Israel is at the Core of God’s Dealings with Mankind

Israel is at the Core of God’s Dealings with Mankind

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, When he separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people According to the number of the children of Israel.’

Deuteronomy 32:8

 

‘Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”’

Exodus 33:15-17

 

‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ‘

Exodus 19:5

 

‘For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. ‘

Deuteronomy 7:6-8

 

‘“For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? ‘

Deuteronomy 4:7-8

 

God’s plan for mankind and the planet centers around a little nation – Israel. Why? Because God is Sovereign and He can do whatever He wants (Exodus 19:5). In Deuteronomy 32:8, God divided the nations and set the boundaries of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. This verse clearly shows that the nation of Israel is at the center of God’s dealings with all mankind.

 

Israel is at the core of the human experience, and understanding Israel’s role in Bible prophecy is key to understanding God’s plan of salvation. Despite being a tiny nation of no more than 5 to 7 million, Israel is at the center of world affairs daily, and its peace with neighboring countries is a constant concern.

 

Yet, God’s plan for Israel and the world will come to fruition with the return of Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  God’s Word has made it clear that His promises to Israel will be fulfilled. In fact, God Himself made promises to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12:1-3.

 

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of Israel in God’s plan for salvation in Romans chapters 9-11. He writes that Israel has not been cast away and that God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled.

 

As believers, we must recognize the significance of Israel in God’s plan of salvation for the world and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Through Israel, we have been grafted into the family of God and share in the blessings of Abraham. Not by covenant but because of Israel’s disobedience (Romans 11:32-33).

 

Let us be grateful for the role of Israel (from which we have our Redeemer, the Bible, and our glorious gospel) in human history and activity and praise the Sovereign God who has orchestrated everything according to His perfect plan.

 

 

The Apostle Paul’s Prayer for the Church – Love All

The Apostle Paul’s Prayer for the Church – Love All

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.’

I Thessalonians 3:11-13

 

In 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13, the apostle Paul prays for the Thessalonian church, asking God to increase their love for one another and for all people. This prayer is not only relevant for the Thessalonians but for us today as well.

 

One of the most challenging things for believers is to maintain a loving attitude toward others, especially when we ourselves face difficult circumstances. However, we can find comfort in Psalms 37:1–5, which reminds us to trust in the Lord and do good, and delight ourselves in Him. When we focus on the Lord and His goodness, our hearts are filled with love and compassion for others.

 

Paul understood the importance of loving one another and how it impacts our witness to those (unsaved) around us. When we demonstrate genuine love towards others, it reflects the love of Christ in us and draws people closer to Him.

 

Therefore, let us pray like Paul, that our love for one another and for all people may increase and abound. We love other believers because we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we love the unsaved person because Christ loves them so much that He died for them. We must strive to love like Christ loves the world.

 

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ‘

John 3:16

 

So let us strive to love one another and to be a reflection of Christ’s love to those around us, so that they (the lost) may come to know Him and experience the same love and grace that we have received.

 

These verses in Romans 12 are a good reminder for us:

‘Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’

Romans 12:9-21

 

 

Mind Boggling Safety in Christ with God – Colossians 3:3

Mind Boggling Safety in Christ with God – Colossians 3:3

by | Feb 27, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:3

 

Colossians 3:3 is such a mind-bogglingly comforting Bible verse!

 

The Scriptures teach that when we believed the gospel, we identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6). We become a new creation, and in our new life, we are hidden in Christ in God. We are in the safest place in the universe.

 

There is no possible way for anyone or anything to get to us because we are hidden with Christ in God.

 

Because we are hidden in Christ in God, nothing in the universe can separate us from God’s love. Knowing this, we should have no fear and not be terrified by our adversaries (Philippians 1:28). Our salvation is more than just avoiding the lake of fire. The moment we believed the gospel, God delivered us into the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we are with the Lord now in the heavens.

 

While we are present in the flesh on earth, our spiritual position is with the Lord in the heavenlies in Christ in God (Ephesians 2:6). The Holy Spirit indwells us as a guarantee that we are His, and either by death or rapture, we will be with the Lord forever.

 

The prospect of being hidden in Christ in God is mind-boggling and impossible for anyone to comprehend, but it’s true, and we take it by faith because the Lord said it. Therefore, as Christians, we should live every day of our lives with no fear.

 

 

The Victory of the Cross – How Believers Overcome Fear

The Victory of the Cross – How Believers Overcome Fear

by | Feb 26, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

At times, it’s easy to become fearful about what may lie ahead, especially in these perilous times in which we live. But, for those who follow Christ, we have no reason to fear. Why? Because He is risen! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the core of our faith and it’s through His death, burial, and resurrection that we have been set free from sin, the law, and death itself.

 

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:54, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” This is good news for all who believe the gospel! Satan’s power over us has been broken and we have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, we can live a life without fear.

 

In Romans 6:5, Paul reminds us that as believers, we have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. This means that we can have victory over sin, the law, Satan, and death itself. We no longer have to be enslaved to the things that once held us down.

 

Matthew 28:5 tells us, “Do not be afraid.” These were the words of an angel to women who were seeking Jesus. The same message rings true for us today, “Do not be afraid” Jesus is alive and because of that, we can face whatever comes our way with courage.

 

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us remember that we have no reason to fear. The victory has already been won and we can have courage knowing that He is risen. Let us be encouraged by these words from Matthew 28:6, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

 

The Newness of the Spirit – The Power of Grace over Law

The Newness of the Spirit – The Power of Grace over Law

by | Feb 26, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. ‘

Romans 7:5

 

Legalism will always lead a person to question if they are good enough to enter God’s heaven. But we do not need to worry because Christ was good enough on our behalf. Believing in the gospel alone by faith alone means we have been set free from the condemnation of the law. That isn’t a license to sin, which is the first thing the Pharisees will scream.

 

Romans 7:5 emphasizes that before we were saved, all sins committed under the law were building up to spiritual death. However, believers are delivered from the law and serve in the newness of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit replaces the law, empowering us from within. We no longer need the ten commandments (we don’t throw them out now way – the ten commandments are the very mind of God; but we can’t keep them for salvation, no one can, only Christ could and because He did now we can too by the Holy Spirit that indwells us) to keep us on track, as we cannot do it ourselves anyway. The only power the law had was to condemn. Don’t allow legalism to lead to constant misery, as believing in the gospel sets us free from the law’s penalty of death.

 

Romans 7:6

‘But now we (believers) have been delivered (DELIVERED, DELIVERED, from WHAT?) from the law (to repeat we were delivered NOT saved by the law), …having died to what we were held by (the law keeper is under the severe penalty of death because of the law. The law was the ministry of death),…(but because we believed the gospel we identified with Christ’s death on the cross and what was nailed to the cross? THE LAW! THE LAW! Colossians 2:14)…so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit (when we believe the gospel the Holy Spirit comes into our heart and the Holy Spirit takes the place of the law. So we do not need the ten commandments in front of us 24/7 to keep us on track. We can’t do it anyway. But now we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and empowering us from within. The only power the Law had was to condemn.)…not in the oldness of the letter (or the law).’

 

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