INSIGHTS into the various faces of IS
The organisation called Anonymous has ‘declared war’ on IS in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. They are leaking on to the internet the personal information of suspected extremists and have taken down thousands of accounts and sites associated with the terrorists. Globally the media and politicians are verbally and physically attacking IS, and the global Church is taking a spiritual stand against the evil of terrorism. What is needed at this time? Informed, wise, Spirit-led pray-ers, praying into terrorism’s sources of finance and the histories and mindsets of the primary game-changers. We need to be aware of the influences of various Islamic sects, and the different ideologies of individuals and groups such as IS. This week an INSIGHT article has been prepared that will give some of this information in concise facts to help with informed prayer. To read/download it click the ‘more’ button.
'International Day of the Bible' on 23 November
‘International Day of the Bible’ is organised by the American Bible Society, Bible Gateway, Scripture Union, YouVersion, Bibles for the World, and the National Bible Association. It will take place this Monday, 23 November, giving Christians the opportunity to set aside a day to honour God's word and to show solidarity despite differing backgrounds, denominations, and political beliefs. A variety of events will take place - public readings of Scripture, breaking into a flash mob to read the Bible in unusual locations, singing and dancing Scripture, painting or drawing a picture with a few lines of verse, or capturing God's creation in photos (selfies included) and sharing them along with a psalm. A public Bible reading at the Capitol has already taken place, last Tuesday.
Jesus set him free of cannabis by means of a dream
South African revivalist Lindy Ann Hopley recalls an incredible testimony of God’s faithfulness, mercy, kindness and love. ‘A month and a half ago at a meeting where I was preaching, Amanda Van Der Bank came to the front with her phone in her hand. She showed me a picture of her son and asked me to pray for him - he was addicted to marijuana. I prayed and asked God to reveal Himself in a dream. The next day she messaged to say, ‘He had a dream about Jesus!!! In the dream a man came and told him to remove a green bush from his back garden. It was difficult but it came out, leaving a large hole which he was concerned about. The man gave him a fully-grown palm tree to plant in its place.’ When he woke up he told his mother the dream, and that day he stopped doing drugs.’
Syria: two-year IS siege broken by Syrian army
Syrian soldiers fought their way into an air base in northern Syria on Tuesday and freed hundreds of military personnel. A military source close to the government said the army was securing the Kweires air base in Aleppo Province, where soldiers and officers have been under attack since 2013. It is the most high-profile victory for Syria since Russia launched an air campaign on 30 September. State television broadcast live footage from the air base of an emotional fatigue-clad reporter announcing the news, played victory songs and ran archive footage of military exercises. ‘We, the heroes of Kweires, are now celebrating with our brothers this victory,’ one of the freed soldiers told state TV. ‘We dedicate this victory to President Bashar al-Assad and we promise him we will continue fighting until all of Syria is liberated. We will not kneel to Daesh,’ he said, using an Arabic name for Islamic State.
