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The Witness OF Israel
WHY IS THE WITNESS OF ISRAEL SO IMPORTANT?
"That they will know that I am God" might be the most often repeated phrase in Scripture. Certainly it is the purpose of God's relationship with and through Israel.
Today more than ever it is crucial for us as the church, the watchmen for our nations, that we understand what God is saying to us through His relationship with Israel.
As we study Israel's history we see a nation that had been so blessed by God disintegrate morally and spiritually.
The consequences were devastating as the people continually ignored the prophetic voice calling them to repent.
Let us not be ignorant of the importance God puts on His name and His reputation which was on the line with and through Israel.
Because Israel was bringing shame to His name, His goodness and mercy, God had to take action in the sight of all the nations. Israel was expelled from their inheritance - the land - and became a proverb and byword throughout the world.
Once the Temple was destroyed and along with it the opportunity to atone for their sins, Israel had to carry the full punishment for their personal and national sins.
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48)
Obviously there are many lessons the nations need to learn from God's dealings with Israel - their discipline, punishment and currently their restoration. Today we see the nations on the same downward spiral. Â What makes the situation even worse is that the church seems to be ignoring the prophetic word given to the nations in regard to their treatment of Israel.
God's promise to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) is the foundation of God's blessings to Israel and to the nations. The church embraces the promised blessing of Jesus, the ultimate descendant of Abraham through Israel. But at the same time, most churches either ignore or distort the final promise of blessing or cursing.
And yet a simple review of history manifests how God responds to a nation who "curses" Israel. Clearly God's hand of discipline is on America and has been since she determined to divide Israel's land and give large portions of it to their sworn enemy. Consider also:
- Ireland. The first country to accept "Palestine" as a nation has suffered great economic collapse.
- Iceland also accepted Palestine and created international air travel havoc as a result of volcanic eruption.
- Thailand was the first Asian country to accept Palestine and suffered terrible floods.
- Australian government permitted neo-Nazi protests and also suffered flooding.
- Japan on March 10, 2010 demanded Israel have "peace talks" regarding the division of Jerusalem, a return to 67 borders and granted 25 million USD for Gaza. One year later, Japan was devastated by land, sea and air (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear melt down).
Is it a wonder why so many Jewish believers now living in Israel feel such an urgency to fulfill our prophetic mandate to be a light and warning to the nations? Or more specifically to the international church?
- We are God's witness and the prophetic voice for today. (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2)
- We are the living proof of "life from the dead." Â (Romans 11:15)
- Our existence is the manifestation of the "dry bones becoming flesh." (Ezek 37)
- We are the front line of the ultimate harvest of souls (Zech 8:23).
This call of Jewish believers to the nations is actually two fold. First as indicated above, it is an urgent warning for the church (and the nations) to stop "cursing Israel" through ignorance or the distortion of the Word. Secondly it is an urgent call for the church to pray for Israel in accordance with God's command in Psalm 122:6-9:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls
Prosperity within your palaces."
For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say,
"Peace be within you,"
Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
Beloved friends, it's hard to describe the spiritual battle over this tiny land mostly directed to the Jewish Believers in Christ. Clearly God understands and thus gives the church this command. Remember that because of Jesus we are brethren and thus the fate of Israel and Jerusalem should matter to you as much as it matters to God.
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