The “Woke” Counterfeit

29 09 2021

Winston Churchill

What if the “Woke” movement, in the secular left-wing, is a demonic counterfeit to God’s last days harvest “Awakening?” The woke movement is a patchwork of lies reminiscent of Satan, the father of lies. We are in a spiritual battle that is larger than ideology. It is a war for men’s minds, yes; but it is more for their very souls. We are seeing historic levels of deception. 

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

Sometimes I ask: “Will it get better and better before Jesus comes, or will it get worse and worse?” The answer is: “Yes, both!” In the parable of the wheat and tares, Jesus clearly indicated they would grow up together and then the harvest. Even Revelation 14:14-20 speaks of two harvests. One is salvation and the other is the wrath of God on the wicked.

I believe we are living in the time of the last great awakening harvest, but also the great apostasy. Both are true at the same time. Don’t think it is either/or. While the world is growing more and more deceived, the Holy Spirit is still speaking to hearts, revealing the truth to those who love truth. 

The devil is not creative. He does not have original thinking. He can only pervert existing truth. Satan always tries to copy what God is doing. The present “Woke” movement is just that, a counterfeit. Do not be discouraged, a remnant will be saved. It is our job to speak truth. The Holy Spirit will bear witness to truth and those who love truth will be saved.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for Israel’s rain.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                  (Read more)


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Why Pray for Israel Rains?

24 09 2021

Israel Jaffa_rain

Precious rain has always been a sign of Yehovah’s blessings on the land and the people. When rain is withheld by God it is a judgement for the sins of the people.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:17-18

This week as we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles we remember the promise of rain for all the nations who come up to Jerusalem for the Feast (God’s appointment).

And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yehovah of hosts, on them there will be no rain. Zechariah 14:17

Notably, radical Islam in the land brings droughts and desert as seen in Africa as Islam spreads southward with the Sahara following in its expansion. Even Israel while under the severe judgment of God suffered four hundred years of drought under the rule of the Ottoman Turks.

Yet, today Israel is being restored and the rains have returned by Yehovah’s favor. The desert is blossoming and hundred of millions of trees have been planted. As the Ottomans taxed trees to denude the land of Israel, so today terrorist arsonists keep trying to destroy Israel’s new forests. But God has a better plan, His favor!

Today: Light rainfall in northern and central Israel – Temperatures will continue to fall as rain spreads from northern Israel towards the Negev. Despite the fact that Israel’s rainy season typically begins only in mid-October, Israelis can expect to enjoy a break from the heat – one that may force them out of the sukkah during part of the Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) holiday. Arutz Sheva  Sep 23 , 2021

Forecaster: Coming winter will be wetter than last year – Some areas of Israel will receive above-average quantities of precipitation this year, according to veteran forecaster Uri Batz. 

“but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven,a land for which Yehovah your God cares; the eyes of Yehovah your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.” Deuteronomy 11:11-12

You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary. Psalm 68:9

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; ​​It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 

Pray for rain for Israel as the fulfillment of God’s promises. What a day to be alive! And remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, especially for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Yeshua Sar Shalom.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                (Read more)

Why  do I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah? Here is a link to the explanation in my book: The Hebrew God Who Has No Name. And here is a link to a great visual from my friend Keith Johnson.


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Categories : Israel Commentary

Holiday Weight Challenge

17 09 2021

Holy days 5782

This cartoon hits home to me because of the wonderful hospitality I have enjoyed on this present ministry trip to New Hampshire and Maine. The list includes fresh haddock (several times), haddock chowder, two one-pound lobsters (they insisted), home made smoked ribs, pumpkin pie, and don’t forget the Maine black raspberry ice cream cone. Put that all together with less walking than usual and you get my point. Less food – more steps.

We have already observed Trumpets and Rosh Hashanah, followed by Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. One week from today we begin Sukkot, or Tabernacles. That is one of my favorites because it points to the great heavenly banquet at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with the Messiah Yeshua Himself! What a glorious day that will be.

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:6-9

The word I have been sharing in New England this week is to “Fear not!” because “more are they who are with us than they that are with them.” This has been a theme all summer. We must not give in to fear of viruses, terrorists, storms, or any other attack on our faith. Don’t look at the earthly circumstances. Look to the spiritual realm where Jesus has already won. I am praying for a great final harvest of souls, some of them directly because times are tough. Pray that Yehovah God, our Father will turn the hearts of many toward Him.

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Yehovah, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then Yehovah opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for seasonal rains. Good news: The forecast is for more rain than normal this winter!

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                     (Read more)


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Abraham Did Not Know God’s Name

10 09 2021

Hebrew God cover photoWhile researching my book about God’ name, I discovered a fascinating verse in Exodus. Did you know that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know the covenant name of God? He appeared to them and spoke with them but did not reveal His name. He was know by them as “God Almighty.” 

And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am Yehovah. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by My name, Yehovah, I was not known to them. Exodus 6:2-3

Remember that most English translations do not translate His name into English, but rather conform to the Jewish rabbinic tradition of not using His name. However, there is a simple code so you can know when His name, Yehovah, should be used. Every time you see LORD in all capital letters in English versions, the real word in the Hebrew text is Yehovah, His covenant name. How many times is this mistaken translation used (substituting LORD for Yehovah)? In the Old Testament alone His name actually is used 6,828 times. Wow! When you start using His name, a whole new level opens up. Look at the third chapter of Exodus.

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

15 – Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘Yehovah God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.” Exodus 3:13-15

In Exodus 3, Moses first learned Yehovah’s name at the burning bush, when God called Moses to go back to Egypt and bring Israel out of slavery. Many are confused because they only read verse 14 which mentions “I Am,” which is a descriptive phrase that means “the Eternally Existent One.” But, the next verse goes on to reveal the name, Yehovah, that appears 6,828 times, but is miss-translated as LORD. This comes from the tradition that Jews substitute “Adonai” which means Lord. Whenever the Hebrew text uses Adonai it is translated as “Lord” with only a the first letter capitalized. Now you know the code. All caps is His real name, and lower case Lord is Adonai. I cannot defend why modern Bible publishers persist in obscuring His literal name, Yehovah. By the way, some say it is Jehovah or Yahweh, but the pronunciation is secondary. Use His name!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain. A small rain shower fell in southern Israel this week.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists,              (Read more)

Why  do I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah? Here is a link to the explanation in my book: The Hebrew God Who Has No Name. And here is a link to a great visual from my friend Keith Johnson.


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You and Me and Jesus

3 09 2021

20190611_152834

The A&W root beer mug pictured is from our very first date in October 1964. How cool is that?

So, about 57 years ago I was beginning to date Doreen who would become my wife of 54 years. We were both at Berkshire Christian College where we earned our Bachelor Degrees. Early on in our dating we agreed that Jesus had to be first in our friendship no matter where it led. Somehow we started saying to each other: “You and me and Jesus.”

We really sort of stumbled into the most profound truth of any marriage. Put Jesus first. Make Him the center and the final arbiter of everything. It was only later that we discovered how Biblically sound it is. Paul encouraged the Ephesians with the foundation of marriage that is often missed today. Many preachers use this passage, but miss the most important part, because they start with verse 22 instead of 21.

21 “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Marriage—Christ and the Church (cf. Col. 3:18, 19 )
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”  Ephesians 5:21-24

Notice the heading between verses 21 and 22. That is an unfortunate placement of a heading that is not in the Greek text at all. It suggests that the marriage teaching starts with verse 22. That is wrong. Paul laid the foundation of marriage in verse 21. A man and a woman must first be submitted to “one another” in the fear of God.

Doreen and I are each submitted to Jesus. If she hears from Him, I listen and submit to God in her. If I hear, she submits to God in me. We walk in that revelation as Christians. If you skip that step and start with verse 22 you end up with confusion. Yes, there is a hierarchy in marriage (and all of life) but it only works when preceded by “mutual submission” to God. How can Doreen submit or trust me if I am not already in submission to the Father’s will? The hierarchy part is only a matter of order not value. We are equally valuable with different functions.

(By the way, when you study the rest of Ephesians 5, you will see that there is only one instruction for wives. But, there are about fifteen instructions for the husband, so shape up, men. Selah.)

Jesus always taught that the glory ultimately goes to the Father. Even though Jesus is equal with God, there is still a placement within this order of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This same concept is also taught for marriage: equal in value, but different in function. Husband and wife have equal value, but a functional hierarchy is necessary for practical operations on a day-to-day basis.

The Christian marriage is a trinity of relationship with God, which is why when we started saying: “You and me and Jesus” it proved to be the glue of a marriage of over half a century and still going strong! God is good. God is faithful!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and pray for Israel rains.

(Also, please pray for me as I speak in three churches, Sept 12 & 19 in New Hampshire and Sept 26 in North Carolina. Thank you.)

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                  (Read more)


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