Dr. Erez Soref: What Are Your Values? | One For Israel

February 21, 2026 | S1 E11 | 27:23

Join Dr. Erez Soref in Why Israel?—a powerful eight-part journey through the greatest love story ever told: God’s covenant relationship with Israel and His invitation to the nations. This profound love still transforms lives today.

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| Dr. Erez Soref: What Are Your Values? | One For Israel | February 21, 2026

Vengeance belongs to god.
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I was so angry.
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I was feeling humiliated, hatred.
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When the accuser talks to you,
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Don't listen.
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Just one act of crazy obedience.
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So nehemiah did what he knew best,
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He prayed.
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Praying, hearing god, and doing what he says.
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Through every obstacle from without and within,
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Nehemiah and the people stood strong again.
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I am dr. erez soref.
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I was born and raised in the heart of israel,
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But i never heard the gospel message
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Until on a journey abroad,
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My eyes were opened to the jewish messiah.
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From that point,
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My life has been dedicated
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To bringing this gospel back to my people israel,
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Equipping them to reach israel
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And the world.
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Together, as jews and gentiles,
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We are one in messiah, one for israel.
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Behind me are the walls
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Of the old city of jerusalem.
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Walls have surrounded this place
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Since ancient times
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For fortification and defense.
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But they've also served to set jerusalem apart
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As the holy city of god.
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Centuries ago, the walls had fallen into disrepair.
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But god gave a man named nehemiah
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The vision and the heart to rebuild.
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Prophets predicted that jerusalem
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Would one day welcome the messiah of israel.
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So for nehemiah,
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This wasn't just another building project.
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Building the walls was preparation
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For the messiah's coming.
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The value wasn't in the bricks,
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It was in the prophetic destiny
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To welcome the eternal king.
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Today, we'll look at the challenges nehemiah faced
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As he was about to complete the work
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And finish the wall.
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We'll see how his convictions gave him momentum
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To cross the finish line.
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As we examine nehemiah's anchoring values,
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We'll ask, what are your values?
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As we continue to walk the walls with nehemiah.
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The walls were almost built.
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Nehemiah had defended his people
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Against outside attacks.
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He had maintained order and god's law
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Within his ranks.
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The finish line was in view.
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This is the point
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Where we might feel
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Like we're in the clear.
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The testing is over.
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We can just coast until the end.
00:02:43.019 --> 00:02:45.288
But paul tells us,
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Be careful when we think we stand lest we fall.
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With nehemiah, the enemy of god's people
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Was going to make one more attempt
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To try and stop the vision.
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But nehemiah would not let his guard down
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And trip up at the end.
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He had a set of values,
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Convictions that guided and focused him.
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They would keep him from veering off
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From the finish line when the pressure was on.
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Let's look at how nehemiah's values
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Guided his decision-making.
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He writes:
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We just want to meet?
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That sounds innocent enough.
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After all, nehemiah was the governor of judah.
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He was supposed to take
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High-level meetings like this, right?
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I'm sure the work would go on
00:03:46.616 --> 00:03:48.518
If he just left for a little while,
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Just to listen to what these men had to say.
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But nehemiah had discernment to know what was important
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And what was a trap.
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Four times they sent to him urging him to meet.
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Nehemiah didn't budge from his post.
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He sent a message back to his enemies:
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You see, the vision god gave him
00:04:17.380 --> 00:04:19.549
Was non-negotiable.
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There was nothing those men could say
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That would make him compromise on finishing the wall.
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Meeting them would be a waste of time.
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Nehemiah kept his eyes on the main thing.
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So what's our main thing?
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The first value that will empower us
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To cross the finish line
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Is to keep our eyes on yeshua.
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If we get distracted by secondary matters,
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It will trap us.
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It will take us in a direction
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God never directed.
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Yeshua is the center.
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And whatever his spirit has directed
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As our part in his purpose, do it.
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Nehemiah was totally focused and committed to his task.
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His eyes were on god and the call to rebuild.
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He refused to be distracted or trapped.
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He could discern between a crisis he needed to address
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Or a distraction that would slow down the work.
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How focused are we on our vision and calling?
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There will always be things that will try and stop our work.
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But as nehemiah knew,
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There are some things that are non-negotiable
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In our faith and vision.
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Some things we will not compromise,
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And it's a waste of time to argue about it.
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I'm sure he wasn't comfortable
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To keep refusing meetings with those high-level officials.
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But like nehemiah,
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We must be committed to prioritizing god's work
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And staying on track.
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We need to keep our eyes on yeshua
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And the vision he has called us to.
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So after refusing to talk, sanbalat, israel's enemy,
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Sent nehemiah a message:
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Another attack of the enemy.
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Not with swords, but with words,
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With slander and threat.
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You are planning a rebellion?
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We've heard the rumors.
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Meet with me or i'll tell the king.
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Maybe now nehemiah would feel like he needed
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To go and set the record straight.
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But he had another value.
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Another compass that led his actions:
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Don't listen to the voice of the enemy.
00:06:45.561 --> 00:06:48.231
He didn't argue.
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He didn't leave the work to meet with his accusers
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Or respond to them point by point.
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In other words,
00:07:02.612 --> 00:07:03.946
Enemy, what you say is false.
00:07:03.946 --> 00:07:06.415
You made it up.
00:07:06.415 --> 00:07:08.017
After nehemiah refuted the enemy's lies,
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He prayed.
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Here in israel,
00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:18.694
Our nation faces accusation every day.
00:07:18.694 --> 00:07:22.398
Throughout the wars and struggles,
00:07:22.398 --> 00:07:24.634
We have been accused of genocide and apartheid.
00:07:24.634 --> 00:07:27.970
Since the beginning of the october 7th war,
00:07:27.970 --> 00:07:30.840
We have had false accusations and lies
00:07:30.840 --> 00:07:33.442
Thrown at us
00:07:33.442 --> 00:07:34.844
Before we could even bury our dead
00:07:34.844 --> 00:07:37.346
Or mourn our nation's greatest tragedy.
00:07:37.346 --> 00:07:40.383
But if we at one for israel
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Used all our time, energy and resources
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Arguing against every false claim,
00:07:45.988 --> 00:07:48.858
We would lose focus on our primary calling,
00:07:48.858 --> 00:07:52.094
To bless israel with the message of yeshua.
00:07:52.094 --> 00:07:55.231
On top of the pressure on our nation,
00:07:55.231 --> 00:07:57.733
Our ministry also deals with libel and slander
00:07:57.733 --> 00:08:00.937
From those who oppose the gospel.
00:08:00.937 --> 00:08:02.972
But like nehemiah,
00:08:03.406 --> 00:08:04.941
We don't need to spend all our energy screaming back.
00:08:04.941 --> 00:08:08.711
We can do what he did,
00:08:08.711 --> 00:08:10.279
Refute the lie and draw near to god.
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As james says:
00:08:12.949 --> 00:08:20.656
When the accuser talks to you,
00:08:21.324 --> 00:08:23.326
Don't listen.
00:08:23.326 --> 00:08:24.860
Don't stop the work,
00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:26.228
Resist, draw near to god
00:08:26.228 --> 00:08:28.631
And keep building.
00:08:28.631 --> 00:08:30.600
If you want to go deeper in nehemiah's story,
00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:34.637
We're offering a free
00:08:34.637 --> 00:08:36.505
31-day devotional
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As a companion to this book.
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Visit the link below
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And don't forget
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To get the new book,
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"walking the walls with nehemiah".
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It goes deeper into these powerful lessons
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Nehemiah's work on the walls of jerusalem
00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.670
Was almost completed
00:09:39.670 --> 00:09:41.605
And his enemies were attempting
00:09:41.605 --> 00:09:43.306
A final barrage of attacks.
00:09:43.306 --> 00:09:45.709
They used slander and intimidation
00:09:45.709 --> 00:09:48.211
To try and stop nehemiah and the people from finishing.
00:09:48.211 --> 00:09:52.082
But nehemiah's values kept him focused
00:09:52.082 --> 00:09:54.985
On the vision.
00:09:54.985 --> 00:09:56.420
Now the enemy was about to use
00:09:56.420 --> 00:09:58.588
A new kind of attack.
00:09:58.588 --> 00:10:00.323
Not only intimidation from without,
00:10:00.323 --> 00:10:03.293
But fear, rumor and betrayal from within.
00:10:03.293 --> 00:10:07.164
Nehemiah soon found out
00:10:07.164 --> 00:10:09.199
That there was a spy within his ranks.
00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:11.968
A fellow israelite approached him, shemaiah.
00:10:12.903 --> 00:10:16.440
He claimed to be not only a friend
00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.842
But also a prophet of god.
00:10:18.842 --> 00:10:21.011
Shemaiah told him a rumor
00:10:21.011 --> 00:10:23.213
That his enemies were coming to assassinate nehemiah
00:10:23.213 --> 00:10:26.683
And they might be there at any minute.
00:10:26.683 --> 00:10:28.719
He urged him to hide inside the temple
00:10:28.719 --> 00:10:30.787
For protection, the sanctuary of god.
00:10:30.787 --> 00:10:33.724
Sounds like spiritual wisdom, right?
00:10:33.724 --> 00:10:37.561
There was a problem.
00:10:38.028 --> 00:10:39.596
The temple was a place where only a levite could go
00:10:39.596 --> 00:10:42.899
And nehemiah was not a levite.
00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:45.502
Doing what the so-called prophet
00:10:45.502 --> 00:10:47.804
Told him to do
00:10:47.804 --> 00:10:48.939
Would be a violation of god's word.
00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:51.508
It may have sounded like good sense
00:10:51.508 --> 00:10:53.543
And spiritual wisdom,
00:10:53.543 --> 00:10:55.178
But in reality, it was a response of fear
00:10:55.178 --> 00:10:58.582
And disobedience.
00:10:58.582 --> 00:11:00.484
Sometimes under pressure,
00:11:00.484 --> 00:11:02.486
We might think we need to go against god's word
00:11:02.486 --> 00:11:05.789
In order to solve a problem,
00:11:05.789 --> 00:11:07.624
That the ends justify the means.
00:11:07.624 --> 00:11:10.660
But nehemiah was led by another value in his life
00:11:10.660 --> 00:11:14.131
That kept him going in the right direction,
00:11:14.131 --> 00:11:16.700
To serve with courage, no matter what.
00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:19.803
When he followed this foundational conviction,
00:11:19.803 --> 00:11:22.439
He had clarity to know that he wasn't called to hide
00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:26.143
But to build,
00:11:26.143 --> 00:11:27.611
And he realized that this man who came to him
00:11:27.611 --> 00:11:30.113
Was not a friend and not a true prophet.
00:11:30.113 --> 00:11:33.183
He writes:
00:11:33.183 --> 00:11:52.903
Shemaiah was a spy, paid by the enemies of israel.
00:11:53.937 --> 00:11:58.408
They planned a deadly attack combination,
00:11:58.408 --> 00:12:01.144
Fear of harm and temptation of safety.
00:12:01.144 --> 00:12:04.281
They hired someone who seemed like a friend and prophet,
00:12:04.281 --> 00:12:08.151
Someone who claimed to hear from god.
00:12:08.151 --> 00:12:11.755
He wrapped the fear and temptation
00:12:11.755 --> 00:12:13.957
In spiritual language
00:12:13.957 --> 00:12:15.492
To entice nehemiah to disobey god.
00:12:15.492 --> 00:12:18.595
But fear that sounds like wisdom,
00:12:18.595 --> 00:12:21.498
Words that sound like prophecy,
00:12:21.498 --> 00:12:23.767
They can never take the place of obedience
00:12:23.767 --> 00:12:26.436
To god and his vision.
00:12:26.436 --> 00:12:28.972
So i was born and raised in iran as a shiite muslim.
00:12:28.972 --> 00:12:31.608
I loved god as a young boy
00:12:31.608 --> 00:12:33.543
And i always wanted to serve him and to love him.
00:12:33.543 --> 00:12:36.546
When i was 16 years old,
00:12:36.546 --> 00:12:37.848
Something happened to me that it changed my life.
00:12:37.848 --> 00:12:40.350
I was going to my cousin's wedding
00:12:40.350 --> 00:12:42.385
And some of my relatives gave me a ride
00:12:42.385 --> 00:12:44.888
And they had some alcohol,
00:12:44.888 --> 00:12:46.089
I didn't, and i was in the car,
00:12:46.089 --> 00:12:48.258
And i was so excited to go.
00:12:48.258 --> 00:12:49.659
And suddenly, as we were on the way,
00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:52.162
There was a checkpoint.
00:12:52.162 --> 00:12:53.363
They pulled the car over,
00:12:53.363 --> 00:12:54.397
They smelled the alcohol
00:12:54.397 --> 00:12:55.398
And they took all of us out.
00:12:55.398 --> 00:12:57.100
They took us to confinement,
00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:58.602
Took all our clothes off, bare naked.
00:12:58.602 --> 00:13:00.937
They start putting coal and water on us
00:13:00.937 --> 00:13:03.073
And they start beating us
00:13:03.073 --> 00:13:04.074
With these big thick cables.
00:13:04.074 --> 00:13:05.942
And they were mocking us and laughing at us.
00:13:05.942 --> 00:13:08.111
They threw almost 50 of us in a small room.
00:13:08.111 --> 00:13:10.380
We were choking.
00:13:10.380 --> 00:13:11.548
I was so angry.
00:13:11.548 --> 00:13:12.949
I was feeling humiliated,
00:13:12.949 --> 00:13:15.085
Hatred toward the people who torture me unjustly
00:13:15.085 --> 00:13:18.922
In the name of allah
00:13:18.922 --> 00:13:20.090
For something i hadn't even done.
00:13:20.090 --> 00:13:22.325
So they took us to the court
00:13:22.959 --> 00:13:24.694
With shackles on our hands and our feet.
00:13:24.694 --> 00:13:26.830
And i sat before a judge,
00:13:26.830 --> 00:13:28.231
It was a mullah,
00:13:28.231 --> 00:13:29.199
And he began to judge us
00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:30.734
Based upon islamic laws.
00:13:30.734 --> 00:13:33.103
My family found some connections
00:13:33.103 --> 00:13:35.138
And they paid some bribe.
00:13:35.138 --> 00:13:36.640
They actually released us
00:13:36.640 --> 00:13:37.674
And we had to just pay a fine.
00:13:37.674 --> 00:13:39.542
But that was the beginning of a long journey.
00:13:39.542 --> 00:13:41.778
I began to question islam,
00:13:41.778 --> 00:13:43.446
Islam that i was loving and serving.
00:13:43.446 --> 00:13:46.516
What kind of religion is this?
00:13:46.516 --> 00:13:47.684
That there's so much injustice.
00:13:47.684 --> 00:13:49.286
I saw so much bad things in the quran.
00:13:49.286 --> 00:13:51.254
For example, surah 9, verse 29:30.
00:13:51.254 --> 00:13:54.157
Muhammad said that kill those who don't believe in allah
00:13:54.157 --> 00:13:57.294
And in his messenger.
00:13:57.294 --> 00:13:58.929
So imagine all these years,
00:13:58.929 --> 00:14:00.530
All propaganda in the school.
00:14:00.530 --> 00:14:02.032
We heard bad things about america,
00:14:02.032 --> 00:14:03.500
Bad things about israel.
00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:05.268
We heard evil things about jews and christians.
00:14:05.268 --> 00:14:08.438
And suddenly my eyes are being opened
00:14:08.438 --> 00:14:10.573
That this is not from god.
00:14:10.573 --> 00:14:12.075
A god who made this beautiful universe,
00:14:12.075 --> 00:14:14.811
The flowers and the birds
00:14:14.811 --> 00:14:16.279
And these beautiful rivers
00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.647
And mountains,
00:14:17.647 --> 00:14:19.115
This god could not be this cruel.
00:14:19.115 --> 00:14:21.284
Shortly after that,
00:14:21.751 --> 00:14:22.819
Many things happened in my life.
00:14:22.819 --> 00:14:24.054
I lost my father, my father passed away.
00:14:24.054 --> 00:14:26.456
As a result, i dropped out of a school.
00:14:26.456 --> 00:14:28.458
I left all my friends.
00:14:28.458 --> 00:14:29.626
I was isolated and i was so broken,
00:14:29.626 --> 00:14:32.228
So hopeless.
00:14:32.228 --> 00:14:33.530
And i was crying out to god.
00:14:33.530 --> 00:14:34.798
God, if you're real, who are you?
00:14:34.798 --> 00:14:37.133
So then, when i was 19,
00:14:37.667 --> 00:14:40.136
I heard the gospel for the first time.
00:14:40.136 --> 00:14:42.672
Our power was out.
00:14:43.106 --> 00:14:44.474
I had a radio that was working with battery.
00:14:44.474 --> 00:14:47.010
So i turned this radio
00:14:47.010 --> 00:14:47.911
Because i was sitting in this
00:14:47.911 --> 00:14:48.745
Dark room.
00:14:48.745 --> 00:14:49.646
And i came across a channel
00:14:49.646 --> 00:14:50.947
And somebody was talking about
00:14:50.947 --> 00:14:52.916
That he was going to commit suicide
00:14:52.916 --> 00:14:55.685
To hang himself,
00:14:55.685 --> 00:14:56.686
And on the way,
00:14:56.686 --> 00:14:58.054
He heard this beautiful music,
00:14:58.054 --> 00:15:00.290
And he followed that sound of music,
00:15:00.290 --> 00:15:02.726
And he arrived to this church,
00:15:02.726 --> 00:15:04.694
And he heard the good news of the gospel,
00:15:04.694 --> 00:15:07.263
And his life changed.
00:15:07.263 --> 00:15:08.732
It was a glimpse of hope
00:15:08.732 --> 00:15:09.899
That began to shine in my heart.
00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:11.935
But nothing changed.
00:15:11.935 --> 00:15:13.336
Shortly after that, i heard again
00:15:13.336 --> 00:15:15.772
That jesus christ is a son of god.
00:15:15.772 --> 00:15:17.640
That he came, that he died for me on the cross
00:15:17.640 --> 00:15:20.977
As a sacrifice.
00:15:20.977 --> 00:15:22.412
And then three days later, he rose from the dead.
00:15:22.412 --> 00:15:25.315
And if i believe in him, i'll be saved.
00:15:25.315 --> 00:15:27.217
I said, that's a bunch of baloney.
00:15:27.217 --> 00:15:28.585
I rejected the whole thing.
00:15:28.585 --> 00:15:30.353
I said, how could god have a son?
00:15:30.353 --> 00:15:32.322
God doesn't have a wife.
00:15:32.322 --> 00:15:33.623
I could not comprehend that,
00:15:33.623 --> 00:15:34.991
That god would have a son
00:15:34.991 --> 00:15:36.059
And he would come and die for us.
00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.594
But one week later, i was so depressed and so sad,
00:15:37.594 --> 00:15:41.898
And everything seemed dark and hopeless,
00:15:41.898 --> 00:15:45.802
And i heard the message again.
00:15:45.802 --> 00:15:47.771
So that day, i had nothing to lose,
00:15:47.771 --> 00:15:49.572
And very skeptical, i said,
00:15:49.572 --> 00:15:52.142
Jesus, i do not know you.
00:15:52.142 --> 00:15:53.510
I was told you're a prophet.
00:15:53.510 --> 00:15:55.745
Now i hear you're the son of god.
00:15:55.745 --> 00:15:57.547
I don't know who is telling the truth.
00:15:57.547 --> 00:15:58.848
I don't want to be a victim of religion again.
00:15:58.848 --> 00:16:01.184
But if it's true, i want you to show me.
00:16:01.184 --> 00:16:03.753
And the moment i say that, the heat went through my hand.
00:16:03.753 --> 00:16:07.023
I began to cry and weep.
00:16:07.023 --> 00:16:09.392
It's like somebody put his hand in my heart
00:16:09.392 --> 00:16:11.194
And yanked out all that hatred and anger
00:16:11.194 --> 00:16:13.997
And bitterness and depression.
00:16:13.997 --> 00:16:16.199
Because i hated the people who tortured me unjustly.
00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:19.402
That hatred turned to compassion.
00:16:19.402 --> 00:16:21.571
And i was so full of joy, so full of love.
00:16:21.571 --> 00:16:24.340
I went to my mom's house.
00:16:24.908 --> 00:16:25.942
My mom saw me and she said:
00:16:25.942 --> 00:16:27.377
"what happened to you?"
00:16:27.377 --> 00:16:28.845
I said: "why?" she said: "your face is shiny."
00:16:28.845 --> 00:16:30.880
I told my mother that i became a christian.
00:16:30.880 --> 00:16:33.983
I accepted jesus in my heart.
00:16:33.983 --> 00:16:35.885
And she didn't have a negative reaction.
00:16:35.885 --> 00:16:37.987
And she was sick for many years.
00:16:37.987 --> 00:16:39.289
She had a pain that the doctor said
00:16:39.289 --> 00:16:41.157
You have to have surgery, and she had so much pain.
00:16:41.157 --> 00:16:43.726
I had this confidence that if i ask anything
00:16:43.726 --> 00:16:46.663
In the name of jesus, he will hear me.
00:16:46.663 --> 00:16:49.065
So i prayed for my mother
00:16:49.065 --> 00:16:50.433
And instantly pain left my mom.
00:16:50.433 --> 00:16:52.435
She never had the same pain,
00:16:52.435 --> 00:16:53.736
Same problem ever again,
00:16:53.736 --> 00:16:55.071
And she was suffering for years,
00:16:55.071 --> 00:16:56.306
And jesus christ healed her.
00:16:56.306 --> 00:16:58.708
So i downloaded only the four gospels,
00:16:58.708 --> 00:17:01.444
And i began to read.
00:17:01.444 --> 00:17:02.912
I think i read the four gospels in five days.
00:17:02.912 --> 00:17:04.981
I was so glued to this computer.
00:17:04.981 --> 00:17:06.883
And as i was reading,
00:17:06.883 --> 00:17:07.851
The first five chapters of matthew
00:17:07.851 --> 00:17:10.053
Made me cry,
00:17:10.053 --> 00:17:10.954
Because i saw these words
00:17:10.954 --> 00:17:12.589
That i had never heard before.
00:17:12.589 --> 00:17:13.723
"love your enemies
00:17:13.723 --> 00:17:14.757
"and pray for those who hate you
00:17:14.757 --> 00:17:16.059
"in a spiteful manner."
00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:17.460
Imagine for all those years,
00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:19.496
We would go to the shrines of dead imams,
00:17:19.496 --> 00:17:21.598
And we would pray to these dead bones,
00:17:21.598 --> 00:17:24.067
Crying out to allah, to muhammad for answers,
00:17:24.067 --> 00:17:26.870
And not even once allah answered our prayer.
00:17:26.870 --> 00:17:29.539
But the moment i called on the name of jesus,
00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:32.342
I felt this love, i felt his power,
00:17:32.342 --> 00:17:34.944
And it just showed up in my room.
00:17:34.944 --> 00:17:38.982
My name is ramin parsa,
00:17:39.482 --> 00:17:41.651
And i am one for israel.
00:17:41.651 --> 00:17:45.588
The attack of the enemy can be frustrating.
00:17:46.489 --> 00:17:49.459
Especially when he uses people that we,
00:17:49.459 --> 00:17:52.061
As believers, are called to love.
00:17:52.061 --> 00:17:54.597
We may be tempted to seek revenge,
00:17:54.597 --> 00:17:56.699
But even this can be a distraction.
00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:59.502
When nehemiah was attacked,
00:17:59.502 --> 00:18:01.304
He likely desired justice against his enemies.
00:18:01.304 --> 00:18:04.774
But another value guided him
00:18:04.774 --> 00:18:07.110
So that he didn't waste his energy on revenge.
00:18:07.110 --> 00:18:10.780
He knew that vengeance belongs to god.
00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:14.184
So nehemiah did what he knew best,
00:18:14.184 --> 00:18:17.220
He prayed:
00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:24.394
It's okay to desire justice when we are wrong,
00:18:25.361 --> 00:18:29.032
But we need to entrust it to god.
00:18:29.032 --> 00:18:31.901
Our values hold us to trust god with everything.
00:18:31.901 --> 00:18:35.238
The vision, the people we lead,
00:18:35.238 --> 00:18:37.173
And even our enemies.
00:18:37.173 --> 00:18:39.075
Nehemiah put it all into god's faithful hands.
00:18:39.075 --> 00:18:42.812
And we can trust the judge of all the earth
00:18:42.812 --> 00:18:45.415
To do what is right.
00:18:45.415 --> 00:18:47.550
Today we are witnessing a spiritual awakening in israel,
00:18:47.550 --> 00:18:50.720
Unlike anything we've ever seen.
00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.789
Hearts are being opened,
00:18:52.789 --> 00:18:53.890
Lives are being transformed,
00:18:53.890 --> 00:18:55.191
And the good news of jesus
00:18:55.191 --> 00:18:56.693
Is spreading throughout israel.
00:18:56.693 --> 00:18:58.728
Today we have over 700,000 israelis
00:18:58.728 --> 00:19:02.131
Subscribed to our hebrew gospel channel.
00:19:02.131 --> 00:19:05.101
Making our channel that proclaims yeshua
00:19:05.101 --> 00:19:07.470
One of the top youtube channels in all of israel.
00:19:07.470 --> 00:19:10.540
God is opening hearts,
00:19:10.540 --> 00:19:12.075
But for this ministry to succeed,
00:19:12.075 --> 00:19:14.244
We need to be supported by prayer,
00:19:14.244 --> 00:19:16.246
Your prayer.
00:19:16.246 --> 00:19:17.614
That's why we've created a free prayer guide
00:19:17.614 --> 00:19:20.083
To help you stand with israel in this vital moment.
00:19:20.083 --> 00:19:23.219
This 31-day prayer guide
00:19:23.219 --> 00:19:25.388
Will equip you to pray for israel's peace,
00:19:25.388 --> 00:19:27.757
Salvation, and restoration.
00:19:27.757 --> 00:19:30.059
God is doing amazing things in israel.
00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:32.428
Join us in prayer and be part of this awakening.
00:19:32.428 --> 00:19:35.832
Scan the qr now to request your free prayer guide.
00:19:35.832 --> 00:19:39.235
Together we can make an eternal impact.
00:19:39.235 --> 00:19:41.871
Call now and join us in prayer for israel.
00:19:41.871 --> 00:19:50.008
Call now and join us in prayer for israel.
00:19:50.008 --> 00:19:54.753
52 days after they began,
00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:57.889
Nehemiah and the people of jerusalem
00:19:57.889 --> 00:20:00.191
Finally finished the wall.
00:20:00.191 --> 00:20:02.294
Through the enemy's attack and discouragement,
00:20:02.294 --> 00:20:05.463
Times of correction,
00:20:05.463 --> 00:20:06.898
Times when the work slowed down and sped up.
00:20:06.898 --> 00:20:09.934
Through every obstacle from without and within,
00:20:09.934 --> 00:20:13.238
Nehemiah and the people overcame
00:20:13.238 --> 00:20:15.674
And jerusalem stood strong again.
00:20:15.674 --> 00:20:18.843
The people were faithful to the end
00:20:18.843 --> 00:20:21.046
And the work was completed.
00:20:21.046 --> 00:20:22.981
Nehemiah writes:
00:20:22.981 --> 00:20:38.029
When they finished,
00:20:38.496 --> 00:20:39.764
Fear fell on the enemies and nations
00:20:39.764 --> 00:20:41.666
That surrounded them.
00:20:41.666 --> 00:20:43.134
Those same enemies that were trying so hard
00:20:43.134 --> 00:20:46.137
To work against the vision.
00:20:46.137 --> 00:20:47.806
Why?
00:20:48.006 --> 00:20:49.040
Because they finally recognized
00:20:49.040 --> 00:20:51.109
That god was with israel.
00:20:51.109 --> 00:20:53.511
When we live according to god-given values,
00:20:53.511 --> 00:20:56.147
We can walk out our god-given vision.
00:20:56.147 --> 00:20:58.917
And just like with nehemiah,
00:20:58.917 --> 00:21:00.785
God will bless your work.
00:21:00.785 --> 00:21:03.188
People around will know
00:21:03.188 --> 00:21:04.723
That the lord is still god today.
00:21:04.723 --> 00:21:07.258
The blessing of god on your life is evangelistic.
00:21:07.258 --> 00:21:11.096
Great success is not just for yourself,
00:21:11.096 --> 00:21:13.932
But to testify to others of god's faithfulness.
00:21:13.932 --> 00:21:18.670
We're in the studio with our own dr. seth postell,
00:21:18.670 --> 00:21:22.674
Dean at our bible college.
00:21:22.674 --> 00:21:24.676
He has some amazing insights
00:21:24.676 --> 00:21:26.945
And real-life examples
00:21:26.945 --> 00:21:28.880
In what it looks like to walk out a vision
00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.583
And continue to see it grow.
00:21:31.583 --> 00:21:33.985
Shalom, seth.
00:21:34.352 --> 00:21:35.653
Thank you for coming to chat with me again.
00:21:35.653 --> 00:21:38.189
You know, we've been walking together very closely
00:21:38.189 --> 00:21:40.725
For the past 15 years,
00:21:40.725 --> 00:21:42.494
And our beginning was very humble.
00:21:42.494 --> 00:21:45.363
We were just reminiscing about sharing offices
00:21:45.363 --> 00:21:47.399
And whatnot. -that's right.
00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:48.733
I remember you sitting in it,
00:21:48.733 --> 00:21:50.268
It looked like you were sitting in an economy class
00:21:50.268 --> 00:21:52.637
Rather than an office.
00:21:52.637 --> 00:21:54.339
But it was, we were only on one floor.
00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:56.541
We had the upper floor, i remember,
00:21:56.541 --> 00:21:58.309
Was just, it was a mess. -in rubble.
00:21:58.309 --> 00:22:00.412
It was rubble.
00:22:00.412 --> 00:22:01.646
There are very few messianic organizations
00:22:01.646 --> 00:22:04.182
In israel that actually own property
00:22:04.182 --> 00:22:07.051
Or that own buildings.
00:22:07.051 --> 00:22:08.286
And so, you know, how was that for you?
00:22:08.286 --> 00:22:11.389
Because i heard that, you know,
00:22:11.389 --> 00:22:13.091
When you were considering buying this place,
00:22:13.091 --> 00:22:15.994
You were, people were trying to talk you out of it.
00:22:15.994 --> 00:22:18.430
What happened there?
00:22:18.430 --> 00:22:20.098
A couple of years before that,
00:22:20.098 --> 00:22:22.534
God spoke to me very clearly,
00:22:23.201 --> 00:22:25.470
And he told me to buy a building.
00:22:25.470 --> 00:22:27.806
Now, i know nothing, nothing about real estate,
00:22:27.806 --> 00:22:32.177
And... so i didn't know what to do.
00:22:32.177 --> 00:22:34.045
I didn't know how to even go about it,
00:22:34.045 --> 00:22:35.880
And i just started calling realtors
00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:37.715
Because i didn't know what to do.
00:22:37.715 --> 00:22:40.051
And it was pretty comical how god has guided me
00:22:40.051 --> 00:22:43.488
As someone that has absolutely no idea
00:22:43.488 --> 00:22:45.223
And no resources either,
00:22:45.223 --> 00:22:47.659
But it really was miracle after miracle,
00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:50.528
And, you know, we bought this building,
00:22:50.528 --> 00:22:53.131
And there were several people that came over,
00:22:53.131 --> 00:22:55.033
Again, well-meaning brothers,
00:22:55.033 --> 00:22:57.068
I don't think they meant anything.
00:22:57.068 --> 00:22:58.570
You know, i think they just spoke their mind.
00:22:58.570 --> 00:23:01.139
And it's a very humble commercial building here,
00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:04.075
Just for people to know.
00:23:04.075 --> 00:23:05.677
Starting 2012, the place was packed, remember?
00:23:05.677 --> 00:23:10.281
We just did not have enough classrooms, offices.
00:23:10.281 --> 00:23:14.486
And so we just started in 2012
00:23:14.486 --> 00:23:18.323
To ask god every year, remember?
00:23:18.323 --> 00:23:21.059
To lead us to our next stop
00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:23.962
That will be dramatically bigger and allow us to do
00:23:23.962 --> 00:23:26.164
Many, many more things.
00:23:26.164 --> 00:23:27.499
We made offers several times
00:23:27.499 --> 00:23:30.034
Where people refused to sell us property
00:23:30.034 --> 00:23:32.971
Because we were followers of yeshua.
00:23:32.971 --> 00:23:35.273
But then a couple of years ago,
00:23:35.273 --> 00:23:36.441
We finally, you know,
00:23:36.441 --> 00:23:37.675
God led us to the right spot
00:23:37.675 --> 00:23:39.143
And we zeroed in on a property.
00:23:39.143 --> 00:23:41.312
And so we are in preparation to building,
00:23:41.312 --> 00:23:44.349
Waiting for permits to build a much bigger center
00:23:44.349 --> 00:23:47.418
That will allow us to do much greater things, hopefully.
00:23:47.418 --> 00:23:51.422
So it's interesting, because you're talking about
00:23:51.422 --> 00:23:53.791
This kind of crazy step to buy this building,
00:23:53.791 --> 00:23:56.261
But you did something else that was
00:23:56.261 --> 00:23:58.229
Really out of the box.
00:23:58.229 --> 00:23:59.797
You built a television studio. -oh, yeah.
00:23:59.797 --> 00:24:02.967
Where did that come from?
00:24:03.568 --> 00:24:05.970
And how could you summarize the fruit
00:24:05.970 --> 00:24:08.306
Of that crazy decision?
00:24:08.306 --> 00:24:10.475
I'm not one that often says "god told me."
00:24:10.475 --> 00:24:13.611
I don't usually use that term very much,
00:24:13.611 --> 00:24:16.180
But god told me to build television studios.
00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:19.584
So i called the architect and said,
00:24:19.584 --> 00:24:20.852
You need to change the upper floor
00:24:20.852 --> 00:24:23.154
And you need to create space for a television studio.
00:24:23.154 --> 00:24:26.524
Then we had several people,
00:24:26.524 --> 00:24:28.159
Some of our college graduates
00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.494
That had background in media and advertisement.
00:24:29.494 --> 00:24:32.931
They came over and we started doing
00:24:32.931 --> 00:24:35.233
Those very simple testimonial videos
00:24:35.233 --> 00:24:38.269
And it just caught on fire.
00:24:38.269 --> 00:24:40.672
I mean, it just became
00:24:40.672 --> 00:24:42.473
Wildfire in israel.
00:24:42.473 --> 00:24:44.509
And it's been like that
00:24:44.509 --> 00:24:46.010
For the past 14 years, so...
00:24:46.010 --> 00:24:48.346
You think about the fruit
00:24:48.346 --> 00:24:50.982
Of just one act of crazy obedience,
00:24:51.783 --> 00:24:55.753
An act of irrational obedience,
00:24:55.753 --> 00:24:58.056
An act of not knowing,
00:24:58.056 --> 00:24:59.490
Okay, god, i heard you to do it.
00:24:59.490 --> 00:25:01.492
How many people have seen the gospel
00:25:01.492 --> 00:25:03.494
Through the videos?
00:25:03.494 --> 00:25:04.629
How many people have come to faith?
00:25:04.629 --> 00:25:06.631
How many people have been influenced
00:25:06.631 --> 00:25:08.166
And motivated, encouraged?
00:25:08.166 --> 00:25:09.634
I don't even know
00:25:09.634 --> 00:25:11.002
What are the numbers of total views
00:25:11.002 --> 00:25:12.937
Of all of our content today.
00:25:12.937 --> 00:25:14.372
I don't even know.
00:25:14.372 --> 00:25:15.239
I think it's close to a billion.
00:25:15.239 --> 00:25:16.674
It is.
00:25:16.674 --> 00:25:17.375
And this all began
00:25:17.375 --> 00:25:19.544
Because you...
00:25:19.544 --> 00:25:20.878
Well, god had a crazy idea. -god gave you this idea,
00:25:20.878 --> 00:25:25.249
But again, i think just the story of...
00:25:25.249 --> 00:25:27.919
I think so much of the story
00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:29.520
Of one for israel
00:25:29.520 --> 00:25:31.823
Is praying,
00:25:32.156 --> 00:25:35.059
Hearing god,
00:25:35.393 --> 00:25:36.594
And doing what he says. -and obeying, yeah.
00:25:37.495 --> 00:25:39.397
Yeah. -and i think that's the key.
00:25:39.397 --> 00:25:40.865
Well, seth, thank you so much.
00:25:40.865 --> 00:25:42.233
It's been so much fun to reminisce
00:25:42.233 --> 00:25:44.402
About what god has been doing and is doing in our midst.
00:25:44.402 --> 00:25:48.406
And for you, our viewers,
00:25:48.406 --> 00:25:50.341
We pray for you, that god will speak to you
00:25:50.341 --> 00:25:53.378
Very clearly, that you will listen,
00:25:53.378 --> 00:25:55.880
That you will obey him
00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:58.282
As he has great and wonderful
00:25:58.282 --> 00:26:00.518
Plans for your life.
00:26:00.518 --> 00:26:02.120
Nehemiah left a legacy.
00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:05.256
Not only do we have his inspirational stories
00:26:05.256 --> 00:26:07.825
To learn from,
00:26:07.825 --> 00:26:09.060
But we can still see today
00:26:09.060 --> 00:26:10.962
Some of the physical walls
00:26:10.962 --> 00:26:13.164
Built under his watch.
00:26:13.164 --> 00:26:15.166
Jerusalem was nowhere near its former glory.
00:26:15.166 --> 00:26:18.536
But as god had told zerubbabel years earlier,
00:26:18.536 --> 00:26:22.473
"do not despise the day of small beginnings."
00:26:22.473 --> 00:26:25.677
These very gates would welcome the king of kings.
00:26:25.677 --> 00:26:29.747
God used nehemiah to pave the way
00:26:29.747 --> 00:26:32.417
For israel's revival
00:26:32.417 --> 00:26:34.085
And the first coming of the messiah.
00:26:34.085 --> 00:26:36.688
Legacy is something that continues
00:26:36.688 --> 00:26:39.323
When we're gone.
00:26:39.323 --> 00:26:40.658
It's not something you can get
00:26:40.658 --> 00:26:42.427
By cutting corners.
00:26:42.427 --> 00:26:43.995
It's the result of a faithful life
00:26:43.995 --> 00:26:46.064
Before the lord.
00:26:46.064 --> 00:26:47.398
Will you be faithful
00:26:47.398 --> 00:26:48.700
To complete the work god has given you?
00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:51.569
The walls of jerusalem were completed.
00:26:52.403 --> 00:26:55.006
Nehemiah had done what he set out to do.
00:26:55.006 --> 00:26:58.142
But what about those living within those walls?
00:26:58.142 --> 00:27:00.912
They needed order and leadership,
00:27:00.912 --> 00:27:03.214
But they also needed something so much more.
00:27:03.214 --> 00:27:06.050
There was a new task ahead of nehemiah,
00:27:06.050 --> 00:27:08.453
To build jerusalem not just physically,
00:27:08.453 --> 00:27:10.788
But spiritually.
00:27:10.788 --> 00:27:12.123
Next time we will ask: what is your vision?
00:27:13.024 --> 00:27:16.794
As we walk the walls with nehemiah.
00:27:16.794 --> 00:27:16.794

Dr. Erez Soref: What Are Your Values? | One For Israel

February 21, 2026 | S1 E11 | 27:23

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