|
1. PROMISE OF LAND TO JEWS
I will establish
my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be
your God and the God of your descendants after you. The WHOLE land of Canaan , where you are now an alien, I will give you
as an everlasting possession to you and to your descendants after you; and I will be their God. Gen 17:7,8
The Lord,
your God said to us at Horeb, “ You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country
of the Amorites; go to ALL the neighboring people in the Arabah, in the mountains in the western foothills, in the Negev and
along the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites, and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See I have given
you this land. GO IN AND TAKE POSSESION OF THE LAND THAT THE LORD SWORE HE WOULD IVE TO YOUR FATHERS---TO ABRAHAM, ISSAC AND
JACOB----and TO THEIR DESCENDANTS AFTER THEM. Deuteronomy 1:7,8
2. HOW DO WE KNOW “ABRAHAM’S
DESCENDANTS” DOESN’T MEAN ISHMAELITES?
And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live
under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Issac.
I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have
heard you. I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father
of 12 rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. BUT MY COVENANT I WILL ESTABLISH WITH ISSAC, whom Sarah will bear to
you by this time next year. Genesis 17:18-21
3. IS THE COVENANT GOD MADE BROKEN BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE?
Jacob
Said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, ‘I
ma going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this
land as an EVERLASTING possession to your descendants after you. Genesis 48:3,4
He remembers his covenant FOREVER The
word He commanded to 1000 generations The covenant He made with Abraham The oath He swore to Issac He confirmed it
to Jacob as a decree To Israel as an everlasting covenant: To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion YOU
WILL INHERIT Psalm:105:8-11
4. ARE THOSE WHO TRY TO TAKE THE LAND FROM ISRAEL GOD’S ENEMIES?
In
those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all nations and bring them
down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There, I will enter into judgement against them concerning my inheritance, my people
Israel For they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land . Joel 3:1,2
“Son of man, prophesy
to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the Word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: The enemy said of you, “Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.”Therefore prophesy and say,
‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession
of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander, therefore O mountains of Israel hear
the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys,
to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you—this
is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all of Edom,
for with glee and with malice to their hearts they made my land their land their own possession so that they might plunder
the pastureland.’ Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and ravines, to the ravines
and valleys: “This is what the sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn
of the nations. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will
also suffer scorn. Ezekiel 36:1-7
5. THAT IS ALL OLD TESTAMENT. HASN’T GOD REJECTED THE JEWS BECAUSE
MANY OF THEM REJECT JESUS AS MESSIAH?
I ask then, did God reject His people? By no means! I am an Israelite
myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people who he foreknew. Don’t you
know what the scripture says in the passage about Elijah-how he appealed to God against Israel…….so too at the
present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works. If it were, then grace would
no longer be grace. (Romans 1:1,2,5,6)
Again I ask, Did they stumble as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! RATHER,
because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means
riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! (Romans
11:11, 12)
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the
dead? If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, than the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, SO ARE
THE BRANCHES. (Romans 11:15,16)
As far as the Gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as
election, is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gift an His call are irrevocable. (Romans11:28,
29)
6. GOD DISPERSED THE JEWS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM. WHY SHOULD THEY BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO THE LAND?
Who
has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth
in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Isaiah 66:8
Again the word of
the Lord came to me: “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their
conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath
on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the
nations and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever
they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, “These are the Lord’s people
and yet they had to leave his land. I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations
where they had gone.
Therefore say to the house of Israel, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: it is not for
your sake. O house of Israel that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned
among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name which has been profaned among the nations,
the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord when I show
myself holy through you before their eyes.
For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries
and bring you back into your own land. Ezekiel 36:16-24
“However the days are coming, “ declares the Lord,
“when will no longer say, ‘As surely “However the days are coming, “ declares the Lord, “when
will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say,
‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of ALL the countries
where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers. Jeremiah 16:14,15
7. GOD’S HEART IS FOR THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL
Nevertheless,
I will bring health and healing to it: I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring
Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them of all the sin they have
committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise
and honor before all nations on the earth that hear of all the good things I do for it: and they will be in awe and will tremble
at the abundant prosperity and peace ai provide for it…..I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before”
says the Lord. Jeremiah 33: 6-9,11
8. THE FIRST CHURCH WAS ALL JEWS
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation
under heaven. When they heard the sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his
own language. Utterly amazed they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each
one of us hears them in his own language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts
to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-
We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Acts 2:5-12
MEN
OF ISRAEL, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God TO YOU by miracles, wonders and signs, which God
did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you BY GOD’S SET PURPOSE AND FOREKNOWLEDGE
and you, WITH THE HELP OF WICKED MEN, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing
Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him……Seeing what was ahead,
he (David) spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God
has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses to the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from
the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you and I now see and hear……therefore let ALL ISRAEL
be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were
cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “BROTHERS, WHAT SHALL WE DO TO BE SAVED?” Peter replied,
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR OFF-for all whom the lord our
God will call……Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3000 were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:22-24, 31-33, 36-39, 40, 41
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It
was strengthend ; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31
9.GOD’S PROPHETIC WORD HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN MANY WAYS
CONCERNING THE LAND
I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys I will
turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs I will put in the desert, the cedar and the acacia,
the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, So that the people may
know, may consider and understand, that the hand Of the Lord has done this, That the Holy One of Israel has created
it. Isaiah 41:18-20
I will be found by you declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather
you from all the nations and places where I have banished you declares The Lord And will bring you back to the place
from which I carried you into exile. Jeremiah 29:14
The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate
in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of
Eden; cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited. Jeremiah 36:34,35
10.
JERUSALEM IS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL
“Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen
a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over
my people Israel. But now, I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.”
2 Chronicles 6:5,6
He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain
in Jerusalem forever.” 2 Chronicles 33:4
Praise be to the Lord in Zion, to Him who dwells in Jerusalem Psalm
135:21
The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel….. Extol the Lord , O Jerusalem; praise
your God, O Zion For He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you He grants peace to your
borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat Psalm 147: 2, 12-14
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent For
Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet Till her righteousness shines out like the dawn Her salvation like a
blazing torch Isaiah 62:1
The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But
Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,
and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem
will be secure. Zechariah 14:10,11
This is what the sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem:
Your ancestry
and birth were in the Land of Canaanites; Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born,
your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.
No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into
the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.
Then I passed by an saw you kicking about in your blood,
and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “LIVE!” I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew
up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you were naked and
bare. Later, I passed by and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment
over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into covenant with you, declares the Sovereign
Lord, and you became mine……..I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking
covenant. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting
covenant with you. Ezekiel 16:2-8, 59, 60
|