Ascension Day with high expectation

Ten days before the Jewish feast of Pentecost, Jesus met with his disciples on a normal Thursday. The disciples had high expectations that Jesus would now establish the kingdom.

But Jesus did not want to set a time for this and promised them divine power through the Holy Spirit, who would lead them into the whole world (Acts 1:6-8).

As Jesus ascended to heaven before their eyes on the Mount of Olives and disappeared from their sight through a cloud, Jesus opened a new chapter. God’s presence is experienced new through the Holy Spirit.

Suddenly, two angels appeared and explained that Jesus was now in heaven and would one day return to earth from there.

Kingdom of God versus magic

As Paul had promised, he returned to Ephesus. Like Jesus, he preached about the kingdom of God and not about optimising life (Acts 19:8-22). Extraordinary miracles took place through Paul.

After the failed attempt by the seven sons of Skeva to drive out spirits with the name of Jesus, it became clear that Jesus would not allow himself to be instrumentalised. Complete submission to his rule (kingdom of God) is necessary. It is therefore important that Jesus is accepted as Lord.

In magic, people try to utilise spiritual powers for personal advantage. In doing so, they become dependent on people and spirits.

Hidden sins are revealed in the presence of God. This is the reason spiritual books were publicly burnt in Ephesus.

The kingdom of God cannot be instrumentalised for our purposes. We must recognise Jesus as Lord and King.

The Bible – myths and facts

The Bible describes how people experienced God and what he showed them. It does not philosophise about what God might be like.

Faith without biblical history becomes philosophy instead of theology.

The different perspectives make the picture more complete and therefore more credible.

Peter puts it in a nutshell in 2 Peter 1:16: ‘We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.’

Paul writes to Timothy: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:16).

Israel 2025

5.6.25

A historic declaration was just issued by the major families and clans of southern Gaza. For the first time, they openly declare: “Enough is enough. Hamas has brought only blood and ruin. It no longer represents us.”

In this powerful document:
•They hold Hamas fully responsible for the devastation in Gaza.
•They demand an immediate end to Hamas rule and call for a national Palestinian conference to form new leadership.
•They call to hold accountable those who dragged Gaza into this disaster.
•They appeal to Mahmoud Abbas to lead a political transition and rebuild on the basis of unity and law.
•They reject all attempts to legitimize Hamas, describing it as a force of division and destruction.

Published: June 3, 2025, Gaza Strip

Palestinians looted and kiIIed an aid truck driver last night. Gaza’s private transport union has now released a statement announcing the suspension of all operations. Phone call from Gaza: “The people who fired were Hamas terrorists. They don’t want the people to receive aid, they want to foil the plan so that the aid will go to them, allowing them to steal it. They’ve gone completely bankrupt.” The Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) distributed 1.4 million meals today in Rafah, reaching a total of 8.5 million meals so far.

Iranian Leader Khamenei has officially declared the full completion of the “nuclear fuel cycle.” “Today, we’re capable of producing nuclear fuel starting from the mine and all the way to the power plant,” he stated. “Iran is conducting clandestine nuclear activities using undeclared materials”.

Boulder firebomber Mohamed Sabry Soliman recorded a video before the attack declaring, “Jihad is more beloved to me than my mother, wife, and children. Allah is greater than the Zionists and America.”

There are currently 56 hostages in captivity in Gaza, 33 of whom have been declared dead, 23 others are said to be alive, but there is serious concern for the lives of three. The intelligence that made possible the operation to recover the bodies of Judy and Gadi Hagai – Shin Bet interrogation of a terrorist who was taken prisoner. Judi Lynn Weinstein (70) and Gad Haggai (72), members of Kibbutz Nir Oz, were brutally murdered and abducted from the Kibbutz on October 7th, 2023 by terrorists of the Palestinian Mujahideen terrorist organization.

Continue reading Israel 2025

Spirit-led faith

Apollos believes in Jesus, but he lacks the immerse in the work of the Holy Spirit that enables him to live an empowered life in Christ (Acts 18:25).

It is the difference between an intellectual faith and a Spirit-led faith with a living relationship with the heavenly Father.

Apollos is willing to listen to uneducated believers. Priscilla and Aquila share their experiences of faith and widen Apollos’ understanding of the way with Jesus.

The Holy Spirit guides and inspires people to follow Christ.

This experience makes him a newly blessed instrument in the hand of God in the region of Achaia, where Corinth is also located.

more from Acts: https://jesus-news-israel.net/tag/acts/

The Son of David

The crowds shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! (Matthew 21:9)

God promised in Isaiah 11:1 that a son of David would ascend the eternal throne.

Jesus’ case before Pilate was about the question of kingship.

God is the King of the Jews, whom the people now reject for the second time in John 19:15. ‘We have no king but Caesar.’

Some gladly accept Jesus as Saviour and helper in times of need. Jesus wants to be more. He wants to be our King.

The question is whether we give Jesus authority or deny it to him. Who we give power to in our lives – what or who rules us.

Trust in God helps to endure times of drought

Jeremiah 17:5.7-8 is a call to wisdom.

Our decisions have consequences. We are challenged to think from the end and to stay with the source despite all opposition.

In the face of a hopeless situation, Jeremiah finds in God what sustains and nourishes him.

Those who trust in God will have everything they need to live, even in drought, even in difficult times.

What motivates the church service

The understanding of church has changed. Alternative models are currently being proposed. But church is more than just a meeting place for generations. In our church, we have discussed what motivates us to attend church services.

First and foremost is the presence of God. Jesus promised in Matthew 18:20 that he is among us. Something in the church service speaks to us. We are encouraged by conversations, singing together, prayers and friendly encounters.

For us, the focus is the Bible. Looking at the contexts and backgrounds opens up a new perspective on God, the world and ourselves.

The third point is the exchange after the service. Seeing each other regularly, asking questions or praying for challenging situations is a help for everyday life. Sometimes you get a advice on who you can turn to. Continue reading What motivates the church service

The wasteful manager

The parable of the wasteful manager (Luke 16:1-13) is confusing. This is shown by the different headings of the Bible translations of this story.

The shocking part of the story is: ‘The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness’.

We have to break down the story from the end. Verse 12 says: ‘And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?’

From taking wasteful, he switches to giving wasteful.

The more liberated we are from ourselves, the more God can entrust to us.

God’s mercy should become visible in us. It should be seen what we experience by God.

What matters is not what we have, but what friends we have.

So what is the secret of a good manager?

He does not revolve around himself, but puts himself in the position of his neighbour. He reaches out again and again. He does not allow himself to be instrumentalised, but builds friendships.

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