Recently, this year’s Christmas spectacle at the Filinvest City Central Park was launched by Filinvest with a special event that attracted special guests (including Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon and Olympic Gold Medalist Carlos Yulo).
A few nights ago, I personally visited Filinvest City Central Park (Google Maps location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vzt8D9yLzRSVVhae9) and I saw the new decorations highlighting the Christmas season. They look very similar to what was set up in 2024, notably the tall Christmas tree and the permanent structures that only needed decorating.
The Filinvest City sign at the Central Park.
Tall Christmas tree in the background, other decorations and lights in the foreground.
A short distance away from the tall Christmas tree was the park’s standout structure called The Tree (launched in late 2024) which has a very unique design that not only provides people cover from rain or intense sunlight but serves as a helpful place for special activities. At night, lights of different colors are projected towards The Tree which make a fine visual attraction.
As of this writing, I noticed there were lesser non-permanent structures (that were decorated with additional Christmas lights) during my visit at the park. Since Filinvest City still has a lot of activities scheduled at the central park, there is always the possibility that additional structure and lights will be set up soon. For reference about non-permanent structures and lights, click here for my 2024 Christmas Filinvest City Central Park article.
The permanent park structures plus added decorations and lights.
Visitors taking pictures at the tall Christmas tree.
Unsurprisingly, Filinvest City Central Park remains popular with families, visitors from other cities, some foreign tourists, and those who love the open-air environment of the CBD. It would be interesting to see if there will be more visitors coming to the park during the weekends leading to Christmas as the brand new Starbucks Filinvest branch with drive-thru has been attracting a lot of customers since it opened. That being said, Filinvest City announced through social media a schedule of events or activities happening at the central park.
Set to happen at Filinvest City Central Park are the following: Holiday Lights Symphony at The Tree on November 22, December 7 and December 20 starting 7PM; Fireworks Displace on November 22, December 7 and December 20 starting 8PM. Live musical performances on November 22-23, November 30, December 7, December 20-21 starting 6PM. To see the complete park activities schedule, click https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17aEHGaGX4/
Christmas is still all about Lord Jesus
The theme of Filinvest City’s Christmas campaign this year is titled as “Celebrate Magical Christmas Moments.”
First and foremost, Christmas is all about Lord Jesus, the Savior and hope of ALL nations. During the season, we remember not only His birth in Bethlehem in Israel, but also His overall significance and the hope He always bring to people. The world we live in is twisted and chaotic. While there are many who are indeed faithful to Lord Jesus, there are still many other people out there who remain lost and unsaved. A lot of people ended up lost as they allowed themselves to be manipulated by the secular, the worldly and other rebellious forces of the world we live in.
God sent His Son Jesus to us to pave the way for people to get saved and become part of His Kingdom. Realize how much God loves His creations and none of us would exist without Him. Learn from the bible verses below.
For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.
John 3:16 (TPT)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:4-7 (NKJV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:1-2 (NKJV)
By honoring, praising and following Lord Jesus, we are connected with the Heavenly Father. When we are faithful to the Lord, it is clear that we do not let the worldly nor wickedness get in the way. It is essential that we must have uncompromising faith in the Lord. Learn from the bible verses below.
Then Jesus answered and said to them,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
John 5:19-23 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said,
“I am light to the world, and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.”
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To those of you who are living with worldliness and are still under the influence of evil, I want to you realize that Lord Jesus is the Hope of ALL nations and you still have time change and submit yourselves to Him.
If you are part of the Islamo-Leftist mob and you have participated in serving the terrorist state of Iran, you allowed Qatar’s sinister leaders to influence you with terrorist news network Al Jazeera, you supported Palestinian terrorists and hated Israel, you can stop being evil and come to Lord Jesus for submission and repentance.
If you are part of the Satanic Left and you have participated in the disruptive activities of the woke mob, the LGBTQ gangs, the anti-Christian mob, the Black Lives Matter racism movement, the Islamo-Leftists and illegal immigration supporters, you can stop living with foolishness and just come out and surrender to Lord Jesus now. Do not be afraid because the Lord is gentle and all you need to do is to surrender to Him, repent to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to enter your heart.
If you are part of idolatrous, organized religion and you harassed many people because you intended to impose your beliefs on them, you should stop yourself and take the time to see the light of Lord Jesus who offers hope that you never realized. Lord Jesus is the hope of ALL nations and clearly your unholy religious teachers and idols never told you about His hope nor did they want you to know God’s plan for you. Always remember that religion treats you like a trapped animal and that you are never worthy. Lord Jesus is the way to God, and you don’t need religion.
If you need enlightenment, click the content reference from Looking for Blessed Hope below and learn from the teaching of God’s Word led by Pastor Amir Tsarfati.
For enlightenment and freedom from evil influences, I encourage you to start reading the Holy Bible (the Word of God), allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, and live on with the light and teachings of Lord Jesus. Jesus is our Redeemer, our Savior and the Light! For your advancement, realize the truth from the holy scriptures below…
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,
“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
So He said,
“Come.”
And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him,
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV)
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (NKJV)
For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.
1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)
Be aware that the ties between Jews and Christians are real and biblical. Be aware that all of the first followers (early Christians) of Lord Jesus were Jewish, and the Lord paved the way for people of different ethnicities and different nations to come to Him and be adopted willingly. You need Lord Jesus and the Word of God, not diversity and not inclusion.
Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Always stand in support of Israel, learn to love and bless the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Live on with the presence of God and the Holy Spirit!
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined and what happened during my free time. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 10th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. No matter what happens in this twisted world we live in, I will always stand with Israel and my faith in the Lord remains uncompromising!
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you what I experienced when our pilgrimage tour group visited the Southern Steps (also referred to as the Southern Stairs and Rabbi Stairs) located at the lower part of the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Thanks to our dedicated local tourist guide, our tour group had a meaningful visit there and we spent several minutes observing the place. Our time at the steps concluded with a bible teaching led by New Life Philippines Pastor Edwin Tugano. In my personal experience, I felt something from the Lord there as I realized the biblical relevance of the holy site as well as insight regarding what the place was like thousands of years ago.
This is me at the Southern Steps in Jerusalem, Israel.
The site is very significant as it is the place that served as one of the main entrances from the south to the Temple Mount during the time of Lord Jesus. In fact, people coming from the City of David going north to the Temple Mount used the Southern Steps very long ago. Also, the Southern Steps became a useful place where rabbis and their disciples gathered for faith lessons and this explains why the said steps are also called the Rabbi Stairs. Physically, the steps were hundreds of feet wide which provided abundant space for congregating and teaching.
As many centuries had passed since Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven, there were physical changes that happened at the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount and this is evident as visitors today cannot access the mentioned sacred site above (where the Jewish temples used to be) using the Southern Steps. This is because there is noticeable expansion of the Southern Wall blocking the steps’ upward access to the Temple Mount. I myself had touched that wall and noticed how its stone quality and colors differed from the rest of the Southern Wall.
I brought the Passion Translation Holy Bible with me at the Southern Steps. After taking this image, I climbed up the steps, reached the Southern Wall and touched it.
Regardless, the step themselves – composed of the original stones from Jesus’ time (those steps with the rougher stones) plus newer ones (added to fill the gaps) leading to the Southern Wall – are still there and climbing them required methodical walking. The Southern Steps today are widely visited by faithful Christians from around the world as it is a holy site and it is very likely that Lord Jesus Himself climbed the steps going to the Temple Mount. There is no doubt that Lord Jesus and His disciples also gathered at the steps for teachings. The holy site should remind you about the significance of Lord Jesus’ presence in Jerusalem.
In my experience there at the Southern Steps with my tour companions, I felt the holiness of the place and that became more evident as I opened the Holy Bible during the bible teaching led by our pastor right there. During our time there, I noticed another pilgrimage tour group was present with us several feet away.
Did Pentecost happen at the Southern Steps?
Our pilgrimage tour group in the foreground, and another group in the background. The Southern Steps is an essential place for Christians to visit in Israel.
By reading the biblical reference of Pentecost and connecting it with my observations of the holy site, I can say that the Southern Steps is a possible place where Pentecost may have happened. I can even say that it is a more suitable place – where about three thousand Jews got baptized after the apostle Peter preached the good news – than the Upper Room (itself a popular location in many paintings and artworks dramatizing Pentecost).
Take a close look at the biblical record of Pentecost below…
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted [j]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 2:1-41 (NKJV)
Take note that verse 2 of Chapter 2 in the Book of Acts specifically mentioned “house” which is not limited to houses. In fact, in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Jewish temple is referred to as the house – as in the house of the Lord. The place of worship of the Lord!
Still within biblical context, “house” – as seen in verse 36 with “house of Israel” – also symbolizes family and lineage in the Holy Bible. “House of Israel” refers to the entire nation descended from Abraham through Jacob and Isaac and that includes the Jewish people (descendants) who were present in Jerusalem during Pentecost. For relevance of the house of Israel, read 2 Kings 7:1-16 in the Holy Bible – God’s words for King David passed through the prophet Nathan.
In the foreground are the Southern Steps and the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount. In the background is more of Jerusalem. (source – screenshot taken from the Instagram video of Hananya Naftali)
As it was an essential form of access into the Temple Mount, the Southern Steps also served as a natural place of gathering, spacious enough to accommodate thousands of Jews. As mentioned earlier, these wide and spacious holy stairs are a more suitable place than the Upper Room for Pentecost to happen.
Also take note that verse 41 of Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts mentions that there were around three thousand Jews who got baptized and helped the church of Lord Jesus grow a lot on the day of Pentecost itself (for relevance, read John 3:3 in the Holy Bible). This also means that there were between fifteen thousand to thirty thousand people in Jerusalem who witnessed Pentecost happen. Having been at the Southern Steps myself, I can easily visualize the whole place – from the steps themselves and the space between them and the City of David in the south, plus the whole stretch of the Southern Wall – being filled with lots of people on that very day. Having attended the bible teaching led by our pastor who stood at the steps facing us south, I can visualize the apostle Peter preaching to thousands of Jewish people there long ago.
Our pastor Edwin Tugano (standing on the ancient steps facing us) led the bible teaching for me and my pilgrimage group companions.
There is absolutely no way that the 3,000 people who received Christ and got baptized would fit inside the Upper Room at the time of Pentecost. When the apostle Peter preached, he was not surrounded by only a tiny group of people but by a huge crowd who listened. The other apostles were with Peter back then. This should remind you that the artists responsible for the paintings and artworks portraying Pentecost happening inside the Upper Room or within an indoor place with walls and a roof did not fully understand the biblical record of Pentecost. In other words, those artists got it wrong and the Bible proves they are wrong. This should remind you to maintain faith in God’s Word, not in man-made artworks.
Once again, the Southern Steps is a possible site of Pentecost. It may not be definitive but it definitely is more suitable than the Upper Room for congregating and preaching in front of thousands. The other possible places where Pentecost may have happened include the Royal Stoa (which was intact at the Southern Wall covering its length and was located high above the Southern Steps) and at the Jewish Temple itself.
While the exact location of Pentecost remains unresolved, I encourage you all to always keep faith in the Lord and His Word knowing that Pentecost truly happened as it was an anointed by the Lord to happen. Location is one thing, but the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit are always essential to our faith in Lord Jesus.
Conclusion
It was destiny from the Lord for me and my pilgrimage tour group to visit the Southern Steps. I felt the unction from the Holy Spirit to capture this very moment upon arrival there.
I can say that me and my pilgrimage tour group companions were blessed by the Lord during our time at the Southern Steps. Simply thinking about Lord Jesus teaching His followers at the steps is uplifting There clearly is a lot to learn and discover by being at the holy site and having the Bible for reference. I thank Lord Jesus for blessing us, for our pastors and our local tour guide, and for the anointed experience at the Southern Steps. I definitely will revisit those steps when I return to Israel.
Israel is a great and holy place to visit! Visit Israel with the Holy Bible! Pray to the Lord wholeheartedly and reveal to Him your heart’s desire to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Him. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Follow the light of Lord Jesus, keep on praying to support Israel, learn to love and bless the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!
The selling of tickets for the worship event will commence online at SM Tickets as well as at SM Ticket outlets on April 3, 2025. This new worship events are part of the 2025 Planetshakers Abundance Tour.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Planeshakers official announcement. Some parts in boldface…
Planetshakers is so excited to visit Manila once again in July 2025!
Jesus came to give us a life of ABUNDANCE, opening the way to His kingdom and removing every obstacle in our path.
At Planetshakers ABUNDANCE Tour in Manila, we invite you to experience this abundance, grow in faith, and encounter God’s power as we gather for a powerful night of praise and worship.
For those who intend to attend any of the two worship events at SM MOA Arena, the ticket prices have been declared as follows:
To those who intend to attend the worship event, the ticket prices have been confirmed as follows: VIP for P1,600, Patron for P1,600, Lower Box Premium for P1,600, Lower Box for P1,200, Upper Box for P1,200, and General Admission for P600. These are the same prices as Planetshakers’ 2023 worship event in the same place.
The official seat layout as published by Planetshakers via their Facebook page.
To prepare yourselves to purchase tickets online, I encourage you all to prepare your credit cards and be early to log-in at SMTickets.com because in my experience, there was long virtual line of over 2,600 ahead of me before I got my turn to purchase my tickets and choose my seat. If you prefer to buy tickets over-the-counter at SM Tickets outlets, better start searching for them using Google Maps now.
If you believe in Lord Jesus, I encourage you to attend the upcoming Planetshakers worship events. I attended their Philippines worship event in September 2022 and you can read all about it by clicking here.
Planetshakers is great in leading the worship of the Lord and their worship music is always powerfully played. It is also wonderful to receive the blessing of the Lord when I personally witnessed Planetshakers co-founder and Senior Pastor Sam Evans lead the prayer. She is truly a prayer powerhouse. That being said, personally attending a Planetshakers worship event is an anointed experience and you will be blessed because the Lord loves the faithful.
Others out there could only see a Planetshakers event as just a music, feel good event. In reality, such an event is always a blessing from the Lord. I know because I personally experienced it all! Be very thankful to God that He is blessing the Philippines a lot again through Planetshakers.
For your refence, posted below are video clips of the September 2022 Planetshakers worship event I attended.
If you are thinking about this July’s Planetshakers worship events, I encourage you to seek the Lord’s Kingdom and praising Him with all your heart and passion. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
“So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.”
Matthew 6:33 (TPT)
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:1-6 (NKJV)
If you want to discover and learn more about Planetshakers, I encourage you to click here (Facebook page), here (Instagram), here (Twitter) and here (YouTube). To know more about Planetshakers itself, visit https://www.planetshakers.com/
In closing this, posted below are some Planetshakers worship music videos for your faith in the Lord and viewing pleasure. Jesus is our Lord and Savior and He is also the hope of ALL nations! Move forward with unbreakable and uncompromising faith in Him! Be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined and what happened during my free time. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 9th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. No matter what happens in this world, I will always stand with Israel and my faith in the Lord remains uncompromising!
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you one of the things I did during the one and only day-off (February 15, 2023) of our pilgrimage tour. This was the day I visited the Temple Mount, revisited the Western Wall and the Upper Room, and visited the grave of Oskar Schindler. After Schindler, I marched all the way from the Old City to the modern parts of Jerusalem. I had a stopover at Tmol Shilshom to recover before proceeding to Mahana Yehuda Market where I had lunch at Shakshuka Machaneh Yehuda.
During my time at Mahane Yehuda, the cold weather intensified (cloudy and slightly raining). I knew that the heat I got from consuming my lunch would not last long. Suddenly, I remembered what I had been planning to do…visit Power Coffeeworks.
I first learned about Power Coffeeworks on social media while preparing for the trip to Israel some months prior. I checked out what drinks they offered and I knew I had to visit them and enjoy something.
So there I was walking through the crowd at the roofed section of Mahane Yehuda. Remembering what I studied from Google Maps, I went on until I reached a certain road, crossed it and made my way to the commercial building where Power Coffeeworks was located at.
I remember smiling upon arrival outside of Power Coffeeworks as it was my intention to visit and try their coffee.
For the first several moments upon arrival, I examined Power Coffeeworks’ physical set-up, the menu and the local vibe as there were customers who arrived ahead of me. I also noticed that inside are lots of products for sale such as coffee beans, Pumpking Spice, tea and more.
After reading the menu, I went on to order a hot Macchiato as I really needed heat and energy to endure the cold weather. Then I noticed a vacant table and chairs located close to the heater. So I went there to take a seat, enjoyed my hot Macchiato and used the free WiFi (password shared to me at the counter moments earlier) with the comforting heat from the heater. I even had a short chat with one of the coffee joint’s employees as he cleaned the table.
From my early moments at Power Coffeeworks. I like the vibe of the place.
For more than half an hour, I sat there enjoying my coffee, the place, checking updates online and re-energized myself because I planned to return to Mahana Yehuda one last time for treats before marching all the way back to our Jerusalem hotel. My feet were a bit sore by the time I arrived at the coffee joint.
Some of you reading this might be wondering what Power Coffeeworks is and why was I so interested with it. Personally, I really pursued buying (and enjoying) goods of local businesses in Israel. When it comes to coffee, I never thought about the international brands during my time in Israel as I went for Israeli enterprise.
That’s a nice display of products at Power Coffeeworks!
As for Power Coffeeworks, it describes itself as follows:
Power was inspired by the lack of excellent roasted coffee within Jerusalem. With its awesome steampunk vibe and amazing aroma, it is the perfect location for working, reading a book, spending time with friends or chatting with our amazing baristas.
Our coffee is roasted fresh daily, ground per cup and served with a huge amount of love. We are all about the taste, flavor, vibe and not to forget – the music.
Stephanie and Brandon, the owners made aliyah from Cape Town, South Africa in 2016 with their four children to Efrat, Gush Etzion. With their extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry, they decided to open Power Coffeeworks, an anglo orientated coffee roastery in Machane Yehuda Shuk.
Five years later, Power is exactly what they wanted it to be. Despite the struggles of starting a new business in a new country, Stephanie and Brandon took the coffee culture of Jerusalem to a whole new level. After three more children, Covid19 and a whole load of drama. Power coffeeworks has grown to be the number one location in Jerusalem for the best cup of coffee and an unbelievable section of coffee beans.
After spending time at Power Coffeeworks, I left as a satisfied and a happy customer. I would not hesitate to revisit the coffee joint once I return to Israel someday. I am deeply thankful to the Lord for the enterprise of Power Coffeeworks and everything else about the entire Israel pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church.
This leads to my next point: always be thankful to the Lord for the blessings you enjoyed as He is our source and the definitive provider. All the praise and glory is to Him. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20 (NKJV)
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).
Romans 11:36 (AMPC)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)
Never forget that Israel is the land that God the Heavenly Father designated to the Jewish people and He always has great plans for them. As people of faith, we should do our part to love and bless the Jewish people. Also remember that the ties between Jews and Christians are biblical. Read the scriptures below…
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].
And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;
The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.
Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)
Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.
Exodus 19:5-6 (AMPC)
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.”
Genesis 17:5-9 (ESV)
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”
Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)
“Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel.
Isaiah 44:1-5 (NKJV)
“Now, show the people the pieces of wood you have written on, and tell them, ‘Lord Yahweh says this: I will gather the Israelites from the nations where they have gone. I will gather them together from everywhere and bring them to their homeland. And I will make them into a single nation in the mountainous land of Israel and give them one king to be king over them all. They will never again be divided into two nations nor split into two separate kingdoms.
Ezekiel 37:20-22 (TPT)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16 (AMPC)
Jesus said to him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:6-7 (NKJV)
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
Luke 22:19-20 (NKJV)
Conclusion
The view from my table.
I would love to return to Power Coffeeworks once I return to Jerusalem in the years to come. Only the Lord know when that time will be. No matter what happens, my faith in the Lord will never be compromised. To those of you who are interested to discover Power Coffeeworks and find out what products they offer, I encourage you to visit their official website at https://www.powercoffeeworksjerusalem.com/. Remember that once you make it to the Mahane Yehuda market, this nice coffee joint is just a short walk away.
Israel is a great and holy place to visit! Visit Israel with the Holy Bible! Pray to the Lord wholeheartedly and reveal to Him your heart’s desire to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Him. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Follow the light of Lord Jesus, keep on praying to support Israel and for the peace of Jerusalem. Live on with uncompromising faith in Him!
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!
To all the fellow people of faith reading this, be aware that the next Hillsong Conference will be held from July 8 to 10, 2025 at the Hillsong Hills Campus in Norwest, New South Wales, Australia. Already, online registration for the next year’s conference is open and you can register now by clicking here.
For the newcomers reading this, Hillsong Conference is the annual worship event of Hillsong Church which draws a lot of people from around the world to worship Lord Jesus, to deepen their faith in Him and to interact with other faithful people. This should remind you that the family of God is spiritual, not biological.
The conference will have lots of activities about worship, Holy Bible studying, servant leadership, faith-led mentoring and more. There will also be pastors and other worship leaders who will be orienting participants who intended to deepen their faith in the Lord and realize their true purpose in accordance to God’s plan.
Attending Hillsong Conference is NOT about getting into religion at all. It is all about developing and edifying your faith in the Lord, to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and realize that Lord Jesus is the way to God the Heavenly Father.
For a greater understanding about Hillsong Conference, posted below is the official message from Hillsong Church’s Global Senior Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley…
Hillsong Conference has always been a gathering dedicated to equipping and encouraging the Body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God on this earth. Over the years, we’ve experienced a beautiful and profound move of God that has impacted our lives, families, churches, and communities – for which we are eternally grateful.
As we look ahead to 2025, our mission remains unchanged. We gather to witness His wonder, to catch a glimpse of His Glory, to continue to learn of His ways and discover more of Him, the Great I AM – JESUS!
In Exodus 3:14-15, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the 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, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” Through every season, He is there. Amidst the noise, He is our Shepherd. To every anxious heart, He is Peace, and at every ending, He is the Beginning.
This conference is for anyone who wants to grow in their spiritual formation, build the Kingdom of God, and engage effectively with the world around us. As a church we are dedicated to delivering a God breathed conference that is designed to bless, inspire and equip you regardless of your area of Kingdom endeavour. Whether you’re passionate about church leadership, excelling in the marketplace, deepening your spiritual formation, or enhancing your community impact, there is something for everyone. Through authentic worship, insightful Bible teaching from diverse contributors, and space for reflection and ministry, Hillsong Conference 2025 will deepen your sense of purpose and propel you forward into the mission God has for you!
We are filled with excitement and anticipation for the coming year and hope you and your family can join us for what we believe will be a truly impactful Hillsong Conference.
About Hillsong Church – Hillsong is a contemporary Christian church. Overwhelmed by the gift of salvation we have found in Jesus, we have a heart for authentic worship, are passionate about the local church, and are on mission to see God’s kingdom established across the earth.
Hillsong Church was founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in 1983 in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Now Hillsong has churches in city centres in 27 countries around the world.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined and what happened during my free time. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 8th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Before moving on, may I request to you readers to pray to the Lord in support for the nation of Israel as it has been at war with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas (which committed the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks) in the Gaza Strip, as well as with Hezbollah in the north. Prayers are also needed for the hostages (taken by Hamas) and for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) which has been working so hard and long. Israel’s economy and people also need prayers of support. I will always stand with Israel and my faith in the Lord remains uncompromising!
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you my observations about what happened during our group’s one and only rest day. Instead of just resting at our nice hotel in Jerusalem, I decided to take advantage of the day to visit the Temple Mount for the first time ever, return to the Western Wall/Jewish Quarter/Upper Room, and visiting King David’s Tomb to name some.
Having revisited the Upper Room as well as King David’s Tomb (located just below), I took the rare opportunity of visiting the grave of the late Oskar Schindler which is located inside a Catholic cemetery just a few hundred meters away by foot. Look at the Google Map screenshot below…
This should give you an idea as to how close the Upper Room and King David’s Tomb sites in Israel are to the cemetery that has Schindler’s grave.
Who is Oskar Schindler?
For the newcomers reading this, Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist and a member of the Nazi Party who is best known for saving more than one thousand Jews during the Holocaust by having them employed in his business of enamelware and ammunition (across different locations in Europe). His costly efforts of saving the Jews from certain death during World War II became his most defining legacy to world initially chronicled in the novel Schindler’s Ark (later retitled as Schindler’s List) written by Thomas Keneally, and most famously dramatized in cinematic form in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993) with Liam Neeson portraying him. I myself saw Schindler’s List in the cinema here in the Philippines on April 2, 1994, and it was the most engaging movie theater experience I ever had.
The real-life Oskar Schindler (1908-1974).(photo source – Yad Vashem)
The cinematic Oskar Schindler portrayed by Liam Neeson in the Steven Spielberg-directed film Schindler’s List. (photo source – IMDB.com)
Schindler was born in 1908 in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary (now referred to as the Czech Republic). After the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he became a citizen of the Czechoslovak Republic. He married Emilie Pelzl in 1928 and went on to work in different occupations ranging from farm machinery to selling government property. He also served in his republic’s army and eventually made his way into the German Armed Forces specifically through its military foreign intelligence office. In 1939, Schindler joined the Nazi Party and eventually arrived in Poland (after the German invasion) and established himself as a businessman. It was in Poland where he established the enamelware business and hired Jewish people as his workers.
A lot happened to Schindler and his wife after the end of World War II. He faced danger of being arrested as a war criminal. Schindler and his wife endured lots of difficulties moving back to Germany. In the years that followed, Schindler had a series of failed business ventures and declared bankruptcy in the early 1960s. Thanks to his Jewish friends from the war, he survived on donations sent by the Schindlerjuden (the people he saved during the Holocaust).
Schindler visited Israel for the first time ever in 1961 and was welcomed warmly. A tree was planted in his honor at the Avenue of the Righteous at Yad Vashem in 1962 (note: his wife Emilie got recognized as among the Righteous Among the Nations in 1993).
Before dying in 1974, he lived partly in Israel and partly in Germany. Schindler was buried in Jerusalem in Mount Zion and his grave has been visited many times by Jews and other people from around the world.
How I made it to Schindler’s grave
Having prayed to the Lord for a meaningful and blessed day-off, I got ready for the places to visit in ancient Jerusalem and that includes a precise study of maps and where the significant sites are located.
As mentioned above, coming from the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, I exited through Zion Gate of the old city of Jerusalem heading towards the Upper Room (the traditional site of the Last Supper that involved our Lord Savior Jesus) for a return visit (note: my first time there was with our tour group with a guide) and for my first-ever visit at the King David’s Tomb site (on the ground floor level so nearby).
That being said, it was easy to find the nearby cemetery (note: there was one other cemetery nearby) for Schindler’s grave coming from King David’s Tomb by foot. After walking down a short road leading to a major road outside and crossing it, I found the entrance of the cemetery which even had a small sign that says “To Oskar Schindler’s grave.”
The cemetery gate with a sign confirming that Schindler’s grave is inside.
My time at Schindler’s grave
So I entered the cemetery all alone, walked further and climbed down some steps until I reached the very area of Schindler’s grave which was actually located by a cemented walkway. Posted below is the shot I took before approaching the grave.
A wide shot of the lower area of the cemetery where Schindler’s grave is located (in the distance).
Finally, I made my first-ever approach to the grave of the one German businessman who saved the lives of many Jews and I captured it all by video as you can see below along with the pictures I took right there. Schindler’s grave was full of stones placed in thanks to him, remembrance of him and in honor for him. I noticed one particular stone even has a “Thank you!”
The grave of Oskar Schindler with lots of stones placed on it by visitors and by those who remember him for saving over a thousand Jewish people during the Holocaust.
A diagonal shot of the grave with a good amount of sunlight captured during the moment.
This is me taking a picture of myself near Oskar Schindler’s grave.
Visible on the grave was the German inscription which in English means “The unforgettable lifesaver of 1200 persecuted Jews.”
Being right there at the grave brought me strong memories about the final sequence of the movie Schindler’s List which was presented in color. That scene turned out very powerful to watch as a line of people – including the Jewish survivors who encountered Schindler during the war plus the actors who played many of them – took turns placing stones at this very grave. The late Leopold “Poldek” Pfefferberg himself was present in the scene at the grave which is very significant because he personally encountered Schindler and was crucial with both the publishing of Schindler’s Ark and the filming of Schindler’s List. Pfefferberg was an advisor to Spielberg.
Holocaust survivor Poldek Pfefferberg with Oskar Schindler in the 1960s. (photo source – United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
This is my 4K Blu-ray copy of Schindler’s List. This is the best and most definitive way to watch it at the comfort of home. So much better than streaming.
The placing of stones or pebbles on a grave has an important part in the Jewish ways. The Jewish Virtual Library describes it as follows (some parts in boldface):
As opposed to the common practice of burying loved ones with flowers and placing flowers by the tombstone, Jewish tradition instead puts an emphasis on placing stones on graves.
Jewish authorities likely objected to the flower ritual because of its proximity to pagan customs.
The origin of the stone custom is uncertain, though it may relate to ancient times when a pile of stones was used as a marker. The most common explanation is that placing stones is a symbolic act that indicates someone has come to visit and the deceased has not been forgotten.
A superstitious rationale for stones is that they keep the soul down, based on a belief that souls continue to dwell for a while in the graves in which they are placed.
A more common theme, however, is that stones last for eternity – as opposed to the short life span of flowers. Like the memory our loved ones, stones will never die.
As Oskar Schindler was German, the placing of stones at his grave is notably exceptional and if you wish to feel the impact of the colored scene near the end of Schindler’s List, you will have to endure the film first from the beginning. After all, the Spielberg-directed movie gradually shows how the German businessman got connected with the Jewish people as his laborers, and the turning point of him deciding to save them from death by sacrificing so much (read: lots of money spent and use of influence with German officials) and taking huge risks along the way was powerful to watch.
Even though I’m not Jewish and not a survivor of World War II, I still placed a stone on Oskar Schindler’s grave to thank him for saving many Jews long ago. As a person faith, my love for Israel and the Jewish people remains uncompromising in relation to my unwavering faith in the Lord and His Word.
Significant lessons about loving, blessing and helping the Jewish people
Having been to the Holocaust museum at Yad Vashem prior to the rest day, I learned there that Oskar Schindler was one of many others who took risks to save Jews during the Holocaust. The Schindler Jews of more than one thousand survivors have since multiplied into thousands more people through the decades.
The Holocaust and the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks should remind each of us faithful ones that we cannot simply ignore the tragedies and do nothing. People of the Jewish State need our help and praying for them is a solid way to start. Ask the Lord for signs on how to help Israelites in additional ways. Do not rush and wait for Him to send you a command or a clear message on what to do next. Right now, Israel is fighting the enemy inside Gaza while defending itself from the other enemy on the north.
Around the world, there are millions of young protesters and activists who were brainwashed into supporting the terrorists while attacking Israel so blindly. Indeed, the world is chaotic and all the people who attack Israel while empowering the terrorists are doing the dirty works for Satan. It is also not surprising to encounter a pro-Palestine believer or an anti-Semitic person who openly rejects the Word of God or even mock Lord Jesus. The people – the brainwashed activists and terrorists specifically – who wish to destroy Israel in this modern age are becoming more like the Nazi Germans who were led by Adolf Hitler (who dreamed of wiping out all Jewish people). These unfortunate events should compel you to stand up for Israel and the Jewish people as you live on with unwavering faith in the Lord and His Word.
You might be wondering what are the biblical lessons to learn with regards to loving, blessing and helping the Jewish people. We can start by acknowledging the sovereignty, authority and the holiness of the Lord God and remember always that Lord Jesus is the Anointed Mediator. Read the following holy scriptures below…
“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
“And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land. I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines. Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for all the detestable things you did. But remember, says the Sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done!
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.
Ezekiel 36:22-33 (NLT)
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt [that is, everything heretofore barren and unfruitful shall overflow with spiritual blessing].
And I will bring back the exiles of My people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be torn up out of their land which I gave them, says the Lord your God.
Amos 9:13-15 (AMPC)
For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.
Hebrews 6:10 (AMPC)
For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5 (AMPC)
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family.”
Acts 16:31 (TPT)
My beloved friends, if you see a believer who is overtaken with a fault, the one who is in the Spirit should seek to restore him in the Spirit of gentleness. But keep watch over your own heart so that you won’t be tempted to exalt yourself over him. Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.
Galatians 6:1-2 (TPT)
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NKJV)
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 13:41-43 (NKJV)
“I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.
“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. 6If a person is separated from me, he is discarded; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned. But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done. When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!
John 15:1-8 (TPT)
Also, never forget that Israel is the land that God the Heavenly Father designated for the Jewish people and He always has great plans for them. Read the scriptures below…
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Genesis 17:15-22 (NKJV)
Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].
And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;
The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.
Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)
Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.
Exodus 19:5-6 (AMPC)
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”
Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)
“Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen.
Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.’
One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ And name himself by the name of Israel.
Isaiah 44:1-5 (NKJV)
Conclusion
During my final moments at the cemetery, I carefully touched Schindler’s grave and went on marching all the way to Mahane Yehuda Market in the city.
I am very thankful to the Lord for the significant visits and favors He blessed me with during the rest day in Jerusalem. The visit to Schindler’s grave was a worthy conclusion to the time I spent visiting the sites inside and outside of the walls of the old city of Jerusalem during the cold morning. After Schindler’s grave, I marched all the way to Mahane Yehuda market (with a coffee break at Tmol Shilshom on the way).
I cannot say that Schindler’s grave is a holy site to visit, but it still carries great historical significance in relation to the saving of Jews during the Holocaust. To those of you who get to visit the grave, do not be surprised to see the many stones placed on it. Finally, be mindful that when you visit the Upper Room or King David’s Tomb site just outside of Zion Gate, the cemetery that has Schindler’s grave is only a few hundred meters away by walking. Ask your tour guide about the location and what time the cemetery opens in the morning.
While Oskar Schindler remains a controversial person of history as his legacy continues to be debated between varied people with specific beliefs and reasons (note: there are people who admired him as well as others who condemned him), his efforts (aided by his wife Emilie and his Jewish assistant Itzhak Stern) on protecting the Jewish workers from certain death during World War II should always be remembered.
It should be noted that Schindler’s List has been criticized for having fictionalized scenes, deliberate omissions of historical facts and its portrayal of Oskar as a hero whose personality developed over time. In reality, wife Emilie Schindler was much more involved with her husband on rescuing the Jews which is a significant fact that Spielberg’s movie ignored.
Emilie and Oskar Schindler in Argentina after the end of World War II. Emilie was much more involved with her husband on sparing over a thousand Jewish people from certain death during the Holocaust. (photo credit: Yad Vashem)
The German businessman’s legacy is clearly connected with the 1993 film which itself made tremendous impact by making people aware of the Holocaust and the six million Jews who got killed. The said impact, in my view, is much bigger than the many Academy Awards the movie won! Spielberg’s movie marked the beginning of my learning about the Holocaust and back in 1994, I was not even aware of the biblical significance of Israel and the Jewish people. In my old life of rituals, traditions and idolatrous religion, no person of religion ever taught me to love and bless Israel, nor did anyone religious tell me about God’s covenant with the Jewish people. Reading the Bible back then was only occasional.
In the year I got born again, I gradually learned about the significance of Israel, the Jewish people and the biblical ties between Jews and Christians as I immersed myself with God’s Word. Studying the Holy Bible and living by His Word helped me understand God’s covenant with Abraham whose rightful heirs have always been Isaac (his son) and Jacob (his grandson who later got renamed Israel). Just months after getting born again, I prayed to the Lord a lot for His plan for me related with Israel as I wanted to deepen my faith in Him by visiting the Holy Land and witness the Bible come to life. The 2023 Israel pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church was the Lord’s anointed answer and blessing to me. It is also the greatest and most significant foreign trip I ever had.
Israel is a great and holy place to visit! Visit Israel with the Holy Bible! Pray to the Lord wholeheartedly and reveal to Him your heart’s desire to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Him. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Follow the light of Lord Jesus, keep on praying for the peace of Jerusalem and live on with unwavering faith in Him!
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!
Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Godzilla videos in preparation for the new Japanese Godzilla movie
In case you missed the news due to the excessive amount of entertainment developments, there is indeed a brand new Japanese-produced movie of Godzilla (Gojira in Japan) titled Godzilla Minus One which will open in cinemas in Japan this November and in America this December. You can check out my post about Godzilla Minus One by clicking here.
With renewed interest in Toho’s Godzilla sparked in moviegoers’ minds, here are some videos that can help you get to know Japan’s iconic giant monster better before the new movie comes out.
The much awaited big-budget simulation racing game Forza Motorsport (2023) is coming out on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass within a few days from now for its general release. The big-budget Xbox-exclusive racing game is actually available via early access to those who paid extra for the privilege via the Premium Edition. As with tradition, gaming media outlets produced several video previews and updates of the game recently as the release date came closer and here are the videos you must watch on YouTube. Already Forza Motorsport (2023) received acclaim from critics (click here, here, here and here). Take note that this is the first new Forza Motorsport video game since 2017.
#3 Stay away electric vehicles (EVs) as they could kill you
No matter what the Leftists and climate change extremists do, I personally reject electric vehicles (EVs) and the elimination of fossil fuel and the lessening of energy choices for consumers. No matter what flashy publicity and loud talking points were made, I am not convinced that electric vehicles are safe enough to use for daily travel. In fact, many EV makers don’t want you to know that when their vehicles spark into flames, the fire is much harder to put out and often requires a higher amount of water to do so. Why is that EVs spark and become major fire hazards on the street (and even burn down homes) can be realized in the videos below.
#4 Music video of New Life Music’s worship song Testimony
The music team of New Life Philippines released the official music video (note: backstage sessions specifically) of their newest worship song Testimony. Written by Nash Soliven, Camille Cuna, Erican Reyes, Timothy Mena, Charity Patricio, Josiah Patricio and Sam Mokamad, Testimony reflects the meaning of Revelation 19:10 in the Holy Bible and it was made to strengthen people’s faith in the Lord and believe He is still moving no matter how bad things are around us in this very divided world we live in. The song will remind you about having the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Watch the official music video by New Life Music below.
As some of you may have known by now, I went to Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church which was hosted by a very good Israeli strategic partner who ensured everything was in order. Among the many sites we visited in the Holy Land was the Pool of Siloam which was the very place where a blind man (born with blindness) got healed because he followed the instructions of our Lord and Savior Jesus without hesitation. For reference, read John 9:1-11 in the Holy Bible.
You can read my Pool of Siloam feature article by clicking here. I also have several other Israel 2023 articles on this website and I hope they will inspire you to visit the Holy Land in Israel to deepen your faith in the Lord. It is in Israel where the Holy Bible comes to life!
Watch the videos – including my very own video at the place – about the Pool of Siloam below.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined. Additional information from the official websites of a mentioned businesses is also used. This is not a sponsored article. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 7th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by its strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here and here.
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you my observations and captured images about my time at the Dead Sea area of Ein Bokek which has a huge beach and several stores, and hotels/resorts that cater to tourists. Our tour group arrived at a hotel near Ein Bokek Beach on an afternoon and we had a little over twelve hours staying time in the area.
To be very clear, there were no opportunities for me to try floating on the Dead Sea beach nearby due to the time of our arrival at the hotel and the schedule of our pilgrimage tour. After getting settled in my nice hotel bedroom, I managed to spend time at Ein Bokek Beach where I took pictures, observed the place and, for the first time ever, I touched the Dead Sea water and washed my hands before going to the nearby stores. Early the next morning, as I wanted to maximize my opportunities of discovery and learning, I revisited Ein Bokek Beach. For your reference, posted below is my YouTube video that I recorded on the morning and it should give you a glimpse of the area.
Knowing the Dead Sea
To understand the Dead Sea, it is massive body (note: a very large lake) of very salty water currently shared between Israel and Jordan. It is one of the four saltiest water bodies in the world and also the world’s lowest elevation on land estimated at around 430 meters below sea level. The Dead Sea has its very own distinct eco-system and vast sources of minerals which made it a major attraction of visitors for centuries. Apart from being a major travel destination, the Dead Sea is surrounded by places where major biblical events happened and places that have tremendous historical backgrounds.
Some interesting facts about the Dead Sea: The Dead Sea’s salinity level is over 34% and it does not pour out which is one factor why its salinity is high. The arid desert climate causes evaporation which raises the salinity. With the high salinity, no fish could exist in the Dead Sea and certainly no life could evolve in it although certain forms of bacteria and fungus could survive.
Apart from the high salinity, the water of the Dead Sea contains 26 beneficial minerals. The mineral content of both the air and the water of the area is very notable for therapeutic qualities. Even during the time of King Herod (37 to 4 BC) the Dead Sea area became a health resort. As such, the Dead Sea within Israel has many beaches where visitors can spend time not only for enjoyment but also to take advantage of the medicinal and therapeutic benefits by carefully touching the Dead Sea water and rubbing their bodies with black mud sources from the banks. With the high salinity, it is best to avoid having Dead Sea water touch your eyes, touch open wounds and touch newly shaved skin as they will cause pain and irritation. Swallowing Dead Sea water is strongly prohibited as it will negatively affect your body’s internal systems. That being said, anyone who plans to spend time at any Dead Sea beach and touch the water by means of floating – not swimming nor diving – should practice caution.
This is what Ein Bokek and the Dead Sea look like early in the morning as the sun rises.
During ancient times, there were cities located close to the Dead Sea – Zoar, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim. Over the ages, the Dead Sea water receded and continues to do so gradually. While the Dead Sea today is physically connected with the Jordan River which itself is connected with the Sea of Galilee (AKA Lake Tiberias), its major sources of water since the 1960s are the sulfur springs and waste water along with rare drizzles and flash floods.
As little amounts of water flow in and evaporation under the harsh desert sun continue to happen, there is concern that the Dead Sea could dry up decades from now. With the decline of the Dead Sea’s water level, sinkholes have appeared in some locations which destroyed roads and even resorts.
As to how it got referred to as the Dead Sea, the very salty water makes it impossible for fish and plants to exist in it.
My time at Ein Bokek
Our pilgrimage tour group was booked at the Daniel Dead Sea Hotel in Ein Bokek and conveniently enough, it was located just a short walking distance away from the beach. The hotel room I stayed at was pretty neat and nicely equipped, its bathroom had liquid soap and shampoo with Dead Sea minerals mixed in, and I had a great view of the local area and the Dead Sea. I should state that Daniel Dead Sea Hotel also has a really nice dining area and you can see more of their facilities at https://deadsea.com/explore/where-to-stay/hotels/daniel-dead-sea-hotel/
The view from my Daniel Dead Sea Hotel window showing Ein Bokek beach, roads and other establishments during the day.
This is what the Ein Bokek area looks like at night.
Going back to what I mentioned earlier, the first thing I did after checking in was visiting the Ein Bokek beach and observing around knowing our time with the Dead Sea was limited. Walking further into the beach, I noticed crystal particles of salt on the sand. After doing a last minute check on my hands, I placed my left hand into the Dead Sea water first which you can see in the picture below.
My first time ever to touch the Dead Sea water.
After taking the photo with my smartphone, I put the device down and proceeded to wash both my hands with the very salty beach water and also used some sand and salt crystals on them. Immediately there was this rough and tingling feeling on my two hands but it was not really a problem at all. As soon as I woke up the next morning, I noticed my hands felt smoother. Most likely, the minerals of the Dead Sea water rejuvenated my hands.
Going back to the afternoon I washed my hands with Dead Sea water, I proceeded to the nearest store – the Hordus Shopping Center. Clearly established to cater to visitors as well as consumers looking Dead Sea-related products, I saw a wide section filled with soap bars and cosmetic products that had Dead Sea minerals mixed in which delighted me as our time in the area was limited and I was already looking for unique products to buy and take home. After a careful look at the products offered, I proceeded to buy some bars of Dead Sea Spa-branded soap for personal use and as gifts to my dearest friends. Within Hordus Shopping Center was a spot where customers can buy pizza, sandwiches, coffee and other food or beverages. Since dinner time was arriving and I knew that a buffet for dinner at the hotel was inevitable, it made no sense for me to order food or drinks.
This is what Ein Bokek beach and the Dead Sea looked like as the sun was setting.
This is the Ein Bokek beach parking area. On the background are hotels and other business joints.
This is the Hordus Shopping Center at the Ein Bokek beach area. Lots of nice products, food and drinks inside await visitors.
Another look at the beach on the day we arrived.
Further exploring, I proceeded to another store some meters away from our hotel which offered items similar to what I found at Hordus Shopping Center.
Later that evening at the hotel, I proceeded to the lower level where the huge dining hall and buffet were located at. Upon arriving, I was astounded to see many people around, mostly Jewish people. As it was a Friday evening, it was the night before Shabbat (Shabbat refers to the seventh day of the week for the Jews which is Saturday) and I noticed there were Jewish families and groups of Jewish people celebrating and spending quality time together. There was this atmosphere of happiness and positivity around. This was the first time I ever witnessed the Jewish celebration of the night before Shabbat and I also witnessed how Jewish family members interacted with each other passionately and their dedication to the Heavenly Father. It was a great learning experience for me personally and I thank God for it. In fact, this reminds me of what the Lord God declared long ago in the following holy scriptures below…
GOD told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you. I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (MSG)
And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
Genesis 35:10-12 (NKJV)
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 19:5-6 (NKJV)
Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’
Exodus 6:6-8 (NKJV)
After getting my meal from the buffet, I finally joined our tour group at a long table that was reserved for us. Right behind me was another long table filled with Jewish guests. As I enjoyed my dinner, I also enjoyed festive atmosphere around us. This was truly a great way to have an evening in the Dead Sea area.
The dinner buffet at Daniel Dead Sea Hotel.
The next morning, I woke up early to read the Holy Bible, prayed to the Lord and revisited the beach nearby before brealfast. It was a cold morning (note: this was February 2023) that was also peaceful. I also witnessed the rise of the sun in the distance which you can see among the images posted below…
The sun rising in the far distance with the light slowly growing over the Dead Sea. I took this on Saturday early morning.
There were a lot of salt crystals at the Dead Sea beach at Ein Bokek.
A shot I took at the beach with people, the Dead Sea water, facilities and the hotels captured together.
Another morning shot I took while walking on the Ein Bokek path.
After spending some time with my tour group companions at the beach, I returned to the hotel for breakfast and proceeded to get myself ready for checking out. Upon checking out at the hotel lobby, I greeted the Jewish man behind the counter “Shabbat Shalom.” By bus, our pilgrimage tour group proceeded to the Qumran site as well as Masada and Ein Gedi. The time at Ein Bokek was not very long but I still am thankful to the Lord for the enjoyment and enlightenment I had there.
The biblical significance of the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea itself has presence in the Holy Bible. Depending on the type of bible translations, the Dead Sea is also referred to as the Salt Sea or the Sea of Salt, the eastern sea and at times by ancient names. Posted below are biblical references for your enlightenment…
All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
Genesis 14:3 (NKJV)
And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern [Dead] Sea and half of them to the western [Mediterranean] Sea; in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zechariah 14:8 (AMPC)
Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh.
And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes.
The fishermen shall stand on [the banks of the Dead Sea]; from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a place to spread nets; their fish shall be of very many kinds, as the fish of the Great or Mediterranean Sea.
Ezekiel 47:7-10 (AMPC)
As mentioned earlier, there were ancient cities located within the Dead Sea area. Among them are the two most notable for the big events that happened – Soddom and Gommorah. That being said, the destruction of the two mentioned cities happened in close proximity to the Dead Sea and this further makes the area a significant place for today’s pilgrims and explorers to visit and organize trips to discover the places where the destruction happened. To read about the destruction of Soddom and Gommorah, read Genesis 19:1-38 in the Holy Bible.
Conclusion
This is me at Ein Bokek beach with the Dead Sea right behind me in the morning.
I thank the Lord for our stay at Ein Bokek where our tour group got to visit the Dead Sea itself. In my experience, I realized the biblical significance of the famous body of salty and mineral-rich water. As mentioned earlier, having dinner during the night before Shabbat was not just a major learning experience, it was also God’s way of helping me realize the Jewish ways of honoring Him and being families under His watch, love and care. I truly believe in standing united with Israel, loving and blessing the Jewish people and praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
Finally, I encourage you who are about to visit the Holy Land to verify with your tour group leader the inclusion of the Dead Sea in the itinerary of your group tour. Be aware that within the Dead Sea area are Qumran and Masada. Qumran is the very location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found decades ago while Masada is where the ancient fortress is located at. Also within the area is Ein Gedi, the oasis in Israel where King David himself as a young man stayed at while keeping his distance away from Saul the King.
Welcome back, my readers and fellow Christians! In this newest edition of my Christian Music Appreciation (CMA) series, we will focus on How Great is Our God, a very well-known worship song written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves. The song was part of the DVD release of the live praise-and-worship Hillsong Worship album titled Mighty to Save.
If you want to discover and learn more about Hillsong Worship, I encourage you to click here (Facebook page), here (Instagram) and here (YouTube). To learn more about Chris Tomlin, click here (Facebook), here (Instagram) and here (official website).
Before getting into the analysis of the Biblical relevance of How Great is Our God, posted below for your reference are the lyrics composed by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves.
Lyrics:
The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
–
He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
–
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God
–
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
–
The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit and Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
–
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God
–
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
–
Name above all names
You are worthy of all praise
And my heart will sing
How great is our God
–
[3x]
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God
–
To begin with, let’s take a close look at the first section of the lyrics above: The splendor of a king,Clothed in majesty, Let all the earth rejoice, All the earth rejoice.
The above lines emphasize the greatness of God in Heaven. In His Kingdom, the Lord is the ultimate which is undeniably true and as His faithful children, we do our part honoring Him, praising Him, serving Him, rejoicing with Him and keep on having an eternal personal relationship with Him. God’s greatness also rewards us as we keep on having unwavering faith in Him. Do not forget that submitting to His Son Jesus is the only way to the Heavenly Father. Learn from the following holy scriptures below…
To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised yourself high over all.
1 Chronicles 29:11 (MSG)
And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,”
Nehemiah 1:5 (NKJV)
For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.
1 Samuel 12:22 (ESV)
Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.”
John 14:6 (TPT)
Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (TPT)
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
Philippians 4:4 (MSG)
Next, take a close look at the next batch of lines from the lyrics: He wraps Himself in light, And darkness tries to hide, And trembles at His voice, Trembles at His voice
The above lines explain that the holiness of the Heavenly Father is true and eternal. God is great and His light shines upon His faithful children as well as the other souls who repented and submitted to His Son Lord Jesus to come to Him in the Kingdom of Light. Darkness, sin, destruction, poverty and other elements of the enemy have no place in God’s kingdom nor in the hearts of the children of God. With unwavering and unbreakable faith in the Lord, you can defeat Satan and his minions and stay high with the Lord’s holiness! Pay close attention to the following holy scriptures.
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty—
[You are the One] Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain or a tent,
Who lays the beams of the upper room of His abode in the waters [above the firmament], Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,
Psalm 104:1-3 (AMPC)
Everything I am will praise and bless the Lord!
O Lord, my God, your greatness takes my breath away,
overwhelming me by your majesty, beauty, and splendor!
You wrap yourself with a shimmering, glistening light.
You wear sunshine like a garment of glory.
You stretch out the starry skies like a tapestry.
You build your balconies with light beams
and ride as King in a chariot you made from clouds.
You fly upon the wings of the wind.
Psalms 104:1-3 (TPT)
There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 (AMPC)
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James 2:19 (NKJV)
Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.
[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.
Colossians 1:12-15 (AMPC)
Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world, and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.”
John 8:12 (TPT)
Next, take a close look at the next batch of lines from the lyrics. Specifically, the following are lines from the chorus of the song: How great is our God, Sing with me, How great is our God, And all will see, How great, how great is our God.
The above lines emphasize again the greatness of God. It teaches us that as His faithful children, we should be ready to always recognize true greatness comes from the Lord and no other forms of greatness will ever come close to His. The greatness of the Lord is a lively reminder that we must dedicated ourselves to Him, spread His Word to others and help the lost and unsaved souls come to Lord Jesus to be with the Heavenly Father and realize His greatness. Read the hole scriptures below…
There is none like you, O Lord;
you are great, and your name is great in might.
Jeremiah 10:6 (ESV)
For God is the triumphant King; all the powers of the earth are his. So sing your celebration songs of highest praise to the glorious Enlightened One!
Psalms 47:7 (TPT)
The Mighty One has worked a mighty miracle for me; holy is his name!
Luke 1:49 (TPT)
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!
Romans 5:17 (TPT)
The time came to observe the winter Feast of Renewal in Jerusalem. Jesus walked into the temple area under Solomon’s covered walkway when the Jewish leaders encircled him and said, “How much longer will you keep us in suspense? Tell us the truth and clarify this for us once and for all. Are you really the Messiah, the Anointed One?”
Jesus answered them, “I have told you the truth already and you did not believe me. The proof of who I am is revealed by all the miracles that I do in the name of my Father. Yet, you stubbornly refuse to follow me, because you are not my sheep. As I’ve told you before: My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me. I give to them the gift of eternal life and they will never be lost and no one has the power to snatch them out of my hands. My Father, who has given them to me as his gift, is the mightiest of all, and no one has the power to snatch them from my Father’s care. The Father and I are one.”
John 10:22-30 (TPT)
For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5 (AMPC)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
The Lord has done great things for us;
We are joyful.
Psalm 126:3 (NASB)
The above lines emphasize that the Lord is eternal and He does not change Himself. He is always present to guide the faithful and provide for them. He is always there to fight battles that are too great for us to handle. God is always present to emphasize His faithfulness to those who dedicated themselves to Him. He is always present to spend time with each of us – His faithful children – and is always ready to welcome the souls who got born again after repenting to Lord Jesus and accepting Him as their Lord and Savior. Learn from the scriptures below…
The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He drove the enemy before you and thrust them out, saying, Destroy!
Deuteronomy 33:27 (AMPC)
For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide
Even to death.
Psalm 48:14 (NKJV)
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28 (NKJV)
Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (NASB)
“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!”
John 14:12 (TPT)
Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (TPT)
Next, take a close look at the following lines of lyrics: The Godhead Three in One, Father, Spirit and Son, The Lion and the Lamb, The Lion and the Lamb.
The above lines refers to the Holy Trinity composed of God the Heavenly Father, His Son Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Trinity is essential in our faith in the Lord as well as Christian living. The lion and the lamb mentioned symbolize our Lord.
Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
Matthew 28:19 (AMPC)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17 (ESV)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29 (NKJV)
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:11-13 (NKJV)
And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.
Then one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!
Revelation 5:4-5 (AMPC)
The Lord also will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.
Joel 3:16 (NKJV)
Finally, we take a close look at the following lines of lyrics of the song in two similar looking batches: Name above all names, Worthy of all praise, My heart will sing, How great is our Godand Name above all names, You are worthy of all praise, And my heart will sing, How great is our God.
Our Lord’s name is the ultimate of all names. No name can be greater than the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the only begotten son of God sent here on Earth to lead humanity out of darkness. Jesus died on the cross carrying all of humanity’s sins and trespasses with Him, and a few days later He returned from the dead (conquered death), made His presence felt to the faithful and ascended to Heaven with the promise of returning in the future. Lord Jesus is the Messiah, the King of all kings and the One we must follow in order to be with the Heavenly Father in His kingdom. The Lord is worthy of all our praise! Learn from the following scriptures below…
Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names! The authority of the name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name—in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm. And every tongue will proclaim in every language: “Jesus Christ is Lord Yahweh,” bringing glory and honor to God, his Father!
Philippians 2:9-11 (TPT)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16 (NKJV)
She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 (NASB)
I will exalt You, my God, the King,
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation will praise Your works to another,
And will declare Your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
Psalm 145:1-6 (NASB)
For through the eternal and living Word of God you have been born again. And this “seed” that he planted within you can never be destroyed but will live and grow inside of you forever. For: Human beings are frail and temporary, like grass, and the glory of man fleeting like blossoms of the field. The grass dries and withers and the flowers fall off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever!
1 Peter 1:23-25 (TPT)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah is God’s spiritual child and has been fathered by God himself. And everyone who loves Father God loves his children as well. This is how we can be sure that we love the children of God: by having a passionate love for God and by obedience to his commands. True love for God means obeying his commands, and his commands don’t weigh us down as heavy burdens. You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:1-5 (TPT)
Very clearly, the worship song How Great is Our God is a very holy song. Indeed, the lyrics composed by the writers are very biblical and it is safe to say that the Lord anointed them as well as their musicians to make this great praise-and-worship song. Musically, it is unsurprisingly beautiful to listen to and easily it is ideal to lead your fellow faithful Christians at church to the Lord with. How Great is Our God will easily fit in with your local church’s Sunday worship service music as well as during special worship events that involve the church’s music team. Ultimately, How Great is Our God will not only remind you of His everlasting greatness but also inspire you to deepen your faith in Him and help lead the lost and unsaved souls to Him through Lord Jesus!
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Author Carlo Carrasco 