Shalom from Northern Israel –
I’ve said it before and I will say it again – My region of the world never takes a holiday. This has become all the truer since October 7, 2023. The past five months and counting have resulted in greater levels of stress than I’ve dealt with in a long time – maybe my entire life. If the massacre of that Saturday wasn’t enough, we’ve been at war with Hamas for five months now. Adding to that, we’re dealing with an imminent war in the north with Hezbollah seemingly any day now. On top of both of these realities, there is a never-ending battle with the global bias against my beloved country…
…but God.
Even in this tragic season, I see the faithfulness of the Lord. And one of the primary ways I see this is through the preservation of His people, Israel. He’s preserved us throughout the ages and He’ll preserve us now.
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
I can’t thank you enough for all of the wonderful pictures and words of encouragement you’ve been sending over the past several weeks. They’ve had a greater affect than you know. Despite the circumstances, Behold Israel is moving full steam ahead in pursuit of the ministry God has entrusted to us for 2024.
Current Events
As I summarize some key happenings from the last week, please make sure to check out and subscribe to My Telegram Channel if you haven’t already, as this is the platform I use to provide real-time updates concerning Israel, the region, and events happening around the world on a daily basis.
Gaza & Hamas
Adding insult to injury, the US began supplying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip last week. If it’s not enough that the people of Gaza were seen throwing some of the aid in the trash because it came from the US, some locals were also killed in the process. Apparently, some of the aid was incorrectly dropped from the sky leading to fatalities. And don’t be fooled, there’s plenty of evidence revealing there’s no food shortage in Gaza. The people have plenty of access to food.
Sadly, the news doesn’t get better regarding US involvement in our war with Hamas. In a recent interview, President Biden explained that he would never cut off defensive weapons. This means the current administration would be willing to cut off offensive weapon supply as leverage against Israel in the future in an attempt to prevent further operations in Gaza. Both the US and Hamas share at least one thing in common – they have completely unrealistic expectations regarding what it will take to bring an end to this war.
Tragically, Israel has learned that at least 34 abductees of the 134 taken to Gaza on October 7 have died. On a positive note, #3 in the Hamas hierarchy is believed to have been eliminated over the weekend.
The US is slowly but surely becoming our greatest obstacle when it comes to obliterating this terrorist organization. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even had to correct Biden in a recent statement saying, “When he says that my policy is against Israeli interests and against Israeli public opinion, he is wrong on both counts.” No matter what, Netanyahu remains determined to win this war. I’m glad to have a strong leader at such a time as this.
None of this should surprise us, as the Biden administration has gone out of its way to save face with the pro-Palestinian audience over the last several weeks, especially since the beginning of Ramadan.
Lebanon & Hezbollah
With Hezbollah increasing its aggression, Israel has been the recipient of a multitude of rocket barrages from Lebanon over the last several days, which has forced the IDF to respond with a number of strikes in Southern Lebanon and Syria. While our primary military conflict has been with Hamas in Gaza, we’ve been dealing with these terrorists north of our border as well. At least 240 of them have been killed as a result of Israeli strikes since October 2023, which have happened in multiple cities and towns.
Tensions are only on the rise. Given recent developments, Israelis are expecting an imminent war with our enemy in the north. I encourage you to watch my most recent breaking news segment concerning this very issue!
The United States
It’s of no small concern to see what’s happening in the United States. Its sympathy towards the Muslim mentality is extremely alarming. Look no further than Times Square, where Muslims gathered for prayer at the onset of Ramadan. Beyond this, amid the war in Gaza, disgusting pro-Palestinian fliers were seen in New York City stating, “Rape is resistance”, and “Babies are occupiers too”. This is the direction the west has been heading for years. It’s no surprise that NYC is seeing a rise in Islamic terror propaganda.
As our war in Gaza rages on, it’s becoming clearer by the day that Biden is living in a fantasy world when it comes to his perception of the Middle East. He appears to think that Palestinians are eager for peace and Israel’s government is at odds with its people. Both are anything but true.
Russia
Since the onset of the war, Russia has stood by the side of the Palestinians. Just days ago, they denied the report of the special envoy investigating the sexual crimes committed against Israeli women throughout the massacre – crimes that left an overwhelming trail of evidence. If the Russians hadn’t already made their position clear concerning who they side with, they’ve now left zero room for doubt.
Yemen & the Houthis
After sinking a British-owned ship, the Iranian-sponsored Houthis continue to initiate terror in the region. Late last week, the group fired a pair of ballistic missiles at a Singapore-owned ship. Thankfully, the missiles missed their target. Within 24 hours, coalition forces and the US Navy intercepted 15 Houthi drones in the Gulf of Aden. Furthermore, the Houthis announced that they targeted a US container ship in the Red Sea with several naval strike missiles. The Houthis are now reportedly testing hypersonic missiles and are preparing to produce them as well.
Israel
Needless to say, Israel has its hands extremely full right now. In addition to what I’ve mentioned above, we have approximately 15,000 troops deployed in the West Bank for the month of Ramadan in order to counteract and prevent terror. The IDF has been extremely proactive in dealing with terrorists coming out of the West Bank throughout this war. Sadly, our readiness doesn’t stop those who love violence. Even today, we’re dealing with the aftermath of multiple isolated acts of terror.
I have zero doubts that my country demands strong leadership right now. The polls reflect this, as Netanyahu is overwhelmingly desired in contrast to his opponent(s). Amir Tsarfati
Touched by Love
Touched By Love
March 14
Mark 1:41, 'And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him.... and he was cleansed.'
MATTHEW 8:1-4, MARK 1:40-45, LUKE 5:12-15
Only Mark records this important statement that Jesus was 'moved with compassion' in the healing of this leper. There are three other instances in the gospels when Jesus was moved with compassion which resulted in healing (Mt. 14:14; 20:34; Lk. 7:13; and once in deliverance - Mk.5:19). The difference between seeing a person healed or not healed many times is this all-important ingredient of love.
All three of the Gospel accounts record Jesus touching this leper. This not only illustrates the doctrine of 'laying on of hands', but was probably included because according to Numbers 19:22, this action would have made Jesus unclean. This illustrates the New Testament ministry of the Spirit versus the Old Testament ministry of the letter of the law (2 Cor. 3:6).
Jesus did not have to avoid the ceremonial uncleanness that would come from physical contact with a leper because He came to bear our sins in His own body. As can be seen from Mark's account, two things happened: (1) the leprosy departed and (2) the man was cleansed. Jesus not only removed the disease but restored the damaged parts of his body. This leper was healed as soon as Jesus spoke.
The Word of God is the will of God, and it reveals that it is always God's will to heal. Jesus often healed people by touching them, and others received their healing as they touched Jesus. You can transmit the power or the anointing of God through the laying on of hands. Let Him use you today to touch others. Andrew Womack
Right place, right time
I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.Ecclesiastes 9:11–12
- MARCH 13 -
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Today, I want to bring your attention to Psalm 91:1 and Ecclesiastes 9:11. Did you notice that the number 911 occurs in both passages? The number 911 is very significant for our times. It is a number that marks the largest-scale terrorist attack on American soil to date. Our hearts were broken that day, the world changed, and we will never forget what happened.
While I know that chapter and verse markers in our Bible aren’t inspired, it is my personal opinion that the prayer of protection in Psalm 91 marks the times we are living in and gives us a crystal clear reason why we don’t have to live in fear.
In Ecclesiastes 9, King Solomon tells us that the winner of the race is not necessarily always the fastest one, and the person who wins the battle isn’t necessarily always the strongest. He points out that men of understanding are not the only ones who gain riches and men of skill do not always experience favor. And then he says this: “Time and chance happen to them all.”
Solomon then goes on to talk about those who are “like fish taken in a cruel net” or “birds caught in a snare.” (Notice that he’s saying this of the “sons of men” and not the “sons of God.” As believers, we are the sons and daughters of God.)
There are therefore two categories of people—those who are blessed because they find themselves at the right place at the right time, and those who are caught off guard in an evil time and find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t know about you, but I know which category I want to fall under!
As a son or daughter of God, rest assured that the blessing of being placed in the right place at the right time is yours because of our Lord Jesus! Despite the dangerous times we live in, you can expect Him to protect and deliver you from every snare of the enemy.
This devotional is adapted from the book The Prayer of Protection Devotional—Daily Strategies for Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times. Joseph Prince
PERFECTED FOREVER THROUGH JESUS’ PERFECT WORK
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God . . . For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.Hebrews 10:12, 14
- MARCH 12 -
PERFECTED FOREVER THROUGH JESUS’ PERFECT WORK
As a believer, have you ever been plagued by thoughts of how you haven’t been good enough or haven’t done enough to deserve God’s blessings? That your imperfection disqualifies you from receiving anything good from God?
If you’ve been struggling with these thoughts, I want you to read and reread today’s scripture and let it saturate your heart, mind, and conscience. Let the knowledge of how you are completely forgiven and forever perfected by Jesus’ finished work at the cross sink in.
You are not going to be forgiven and perfected one day through all your hard work. No, my friend, the good news is, you already are forgiven and perfected—once and for all time—through Jesus’ sacrifice.
And how long is forever? I checked the original Greek word for forever in the verse and guess what? “Forever” means forever! You have been totally forgiven and perfected forever by Jesus’ cleansing blood, not by the blood of animal sacrifices that can never take away sins.
Pastor Prince, how can I be fully assured that all my sins have already been forgiven?
Good question! Notice that after Jesus offered His life as a sacrifice and payment for all our sins, He “sat down” at the Father’s right hand. Jesus sat down to demonstrate to us that the work is indeed finished!
Under the old covenant, the priest who served in the tabernacle of Moses never sat down, but “stands ministering daily” because his work could never be finished. The blood of bulls and goats could “never take away sins” (Heb. 10:11).
Interestingly, in the holy place of the tabernacle of Moses, there was not a single piece of furniture prepared for the priest to sit on. You would not find a single chair in the holy place. You would find the altar of incense, the menorah, and even a table of showbread, but not chairs.
This was because the work of the priest was never finished. Only Jesus’ work is a finished work.
My friend, you can rest easy in your heart and mind today. You can relax because Jesus has finished the work. In God’s eyes, you are forever perfect, spotless, and washed whiter than snow by the precious, eternal blood of His Son. And it’s permanent!
Your part is simply to believe and receive all that Jesus has done for you. That’s how you reign in life over sin, addictions, and whatever the enemy throws at you. That’s how you come up tops in all of life’s challenges!
This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs. Joseph Prince
Been toiling all night?
The goodness of God leads you to repentance.Romans 2:4
- MARCH 11 -
BEEN TOILING ALL NIGHT?
Famished and fatigued from working all night at sea and catching nothing, Peter and his crew of fishermen carried their fishing nets to shore as the golden sun rose over the Galilean horizon. As they began washing their nets, large numbers of people began to throng the waterfront. Then Peter saw the man everyone was crowding to see.
Before Peter knew it, this man headed in his direction and got into his boat! He then gestured to Peter, and Peter and his crew instinctively grabbed their nets and went back into the boat. The man smiled warmly at Peter and asked if Peter could push the boat out some distance from the shore.
By this time, the waterfront was blanketed with people eager to hear this man speak. Peter turned to his seasoned crew and instructed them to push the boat out. The crew responded swiftly to their captain and watched as the man sat down by the edge of the boat and began teaching the multitudes gathered on the shore.
When he was done speaking, he turned to Peter and requested that Peter and his men launch out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch. The request stung Peter’s heart and he explained to the man that they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. Nevertheless, he was willing to comply with the man’s request.
Peter found himself wondering, What would a carpenter from Nazareth know about fishing? Peter had been fishing in these waters since he was a youth and knew the most opportune time to fish—definitely not this late in the morning!
As the boat reached the deep waters, Peter just went through the motions and cast one net into the water. One net, he thought, was enough to prove his point that there simply weren’t any fish to be caught!
Had it been anyone else—anyone but this man who carried himself with quiet authority and a warm friendliness—he would have scoffed at the request. But this man . . . something in his voice and carriage just made Peter acquiesce to his request more readily than his head knew why and despite every instinct telling him nothing was going to happen.
What happened next stunned Peter.
It was as if the net suddenly became a fish magnet! Massive schools of large tilapia rushed into the net from every direction, straining its capacity until it began to tear as Peter and his men began to haul up this unprecedented load of fish.
The amazed and frantic fishermen quickly hollered to their friends in another boat to come and help them. Now two boats were lined up side by side, with both crews hauling fish into their boats. The men worked furiously, loading onto the boats the thrashing fish with their silver scales glistening in the sun . . . until both boats were so full of fish that they began to sink!
Blown away by what he was witnessing, Simon Peter knelt before Jesus and proclaimed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8).
Let me ask you this question: which came first—Peter’s repentance or God’s blessing? Under the new covenant of grace, God blesses you first, and His blessings, favor, and overflowing love lead you to repentance!
Peter and his crew of mariners had toiled painstakingly all night and caught nothing. Then, when Jesus stepped for the first time into his boat, Peter’s business suddenly experienced a surge beyond his wildest imagination.
Today, the same thing can happen to you in your career, family, or health, as you open your heart to receive the Lord’s goodness and love.
This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution. Joseph Prince
The real fountain of youth
Now on the first day of the week . . . the disciples came together to break bread.Acts 20:7
- MARCH 10 -
THE REAL FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Let me tell you why I believe the holy Communion is more powerful than any medicine, any medical procedure, any antibiotic, and any chemotherapy used to heal our bodies. Let me tell you why I believe the holy Communion is the proverbial “fountain of youth” mankind has been in search of for generations and why I believe every time we partake of it, we are causing our youth to be renewed like the eagle’s (Ps. 103:5).
The earth has been under a divine judgment ever since Adam sinned. Aging, disease, and death are all part of this divine sentence.
The reality is, we live in a fallen world and these effects of the divine sentence are happening to our mortal bodies. But God never intended for His children to suffer any of it.
That is why He sent His Son to bear our sins and sicknesses on the cross. That is why He provided the holy Communion as a way to escape the divine judgment that is on this world, to offset its effects.
The holy Communion is a supernatural channel for His health and wholeness to flow into our bodies. While the world is getting weaker and sicker, I believe we are getting stronger and healthier each time we partake of the Communion by faith!
The early church clearly understood how powerful the Communion is. That’s why the Bible tells us they broke bread “from house to house” (Acts 2:46).
When they met on Sunday, the main reason wasn’t to hear preaching and teaching—“The disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7). Even though the apostle Paul was the guest speaker that weekend, the main reason they gathered was to break bread.
If people today knew the magnitude of the power contained within the Lord’s Supper, they would be like the early church, partaking of the Lord’s Supper as often as they could and receiving as many of His benefits as they could. We have been robbed, people! It’s time to wake up!
This devotional is taken from the book The Healing Power of the Holy Communion—A 90-Day Devotional. Joseph Prince
Righteous judgment
Righteous Judgment
March 9
Matthew 7:1, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.'
MATTHEW 7:1-5
There are many examples of people judging others in the scriptures. Paul prayed that our love would abound more and more in all judgment (Phil. 1:9). In light of the scriptures where Jesus and the disciples spoke of judging, it is evident that there must be a right and a wrong type of judging.
In Luke 12:56-57, Jesus uses the words 'discern' and 'judge' interchangeably. A dictionary definition of 'judge' can mean many things from 'condemn' to 'appraise, to form an opinion about; to think or consider.' There is certainly nothing wrong with discerning or appraising a situation or person. Quite the contrary, we need to try the spirits (1 Jn. 4:1). Judging when done as discernment, is good.
It is the condemning type of judgment that is wrong. We can defer passing sentence on people to God, and know that He will make a perfect judgment (Rom. 2:2, Rev. 20:13). God is ultimately the only qualified judge.
Jesus is not forbidding judgment, but rather He is warning to be careful with our judgment because we will be judged accordingly. There are certain cases where we have to pass a condemning sentence as Paul did or as a judge would do today. Pastors and elders are charged with rebuking and even disciplining church members, but it is not something to be done lightly. Judging is not aimed at the person, but the actions of that person. This warning constrains us to be certain that we have heard from God. We must not simply vent our own frustrations.
Every Christian has a need for wisdom in making judgments about how to live from day to day. How wonderful to know that God through His Word has already equipped us to judge. Andrew Womack
Latest News from Israel
Shalom from London! I love England. It is beautiful, historical, and, when they’re not marching through the capital city in support of terrorist Hamas, the people are wonderful. And may I give a shout out to whoever is in charge of your weather? It had been rainy in London before I arrived. But once I got here, you cleared it right up for me! So, a proper tip of the hat to you, Mr. Weatherman. Cheers!
My time here has certainly been worth the trip. Today, I am finishing the recording of the audiobook for Discovering Daniel. As I’ve read through every word one more time, I am reminded of how much I love this book. Daniel’s tales of being kidnapped away to a royal court in a foreign land is an adventure story in itself. Then, in the second half of the book he transports us into his dreams and visions, which could be confusing except that God provides him with an angelic interpreter.
Reading through the book also reminded me just how closely tied Daniel is to the Book of Revelation. So much of what Daniel’s visions promise, Revelation fulfills. Dr. Rick Yohn’s incredibly rich understanding of the Scriptures are a great addition to the context and theology of the book. The result is a fun-to-read, easy-to-understand work about an Old Testament book that is surprisingly relevant and applicable to our modern world. If you haven’t preordered your copy of Discovering Daniel, which releases on May 7, I’d encourage you to do it today!
The Middle East
My Telegram Channel is a constant flow of news throughout the day. Subscribe to my channel to catch all the headlines as they happen.
The United States
It used to be that the United States stood with Israel in saying that a plan for the hostages to be released needed to be solidified prior a ceasefire being considered. That all changed with a tweet from Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday, in which he wrote, “While meeting with Israeli War Cabinet Member @gantzbe, I underscored the urgency of reaching a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the release of hostages and surge humanitarian aid and reiterated the need for Israel to take steps to improve delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.” Later, he doubled down on this strategy in another post in which he is pictured with Qatar’s prime minister, writing, “We will continue to urgently pursue an agreement for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to enable the release of all hostages, the protection of civilians, and the increased provision of critical aid to Gaza.”
Notice what changed? Now the U.S. is saying that Israel must agree to a ceasefire first. Only then can we can facilitate the release of hostages, in addition to surging humanitarian aid and improving Israel’s delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Essentially, he is saying that Israel must stop fighting and give Hamas all it is asking for. Washington is trying to force the Netanyahu government to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This is asinine!
But as crazy as it is, it is not surprising given who is standing next to Blinken in the picture accompanying the first tweet. The @gantzbe is Benny Gantz, the primary figure in the opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. Without permission, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Blinken and the Biden government. Biden’s administration is desperate to find someone to run with their two-state solution, and Gantz is their useful idiot. Biden knows that he desperately needs a success in the Middle East, particularly after seeing the enthusiastic sweep Republican voters gave to former president Donald Trump on Super Tuesday. As far as Gantz goes, his excursion is a direct attempt to undermine Netanyahu and can easily be seen as an act of treason against the State of Israel.
Gaza
Fighting continues throughout the Gaza Strip. In Khan Yunis, dozens of terrorists have been arrested over the past week. On Sunday, the IDF launched a major airstrike on Khan Yunis destroying more of Hamas’s infrastructure. Also, that day, an airstrike killed the leader of Hamas’s recruiting efforts Mahmoud Muhammad Abed Khad. An Israeli reservist, Sgt. Maj. Dennis Yekimov, was killed a day earlier in Khan Yunis bringing the number of IDF troops killed in the Gazan war to 246.
Last week, a group began marching in a call for the return of the hostages. They launched from Kibbutz Re’im, near where the Nova massacre occurred, toward Jerusalem. Over the next four days, more and more people joined the procession. Finally, on Saturday, the assembly that now numbered over 15,000 arrived in Jerusalem. Included in the numbers were quite a few members of the families of the abductees. I feel deeply for the pain of these people. I can’t imagine the anguish of not knowing the situation of your loved ones, particularly after hearing the many stories of the abuse and torture these hostages are experiencing.
And, yes, the torture is happening. Despite the efforts of Hamas apologists to downplay what the terror group has done and is doing; the violence is real. Even the United Nations, after a thorough investigation, had to admit that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that rape and sexual torture were and are being perpetrated on women and children.
But this march is not the answer. This is the Benny Gantz strategy of a victorious army running in retreat (see above story). Yes, pressure must be asserted, but not at the Netanyahu government. It must instead be directed at Hamas until they finally break and release all those they are illegally and inhumanely holding.
The West Bank
As I’ve said before, the West Bank is a very dangerous place. The Al Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, are very active. Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party tries to portray itself as peaceful, but in actions they show they are terrorists – regularly shooting at Israeli villages and military bases.
In the Hebron area last month, the Shin Bet thwarted a terrorist cell that sought to carry out an ISIS-inspired bomb attack. Using information provided by online videos and ISIS contacts, these men constructed 100 explosive devices. If this plot had not been discovered, the results could have been devastating.
The Northern Front
The clash between Israel and Hezbollah is evident for all to see by the rockets fired south and the airstrikes launched north. On Monday, thirty rockets were fired over the border toward Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. Thirteen were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas. Hamas claimed responsibility for 16 of the rockets; it is assumed that Hezbollah fired the rest. For its part, the IDF regularly sends planes, missiles, and weaponized drones at strategic targets in Lebanon. Friday night into Saturday morning saw seven Hezbollah terrorists killed by airstrikes. One drone strike killed Abbas Ahmed Halil, grandson of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Halil was a member of the pro-Iranian Imam Hossein Division. Two of his compatriots were also killed in the attack. According to Hezbollah, 226 of its fighters have been killed since the beginning of the war.
Syria is also preparing for war. Last week saw a combined land and sea exercise by the Syrian military. This week, the Syrian army is following up by carrying out a huge military exercise. Yesterday saw rockets fired from Syria toward the Golan Heights. Israel immediately retaliated with an attack into Syria.
Iran
Elections in Iran told the story of a disappointed and disillusioned populace. In a system where there is no chance of the ruling party being defeated, popular attitudes can be surmised from the voter turnout. Saturday’s election saw only 41% of those eligible coming out to vote. That is the lowest turnout since the Islamic Revolution. Part of the reason for the citizens’ frustration is the tanking economy. The black-market rate of the Iranian Rial, known as the world’s least valuable currency, is now approaching 600,000 rials to one U.S. dollar on the black market. This is the lowest value the currency has ever held.
Russia
Yesterday, a Russian missile struck the Ukrainian city of Odesa killing five people. Approximately 500 meters away from the blast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was giving Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis a tour of the area. No one in their entourages was harmed. Russia claimed they were aiming at a hangar where there were unmanned army vessels.
Ukraine, for its part, took aim at a manned Russian vessel. Drone boats were directed at the Russian corvette, Sergey Kotov, sending the patrol boat to the bottom of the Black Sea near Crimea. If a Bloomberg report is to be taken seriously, Ukraine should celebrate every victory while it still can. The study claims that Russia should be able to break through Ukraine’s defensive line by summer.
The Ministry
For those of you in Arizona and surrounding areas, we’d like to invite you to join Pastor Mike Golay, Pastor Barry Stagner, Pastor David Guzik, and Gary Kah for the Prophecy 24 Conference! In this one-day gathering on Saturday, April 13, Pastor Mike and the others will open up the Scriptures to address the days we’re living in and the hope that lies ahead. For more information and to register, follow this link!
Past, present, future: The nation of Israel has a timeline that was initiated when God called out Abraham to make a people for Himself. The promises God made to Abraham endured through his descendants and the prophets, and they continue to stand true alongside the church's existence today. Why did God see fit to make a nation for Himself? While the nation of Israel has a beginning, does it also have an expiration date? Join me on a journey from Genesis to Revelation in my teaching, “Israel's Prophetic Timeline”, premiering Friday, March 8, at 12:00 PM PST. In this fascinating video, I’ll reveal how the word of God displays the fullness of the Lord's plans for His chosen people.
After the amazing success of our Alaska Cruise conference in 2023, we are preparing to take our teaching back on the water! For these opportunities, we will be presenting our Discovering Daniel & Revealing Conference in two very different venues. The first will be a cruise through the Mediterranean, which will take place from October 19-29, 2024. Our second opportunity to present these teachings will be on the waters of the Caribbean on January 18-25, 2025. Registration for both cruises is currently open! Make sure to register soon, as we anticipate these events to fill up quickly.
Thank you for your prayers and your support of this ministry. Over these past months, the Behold Israel team has seen the enemy attack us where we are most vulnerable – in our health and that of our families. We are dealing with a full range from minor illnesses to life-threatening issues. It is evident to us that the attacks are coming because God has some amazing ministry planned, especially with CONNECT. Please pray for health and protection for our team. As the wife of a member of our team is fond of saying, “Not today, Satan!” God bless you!
Awaiting His Return, Amir Tsarfati
Singleness of Vision
Singleness Of Vision
March 7
MATTHEW 6:24, 'No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.'
MATTHEW 6:22-24
Jesus is speaking of spiritual vision. If we keep our attention (eye) single upon Jesus, the Word, then all that we will be filled with is the light of His Word (Jn. 1:1-14; Ps. 119:105). The key to victory is this singleness of purpose (Phil. 3:13). The strength of the laser lies in the fact that all of the light is concentrated on one single point. Likewise, the strength of the Christian lies in how single his or her vision is upon Jesus, 'the author and finisher of our faith.' (Heb. 12:1-3)
You may have God and riches, but you can only serve one of them. In Matthew 6:24, the Lord amplifies this by saying that we cannot serve two masters. Why is this so? Because we do not have the capability of faithfully serving both of them. You will cleave to one more than the other. You cannot serve both with all of your heart. We just don't have the capacity to do our best in two areas at the same time. God wants singleness of vision, singleness of purpose. He wants us to serve Him with all of our heart.
You may be wondering how you can still make a living without always thinking about money. Where will it come from? How will you get more of it? In verse 33, Jesus goes on to say that He will supply all of your need when you seek first the Kingdom of God. All of these other things (food and clothing etc.) will be added unto you. If we will simply put God and His Kingdom first in every area of our lives, He will add to us all the wealth that we need. It's when we covet after money that we 'pierce ourselves through with many sorrows' (1 Tim. 6:10). Put God to the test today. Put Him first in every area of your life and see if He won't provide all the other things for you. Andrew Womack
Break the cycle of defeat
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.Romans 8:1 NASB
- MARCH 6 -
BREAK THE CYCLE OF DEFEAT
People who believe erroneously that God is hard on them for their failures will inevitably be hard on the people around them, and most of all, they will end up being really hard on themselves. They cannot forgive themselves for the mistakes they’ve made in the past and end up punishing themselves, whether they know it or not.
It’s a vicious cycle of defeat. The more they can’t forgive themselves, the more they hurt themselves with all kinds of behaviors and the more they end up bound by various destructive addictions. This leads to even more guilt, which in turn drives them to punish themselves even more—and the cycle continues.
I believe the root cause of many sinful habits, fears, and addictions can be traced to condemnation. I want to talk to you today about going after condemnation as the root to help you receive God’s forgiveness in those areas so that you can break out of your cycle of defeat and step into a new cycle of victory.
Are you living with some unresolved guilt and condemnation today? I have great news for you. When you realize that God’s heart is not in condemnation but in forgiveness, your entire life can be turned around for His glory! I have personally witnessed so many lives transformed when they just take a small step of faith to believe in His grace and receive His forgiveness in their lives.
Instead of punishing themselves for their mistakes and disqualifying themselves, these people began to correct their beliefs and receive God’s forgiveness by seeing Jesus taking on their punishment. They began to see their Savior qualifying them to receive every blessing from God for their marriages, families, and careers.
Right now I want to encourage you to release the built-up guilt and condemnation for whatever mistakes you’ve made over the years to the Lord. Would you pray this prayer with me?
“Lord Jesus, I don’t want to live under guilt and condemnation anymore. Today, I release all my failings, sins, and mistakes into Your loving hands. And I receive Your forgiveness right now into my heart. Thank You for Your precious blood that washes me whiter than snow. Right now I stand in Your righteousness, favor, joy, and peace. Amen!”
It’s a simple but powerful prayer. I encourage you to pray this prayer every time you fail and experience guilt and condemnation in your heart.
Stop punishing yourself—your answer is found at the cross of Jesus. I promise you that when you turn to Jesus and remind yourself just how forgiven and righteous you are in Christ every time you fall short, you will start living like the forgiven and righteous person Jesus has made you.
This devotional is taken from the book 100 Days Of Right Believing—Daily Readings from The Power of Right Believing. Joseph Prince
Victory
Matthew 6:13, 'And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.'
MATTHEW 6:9-13
A temptation can be a difficult situation or a pressure. Contrary to popular belief, God is not the source of our temptation (Jas. 1:13). When we are under pressure, it is important to realize that God is not trying to entrap us. Satan is called the tempter (Mt. 4:3; 1 Th. 3:5). Then why did Jesus instruct us to pray that the Father would not lead us into temptation? This was simply a request for guidance so that we could be delivered from evil.
Jesus himself was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4, Lk. 4). He trusted God fully for provision, protection, and purpose. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread. But as stated in James 4:2, 'Ye have not because ye ask not.' Both 'give us our daily bread' and 'lead us not into temptation' are simply requests for what has already been provided for us. This part of prayer serves as a reminder to us of God's promised protection (Ps. 91) and gives us an opportunity to release our faith and appropriate what has already been provided.
'No temptation has seized you but such as is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it' (1 Cor. 10:13 NIV). The victory demonstrated by Jesus is available to us. 'But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Cor. 15:57). He has given it to you. Believe and receive it. Andrew Womack
Faith is not a struggle
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.Romans 10:17 NASB
- MARCH 4 -
FAITH IS NOT A STRUGGLE
Have you ever felt like you needed more faith? Have you ever looked at yourself and told yourself that if you just had more faith, you would see your financial breakthrough or healing?
My friend, I have good news for you today: faith is not a struggle. The Scriptures show us that the hearing of faith and the works of the law are total opposites (Gal. 3:2, 5). And since the works of the law are about our self-efforts, there is no self-effort in faith.
For years, my own ministry was a ministry that disqualified people. I would tell my congregation, “There’s nothing wrong with God, nothing wrong with His Word, so there must be something wrong with you!”
But one day, I heard the Lord speaking to me on the inside. He said, “Stop disqualifying My people! My blood has already qualified them. Stop disqualifying them!”
Now, I know that faith is the opposite of the law, and that the more people become self-conscious and the more they look at their self-efforts to receive from the Lord, the more faith is depleted from them.
So when the Lord opened my eyes to grace, I changed what I was preaching entirely and began to declare, “There’s nothing wrong with God, nothing wrong with His Word, and guess what? Through the blood of Jesus, there’s nothing wrong with you! Receive your miracle!”
Hallelujah! Once I stopped pointing the people to what was wrong with them and pointed instead to what was right with them because of Jesus, faith was imparted, and we began to experience an explosion of healing miracles like never before. Cancers were healed, tumors were supernaturally removed, and lives were transformed.
That is what happens when believers know that they have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus. They begin to understand that they have the blood-bought right to be healed, to experience financial breakthroughs, and to enjoy restoration in their marriages!
When people begin to see more of Jesus, when they begin to become more and more conscious of Jesus having been crucified on their behalf, faith no longer is a barrier to receiving God’s promises.
Why? Because the more they see what Jesus has done for them, the more they see what Jesus has qualified them for, the more faith springs up within them and miracles break forth. Hallelujah!
Beloved, you don’t have to wish that you had more faith for whatever miracle you are asking God for right now. You don’t have to try to conjure up more faith.
Simply see Jesus on the cross for you and the faith you need to face any situation or challenge will come into your life. Just look to Jesus and His grace toward you! He is the author and finisher of faith (Heb. 12:2).
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. The more of Jesus and His love you hear, the more faith rises in your heart.
Get hold of teachings that preach all about Jesus and His finished work. Make it your priority to listen to the good news preached.
There is power in the gospel of Jesus Christ! Reach out and receive your miracle from your loving Savior today!
This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs. Joseph Prince
Perfect Love
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.1 John 4:18
- MARCH 3 -
PERFECT LOVE
Fear is a destructive bondage. Fear paralyzes you and prevents you from fulfilling the amazing destiny that God has for you. Fear makes you feel inadequate and insecure, and comes with unhealthy side effects ranging from panic attacks to sleep disorders. Fear is irrational.
Fear is a spiritual condition, which is why you can’t reason fear away. You can’t simply tell someone who is struggling with fear and gripped by panic attacks to just stop being fearful.
A spiritual condition cannot be remedied naturally. Fear can be eradicated only by a personal encounter with the person of Jesus.
Beloved, if what I just described about fear is all too familiar to you, I want you to know that it is not your heavenly Father’s heart for you to live tormented by fear. There is no fear in God’s love. His perfect love drives out all fears.
I don’t know if you have ever experienced God’s love, but my desire is that TODAY you will catch a revelation of His love for you in a deep and personal way. And as His love floods your heart, I pray that every fear that has you bound will forever be cast out of your life.
John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever-lasting life.”
Oh, how clearly this verse proclaims that God SO loves you. And if you only knew how much He esteems and treasures His beloved Son, you would catch a glimpse of how much He loves you, because He gave up His Son for you.
That is why I preach and write about the gospel of grace. The gospel of grace is all about unveiling God’s perfect love—a love whose length and depth and height were demonstrated at the cross. A love that gave up the Son of God as a sacrifice. A love that bore your sins and mine so that we can receive His everlasting life and live free of any bondage.
My friend, the more you immerse and anchor your heart on God’s perfect and unconditional love for you, the more fear will lose its hold on your life!
This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution. Joseph Prince
Abba
Matthew 6:9, 'After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.'
MATTHEW 6:9-13
Although God was referred to as 'our Father' 13 times in the Old Testament, Jesus' frequent use of this title brought a whole new understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus referred to God as His father over 150 times, and He spoke of God as being our father 30 times. This infuriated the religious Jews of Jesus' day who considered it blasphemy to call God their father, because they understood that to mean they were equal with God (Jn. 5:17-18).
This title has become so common in the church today that we, many times, don't perceive its real significance. The revelation that we are instructed to call God 'our Father' reveals the kind, gentle, loving nature of our God (1 Jn. 4:8). Paul amplifies this by using the term 'Abba Father' (Rom. 8:15), which is an affectionate term that a young child would use for his father, corresponding to our English word, 'daddy.'
We are being instructed here to recognize our relationship with God and praise Him for it. It's a relationship that goes beyond any human relationship we could ever have here on this earth. It's a relationship of belonging to a father, who loves us because we are His. Run to Him, drop all pretense and formality, and call Him 'Daddy.' Andrew Womack
Seated with Christ
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.Psalm 91:1
- MARCH 1 -
SEATED WITH CHRIST
There is a lot of fearmongering everywhere you turn today—on the news, in the papers, via social media, and unfortunately, on Christian media as well. However, it is vital that we do not let fear take over our hearts.
As believers, we have no business feeding on fear. If your mind is entangled with knots of anxiety, perhaps it’s time for you to examine your mental diet.
What have you, consciously or unconsciously, been meditating on? Are you ingesting and believing everything you see in the news reports, or are you living by what the Lord Jesus has purchased for you at Calvary?
To help you understand God’s heart for you regarding fear and your walking in His protection, I want to share with you a powerful key from today’s verse, the very first verse of Psalm 91, the prayer of protection. The Hebrew word for “dwell” is yashab, which means “to sit down, to remain, or to settle.”
Notice that the very first thing that God wants you to do to enjoy His protection is to rest. His protection, peace, love, and other blessings flow in your life when you are in a place of rest.
Let’s camp on the word dwell just a little more. Let’s meditate on what it means to rest or “sit down.” The Bible says that we are seated with Christ at God’s right hand (Eph. 2:6, Heb. 1:3). The word “seated” is beautiful—it means that you are no longer standing and working.
Under the old covenant, the priest had to offer the morning sacrifice at 9 a.m., and then remain standing for six hours until after the evening sacrifice at 3 p.m. Our Lord Jesus was crucified at 9 a.m. and He hung on the cross for six hours until He died at 3 p.m., thus fulfilling the type of both the morning and evening sacrifices (Heb. 10:11–12).
Because Jesus became the final sacrifice, the work of the priest is done and he no longer has to stand. Because our Lord cried, “It is finished!” at Calvary (John 19:30), we are today seated in Christ. We can dwell in the secret place of the Most High—a place of peace, safety, and security—and we can live fear-free because the blood of our Lord Jesus has paid for every blessing of protection in Psalm 91!
Today, whether you are dealing with a difficult financial situation, a sleep disorder, or plagued by depressive or even suicidal thoughts, my desire is for you to discover a God who loves you, and whose strong hands of protection are over your entire life and over every area that concerns you.
This devotional is taken from the book The Prayer of Protection Devotional—Daily Strategies for Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times. Joseph Prince
More than just words
Matthew 5:33-37, 'But let your communication be, Yea, yea: Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.'
MATTHEW 5:33-37
A person who has to swear or make a promise to validate his statements is a person whose word is no good. The thrust of Jesus' teaching here is that we should live in such a manner that no one would ever have to have additional proof that we are telling the truth. Our word should be our bond.
We have all heard the story of the young shepherd boy who cried wolf when there was no wolf until finally no one believed him when the wolf really came. Our lack of integrity in performing our word has the same effect on people today.
Very few people conduct business anymore with their word and a handshake. Even contracts are not sacred if an individual can afford a good enough lawyer. But this is not the way God intended it.
God has fulfilled every word He has ever spoken. We were created in His image and He planned for us to be the same way. Even our physical bodies respond adversely when we lie. That's why lie detectors work.
Today, commit yourself to be a new man or woman of your word. You will not only experience a new respect from others, but you will find the joy of a clear heart and mind. Andrew Womack
The Holy Spirit convicts Believers of righteousness
“And when He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”John 16:8–11
- FEBRUARY 28 -
THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS BELIEVERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Are you among the many believers who wonder how to differentiate between the enemy’s condemnation and the Holy Spirit “convicting them of sin”? That is a question that confuses a lot of believers and the answer is really simple.
Now, pay attention to today’s scripture because it will liberate you. The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit never convicts a believer of his sins. He never comes to point out your faults. I challenge you to find a scripture in the Bible that tells you the Holy Spirit has come to convict believers of their sins. You won’t find any!
The body of Christ is living in defeat because many believers don’t understand that the Holy Spirit is actually in them to convict them of their righteousness in Christ. Even when you fail, He is ever present in you to remind you that the blood of Jesus has made you totally forgiven and eternally righteous. That’s the Holy Spirit.
Remember, it is important to always read Bible verses in their context. Many people end up misinterpreting Bible verses because they fail to do this. One way to read Bible verses in their context (and this is a key Bible interpretation principle) is to identify who the verses are talking about. So was Jesus talking about believers or unbelievers in John 16:8–11?
When Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come to “convict the world of sin” because they do not believe in Him, it is clear that He was referring to unbelievers because they are of “the world.” And notice that the Holy Spirit does not convict the world of “sins” (plural). It is only one “sin” (singular) that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of, and that is the sin of unbelief, the sin of rejecting Jesus and not believing in His finished work.
But when people take John 16:8 out of its proper context, they start to believe erroneously that the Holy Spirit is here to convict believers of their sins. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit convicts you “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more.”
Clearly, with the use of the second person pronoun “you,” Jesus was referring to His believers to whom He was talking. This tells us that the Holy Spirit was sent to convict believers of righteousness, not sin!
Now, are you made righteous by your works or by faith in Jesus? By now, you should know that you are made righteous by faith, for righteousness is not right doing, but right standing before God because of your right believing!
So when you miss it, the Holy Spirit comes to convict and remind you that you are the righteousness of God because of Jesus Christ. He is present to remind you of the main clause of the new covenant—that God will be merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins and your lawless deeds, He will remember no more (Heb. 8:12).
Beloved, the Holy Spirit is your Helper (John 14:16). He was sent to live in you to help you, not to nag at you and point out all your faults. Nobody can live with a nag.
The Holy Spirit is not a nag. No, He was sent to help you by convicting you of your everlasting righteousness in Christ. God’s inexhaustible grace in your life and the power of the cross can only be understood by the revelation the Spirit brings.
Right now, you need Him to show you that even if you have just failed, you are still the righteousness of God in Christ. This is why the Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” (John 14:26 KJV). He is here to comfort you and to point you back to the cross of Jesus every time you fail. The only thing that He will convict you of is your righteousness in Jesus Christ!
This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs. Joseph Prince
Commandments lead to happiness
Commandments Lead To Happiness
February 27
Matthew 5:32, 'But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, save for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.'
MATTHEW 5:31-32
God's commandments are not intended to make us miserable--they're meant for our own happiness. Satan's lie in the Garden of Eden caused Eve to question God's motives behind His command (Genesis 3:5).
Malachi 2:15 says God hates divorce. God doesn't hate the people who divorce. He hates the act of divorce because of the damage it does to people. God loves people.
Today, people see divorce as an easy way out of marital problems. But this is based on the misconception that the mate is the problem--which is rarely the case.
People who blame their mate for their problems give in easily to divorce, thinking that a new partner will solve the situation. Yet second marriages have over twice the failure rate of first marriages. That's because we take ourselves and all our unresolved problems into the next marriage.
You can't control other people--not even your mate. But through obeying the Lord, you can control yourself and have fulness of joy. God's commands tell us what will produce true happiness for us. Andrew Womack
Forgiveness opens the door
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”1 Corinthians 2:9
- FEBRUARY 25 -
FORGIVENESS OPENS THE DOOR
Cruel words spoken in anger. A betrayal of trust. Promises broken. A destructive relationship you knew you should not have entered into.
Have you been down those dark paths before? There are so many people who are living in the shadow of guilt and condemnation. The mistakes of their past haunt them and it is a painfully lonely and arduous journey for them.
Perhaps the paralyzed man who was let down through the roof by his four faithful friends in the book of Mark understood a little of this. The Bible tells us he was paralyzed to the point where he could only lie on a mat, which was how his friends carried him to the house Jesus was in.
With the man lying inert on his mat, his four friends lowered him through the roof, right in front of Jesus—the only way they knew how to bring their crippled friend before Jesus and secure his healing. Scripture tells us that when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:5).
To all who were watching this scene unfold that day, that must have been a very strange thing for Jesus to say—“your sins are forgiven you.” The man was clearly paralyzed. He was obviously there for healing. What had forgiveness to do with his condition or healing?
But Jesus knew it was exactly what this poor man needed to hear for his healing to manifest. And indeed, at Jesus’ next words, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home,” the paralyzed man “jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers” (Mark 2:11–12 NLT).
What had transpired? Jesus saw, when no one else could, that the man needed to hear he was forgiven, that God was not condemning him. And those words opened the door to his healing and broke him loose from his paralysis.
No wonder the onlookers were stunned—the man went from being immobile and helpless to being active, strong, and completely whole right before their eyes!
My beloved friend, if you are paralyzed by a heavy sense of condemnation over something in your past, I want you to know beyond any doubt that God is not withholding your breakthrough from you. He loves you, understands your pain and suffering, and has forgiven you through the cross. He wants you to know that your past does not have to poison your future.
No matter how many dark days you have experienced, God has prepared many wonderful open doors of opportunity, favor, and good success for you to walk through in the days ahead. Your brightest and most glorious days are still ahead of you.
This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution. Joseph Prince
Salt Shakers
Matthew 5:13, 'Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.'
MATTHEW 5:13-16
What is it that will be cast out and trodden under foot of men? Is it the salt, or is it possible that Jesus is speaking about the world? If we as believers lose our preserving influence, then there is no other way for the Lord to save the world. It will be dominated by men.
God flows through His people. It is not our own power that changes people. It's God's power in us. but God will not do it without us. It's a partnership.
Many people spend a lifetime praying for God to move, not understanding that He is going to flow through them. It is not God who is failing to intervene. It is God's people who are failing to cooperate and let Him flow through them.
Every Christian has God living in them. Therefore we are carrying around other people's miracles. If we fail to walk in the supernatural power of God, then somone will miss their miracle. We are God's salt to preserve this putrifying world. Today, get out of the shaker and let the life of God which is in you flow to someone in need. Andrew Womack