It’s Time to Support Israel

It’s Time to Support Israel

Subject: Five Biblical Reasons Why We Should Support Israel

Genesis 12:1‑4 (NKJV) 

1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 

2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 

3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 

4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy‑five years old when he departed from Haran. 

1. It’s Time We Know God Promises to Bless Those Who Bless Israel.

--I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. Do you see how God makes this so personal...I will bless “those” who bless you but I will curse “him” who curses you.

–This is God’s promise to Abraham and to the Jewish people for generations to come.

–God has promised to bless nations, churches, and individuals who choose to pray for, to bless, to do acts of kindness to bless Israel and the Jewish people.

Luke 7:1‑5 (NKJV) 

1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 

2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 

3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 

4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 

5 "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." 

–A Roman centurion who was kind to the Jewish people and who had built them a place of worship has a servant who needs healing...we know the story...Great faith...healed.

–Another centurion also serves as an example of blessing the Jews:

Acts 10:22 (NKJV) 22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." 

–A good reputation among the Jews...treated them with respect and honor. Because of his kindness the gospel was preached to the Gentiles and the Holy Spirit was poured out. Result - Revival

John Hagee: The reason for unprecedented blessings on Cornerstone Church are tied to our thirty-year history of showing kindness to the Jewish people.

2. It’s Time We Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

–Again, it is not a request but a command to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

Psalm 122:1‑9 (NKJV) 1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." 

2 Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! 

3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, 

4 Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD. 

5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. 

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. 

7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces." 

8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you." 

9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. 

--As far as God is concerned Jerusalem is the center of the universe. 3000 years ago David captured the city from the Jebusites and it became the capital of Israel.

–Jerusalem is where Abraham offered Isaac on Mt. Moriah...where Jeremiah and Isaiah wrote principles of righteousness that has become a moral compass for Western civilization.

–Outside the gates of the city of Jerusalem is where Jesus Christ, the Son of David, was crucified for the sins of the whole world.

Hagee: According to Bible prophecy, Jerusalem is the past, present, and future of the world. From this city, Jesus will rule planet earth with a rod of iron, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.

Isaiah 9:7 (NKJV) 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

–When you are praying for Jerusalem you are praying for world peace. History has proven that when there is peace in Jerusalem there is peace in the world.

–When there is war in Jerusalem, blood is flowing on the planet. The universe revolves around Jerusalem.

Dr. Graham Lacey: As long as there is Jerusalem there is God; and as long as there is God there is Jerusalem. 

3. It’s Time We Are Watchmen on the Walls of Israel.

Isaiah 62:1‑7 (NLT) 

1 Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. 

2 The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the LORD’s own mouth. 

3 The LORD will hold you in his hand for all to see— a splendid crown in the hand of God. 

4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his bride. 

5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. 

6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD. 

7 Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. 

–We are commanded as watchmen to speak up for Israel and to defend the Jewish people whenever they are attacked by their enemies, or are subjected to anti-Semitic attitudes. Universities. 

–We need to pray for our leadership that they will always support Israel and to ask God for forgiveness and mercy when they speak against Israel.

–The day we turn our backs on Israel as a nation will be the beginning of the end for us. Keep watching and keep praying for Israel.

4. It’s Time We Minister to Israel in Material Things.

Romans 15:27 (NKJV) 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 

–We must ask the question, what spiritual things have we received from the Jews.

* They have given to us the written Word of God.

* They have given to us the patriarchs...Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

* They have given to us the Old Testament prophets...

* They have given to us the first family of Christianity...Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

* They have given us the church built on Jesus Christ.

* They have given to us the twelve disciples and Paul.

–Consider the monumental contribution given to us by the seed of Abraham. We give back by supporting missionaries who are there preaching the gospel.

John 4:22 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 

Hagee: If you take away the Jewish contribution to Christianity, there would be no Christianity. Judaism does not need Christianity to explain its existence; Christianity, however, cannot explain its existence without Judaism. When I refer to Christianity I am referring to the teachings of Christ, which were based on the principles of Judaism.

5. It’s Time We Support Israel Because Jesus Encouraged the Church to do so.

–We should support Israel and the Jewish people because it was one of Jesus’ final request to His church.

Matthew 25:34‑40 (NKJV) 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 

37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 

39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 

40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' 

–We must understand in looking at this verse that Jesus never called the Gentiles His brethren until after the cross. Before the cross we were, as described by the apostle Paul:

Ephesians 2:12‑13 (NKJV) 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

–Jesus by His death on the cross caused us to be engrafted in:

Romans 11:17‑18 (NKJV) 

17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 

18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 

Conquering Fear – 4

Conquering Fear – 4

Subject – The Fear of the Lord

By Rick Welborne

Isaiah 33:5‑6 (NIV) 

5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. 

6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. 

–How powerful is this?  Holy fear is the key to God’s sure foundation, unlocking the treasures of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. 

–Place the fear of God alongside the love of God and the two compose the very foundation of life and godly living.

–As we continue this series we will see that we cannot truly love God until we fear Him; nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him.

1. Jesus Lived by the Fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:1‑3 (NLT) 

1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 

2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

3 He will delight in obeying the LORD. 

–This is an Old Testament prophecy about Jesus and it has much to say to us about what is needed in our lives. First, it says that Jesus was connected to God...shouldn’t we be connected to the vine?

John 15:5 (NLT) 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

–Second, the Spirit will rest on Him...Holy Spirit...the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

–If Jesus needed Holy Spirit...how much more will you and I need Him...maybe one of the reasons we have lost our fear of the Lord is because we are not filled with Holy Spirit.

–Out of this Spirit resting on Him flowed obedience, justice, fair decisions, and the Word was strong in His mouth...what about us? Our earnestness to seek God has to be of a great priority in our lives:

Jeremiah 29:11‑14 (NLT) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 

13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 

14 I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” 

–Please get in your mind that God wants to do good for you:

Jeremiah 32:37‑41 (NLT) 37 I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. 

38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 

39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 

40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 

41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land. 

2. We Must Approach Him with Reverence and Awe.

Leviticus 10:1‑3 (NLT) 

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. 

2 So fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. 

3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.’” And Aaron was silent. 

–How many of you would agree that it is important how we approach God. Sometimes I feel that we have lost our awe of God and our reverence for Him and His house. 

–How many of you know that Aaron’s sons learned the hard way that how you come before God can be life or death...there was a reason Aaron was silent...Fear of God.

Isaiah 29:13 (NKJV) 13 Therefore the LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, 

John Bevere - He said, “Their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.” He is saying that the people had reduced the glory of the Lord to the glory of corruptible man. They served God in the image they had created–not by His true image, but by their own standards.

–I worked with a young man in Irvin, Texas at a freight company who would often refer to Jesus as J. C. Yes, I love Him and He loves me just the way I am.

–He would cuss, tell crude jokes, laugh about partying, and never had to go to church ...even would brag about his freedom to mess around. He would say to me...JC understands who I am.

–I told him that he was just kidding himself and please do not tell anyone else that he was a Christian...talk about influence...they draw near with their lips but their heart far from Me.

2 Corinthians 6:14‑18 (NLT) 14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 

15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 

16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 

18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” 

–People refer to Him as The Man Upstairs...Big Daddy in The Sky...I have even heard people say that when they see Him they will run and jump in His lap. Pretend He is Santa. 

–John the Revelator fell before Him as though he was dead...Ezekiel and Daniel fell in His presence...when we see Him we will fall on our faces. 24 elders around the throne fall constantly. 

–If we intend on approaching God with reverence and fear there has to be a difference between us and the world. We have drifted so far from His truth and holiness.

3. No One Compares to Him.

Psalm 89:1‑8 (NKJV) 1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. 

2 For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens." 

3 "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: 

4 'Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.' " Selah 

5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. 

6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? 

7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. 

8 O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. 

–When I was lost and so heavily addicted to so many things...no one had the power to set me free...to deliver me from the strongholds of the enemy.

–I remember my doctor telling me...you are going to die within the next few months if you don’t stop what you are doing...the doctor couldn’t help me. 

–I was in the pigpen of life and it seemed that there was a spiraling vacuum right in the middle of it and there was no stopping the inevitable end to my life. I was hopeless and lost.

–I am so glad that God put those in my life who had the answer...I mocked them...made fun of them and even scoffed at a Savior being born of a virgin.

–Many times, thru tears, Ronnie Chunn would tell me how much Jesus loved me and that God had a plan for my life...I wanted to believe it but who will deliver me from this body of death?

Romans 7:24-25 (NLT) 

24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 

25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

–Finally when I was at the end of myself I promised Ronnie I would go to a revival with him...just to get him off my back. That night everything changed!

Psalm 89:6-7 (NKJV) 

6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? 

7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. 

–We must honor Him, fear Him, revere Him because there is no one else like Him. Pastor Rick, I am a believer but I am hurting...go to the One that no one else can compare to:

--We cannot truly love God until we fear Him; nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him.