This week, Michael writes: A man and woman of God's prayer should be, "Lord break my heart for what breaks yours." Be careful what you pray for. God broke Phil Hanlen's heart for the nation of Israel. One missionary has been to Israel several times on mission trips to bless the people of Israel by building bomb shelters to show the love of God. His next mission is to bless the soldiers of Israel.
The story of God's redemption was revealed through the children of Israel. God's plan for Israel is still ongoing. In this day and age, the plan for Israel is that the Church of the body of Christ would bless Israel. God said in Genesis, If you bless Israel I will bless you. Israel's story is a story of redemption...of God's grace, mercy and deliverance. The Old Testament story concludes with four hundred years of silence before the coming of the Messiah. At Jesus Christ's first coming, Israel missed him completely. However, in the gospels, Jesus proved over and over that He was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. Israel, instead of believing in Him, crucified Him. The religious leaders of Israel were in such darkness that they put Jesus on trial for "treason" for the claim that He was the "King of the Jews." They crucified Him and the powers of darkness rejoiced. However, Jesus Christ triumphed over death by the resurrection. Despite Israel's rejection of the Savior, God's grace and mercy still prevails. Jesus defeated death even though they did not realize that they were dead in their trespasses and sins. Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is set down upon the right hand of God.
In Romans 11, God reveals the answer about Israel's role after the first coming of the Messiah. God's plan for Israel still exists and the Church of the body of Christ has a role in reaching Israel. Our role as the body of believers is to "be God’s children" by example that we are disciples of Jesus Christ and sons and daughters of the living God In Revelation 7 after the Believers in Christ have been "gathered together" in heaven at the second coming of Christ, the defendants of the Children of Israel will be the Messianic Jews who realize that Jesus is the Messiah. These will be the 144,000 "apostle Paul's" and countless others who will be lead by these believers prior the great white throne Judgment.
Ezekiel talks about a Great War coming during the end times prophesied in the book of Revelation. The world will focus on the land of Israel, a tiny plot of land about the size of New Jersey. Israel will stand alone in this war against the rest of the world. Our role in preparation for these last days is to follow the Lord and to bless Israel. For the nation that blesses Israel will be blessed. Those who stand against Israel will be cursed. Our calling as Christians is to love Israel...not because they are deserving of love, but because love is the nature of our Heavenly Father. The promise that God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 still rings true today: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
3 comments:
May we display your header on our new site directory. As it is now, the site title (linked back to your home page) is listed, and we think displaying the header will attract more attention. In any event, we hope you will come by and see what is going on at SiteHoundSniffs.com.
Thank you Jerry. This blog is ministry our-reach, so anything to reach more people with the love of Christ is welcome. You and Grayson can use the header to help others in their faith and thank you for stopping by to read the posts. May God get the glory as lives are blessed.
Thank you so very much for giving permission. Aside from the All category and the slideshow on the Home page, you can see your header under Beliefs and the United States.
Hey, would you be any relation to Rev. Cecil Todd of the Revival Fires Ministry? He was a fairly big deal in the Charismatic community back in the 1990s (and may still be). I met him in his office near Branson, MO in '94 or '95. I asked him to take a look at the manuscript to a book I had been given to write. He looked at it for a few seconds, threw it back across his desk at me, and then said, "The first thing I would do if I were you would be to get someone who could write." Sigh.
Post a Comment