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The Daily Brief:
An Online News Source for Intercessors
"Decreeing the Word of God Over the News of the Day"
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United We Stand Tuesday, Dec 12, 2023
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If you had to miss Pastor Godfrey's message on last night's call, please be sure to go here to hear this blessing. Amen.
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Join our Bible Readathon, every night except Sunday morning, from midnight to 6:00 a.m. Call 508-924-5411 (no access code). Our moderator will welcome you and invite you to share in our reading. Praise God! His Word does NOT return to us void!
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
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>>> Be sure to read today's thoughts on repentance by Pastor Jeff Daly | National Day of Repentance. Go Here.
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Trump Has Good Shot With Supreme Court to Get DC Case Tossed, Experts Say
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While some of President Trump's arguments for getting the case dismissed are weak, others appear persuasive, according to legal experts.
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Former President Donald Trump has several viable avenues to have the Supreme Court throw out federal charges he’s facing for his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election, several lawyers and Constitution experts told The Epoch Times.
His best case is that the charges encroach on his First Amendment rights, but he might also successfully assert presidential immunity or argue the law was impermissibly stretched by prosecutors, the experts said.
President Trump was charged by Special Counsel Jack Smith on Aug. 1 with obstructing electoral vote counting by Congress on Jan. 6 and conspiring to do so in order to stay in power.
The conspiracy was allegedly carried out by spreading false claims that fraud and illegalities swayed the election outcome and using those false claims in attempts to convince various officials to overturn the results.
President Trump’s lawyers have launched a barrage of motions to have the charges dismissed on constitutional grounds, statutory grounds, due to presidential immunity, and for malicious prosecution. While some of the claims are weak at best, others appear persuasive, according to the experts.
In practice, however, President Trump’s arguments will need to convince his judge, the appeals court, or, in the final instance, the Supreme Court.
The experts predict that the District of Columbia federal judge on the case, Tanya Chutkan, will almost certainly deny all the motions to dismiss. On Dec. 1, she indeed denied about half of them. They also acknowledged that the arguments would likely encounter resistance in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, given its political leanings.
President Trump’s best chance will be in the Supreme Court, they contend. (The Epoch Times) Read more here.
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- Mighty God, we ask You to be Donald Trump's victorious strong tower in this matter as he contends with the adversary. Thank You for protecting both his freedom of speech by the 1st Amendment, and his right to seek redress of grievances from the government, which he sought. We bring this judge before You Abba, and forgive her and pray that she would come to know You as her Holy God and Savior, in Jesus name. We also pray for the Supreme Court to hear this case and adjudicate righteously, in Jesus name.
- "For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake." (Isaiah 37:35)
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US Blocks UN 'Article 99' Ceasefire Resolution, Citing Security Council's 'Moral Failure'
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The United States on Friday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution advocating for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and criticized the council's failure to condemn the Oct. 7 terror attacks as a "serious moral failure."
In remarks to the Security Council, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood said the draft text was "disconnected" from reality.
"We still cannot comprehend why the resolution’s authors declined to include language condemning Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on Israel on October 7,” Mr. Wood said.
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The United States, which holds veto power, is one of five permanent members of the Security Council, alongside Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. The non-permanent members include Brazil, Albania, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, and Japan.
The United Arab Emirates, which holds the presidency of the council for December, put forward the resolution, which 13 member nations voted in favor of, except for the United Kingdom, which abstained.
"This Council’s failure to condemn Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attacks—including its acts of sexual violence and other unthinkable evils—is a serious moral failure. And it underscores the fundamental disconnect between the discussions that we have been having in this Chamber and the realities on the ground," said Mr. Wood. (The Epoch TImes) Read more here.
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- We praise You Holy One, for leading Ambassador Wood to stand up for Israel and their right to self-protection. We also speak over these countries who refuse to acknowledge the horrific events perpetrated by Hamas against innocent citizens and call them to stop the deception and we declare that the truth alone will truly set them free from their inner tyranny, in Jesus name. We pray for growing strength, wisdom and authority to fill those who face the accuser and destroyer daily; may they all be covered by the blood of Jesus and protected by God's holy angelic warriors, for the glory of God. Amen.
- "'In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.'" (Zechariah 12:8-9)
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Arab Leaders Urge US to Demand Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas War
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A delegation of diplomats from Arab and Islamic nations is calling on the United States to demand a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Officials from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia said the United States’ continued failure to condemn Israeli war crimes was causing many nations to doubt the legitimacy of the rules-based international order.
Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry said that many worried the United States was shirking its commitment to human rights in Gaza.
“What is ongoing is eroding the credibility of the international rules-based order,” Mr. Shoukry said during a Dec. 8 conference at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington.
“The growing feeling in the global South is that there is a double standard being applied to this conflict in terms of acceptance of the scale of human suffering, the number of innocent casualties.”
To that end, Mr. Shoukry said the United States was “inconsistent” with its handling of Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, whereas it had been “clear and determined” when dealing with similar issues from other nations at war. (The Epoch Times)
Read more here.
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- Holy One, we thank You that the U.S. is standing apart from the "rules-based international order". May we continue to walk in integrity towards Israel, while calling for Hamas to stop using innocent people as their human shields. While there is no way of knowing true and accurate numbers, we pray for every life lost and ask Father, that they would have had an encounter with You. We bind the spirit of antisemitism, in Jesus name, and may these nations be overwhelmed with encounters with the Living God instead, so that they will walk uprightly, in Jesus name. Amen.
- "but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness– [you are treasuring up] indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 2:8-10)
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Religious Leaders Join UN, WEF To Push the Global Climate Agenda
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Deep in a Cambodian old-growth forest, Buddhist "ecology monks" wrap trees in saffron clerical robes before ordaining the trees into the Buddhist faith.
The practice is an example of "forest activism" that spread to Cambodia after Thai monks in the 1990s began ordaining trees as they would a new monk.
Ordained trees become sacred and protected from illegal logging because harming an ordained monk is taboo in the Buddhist religion.
The recognition that religion can be a powerful tool when applied to selling the global warming narrative has been gaining traction at the United Nations and the World Economic Forum (WEF), where faith has traditionally been kept at arm's length.
The globalist agencies are now welcoming help from religious leaders fighting climate change, one of the 17 U.N. sustainable development goals for 2030.
But some religious leaders are alarmed by their colleagues' involvement in the climate debate.
"I think this is a dangerous agenda, and it keeps the church from doing what its primary calling is, and that is to win people to faith in Jesus Christ," Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, told The Epoch Times.
"We ought to be much more concerned about what God thinks."
The U.N. predicts doom if urgent action isn't taken to save the earth from the calamity of rising oceans and extreme weather caused by global warming, although scientific evidence remains controversial.
The U.N.'s 2030 climate goal calls for "deep, rapid, and sustained" reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent, and the U.N. is aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. It predicts that global temperatures will rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2035. (Zerohedge) Read more here
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- Almighty God, we take authority over the unfettered predictions of climate doom coming from the self-appointed agents of the one world order, in Jesus name. We have seen these announcements come and go, but the earth belongs to You, and we place this drama under Your righteous authority. We hear of both the Pope and the Buddhists identifying trees and nature on the same level as humanity, but we declare that followers of Jesus will know and declare that we are God's stewards of the earth until Jesus returns. Moreover, we pray that all people will know that they have been made in the image and likeness of God and that the Word of God will continue to stand (Isaiah 40:8b) when all heaven and earth passes away (Matthew 13:31), under the perfect timing of King Jesus.
- "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable." (Isaiah 40:28)
- "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth'" (Genesis 1:26)
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1. Netanyahu makes it clear: Post-war, PA won’t gain control of Gaza Strip’ - JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there is no way the Palestinian Authority would be allowed to rule the Gaza Strip in a post-Hamas world during a stormy discussion on Monday in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.
“Oslo was the mother of all sins. The difference between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is only that Hamas wants to destroy us here and now, and the P.A. wants to do it in stages,” the prime minister said.
“We cooperate with them against Hamas when it serves their interest and ours up to a certain limit. We decided a few months ago that we don’t want them to collapse so that Hamas does not rise up in Judea and Samaria as well,” he added. (Read more)
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2. Min. of Defense: 'Gaza operation success will also affect Judea and Samaria' - Israel National News
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today (Monday) held a situation assessment at the Central Command together with the commander Yehuda Fox, Major General (ret.) Amir Abulafia, commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, Brigadier General Avi Bluth, commander of the command, Brig. Col. Roi Shitrit, head of the Civil Administration, Brigadier General Fares Atila, and representatives of the Shin Bet and Border Police.
Gallant received an overview of the defense operations in the communities and roads throughout Judea and Samaria, and the operational activities being carried out to eliminate the terrorist forces in the refugee camps, the confiscation of weapons and the thwarting of the terrorist infrastructure.
He emphasized that "the main goal is to preserve the quiet in the area alongside exacting a significant price from the terrorists and making every effort to support the IDF's operation in Gaza." (Read more)
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3. 1 moderately wounded after massive rocket barrage on central Israel - Israel Hayom
A 45-year-old man was moderately injured Monday from a rocket hit in Holon after a massive volley was fired by Hamas at noon toward central Israel.
Paramedics Elad Salma and emergency medic Lior Harel from MDA said in a statement: "We arrived at the scene quickly with large forces and saw major property damage; a man about 45 years old walked down the street conscious and suffering from an injury to his leg from shrapnel. We provided him with initial medical treatment in the field and evacuated him to the hospital while his condition was light to moderate. We are scanning nearby buildings to ensure there are no additional casualties."
Wolfson Medical Center stated: "A man in his 40s arrived at Wolfson Medical Center suffering from limb injuries. He is currently being examined and treated by the professional medical teams in the Emergency Department." (Read more)
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4. Tehran warns of ‘explosion’ if war continues - Jerusalem Post
The continuation of the Gaza war will lead to a regional explosion, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told the Doha Forum on Monday, as he explained that the scope of the conflict had already expanded to include Lebanon and Yemen.
“At any moment there is a possibility of a big explosion in the region, one not controllable by any party,” he said as he spoke through an English language translator in a virtual interview conducted by CNN’s Becky Anderson.
The foreign minister pointed to attacks against US bases in Iraq and Syria, Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and the violence on Israel’s northern border as proof that regional violence had expanded beyond the Gaza border. (Read more)
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5. Russia tells Hamas to release hostages - World Israel News
After meetings with Palestinian leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Russia has demanded that Hamas release hostages taken from Israel.
According to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met on Monday with representatives of Hamas and other Palestinian groups and reportedly discussed freeing hostages.
After speaking with Hamas terrorist chairman Moussa Abu Marzouk, Secretary General of the Palestinian Democratic Union Saleh Rafat, and senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine official Maher Taher, Mikhail Bogdanov released a statement about the meeting. (Read more)
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1. Almost Twice As Many Democrats As Republicans Believe The ‘Holocaust Is A Myth,’ New Poll Finds – Daily Caller
Democrats are leading the charge when it comes to believing the Holocaust is a myth, a new survey by YouGov showed.
Of those who answered the YouGov survey, 10% of Democrats believe the Holocaust is a myth. Conversely, 6% of Republicans also believe the Holocaust is a myth. While the majority of Americans do, in fact, believe the Holocaust was a real event, most who deny it are under the age of 30, according to the poll.
Roughly 20% of people from ages 18 to 29 believe the Holocaust is a myth, while 36% in the same age group said Israel “exploits Holocaust victimhood,” YouGov found. Roughly 10% of all men deny the Holocaust took place, while only 4% of women thought the same, according to the poll.
More Americans said antisemitism is a major problem in 2023 compared to 2019, although Democrats and Republicans disagreed on if boycotting Israel is antisemitic, according to the poll. Democrats and Republicans also reportedly disagreed over which demographic was most victimized by hate crimes. (Read more)
- Precious Lord, the blindness in our country is grieving us daily. From pro-Palestinian protests to people who deny the Holocaust, we cannot comprehend the lack of knowledge. We pray that You will so whatever it takes to show these people the truth and reveal Your heart-changing Spirit.
- “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)
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2. Appeals Court Affirms, Narrows Trump Gag Order - The Epoch Times
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia affirmed a gag order that U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan originally issued, prohibiting former President Donald Trump from making statements that target several groups of people involved in a case accusing him of interfering with the 2020 elections.
The 68-page opinion and order provided some additional specifics to Judge Chutkan's original order, narrowing the gag order.
The former president is prohibited from "making or directing others to make public statements about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses concerning their potential participation in the investigation or in this criminal proceeding." Previously, the order prohibited President Trump from making any statements that would "target" any potential witness, or the content of their potential testimonies.
He is also allowed to make statements about special counsel Jack Smith, whom the appellate court judges had deemed a public figure in an earlier hearing. (Read more)
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- We pray this gag order will be dropped preventing President Trump from making statements. Bring justice in this decision.
- "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly." (Leviticus 19:15)
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3. Kevin McCarthy Endorses Trump for President, Willing to Serve in Cabinet - Breitbart
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on this week’s broadcast of CBS’s “Sunday Morning” that he endorses former President Donald Trump for the 2024 race and was open to serving in his White House cabinet.
Partial transcript as follows:
COSTA: Will Donald Trump be the nominee?
MCCARTHY: Yes. In the Republican Party? Yes. And if Biden stays as the nominee for the Democrats, I believe Donald Trump will win. I believe the Republicans will gain more seats in the House and the Republicans will win the Senate.
COSTA: Can he count on your support?
MCCARTHY: Yes.
COSTA: That’s an endorsement?
MCCARTHY: I will support the president. I will support President Trump.
COSTA: Would you be willing to serve in a Trump cabinet?
MCCARTHY: In the right position. Look, if I’m the best person for the job. Yes. Look, I worked with President Trump on a lot of policies. We worked together to win the majority. But we also have a relationship where we’re very honest with one another. (Read more)
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-Thank You for this endorsement from Former House Speaker McCarthy. We pray Your will be done in the upcoming days.
- “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.” (Exodus 34:9)
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4. What the Media Is Not Telling Us About the Israel-Hamas War - IFA
I attended a special service on November 29 at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA where senior pastor Gary Hamrick facilitated a conversation with native Israeli Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel. Tsarfati’s mission is “to provide reliable and accurate reporting on developments in Israel and the region.” I watched the crowd of about 1,300 look on in shock as he detailed the brutality and torture massacre of October 7. His account felt weighty in the room.
I thought that surely this was not the first time people have heard these gruesome details. I asked a few people about whether they had heard what actually happened before that night, and the response was mixed. The fact that anyone could be in the audience without a clear picture of the atrocity carried out by the Hamas terrorists is a testament to how far the media has fallen. It also called attention to how important these type of church services and conversations are for us to be effective allies of the Jewish people and support God’s biblical narrative of Israel.
. . . There’s more you haven’t seen in the media. The Wednesday before October 7, during Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles), thousands of Christians from all over the world gathered to march through the streets of Jerusalem to show support for Israel and the Jewish people. This type of thing would never see the light of day in the legacy media. It was beautiful to witness Jewish families watching the parade as the name of Yeshua, Jesus, was being exalted in the streets. I see this a partial fulfillment, or a shadow, of Zechariah 14 where the gentile nations who once opposed Israel would come up to worship alongside Israel during Sukkot and the nations who did so would be blessed. The groups from the nations would sing worship songs in their native style and language. At the same time hundreds of thousands of Jewish families from all over the world were streaming up to Jerusalem to worship during Sukkot at the Western Wall. We need more of the global church to be on display in support and solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people.
In this hour of history, we have the honor to be asked of God to take a stand for the “apple of His eye” and a people that were named by God. Will you stand and be a Hadassah (Esther) in this generation or will deliverance of the Jews come from another? (Read more here) [Name of author unknown]
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PRAYER OFFERED BY IFA:
"Lord, please soften hearts toward Israel. Silence the lies of the media, and let people around the world see the Jews as You do."
VERSE OFFERED BY CHPP:
"If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” (Exodus 33:13)
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5. The State Department approves the sale of tank ammunition to Israel in a deal that bypasses Congress - Breitbart
WASHINGTON (AP) — Going around Congress, the Biden administration said Saturday it has approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million as Israel intensifies its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip.
The move comes as President Joe Biden’s request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security is languishing in Congress, caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. Some Democratic lawmakers have spoken of making the proposed $14.3 billion in American assistance to its Mideast ally contingent on concrete steps by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza during the war with Hamas.
The State Department said it had notified Congress of the sale late Friday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale” of the munitions in the U.S. national security interest.
That means the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for lawmakers’ approval.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” the department said in a statement. “Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.” (Read more)
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- Thank You for this aide given to Israel by the U.S. Government. We pray this war with Hamas will end soon.
- "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." (Matthew 24:6)
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6. ‘Never Again Is Now’ — Thousands Rally in Berlin Against Antisemitism - Breitbart
BERLIN (AP) – Several thousand people demonstrated against antisemitism in Berlin on Sunday as Germany grapples with a large increase in anti-Jewish incidents following Hamas’ attack on Israel two months ago.
Police estimated that around 3,200 people gathered in the rain in the German capital, while organizers put the figure at 10,000, German news agency dpa reported. Participants in the protest, titled “Never again is now,” marched to the Brandenburg Gate.
A group tracking antisemitism in Germany said in late November that it had documented a drastic increase in antisemitic incidents in the month after Hamas’ attack – a total of 994, an increase of 320% compared with the same period a year earlier. (To view photos and read more, go here.)
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- We thank You for those who protested against antisemitism in Germany. We pray that these many incidents of anti-Jewish attacks will be stopped in Jesus name. Grant favor to the Jewish community.
- "The LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor" (Genesis 39:21)
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7. As More Gaza Terrorists Surrender, Netanyahu Pronounces 'Beginning of the End for Hamas' - CBN
JERUSALEM, Israel – Dozens more Hamas terrorists have surrendered to Israel. The videos show them stripped down to make sure they're not carrying any explosives or suicide belts.
Israel's military says these surrenders show that Hamas is crumbling, but cautioned it's still far from the end.
Israel Defense Forces Spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, "There are a great many terrorists who have surrendered there, and this is a significant thing because these are signs that terrorists who are in difficult strongholds have decided to surrender."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for more Hamas members to surrender.
"It will take more time, the war is in full swing, but this is the beginning of the end for Hamas," Netanyahu stated. "I say to the Hamas terrorists: it is over. Don't die for (Hamas chief Yahya) Sinwar. Surrender – now." (Read more here)
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- Father God, we praise You that, since ancient times, Israel's military has never lost a war they have fought. We thank You for P.M. Netanyahu's clear cut statement: this war is now over. In Your Name, amen and amen.
- "Psalm 83"
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8. Federal Judge Hands Huge Victory To Trump In Bid To Remove Him From Arizona Ballot - Daily Caller
A federal judge dismissed a case Tuesday seeking to remove former president Donald Trump from Arizona’s presidential ballot.
John Anthony Castro, a little-known Republican presidential candidate, filed the lawsuit in September alleging that Trump is ineligible for office under the Fourteenth Amendment because he provided “aid and comfort” to Jan. 6 “insurrectionists.” U.S. District Judge Douglas Rayes, an Obama appointee, ruled that Castro does not have standing to sue because there is “no evidence” he has Arizona supporters or is truly running for office.
Castro had claimed Trump’s candidacy would harm him by drawing away votes and fundraising. The judge wrote that Castro is “attempting to manufacture a competitive injury solely for purposes of pursuing litigation.”
“Although this evidence shows Castro’s name likely will appear on the Republican ballot in Arizona’s Presidential Preference Election, it does not convince the Court that Castro is genuinely competing with Trump for votes or contributions, or that he has any chance or intent to prevail in that election,” the ruling states. “Castro offers no evidence that he has Arizona supporters, that he has received contributions from any voter anywhere in the country, or that he would gain support or contributions if Trump could not appear on the ballot.”
The lawsuit is one of “at least 27” Castro has filed nationwide, the judge noted.
A Rhode Island federal judge similarly tossed one of Castro’s lawsuits seeking to remove Trump from the state’s ballot on Nov. 27, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals found that Castro lacked standing to bring his New Hampshire lawsuit.
The Supreme Court declined in October to hear an appeal to a case Castro filed in Florida. (Read more)
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- Thank You Lord for these judges dismissing these various cases filed by Castro to remove Trump from the presidential ballot. Praise the Lord!
- "The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." (Proverbs 12:22)
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With high levels of prayer, U.S. is an outlier among wealthy nations
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This May 2 is the National Day of Prayer in the United States, a day Congress set aside in 1952 for Americans to turn “to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals.” But many Americans pray every day – not just on the Day of Prayer. Indeed, out of 102 countries examined for frequency of prayer by Pew Research Center, the U.S. is unique in that it has both a high level of wealth ($56,000 per-capita gross domestic product in 2015) and a high level of daily prayer among its population (55% according to the 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study).
In every other wealthy country surveyed – that is, those with a per-capita GDP over $30,000 – fewer than 40% of adults say they pray every day. For example, in Japan, where per-capita GDP is about $38,000, roughly a third (33%) pray daily. In Norway, where per-capita GDP is about $68,000, fewer than one-in-five adults (18%) do. (It’s worth noting that the surveys did not include wealthy countries in the Arabian Peninsula, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which might be expected to have high levels of prayer.)
At the other end of the economic spectrum, countries with less wealth tend to have higher rates of prayer. In fact, every country where at least 70% of adults say that they pray each day has a per-capita GDP under $20,000. For example, in Egypt, where 72% say they pray every day, per-capita GDP is about $11,000. And in Afghanistan, where 96% of adults say they pray every day, the per-capita GDP is about $2,000.
These findings are broadly aligned with other data that suggest that a country’s level of wealth is inversely proportional to its levels of religious commitment as measured by survey responses about daily prayer, belief in God, attendance at religious services and stated importance of religion in one’s life. In other words, people in poorer countries tend to be more religious than people in wealthier countries. (Prophecy News Watch) Read more here.
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The Resurgence Of Israel's Military in Bible Prophecy
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Israel is the major focus of End Time Bible prophecy. That's the reason that the re-establishment of the nation in the 20th Century was so important. That event signaled the fact that we are now living in the end of the end times.
Prophecies Concerning Israel
During the 20th Century, we were privileged to witness God beginning to fulfill in whole or in part seven prophecies regarding the Jewish people:
1) The regathering of the Jews from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:10-12). Theodor Herzl's book, The Jewish State, published in 1896, helped motivate Jewish migration back to Israel. There were 40,000 Jews in Palestine in 1900. Today, there are over 7 million in the land of Israel.
2) The re-establishment of the state of Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-22). This prophecy was fulfilled on May 14, 1948, when the Israeli declaration of independence was proclaimed in Tel Aviv.
3) The reclamation of the land (Ezekiel 36:34-35). When the Jews started returning to the land just over 100 years ago, it was a malaria-infested swampland that had been denuded of all its forests. Today, it produces food in abundance and the forests have been replanted.
4) The revival of the Hebrew language (Zephaniah 3:9 and Jeremiah 31:23). When the Jews were scattered worldwide, they stopped speaking Hebrew. But in the 1800s, God raised up a Lithuanian Jew named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda to resurrect the language from the dead. Hebrew now predominates as one of the three official languages of Israel.
5) The re-occupation of the city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:4-8). When the Israeli War of Independence ended in 1949, the Old City of Jerusalem was under Jordanian occupation. The Israelis reclaimed the city during the Six-Day War on June 7, 1967.
6) The resurgence of the Israeli military (Zechariah 12:6). Even though Israel is one of the smallest nations, its military is considered one of the top ten in the world.
7) The re-focusing of world politics on the nation of Israel and its city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3). Today world attention is focused on Israel and Jerusalem -- as has been abundantly evident in late 2023.
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Military Power in Prophecy
From its humble beginnings in 1948, the Israeli military has become a highly professional and capable force.
The prophet Ezekiel referred to the revival of Israel in the last days as producing "an exceedingly great military force" (Ezekiel 37:10). Zechariah was more specific, prophesying that God would make "the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves" and enable them to "consume on the right hand and on the left" all their enemies (Zechariah 12:6, NASB). He proceeded to state that in the end times, the nation will be so strong that the "one who stumbles among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them" (Zechariah 12:8).
Let's look now at the major conflicts of the past that offer evidence of the fulfillment of these prophecies.
[ > > > To read the four major examples of Israel's victories in several wars since its
founding in 1948, please go here.]
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Conclusion
These and other Israeli conflicts of the past 75 years prove, beyond a doubt, that God has His hand on Israel, protecting the Jewish people from assault after assault, and enabling them to achieve miraculous victories -- all in fulfillment of Bible prophecies about Israel in the end times.
Nor can there be any doubt that God's supernatural protection will continue.
Right now, Israel is embroiled in yet another fight for its existence against radicalized Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. It could well prove to be the worst of all the wars Israel has experienced, especially if it blossoms into a regional conflagration. But Scripture tells us that Israel will overcome all these challenges to its existence -- because God promised that once He replanted them on their land, "they will not again be uprooted from their land" (Amos 9:15).
If this war turns out to be a fulfillment of the prophesied war of Psalm 83, then Israel will once again be overwhelmingly victorious, defeating all the Arab nations with whom it shares a common border. This will pave the way for the subsequent war of Gog and Magog, described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, when Russia, accompanied by certain Muslim nations, will come down against Israel and suffer supernatural destruction at the hands of the Lord.
Israel has some very difficult days ahead, but God has made some wonderful promises to them that they can rely on. In Psalm 121:4, He says, "Behold, He who keeps Israel will not slumber and will not sleep." In Isaiah, He promised Israel, "No weapon that is formed against you will succeed" (Isaiah 54:17).
America needs to pay attention to these promises of God. Only by standing with and blessing Israel can we hope to be blessed. (Prophecy News Watch) Read more here.
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President Biden just pledged to shut down 60% of America's electric power
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The Biden administration made two virtue-signaling proclamations at last week’s COP28 conference in Dubai that it says will help save the planet from climate change.
The policies aren’t likely to change the planet’s temperature by even one-tenth of a degree, but they might just destroy the 21st-century American industrial economy as we know it.
First, Team Biden announced it will stop production of all new coal plants in the United States.
This comes on the heels of President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency saying this year it would impose new power plant emission regulations that are virtually impossible for coal plants to comply with.
The bottom line: No more coal. Period.
But the White House was just getting started.
Vice President Kamala Harris trumpeted the next day new rules to “sharply reduce methane from the oil and natural gas industry.”
The administration calls methane a “super-pollutant” that it wants to eliminate because it’s “many times more potent than carbon dioxide.”
But methane is effectively a hydrocarbon that comes from natural gas. Read more here
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- Lord, we pray for an awakening of truth and guidance for our government leaders to make decisions that impact the lives of our citizens. The continued delusion of climate change has overtaken the minds of so many who have fallen into this constant distortion of Your word through man's desire to change what is natural in Your glorious creation.
- “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” (John 12:40)
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And Now . . . Lion of Judah: ROAR!!!!
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"The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man;
He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war.
He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud;
He shall prevail against His enemies."
(Isaiah 42:13)
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Awe-Inspiring Geminid Meteor Shower to Swamp Earth Before Christmas—What You Need to Know
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They seem to shoot from the constellation of the twins Gemini, but the bold, bright, white shards of light that crop up like clockwork in the night sky in the lead-up to Christmas really originate much closer to home. Seeming to radiate from Gemini’s bright star Castor as it rises in the early evening, just before 9 p.m. your local time, a darting spectacle of lights appears. It's an intense meteor shower.
Here's what you need to know to enjoy this famously spectacular and prolific seasonal meteor shower—certainly one of the year's best!
The Meteor Shower's Radiant
Bright star Castor actually lies 51 light years away. And while these shooting stars seem to emanate from that faraway star, they don’t actually. Meteors are bits of cosmic debris littering space colliding with Earth’s upper atmosphere and burning up in our sky a mere 60 miles overhead. This particular shower is dubbed the Geminids, after the constellation Gemini where they seem to shoot from.
This is a faux convergence of stars and meteors, really. All that space debris actually travels in parallel, orbiting the sun, never converging. Akin to train tracks running parallel toward the horizon, the meteors seem to converge but never do. The point in our nighttime sky where their paths seemingly meet is called the "radiant". The Geminids’ radiant aligns almost perfectly with the bright star Castor. Read More
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20 States Seeking to Expel Foreign Students Amid Rising Concerns of 'Terrorist Activity'
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A coalition of 20 attorneys general is pushing a move against student visa holders who support terrorism. Arkansas AG Tim Griffin is leading the effort after writing a letter that calls on the State Department and Homeland Security to, "Vigorously renew vetting of foreign student visa holders and promptly remove anyone who has endorsed or espoused terrorist activity or provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations. These are people that are here because we allow them to be here," said AG Griffin. "If they're going to engage in this sort of support of terrorists, then we need to get them out of here." Iowa's AG Brenna Bird also signed the letter. "I would say most of them also don't support terrorism, most people who are here on a student visa are here to study and learn about American culture, but those that are supporting terrorism shouldn't be in our country," AG Bird said. "It's even more concerning when I hear students on campus say that they're scared, they don't feel safe because of what is going on there."
In 2022, the federal government issued more than 400,000 student visas, an increase of 53,000 (or 15%) over the prior year, and the highest recorded total seen in six years. One reason could be the money generated by the student visa program – which pumps about $38 million into the U.S. economy via tuition, living expenses, and other spending. Almost three-quarters of these F-1 student visa holders find jobs in the important fields of science, tech, engineering and math within three years of graduating. Some call that a huge return of investment as top international talent stays here. "The last thing we want is for Hamas and Hamas sympathizers to be using the U.S. in order to plan future attacks," Bird concluded. While free speech applies to all students in the U.S. – including foreign visa holders – supporting terrorism does not. That's why the coalition is calling on the federal government to act. (CBN) Read More Here
- Father, we thank You for the 20 Attorney Generals who stand against anti-semitism and dangerous invitations to terrorism within our own borders. You are the God who gives insight, wisdom and strategy. We pray for full-support and quick action from the State Department and Homeland Security in passing common-sense measures to protect America against weaknesses within our federal government policies. You know the heart of man and we ask that You would swiftly remove only those with wrong intentions. We trust You will protect all Jewish people and America from the enemy, thwarting every evil plan so it is exposed and dismantled before it ever happens! In Jesus mighty and powerful Name- Amen
- "The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice" (Prov. 12:15)
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“With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.” (Proverbs 11:9)
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"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name."
- Provided By: Billy Graham
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O Come All Ye Faithful
To listen to this classic hymn, CLICK HERE
Words: John Wade
Music: Traditional folk song
Scripture: The shepherds said to one another, Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:15–16
Lyrics:
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O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye,
To Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels;
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
True God of true God
Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not
The Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father,
Begotten, not created;
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens
Of heaven above!
Glory to God, all
Glory in the highest;
Refrain
See how the shepherds,
Summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks,
Draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps;
Refrain
Lo! star led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense,
Gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child
Bring our hearts’ oblations
Refrain
Child, for us sinners
Poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee,
With love and awe;
Who would not love Thee,
Loving us so dearly?
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing.
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About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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Please click on the links below for more information:
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"Daily Brief Newsletter Emails - Making Sure You Receive Them"
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