The “yellow line” that divides Gaza under the ceasefire plan is now claimed as the “new border”. The IDF Chief Eyal Zamir, said Israel would hold to the current lines behind the yellow line would be held as the border of Israel and presumably defended as such. Here are the facts..

"Military chief says current division of Strip is a ‘forward defensive line for the communities and an offensive line,’ hours after PM says phase 2 of ceasefire deal is imminent

During a visit to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that the Yellow Line, demarcating where the Israeli military withdrew to under the terms of the ongoing ceasefire, is “a new border line.”

“We will not allow Hamas to reestablish itself. We control large parts of the Gaza Strip and stand along [strategic] lines. The Yellow Line is a new border line, a forward defensive line for the communities and an offensive line,” Zamir said during a tour of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia, in remarks provided by the IDF." ...
https://www.timesofisrael.com/touring-the-strip-idf-chief-zamir-says-gaza-ceasefire-line-a-new-border/

... https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-879531

Yesterday during a Bible study I was sharing two passages of Scripture that have been perverted to make us believe a lie. The lie is the very same deception foisted upon Eve in the garden. God said to Eve regarding the tree in the midst of the  garden "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." And Satan said "Ye shall not surely die." Gen. 3:4.  Yes, just one little sin and we will not have spiritual life. The only way we can do any good thing is  to  be vitally connected to God. When we sin a known sin we are not connected with God, we are not filled with the Holy Spirit. We are then walking in the flesh, not in the Spirit. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."  Rom. 8:7-10.

In  order to keep precious souls from understanding the gospel message, that they might remain dead in trespasses and sins, Satan twists important verses to make it appear one is saved in sin. Two of these verses are Rom. 8:1 and John 3:16.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom. 8:1. A vast majority of professing Christians believe that they are "in Christ Jesus" when they are not.  An example of this is seen in the Laodicean message addressed to the last of the seven churches. Most of the members of this last church are not converted, but believe they are "in Christ Jesus" but are not.  "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev. 3:17.

In order to keep the walking  dead from knowing this, Satan works hard to get some parts of Scripture deleted. Rom. 8:1 in some Bibles is missing the truth that reveals who it is that is in Christ Jesus. That which is missing is "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." This tells us who is not condemned, who are "in Christ Jesus" are  those who walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. The NIV, NLV, RSV, and the New RSV Catholic Edition are a few of many who have deleted this section of Rom. 8:1.

Having perverted Rom. 8:1 the way is then opened to believe John 3:16 is telling us all who "believe in Him" have eternal life when they do  not. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. The verse is correct, it is the meaning of the verse which has been perverted to  allow the lost to believe they are saved. What verse in the Bible clearly reveals that not all who "believe" do not have "ever lasting life"? James  2:19: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." The mantra among the vast majority of professing Christians teach "just believe and be saved."  The kind of belief that reveals one has  everlasting life is a  belief that you can trust God with all you are and all you have. One must love the Lord our God with the whole heart in order to enter heaven.

So it is with faith. All have a measure of faith, but that  is not "saving faith." A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power. { DA 347.1}

From today's reading:

     The nine disciples were yet pondering upon the bitter fact of their own failure; and when Jesus was once more alone with them, they questioned, "Why could not we cast him out?" Jesus answered them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Their unbelief, that shut them out from deeper sympathy with Christ, and the carelessness with which they regarded the sacred work committed to them, had caused their failure in the conflict with the powers of darkness.
     The words of Christ pointing to His death had brought sadness and doubt. And the selection of the three disciples to accompany Jesus to the mountain had excited the jealousy of the nine. Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances. In this state of darkness they had undertaken the conflict with Satan.
     In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith--faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work--can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.
     "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed," said Jesus, "ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove." Though the grain of mustard seed is so small, it contains that same mysterious life principle which produces growth in the loftiest tree. When the mustard seed is cast into the ground, the tiny germ lays hold of every element that God has provided for its nutriment, and it speedily develops a sturdy growth. If you have faith like this, you will lay hold upon God's word, and upon all the helpful agencies He has appointed. Thus your faith will strengthen, and will bring to your aid the power of heaven. The obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path, though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills, shall disappear before the demand of faith. "Nothing shall be impossible unto you."  DA 429.

"If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth....With a burst of tears realizing his own weakness, the father casts himself upon Christ's mercy, with the cry, Lord I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

 "It is faith that connects us with heaven and BRINGS US STRENGTH for coping with the powers of darkness (Emphasis mine)." In Christ, she goes on to say, God has given us the means for overcoming EVERY SIN and resisting every temptation, IF we would only believe! But many of us cry out, realizing our own weakness, just as the father who brought the son with the "dumb" spirit to Jesus cried out: "Lord I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Commenting on Romans 10:17, the SDA Bible Commentary,  Vol. 6, p. 600 reads: "...Genuine faith is not a blind confidence to be exercised in the absence of adequate evidence. Faith is our conviction about things we cannot see (Heb. 11:1), and this conviction must be founded upon knowledge, A KNOWLEDGE BASED UPON THE WORD OF GOD, the message about Christ. As a means of developing a transforming and enduring faith, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE for the regular and earnest study of the Bible" (Emphasis mine).

As I have stated before, strength come through exercise. We build upon where we are spiritually ONE DAY AT A TIME through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit as we pray and ask the Lord to give us what we stand in need of, so we can say in the words of the song: "I'm pressing on the upward way; NEW HEIGHTS I'M GAINING every day."

Amen!! Faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the Word. Why is this? Because as our Brother Crawford pointed out, the Word is a revelation of Christ. By beholding His glory which is His character, we will be transformed into His image (character). 2 Cor. 3:18.

"Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.” Exodus 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven."

"The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview."

Amen Brother Beacon! God chose men not angels to encourage Jesus!!
 
       But before the crown must come the cross. Not the inauguration of Christ as king, but the decease to be accomplished at Jerusalem, is the subject of their conference with Jesus. Bearing the weakness of humanity, and burdened with its sorrow and sin, Jesus walked alone in the midst of men. As the darkness of the coming trial pressed upon Him, He was in loneliness of spirit, in a world that knew Him not. Even His loved disciples, absorbed in their own doubt and sorrow and ambitious hopes, had not comprehended the mystery of His mission. He had dwelt amid the love and fellowship of heaven; but in the world that He had created, He was in solitude. Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: “Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.” Exodus 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview.