July 11, 2013 · 1:25 AM

Spiritual Trends in Israel and the “Signs of the Times”

If you have been following the news, you know how unstable the political situation is in the Middle East. Whatever this may mean for the unfolding revelation of God’s timetable for history, there is no doubt that Israel is in the middle of it. Right now, Chosen People Ministries has more staff members ministering in Israel than at any other time in our almost 120-year history.

Not long ago, I was sitting on the panel at a conference on “Ministry in Israel,” and the moderator asked me a number of critical questions. I want to share some of my responses with you so that you can at least have my take on what is happening spiritually in the Holy Land!

Spiritual Trends in the Land of Promise

What are some of the most exciting spiritual trends you see in the Land today?

The first is the significant increase of Jewish believers. Sixty percent of them speak Russian as their first language, so there is a tremendous need for resources that they are able to use. Speaking a bit more generally, there is growing ministry among children and a growing unity among the Jewish believers. We are also participating in active efforts to meet the needs of poor Israelis, as well as Holocaust survivors and other elderly people. We’re also seeing the growth of serious Bible college programs and leadership development for Israelis, as well as more Messianic books in Hebrew and higher-quality training opportunities for younger believers.

There are now a number of buildings that are now owned by Israeli believers and ministries in the Holy Land, including the Chosen People Ministries Jerusalem Center, King of Kings, Israel College of the Bible, Grace and Truth Assembly and a number of other congregations.

These congregations are also maturing and growing in their ability to serve the ever-increasing number of believers. The number of Israeli-led congregations has expanded from under a dozen in the early 1970s to more than 150 today.  The continued development of energetic and creative outreach over the web and the increase in Christian television broadcasting are all signs of the vitality of the movement of the Holy Spirit in Israel.

What are some of the most troubling spiritual trends you see in the Land today?

We need to remember first of all that troubling trends are often God’s way of bringing us the greatest opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry fruitfulness. The threat of war and continued terrorism, the challenge of secularism and the deconstruction of a biblically-based morality in everyday culture are all troubling trends that are symptoms of a deeper, spiritual sickness. The continued and seemingly irreconcilable differences (socially, politically and otherwise) between Jews and Arabs and between the Orthodox and secular Jews are another aspect of this same spiritual conflict. Additionally, we see the continued marginalization of both Jewish and Arab believers within their own community, though this is changing slightly.

We see promising trends and the Lord’s work in Israel is becoming more Israeli in nature. The need for indigenous resources and continued leadership development is a critical challenge and a great opportunity for partnership among Western European and North American believers and Israelis. 

The “Signs of the Times”

Do you believe we are heading towards a “Romans 11:26” world in which “all of Israel will be saved”? Why or why not?

Well, first, let’s take a look at the passage in question…

 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27)

Yes, we are moving closer, because of the evident signs of the times. If the return of the Jewish people to Israel, the Jewish control of Jerusalem, and the surrounding of Israel by enemies seeking her destruction is evidence of the prophecies of the Old Testament coming to pass – and if we add the additional sign of a remnant of Jewish believers in Jesus, which has been increasing since the establishment of the modern state of Israel – then yes. But my feeling is that we will enter this future incrementally.

Is it accurate there are about 15,000 Jewish followers of Yeshua in the Land of Israel today – up from only a few dozen in 1948?

There is no current scientific survey, but my personal experience would indeed indicate that the numbers are somewhere between 10,000-15,000.

Why are Jews coming to faith in so much larger numbers today? What dynamics have changed since 1948, and just since you came to faith?

There were a great number of Jewish believers in Jesus who perished in the Holocaust, perhaps more than there are today. But now we seem to be growing at a rate throughout the world that will surpass the pre-Holocaust numbers of Messianic Jews. Israel contains one of the fastest-growing movements of Jewish believers in the world.

Why? Aside from the prophetic perspective mentioned above, it could be because of the unrelenting prayers of saints, an unwavering witness by many who have pioneered this effort, and the engagement of the Gentile Church around the world with a heart for Jewish outreach. In addition, we definitely see growth resulting from the development of a contextualized testimony and the emergence of local Israeli spiritual leadership.

Aside from the number of professed believers, how would you assess the spiritual maturity and theological depth of the believers in the Holy Land?

We see great depth and maturity among leaders in Israel who have lived through many difficulties and have become battle-hardened spiritual leaders – but they are often overworked! They need our help – not to do their jobs or tell them how to do it – but rather to provide resources, prayer, and genuine help. We especially need to lend our support to the leadership training Bible colleges in the Land.

What are ways Jewish and Arab believers can and should be working together to share the Gospel with everyone in the Land and make disciples of all nations?

Pray for one another.  Serve in projects together in the Land where appropriate. For example, Chosen People Ministries has had quite a bit of support and help from local Arab believers in our Tel Aviv soup kitchen ministry.

How can believers outside of Israel be praying effectively for the believers in the Land?

First of all, we can pray that both Jewish Israelis and Arabs would become more open to Jesus and be able to effectively disciple the next generation of leaders. We should also pray that both Jewish and Arab believers would become less marginalized and have an impact for the Lord on Israeli society as a whole. The believers also need their own worship and ministry facilities. I believe this would help stabilize the Lord’s work in Israel. Those of us who live outside the Land can also maximize our impact by helping to purchase properties that will be dedicated to ministry and congregational centers.  

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April 20, 2013 · 3:26 PM

Reflections on the Boston Bombing

Our eyes have been glued to our televisions watching the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers. It now seems to be over – though our hearts are still broken for the families that lost loved ones and for the residents of Boston who will suffer the post-traumatic stress of this act of terrorism in their community.

Mitch Forman, our Vice President of U.S. Ministries and Boston director, wrote a brief piece about his feelings in light of what’s just happened, and I thought you might want to read it. I found his perspective to be personal, biblical and moving. 

I am writing this letter minutes after watching the capture of the Boston Marathon Bomber #2. I was born and raised in the greater Boston area, and now I am raising my family here. This is the place I count as my home, the place where I do ministry and a place I love very much. Even though I left Boston in my twenties and thirties, I returned because all my family still lives here. My grandparents came here in the early 1900s as political refuges, fleeing those who hated them simply because they were Jewish. As a 3rd-generation refugee, I am forever thankful to the United States for allowing my family to come and start a new life.

I say this because as events have unfolded after the bombing at the Boston Marathon, I learned of the history of these two brothers, it resembled that of my family. However, they came to hate this country, whereas my family embraced it. They aimed to hurt and kill people, whereas my family aimed to make the country better.

As I was sitting here watching the TV like all of you, I couldn’t understand why these brothers would want to commit this apparently senseless act of violence. They knew most of the people at the time of the Marathon were there to cheer on a family member. They knew that many of the people present would be small children. They knew the face of Boston would change forever. When my own kids asked, “Why would someone do this?”  I told them: “There are evil people in the world, and people who hate us just for being Americans.”

We live in a world where there is danger, and where people don’t have to believe in God. This is why I do what I do. This is why we must continue to share the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus). The only hope we have is to keep praying and reaching those who do not love us back. How appropriate it is for me to remember the words of Yeshua:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”  (Matthew 5:43-45)

It isn’t so easy to follow Jesus when asked to do things that go against your own nature, but this is what we are commanded to do. I was living in New York City at the time of 9/11, and now I live in Boston during these times. I had friends at the Marathon who were a short distance away when the bombs went off. I took both of these events very personally; however, Yeshua tells me to love those who hate me and pray for them. I said a prayer for the families who lost loved ones. I said prayers for those who lives have been forever changed. I even said a prayer for this young man tonight – that even though his brother died, he might live and come to trust in Jesus.

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March 22, 2013 · 8:42 PM

Obama’s Visit to Israel

I read through President Obama’s speech given on March 21, 2013, as carefully as I  could in order to try to discern the heart of our president’s message. You can read the transcript in many places – including the New York Times.

Most people who heard the speech appreciated the president’s passion, friendliness and directness. Mr. Obama assured his Israeli audience of American support for Israel and affirmed the common Judeo-Christian and democratic values shared by both nations. The president clearly affirmed the right of the nation of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, though later in the speech he emphatically encouraged the creation of a separate Palestinian state as well.

If you are a believer in Jesus and take the Bible seriously as your guide for life and the filter through which you view all matters of earthly and heavenly importance, then you will probably be disappointed to find that the president’s speech does not refer to any biblical passages, outside of relating his trip to the Passover season!

He did not, for example, say that he recognizes that the Bible is true and the reason the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people is because of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants, promised in Genesis chapter 12:1-3.

The president did look back into the history of the Jewish people and even to the Holocaust as part of the background for the formation of the state of Israel. Actually, he has done this in the past as well – but at least this time he made more of an effort to demonstrate that the Jewish people had arrived to the land of Israel, historically, prior to the post-Holocaust years.

Obama tried to point the young people listening to his speech towards the future, praising Israelis for being entrepreneurs in technology, biomedical sciences and much more. He commended the Palestinians for much of the same.

He emphasized three major agenda points: security, peace, and prosperity.

I’d like to focus on how we — and when I say we, in particular young people — can work together to make progress in three areas that will define our times: security, peace, and prosperity.

When it came to his comments on security, the president assured the Israelis that the United States would do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He also called attention to the United States’ position on Syria and the threat the Assad regime poses to Syria’s own citizens as well as to Israel. He specifically mentioned the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria against its own population as well as the potential threat these weapons represent if they get into the hands of terrorists.

The fact that Hezbollah’s ally, the Assad regime, has stockpiles of chemical weapons only heightens the urgency. We will continue to cooperate closely to guard against that danger.

He specifically singled out Hamas as a terrorist organization, expressing his opposition to their practices as well as the need for Hamas to recognize Israel in order for peace talks to continue. He said,

And that’s why Israel has a right to expect Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist.

He added, with resounding words that I can only hope and pray will guide our president’s thinking and U.S. policy in the years ahead,

That’s why the security of the Jewish people in Israel is so important; it cannot be taken for granted. But make no mistake: Those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting Israel’s right to exist — they might as well reject the earth beneath them and the sky above, because Israel’s not going anywhere.

It is in his section discussing peace in the Middle East that Obama clearly reveals his agenda – not that it was particularly hidden! He calls for what he views as fair treatment of Palestinians.

It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of their own — living their entire lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements, not just of those young people but their parents, their grandparents, every single day. It’s not just when settler violence against Palestinians goes unpunished. It’s not right to prevent Palestinians from farming their lands or restricting a student’s ability to move around the West Bank — or displace Palestinian families from their homes. Neither occupation nor expulsion is the answer. Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land.

The president unfortunately paints Israelis as aggressors who do not want Palestinian children to grow up, go to college, get married, receive a great education and have a prosperous and peaceful life.

The president ignores the history of terrorist attacks on Israelis who are trying to secure the safety of their children. Does the president really believe that the level of security in the territories is the result of Israeli cruelty? Or were these necessary security measures taken to prevent further terrorist bombings and missile attacks on Israeli citizens?

He failed to mention the many instances when Israeli officials apprehended and prosecuted Israelis who had attacked Palestinians. Nor did the president mention the displacement of Israeli settlers from Gaza, who were asked to leave their homes and farms and move to other parts of Israel, so that Palestinians could have control of the region. The idea of land for peace was already tried, but was unsuccessful as Hamas took over Gaza and did more harm to the peace process than good.

In the years since the Israelis left Gaza, thousands upon thousands of missiles have been showered upon innocent Israelis in southern Israel, and the security threat resulting from Hamas-controlled areas is the rational basis for the checkpoints and presence of the Israeli Defense Forces in “the territories.”

Unfortunately, innocents on both sides of the crisis are suffering due to the sins of the more militant and aggressive Palestinians and their supporters who have been committing terrorist acts against innocent Israelis for more than a decade. If they were to stop, then the security measures taken by the Israeli security forces would diminish or go away completely – as had been the case before the first intifada.

Obama affirms the fact that Hamas is an unworthy peace partner, but expresses perhaps too much confidence in the Palestinian Authority, especially in light of the veneration still shown by the PLA for Yasser Arafat, an unrepentant terrorist who is accused of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from his own people and from the governments that had given generously to the Palestine cause.

Now, Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with anyone who’s dedicated to its destruction. But while I know you have had differences with the Palestinian Authority, I genuinely believe that you do have a true partner in President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad.

The PLA and Abbas have yet to show themselves to be the more willing and flexible peace partner our president believes them to be. I too hope that Abbas and the PLA will renounce terrorism and refrain from taking further unilateral action as they did in applying for observer status with the United Nations – as that was not an act of good faith.

Finally, the president shows his true agenda for peace when he says,

But it’s possible. Negotiations will be necessary, but there’s little secret about where they must lead: two states for two peoples — two states for two peoples.

In effect, the president’s solution to the problem is to charge John Kerry, our Secretary of State, to negotiate a Two-State solution with Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas. At this stage, this would be a negotiation without the participation of Hamas, which would leave Gaza completely out of the process.

The president said,

Meanwhile, Palestinians must recognize that Israel will be a Jewish state and that Israelis have the right to insist upon their security.

Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace and that an independent Palestine must be viable, with real borders that have to be drawn. I’ve suggested principles on territory and security that I believe can be the basis for these talks.

So what has changed? Not much. I am glad that the president affirmed his overall support of Israel, but I sincerely hope and pray that he does not somehow make the support of the U.S. contingent upon the success of a two-state solution. After all, some of the hardest issues were not even mentioned. There was no discussion of the division of Jerusalem within a Two State Solution, which would be one of them most difficult political challenges to face.

He also did not mention the ongoing U.S. financial and military support of Egypt, which is deeply troubling to Israel and to those who understand the level of animosity the Muslim Brotherhood has against Israel and the Jewish people. This has been well documented.

Still, it is good that the president visited Israel for the first time in five years! It is also good that he reiterated his concerns over Iran, Syria and both Hezbollah and Hamas. This was to be expected, of course. Israel is still the only true ally American has in the Middle East.

Where do we go from here? I would suggest three agenda items as well.

We need to pray for Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)

The Middle East crisis is complex, and Prime Minister Netanyahu and the leaders of Israel will need God’s wisdom in the days ahead – perhaps as never before – in light of the nuclear threat and the continuing political and social changes in the Middle East.

We need to pray for President Barack Obama

Personally, I am praying that he comes to terms with the scriptural truths regarding God’s plan for Israel and the Jewish people. I pray that he will be driven by Scripture and understand that the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people not simply because of the U.N. mandate, but because God made a promise and He will keep his promise to the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21). I am praying that the Lord would give our president wisdom and empower him to use his great gifts of rhetoric for holy purposes.

We need to pray for the Palestinians and their leaders

I am praying that that God will give Mr. Abbas and Khaled Msshal (the political leader of Hamas) wisdom and a spirit of cooperation so that any peace that can be humanly developed can be effective and lasting.

Most of all, I am praying for Israelis and Palestinians to know that the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob loves them dearly and sent His only son Jesus the Messiah – an Israeli Jewish person – to live a perfect life and to die for their sins and rise from the dead.

I pray that Israelis and Palestinians will know the hope of the resurrection and recognize that the day is coming soon when Jesus the Messiah will return to reign on His rightful throne in Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.

And in that glorious day, there will no longer be a Middle East crisis. Palestinians and Jewish Israelis will live in peace… the wolf will lie down with the lamb, and the weapons of war will turn into instruments of peace.

Our friends at the Jerusalem Institute for Justice recently sent out a video that I believe presents some very helpful information in an intriguing way. I hope that you will enjoy it and pass the video as well as this blog entry to your friends.

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March 3, 2013 · 3:49 PM

Are We Arming the Enemies of Israel for Armageddon?

I usually try to stay away from directly addressing political issues – even those involving the relationship between the United States and Israel – as the focus of Chosen People Ministries is bringing the Gospel to Jewish people and to help Christians become more effective in telling their Jewish friends about the Lord. This is our priority.

Yet the modern state of Israel is also a deep concern for us at Chosen People Ministries…as I am sure it is for you. And since our president, Barack Obama, is travelling to Israel this month, I think it is important for us to pray for some of the issues that might come to the surface during his trip.

Additionally, hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians have intensified over the last few weeks because a Palestinian prisoner recently died in an Israeli jail. The circumstances of his death are currently under investigation. Palestinian authorities claim that he was tortured, and the Israelis dispute this claim. Nevertheless, the controversy over his death has sparked protests by Palestinians that are heating up, leading to protests in the West Bank and Bethlehem, and it will probably be a critical issue during Obama’s visit.

The protests and responses have been so strong that some leaders on both sides fear that another intifada might take place, and are doing what they can to keep matters calm.

Washington Post reporter Joel Greenburg reports the incident as follows:

A Palestinian prisoner who died in an Israeli jail was given a hero’s burial with military honors in the West Bank on Monday amid signs that Palestinian and Israeli leaders were working to prevent days of street clashes from triggering a wider eruption of unrest.

The surge of protests, which had stoked Israeli fears of a third Palestinian uprising, was sparked by an extended hunger strike by four Palestinian prisoners and fueled by Saturday’s death of another detainee, Arafat Jaradat, who was under interrogation by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency. (Washington Post, Feb. 25, 2013)

The New York Times adds the following,

Adnan Damiri, the spokesman of the Palestinian security apparatus, said Palestinian officials were committed to prevent fighting, saying that his forces had recently detained members of the militant Hamas group who were planning “violent confrontations.”

“The only one(s) seeking violence in West Bank is Netanyahu and Hamas, but we will not be dragged to that,” said Damiri. “Our struggle will always be peaceful.”

The clashes come weeks before Obama is scheduled to arrive in Israel and the West Bank, his first presidential visit to the region. U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the U.S. has asked Israeli and Palestinian officials to exercise “maximum restraint” at this time of high tension in the West Bank. (Feb. 26, 2013; New York Times)

Clearly, the visit of the American president to Israel will focus Americans and the rest of the world on the rising tensions in the Holy Land. And as believers in Jesus, we need to remind one another to pray even more intensively for the “peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6)

Additionally, as believers in Jesus we must learn how to think carefully about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and not believe everything we read!

For example, the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas is leveraging the current conflict and blaming Hamas for escalating violence. Of course, they are blaming Israel for her role in the conflict as well. This is clear from the following statements reported in the Jerusalem Post – note how Abbas turns the conversation towards his agenda to return Israel to the pre-1967 borders and to return Jerusalem to Palestinian control.

Referring to the current violence in the West Bank, Abbas accused the IDF of using live ammunition to kill Palestinian children. He also said that he would not allow Palestinians to remain in Israeli prisons for the rest of their lives “for no crimes they had committed.” The PA president reiterated his call for a “just and comprehensive peace” that would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the pre- 1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital. “Without Jerusalem, there will be no peace or state,” he stressed. (Jerusalem Post, Feb. 25, 2013)

I view the political agendas of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas as much the same although their strategies and tactics might seemingly differ. The PA continues to use the media to advance its cause yet have done little to de-escalate the violence of the situation. They seem to create an environment that urges conflict, and when the conflict erupts, they blame it on Hamas.

Hamas certainly deserves much of the blame for whipping up the average Palestinians into violent protest and to act in ways that lead to their arrest and detainment.

No one, including me, is claiming that Israel never makes a mistake. War never brings out the best in people! But most of what is protested could be stopped if Hamas and the PA sought a more peaceful process at this time. Israel continues to do whatever she can to protect the security of its citizens.

In the midst of all that is happening, another missile was fired from Gaza, falling in the town of Ashkelon. According to the Jerusalem Post,

Palestinian terrorists broke a three month ceasefire on Tuesday and fired a rocket from Gaza into southern Israel. The rocket fell on a road south of Ashkelon causing some damage to a road, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Al- Aqsa Martyrs Brigades took responsibility for the attack, Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported. The terrorists fired a Grad rocket in response to the “liquidation” of the prisoner Jaradat, Ma’an reported. The IDF Spokesperson said there were no injuries in the incident.

This is unfortunate, as it was the firing of missiles into Israel (and the city of Ashkelon is quite a bit north of Gaza) that caused the Israeli Defense Force to mobilize a few months ago.

We are sad whenever an Israeli or Palestinian dies in the midst of this conflict – whether they are young or old, in prison or out of prison, in an army uniform or dressed as a civilian.

The Messiah of Israel loves His chosen people – the Jewish people – and the Palestinians whom He also created. He died an atoning death for both… and for the whole world!

There are no winners in this conflict – only losers. There’s no difference between the tears shed by a Jewish mother or Palestinian mother.

I do pray and hope that the conflict will end. Yet, as those who love the Bible, we need to allow Scripture to inform our analysis and guide our thinking and the ways on which we pray for peace in the Middle East. The Bible does tell us that we can only hope for temporary solutions to this conflict today, as it will continue in one way or another until the end of the age when the Messiah returns and establishes His throne of Shalom in Jerusalem as prophesied in Isaiah 2:4,

And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.

We need to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem as a day without conflict or death is a good day, and worthy of our fervent prayers.

We should also pray for the U.S. president’s visit to Israel. I am concerned about some of the policy decisions made by our own country recently, especially our supplying the Egyptian Air Force – the fourth largest in the world – with F-16 fighter planes.[1]

As Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East subcommittee, recently stated,

“Recent violent outbreaks and the volatile situation in Egypt should give the US reason to pause when considering continuing to provide foreign assistance to the government of Egypt,”

She continues,

Even more disconcerting are Morsi’s views toward our closest friend and ally, the democratic Jewish State of Israel.”She said that his statements “clearly reveal a man who holds Jews and Israel in such contempt that it would not be out of the realm of possibility to believe he is capable of turning his aggression toward Israel.” Ros-Lehtinen was referring to video footage from 2010 in which Morsi referred to Jews as “the descendants of apes and pigs” and urged Egyptians to “nurse our children and grandchildren on hatred” of Jews and Zionists. (Jerusalem Post, Feb.3, 2013)

This is an anti-Jewish statement in the Koran that has been often quoted by Arab leaders, but not by an Egyptian leader in recent days. His statement is just one further indication of the Muslim Brotherhood’s position and exposes the shift in Egyptian policy against Israel.

As a student of the Bible, I believe a day is coming when the nations of the world will turn against Jerusalem and against Israel (Zech. 12:1-12) and I fear that at this moment in time, we might be arming the enemies of Israel for Armageddon.

I hope and pray that this not true. I want our country to stand by the nation of Israel, as God promised the land to the Jewish people and blessings to those who bless the Jewish people (Gen. 12:1-3). I also want our country to be an instrument of peace – even if the peace is only temporary.

As our Messiah Jesus also said,

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Let’s hope and pray that peace will increase as a result of these discussions.

This brings me back to where I started. We are called by God to preach a message of peace, and it is our goal to bring the Prince of Peace to the Jew first and also to the Gentile; whether they be part of Hamas, the Palestinian Authority or another group that is hostile to God’s purposes in the world. We cannot and should not lose our focus – yet we are still commanded to pray for peace, and I hope you now have a better idea as to how to pray.

Thanks for your prayers on behalf of Israel. Please ask God to give our president wisdom from above as he meets with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Shalom!

PS. Speaking of bringing the Good News to people… we are offering our book Isaiah 53 Explained, which I wrote, for free to any follower of Jesus who will read the book and pass it along to a Jewish friend. The best way to get the book is to go to our website www.Isaiah53.com and request a copy.

I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and encourage others to do the same. If you would like us to send a book directly to your Jewish friend – just let us know and we will take care of it.

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December 18, 2012 · 7:02 AM

What Do You Say in the Midst of Unspeakable Tragedy?

Many have written on the disturbing events of the last few days, and I suppose I couldn’t help but add my voice to those who have already spoken. Of course, what I really wish I could do is hug some of the family members who lost children and even more so – to introduce them to the one who 41 years ago wrapped His powerful arms around me and gave me peace and comfort that I did not even know existed.

There are so many thoughts swirling in my heart and mind. For a couple of years, my family and I lived about a mile from the school where these innocent children and brave adults were killed, so I suppose I feel closer ties to the events of the past week. I have good friends who live in the area who are in the thick of the grief counseling, trying to bring comfort to grieving families.

Of course, everyone wants to know why this happened and the answer is as elusive to me as anyone else. One of my closest friends, who is not a believer in Jesus, asked me, as a “person of faith,” how I made sense out of the tragedy. I would like to tell you what I said to my friend, but I’d like to preface this by saying that anything said would sound terribly hollow if I were speaking to the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters or friends of those who lost their lives.

After all, what can you really say at a time like this? I do not think it is even possible to use words to bring comfort to the mourning at this moment, although so many are sincerely and wholeheartedly trying. Intuitively, most people understand how to behave at this time and thankfully there has been quite a bit of silence as opposed to trying to explain what happened. Most people are sitting with the living victims of the tragedy; holding their hand, listening to them weep, crying with them, offering a hug and a listening ear and just simply being there for them. This is about all you can do right now to provide comfort.

I told my friend that my soul was deeply disturbed by the events of the week and that my faith was rocked and challenged as well. I do not have an answer as to why God allows suffering, any more than what the Bible teaches about our living in a world broken by sin, and that for some reason God has not yet chosen to remove suffering from the palate of human existence.

I quickly added that God’s side is only part of the equation, and that we as humans need to take responsibility for continually doing things that we hope God would prevent. The tragedy in Newtown has again brought us face-to-face with pure, unmitigated evil. This is not a time to blame the poor mother who also lost her life and perhaps taught her son to shoot the weapons and even made these weapons accessible to the perpetrator. It is also sad to find out that the young man who committed these crimes had some type of mental illness that for some reason could not be controlled by his parents, mental health professionals, his friends nor himself. It’s not a time to take political advantage of this terrible moment and promote new efforts towards gun control, though this will surely be considered carefully in the days ahead.

Without ignoring the complexity of human factors, responsibilities and whatever will be concluded at the end of a thorough investigation, there remains no doubt that we have witnessed evil – overwhelming, terrible evil – and our lives will never be the same. We now have a new generation who have lost their innocence and will grow up pointing to the events of this past week as the day they recognized that evil exists. The recognition of evil cannot bring comfort to a mourning parent, nor does it provide an adequate explanation for the tragic events of this past week, but it is a sober reminder of the character of the world in which we live.

We have also been reminded of the goodness of others. We witnessed the outpouring of love towards these families, and there is much to commend in our fellow man. This has also been the case in recent tragedy along the Eastern seaboard when thousands of volunteers helped flood victims recover from the destruction of their homes. Sometimes I find that believers in Jesus focus far too much on evil and man’s sin rather than on the goodness of humanity, which is also part of being created in the image of God.

Yet as much as we might try to focus on the goodness of man in the midst of this tragedy, when the dust settles, most will look back on the horror of the moment as a reminder that evil does exist and that we need to find a way to fight evil.
Many people will also be quoting from the book by Rabbi Harold Kushner, Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People. The question he articulates weighs heavily on all of our hearts at this moment.

The truth is – we don’t know why bad things happen to good people. We only understand that evil exists and that we do not want to live in its dark shadow, but rather to live in hope not fear – and to find a way to believe in innocence and purity without ignoring the harsh realities of the world which we live. This tragedy makes the underlying dichotomy of life all the more difficult to handle. Evil is usually easier to ignore!

For those of us who do not live in Newtown and might live hundreds and thousands of miles away – our hearts have been broken by these events. For some reason, probably because most of the victims were innocent children and brave teachers, we have felt this corporate pain more deeply and have joined in the sorrow of people we have never met and felt part of a community we might never visit. For the parents, friends and relatives of the victims – there is only a hunger for comfort at this time – not for finding meaning in the midst of the tragedy. But for those who are somewhat removed, we have the luxury of being able to try our best to draw some meaning and understanding of what has happened. We simply need to find some way of processing the deaths of so many innocents.

My only answer is Jesus. Consider with me for a moment.

God sent His only Son – whom He loved as much as any mother or father loved any of the children who were tragically lost this past week – to experience the joy and pain of being human. Furthermore, because of the depth of His love, He allowed His Son to suffer the unthinkable as for one moment the Son of God experienced separation from His heavenly Father, enduring judgment as He removed the sin of mankind in one self-sacrificial act.

I am thankful that, by His grace, I came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that He bore judgment for my sin in order to destroy evil. I am thankful that Jesus found me and enabled me to recognize that although evil exists and our world is broken, this is not God’s ultimate design and one day Jesus will return, lift the curse of sin and make everything right.

I’m so glad that Jesus found me, as I now know that a day of ultimate justice will come, when evil will no longer exist. A kingdom is coming that will be characterized by love, joy, purity and goodness. This gives me hope and allows me to live in peace in what at times is a very dark and difficult world. During this season of the year – I hope you will experience the same peace. Let’s pray that those who mourn will be comforted by the sweetness of His presence and His promise to one day restore everything that was broken by evil, sin and death. One day He will return and wipe every tear from our eyes.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

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November 21, 2012 · 11:33 AM

Today’s Bus Bombing in Tel Aviv

Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!

In the midst of a season of great joy and family gatherings, our eyes are also glued to the news as we watch hostilities between Israel and Gaza escalate. Our hearts break for both sides; for Jewish and Palestinian families who perish as innocent victims.

The Psalmist urges us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to be blessed for doing so:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.” (Psalm 122:6-7)

Please remember to pray specifically for the protection of the Chosen People Ministries staff – almost all of whom are Israelis, and a few of whom have been called up to army service.

Please also pray for the leaders of both the Palestinian governments, Hamas and Fatah, and for the leaders of Israel, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These leaders will need wisdom that can only come from God Himself, and we need to pray that each turns to the One true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for counsel. Even more so, we pray that they will seek Him with such desperation that they might be open to the truth of He who is called the Prince of Peace and who is the only solution to bring peace to the Middle East (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Let me introduce you to Rachel, a staff member of Chosen People Ministries in Israel. She writes from the vantage point of a wife, mother and follower of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.

Ten years ago during the Intifada, suicide bombers were blowing up public buses. The sound of a massive explosions sent people running. You never knew where or if it would be your bus next, and in Israel public transportation is crucial.

Today, this is all happening again. It feels like we have stepped back in time. For the past few days, rockets have landed in various neighborhoods of Tel Aviv. This is so frightening! You hear the sirens and have a minute to get yourself and your loved ones to a safe place. It is traumatizing… especially when you have a little child!

Now, every whirring motor makes me think the blast of a siren will come next. I cannot imagine what it is like for those living in southern Israel, who are dealing with hundreds of missiles being fired upon them each day. Normal life is over; you live between your home and the nearest bomb shelter.

What do we do? Do we cower and hide in fear; stop going to congregations and Bible studies… or visiting friends and having play dates? We simply cannot! We will trust the Lord and continue to live in His strength!

Robynne, another one of our other staff members who lived through similar events years ago in Israel, describes how she felt about the bus bombings:

Bus bombs flash me back to the 90s when I lived in Jerusalem. You’d hear or feel the boom, and then the panicked phone calls start, asking friends and family if they were ok… exhaling sighs of relief when they answered, or feeling sheer panic if you got their voice mail. I had to ride the bus from one side of the city to the other (Ramat Eshkol to Ein Kerem), and I’d look at small kids on the bus and think, “Get off… Don’t take the bus; it’s not safe.” On the bus I’d see kids, elderly people, university students, Jews and Arabs… I’d also think about the driver’s wife, knowing her husband was on a bus in Jerusalem 8 hours a day. A public bus… not carrying soldiers, but instead packed with mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and friends. The intentional targeting of civilians… I just don’t have words for what we went through (and what you all are currently suffering).

Rachel adds,

Should we allow ourselves to be terrorized by the terrorists? Do we stay away from the parks, pull our kids out of school, walk home, cancel a party, stay at home, hide? No, I tell myself… I cannot. We Israelis are resilient. Our greatest defense is to live normally, yet being ever vigilant and aware. We cannot let the terrorists win.

But tell that to the 28 dear people who are being treated in the hospital after sustaining major wounds from the bus bomb blast. They do not feel like winners right now; they are scared and their lives devastated. Their only offence was that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They need our prayers and heartfelt sympathy. They need to know that believers in Jesus the Messiah throughout the world are standing with them and that we believe terrorism is always wrong, evil and inhumane!

I agree with Rachel! Should we stop our evangelism? Should we postpone the meals we offer each week to needy and elderly Israelis? Should we cancel the services of our Israeli congregations? We cannot! If we do, then we are giving in to terrorism.

It is the very same reason I opened our offices on September 12th, 2001! Our most noble protest to the actions of those who despise human life and who are only concerned and consumed by their cause is to live as normally as possible!

You can send a note to our Chosen People Ministries Israel staff and tell our workers you are praying for them by clicking here.

Your continued prayers and support during this trying time are always appreciated!

In Yeshua, the Prince of Peace,

Mitch

P.S. Click here to read a statement about Chosen People Ministries’ position on the current Middle East crisis.

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October 1, 2012 · 6:48 AM

What is Truth… in the Middle East Nuclear Crisis?

Last week, both President Ahmadinejad of Iran and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel addressed the United Nations General Assembly – as did the President of United States.

One of the most critical issues under discussion was whether or not Iran is developing nuclear weapons, how soon they will be developed and ready for use, and when and how the world community – especially United States and Israel – might respond. The discussion focused on whether Israel would perform a “first strike” or wait for sanctions and other behind-the-scenes strategies countering the potential nuclear threat in Iran to have an effect.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his speech, used a picture of a bomb and drew a red line showing the point of no return regarding Iran’s progress in producing a nuclear bomb. He argued that once Iran passed this line, any military response from the Israel or any other Western power would be ineffective. Therefore, he argued, time is running out for a more decisive solution to the threat of a nuclear Iran. President Ahmadinejad, on the other hand, again assured the United Nations that their goal was not to develop nuclear weapons but to use nuclear energy in a peaceful way.

It really comes down to this – do you trust the president of Iran, and you believe he is telling the truth when he says Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons?

This seems to be the question everyone is asking, and of course, most of us do believe the Iranians have every intention of developing nuclear weapons. But even if Iran did not have nuclear technology, the threat it poses to Israel and the United States cannot be minimized!

Iran, under its current administration, is a threat to Israel, the West and to the church today. It will be an even greater threat, especially to Israel, when it develops the capacity to utilize nuclear weaponry.

I believe there are even more fundamental issues that need to be considered. What is the real attitude of Iran’s government towards Israel and towards United States and western nations? The Iranian president revealed his attitudes in his recent speech at the UN. He believes the West is corrupt, and that unless a nation faithfully lives an Islamic way of life – according to his view of Islam – then that nation is doomed for judgment. He has made this abundantly clear.

What are his attitudes towards Israel? Once again, he has made his position evident by calling for Israel’s destruction and the removal of the Jewish nation from the Middle East. He does not believe in the God of the Bible and therefore in God’s promises to the Jewish people. He also denies the Holocaust, and he has made all of these positions known through his speeches at the UN and in other public venues.

President Ahmadinejad has made his view of end-times doctrine very clear as well. He believes in a 12th Imam who will become the world’s greatest leader and will fulfill in the role that most Jews and Christians believe is reserved for the promised Messiah. He believes that chaos will rain until the coming of the 12th Imam, and that humankind can and should have a role in fueling this chaos so that the Imam will appear and take his rightful role as the “one world leader.”

For followers of Jesus the Messiah and those who believe the Bible, as I do, the parallels between the 12th Imam and the predicted Antichrist are all too striking. Scripture tells us that the coming Antichrist will hate God, the family of God, and the Jewish people.

One important question is whose voice do we listen to in order to understand what is at the heart of this ideology? Who really speaks for Iran? Is it President Ahmadinejad or someone else? Many do not realize that President Ahmadinejad is actually a spokesman for the true leader of Iran – and it is only when we hear what this leader has to say that we can fully appreciate the grave threat Iran represents to Israel and United States, and can understand why Israel feels so strongly compelled to act.

Ever since the revolution in Iran, the true leader of the country has been known as the Supreme Leader – currently Ayatollah Khamenei. The critical question for us – especially as believers and those who love the nation of Israel – is to try to understand what he really believes, and then decide whether or not we believe what he says.

This is the crucial question that we all should answer in order to know how to respond and even how to pray for the Middle East crisis!

Three following is a small portion from Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech in which he calls upon the United States to abandon Israel:

Now I would like to give a benevolent piece of advice to American politicians who always stood up to defend and support the Zionist regime. So far, this regime has created countless problems for you. It has presented a hateful image of you to the regional peoples, and it has made you look like an accomplice in the crimes of the usurping Zionists. The material and moral costs borne by the American government and people on account of this are staggering, and if this continues, the costs might become even heavier in the future. Think about the Islamic Republic’s proposal of a referendum and with a courageous decision, rescue yourselves from the current impossible situation. Undoubtedly, the people of the region and all free-thinkers across the world will welcome this measure.

It is a revealing speech that was made at the inauguration of the Summit of Non Aligned Powers meeting held in August 2012, and found on the website of the permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations.[1]

I believe the threat posed by Iran towards Israel is very real and very dangerous. Not only because of their development of nuclear weapons, but because of their values. In fact, their values, as so clearly expressed in the speech of Ayatollah Khamenei, are the values of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Bath party in Syria and of so many of the nations surrounding Israel at this critical moment in history. Once we understand the depth of hatred that these leaders and their followers have towards Israel, United States and even Christianity, we better understand why it’s so important to support and pray for Israel and to preach the Gospel more intensively than ever in the Middle East.

This is what Chosen People Ministries is doing in Israel at this very moment. We are building staff, facilities and the capability to proclaim the Good News to a new generation of Israelis as well as speaking the Gospel in love to as many non-Jews in the Middle East as possible. We are also making preparations to care for many who might be affected by war in the event that hostilities intensify in Israel, as we are already feeding hundreds – if not thousands – of Israelis every month at our Centers in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sderot, Netanya and other cities around Israel.

We believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and the ultimate answer to the crisis in the Middle East!

Israelis are more open to the message of Messiah than ever before, because they understand that the answers to life, hope, safety and a peaceful future are in God’s hands and not man’s. So we need to do more right now to bring the love of Jesus the Messiah to our Jewish people – especially in Israel!

What Can You Do Today?

1. Please take a stand for Israel and the Jewish people and let President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton know that followers of Jesus believe in a secure homeland for the Jewish people… that God promised the Land to the Jewish people and as a nation we want to experience God’s blessing (Genesis 12:1-3) by standing with Israel.

2. Send a gift immediately to Chosen People Ministries for the work of the Gospel in Israel – now is the time that Israelis are more open than ever before!

3. Pray intensely for the peace of Jerusalem – for the Prince of Peace to reign in the hearts of Jews and Arabs, including leaders like Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Ahmadinejad, and Ayatollah Khamenei. It is only when Jesus rules in the hearts of men and women that they know the truth, the truth sets them free, and living at peace with our enemies is possible.

Thank you for reading this note – and for taking a moment to post it on Facebook and to get the word out that followers of Jesus the Messiah must support Israel and intensify efforts to reach Jews and Arabs with the Gospel!

Yours for the peace of Jerusalem,

Mitch

Transcripts of the speeches at the U.N.:

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September 13, 2012 · 8:58 AM

Rosh Hashanah

We are about to observe the Jewish New Year, which is called Rosh Hashanah, literally meaning “the head of the year.” Rosh Hashanah is the first of the three Fall Feasts; it is followed by Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). It is celebrated on the first day of the month of Tishrei in the Jewish calendar.

Rosh Hashanah is one of the seven great festivals appointed by God, all of which are listed in Leviticus chapter 23 and mentioned in a number of other passages in the Scriptures. There is also a vast amount of Rabbinic teaching describing the festivals and their observance.

Each of these holy days was established by God and revealed to the children of Israel through Moses, who received the calendar as part of the Sinai revelation. These holidays are supremely important to the Jewish people, and both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are observed each year by the majority of Jewish people, whether secular or religious. Rosh Hashanah is also an important family holiday, and many Jewish families around the world will have special dinners and spend time together, as well as attending Synagogue.

In the Bible, this festival is called Yom Teruah, which is Hebrew for “the day of the blowing of the trumpet.” In this sense, it functions as a call to attention for the Jewish people, preparing us for the Day of Atonement coming ten days later.

The blasts of the shofar (ram’s horn) sounded on Rosh Hashanah also remind us of the obedience of Abraham, who was willing to offer his only son as a sacrifice in obedience to God, though God stopped Abraham before he went through with it! The shofar reminds us that God demands full and unquestioning obedience.

The great theme of Rosh Hashanah is repentance. In fact, the first day of Rosh Hashanah begins a season of ten days of repentance, which are often called the Ten Days of Awe by the Jewish people. The observance of the Day of Atonement concludes these ten days. Most Jewish people believe that repentance is the path that leads to the forgiveness of sin, which is secured in the closing moments of Yom Kippur.

Though it is difficult to explain the difference, forgiveness is stressed in the Jewish community far more than personal salvation, especially as understood by most Christians. Jewish people are not as apt to think about personal salvation, a secured future beyond the grave and the power of God infused into our everyday existence by the presence of the Holy Spirit. All too often, Christians read concepts that are commonly understood by born again believers into Judaism. However, Jewish people do think about forgiveness during this time of year and are usually eager to repent before God and reconcile with anyone they may have offended.

However, in this view, forgiveness is seen as temporal, needing annual renewal and received on the basis of both God’s grace and mercy as well as one’s repentance and willingness to obey His Law found in the five books of Moses – at least this is the traditional Jewish teaching on the subject.

So why is Rosh Hashanah important to me as a Jewish follower of Jesus the Messiah?

Allow me to give a few reasons why I personally observe Rosh Hashanah as well as what it means to me.

Observing Rosh Hashanah is a wonderful way of identifying with my Jewish people on a more spiritual level, rather than focusing on Israel or on social, cultural or political concerns that might be important to Jewish community life.

This festival causes me to reflect and take stock of my life and especially my relationship with God. Seasons of spiritual reflection are wonderfully enriching and necessary in the midst of our busyness – even if we are busy doing the Lord’s work. Rosh Hashanah reminds me of my own need to repent regularly of my sins and to be faithful and obedient to God’s Word.

It also provides a wonderful time with my family, as well as being a fruitful season of witness in which I am able to invite Jewish friends and neighbors to our services and Bible studies around the globe. It is one thing to tell a Jewish person they can be Jewish and believe in Jesus… and it’s quite another to sit next to them at a Messianic Jewish Rosh Hashanah service, listening to the blowing of the shofar and the chanting of familiar prayers, and hearing the message of Messiah. In some ways, this is much more powerful. As believers, we know and proclaim that repentance from sin is only one part of the path to forgiveness and personal salvation… as it is only when we receive Yeshua as our Messiah that we are able to enjoy eternal forgiveness, freedom from condemnation, and the power to live transformed lives!

The shofarreminds us of what lies ahead, as the blast of trumpets will announce Messiah’s return on the day when those who believe will be raised to new and everlasting life.

As Rabbi Saul – the Apostle Paul writes,

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17)

There is much more to say about this festival – so I highly recommend that you visit the Chosen People Ministries website for Rosh Hashanah resources!

I would be interested in knowing what Rosh Hashanah means to you, and in whether or not you find spiritual value in setting aside time for deeper reflection and for repentance.

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June 27, 2012 · 11:48 AM

Predicting the Future was God’s Idea!

Israel is the focal point of God’s plan for the Last Days, and I believe the Bible is clear about Israel’s future role. It is simply incredible to visit Israel and realize that the nation and Land that God promised to Abraham, and of which the prophets spoke, exists today. Modern Israel is a signpost of God’s faithfulness and a reminder that the Word of God is true—and that His coming is near!

But how close are we? According to the Hebrew prophet Zechariah, there are a number of puzzle pieces that need to be in place before the Lord’s second coming. God’s chosen people must be back in the Land, Jerusalem must be in Jewish hands, and her enemies must surround her. (Zechariah 12:9-10 ff)

These pieces are in place today in ways that have never been true before. We live at a unique moment in human history, as the table is set for the return of Messiah!

If we are closer to this glorious day than most people think (which I wholeheartedly believe), then how should our lives be different? We cannot live while ignoring the signs of His soon appearing. As Jesus said,

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (Matt. 24:42)

Of course, we should not set dates for His return; the Lord Himself warns us against doing this (Matthew 24:36). Throughout the ages there have been many attempts to predict the day and hour of His coming, and the results have often been disastrous and harmful for the proclamation of the Gospel. Because of these negative experiences, many say we should not allow ourselves to become fixated on the Second Coming.

I could not disagree more!

Sometimes I think we have internalized the idea that talking about the world as we know it coming to an end makes us naïve fanatics. But if Jesus is coming soon—and I am sure He is—then we should certainly live today in light of His coming, and encourage others to do the same. We need an army of “fanatics” who believe this and preach it

The entire Bible—particularly the prophets—warns non-believers of the judgment to come and comforts the hearts of believers with this great hope! Jesus does not want us to try to set dates, yet He does tell us to be prepared, because the hour is coming.

Understanding that we have little time left motivates me to preach the Good News with a greater sense of urgency! I do not want to sound critical, but it seems that many Christians believe in the second coming… yet the belief does not make a real difference in the way we LIVE and WITNESS.

There are a growing number of believers and churches who do not think that Israel has any role at all in the last days… and often it is these same churches that downplay the second coming. Practically and theologically speaking, there are fewer things to think about if the promises of God to the Jewish people about a future kingdom are simply fulfilled spiritually in the Church.

However, for my brothers and sisters who take this vantage point on the second coming, the return of Jesus is cloaked with vagaries and veiled in ambiguity. After all, how might a wolf lie down with a lamb at a Sunday morning service? Must we believe that the words of the prophets should be regarded as mere symbols of a future reality that has little connection to the words of Scripture?

What about the realignment of national loyalties predicted in Isaiah 19—how would this be spiritually fulfilled in today’s church? Passages like these simply beg for literal fulfillment, and if you do not have some sort of restored physical kingdom with Israel at the center, then how can these prophecies possibly make sense?

The urgency of Jewish evangelism in light of Jesus’ return is easily lost when the Old Testament is not taken literally and Israel becomes just one nation amongst all the others. In fact, reducing the more literal language of Scripture about the future of Israel and spiritualizing the inspired text ultimately causes Jewish evangelism to be downplayed. It requires the words of Paul commanding the church to bring the Gospel to the Jew first (Romans 1:16) to be viewed as having been completed in the first century, without any further prophetic purpose! There is a connection between believing in Israel’s importance in the End Times and believing in the importance of Jewish evangelism today.

The link between the second coming of Christ and the salvation of the Jewish people is unavoidable. Paul writes,

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written… (Rom. 11:25-26)

In the meantime, we will continue to pull out the stops in reaching Jewish people for Jesus, as the state of Israel and alignment of nations in the Middle East are indicators that we are getting closer to His coming. Reaching Jewish people for Jesus takes on a new and prophetic urgency in light of this day and hour.

Keep looking up!

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May 13, 2012 · 11:39 AM

Shalom from Germany!

I had a wonderful worship experience today in four languages: German, Russian, English, and Hebrew! I spoke at congregation Beit Sar Shalom, which is affiliated with Chosen People Ministries in Germany, led by Vladimir Pikman.

The congregation and ministry began as tens of thousands of Russian-speaking Jewish people were immigrating to Germany in the mid 1990s. Vladimir and his wife Inna left Kiev to live in Germany, following the Lord’s callto share the Good News with their Russian and Ukrainian Jewish friends, family and neighbors. This young couple was able to lead many Jewish people to Jesus. They started a congregation called Beit Sar Shalom, and over the last ten years have planted an additional half-dozen Messianic congregations – primarily for Russian Jews – all over Germany.

The congregation in Berlin meets at the Beit Sar Shalom Center, which the ministry purchased about seven years ago. I spoke on the Abrahamic Covenant and my message was translated into German and Russian.

I would like to share a clip of the congregation’s worship – it is a common Messianic song sung in German! You can visit the Beit Sar Shalom website to hear the message… and learn a few new languages all at the same time!

Blessings in Yeshua,

Mitch

P.S. I’m on my way to Israel for the next few weeks… stay tuned for more blogs and videos.

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