A Prophecy To The Mountains Of Israel

I would think the title of our message this week has aroused your curiosity since it is a prophecy not only to the people of Israel but to the mountains. Ezekiel 36 is a very prophetic book in which our God is bringing a very encouraging word to the Mountains of Israel in verses 1-15.

Last week's message identify the Mountains of Israel as Biblical Judea and Samaria and not the West Bank. Ezekiel 36:1-7 illustrates this land in the past had "borne the shame of the nations" but now God in "His jealousy and fury will cause these nations to bear their own shame" because of their treatment of the Mountains of Israel.

Our Lord continues His uplifting message to the Mountains of Israel in verses 8-17 proclaiming "My people Israel are about to come." The Jewish people are coming back from all over the world to inhabit their land. Our Lord continues "I am for you and will do better for you and then you will know I am The Lord." The Jewish people have been coming back to Israel for many, many years.

Ezekiel 36:24-28 also brings forth from our Lord a very positive message for the people of Israel. He says upon their return He will "Cleanse them from all filthiness; give them a new heart; and put a new spirit within them; and He will be their God." As part of their return, they will come to salvation through Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Hallelujah!

Maundy Thursday is remembered as when Jesus communed with His Disciples just before going to the cross. The Disciples were surprised when Jesus washed their feet during their time together. Philippians 2:7 says "Jesus took the form of a servant." My prayer for each of us as we approach Resurrection Sunday is we will have a similar servant's heart towards the Jewish people and everyone.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You Now And Forever,

Frank

The West Bank

"But you, O Mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit, to My People Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My People Israel; they shall take possession of you." Ezekiel 36:8-10, 12.

During one of my trips to Israel, I asked our tour guide why the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria were referred to as The West Bank. His simple and truthful answer was "The West Bank is a political term." How true this is! The term West Bank is not found in The Word of God. Geographically, Judea and Samaria encompass a major portion of the mountains of Israel which run along the west bank of the Jordan River. Thus the term West Bank which the Palestinians and world media use to describe this land claimed by the Palestinians.

Well, what is the truth according to God's Word?  Jesus conducted a major portion of His ministry on earth in Judea and Samaria. Currently, our Lord is using Judea and Samaria, referred to as the Mountains of Israel in scripture, as the major location to settle the Jewish people as they return to Israel. Notice in Ezekiel 36:8,10,12 mentioned above that The Lord says He is bringing My People Israel back to the Mountains of Israel or Judea and Samaria. No mention of the West Bank in this Biblical scenario.

As always, we who have a heart for Israel and the Jewish people, need to proclaim the truth of God's Word concerning the land of Israel. Ezekiel 36 is very clear about the Mountains of Israel and its current and future use in God's Prophetic timeline. Let us be those proclaimers of the TRUTH!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You Now And Forevermore,

Frank

Whose Land Is It?

The above question has been one that people have pondered as far back as the time of Abraham. This tiny sliver of land called Israel in the Middle East is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Additionally, one might notice that Israel is mentioned in the world media almost every day and wonder why.

The word of God is very clear in defining who has inherited this land from God. The Lord said to Abram in establishing the Abrahamic Covenant "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates," Genesis 15:18. In reality, this original land given to Abraham and his descendants included almost the entire Middle East. However, history reveals this land has been divided up many times by man resulting in their judgment, Joel 3:2.

The enemies of Israel claim that Ishmael and his descendants are also descendants of Abraham and the land is theirs. There is a major problem with this type of thinking since God established His everlasting covenant with Isaac and his descendants in Genesis 17:19. Numerous other scriptures also validate that God gave this land to His original covenant people - Amos 9:15; Jeremiah 31:35,36; Ezekiel 37:24.

Why is the land of Israel in the news so often?  Prophetically, all world events revolve around Israel since Jesus is coming back to the Mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4 and He will set up His throne in the City of God, Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:9; Philippians 2:10,11.

We can be participants in this continuing debate by speaking the truth when The Lord gives us opportunity and by praying "Thy Kingdom Come And Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven." Matthew 6:10. As we pray this Scripture we are asking Jesus to come back to earth soon and establish true peace on earth. . .PRAISE THE LORD! 

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care Now And Forever,

Frank 

Reconciliation

An entire section of Ephesians Chapter 2, Verses 11-22, is entitled "Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles." Paul, The Apostle, clearly and effectively proclaims that through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, Jews and Gentiles have been made "one new man" in the sight of God. Ephesians 2:14 says "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of division between us."

Romans Chapter 11 addresses the same issue but with different nomenclature. Israel is declared as an olive tree with Jesus as the root. Verse 17 of Chapter 11 describes Christians as the wild olive tree which is grafted in among them - the family of Israel - by the life and blood of Jesus Christ. The result is a living spiritual family tree supported by the common root, Jesus Christ as The Messiah.

Sadly, there are those who preach that the Church has replaced the Jews in God's eyes. This is known as Replacement Theology which is totally contrary

to the Word of God mentioned above. Additionally, in Genesis 12:2-3 The Lord declares to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation. . . .and  in you all the nations of the world shall be blessed." Of course, this nation became Israel.

God's Word Does Not Change And Cannot Be Changed By Man To Satisfy His Own Desires as referenced in Revelation 22:18-19. Let us be those who proclaim this truth, which blesses Israel and Christians alike, also pray for those functioning in Replacement Theology to come into the truth of the Word of God.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care Today And Each Day,

Frank

Concerns For Israel

News headlines this week have revealed two major concerns for Israel. Congressional approval of Chuck Hagel to be the United States Secretary of Defense has raised serious concerns among two major Jewish organizations and members of the United States Congress.   At the same time, efforts by Iran and North Korea to co-ordinate their efforts to grow their Nuclear Programs is also a major concern.

Hagel, unlike the majority of Senate members, underestimates the threat of Iran backed terrorist group Hezbollah. He disagreed with the European Union and their desire to designate Hezbollah a terror organization. Also, during Hagel's confirmation hearings, he undermined the importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The vote in Congress approving Hagel was the smallest approval margin in history.

Meanwhile, North Korea conducted its largest and most sophisticated nuclear test to date. Most alarming for Israel was the presence of the Chief Iranian Nuclear Scientist who rarely travels outside of Iran. It appears North Korea is actually doing the testing of nuclear weapons for Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu this week stated "If Iran continues nuclear preparations it would face military sanctions."

How does Israel respond to the news that the United States military support of Israel could be weaker in the near future and that Iran could be nuclear ready very soon. Psalm 24:8 says "Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle." King David was called a man after God's own heart. He knew His source of help and He prevailed in the face of Israel's many enemies. May we stand with Israel during these difficult times and be those prayer warriors praying for Israel's leaders and citizens to be strong in The Lord as they face their enemies now and in the future.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care Now And Forever,

Frank

Salvation. . . .For The Jew, First

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:1-4. Paul, in these first versus of Romans 10, shares his heart's desire is that Israel will be saved. He further states that they are seeking their own righteousness and not the righteousness of Christ.

Jesus, in Luke Chapter 19 had an even stronger reaction when He approached Jerusalem even as He was being proclaimed the King who comes in the name of The Lord. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and said "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:42. Jesus knew that the majority of God's Original Covenant People had not recognized Him as their Messiah which still is the scenario to this day.

However, this is a temporary situation! PRAISE GOD! In Romans 11:1,11 Paul raises the questions whether God has cast away His People or have they stumbled to fall from God? The response to both questions is - CERTAINLY NOT! Most importantly, verse 26 says "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness away from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." Yes, the day is coming when the Jewish people will recognize Jesus as their Messiah!

Wednesday, February 13th, Christians throughout the world participated in Ash Wednesday starting the forty day period of Lent leading to the glorious celebration of our Savior's Resurrection. Christians spend these forty days in pious reflection of their relationship with their Savior to include repentance as appropriate. How very special and pleasing to God it would be if during these forty days of Lent we would include praying for unsaved people but also, as supporters of Israel, we would pray for the salvation of God's Original Covenant People.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank

Concern In The North

Foreign media reports indicate Israel has just deployed a third Iron Dome Battery in Northern Israel. Within the last ten days Iron Dome Batteries have also been deployed in the Upper Galilee and Haifa areas. Iron Dome launchers are used to destroy in the air missiles fired at Israeli cities. They had an 84% interception rate of rockets fired from Gaza during the Pillar Of Defense Operation last November.

Why all this sudden concern for the safety of Northern Israeli towns? The continuing conflict in Syria where  rebel forces are trying to overthrow the Assad government has caused much unrest in the Middle East and in Northern Israel particularly. Complicating the situation, it is now learned that 50,000 military from Iran and Hezbollah are now fighting in Syria for Assad.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has described Syria as an undeveloped country with the world's most developed weapons. He also said Israel would not sit idly by and let those weapons fall into the hands of terrorists. Recently, Israeli fighter planes destroyed a convoy carrying missiles across the Syrian/Lebanon border probably headed to Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. A major concern for Israel now is possible retaliation.

How can we pray for the government of Israel and for those living in Northern Israel? As Joshua was about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land in Joshua Chapter One, The Lord said to Joshua three times "Be strong and of good courage," and in Deuteronomy 31:6 The Lord says "He is The One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." I believe The Lord will react in similar fashion today for the Israelis as we pray for their protection. Praise The Lord!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care And Each Day,

Frank