Living Life

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Char Adams:

Our daily devotionals are intended to add uplifting thoughts to brighten one's day, and for me, without exception, they do just that. Recently, I came across an eloquent writing entitled "An inspirational journey through life", as depicted on a framed artwork of a tree by artist Bonnie Mohr, titled "Living Life." I was moved by the simplicity of the thoughts expressed therein and figured maybe this would appeal to someone else also. At first, as I started to read it, I thought, "oh no, is this yet another answer to life from a wordly perspective only?" Yet, by Line 7, I was convinced for sure that it was worth sharing because the author was doing nothing more than imploring us to live our lives from these GODly perspectives - "Go to church", "Take time for prayer", "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh", "Do not worry", "Forgive".

With that said, I'll now share the entire piece. Just as you read along, I am sure that several Scriptures will come to mind from "many" (many) places in God's Word where you'll find the very thoughts set out as GOD's plan for how we should live our lives.

"Living Life"
Life is not a race - but indeed a journey.
Be honest. Word hard. Be choosy.
Say "thank you", "I Love You', and "great job" to someone each day.
Go to church, take time for prayer.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.
Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper.
Love your life and what you've been given; it is not accidental.
Search for your purpose and do it as best you can.
Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become
that which you aspire to be.
Laugh often.
Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.
Some of the best things really are free.
Do not worry - less wrinkles are more becoming.
Forgive - it frees the soul.
Take time for yourself - plan for longevity.
Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know.
Live for today. Enjoy the moment.

Although I'm not the catalog shopper that I used to be, I still receive just about every catalog that's printed. I am glad for that because every so often, I come across a jewel like this one. I plan to make an early Christmas present of it to the Family Room in our home to compliment the other framed tree artwork gracing our walls.

In your reading or devotional time, I'd suggest it would be worth the effort to find matching Scriptures for the "life living" thoughts expressed in "Living Life". I hope this added a smile to your day.

Have a blessed weekend, and remember to especially pray for the men of Grace Harbor Church & School for their refreshing time away on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning for the Men's Retreat in Big Bear.

In Him, Charlotte Adams

Dreams, Laughter, Singing and Joy

Psalm 126:1-6 "When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

I needed this Psalm today, so I am sharing the whole thing with you. Wow, this really gives me hope. I so earnestly desire to have a time of dreams, laughter, singing and joy again. Not only for me, but for all of us. As I read this I knew it applied to me like I know it applies to you because we were all captives to the eternal consequences sin until Christ set us free with His salvation. Therefore I can remember and am reminded what it was like to dream dreams, when I was first set free. I can remember and am reminded of the wonderful laughter, the heartfelt singing and the overwhelming joy that came from my salvation. I needed to be reminded today.

Too easily I forget how parched I was and what a blessing those streams in the Negev’s of my life were. Too quickly I forget the songs and laughter and joy that fueled my on-fire faith. How shortsighted of me to not recall the great things God has done, is doing and will do. How little faith to not ask for fortune to be restored. How little faith to not remember that more sowing will lead to more reaping.

We have been set free and are captives no longer. Read the words of this victorious Psalm that put in perspective the plan of God, that will prevail, and reminds us of times of flourishing, victory and hope. Let the singing and rejoicing begin as we plant and He reaps and we rejoice. A harvest is happening, don't miss it and be prepared to celebrate. Let us all be encouraged by this truth.

Praise the Lord!! Pastor Fred

Do Good, O Lord

Psalm 125:4 "Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart."

Now you and I know that no one is good. The Bible makes that clear. We are all too familiar with the fact that we, are saved by grace, live in a fallen world and struggle with our old sin nature. But, God is good. He is perfectly good. His goodness is part of His character and there is nothing but good in Him. Note what the Psalmist says after he requests God to do good ‘to those who are good.’ He adds, 'to those who are upright in heart'. Thanks be to God that He judges the heart. On that basis then, I ask God to do good to you, if you have an upright heart.

All of us fall short, but you know if your heart is right. I can always tell if my heart is right because when it is, my conscience is definitely plugged in. Therefore when I falter, I know right away that I am out of line. Whether in word or deed, when I am right with God, that subtle reminder of conviction that I cannot escape is there. This is a good thing. Otherwise I could miss the good that God is doing to me and the blessings that go with it.

My heartfelt desire for each of you is that God would do good to you, that He would bless your hearts. Right now I am thinking of many of you and how I hope that today, whether at work, or at home or at school or just out and about, God is doing good to you. We have so much to be grateful for and glad about. He has done so much good for us already and He wants to do more. We should focus on the upright part. Not that we think His blessings are a direct derivative of some kind of score that He is keeping to reward us with His goodness, He will do good to whom He chooses. We should be upright because that is right. The Psalmist is asking that God do good to those who are upright. Understandably.

I pray that the goodness of God overwhelms all of you who read this today. As soon as you read these words I hope you sense His goodness is poured out on you. Receive it, enjoy it, celebrate it and talk about it. We need His blessings and want His goodness. Make sure to be grateful for what He has already done and let’s expect even more of His goodness to be poured out on us soon. I am touched by His goodness and His love today. I hope you are too.

In Him, Pastor Fred

Responding to our Enemies

"Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord's anointed.' See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you." I Samuel 24:8-12

Our Wednesday night women's Bible studies have followed David from the sheepfolds of Judea to the battle fields of Israel. We have watched David tend his father's sheep and unexpectedly be anointed king when he was just a young lad. We witnessed David's passionate faith in his Almighty God when he killed a 9 foot giant, and we have seen him developing into a man after God's own heart. We have sadly also seen the hatred and jealous anger of a king who felt threatened by David's successes and we watched David flee from those he believed were his supporters. It has been a blessing and a challenge to look into the life of David up to this point.

The past couple of weeks we watched God put David into the Refiners Fire, removing his sources of "support" and bringing David to a point where he had to rely on God and God alone as his source of life and peace of mind, we find the sweet singer of Psalms fleeing for his very
life and living in a dark wet cave. God has been teaching David the difficult lesson that only God is worthy to be leaned upon. In I Samuel 24, David is hiding with his men in a cave. While there, he is presented with an opportunity that many men would have died for: the opportunity to exact revenge upon his greatest enemy, Saul. David has the perfect opportunity to kill Saul, claim the throne and elevate himself all the way to the very top. But, David does not do what most people would have done in that situation. Instead of reacting with hatred, revenge and murder; David displays, love, grace, compassion and forgiveness. Here, it is easy to see why the Lord called David, "A man after Mine Own heart." Isn't this what our Loving Heavenly Father does for each of us? We have sinned and fallen SO short of the glory of God, and yet He reaches out to us across eternity, sacrifices His Only Son so that we can find forgiveness, mercy and grace in time of need. If you pause and consider David's choice in the cave to not kill Saul, we can see God's Heart of mercy at work as well! Notice what he says in verse 12: "May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you". David wasn't letting Saul off the hook for his wrongdoings against him, he was merely stating that GOD would deal with Saul, but not by David's hand that day. How easy it would have been for David to justify that he was being used by the Lord to right the wrongs, but in his heart of hearts he KNEW God's heart well enough to know it was not right to raise his human hand against the Lord's anointed. A powerful truth to consider for all of us today, my beloved brothers and sisters.

As we consider the verses of our passage today, we often find ourselves in the same place in which David found himself. Someone will wrong us or do something against us. We will be offended and hurt by their actions. Then, somewhere down the road, the opportunity will present itself for us to "get even." What we do at that moment defines us! What we do when that opportunity for revenge presents itself reveals the true nature of our heart! Do YOU have God's heart within you? if so, then your choice will be to offer grace and forgiveness, and choose to not demand justice by your own hand when you are wronged. Romans 12:19 reminds us: " Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." You must not take matters into your own hands, but instead allow God to be the One in charge of vengeance. I realize that I am saying is not an easy thing to do. If you read the chapters that precede I Samuel 24, you will learn that it was not an easy choice for David either, but he is there recorded in the pages of your Bible as an example to learn from. It is possible to extend mercy when you let go of your "right to get even" and let GOD be in control when your enemies rise up against you. No good thing comes from revenge, only emptiness and pain for all involved. God is glorified when you respond with His love and in His ways. Remember the story of the servant who was forgiven and then went out and demanded that those who owed him money pay back every penny?

Matt 18:23-35: (Jesus speaking) "Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!' The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!' He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."

The Master was not pleased in the parable with the unforgiving servant, and God will not be pleased if we as His children do the same when we have been forgiven such a great debt when our sins were washed away by His Son's redeeming blood. Learn from David, learn from the words of Jesus, and remember that God requires that we forgive from our HEARTS.

Shalom, sister Lahoma

God is on our side

Psalm 124:1a "If God had not been on our side---"

God is on our side. Isn't that a relief to know? What if He had not been? David, in Psalm 124 shares what would have happened if God had not been on their side. Thank God He was then and is today. Of course we will be careful not to take this to the extreme hoping to affect the outcome of the NFL season. God is on the side of His people. His people are on every team, so let's not have God taking sides in football. Let's do share what David thought would have happened if God was not for them.

1. They would have been swallowed alive
2. The flood would have engulfed them
3. The torrent would have swept over them
4. The raging waters would have swept them away
5. They would have been torn by the teeth of their enemy
6. They would have been snared like birds

Instead, they escaped, the snare has been broken, God has helped them and they are Praising His Name. Aren't we glad God is on our side, was then and still is now? No matter what army or flood or pestilence or adversity comes into our lives, we can escape and God will see us through. He will protect and provide and will help us. This is His promise and His plan and we just need to keep calling on His Name. God is on our side.

So whatever besets you today, whatever beast would swallow you alive, whatever calamity would drown you, whatever tide threatens to bury you, whatever disaster could sweep you away, whatever might bite you or tear you apart, even if you could get trapped, God will deliver you. He will safely move you forward. Just think of all the things in our lives that we feared would happen that never happened. Sure, stuff happens. But, what would have happened if God had not been on our side? Praise the Lord for His provision, protection and favor. What a blessing to have God on our side. Just think what could or would have happened. Don't dwell on it, just Praise His Name.

So grateful, Pastor Fred

Why should we study the Word of God as if our life depends on it?

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, John Adams:

Why should we study the Word of God as if our life depends on it?

Because it does. Many Christian surveys and polls have revealed that the great majority of professing Christians today in the United States spend very little, or no time, studying their Bibles. As a result, most are shockingly ignorant regarding even the most basic elements of the Gospel and the key doctrines of their faith.

The Bible predicted that times would come when people would have "...a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof", and we wonder why the Church in America seems so impotent to impact our culture.

Grace Harbor Church and School is committed to encouraging all of its members to start reversing this disturbing trend by becoming actively and regularly involved in some form of systematic Bible study.

Why? Because without God's Word, we are literally dead, powerless, and without hope.

Jesus said He was "...the Way, the Truth, and the Life" and that no one could come to the Father except through Him. In fact, Jesus himself is "the Word", as clearly stated in...

John 1:1-2 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

As the Lord's brother James urged believers, "don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created" James 1:16-18.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus refused to be baited into any displays of His miraculous divine powers, but instead He rebuked Satan and drove him off SIMPLY BY SPEAKING THE WORD.

As Christ told His doubting disciples, "The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are Life" John 6:63.

Pastor Rick Warren, in his best selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life" perhaps said it best when he wrote, "The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guide book. God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptations, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings [good] things into being, and guarantees our future forever! We cannot live without the Word of God. Never take it for granted. You should consider it as essential to your life as food."

If we would only devote 15 minutes a day to reading God's Word, we would read through the entire Bible in one year. In just 30 minutes a day, we could complete it in just six months. We think of nothing to devoting hours to recreational activities, watching television and movies, pursuing hobbies, or just doing nothing.

I would urge us all to reevaluate our priorities and make a firm commitment to spend consistent. focused, and life-giving time each day to the Word of God and see just how God might revive and empower His people and His Church.

God Bless each one of you.

John Adams

Have Mercy on Our Heart

Psalm 123:3 "Have mercy on us O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt."

I need to share about something very near and dear to my heart, Grace Harbor Church and School. As I am moving towards the completion of my eighth year as Pastor I seem to be growing more and more sentimental. Perhaps that comes with aging, more likely with experience and maturity. I was much more sentimental as a younger man and I seem to be returning to that tender frame of mind. Earlier in my life I was seemingly more sensitive to meanness and vulgarity, to insensitivity and divisiveness. Once again I find myself extremely aware of any attack on God's work, through His Church.

This feeling is not just about Grace Harbor, I have felt it about all the other ministries I have been part of also. What God is doing through His work in any ministry should never be defamed, ridiculed or held in contempt. Sure, Pastors and church people fall short and fail and mess up too, but the Church, that is the Body of Christ that meets at 12881 Newport Ave. in Tustin and all the other addresses I have worked at before should be respected, appreciated and valued because it is His work. Never speak rudely of a church or be disrespectful of it.

I served for over three years as the Pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Long Beach. Not an easy ministry, by any means, but a precious place with precious people and a rich history of serving God. When Dawn and I would be at the church late at night we both sensed this overwhelming sadness and brokenness of the hearts of the saints who had so faithfully served before us over the years and it motivated us to love His Church. Recently, I saw that the church was closed now, twenty years after we came there. I wept sitting in my car in front of the office door where I entered that place to serve Him day after day. Much good work for Him was done there and lives were touched, souls came to the saving knowledge of Jesus there and many were helped and blessed. I prayed that it would be restored to His work.

I know that the building is not what is truly most important. It is just a facility. But, it represents His work, His people and His heart. I feel the same way about Grace Harbor. Whoever can say whatever about me, or any other church, or people who are part of Grace Harbor or people in other churches, but His work is to be held in esteem. The very gates of hell won't prevail against it, you know. Sure the buildings will all be gone someday and the addresses too, but that which the Lord established and built and used and glorified Himself with will always remain.

We, the Church that is the Body of Christ that meets at 12881 Newport and is now called Grace Harbor, has been ridiculed and held in contempt like all churches by a few, but because of the Lord's mercy, we have endured. We will continue to endure with His grace and blessing as long as we seek to humbly lift Him up in this place. Naysayers and the 'oh so spiritual self-proclaimed judgmental pundits' can say what they will, but He will prevail. God loves the Church. God loves Immanuel Baptist in Long Beach and Grace Harbor too. Christ died for the Church. God established the Church. The Church, His Body and His work will endure. So, as long as He says so, we will serve, no matter what anybody else says. Please be careful what you say about any Church.

In His Service at Grace Harbor, Pastor Fred

Glad for Church

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "let us go to the House of the Lord."

As a child I don't think our family went to church more than a couple of times a year and my first recollection of anything about church was when I was having emergency surgery at age five and a Pastor from Brown St. Baptist Church was comforting my mother before they asked me to count backwards from ten. Shortly thereafter we moved to sunny California for sickly Freddy's health and didn't connect with church until I went with a friend at age thirteen. I loved church from the very beginning. Everything about it. Couldn't get enough of it.

I loved the building and all the symbolism and the music and the praying and all the ingredients of the recipe that went into every batch of church. Every time the Pastor spoke I hung on the words, listening intently. I loved Sunday School and as corny as Mr. Kennedy was, and as strict as Mrs. Perlich was I loved to hear them talk about Jesus. When I went to youth group, I was in heaven. What a blessing. All these great, decent people who cared about me. I can't think of a single thing that I didn't love about church. It was totally true for me that .....'I rejoiced with those who said to me, "let us go to the House of the Lord".' No place I would rather be.

I felt safe, I was learning about something that was changing my life, I was with friends and people that loved God. For the life of me I don't understand why folks avoid church so much, or complain so much or can't sit still for awhile to listen to the most important information in the world. Today it seems that unless we are entertaining people in every possible way or addressing each individual's specific, immediate need or serving favorite foods or giving away prizes that it is like pulling teeth to hold a crowd's attention for very long. We are very distracted and very hard to please.

From the first time I set foot in church until now I have always gotten excited about Sundays or any time we could go to church. My heart would jump just at the idea of church happening, and it didn't matter what kind either. If the missionary was speaking, or old-time music was being played or an exciting youth event. If it was happening at church, sign me up and let's go. Maybe because I wasn't forced to go as a kid. Maybe because I really needed Jesus and understood that church was a big part of getting close to Him. Maybe just because I appreciated that people cared and I knew they had my best interest in mind. Maybe because I understood young what it was really all about.

I never made church about the politics or the drama or the likes and dislikes of people. I was just glad to be there. Even if I didn't particularly like it, I always made the best of it. Let me suggest just three things that might help you enjoy church a lot more. If this doesn't help, keep trying different churches or change something about you until you really connect.

#1 Come for the right reason... Church is about God for God by God.

#2 Come with the right attitude.... You get out of church what you put into church.

#3 Come expecting to meet God... Connect to everything with your Spirit and watch what God will do.

Over the years I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of church. You name it. Problematic people, disastrous programming, unprepared leaders, boring sermons, weird music, sound system glitches, bad coffee, tension, trouble and general apathy. BUT, I have never gone to church and not gotten something out of it. Why? Because God and God's people are there. When God gets together with His people, wonderful things happen. You just have to plug in spiritually to make sure you see it and experience it.

Maybe we should adjust our expectations. Maybe we should get over ourselves. Maybe we should show some grace. Maybe we should grow up a little. Maybe we should pray some more. Maybe we should try harder. Whatever we do we should do it only for the right reason and only with the right attitude and at least expecting to meet God. Rejoice before you get there, rejoice when you walk in and keep rejoicing until you leave.

Hope I see you in Church soon, Pastor Fred

Help is Already Here

Psalm 121:1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Psalms 120-134 are as a group called the Pilgrim Psalms. So called because they are written as the writers are on the move, journeying to the feasts and to the temple. They were originally sung to inspire everyone as they walked long distances. In Psalm 121 you can almost see in verses 1-2 (maybe written by Hezekiah) his commitment unfolding as he keeps his eyes on his destination though questioning if he has the strength or commitment to get there. We all have these questions on our journeys. Will things ever work out? Will people change? Is there a brighter future? How did we get where we are? Can I trust the Lord to get me there? Are we there yet? All pertinent questions.

Let's slow down the words and get our questions answered. First three words 'I lift up' have hope in them already. Up has got to be the right direction, it has got to be the right person and lift is the action that can help anybody with whatever their burden of doubt might be. Second three words 'to the hills'. The hills were in front of them, the direction they were headed and needed to go. We can't focus on the past, besides nature is always a good place to look to for inspiration.

Next is an honest question. We should ask this type of question more often. Heartfelt types of questions are.... God, are you there? Lord, what does this mean? Father, what should I do? Then, of course, Jesus, will you help me? God wants to hear our pleas and honest questions. As soon as Hezekiah addresses God as a man, looking in the right way, the right direction with honesty, his answer comes. Follow the steps, you will get answers too.

The title of this devotional is "Help is Already Here". Indeed it is. We should always state the obvious answer out loud to confirm it just like Hezekiah. 'My help comes from the Lord', he says. Of course it does. He already knew that. Just like we do. We must go through the steps of faith to experience it. Perhaps as simple as stop, look and listen. Our help is the best kind of help too. The Maker of heaven and earth, the Lord is our help. He who is all-powerful and all-loving and all-knowing. Nice combination of traits huh? I know God can help me. I know He is there. I look up to the hills and I can see Him. Help is not just on the way, it is already here. Just ask. Be encouraged today.

I am in Him, Pastor Fred

Why Stand with Israel Today?

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma Ballester:

"If MY PEOPLE, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

On the first Sunday of every October, hundreds of millions of people around the world join together to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. In just a few years, this event has quickly become the largest Israel - focused prayer event in history. But why set aside this day each year to pray for Jerusalem? Though we should pray every day for Israel, we seek on this day to unite believers around the world in raising a cry to Heaven on behalf of this troubled, but strategic land and its people. We believe in God's promises for His beloved nation and fervently pray to hasten the day when He brings fulfillment to His word. The goal of those who are organizing this global Day of Prayer for Peace is that this Sunday, October 3rd, we will have at least 175 participating nations and 300 million believers praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Grace Harbor Church will pause in their service on Sunday and have a special time of prayer for Israel. I hope that all of you, wherever you fellowship, are able to participate in some way.

We are living in a sobering moment in history that calls us, as believers in Jesus Christ, to take a stand with Israel. We are not to be passive in the face of prophecy; we are called to pray with passion, to intercede, and to minister according to the words of the Savior who said it is not our task to speculate when the end will be. It is our responsibility to do Kingdom business until He comes (Luke 19:13). This is not about politics; this is about the Word of God… Scripture declares there will come a time when all the nations of the world will turn against Israel. It is so highly conceivable this could happen in our time that it is critical to understand the importance of praying for Israel for such a time as this.

A well known Pastor has put together a list of eight reasons why we as Believers should stand with Israel in prayer. I am passing this long to you so that you can understand more deeply that this is a time for us to be on our knees in prayer for God’s chosen people. Let us touch the Heart of God this Sunday united in intercession for the PEACE, the SHALOM PEACE that passes our human understanding….the precious peace of God over the Holy Land of Israel.

Shalom, Sister Lahoma

EIGHT REASONS FOR STANDING WITH ISRAEL

By Pastor Jack Hayford

1) Every believer is charged to make the Jews a priority in their value system and to render thanksgiving from their hearts for God’s work via them as a people.

Understanding the basis of the attention that we give to the Jews has to do with understanding God’s divine order and things that God said. It involves a people and a land.

 Every believer is charged to make Jews a priority in their value system because God has.

 The Lord selected a people… He began by selecting a man named Abraham. The Lord said that through the seed of Abraham (in relation with his wife, Sarah, giving birth to the promised child, Isaac) all the nations of the Earth will be blessed…every human being having access to the divine blessing of Almighty God.

 In Genesis 12:3, the Lord says in the covenant He makes with Abraham: “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.”

o This relates not only to a people (the Jews), but it also relates to a land (Israel).

o God will judge nations and deal with them for their decisions, just as He does individuals.

 The Lord chose them for purposes: “…who are the Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” (Romans 9:4)

o The Adoption: God’s divine choice of the seed of Abraham as a people.

o The Glory: the manifest presence of God revealing Himself.

o The Covenants: commitments that God makes:

 The Abrahamic Covenant…God says, “I will give you a people and a land, and
through this seed the nations of the Earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 17)

 The Mosaic Covenant…the revelation of the law, given as a teaching means to lead us to Christ: redemption through the blood of the Lamb.

 The New Covenant…In Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God says in words almost parallel: “For the time will come that I will take My law and I will make a new covenant with you, and I will put My Spirit within you.”

o The Greatest Gift: the wonder of the gift of Jesus to mankind. God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son…He gave Him through the Jews, and He came as a Jew. Jesus Himself, speaking to the woman of Samaria, said, “Salvation is of the Jews.”

So Scripture speaks to us very clearly: we’re dealing with the roots of everything that has to do with the revelation of God to humankind. The proof of this is in the very existence of the Jews as a people and the fact that they’ve been recovered as a nation. Today the struggle is over Jerusalem, over Israel, and over the presence of Jews and their right to a have a land. There are few nations willing to make an abiding commitment to stand by the Jews and Israel, but the Bible says God will honor those who do.

2) Our place in God’s present order inextricably links us with the Jews as a people and thereby the land of Israel according to the Word.

When we put our faith in the Redeemer who came through the Jews, we enter into a line of those who have trusted God according to His revealed grace and redemptive purpose.

 Scripture declares that, spiritually speaking, when you receive the Lord, you become a Jew (Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 3:26-29).

 If you are a believer, you cannot be consistent with the whole of Scripture and take a position that is passive toward the Jews and Israel.

3) God has made unique declarations regarding the land of Israel which have never been rescinded:

 Leviticus 25:23 – The land is the Lord’s land, and it is His to assign and dispose of: “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine…”

 Deuteronomy 32:43 – “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people…He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

 2 Chronicles 7:20 – God says if the people violate Me “…I will uproot them from My land which I have given them…”

 Psalm 85:1-2 – “Lord, you have been favorable to Your land, You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin.”

 Isaiah 8:8 – This land belongs to Father God and it is the land of His Messiah: “…and the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.”

 Jeremiah 2:7 – The Lord tells the people why there will come the loss, the destruction of the city of Jerusalem. “I brought you into a bountiful country…but when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.”

 Ezekiel 38:16 – God is speaking to people in the end times who rise up against Israel. God is speaking of a confrontation that will take place in His land. “You will come up against My people Israel…I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you…”

 Joel 1:6, 2:18, 3:2 – Three times in this book, the land is referred to as belonging to the Lord. “For a nation has come up against My land…” (1:6) “Then the Lord will be zealous for His land…” (2:18) “I will gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” (3:2)

 Hosea 9:3 – This refers to the scattering of Israel: “They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria.”

 Zechariah 9:16 – “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people, for they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land…”

When we talk about Israel, we are dealing with: 1) a piece of property that God has made pronouncements about and 2) God’s people to whom He’s given the land. It is a major issue with the Creator of all things, and it is non-negotiable. Things that God has said, uniquely, about Israel have never been rescinded.

 Not only does the land belong to God, but also God has committed the land to Abraham and his offspring via Isaac forever. (Genesis 17:7-8)

 “With a little wrath I hid My face from you…but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed…” (Isaiah 54:8- 10)

 The loss of governance by Israel through sin and dispersion has not altered God’s announced commitment to make it theirs forever. (Read Ezekiel 37:1-28)

4) Israel’s present conflict is neither by their initiative nor perpetuated by expansionism on their part. The general attitude of the world today regards the Palestinians as the underdog, but Israel is defending the land covenanted to them in 1917 and established by the United Nations Assembly in 1948. The Palestinian goal is not to secure a homeland but to drive Israel out altogether. For the sake of mounting public opinion against Israel, surrounding, well resourced Arab nations have never offered refuge to the Palestinians. The majority of the world doesn’t know this, and nobody is bothering to tell them because sympathies are so overridden by other forces.

5) To stand with Israel is not to oppose Arab peoples as an entity or to oppose the rights of Arabs living in Israel to a peaceful, politically secure, and prosperous life.

God has no disposition against any human being, certainly not Arabs who are the offspring of Ishmael, the other son of His chosen leader Abraham. Standing for Israel doesn’t require an anti-Arab stance and doesn’t require us to be loveless toward other peoples.

6) The relentless animosities of sectors of the Arab world are not merely political causes but are driven by spiritual powers that will not be satisfied until Israel ceases to exist.

The forces opposed to Israel are not simply those of people who don’t like Jews. We are caught in the stream of spiritual forces greater than humanity, forces that cannot be overthrown politically or by the power of persuasion. These forces can only be broken by intercessory prayer where principalities and powers are cast down.

7) The same spirit driving these animosities is equally opposed to Christians as to Jews and in time will eventually bring persecution to both. Just as Scripture states there are two witnesses that will be put to death in Jerusalem at the very end of time (Revelation 11), there have been two witnesses that have stood for God throughout history – the Jews and the Christians. The hostilities and animosities are just as leveled at believers as they are at Israel, because there is a spirit in the world that is against all that is called God and everything about Him.

 God as Creator – to Whom we owe our worship.

 God as Judge – to Whom we owe our accountability.

 God as Redeemer – Who has shown Himself through His Son, Jesus.

 God as the moral Lawgiver of all humanity – to Whom we owe a responsibility in our behavior.

8) A biblical assignment and a divine promise summon our stand in faith, our intercession with expectancy, and our support with promise. We are called to stand with Israel today because we could be people of the last hour. The Lord has called us to be people with moral and biblical conviction, walking wisely and knowing His Word. He will honor those who make an abiding commitment to stand with the land He’s called uniquely His. (Psalm 122:6).