Facing Jerusalem

Facing Jerusalem

Monday, February 21, 2011

It's really dumb to poke God in the eye !

I stand with Israel because Israel is not about politics (despite what confused newscasters broadcast)….Israel is about the Word of God.  God refers to Israel as He does to no other land on Earth.    When we focus on Israel, we are dealing with the roots of everything that has to do with the revelation of God to humans.   The Jews were the original Covenant people of God.  They meticulously recorded and protected the Tanakh  (t’NOK) [the Old Testament].  Both the Old and New Testaments came to us through the Jews.  It was through the Jews that the Messiah Himself came to redeem mankind.  Yeshua Hamashiach (y’SHOO-ah ha-ma-SHE-ack) [Jesus the Messiah] was  a Torah-Observant Jew all of His earthly life, the great Apostle Paul ( Apostle to the Gentiles) was a Torah Observant Jew until his death. The first Christians were Torah-Observant Jews.  The New Testament writings were received and protected by Jews.   The first Christian martyrs were Jews.  The first ‘church services’ were in Synagogues. Scripture says that, spiritually speaking, when you receive the Lord, you become a Jew -29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.  (Galatians 3:26) 28For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly,   29But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual  matter. The Word of God calls Jews the  ‘root’ and Gentiles the ‘branches’ of the olive tree of Israel. You (Gentiles), though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others (the Jews) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root”. (Romans 11:17ff)  There simply is just no divorcing Christianity from our Hebraic roots. (Romans 2:26 ff) 
     To stand with Israel is to be a Watchman on the Wall (to keep watch in earnest prayer for her).  6”” I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;    they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD,   give yourselves no rest, 7 and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6)
     There are wonderful promises to those who become Watchmen on the Wall - “ I will bless those who bless you,  and whoever curses you I will curse;” Genesis 12:3
     There are frightening cautions for those opposed to Israel:  He who touches you touches the  pupil of God’s eye.”( Zachariah 2:8)  I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty foolhardy to be poking God in the eye.  The consequences  of such  foolish insolence are terrifying.  It is just as foolish to be passive towards Israel ( as if something that is so important to God is of no interest to us.) 
      Like it or not, we’re in a war (a Spiritual war) and it is wise to enlist on the correct side. Nobody sits on the fence as a spectator in this war - "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters". (Matthew 12:30) Hatred toward Israel is driven by Spiritual powers that will not be satisfied until Israel ceases to exist.  It’s not just some foolish few “who don’t like Jews”.  There are spiritual forces at work that are greater than humanity.  These forces cannot be overthrown by politics, smooth speeches, or a token vote by the UN.  These forces can only be broken by prayer in which principalities and powers are cast down -  12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but , against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.”          ( Ephesians 6:12)   
Not only are these powers opposed to the Jews, but they are the same spirits opposed to Christians and they, in time, will bring persecution to both groups.  Today the Jews may be in the cross hairs, but tomorrow it will be Christians. We are wise to remember that there is a spirit in the world that is against all that is called God, and hatefully opposed to all that He loves.  To be passive toward the Jews, is to heap judgment and punishment upon ourselves.  God will reward those who sign up to be Watchmen on His walls, and you just can’t beat a Heavenly reward-  no eye has seen,  no ear has heard,  no human mind has conceived  the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (I Corinthians 2:8).   I submit that to love God is to love Israel and to enlist to  be a Watchmen on the Wall - to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ and to ask God to’ make her the praise of the earth.'