"You Are My Witnesses"

We have just finished a series showing the Jewish People as God's Chosen People. We learned the following:

God chose them to be a blessing to the people of the world  Genesis 12:2

God chose them to be a great nation - Genesis 12:2

The land God gave them is larger than current day Israel -Genesis 15:18

This week's message illustrates Jehovah God referring to His Chosen People as His "Witnesses." Isaiah 44 shows God speaking to Israel as His Chosen Servants. Verse 6 says, "Thus says The Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, The Lord of Hosts; I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God."

The verse actually shows God, The King Of Israel and Jesus, The Redeemer, speaking together saying "Besides Me there is no God." Then in verse 8 they say about Israel, "You Are My Witnesses." As a result, Israel  is chosen to declare Jesus as their Redeemer and The Redeemer of the world! Bless His Holy Name!

Has Israel obeyed God and functioned as His Witnesses? YES! Just prior to Jesus ascending into Heaven He said to His Disciples who were all Jewish men, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In effect, Jesus commissioned His Disciples to be His Witnesses or Missionaries to the world at that time. {Matthew 28:19}

Shortly after the Day of Pentecost when the Apostles of Jesus received the Power Of The Holy Spirit, Peter addressed the crowd saying, "Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of The Holy Spirit." {Acts 2:38} As a result, three thousand were saved that day becoming the First Church Of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Additionally, a major portion of the New Testament describe the Apostle Paul's four missionary journeys from Jerusalem all the way to Rome. Yes, God's Chosen People became His Witnesses! This raises the following question - Are they His Witnesses today? Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day,

Frank    

God's Chosen People - Part Five

We are in the process of studying how and why God chose the Jewish People and for what purpose. In the first four messages we have looked at the size of the land God gave to His Chosen People plus learning that they would become a Great Nation.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 shows Moses speaking to the Israelites saying, "For you are a holy people to The Lord your God, The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people . . . but because The Lord loves you and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers."

Notice God chose them to be a special treasure or for a particular purpose. God did not choose them because of their size but because He desired to keep the oath He swore to their fathers.

What is that oath? Genesis 12:2 shows God speaking to Abraham and his descendants saying they will "Be A Blessing." God chose this particular group of people to be a blessing to all people on the earth. Why did God choose them? God's Word does not answer this question. However, we can determine whether they have been a blessing.

Yes, without a doubt! History shows Israel being surrounded by enemies. However, Israel still is a place of refuge and safety for Christians and other religions. People are free to worship as they choose and pursue their dreams.

A recent story illustrates how Israel values life above all else. Saeb Erekat was the Chief Palestinian Negotiator, an enemy of Israel. Saeb came down with Covid-19 and was brought to a hospital in Jerusalem where Israeli Doctors treated him for a month but did not succeed in saving his life. In Israel, life is more important than politics, hatred or fear. Yes, God's Chosen People are a blessing!

In Isaiah 44 Jehovah God is talking to His Chosen People and says to them "You Are My Witnesses." What does this mean? Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Continue Blessing And Loving You,

Frank     

God's Chosen People - Part Four

For Zion's Sake Ministry was not able to publish a message for the last three weeks as my wife Carole was diagnosed with Covid 19 and hospitalized for six days. We are pleased to report she is home well on the way to recovery.  THANK YOU JESUS! On with God's message.

Our message this week is the fourth in a series identifying The Jewish People as God's Chosen People. The first three messages looked in detail at the land God gave to His People and we learned it is larger than current day Israel plus it could have been the Garden of Eden and will be the location of the New Jerusalem.

The Book Of Deuteronomy illustrates Moses reviewing the history of Israel and The Jewish People. Deuteronomy 1:10 says, "The Lord your God has multiplied you, and here you are today as the stars of heaven in multitude." This is the completion of Genesis 12:2 in which God speaks to Abraham and his descendants saying He will make them into "A Great Nation." That Great Nation became God's Chosen People - The Jewish People.

Previously in our messages, we have pointed out that when God repeats a message it is important to Him. Numerous times in Genesis God talks about making The Jewish People into a Great Nation. Genesis 13:16 shows God speaking to Abraham, "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth" and in Genesis 15:5 God says to Abraham, "Look toward Heaven and count the stars . . . so shall your descendants be."

Jehovah God also spoke to Abraham's son Isaac about making the Jewish People into a Great Nation in Genesis 26:4, "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of Heaven" and saying to Isaac's son Jacob in Genesis 28:3, "May God almighty bless you and make you fruitful  and multiply you."

God chose The Jewish People to be a Great Nation. This is important to Him and to us who love and support Israel. Our next message will start a study about "Why Did God Choose The Jewish People And For What Purpose?" Stay Tuned.

May The Lord Continue Blessing You Each And Every Day,

Frank