfortunately Christ's ambassadors (you and me),failed in our duties...we couldn't execute what we were mandated to do... because deep down somewhere in our hearts,seeds of doubt are still sprouting.
And when we failed,the man lost faith in God's ability to settle his issues.

To how many people does our lives, instead of producing faith, produce disbelief? How many people know that we visit our church and when we leave, we talk like the old creature?

And there is a contradiction between where we come from and how we live; between the God we serve and the God we represent. AS CHRISTIANS WE CANNOT PREACH A GOSPEL THAT HEALS WITH A MOUTH THAT HARMS.

Do we believe in the promises that God gave us? In all? Do we act according to what God told us?

What a sad disappointment it was for the man to see that the disciples could not free his son from that spirit, a situation that produced an argument between them!

Since the disciples couldn't, so he goes to Christ Jesus directly. For this man, the fact that someone couldn't take away his faith ,that something could change, drove any unbelief to the pit of hell.

We must say *I was not born to live this way, and if the last thing I do is die looking for the answer I need, I will do it because it shows my faith that God created me for something greater, and that there has to be a solution for this*

We cannot deny that all attempts create doubt; that all past failures lower expectations. But that is no excuse to stop believing in the Lord.
My personal rebuke continues...this is what I know and yet refused,or perhaps it's better to say, unable to practise. *SO, WOULD DAD BE UNFAIR TO BE WROTH WITH ME? An emphatic no! When diplomats and ambassadors fail their home government, they're recalled home and sanctioned... oftentimes fired.

To be continued...stay with us...GOD BLESS YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH,AMEN!

It is undeniable that in the space of a year, the strategic landscape of the Middle East has changed dramatically to Israel’s advantage in a way that few could have imagined prior to the October 7 Hamas invasion. This many-fronted war is far from over. If Iran has been left exposed and embarrassed, there is the danger that she will take desperate steps like a cornered mother-cat. Hamas and Hezbollah may have been subdued, but the fanatics who make up their rank and file are far from being de-radicalized, and the same is true of like-minded terrorists and their masses of supporters across the Middle East and throughout the world. Radical Islamic terror remains a threat everywhere.

"He removes kings and installs kings"
What we may learn from the rapid downfall of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad tyranny, is that even when the forces of evil seem strongest and most powerfully entrenched, G-d Almighty, the Lord of Hosts, has the power to orchestrate His "hosts" and "legions", including all the many different and opposing forces on His global chessboard, to bring them down. For, "He changes times and seasons, removes kings and installs kings; He gives the wise their wisdom and knowledge to those who know" (Daniel 2:21).

It is incumbent on all Jews, Israelis and all our friends and allies everywhere, to understand that it is ultimately G-d alone who granted success and blessed the efforts of all the courageous soldiers who put their lives on the line in order to defend us in Gaza, Lebanon, in the skies of Syria and Iran, and in other locations across the world.
This Chanukah, let us remember G-d’s kindnesses and mercies to us when we gaze upon the lights of the Menorah, when we meditate on His great miracles for the Maccabees during the recital of Al Hanissim in the Amidah prayers and in the Grace after Meals, and when we sing His praises in the daily recital of the full Hallel (Psalms 113-118) on each of the eight days of the festival.

A second Trump presidency
Another miracle for which giving thanks at this time may well be appropriate is the election of President Donald Trump to a second presidency, which averted what seemed like a serious threat of four more years of radical, woke, Marxist-leaning misgovernment in the United States under a brainless, string-puppet figurehead controlled by ex-president Barack Obama.

Many hope that President Trump will take serious action to clean up the corrupt Washington "swamp", boost the US economy, deport millions of illegal aliens who have greatly increased crime, drug abuse and sex-trafficking across the country, and put an end to global wars. However, it remains an open question as to what extent he will be able to deliver on his promises in face of the massive opposition that is likely to arise domestically and internationally as soon as he takes office, including some that may come from quite unexpected directions.

The "Abraham Accords"
It does seem likely that the incoming Trump administration will show stronger support for further forceful action by Israel against her enemies, while simultaneously promoting the resumption of the "Abraham Accords", suspended under President Joe Biden, which are intended to induce Saudi Arabia and other supposedly "moderate" Moslem states to give full diplomatic recognition to Israel so as to open the way for greater economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of all.

It will indeed be entirely miraculous if the Abraham Accords can succeed in quelling the brand of extreme radicalism espoused today by millions of self-avowed Moslems across the globe, who are bent on intimidating and terrorizing people everywhere into submission, threatening death to all who refuse. Will the Saudis, who greatly profit from hosting Islam’s holiest site, succeed in persuading their fellow Moslems that true religion is not about violence and coercion but about persuading humanity to join together in seeking the Truth, submitting to the One God and carrying out His Will?

Can the Saudis be brought to officially acknowledge Mount Moriah as the site of the destined Future Temple in Jerusalem as prophesied by the prophets of Israel? If Donald Trump and Elon Musk will categorically declare that the ultimate goal of all Middle East diplomacy is to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, that in itself will be an astounding miracle, comparable to King Cyrus’ giving the green light for the building of the Second Temple (Ezra 1:2). Someone please get the message to them!

The Turkey factor
The present-day republic of Türkiye extends over vast areas of Anatolia and Western Asia that in Biblical times made up Ashur, the Assyrian empire. Indeed, Turkey’s current leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, shows signs of being no less of a megalomaniac than Sennacherib, king of Ashur, who laid siege to Jerusalem in the time of King Hezekiah until his miraculous defeat.

Erdoğan probably prefers we forget the time when a horse he was trying to mount threw him and gave him a mighty kick in the crotch, but it’s preserved on video. In his latest rant last week, Erdoğan said: "Turkey is far greater than its 782,000 square kilometers. Those questioning our presence in Syria, Libya or Somalia fail to grasp our vision." In other words, Turkey reserves the right to burst its way far beyond its current borders in order to resurrect the Ottoman Empire. Do we say good luck with that? Despite getting knackered in the crotch, the unhumbled Erdoğan fails to see any contradiction between his expansionist imperial visions and his unceasing accusations against Israel for the "illegal occupation" of Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

The greatest irony is that biblical prophecy points in the opposite direction to Erdoğan’s vision of "Greater Turkey", because it is precisely "little Israel", which all the nations of the world seek to push back behind the pre-1967 borders if not into the sea, which is ultimately destined to expand and encompass all of present-day Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, stretching "from the river to the river" — from the Nile to the Euphrates — as clearly laid down in Genesis 15:18-21, Numbers chapter 34 and Ezekiel 47:15-20. Under the final settlement, Israel’s Mediterranean border will extend to Hor Hahar, the mountain spur jutting into the sea aside modern-day Antiki (=ancient Antioch), well inside present-day Türkiye!

Greater Israel — for what?
The question we must clarify is: For what purpose do we seek the Greater Israel?
After Israel’s miraculous victory over Egypt, Syria and Jordan in 1967, when she recovered the biblical heartland of Israel, Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights, Gaza and the Sinai desert, all in the space of six days, the Israeli far left simply did not know what to do with the conquered territories and just wanted to "give them back" as quickly as possible in exchange for "peace".

Thus after the reconquest of East Jerusalem, Israeli General Moshe Dayan immediately returned the keys of the Temple Mount into the hands of the Moslem Wafk police, since he clearly could not, or did not want to conceive of a Jewish Temple on the site. That would have obliged him to turn around his entire secular lifestyle and philosophy. Likewise, Israel’s far left campaigned unremittingly to "give back" the territories, until they jumped onto the accursed 1993 Oslo-Assla "Peace Process" nightmare that plagues us until today with the slogan: "YeShA (Yehuda-Judah, Shomron-Samaria & ‘Aza-Gaza) First".

Immediately after the Six Day War, many believers saw clearly the hand of G-d in Israel’s stunning accomplishments against all the odds. However, the cynical, increasingly decadent Israeli left shared neither their faith nor their vision of the return to the territories as a step towards the restored Greater Israel. On the contrary, the Israeli left with their backers among the western powers, were determined to uproot the Greater Israel vision and made every effort to crush and demoralize the many Israelis who cherished it. Successive Israeli governments bowed repeatedly to pressures from Washington to show "restraint" in face of painful provocations by her enemies.

If the same constant kowtowing by Israeli Jews to foreign pressure had existed in the years of the British Mandate (1917-48), Israel would never have attained her independence. It was the spirit of fierce Jewish nationalism that breathed in the souls of the pioneers and the Jewish military bands who fought against the Arab armies in the War of Independence that brought the Independent State of Israel into being.

The Israeli Fighting Spirit
This spirit of courageous Jewish nationalism shone in every word of Israel Prime Minister Menahem Begin’s famous retort to then-Senator Joe Biden in 1982 when he threatened to withhold US aid to Israel: "Don’t threaten us with cutting off your aid. It will not work. I am not a Jew with trembling knees. I am a proud Jew with 3,700 years of civilized history. Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens. Nobody came to our aid when we were striving to create our country. We paid for it. We fought for it. We died for it. We will stand by our principles. We will defend them. And, when necessary, we will die for them again, with or without your aid."

It was heartening to sense a return of this fighting spirit — the spirit of Judah and the Maccabees — in current Israel Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the same Joe Biden, now old and hoary, in the present war, openly defying his demands not to take the Gaza war into Rafah, not to enter Lebanon, etc. etc. In every case, following Biden’s dictates would have been a catastrophic capitulation to Israel’s enemies, while Israel’s successes came precisely from going against them.

Let us understand that the new Middle East landscape, replete as it with possible dangers to Israel and ripple-effect repercussions for Jews and our allies all over the world, nevertheless presents us with entirely new opportunities for advancing the prophetic vision of Greater Israel. It may be that the hand of G-d has been relatively concealed within Israel’s military successes against her enemies, yet without His help, all the courage of our fighters and the brilliance of our intelligence officers could not have succeeded.

We should be buoyed by the downfall of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad dictatorship, and the likely impending destruction of the Iranian regime. We must have faith that they came about through G-d’s redemptive kindness to Israel, that He is with us, and that He is leading us forward to the realization of the dreams of His servants the prophets.
Yes, Israel needs to survive in a global jungle of wild beasts, and we have no option but to defend ourselves with a disciplined army and top-grade armaments. Yes, Israel is the holy land, birthplace of Abrahamic faith, a pluralistic society that gives religious freedom to Jews, Christians, Moslems, Bahai, agnostics, atheists… We do not seek to force people to observe Shabbat, eat kosher, pray…

But those who know that the Land is promised to Israel under the terms of G-d’s Covenant — the Holy Torah — must strengthen our own observance and devotion, now more than ever, through the joy of seeing that G-d is truly with us. We must do everything in our power to promote the knowledge of the prophetic vision of a land properly policed, free of terror, murder, robbery, immorality, corruption and injustice, a land that will shine spiritual knowledge and the love of G-d to all the world, with Torah education for all Jews, Torah Academies for the nations, facilities for priests and Levites and their livelihood, and a rebuilt, functioning Temple.