Where Should the Church Stand Regarding Israel?

      Where does the church stand in regards to Israel? (Wikimedia Commons)

Where Should the Church Stand Regarding Israel?

 9/11/2015 GRANT BERRY  charisma news

Note: This is the second of a two-part series on the reconnection of Jews and Gentiles in the end times. For part one, click here.

Isn't it interesting that whenever God shifted His focus from one part of the family to another that it always comes as a surprise to each group (see Colossians 1:26,27; Romans 11:25-27), and it is not easy to admit being wrong.

In each case, however, God began to shift His body with the revelation that was necessary at that time, which He is also doing now, as both mysteries can be clearly seen in Scripture. Yet before each shift there was an apparent blindness to the call, which the revelation subsequently lifts. And to be perfectly honest, the church is all over the place in how they view Israel in the end times and are in need of a greater revelation and understanding from the Messianic side of the family to help them see the fullness of God's plans to establish His kingdom upon the earth.

Let's not forget that it took the apostles some time to recognize that the fulfillment of the mystery of the gospel to the Nations through Messiah/Christ was now upon them. Just as it is now taking time for the church to recognize that we are also at the door of the mystery to unveil Israel spiritually and restore it to faith, but also our role and participation in God's plan to bring it to pass.

Where Is The Church Regarding Israel?

So where is the church now concerning this shift, it is mostly still divided. Interestingly though, along similar lines to those in the church who are holding to more conservative and liberal interpretations of Scripture. With those from the charismatic and Pentecostal denominations along with a mix of evangelicals opening up more and more towards the restoration of Israel and those from the liberal side of the church where church growth has been shrinking rapidly, still holding to the teachings of replacement theology.

The early church spurred these teachings on, as it was breaking away from its Jewish roots and they believed the church had superseded Israel and fully replaced them spiritually. However, there are also some conservative churches that still hold onto replacement theology, or fulfillment theology as noted by theologian N.T. Wright and there are also some liberal churches that are holding to Israel's election. 

This is also evidenced in our reactions and responses to the Israeli/Palestinian crisis, with one body leaning in support of the Palestinians and the other in support of Israel. The latter hold to the truths and fulfillment of God's covenants in Scripture in regard to Israel's spiritual unveiling and pending restoration (Deuteronomy 30:4-6; Ezekiel 36:22-28; Jeremiah 31:37), while liberal viewpoints continue to cave into man's humanistic values.

For while we should keep both Israelis and Palestinians in prayer for salvation and how they are treated, the land rights to Israel belong to God, who has unquestionably given it to the people of Israel (Genesis 13:14,15; 17:7,8; Ezekiel 37), with Israel's physical restoration in biblical prophecies already being fulfilled. Honestly though, who are we in the scheme of things to question God (Romans 9:20)? But, in light of Israel's current spiritual condition, not everything they do is necessarily correct and they find themselves in an extremely challenging situation that, ultimately, only God Himself can solve.

So when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, let us understand that it is only when Yeshua/Jesus returns to us that there will be everlasting peace in Israel. Until Satan is locked up he will always wage war against the kingdom of God, of which Jerusalem is at its center.

However, praying for Jerusalem's peace is not always about blessing, but rather praying for the complete and utter fulfillment of God's word to awaken His people and restore the earth to Himself. This requires a great deal of wisdom and discernment, but also a much greater dependency on the Holy Spirit to guide us into effective and fervent intercession that will help to get the job done.

Could the Israel reconnection be the final piece that actually divides the church? I would not want to be one of those who opposes Israel when Messiah/Christ returns. Pray God for this part of the church that their blindness would be lifted. Could those holding to a continued separation between Israel and the church be bordering the arrogance that the apostle Paul spoke of in Romans 11, thinking like the Pharisees that they have had God to themselves?

These are strong words, but they are written in a spirit of love for us in the church to re-align ourselves with our Father's plans. Yeshua/Jesus is very close to the door and we are still in a time of mercy for us to come into repentance and get it right (Romans 11:32).

For He is intricately linked to both His Jewish and Gentile children and our unity now is essential for all of this to take place. Let us not forget His name is The Lion of the Tribe of Judah and He is coming back to a Jewish city to establish a Jewish monarch upon the earth, of which, His children from the Nations are grafted into its commonwealth. Pray to God that we would never forget our humble beginnings and who we are grafted into.

Pray also for the church that is opening up towards Israel that they would come into a fuller understanding, seeing this time more through our Fathers eyes and lens, rather than our own, and not funding the wrong groups. For there is still a lot more for us to learn, as we fully embrace our Jewish brethren.

It is not just about blessing Israel, but fully reconnecting to them spiritually as family. For God has already re-formed the Jewish branch of the olive tree with many thousands of Jewish believers like myself throughout the U.S. and Israel, and in other nations who are in great need of the church's support and love to fulfill their own destiny, which is to be a light back to our own people.

Like Aaron and Hur, who lifted up the arms of Moses so they could succeed in battle, pray that we in the church would properly connect and support our Jewish brethren first. And, that through our intercession for the rest of Israel, we would start to see this covenant people as the Scripture tells us they will be, and not as they are currently.

Isn't that what faith is all about? (Hebrews 11:1)

Grant Berry is a Jewish believer in Yeshua/Jesus and author of The New Covenant Prophecy and The Ezekiel Generation. He has founded Reconnecting Ministries with the specific focus to help the church reconnect spiritually to Israel and considers it vital to the kingdom of God in the last days. His website is reconnectingministries.org.

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

NEW - Life in the Spirit is your Spirit-filled teaching guide. Encounter the Holy Spirit, hear God speak to you, and enjoy timeless teachings on love, mercy and forgiveness.LEARN MORE!

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Holy Spirit Shift: Christians and Jews Reunited After 2,000 Years

The Holy Spirit will reunite Christians and Jews in the end times. (Facebook)

Holy Spirit Shift: Christians and Jews Reunited After 2,000 Years

9/10/2015 GRANT BERRY  charisma news

Note: This is the first of a two-part series on the reconnection of Jews and Gentiles in the end times.

The winds are blowing and the Holy Spirit is shifting, which we will discuss in this article. But, when it comes to the awakening and ingathering of His spiritual family, we have now had 2,000 years focused on His first-born children Israel and 2,000 years on His children from the Nations.

I would like to point out how equitable God has been with time spent on both groups. For when calling out his first-born children through the patriarchs and establishing His covenants with Israel up until the time of Yeshua/Jesus and the new covenant, there was 2,000 years. Then after His cross and resurrection, His authority in the gospel was taken out to the Nations through His Jewish apostles so the rest of His children could also be grafted into Israel's promises. Through Yeshua/Jesus, they became co-heirs as a Commonwealth of Israel, and the two became intricately linked, establishing The One New Man in the church.

Concerning the Gentile ingathering, there has also been 2,000 years, which at its beginnings was a mystery that had been hidden up until the appointed time for the rest of God's children from the Nations to come into the fold (Col. 1:26-27). But apart from the apostles and the original Jewish followers who helped to establish the church, most of Israel did not understand this mystery in God's awakening to the Gentiles because they had had God to themselves (see John 10:16). There is an interesting analogy here between then and now in how the church is awakening to Israel.

During the time of the Gentiles, the church becomes established, but then breaks away from its Jewish roots and heritage. Through the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), the church became fully Romanized, establishing Christianity as a separate and distinct religion, which it has remained until this time.

In reality, however, it is Jewish and the only true path of God—for salvation is from the Jews through Yeshua/Jesus (Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 4:22), as well as all of the other covenants given to Israel that we are grafted into through Him as believers from the Nations (Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:7, 13).

While the apostles cleared the way for Gentiles to be free of the law and continuing their own associations to it (Acts 21:20-25), there a definite connectedness between Jew and Gentile remained with a Jewish heritage and flavor that was apparent during those days as they laid the foundations for the church. They witnessed everywhere the ingathering of the Gentiles and a good amount of Jews into the faith, and the miracles and power of the Holy Spirit flowed. However, with Rome's intervention, it was now as if the wild olive branch that was grafted into the vine had become the only branch and, from that point, all who wanted entry had no choice but to become like the Gentiles.

Something Significant Was Lost

When we look back into this time in history, what may have appeared to have been an amazing deal for the church in nationalizing the faith with Rome, actually created its first division and split and something hugely significant was lost. I call this The Disconnection, from which all other divisions stem from in the church and if we truly want to heal the division in the body of Messiah/Christ, this is honestly where we should start. It wasn't long thereafter that most of Christianity went into a slumber and sleep and soon after that Islam was born.

However, thankfully God was not finished with His church. Much like Yeshua/Jesus Himself, it must arise; especially in these days (see John 12:24), for G-d has been faithful to His covenants to her, just as He will be to His covenants to Israel to restore her. "For where two or three are assembled in My name, there I am in their midst" (Matthew 18:20).

In a broad stroke, beginning with the Reformation, He began the process of restoration. In the 16th century, He restored the Bible and doctrine of salvation. In the 18th century, He began to restore a desire for holiness. In the 20th century, He restored the gifts and I believe in this time He will restore the fullness of The One New Man between Jew and Gentile.

That is because an awakened Israel cannot be grafted into the wild olive branch of the vine but must be grafted back into its own branch, which was and is essentially Jewish from its beginnings. Secondly, He will prepare and unite us for a Messianic Kingdom upon the earth whose authority will go out from Israel. In this light, we not only need to make room for them to return to faith along with their own expressions, but also to bless them into it.

The Holy Spirit is Shifting

As a result, the Holy Spirit is now shifting His church into this direction and, consequently, this is a major revelation for us to grasp considering our spiritual reconnection to Israel, its re-grafting into the vine and its reconnection to us. How it will transpire and how it is all connected—and I am not talking about going back to the law, but rather for the church to fully bless their Jewish brethren into their own identity and heritage so both groups may co-exist from within the unity of The One New Man—much like they did at the beginning of the church.

That is to facilitate the process of the unbroken branch of Israel once again becoming grafted back into the vine and coming back to life. For there is a great amount of confusion and misunderstanding in our theology here and there are reasons that we should pray to God that we may be willing to face it so that the enemy maybe properly exposed and that the Holy Spirit can prepare us for this time. My second book, The Ezekiel Generation, deals thoroughly with this subject of disconnection and reconnection.

I believe that Israel piece is the final piece that ignites the rest. If we truly understood the significance of this transaction in us, and the heart of the Father for His children as we reconnect as brethren, how we would run to it with all our strength and might because our refocus on Israel and its spiritual awakening is also intricately linked to the last great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the earth. For what does Scripture tell us—that their restoration will be akin to Resurrection power! (Romans 11:15).

This is a new time and era for the kingdom of God upon the earth. The apostle Paul referred to it, as the fullness of the Gentiles, and so it says all Israel will be saved. Please note well here how in the same sentence these two points are linked together. It is not as if as we enter into this time that God will remove His focus from either Jew or Gentile, but rather He will bring us into its fullness.

A mystery that He exhorted us not to be ignorant about, but one nevertheless that will require adjustment and change on the part of His church. For the times that both the Jew and the Gentile have had God to themselves is over and the Holy Spirit is now transitioning us into a new time of togetherness between Jew and Gentile that we must begin to recognize that will prepare us (His bride) for His coming.

During these days, the church cannot ignore Israel's spiritual awakening and its re-grafting back into its own vine, as its hardening is lifted. This is the second part of Ezekiel's prophecy after the land is restored (see Ezekiel 37:9-11). We also cannot ignore our unique role to aid the Holy Spirit in the fulfillment of God's covenants to breathe spiritual life back into them through intercession and evangelism, which is the church's divine destiny. For just as Israel was used to give life to us, through the Jewish apostles, in turn to complete the family circle that spiritual life would be released back to them from His children from the Nations through the mercy of God that they have received (Romans 11:30).

For we are His chosen vessels, Israel's salvific agent to help bring them to life, a role that we have not properly seen up until this time with fresh insights that are quite different from what we have been taught in all of our books and DVDs about the end times.

Grant Berry is a Jewish believer in Yeshua/Jesus and author of The New Covenant Prophecy and The Ezekiel Generation. He has founded Reconnecting Ministries with the specific focus to help the church reconnect spiritually to Israel and considers it vital to the kingdom of God in the last days. His website is reconnectingministries.org.

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

NEW - Life in the Spirit is your Spirit-filled teaching guide. Encounter the Holy Spirit, hear God speak to you, and enjoy timeless teachings on love, mercy and forgiveness.LEARN MORE!

Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive it by email.

A Prophetic Look at How God Will Awaken Israel

9/8/2014 GRANT BERRY   CHARISMA NEWS

Grant Berry on the Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis (YouTube)

Simply put, according to Scripture, the church is the chosen vessel of God to breathe spiritual life back into Israel. The apostle Paul makes this clear to us not only with an example of his own life and deeds, but also in Romans 11 as he reminds us about the mercy that we have received from God through our own salvation, that now we would release that mercy back to Israel.

"Just as you who were at 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" (Rom. 11:30-31).

Also in Romans, Paul encourages us speaking specifically about reaching the Jewish people, "How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Rom. 10:14).

Weren't most of us blind before we could see? So, shouldn't we be operating out of love and grace for those who are still blind? This would include the Jewish people, who have been supernaturally blinded by God Himself until the appointed time of their redemption (Is. 6:9-10). Should the flavor and the saltiness of our salvation and ongoing relationship with Yeshua/Jesus be like a fountain flowing from our hearts into the lives of those all around us who have yet to taste and see that the Lord is good?

Yet Israel's spiritual blindness has truly baffled us, with many in the church saying that God is finished with Israel, or has even replaced her. Yet the same text tells us that their hardening is only temporary, and as we come into the fullness of the Gentiles, so it says that all Israel will be saved. (Rom. 11:25-26) Jesus Himself has told us that the first would be last. In other words, His firstborn children must be spiritually awakened and re-grafted back into the Olive Tree at the end (the last), before Jesus can return in fulfillment of the covenants toward them and the numerous Scriptures to restore them back into the family of God.

If you are still unclear about this and God's unfailing love for Israel, which by the way does not condone everything they do, because they are still in need of redemption, listen to the prophet Jeremiah who had the daunting task of facing Israel's rebellion. "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done," declares the Lord (Jer. 31:37).

What Does 'All Israel' Mean?

It also may help us to better understand what the phrase all Israel actually means. While it is obviously a remnant, the Scriptures here relating to all Israel are different from the others in Romans; the key word being UNTIL, which means "up to the time of." When you tie this verse into other Scripture like Zech. 12:10, which speaks of a mass awakening of Israel, we know that their hardening will come to an end.

If you word search "remnant" in Romans, two references come up. The first in 9:27 tells us that as a total only a remnant will be saved and that is true, because many rejected over all time. The second reference is more specific to a particular time, which not only includes all of the apostles and all of the Jews who founded the church from the time of Messiah up until the time of Israel's awakening. But it also includes Jews like myself who have been chosen during this time of ingathering and focus of the rest of God's sheep from the nations (John 10:16). We are a remnant chosen by grace. However, the awakening at the end is different, as the hardening is lifted when the Father's work is completed in the nations. Just like at one time, the Gentiles ingathering into the kingdom was still a mystery (Col. 1:27), so with Israel's awakening another mystery is revealed. The last shall be first and the first last. In addition verse 26 in Romans 11 ties in perfectly here to Ezekiel's prophecies (Ez. 36:22-28; 37:9-11)."Where God will turn godliness away from Jacob. And this is my Covenant with them when I take away their sins."

As we near the time of the fullness of the Gentiles, which I believe we are quickly approaching, something different takes place with the people of Israel. The veil, the hardening that has been in place for over 2,500 years, gets removed (Is. 6:9-10), and they are fully awakened. This is the mystery revealed, as Israel is also part of the bride that must be prepared for His coming. In this manner the spiritual family becomes complete between Jew and Gentile, and Israel along with her commonwealth from the nations are in place to rule and reign as co-heirs with Yeshua/Jesus, when He comes!

Even here though there is a falling away if we believe the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecies to be taking place at the end here, as opposed to 135 AD (Zech. 13:8), when Jerusalem was ransacked right before the end and two-thirds perish, with only one-third remaining. However, whoever is left, obviously a remnant, MUST be fully awakened and restored, because once that veil gets lifted, every Jew will come into repentance, so that the broken-off branch gets re-grafted back in and the family is then complete for Jesus' return. But this does not happen on its own, just with the Father and Israel as the church now thinks and believes.

The Father's Glory Plan

This is the Father's glory plan to show Himself through Israel's spiritual awakening to the nations (Ez. 36:22-28), but also through the church to work through them with His mercy; our intercession and evangelism (Ez. 37:9-11). Does this help you to understand this better? Can we please try to consider that as we enter this time of transition into the fullness of the Gentiles that perhaps there are adjustments that we will need to make concerning Israel and this spiritual awakening, which must take place? Looking at time as a whole may help us to better understand this. For hasn't God now spent equal time on His Jewish and Gentile family throughout history? Two thousand years on His firstborn children since Abraham's call and two thousand years on His children from the nations. However, as we come down to the end, we know that Israel must be spiritually restored. So the Holy Spirit is beginning to move us into this direction so that Israel can be awakened and the bride prepared for His coming. As a result, this time we are coming into is different from the past, as the family must be reconnected spiritually and become one.

However, what we may not have seen properly up until this time is that we are intricately linked together to bring about God's glory upon the Earth. I believe this to be God's design to finally unite His family between Jew and Gentile. For if Israel's spiritual awakening will bring this glory (Ez. 36:22-28), who is it that will breathe life back into them? Will it just be between them and God, or does God always work through humankind to bring about His plans? Didn't God work through Israel to bring the gospel to the nations through His Jewish apostles? Now, in turn, to complete the family circle, He desires to work through us in His church to help breathe that life back into the Jewish people. It makes perfect sense when you think of it in this family light. What a plan!

I always say that if we truly knew the significance and consequences of this transaction in us, we would actually run to it with all of our heart, with all our might, and with all our strength!

Grant Berry is a Jewish believer in Yeshua/Jesus and author of The New Covenant Prophecy and The Ezekiel Generation. He has founded Reconnecting Ministries with the specific focus to help the church reconnect spiritually to Israel and considers it vital to the kingdom of G-d in the last days. His message focuses on the unity, love and healing that the Father wants to bring between Jew and Gentile yet clearly points out the differences and misunderstandings between the two groups. Now is the time to look more carefully into this mystery to make way for healing and reconnection in the Spirit. For more information, please visit reconnectingministries.org.

How to Move in The Father’s Love for Israel - DAVID HARWOOD

How to Move in The Father’s Love for Israel

5/7/2014 DAVID HARWOOD CHARISMA MAGAZINE

As many of you know, I often speak on the Father’s heart for Israel and the church and that nothing short of it will do when reaching out to our Jewish friends and neighbors with the love of G-d. But what does the Father’s love actually look like in our everyday lifestyles and actions when interacting with Jewish people?

In my travels and associations in my ministry, I was recently quite taken and stirred by a teaching of a good friend of mine and Jewish brother, David Harwood. He has written a book on the love of G-d, and his teachings on it really moved me into a greater understanding and depth of G-d’s love. I asked David to write an article for my ministry to help us to focus more on the love of G-d through the Father’s heart. —Grant Berry

As Grant mentioned, I’ve written a book, God’s True Love, which exhorts the Jesus follower to prioritize abiding in Jesus’ love, provides an interpretive grid for the believer’s experience of the Trinity’s love, and gives an explanation of God’s love for humanity. Many have found it transformative and life-enhancing, and you can find it on my website (information below). This article is an application of aspects of this teaching to a topic that is not discussed in the book: God’s unique love for the Jewish people.

To start, every believer is called to understand and experience God’s love (John 15:9). Within that context, through Paul’s ministry, we are invited to understand and experience God’s unique love for Israel (Rom. 1:16). This is part of the church’s pilgrimage that shall last “until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:21).

Entering into God’s emotions concerning Israel is not for the fainthearted. It is fraught with misunderstanding, often filled with frustration and potential peril. The love of the predominantly Gentile church for their Jewish brethren and all of Israel is intended to be sign seen in the heavens and the earth (Eph. 3:8-10; John 13:34-35).

As in World War II, it is possible that terrible prices may be exacted on those who embrace God’s view of His firstborn children. Should all the nations gather against the nation of Israel, it will not be because they think that war is unjustified (Is. 14:24-27; Zech. 14:2-3). Imagine the amount of international propaganda that will be marshaled against the Word of God. How grounded in the Scriptures will disciples need to be to withstand such pressure? How immersed in love? How might you strengthen your heart so that your agape does not grow cold?

Begin With Love

Paul encouraged every believer to know God’s love. He prayed toward that end, recognizing the special place the people of Israel have in God’s heart. The foundation to loving others with a holy love is not loving oneself. It is receiving God’s love for oneself and consequently being transformed until you are conformed to His perspective. The Messiah admonished His disciples, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9). The Lord promised that if we remained in His love that we would bear fruit. Amongst other wonderful outcomes a significant result will be that we love others as we have been loved.

Paul put that into practice. He wrote of “the Son of God, who loved [him] and gave Himself up for [him]” (Gal. 2:20). The love of Jesus was a source of encouragement and strength to this man. So important was the knowledge of God’s love in Paul’s estimation that he penned one of the most exalted prayers in Scripture for the receiving of that experience.

In Ephesians 3:14-21, we find Paul fervently prayed that his disciples would know the love of the Messiah, which passes knowledge. The results of knowing this love would be that the believing community would be filled with the fullness of God. It will take the fullness of God for the church to persevere in love for the Jewish people. This is not something that will be accomplished by dint of human effort. It shall be a result of a life-changing conviction of, and an ongoing encounter with, the love of God, which Grant often refers to in The Reconnection, and is the heart of his ministry focus to the church. Wonderfully, as we relate to God’s love for us, He reveals His love for others. It is not by accident that so many are being affected by His love for Israel. This is something He loves to communicate.

His love for you is your home. Remember, the Messiah commanded you to dwell in His love for you. Abiding in the love of Jesus is the key to bearing fruit (John 15:1-10). One aspect of this fruit is how we relate to others. Living in the experience of God’s love has consequences (Eph. 3:19-20). When you receive God’s love through faith and experience this love by the Spirit, you are empowered to love others with the same love you have received.

Begin With Prayer

Pray for the Jewish people’s salvation. Pray energized by the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:26-27, Paul wrote of the groanings of the Spirit within us, which are too deep for words. Then he vulnerably exposed us to what may have been his own experience of these groanings:

“I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:2-3).

In the following chapter, he confided the content of his intercession: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1).

Finally, in Romans 11, he revealed the goal of his prayers: “Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! ... For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (vv. 12, 15).

Although Paul knew that Israel was not rejected by God, was convinced of God’s love for the Jewish people and knew the certain outcome of Israel’s reconciliation, he still prayed. He prayed through the power of the Spirit. He prayed on God’s side and in Israel’s best interests. God is motivating people throughout the world to enter this cosmic conflict and bring judgment to victory through His love by the power of the Holy Spirit. For there is no greater duty for us in our spiritual reconnection towards Israel than to pray and intercede for their awakening, which is driven out of love.

Begin With the Messianic Jewish Brethren

We are called to do good to others and to prioritize the good we do. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (Gal. 6:10).

It is a good thing to pray for Israel and the Jewish people, but prioritize praying for the remnant of Israel. Consider prioritizing praying for the Jewish believers who are living in the Land of Israel, as well as the Nations.

Wisely Give Practical Help

Let’s talk about money (Rom. 15:27). Many believers are moved with compassion and generously express that compassion giving money to help poor Israelis and impoverished immigrants to Israel. Often these finances are given through organizations that are hostile to the Messianic Jewish community who live in the land of Israel. Rather than funneling monies through groups that are also dedicated to the destruction of the testimony of the Messiah in the Land, why not “do good” through believers of unquestioned integrity who are helping out the brethren?

Become a Bridge-Builder

Upon occasion I am asked to speak about the relationship of the believers from the nations with Messianic Jewish believers and communities. There are many barriers that need to be overcome and more than one way of viewing the problems and solutions to these problems. Really, from my perspective it is a wonderful thing when Gentile Christians take this up as part of their ministry.

Between Dan Juster’s and Michael Brown’s writings, there is enough information to get educated and qualified. Having a heart that is informed with good information goes a long way towards being an effective peacemaker and successful bridge builder.

This should come as no surprise, but I also recommend Grant Berry’s insightful book,The Ezekiel Generation. In particular, Grant addresses issues of transgenerational anti-Semitic spiritual pollution. Get his book and work through those prayers of repentance and renunciation. Becoming progressively free is a foundational prerequisite for entering into the ministry of reconciliation and all that God has for us in these coming days as He looks to connect His family between Jew and Gentile.

Begin Today

For those of you who know Jewish believers or Messianic Jewish congregations, please encourage them to continue to pursue the Spirit’s leading and power in the establishing of growing spiritual communities. Pray for the Messiah to raise up the ascension gifts (Eph. 4:11-13) in and amongst these communities. Pray for their effective ministry to the Jewish people and the nations. Encourage them in their expression of their identity as Jewish followers of Yeshua, as well as to their strengthening in the Holy Spirit.

Begin with love. Begin with prayer. Begin with the Messianic Jewish brethren. Become a bridge-builder. Begin today.

David Harwood is a Jewish believer who has pastored Restoration Fellowship in Glen Cove, New York, since the mid-1970s. A prophetic teacher and worship leader, David has presented this message in conferences, training centers and congregations in the United States, Israel, Canada and Mexico. For more information, visitloveofgodproject.org.