Unplug It & Plug It Back In.

Distraction. 

It's been a tactic of the enemy for all times. 

I sit here this morning, trying to prepare and couldn’t be more distracted.  Distracted in my heart – I want to cover the Torah portion, but it just doesn’t feel right.  Distracted in my brain (and my heart) by all the emotions and experiences of this week.  Distracted by the rumblings in my house and my life.  Every door creak, the air conditioner kicking on, every phone buzz.  All a distraction.  Let’s just say it’s been a stressful and busy morning here at the house.

Emotions are high everywhere.  At home, the death of a family member.  Having to divide to conquer responsibilities.  Spread thin on time, our most valuable resource.  When all I really want and need to do is escape for some alone time with God. I need some time to spiritually rest in my Father’s arms and just cry. 

Of course, this week, we all saw Charlie Kirk assassinated right in front of our eyes. 

Charlie was a voice.  And Charlie was a fountain of wisdom.  He was a college dropout, but there wasn’t a scholar out there that could hold a candle to him in political science.  But more important that what he knew was who he knew. 

Charlie knew Yeshua.

I have no doubts that Charlie really knew Yeshua.  I’ve heard him speak about when he travelled to Israel and the encounters he had with the Lord there.  I have heard him boldly share the gospel, boldly share his testimony, and boldly try to tell the world that we cannot be satisfied until we return to the ways of our Creator.

He was a firm voice for the biblical principles of life and marriage, and Sabbath.

If Charlie was alive today, he would be at home, phones and tv off, with this bible and his family.  God and family was his rest.  His 25 hours or so every week to unplug from all those distractions, all the noise of the world, and reset. Literally unplugging before he plugged back in.

But Charlie isn’t here.  And so much of the world is in mourning.  On the outside it’s strange to grieve for a man that we never met.  But yet, we knew him.  If you listened to him, your soul knew him.  That deep wisdom called out to deep and you were connected.  Maybe our flesh never met him in person, but we lost a brother.  And we lost the one who was a voice for us.  I can’t say there is another Christian or Non Jewish Sabbath keeper that had such an impactful voice. At least not yet.

Moments before Charlie died, he was sharing the gospel. Just as he did regularly on college campuses across our nation.  And coming out this December, is Charlie’s latest book.

Stop in the Name of God:  Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life is set to release December 9^th. But it has already hit #1  best selling on both Amazon and Barnes & Nobles Christian book charts this week.

We know from the story of Joseph, that no matter what the enemy meant for evil that God will use it for good. And so with Charlie’s death, and the sudden rise of interest in the Sabbath this week I am believing for many, even thousands of eyes to be opened to the benefits of living in obedience to God.  I believe that’s God plan.

But the enemy also has a plan.  One that we must be aware of.

His plan is always to kill, steal and destroy.  And he has done it quite well this week.  Just over the last few days, I watched two people die while being filmed.  Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian refugee stabbed on the train while people just stood and watched.  No reactions.  No interference.  And then Charlie.

Watching these has impacted me in a way that I’ll never be the same.  On one hand I was radically awakened to see just far America as a whole has plunged.  How heartless.  How cold.  To just let a beautiful young lady just die.  Or how do you take a life, with just one kill shot.  How could he look through that scope and pull that trigger?

But the Yeshua warned us. 

Matthew 24

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 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. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

In the opinion of Melissa, I think we just entered verse 9. Ironically, the name of Charlie Kirk’s organization was Turning Point.  I believe that may have just be prophetic.  This week has been a clear turning point in American history.

Suddenly, its normal to watch people die in real time.  We are being desensitized to death.  The value of a human life is being diminished. And a clearer line, or rather a wider divide, may have never before been seen in our country.

When in history has congress erupted when someone simply asked for prayer?

The hate spewed.  The demons screamed.  It was ugly.  It wasn’t just simply unprofessionalism.  This is demonic.

Don’t get me wrong, I know from experience that spiritual war always seems to heat up and get more intense just before the fall feast days, but this year is so much more than that.

Actually I was struggling this week. I could recognize the distractions.  I could recognize the torment from the enemy.  And I could tell I was already battle fatigued earlier this week.  And three days ago, on 09/10.  At about the same exact time that Charlie was shot.  I was on the phone with Diane.  We were confessing to one another and crying out to the Lord, and I felt compelled to take notes.

My note at 1:25 pm CST says, “This is war.” And from there I began to sketch out my battle plan. We prayed, hung up, and then news of what happened in Utah came flooding. 

Immediately we saw the divide.  There were actually people celebrating his death.  Celebrating that his wife and family had to witness it.  Grumsome and unheard of things have been said.  And its so clearly demonic.

And I am not going to lie, I have wrestled with emotions, especially immediately following.  I really struggled with anger.  But the Lord reminded me,

Eph 6:  12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

And then he reminded me to look this verse up and read the context.  This is in the context of putting on our armor.  And why do we need armor, because this is war.

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

This is our battle plan. 

If we are honest, do we put on all of the armor daily?  Probably not.  Most Christians are soldiers walking around half dressed, and exposed without the full truth. And how do we stack up against the last verses?  Are we going out boldly to speak?

We are losing ground, but most importantly we are losing souls. We are the modern day Israelites.  And we are being called to pause today and inspect the land.

Numbers 13: 18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

This really is the time.  No matter how dark it looks, we cannot have a bad report.  While America is a far cry from The Promised Land.  It is our land of promise.  A vision from the Lord given to our founding fathers 250 years ago.  This land is a land created as One Nation, Under God.  Under His kingship first, then a president.  As a refuge for those escaping religious persecution.

In Melissa’s opinion again, we just almost had it right. We wanted all to have the goodness of God, and we welcomed all religions to come worship our God alongside of us. And we became a mixture. And mixtures aren’t good.  Mixtures aren’t biblical.  Mixtures dilute.

Today, we stand as a diluted nation.  Lukewarm at best.

But again, what the enemy intends for evil, God can use for good.

This divide can spark revival.  We can get back to the scriptures, and we can begin to speak boldly. This utter darkness will only let the light we carry shine brighter.

And Yeshua warned us too that we would grow together until the end.

Matthew 13. 

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Matthew 25

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

I believe the separation is beginning to happen. Could Charlie the first of the end time martyrs?

Revelation 6:

7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see!” 8 And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades[b] followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. 10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers,[c] who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course.

Revelation 12

7 There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war. 8 They didn’t prevail. No place was found for them any more in heaven. 9 The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death. 12 Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.”

13 When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 16 The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. 17 The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring,[a] who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony. 

Only God knows for sure, but the boxes in biblical prophecy being checked, should be getting our attention.

Just 24 hours ago, the UN assembly overwhelmingly voted in a Palestinian state, 142- 10.  The US and Israel the only 2 prominent countries out of the 10. They called this resolution the New York Declaration.  This legislation calls for “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” to establish a Palestinian state, independent, sovereign, viable, and democratic.

Is this Zechariah 12?

12 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

If this be the case, we aren’t too awful from Chapter 14.  Just 2 chapters later, we read this:

2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

This are escalating.  Perhaps we should say labor pains are getting more intense. 

So what do we do?

We have to stick with our battle plan.  This is war.

We have to stand strong in our faith, and maintain a good report.  We know the outcome already.  And let’s try to lead as many as we can to Christ before it’s too late.  Going forth.  Speaking bolding.  Making disciples. And crying in the wilderness.

And we pray.  We have to stay humble and we have to walk in love.  And we pray for further direction.  Join me in asking the Lord, what shall we do?  Here in Summer Shade.  What can we do to have the people listen to us?  We are willing to go forth and speak His truth.

And I’ll close on this.

John 12 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much [d]grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Let’s be like Charlie.  Let’s pick up his baton and go forth.  Live without fear of man but only fear of God.  Walking in the testimony of Yeshua, keeping his commandments, and loving not our own lives unto death.