Thursday, July 26, 2018

Jehovah God Will Always Protect Israel

Our last few messages centered on Ezekiel 36-37. We learned that Jehovah God scattered His Covenant People all over the world because of disobedience but is in the process of bringing them back to Israel. Additionally and most important, He is putting His Spirit in them and is cleansing them meaning Jewish people are being saved. Bless His Holy Name!

When we started the current series, we promised to discuss what is happening in present day Israel. In Psalm 122:6 we are all mandated by God to "Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem." This verse is usually interpreted to mean we should pray that God will physically protect His people. This is correct but the Hebrew meaning of peace also includes the total well being of a person to include body, soul and spirit. As a result, when God wants us to pray for His People Israel this includes all aspects of their lives.

What is really happening in current day Israel? The residents of Israel are surrounded by enemies and have enemies living among them. Believing that giving up a portion of their land to the Palestinians would bring about peace, Israel turned over Gaza to them. Shortly thereafter, the terrorist group Hamas gained control and started terror attacks including firing rockets into Southern Israel, building tunnels for terrorists to penetrate Israel and storming the borders with large numbers of terrorists. Recently, Hamas has launched kites and balloons into Israel which burst into flames upon impact burning large portions of Southern Israel.

Looking to the North, the Golan Heights shares a border with Syria that has been involved in a Civil War for many years. Residents of Syria have attempted to over throw Dictator Assad resulting in him killing thousands of citizens. Occasionally this war spills over into Northern Israel. The largest concern is Iran is involved and supports Assad. Iran continually states it wants to "Destroy Israel."

In Lebanon, which is also on the Northern border of Israel, the terror group Hezbollah has gained control of the government. Hezbollah with help from Iran has gathered weapons that can reach Tel Aviv and Jerusalem plus it also wants  to destroy Israel.

Residents of Israel live with these threats everyday but still they are considered  some of the happiest people in the world. How is this possible? Millions of people all over the world are praying for their peace as The Lord calls for in Psalm 122:6. Hallelujah! 

Lastly, Jeremiah 31:35-36 says, "This is what The Lord says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - The Lord almighty is His name; 'only if these decrees vanish from My sight,' declares The Lord, 'will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation.'"

Jehovah God Will Always Protect Israel! 

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,
Frank   

    

Thursday, July 19, 2018

"The Valley Of Dry Bones"

Ezekiel 37:1-3 says, "The hand of The Lord was upon me and He brought me out by the Spirit Of The Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.'" The beginning part of Ezekiel 37 is a prophetic vision given by God to Ezekiel. He sees a valley of many very dry bones. The purest interpretation of this vision  illustrates a spiritually dead Chosen People Of God scattered around the world.

Notice what Ezekiel 37:5 says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones; I will make breath enter you and you will come to life." Jehovah God says He will bring His people back to life and He will do it so all peoples will know He is Lord!

Let us analyze this vision further. Occasionally, Pastors apply this vision to their churches when they are praying for a Spiritual Revival. This is not a false interpretation but we should notice this vision was first about "The Whole House Of Israel" which also shows their hope is gone and they are cut off.

Remember the Jewish people are scattered all over the world. Certainly there was a time when they felt abandoned by God and had lost hope. However, God did not forget about His people. Ezekiel 37:12,14 shows how He responded, "I will bring you back to the land of Israel . . . I will put my Spirit in you and you will live." He will bring His Covenant People back to Israel and He will put His Spirit within them.

Has this vision been completed? Yes, but not totally. Jewish people are moving back to Israel! Today in Israel there are more Jewish people than any where else in the world. However, many more need to return. There are parts of the world where anti-Semitism is so strong God's people feel threatened. 

Additionally, when Jehovah God says He will put His Spirit within His people it means they will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Hallelujah! This also is happening but needs to accelerate. We know that the number of Messianic Congregations throughout the world increases each year especially in Israel. This is a key indicator that Jews are being saved. Jehovah God does what He says He will do! Praise The Lord!

If you desire to help in bringing the Jewish people back to Israel, Bridges For Peace is a Ministry that has been doing this for many years through "Project Rescue." For more information go to: www.bridgesforpeace.com.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day, 
Frank (Today Is Frank's 78th Birthday . . . Happy Birthday Man Of God!)      

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Prophesy To Mountains Of Israel - Part Two

Last week's message started a new series about what is happening in current day Israel and its future. We started the series in the 36th chapter of Ezekiel which is a prophesy about the mountains of Israel. Where are the mountains of Israel? They are located in Judea, Samaria and parts of Galilea that the world media calls the West Bank. Last week we learned that the nations who mistreated Israel have suffered scorn; that Jehovah God has caused His people to become fruitful, numerous and prosperous so that all will know He Is Lord! 

Our study this week will begin in Ezekiel 36:22-23 in which God says, "It is not for your sake, O House of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of My Holy Name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of My Great Name." We must realize that God scattered His people to all the nations of the world because of their disobedience. While they were scattered there was a time when they profaned the name of their God. However, this is all changing! Bless His Holy Name! 

Notice Ezekiel 36:24: "For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land." God has miraculously been bringing His people back to Israel for many, many years. In fact, over one million have come out of Russia alone. In reality, there are over 700 verses of Scripture that prophesy this event will happen.

Jehovah God will also make His name great and holy again by cleansing and saving His people. Ezekiel 36:25-28 says, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean . . . I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you . . . I will put My spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws." This can only happen when a person receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior or Messiah. Jehovah God will save His Covenant People Israel! Hallelujah! 

For all of us who love Israel and the Jewish people, what is our current commission from God? Pray, Pray, Pray, and Pray Some More. Petition our Lord and Savior to save His Covenant People soon and very soon and He will do it for the "Sake Of His Holy Name." {Ezekiel 36:22}

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,
Frank  

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

"Prophesy To The Mountains Of Israel"

The title for our message this week is actually the title for Ezekiel Chapter 36. Even though this chapter is referred to as a prophesy, some of the prophesied events have already taken place since it was written in 593 B.C.; some events are happening currently and some will happen in the future. For the last couple of months our messages have been about how the Jewish people became God's Chosen People and was an abbreviated history of Israel. This week we start a series of messages about current day Israel and its future. Our purpose for this new series is to show that what Jehovah God Promises, He Does To Perfection.

Ezekiel 36:1,2 says, "Son of man prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of The Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The enemy said of you, aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.'" These prophesied events have taken place numerous times in the past as Israel has been under foreign control. However, Jehovah God did not abandon His people when he says in verse 7, "I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn." Israel has had to fight a number of wars but with the might and the power of God they have been victorious every time. Also, many of the empires or nations that have fought against Israel do not even exist today. God Keeps His Promises!

This prophesy continues in Ezekiel 36:11 when God says, "I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am The Lord." In the very early years of Israel, it was primarily a barren dessert. Today Israel produces some of the largest and delicious fruits in the world through advanced irrigation techniques. Also, this verse talks about the people of Israel becoming prosperous and today Israel has one of the strongest economies in the world and its people are prosperous to a large degree. God Keeps His Promises!

Lastly, we raise the question - why does God keep His promises? I believe there are two primary reasons - He is a Covenant Keeping God and He is keeping the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenant!s Also Ezekiel 36:11 says, "Then you will know that I am The Lord." Jehovah God is keeping His Promises so that the whole world will know that He Is The King Of Kings And The Lord Of Lords. Hallelujah! We are just getting started. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,
Frank