Current Day Israel - Part Five

As we continue our series about Current Day Israel using Romans 9 to 11 as our references, we previously learned:

Paul had grief and sorrow for his brethren who did not know Jesus as their Messiah . . .

The majority of Jewish people are seeking righteousness through works and not faith . . .

Salvation is obtained by believing and confessing Jesus as Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.

Romans 10:16-21 is entitled "Israel Rejects The Profits." Also the question "Have they not heard" is raised. Is the main reason Jews are not saved is because they have not heard about Jesus  as their Messiah? Verse 18 clearly answers this question by saying, "Their sound has gone out too all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." The Gospel message has gone forth throughout the world.

How did Jehovah God respond to the rejection of Jesus as Messiah by His Chosen People? He opened salvation to the Gentiles! Romans 10:19-20 says, "I will provoke you to jealously by those who are not a nation, I will anger you by a foolish nation . . . I was found by those who did not seek me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me." Notice verse 19 says Jehovah God opened salvation to the Gentiles to provoke His Chosen People to jealously. Our God works in mysterious ways! 

Romans 10 ends with a direct statement by God about His Chosen People, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people." Our Lord God has been reaching out to bring the Jewish People into His Kingdom for a very long time. He even sent His Son Jesus to earth to open up a path to Salvation for all peoples but his gift must be accepted and received. We serve a loving and caring God!

In closing, next week we will start studying Romans 11 continuing the discussion as to why the Jewish People have difficultly recognizing Jesus as their Messiah. Most important, at the end of Romans 11 Jehovah God includes His solution to this problem for His Chosen People. Stay tuned.

Blessings,

Frank    

 

Current Day Israel - Part Four

After sharing a special Holy Week Message, we now continue our series about Current Day Israel using Romans 9-11 as our reference. Romans 10 is entitled "Israel Rejects Christ." This is the current day scenario in Israel including many of the Jewish People worldwide.

We learned in our last message that many Jewish People are seeking righteousness by attempting to keep the Law. No one is able to obey all of The Law. Paul in Romans 10:9-12 presents, in detail, how both Jew and Gentile can attain righteousness and be saved, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. For the Scripture says, 'whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek."

The path to Salvation is all about believing and then confessing this belief. What exactly does Jehovah God desire for us to believe? He desires for us to believe without question that Jesus is Lord and the True Son Of God! God also desires for us to believe that He sent Jesus to earth to die on a cross forgiving all our sins. Romans 10:9 also says we should believe "God Raised Jesus From The Dead."

Now, once we believe, then Jehovah God desires for us to share this belief with other people. Believe And Confess . . . This Is God's Path To Salvation! Romans 10:13 also brings forth a very important message. Jehovah God desires for all people to be saved - Jews and Gentiles, "For whoever calls upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved." Hallelujah!

We trust this message has clearly illustrated "The Path To Salvation." Romans 10:9-13 has been called "The Roman Road To Salvation." Why then are such a small percentage of God's Chosen People saved? Stay Tuned!

Blessings!

Frank      

   

Our Passover Lamb

Thursday of Holy Week is the day when Christians remember Jesus eating the Passover Meal with His Disciples just prior to His arrest by the Roman soldiers. He actually said to His Disciples in Matthew 26:18 "My time is near." Why did this Passover Meal take place at such a critical time? After Jehovah God led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, Moses told them "To keep the ordinance of Passover every year," as a remembrance that the shed blood of a spotless lamb delivered them.

As Jesus ate the Passover Meal with His Disciples, He was actually looking forward to a greater deliverance which God would bring about. John1:29 says Jesus came to earth as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." 1Corinthians 11:23-25 describes this Passover Meal, "For I received from The Lord that which I also delivered to you; that The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'"

The Word of God does not describe any response from the Disciples after the meal. Probably they were confused not fully understanding this prophetic message from Jesus. Throughout the Passover Meal Jesus was illustrating a way we can remember the most important sacrificial act in all of history - His Death And Resurrection! By receiving a small wafer or piece of bread representing the Broken Body of Jesus and a sip of juice representing His Shed Blood, we celebrate the Eucharist or Holy Communion. Bless His Holy Name!

During this Holy Week of 2022, we at For Zion's Sake Ministry desire to encourage you in this important act of partaking in Holy Communion.  Please notice Jesus said in 1Corinthians 11:26, "This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." Jesus says receive the cup "Often." As a result, we celebrate Holy Communion each morning as we begin the day.

Have A Most Blessed Holy Week And Easter Celebration,

Frank         

Current Day Israel - Part Three

Psalm 122:6 says, "Pray for the Peace Of Jerusalem." We are opening our message with a reminder to pray for God's hand of protection for Israel and the Jewish people world-wide. In Israel over the last two weeks there has been a number of terrorist attacks on civilians resulting in 11 deaths. We believe Psalm 122:6 is a directive from God. Please pray daily for this protection over Israel.

Israel's government also needs our urgent prayers. A key government member resigned saying, "I cannot be part of a movement trying to eliminate the Jewish Heritage in Israel." If another government member resigns, a new election will be necessary. Please pray for God's will to be done.

"Israel Seeks Righteousness By Works." This is the title of Romans 9:30-32 that 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."

In reality, the above verses are a brief comparison of the Old Blood Covenant and the New Blood Covenant. The distinct difference between the two Blood Covenants is the method of seeking righteousness or the proper relationship with Jehovah God. The Old Blood Covenant was established when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandants plus verbally presenting an additional 631 other laws. This was and still is impossible for anyone to obey.

Romans 9:30 says the Gentiles attained Righteousness By Faith. This brief statement actually defines the New Blood Covenant. Jehovah God established this Covenant through the Death and Resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8:6 referring to Jesus says, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established on better promises." God desires for all people, Jew and Gentile, to be saved having all their sins forgiven and to spend Eternity with Him when they die.

Possibly this message has helped you understand that trying to keep the Law is not the way to have a proper relationship with God and you now desire to live under the New Blood Covenant. Please pray with me the following prayer:

Jesus, I know I Am A Sinner

Please Forgive Me Of All My Sins

I Believe Jesus Is Lord And  . . .

God Raised Him From The Dead

Please Come And Live In My Heart As My Savior

Thank You Jesus

Blessings,

Frank       

Current Day Israel - Part Two

This message will begin our study of Romans 9-11. Paul is the author of Romans having the primary message of attaining righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, the majority of God's Covenant People have not attained this righteousness. This is the main subject of these chapters but there is a God Ordained ending to this story: 

"All Israel Will Be Saved."

Romans 9:1-3 says, "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh."

These opening verses of Romans 9 are entitled "Paul's Sorrow." Paul is explaining that he has great sorrow and grief in his heart for his brethren, the Jews. Why is this so? His brethren have not attained righteousness! Praise The Lord for Paul and his love and concern for his "Unsaved  Brothers and Sisters." Every time I read Romans 1-3, I realize I have a long way to go to attain this same type of love for unsaved people. 

Then Paul defines his brethren in Romans 9:4 "Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenant, the giving of the law, the service of God and the promises." Paul answers the question of who are the Israelites by describing all that Jehovah God provided for them to empower them to be His Chosen People. What exactly were they chosen to accomplish for Almighty God? Isaiah 44:1,8 declares, "Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen . . . do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time and declared it? You Are My Witnesses!" 

Jehovah God chose the Jewish People to be His Witnesses worldwide  proclaiming He Is Lord, Redeemer, God! However, throughout Israel's history there has been a hindrance preventing His Chosen People from completing this task. This is the primary theme throughout Romans 9-11. Stay Tuned!

Blessings,

Frank  

     

Current Day Israel

We are starting a new series revolving around the current atmosphere in Israel and how this affects God's Chosen People. Romans 9-11 will be our primary reference scriptures meaning this will be a vitally important and lengthy series. The timing of this series is appropriate now so that we may pray most effectively for Israel. 

It is truly challenging to understand the current alignment of the Israeli Government. Over the last couple of years, Israel held many elections since no one attained the majority support of the numerous parties necessary to be elected Prime Minister. As a result, it was decided that candidates Bennett and Lapid would split time as Prime Minister over the next eight years. The main reason for concern is neither appears to be as strong against the threat of Iran as the previous Prime Minister Netanyahu. 

Please Pray The Israeli Government Makes

 God Ordained Decisions!

Ever since Israel was formed as a nation in 1948, they have had enemies in their midst and on their borders. We hear almost daily about terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Gaza is on Israel's southwest border and is controlled by the terror group Hamas firing rockets into Israel on a regular basis. Lebanon is on Israel's northern border that is controlled by the terror group Hezbullah having thousands of missiles pointed at Israel. Syria is on the northeast border which houses Russian troops. All these enemies of Israel are funded by Iran. 

Please Pray For God's Protection Of Israel!

God's Covenant People are not only attacked physically and verbally in Israel, it is also happening worldwide. There are places in Europe where the Jewish people are fearful about leaving their homes. This is also taking place in the United States especially in New York City and Los Angeles. Worshippers were attacked in Synagogues in Pittsburgh and rural Texas. Some Jewish men have stopped wearing their skull caps. 

Please Pray For God's Protection Of His People Worldwide!

In closing, let us address the horrendous events in Ukraine. As usual, world media and governments are somehow trying to involve Israel. This is completely false information! The only possible connection is that Israel is offering humanitarian assistance. Also, Prime Minister Bennett is the Mediator trying to bring about a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia. 

Please Pray That The Truth About Israel Will Be Told!

Our next message will begin with the study of Romans Chapter nine.

Blessings!

Frank                  

The Future Restoration Of Israel - Part Seven

This message will conclude our series about Jehovah God restoring Israel. We have learned God is partially restoring Israel and that the total restoration will take place when Jesus Christ physically returns to earth. Our scripture references have been Ezekiel 36 - 39. We at For Zion's Sake Ministry are in awe of the relationship and coordination of God's Word. Our Lord God actually summarizes the Restoration of Israel in the last four verses of Ezekiel 39.

The First Summary Message Is Ezekiel 39:23

"The Gentiles shall know that the House Of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity." God's Covenant People have been disobedient to Him starting after He gave them His Law through Moses at Mt. Sinai. As a result, God scattered them around the world.

The Second Summary Message Is Ezekiel 39:25

"Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel." Jehovah God is in the process of bringing the Whole House Of Israel back home. Each year more Israelis return to Israel than the previous year. Very Important, notice He will bring back all of His people - "The Whole House Of Israel." What A Mighty God We Serve!

The Third Summary Message Is Ezekiel 39:28

"Then they shall know that I am The Lord their God." Multiple times in God's Word we learn that He intervenes in a situation so that His perfect purpose can be accomplished. Why does He do this? So that all the people of the world will know "He Is The Lord Their God." Obviously this is always most important to our God!

The Final Summery Message Is Ezekiel 39:29

"And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the House of Israel." How will He accomplish this most important act? Zechariah 14:4 says Jesus upon returning to earth is standing on the Mount of Olives and His People "Recognize Him as the one they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10).The Whole House Of Israel Will Be Saved At That Moment!

Blessings,

Frank