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PASSOVER 2010

Israel or Palestine?

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

Genesis 12:1&2 still promises a blessing for those who bless Israel, the physical land of Israel and the people it was promised to.

See how great a love the Father has lavished on us! I Jn. 3:1