Israel Today - Part Four

Romans 10:9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Last week's message talked about a cornerstone and a stumbling stone both laid by Jehovah God and both referring to Jesus. The above verse is the cornerstone message of how a person can receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, Lord and Messiah. This week's message will explain further why Jesus is a stumbling block for Israel.

A definition of a stumbling block would say it is something that prevents us from reaching a destination or a goal. Notice God says about Israel in Romans 10:21, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people." Israel heard the Gospel Message revealing Jesus as their Messiah but because of disobedience chose not to accept this message.

Will Jehovah God ever stop reaching out to Israel? Romans 11:1-2 says, "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! . . . God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." God has not rejected Israel - this is a temporary situation. Romans 11:5 says, "Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." In fact, some of the Jewish people world wide are being saved. However, the percentage of "Saved Jews" is still relatively low.

In conclusion, we will show why Israel still is unable to recognize and receive Jesus as their Messiah. Romans 11:8 says, "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day." Jehovah God has caused Israel to be unable to see Jesus as their Messiah. 

How and when will this change and how should "Saved Gentiles" respond? Stay Tuned!

We at For Zion's Sake Ministry are praying for people worldwide for God's Grace and Mercy to prevail during these difficult times. 

Psalm 103:1-4

Bless The Lord, O My soul;

And all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name!

Bless The Lord, O My Soul,

And forget not all His benefits;

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction.

Bless His Holy Name!

Frank 

    

Israel Today - Part Three

Our first two messages about Israel today have encouraged us to pray for:

Clarification of God's choice for Prime Minister of Israel

Proper reaction by God's people to President Trump's Peace Plan

Acceptance of the New Blood Covenant by the Jewish People

Our Israel Today Part Three message will center around the following verse that is stated numerous times in God's Word, "As it is written: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense.'" {Romans 9:33} 

We should also look at Isaiah 28:16 where The Lord says, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation." Jehovah God wrote both verses and He laid the stumbling stone and the cornerstone. He is getting our attention by talking about two stones - a stumbling stone and a cornerstone. What does this mean?

Jesus is the Stumbling Stone for the Jewish People. 1Peter 2:7-8 says about them, "Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling.'"Notice they are disobedient because they are speaking righteousness by works. Also, God refers to them as a "Stiff - Necked People." {2Chronicles 30:8}

Most important we all need to realize Jesus Christ is the "Cornerstone." The Gospel message of Jesus as the Savior of the world is all built on the Cornerstone of His death and resurrection and when we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth "Jesus Is Lord" we are saved. {Romans 9:10}

The fields are white for harvest for Israel so let us all pray fervently for their salvation!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Israel Today - Part Two

Last week's message started a new series revolving around what is currently happening in Israel with the purpose of helping us pray for Israel. It is important to clarify early on that when we refer to Israel this includes people living in the nation of Israel but also the Jewish People worldwide. We will focus our attention initially as to why a relatively small percentage of Jews have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, Lord and Messiah.

The last four verses of Romans 9 are entitled "Israel seeks righteousness by works." Romans 9:30-32 says,  "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith: but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith." Verse 32 is one of the key verses to understand  Israel's difficulty in accepting Jesus because they try to attain righteousness by keeping the law.

To understand even further we will look at Jeremiah 31:31,33, "Behold, the days are coming, says The Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah . . . But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says The Lord: 'I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts.'" What does this really mean? When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, Lord and Messiah, they receive the Holy Spirit to live in their heart. This sovereign act of God provides a new heart enabling them to live lives pleasing to God.

In conclusion, Jeremiah 31:34 says, "For I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more." The new covenant, established by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, provides a way to have our sins forgiven. Even with having the Holy Spirit living in our hearts, we are still human and sin. Now, we can humbly and sincerely confess our sins to God and they are forgiven. Bless His Holy Name!

As we pray for the Jewish people, ask Jehovah God to give them understanding to the truth of the New Covenant.

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

Frank   

Israel Today - Part One

We are starting a new series this week that will concentrate on what is currently happening in Israel.  Our purpose is to inform all who love and support Israel how we can pray effectively. Psalm 122:6 says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" and Genesis 12:3 says Jehovah God will bless those who bless Israel.

The most important news out of Israel this week is that Bibi Netanyahue in the election for Prime Minister gained 60 seats in the Knesset, their governing body. This was an impressive victory for Bibi but is short of the 61 seat majority requirement to have total support in the Knesset. This scenario continues to need our prayers seeking Jehovah God's perfect will to be done.

Approximately two months ago President Trump announced a proposed "Peace Plan" for Israel and the Palestinians. There have been many such proposals in the last thirty years with none of them bringing about any lasting changes to the volatile atmosphere in Israel. However, this proposal is different because it requires a number of changes to be made by the Palestinians before a Palestinian State can be established.

An overview of the proposed plan shows a Palestinian State located in the majority of Judea and Samaria known by some as the West Bank in addition to Gaza with its capital in East Jerusalem. Israel will maintain sovereign control over the Jordan Valley, Jerusalem and Israel proper. What is different about this proposed plan is that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a state and must totally end terror attacks.

How has this proposed Peace Plan been received? The Palestinians have totally rejected the plan and their typical response is to increase terror attacks that are now taking place. The residents of Israel have endorsed the plan since they want peace at all costs.

The most important question is how has Jehovah God reacted? We certainly cannot speak for The Lord. However, we can share His word concerning this and how He has reacted in the past to such proposals. Previously God has judged those who have proposed dividing the land He gave to the Jewish people. Books have been written about severe weather events happening after proposals about dividing the land given to the Jews by God were made.

We all need to be in fervent prayer concerning the Israel elections and the proposed Peace Plan.

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank