Stand With Israel

  We are reaching a time when we need to understand what is going on in the middle east and our relation with Israel. To give us a better insite on what's going on we are going to start with a few scriptures that explain our part in today's middle east conflicts. Let's begin our study in the book of Genesis.

  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3). This message from God is to Abraham (the father of all nations), and to the entire world. (Galatians 3:8-9).

  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24). This is a future restoration of all Israel. (Amos 9:14-15, Romans 11:25-26).

  The Apostle Paul explains our relationship with Israel. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. (Romans 2:28). You are not true Jews just because you were born of Jewish parents, or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. (John 8:37-39).

   But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:29). A true Jew, or Christian is one whose heart is right with God. True circumcision is not obeying the letter of the law, but rather it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. (Circumcision of the heart). A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. (Philippians 3:3). It's the circumcision of the heart that is important. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us through the crucifixion for our salvation. Put no confidence in man to save you, they can't even save themselves. "Christ does the saving."

  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7). The real children of Abraham are the men of faith who truly trusted God. Do you trust in Jesus, or some man?

  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:8). The scriptures told us of the gentiles in the future that would be saved through their faith. "I will bless those in every nation who trust in me." (Genesis 12:1-3). God loves all His children the same, he does not play fovorites.

  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:9). All who trust in Christ receive the same blessing that Abraham did. (Christianity is not for one race, it is for all people who believe).

  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26). We are all Children of God (both Jew and Gentile), through faith in Jesus Christ. (John 1:12).

  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27). We that have been baptized into union with Christ are enveloped by Him.

  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28). We are all Christians and now all one in Christ. (Romans 10:12, John 10:16, 17:21).

  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29). If we are of Christ, then we are true descendants of Abraham, and all of the promises to him belong to us also. (Romans 8:17, 9:7, Hebrews 11:18). No favored people here, God loves all His children who come to the light through faith in Jesus Christ. However, if you follow the ways of the world and Satan, you may lose favor with God.

  Israel will be under siege. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24). The nations come aginst Israel; it will come to pass as it is written. (Revelation 11:2). 

  So, what's the future of Israel? And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3). Jerusalem will become a immovable rock. Those who come against Jerusalem will fail and be cut into pieces. (Micah 4:11-13, Revelation 16:14, 17:12-14, 19:19-21, 20:8-9). Assyria, Persia, Rome, Greece, Egypt, of old, and in later days Spain, Portugal, and Russia have been so lacerated on account of their treatment of the Jews. Their future is our future; that is why we as a Christian nation must stand with Israel.

 

What Does It Mean to Stand with Israel?
Article by: Jack Hayford - Founder Kings University

We live in a sobering moment in history. It calls us, as believers in Jesus Christ, to take a stand with Israel.

The war in 2023, provoked by the deadly October 7 terror attack on Israel, continues to escalate to multi-fronts in Israel and throughout the region. While the global media assaults readers with reports of dangerous Jewish-Palestinian relations, antisemitism is on the rise globally.

Israel’s very existence symbolizes the dichotomy of “possessing the land” amid jaundiced neighbors. Several years ago, the West heralded the Arab Spring as the dawning of democracy in nations ruled by tyrannous dictators. Nevertheless, the fruit of those political uprisings has been anything but freedom and stability.

For Israel, it simply increased the shared nightmare most Jews live with each day. That they are staring down the barrel of a gun, no matter which direction they turn.

Tragically, we’d prefer to argue over the differences between supporting Israel as a state versus supporting the Jewish people, rather than stand up for those whom God has called His people (Joel 2:18; 3:2; Jer. 50:6-7).

Why Standing with Israel Matters So Much

As Christians, we know who will return to reign physically over this global focal point. Even though this region has been dominated with strife and violence since the days of Abraham.

Why, then, should believers be so concerned over such a tiny speck of land? What does it really matter? What does the Bible say about standing with Israel?

I am convinced one of Satan’s greatest tools is to minimize or negate the role Israel plays today. It keeps the Western church in the dark concerning God’s end-time plan for our world.

Some within the church disregard Israel’s crisis in favor of the Palestinian plight (whom they argue have equal rights as “sons of Abraham”). Meanwhile, others have gone so far as to adopt a replacement theology perspective.

Replacement theology believes that the church, through Jesus Christ, has replaced Israel when it comes God’s purpose, plan and promises. But followers of this theory disregard much of what the Bible says about standing with Israel.

So, Why Stand with Israel Today?

All of these viewpoints are not only misguided. They also come at the expense of Israel at a time when the church is called to be her strongest ally amid an emergence of nations possessing a demonically driven desire to see the Jewish people eradicated.

Given this, let’s get a few foundational things straight. Let’s look at what the Bible says about standing with Israel.

Israel is a land about which God says uniquely, prophetically and repeatedly in the Bible, “This is Mine” (Joel 1:6; Zech. 2:5-7; Gen. 35:10-15). Also, God refers to Israel as He does to no other land on earth – He raises Israel to be a light to the Gentiles.

In the Words of Jesus

What does the Bible say about standing with Israel in the New Testament? Perhaps the most pointed statement regarding the importance of the Jews is from the lips of our Lord and Savior Himself. In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, recorded in John 4:1-26, Jesus is very definitive: “Salvation is of the Jews” (v. 22).

With these words He categorically points to the pathway which brings to earth the entirety of God’s program of redemption. His Person’s presence becomes this ultimate path.

Further, the church at its inception was virtually entirely Jewish. And it remained so until the gospel began to spread. Ultimately the gospel spread to Antioch, where the first Gentile congregation began. From there, the gospel spread into all the world.

Israel, Gentiles, and the Church

In Romans 9-11, the apostle Paul deals specifically with the question of the Jews’ role in God’s providence and purpose. Within the whole of the Bible, these three chapters virtually stand alone as an elaboration of the theology of God’s dealing with Jews.

The Jews were the first fruit—the first people (through Abraham) to understand a covenant God. Then, they relayed the riches of that truth to the world, and through their agency the Messiah came into the world.

The Word of God calls Jews the “root” and Gentiles the “branches” (Rom. 11:16-27). We’re reminded that while “because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith,” we are not to become haughty but to fear: “For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either” (vv. 20-21).

When the fullness of the Gentiles is completed, “all Israel will be saved” (v. 26)—that is, the present Church Age.

Yet, we are not to be passive in the face of prophecy. Our calling is to pray with passion, to intercede and to minister according to the words of the Savior. Who also said it is not our task to speculate when the end will be. It is our responsibility to do “kingdom business” until He comes (Luke 19:13).

Standing with Israel in the 20th and 21st Century

This miraculous era that has seen the Jewish people regain political control of their own land. Which they were without for more than 2,300 years, but once again they became an official nation. Meanwhile, we could be people of the last hour, as they once again face global hostility.

The modern-day struggle is over Jerusalem, over Israel and over the presence of Jews and their right to have a land. Almost every nation refuses to make an abiding commitment to stand by the Jews and Israel. Only a few remain, but the Bible says God will honor those who do.

Every believer is charged to make the Jews a priority in his or her value system. Why? Because God has. As a result, we are to render thanksgiving for God’s work via them as a people.

  After this newsletter study and article we hope that this gives you a better understanding of what is going on in the middle east, and why the United States must stand with Israel till the end. 

Keep The Faith,
Barton