Israel and the church

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Middle East Politics, The bible and Christianity

I know this may be somewhat of a touchy subject. But what isn't these days if it has anything to do with God. I want to speak to both Christians and those who follow Judaism. Brouching this topic opens up the door to many other debates, but I will attempt to focus on this issue and not get too sidetracked. Recently I have had several brief conversations that left me baffled and slightly grieved. One wonderful Christian informed me that there was no point in taking interest in Jewish welfare because they "are sinners just like everyone else." The other believes that there is no reason to show any interest in Israel prophecy, either past or present. What? I want to give a wakeup call to the church. The time is NOW for us to love the Jewish people. Yes they are sinners just like us. Yes they have for the most part rejected their own messiah. Is God through with them? Has he rejected them as a nation? No, I don't think so.  We had all better read our bibles again.

What does the bible say about our relationship with Israel 

Story of the olive tree of faith

Romans 11:17-21 Paul tells the gentiles this, regarding the church's relationship with the Jews
And if some of the branches (Israel) were broken off, and you (gentiles), being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches (the jewish believers) But if you boast remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will then say, "branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand in faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches (Jewish believers) He may not spare you either.

The church is not to boast above the branches (Jewish people) In the church's relationship to Israel there must be no lifting up over them, even though the true church is saved and Israel is mostly unsaved. This is a tree of faith, and the roots go back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God does not intend for the Church to forget these roots and establish a new tree without roots. Rather the blessings of Abraham's Jewish faith roots have come to believing gentiles, as well as Jews together in the olive tree. Boasting against the broken off branches is a sin against God.

Now read that first verse again and try to take in the fullness of what is being said.

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What the scriptures say about Israels future relationship with God 

Why do many in the church not see themselves as being part of the Jewish tree of faith, or even worse view the Jewish people as being rejected by God?

Romans 11:2
God has not cast away His people which he foreknew.

Romans 11:11
Again I ask, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgressions, salvation has come to the gentiles to make Israel envious.
But if their transgression means riches for the world, and riches for the gentiles, how much more greater will their fullness bring!

Deut. 32:21 speaking of an unfaithful Israel
They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not my people.

God is jealous over his people Israel who have been unfaithful to Him. He plans at some future time to provoke Israel to envy with His love for another people. I sure hope that is us!

Romans 11:22-24
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity: but towards you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that was wild by nature (Gentiles), and grafted into a cultivated olive tree (Jews), how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own tree

Paul states that God is easily able to graft them back in. He uses pretty positive terminology (will be grafted into their own tree) I think God plans on doing just that.
This is combined with a stern warning to us - continue in His goodness, otherwise you will be cut off.
And a reminder of who we are and what our place is in the tree of faith. It seems to be pretty easy for us to start thinking a little too highly of ourselves.
I don't think this means that God loves any one or other of us more or less. I don't really know how God distributes His love, but I know that it is bigger than all of us. I think this is just a reminder of where we are in the political scheme of things, and we need to remember God has a plan. We need to stick to our part in it.

Romans 11:28,29
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. For god's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Did you hear that- irrevocable!

Romans 11:30
Just as you, who were one time disobedient to God, have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too, may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

There is a message here about the need for mercy, but that is a whole other topic.

So how might this work. We are to provoke them to jealousy by our relationship to God (Deut 32:21), whom they've always thought themselves to have a special relationship with. And their past disobedience has brought God's incredible mercy to us, now somehow God's mercy on us is to bring mercy to the Jewish people.

If the time of Jacobs troubles is nearly upon Israel, I believe now is the time for the church to pour out the love, mercy and compassion on Israel, that will provoke her by jealousy, Israel will see the great favor and close relationship her Christian brothers have with God, and in envy will open her eyes to see who her messiah is and pursue God.

Romans 11:25
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (oh good, I love a mystery!) lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. And so all of Israel will be saved, as it is written. The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.

So God has blinded Israel, and we carry the gospel for a time, in turn we are to show Israel God's love.

Besides, why would prophecy center around Israel if God had washed his hands of them?

So why don't the Jews as a nation accept Jesus as their messiah? 

Are we to judge those whom God has blinded for a time? NO, we are to love them!

When Jesus came to Jerusalem, the Israelites had long awaited their messiah. They were under Roman rule and desired freedom. They had focused on the scriptures that portrayed Him as a coming conqueror, but had been blinded to the scriptures that also showed their messiah to be a suffering servant. Jesus came and offered them freedom, freedom from their sins, freedom to approach God directly and enjoy a personal love relationship with the creator of the universe. But He didn't at that time give them freedom from their Roman oppressors. God attended to the important matters first. Jesus will come in the manner they have long awaited for, but not until their eyes are opened to who He is.

Here the bible speaks of their reaction to the realization that Jesus died for them.

Zechariah12:10
And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Zechariah 13:1
In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.



So there is a day coming when Israel is going to get it, repent and accept their messiah. And God has given us a role, a part in this incredible spiritual battle.

Man, would I ever like to be there to see that!

The Last Chance: For the Church to Love the Jewish People

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Your People Shall Be My People

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The Case for Israel

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This is a wonderful skit, made me cry 

Depicts the role of Christ, romancing and fighting to keep us.
Awesome

*The* Lifehouse - Everything skit

Disclaimer: I was not involved in this at all. I am just intent on getting this video spread to as many people as possible. With that said, here is the skit performed by The Mission at the Smokey Mountain Winterfest 2006. I pray that everyone who watches this (whether on my account or someone else's) is healed.

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  • Reply
    American American Jul 4, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
    Hi, The Jews and Israel are the apple of Gods eye because they were his first people. Everytime someone does something that goes against them, there are consequences to pay from God. Even the president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, had an assassination attempt recently because he said Jerusalem should be divided. It was covered up as a suicide of an Israeli soldier. Lies! Sarkozy has put a target on his back for saying that. Have a look at my lenses- they might be of interst to you:

    http://www.squidoo.com/tribulationsaints
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    http://www.squidoo.com/prophecybible

    God Bless!
  • Reply
    topangawiseman topangawiseman Jun 27, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
    I have heard some calls coming from the prophetic community. Could it be that the new thing that God is doing, is a gentile draw/pull/awakening to love on, pray for, stand with, witness too, and sometimes go with, the nation of Israel.
    It is undeniably biblical to stand for Israel.
  • Reply
    StarryEyes StarryEyes Jun 17, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
    Awesome Lens... 5*****'s!! Too many people don't stop to realize that the nation of Israel are "still" God's chosen people. As you said, we are not to reject them, but to love them. God is definitely not finished with Israel, by any means. Good Job and congrats on a lens well done :)
  • Reply
    ideadesigns ideadesigns May 3, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
    Just found your Israel lens. There aren't many like this, but I've started a "Israel" Group. Please join. 5stars on your great lens!

    squidoo.com/groups/israel
  • Reply
    ephraim1946 ephraim1946 May 1, 2008 @ 10:50 am
    If the end time prophets directed some prophecies to Israel and some to Judah, why do we think that they are the same thing? We need to know the truth and understand that God loves all of His creation.
  • Reply
    edah1308 edah1308 Apr 28, 2008 @ 12:59 am
    Just another example of a soul that's two skips and a hop away from realizing your own Hebrew heart. This is a great lense.
  • Reply
    Squidoophile Squidoophile Nov 20, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
    the politics only cares about interests and bilateral benefits, so, there is no political act can be categorized as right or wrong from a holy or religious point of view, it is only measured with success and failure.
  • Reply
    mikethehorseshoer mikethehorseshoer Nov 20, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
    This should be considered by everyone. Thought provoking
  • Reply
    mikethehorseshoer mikethehorseshoer Nov 19, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
    I highly approve
  • Reply
    elev8_baby elev8_baby Nov 19, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
    If you haven't watched the video above. I highly reccommend watching it. It shows the beautiful romance between you and God, and how he pursues you. It shows how the spiritual battles and wordly things come at you to destroy your relationship with HIM, and how He fights for you. Loved it!
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by elev8_baby

Hi, I am a retired scuba instructor who loves God.  I've seen quite a bit of the world and like to keep an eye on world events.  I have 3 gr...

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