Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
If you are reading this then congratulations, you have made it through some very uncertain times. The good news is that things are going to start getting progressively better after this month.
This is from my prophetic word for 2015 that I released last January: There will be another major spiritual shift in June (the first one was in May of this year) and "June gloom" will lift and the fog of forgetfulness will be removed. God will begin to bring to your memory promises you have forgotten. This will set the pace for the rest of the year. Watch for things to "fall into place" in the fall.
Take Cover
When I say, "Take cover," most people think of something negative coming. But God is saying that if you stay under His covering things will work out great. Don't be distracted by things that are in disarray right now. Things are going to smooth out in July.
Psalm 91:1-4 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
The enemy wants you to think that you missed something or messed up.
Take cover in God and you will not have to worry.
Major Reformation
Watch for big things from small beginnings. If you have ever heard God say to you, "Don't despise humble beginnings," understand that God is gathering small groups together to do something great. It is important to be aligned in the right place, at the right time and with the right people for the second half of the year.
We will see a shift come as we get aligned with God's purposes for our lives. There is a major reformation at hand!
• Repositioning
• Regrouping
• Reshaping
• REFORMING
2:22
I keep seeing 2:22 on the clock. God spoke to me about this through Daniel 2:22:
Daniel 2:19-22 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Watch for These Things Starting in June:
God is speaking through dreams and visions. The season is changing. Expect to see changes coming as God raises up new leaders for this next movement coming. God is revealing deep mysteries that have not been revealed. Expect to have hidden things revealed and a strategy on how to respond.
How to Move in what God is Doing Right Now
Develop this foundation:
Agree that all things are possible for those who believe.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 NKJV " … but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 NIV
Understand that God is not angry and is not out to harm you.
God is the giver of good gifts.
God is a loving Father who wants to give us good things.
God is for you and not against you or mad at you.
God is not causing the bad things that we see happening in the world.
God wants to give us the desires of our heart and wants to do this as our heart becomes more like His. Psalm 37:4
God wants to give you hope, a future, and not harm you. He longs to see you prosper and succeed. Jeremiah 29:11
You are truly a new creation in Christ, and old things no longer have power over you unless you allow them to.
Log jams
God showed me that many people are suffering from cloudy vision and confusion because of a critical spirit. When we judge others we can block blessings from flowing to us. Consider these verses that have to do with giving …
Luke 6:37-38 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
People are suffering from spiritual log jams. For the most part it is from holding judgments against others.
Matthew 7:3-4 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?"
Overall it is a time of major transition. Things are going to start to flow more freely. God is going to reveal a strategy that you need to flow in His will and timing for the remainder of the year.
Can you sense the transition? Ask God if you have any areas of blindness due to a "log of judgment" in your eye. God is gracious and is preparing you for increase! Remember to rise above your current circumstance and don't let anything stop you!
7 Reasons Why High-Profile Leaders Like Tullian Tchividjian Fail
Tullian Tchividjian has resigned his position at his church after having an affair. (YouTube)
Within weeks, two of my heroes have fallen from grace, and some of my friends in pastoral ministry have taken detours in their destiny as well. Moral failings among leaders are becoming an epidemic. No one is beyond the reach of Satan's grasp. Although I'm disappointed, my faith is not shaken because only Christ should be placed on a pedestal.
Why do they fall? They fall for the same reason that all Christians fall. Each of us are drawn away by our own evil desires and enticed. When these desires are acted upon, they lead to sin (cf. James 1:14-15). Sin has a life cycle—it either grows or withers depending on whether we feed or starve it. John Owen, the prolific Puritan author wrote, "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you."
Consider the following ways that sin gains entrance:
1. "It will never happen to me." 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us that if we think that we are standing firm, we should be careful that we don't fall. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Pride says, "I've never committed adultery. It will never happen to me." Humility says, "By the grace of God, I haven't, but I can." Strength is found in admitting our weaknesses: "For when I am weak I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). Pride opens the door to compromise and unwise decisions; it ignores conviction. Conviction is not always a hammer to the head, it's a still small voice to the heart. Sadly, many confuse God's patience with His approval. C.H. Spurgeon rightly noted, "We are never, never so much in danger of being proud as when we think we are humble."
2. I'm "too busy." We are all susceptible to putting God second and ministry first. If we're too busy to cultivate a prayer life that places God first—we're too busy. Men would live better if they prayed better. We're often too busy because we're doing too much. "When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live" (E.M. Bounds). It's hard to fall when you're always on your knees. Moral failing cannot gain a stronghold in a broken, praying heart that spends time in the Word and obedience to it (cf. James 1:22). Nine times out of ten, when a leader falls, he or she has no meaningful prayer or devotional life.
3. Holiness is compromised. The enemy attempts to draw us away from God's holy standard. I vividly remember a story of a young boy who kept falling out of his bed. He finally asked his mother why he kept falling. She wisely answered, "It's because you don't stay far enough in." In the same way, many of us fall back into sin because we don't get far enough into God's framework of safety and protection via holiness. In the words of Isaac Watts, "True Christianity, where it reigns in the heart, will make itself appear in the purity of life."
Of all the attributes of God described in the Bible, holiness is seen most often. Holiness is a vital weapon of defense against the enemies attack (cf. Ephesians 6:14). But holiness must come from brokenness and humility not legalism. A low view of holiness always damages morality...we rationalize instead of repent. I'm convinced that today's media plays a significant role in the decline of holiness. Sadly, hollywood, not the Holy Spirit, influences many. We cannot fill our mind with darkness all week and expect the light of Christ to shine in our lives.
4. Many build unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex. We must be on high alert in this area and have tremendous steps of accountability in place. The devil doesn't show those involved in counseling appointments, inner office meetings, and private "fellowship" the pain and anguish and the years of regret that moral failure brings; he deceives them with a false sense of freedom in ministry...that we are simply "helping" the other person. If you are married and attracted to another person, or if the potential is there, take steps now and remove yourself from the environment. Adultery begins with small compromises. We're often too smart to take deliberate plunges, but we're easily enticed to take one step at a time, one compromise at a time, one bad choice at a time until we're at the bottom. Don't fight sexual desires; don't entertain them...flee (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:18).
5. We fail to strengthen weak areas. The demands of life often tempt us to seek gratification in alcohol and other things. We must be on high alert. The enemy uses "opportune times" to draw us away from God. (cf. Luke 4:13.) The line is so thin that it is often hard to determine when we cross over. Weak areas such as drugs, alcohol, pain meds, sex, anger, marriage issues, and so on are "opportune times" for the enemy to strike. We must expose these areas through repentance, and install safeguards and accountability. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. (As a sidenote, depression and anxiety can work against us as well. Much can be done to safeguards these areas too.
6. Accountability is often breached or minimized. Accountability is a safeguard, but its not bullet-proof. Accountability, by itself, doesn't work—it's not realistic to ask others to hold you accountable. Your heart must be focused on honoring God's Word. Accountability simply adds another level of security in the battle against sin. It's healthy to say to those we trust, "I'm struggling in this area. Can you pray with me and ask the hard questions from time to time." The enemy loves to work in darkness and deceit. Exposing cracks in the armour helps others keep an eye on them as well. This is one reason why I'm upfront about avoiding alcohol.
I also have accountability software that sends all websites visited to my wife's email every week. This is a major deterrent and it makes me very conscious of even seemingly innocent sites. To some, this may seem extreme, but we need to be armed for the enemy who steals, kills, and destroys. The greater our influence, the greater the need for accountability: spiritually, financially, and relationally.
7. Loneliness becomes an excuse. Ministry is hard and can easily take it's toll. Feeling a sense of entitlement if often the beginning of justifying wrong choices. We can easily become jealous and judgmental of those who seem to have "all the fun." As Oswald Chambers states: "God buries His men [and women] in the midst of paltry things, no monuments are erected to them; they are ignored, not because they are unworthy, but because they are in the place where they cannot be seen." Luke 16:10 should be a great encouragement, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'." Sin can be silenced in a thankful heart set on worshiping God. God has given us the privilege to serve Him, proclaim His truth, and help others. Don't allow frustration and negativity to lead you down the wrong path.
In closing, if you are on the cliff or have already fallen, take time now and repent. It will hurt, but the fruit of repentance far outweighs the fruit of exposure that will surely come (cf. Numbers 32:23). God's grace will see you through. A penitent person turns from sin. They accept full responsibility for their actions without blame, resentment, or bitterness. They seek forgiveness without conditions and stipulations. They take full (not partial) responsibility for their actions. There can be no "but's" when repentance is genuine. "I am sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me," are often (although not always) healing words and signs of repentance. Excuses need to stop before healing can occur.
There are consequences for past mistakes, but it's best to live in God's healing arms of forgiveness, rather than to live broken outside of His will. Which way will you turn?
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, California, just North of Los Angeles. He recently released his 7th book, Desperate for More of God at www.ShaneIdleman.com. Shane's sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found at www.WCFAV.org. Follow him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/confusedchurch.
The Charisma Podcast Network is now live. Featuring a variety of programs including news, leadership, inspiring stories, women's topics, sports, and even more. Subscribe now for free!
JERUSALEM, Israel -- The Israeli navy is preparing to intercept a Swedish vessel planning to set sail for the Gaza Strip in the next few days. At least two Israeli Arab parliamentarians would like to join protesters on board the latest flotilla.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called support for flotillas a "rape of the truth" at Monday's Jewish Agency Assembly in Tel Aviv.
"If we learned anything from our history, anything, it's that when you recognize a clear and present danger, don't sit on your hands, and for God's sake, don't keep your mouth shut," Netanyahu told participants.
Five years ago, Balad MK Haneen Zoabi joined pro-Palestinian activists aboard the Turkish flagship Mavi Marmara. The activists were seeking to break an Israeli blockade of the Gaza port that prevents weaponry for attacking Israel to be brought by sea.
When the ship's captain refused to sail to Ashdod instead of Gaza, Israeli naval commandos attempting to board were attacked with knives, stun grenades, chains and metal pipes as they touched down on deck. When it became obvious their lives were in danger, they were given permission to use live ammunition against their attackers, killing nine of them.
The confrontation aboard the Mavi Marmara became an international incident, with Israel portrayed as the aggressor, even after the IDF released video footage of the sequence of events and revealed details of its planning.
The Knesset Ethics Committee later suspended Zoabi of some parliamentary rights. Today she's threatening to join the Swedish flotilla planning to set sail for Gaza by midweek.
While Zoabi has yet to decide if she'll join the latest attempt to delegitimize Israel, fellow MK Basel Ghattas says he'll be on board Sweden's Marianne av Goteborg, which left its home port at the end of May with stops in Sicily and Athens en route to Gaza.
In a letter to Netanyahu, Ghattas said the ship is a "flotilla of peace" meant to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians living in an "open air prison under horrendous conditions," for which he blames Israel.
Ghattas warned the prime minister that any action Israel takes to thwart the flotilla "will further embroil Israel in controversy."
Left, Right and Center Speak Out
Israeli parliamentarians across the political spectrum rejected his premise.
The Zionist Union, which heads the oppositon, released a statement accusing participants of a political rather than a humanitarian agenda aimed at legitimizing Hamas and increasing terror against Israel.
MK Haim Yellin (Yesh Atid) said Ghattas "would be better off fighting for equal rights for Arabs."
Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said "the whole purpose of the Joint Arab List is to hurt the State of Israel, while using Israeli democracy in an attempt to destroy it."
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said "Flotillas like the one making its way to Israel are the handiwork of provocateurs who only want to make Israel look bad."
The Israeli navy has intercepted numbers of Iranian arms shipments en route to Gaza over the years.
In March 2014, naval commandos intercepted a ship carrying 40 long-range missiles, nearly 200 mortars and 400,000 rounds of ammunition. It wasn't the first and will likely not be the last attempt to smuggle weapons to Hamas by sea.
"The weapons on this ship were destined for terrorists in Gaza who are committed to Israel's destruction," Netanyahu said at the time.
Gaza Is Not Destitute
The truth is Israel transfers all types of consumer goods to Gaza, from food to medicines, fuel, construction material and other types of humanitarian aid. Its open-air markets and grocery stores are well stocked. It has shopping malls, children's playgrounds, and nice restaurants.
The real problem in the Gaza Strip is Hamas, the Palestinian faction running the government there. Hamas, an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, took control of the Strip in a bloody military coup in June 2007. The Hamas charter calls for the destruction of Israel.
Like other Islamic groups, Hamas requires submission to Sharia law. The government sponsors terror training camps for Gaza youth and its children's television programs paint Israel as an occupier of what is rightfully their land.
From rockets, missiles, and mortars fired on Israeli population centers to roadside bombs, sniper fire and terror tunnels dug under Israel's border, Hamas is open about its intent to wipe Israel off the map.
Under international law, Israel's blockade of the Gaza port is legal. It would be foolhardy indeed to provide Hamas with an open port to further its stated goal to destroy the Jewish nation-state.
It’s somewhat ironic that as “human rights” activists around the world push to boycott Israeli goods, in Bethlehem, which is the capital of Christian efforts to promote the BDS movement, products from the Jewish state are widely available there.
That fact was demonstrated last week by Israeli activist Kay Wilson, who during a visit to Bethlehem to spend the day with a Palestinian friend decided to browse a number of local shops.
“I saw some beautiful Palestinian shops. I saw Israeli goods sold in Palestinian supermarkets (which makes a mockery of the Boycott, Divestment [and] Sanctions),” Wilson wrote on her Facebook page.
She went on to note how Bethlehem, often propagandized as an open air prison, is a perfectly normal town, no better or worse off than most Israeli towns.
“Just like any other town, Bethlehem has wealthy neighbourhoods and poor neighbourhoods. Personally, I saw some very nice housing,” Wilson explained. “I saw that some Palestinians have cars that the rest of us can only dream of.”
Wilson’s post when viral on Facebook, and for good reason. Pro-Palestinian activists and the mainstream media that eats up their words routinely caricature Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns in a way that wholly defies reality.
And that phenomenon only puts genuine peace further out of reach. For, as Wilson correctly pointed out, “for peace to be possible, it has to be based on truth. And the truth is that there is no genocide against the Palestinians. There is no Holocaust being perpetrated by Jews.”
Want more news from Israel? Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates from ISRAEL TODAY.
In a vision I was shown different color and sized cooking pots being distributed to a multitude of people. Many of these pots were large, like the kind you would cook stew in while others were smaller, perhaps the size used for cooking spaghetti noodles. Some of these pots were brand new while others were old and badly dented and worn. Several pots were blackened from being on the fire too often or too long. I began prophesying to the people concerning their pots
All of these pots came directly from the Master Potter Himself. Each one arrived at its destination clean and shiny and waiting to be utilized. The current condition of these pots were determined by its owners use. Some of them were still in their wrapper because their owner never opened the package. They were unwilling or afraid to use the gift God had given them and explore the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Others were unwrapped, but barely used and therefore sat on a shelf still looking new and unused. Fear of man and timidity set in the owner's heart allowing their soul to rule over their spirit. (Photo via Bonnie Jones/Lyn Kost)
Then there were ones that were dinged and dented. They looked like they had been through a war. As a matter of fact, they had been through many, many battles of war and came out victorious. They triumphed over the enemy and had the battle scars to prove it. Their owners were valiant and brave and fought the good fight of faith.
I saw many that were blackened and full of soot from being on the open fire. Their owners chose to stay the course.
When the battle got extremely hot they girded up their loins and marched forward into battle. They overcame the enemy by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They feared not their life and unto the death they chose to stay in the furnace. All are called, but few choose to stay in the furnace.
For many are called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:16b
The owner's calling or anointing determined the size of their pot. Some were called to do little while others were called to do much. Therefore the greater the anointing, the bigger the pot. I took notice of their many different colors. Each color represented their anointing; blue for revelation, red for mercy, white for righteousness and silver for sanctification.
Interpretation: Stay the Course!
There were also new cooking pots being distributed to the owners that stayed the course and chose to stay in the fire.
Their old pot was hung up as a badge of honor and they were now being issued new ones. (My new cooking pot was very large white with red trim and had a lid to match. Therefor I am called to lead others the way of righteousness and truth in this next season and the Father is my covering.)
My questions to you are: What color is your cooking pot?
Has it been unwrapped yet? Does it still look brand new or is it being used? Is it dinged and dented or perhaps burned by the fire? It's always our decision to stay in the fire or turn back when the going gets tough.(Photo via pixabay)
The last will be first because they are the ones who choose to stay the course while the first will be last because they are the ones who turned and walked away.
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:16
Be encouraged because the Master Potter is polishing His wares. He's an equal opportunity employer that plays no favorites. But He pays close attention to those who choose to follow after Him with a whole heart.
Bonnie Jones The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones
Bonnie Jones has a great love for the Lord, the Word, and the Cross of Jesus. She loves children and enjoys blessing them with a gift of joy, truth, love, and encouragement. Bonnie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2001 to attend Morning Star School of Ministry; in 2005 she met Bob Jones and they were married the following year (Bob Jones went home to be with the Lord in 2014). Bonnie moves in a seer prophetic gifting as well as healing and miracles. Her passion is to see women set free from the fear of man and step into their gifts and calling.
As angels were shooting fiery arrows onto the earth, sidewalks and gutters in the streets caught on fire as these arrows of deliverance began hitting the homeless and red light districts of the world. Heaven's aim was precise.
Prison bars were melting and grave clothes were being burned off those held captive in spiritual cemeteries. These fiery arrows then ricocheted and began piercing every denomination and even so-called Spirit-filled churches.
Angels were conversing, "Earth hasn't seen anything yet!"
Will American Christians Ultimately Stand By Israel?
Will American Christians ultimately stand by Israel or shun it? (iStock photo )
Support for Israel and the Jewish people is wavering among many Christians today.This is too bad, because for the first time in recent history, Jewish attitudes towards Christians and the gospel are changing—for the better!
Many Jewish people, including some of my own not-yet-believing family members, now understand that true Christians are the best friends of the Jewish people. One of my family members told me the other day that he was surprised to find out how many Christians support Israel, hate Anti-semitism and love the Jewish people.
This is really good news for Jewish evangelism as my people are beginning to have a more positive view of Jesus and His followers. So, it is critical that we encourage believers in Jesus to stand with Israel—for the right reasons.
For many years, there was strong support for the Jewish people, especially in light of the Holocaust and all the excitement surrounding the formation of the modern state of Israel. But, our younger generation did not live through these events. This is why we need to understand what the Bible has to say about God's plan and purposes for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
So, take a moment with me now to examine the role of the Jewish people in the plan of God and especially how the Jewish people will play a critical role in the return of Christ and establishment of the Kingdom. For if the Jewish people do not play a role in God's plan, then why would Jewish evangelism be important? After all, there are only 15 million Jewish people in the world.
However, if God's mighty hand still rests upon the Jewish people, then reaching Israel for the Messiah Jesus takes on a new and strategic spiritual importance.
The Apostle Paul understood the ongoing role of Israel in God's plan of redemption when he penned these words, "For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Rom. 11:15).
The future of Israel and the Jewish people is bright, but we must understand the very foundation of God's promises to understand why this is true.
The Promise
Let's begin by looking at the key biblical promise which outlines God's plan for the Jewish people found in Genesis 12:1-3, often called the Abrahamic Covenant, as we can only begin to understand God's plan and purposes for the Jewish people by understanding the nature of this covenant.
I divide the passage into two parts:
"Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed"(Gen. 12:1-3).
God makes a total of eight promises to Abram. In verses 1-2, God told Abram he would be given a land, become a great nation, that he would be personally blessed and his name made great and finally that he would be a blessing to others.
In verse 3 there are three additional promises to the Gentiles. First of all, those who are not physical descendants of Abram will experience God's blessing—for blessing Abram and his children.
Secondly, those who curse the descendants of Abram would themselves be cursed. It is important to note that the Hebrew word used for curse in the first instance literally means, "to make light." The second word, translated curse refers to the usual term for judgment often used in both Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. The play on words should not be missed. Those who devalue or make light of Israel's role in the plan of God or somehow demean the role of the Jewish people will then actually experience the very same curse God promised to the Jewish people that they would receive for disobedience to the Torah.
Thirdly, God would use the Jewish people to bring blessings to the world.
This elevates the importance of properly understanding what it means for the Jewish people to be chosen by God for His purposes. It is a serious issue for Jewish people who are themselves chosen, but also important for non-Jews as this passage describes the ongoing benefits and repercussions from the way in which Gentiles treat the Jewish people.
An Unconditional Covenant
The covenant is unconditional as there are no time limits or conditions tagged to the promise. It would be easiest within our space constraints to focus on two of the promises:
1. The first promise: A people.God miraculously created a people from the aged loins of Abraham and Sarah. If Israel is anything at its core, it is a people, or community, bound by ethnicity and covenantal purpose.
Fundamentally, to be Jewish is to be part of a people that God created for His holy purposes. We are a community— created by God for Him and for one another. God has promised He would preserve His people until those purposes were fulfilled. The Bible makes it clear the Jewish people have not been destroyed because God will not be diverted from fulfilling His plan for the chosen people and for the world.
2. The second promise: The land.Clearly, the Jewish people are not the only group of people that has been dispersed from its national boundaries, but the Jewish people may be the only people created as a nation prior to receiving their national boundaries. It is important to understand that God chose Israel before they emerged on the international scene as a nation. In fact, Israel had no prior existence before the Abrahamic Covenant and would have had no existence outside of the direct intervention of the One who created the heavens and the earth, determined the boundaries of nations and holds the hearts of the kings of nations in His powerful hand.
We should not think it odd at all that in the midst of creating the Jewish people as a nation, and all of the unique and special revelation this included, that God would also literally determine the specific boundaries of Israel's national existence in Genesis 15:17-21, and these boundaries have yet to be fulfilled!
And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants
I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—the Kenites and the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites."
It is also important to remember this land deed passes from Abraham to his son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob, as noted in many passages, but Genesis 35:9-12 is a good summary of God's unfolding plan and promises to the descendants of Abraham.
Then God appeared to Jacob again ,when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. And God said to him,"Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I will give this land."
The Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant
Yet, these promises of nationhood and of a land created for that nation only become spiritually meaningful in light of God's promise to bless, use and enter into a relationship with the people He created through Abraham and Sarah.
The promised spiritual restoration of the Jewish people is the key that unlocks the fulfillment of God's promises.
It is God Himself who will one day take responsibility for spiritually re-engaging His wayward chosen people. This was promised even before the Jewish people entered the Promised Land for the very first time.
"And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them(Deut. 4:28-31).
In 1983, Ronald Reagan said this of Israel: "Since the foundation of the State of Israel, the United States has stood by her and helped her to pursue security, peace, and economic growth. Our friendship is based on historic moral and strategic ties, as well as our shared dedication to democracy" (Remarks at White House meeting with Jewish leaders).
This end-time repentance and turning of the Jewish people to the Messiah is fundamental to their once again being blessed by God and being used by Him to fulfill the purposes for which Israel was created and chosen.
This end-time turning of the Jewish remnant to Yeshua (Jesus) is further described by the prophet in Zechariah 12:10.
"And I will pour 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."
At that time, the Jewish people will become the Israel God always intended and receive the fullness of covenantal blessings promised to our forefather Abraham. The Jewish people will then be characterized by shalom as they will have peace as a people: peace in the land of promise, peace with the God who made the promises and peace among the nations to whom they were called to shine the light of God's presence and commands.
President Harry Truman said this of Israel: "I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it—not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization." (As quoted by the Jewish Virtual Library)
The Apostle Paul confirms that the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled one day—future to our present day in fact! He writes, "Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness" (Rom. 11:12).
Conclusion
The church in general, and especially Gentile believers, should understand the significant role non-Jews have in God's plan as founded on the Abrahamic promises. Gentiles are participants in the Abrahamic Covenant in that they are spiritual descendants of Abraham (Gal. 3:6-9). This does not mean that Gentiles become Jews upon receiving Yeshua as this is passed through physical lineage beginning with the patriarchs. However, Gentiles do become the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham by faith as God's blessings have come to "those far off" (Eph. 2:11-13) through the mediation of the Jewish Messiah.
The Abrahamic Covenant implies at least two major responsibilities non-Jewish believers in Jesus have towards the Messianic Jewish community and to the Jewish people in general.
First of all, the Church, knowing God's covenantal faithfulness, must support the Jewish people and pray for the Jewish people.
Secondly, the Church must accept the mandate found in Romans 1:16 and 11:11 and bring the Gospel to the Jew first by making the Jewish people jealous. We cannot allow Jewish evangelism to become the great omission of the Great Commission.
Together then, Messianic Jews and Gentile followers of Yeshua, bound together through the Messiah and the Abrahamic Covenant, must work together as partners with God in progressing towards this great day of covenantal fulfillment.
I pray that we may all recognize the role God has given to the Jewish people today!
Mitch Glaseris the president of Chosen People Ministries. For the original article, visit chosenpeople.com.
The Charisma Podcast Network is now live. Featuring a variety of programs including news, leadership, inspiring stories, women's topics, sports, and even more. Subscribe now for free!
Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive CHARISMA NEWS by email.
Abbot Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, urged local Christians to respond to last week’s apparent arson attack against the Church of the Multiplication on the shores of the Sea of Galilee with love and forgiveness.
“A few nights ago we suffered a severe attack here. A fire that endangered human lives. All residents of the area – Christians, Druze, Muslims, and Jews should protest against this deed,” Collins told some 3,000 Israeli Christian demonstrators on Sunday afternoon.
However, Collins continued, “we are Christian and must react like Christians. …We will replace the terrible fire with the fire of God’s love and forgiveness.”
The protestors insisted that the Israeli government do everything to bring those responsible to justice and thereby prevent future hate crimes against Christians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend promised to do just that, noting that “the shocking arson of the church is an attack on all of us.”
The attack caused serious damage to the church. Police determined the fire was set intentionally after finding Hebrew graffiti vowing to destroy idol worshippers and discovering that the blaze had started from several different locations around the facility.
Sixteen Jewish youth were briefly arrested and brought in for questioning, but were later released due to a lack of evidence.
Want more news from Israel? Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates from ISRAEL TODAY.
If you are reading this then congratulations, you have made it through some very uncertain times. The good news is that things are going to start getting progressively better after this month.
All of these pots came directly from the Master Potter Himself. Each one arrived at its destination clean and shiny and waiting to be utilized. The current condition of these pots were determined by its owners use. Some of them were still in their wrapper because their owner never opened the package. They were unwilling or afraid to use the gift God had given them and explore the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 
My questions to you are: What color is your cooking pot? 
