For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
Grafted Into A Rich Heritage
Every nation has customs that are rooted in their own history as a nation. We get used to our non-Jewish customs and conform Christianity into our own customs, culture and look that is not necessarily reflecting the culture originated in Israel. We have a Jewish Messiah, the disciples were Jewish and very much of Israel. So it actually would be “more normal” to celebrate seasons and customs that are more closely connected with our faith. (i.e. the seven feasts) Although we don’t live by the O.T. or law there are pictures of Christ that were revealed through the culture of Israel going back to the tabernacle, temple, robes and apparel all initiated by God by revelation to Israel. Outside of Israel none of these types exist. So we have been grafted into a rich heritage. Saying this it is also true that modern day Israel and Jewish people have customs and etc that have no spiritual value. Many are just man-made like all other nations. Having said this, we also have no obligation to celebrate any of the feasts or anything else associated with Israel or Jewish customs because Jesus is the fulfillment of all these things. In Christ all things are made perfect. But just like any biblical teaching we can learn pictures and types in this rich heritage that point us to Jesus Christ and His truth benefiting from it.
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Romans 2:28-29
Jews Inwardly
We are Jews inwardly. That is the only way that we are truly Jewish, in Christ. Therefore we have been grafted in as un-natural branches, Israel being the natural branches. There is no other nation on the planet that has this heritage with the God that we serve. It makes sense that we would take interest in Israel as a nation even from a natural standpoint. Jesus is coming back to rule in a New Jerusalem. We see that God is completing the picture with Israel. He is not creating a new city with a different name. But as God originally intended, that all nations, tribes and tongues will be a part of this City of the Great King, we will be seeing the glory and beauty of the fulness of purpose of His big picture and plan in the consummation of all things. Clearly no one comes to God but through Christ. The one new man is created from both Israel and other nationalities coming to God through Jesus Christ, the Door of Salvation.
His Mission & Our Mission
Our main purpose here is to have the same mission statement that Jesus had been on the earth. The purpose of the Son of God manifest is to destroy the works of the devil. This must be our mission statement as well. We are first and foremost demonstrators of the Kingdom of God on earth. God will take care of the rest. We see Paul saying that as he is a minister to the Gentiles it will provoke Israel to jealousy. Therefore we are to be busy demonstrating the Kingdom of God. This is what will provoke them to jealousy. In other words, be about the Father’s business. Focus on finding the place of walking in God’s power in your life. Only an encounter with God’s power will bring a person to repentance because this is the manifestation of His goodness. Paul said that when he preached the gospel it was with demonstration of power, not only words. We must be wise not to be intellectually enamored to help Israel come to Christ, but be a people of Kingdom demonstration realizing everyone on this planet needs God. God responds to hunger “period”. God looks for hungry people who are desperate for Him, no matter what nationality. Here is a good example:
Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
Matthew 15:25-28
Jesus was saying, “COME ON! That’s the kind of faith and hunger I’m looking for… you got what you came for!” Hunger always wins… don’t look for anything other than spiritual desperation and hunger. It will pull out the goodness of God. Where you find that heart, you will find God ready to answer.
The Promises of God
One thing I would like to mention is that we do not want to become people that are so ingrained in the Jewish seasons and feasts that we think God is only going to do things at these certain times. If God does something during a certain season and we see it in retrospect… GREAT! But faith is now. Anything that does not foster our mobilization into Kingdom activity is a hindrance and is better set aside. In some prophetic circles people get too entrenched in thinking God is going to move on a prophetic timetable that they destroy the potential of God doing His thing NOW. We are people of the NOW, not later. Today is the day of salvation, healing, prosperity, deliverance and any other promise of God that is in Christ. The promises of God are YES and AMEN today. Just to encourage you to believe for God to perform all of His promises today for Jesus Christ has done it all.
Here are some scriptures that I think will help give clarity to God’s heart for Israel. Let us also remember that God loves the entire world and that is why He sent His Son… to the Jew first, then the Greek.
Paul, An Israelite
I say then, has God cast away His people Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin…
Romans 11:1
Counted All Loss
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,* rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Phil. 3:2-7
NOT ALL ISRAEL
9:6
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
A REMNANT OF ISRAEL
9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:*
“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.”
PROVOKED TO JEALOUSY BY GENTILES
Romans 10:19 But I say, did Israel not know First Moses says:
“I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation…”
ELECTION OF A REMNANT OF ISRAEL BY GRACE
10:5 “Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
SALVATION TO GENTILES TO PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY
10:11 ”I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!”
ACCEPTANCE OF ISRAEL “LIFE FROM THE DEAD”
11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead
DON’T BOAST AGAINST THE NATURAL BRANCHES (ISRAEL)
11:21 “For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness…”
SOME WILL BELIEVE & WILL BE SAVED (A REMNANT)
11:23 “And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again…”
FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES SALVATION WILL CAUSE THE REMNANT TO AWAKEN TO SALVATION
11:25 “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
ISRAEL IS CALLED, A REMNANT WILL BE CHOSEN
11:29 “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”