ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
By Colin Urquhart
Quietly God is doing a significant work in Israel. We at Kingdom Faith identify with what He is doing there in establishing significant prayer ministries, ministries of reconciliation that bring Jews and Arabs together, and compassion ministries that reach both young and old, Jew and Gentile, Christians and Muslims.
Recently my son, Clive, and I led group of Kingdom Faith leaders to visit these ministries in Israel, together with Julia Fisher. Our purpose was to establish or strengthen our relationships with these ministries, with the full knowledge of the Israeli government. However, it is expedient that I do not identify some of those we met, for their own security.
God always wanted to dwell among his people. His Presence went with them when they were delivered from the bondage of Egypt through Moses’ leadership. He instructed Israel to build the tabernacle when in the desert, the heart of which was the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God among His people. Later the Temple in Jerusalem was built with the same heart. The sacrificial system was to enable God’s people to draw near to Him and to know His Presence.
With the ministry of Jesus, the Temple was redefined. He referred to His own body as the Temple that, if destroyed, He would rebuild in three days. Of course His words were misinterpreted, but later vindicated through His death and resurrection.
The Temple was again redefined after his return to heaven. Believers in Jesus Christ became living stones in the Temple that God was building. Their bodies were temples of the Holy Spirit who not only lived with them but was in them!
All over the world today God is building His Temple of living stones. This is true of Israel. A Temple is being built in Jerusalem, not a building of stone, not on the foundations of the Temple Mount, but a living Temple of living stones, filled with God’s life!
It is now estimated that there are approximately 10,000 born again Jewish believers in Israel, as well as about 5,000 Gentile believers. Not a vast number in relation to the total population but significantly more than there were ten years ago.
This Temple that only the Holy Spirit can create has watchmen who fulfil the remit of the Temple – to be a house of prayer for all nations. These prayer ministries are perhaps the most significant part of what God is doing. Some are praying 24/7 for all the nations of the world. Scripture is being fulfilled.
Israel is called to care for the aliens in her midst. Believers are fulfilling this scripture through a range of compassion ministries that are growing, often in the face off great difficulties. There is a boldness f faith among these believers and they refuse to be deterred by the trying circumstances that often exist politically. The body of Christ, the living, Temple, is operating with great effect! Certainly the believers there need as much cooperation, support and encouragement as we are able to give them.
Our leadership group had an exhausting week visiting and meeting with several of these ministries. It was wonderful to see the anointing of the Holy Spirit being put to such effective use, and to see the careful planning of the Holy Spirit in causing each ministry to be distinctive and yet complimentary to all the others.
In one sense there is only one Body of Christ worldwide and, whether Jew or Gentile, we are part of one spiritual Temple because we are all living stones being built together.
As a church and ministry, we identify with our Jewish brothers in Christ for we have been made one with them, grafted into the olive tree. So we are happy to identify with these works of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we would not agree with every nuance of prophetic understanding, but being part of the same work God is doing transcends any differences.
Because we identify with our Christian brothers and sisters in Israel, Jew and Arab, we feel part of what they are doing in the name of Jesus. And this identification is reciprocated by those who pray for us, acknowledging their unity with us in the Spirit.
What of the politics surrounding the nation of Israel? It seems that God is doing His thing despite the changing and often challenging political situation. The things of the Spirit seem to transcend politics! And yet the political situation cannot be ignored.
How can Jew and Arab ever be brought into agreement? Only in Christ! What is happening now is surely prophetic of greater things to come!
Will God fulfil His promises to Israel? Of course, because all His promises are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Christ. How will the Lord fulfil His word concerning this land? Only He knows the answer to that!
One thing is certain; God’s purposes will not be fulfilled by the might and power of men, but only by His Spirit. So surely what the Spirit is doing already is truly significant and by His grace this will continue to grow not only in size, but in strategic importance.
To view the situation from a purely personal standpoint: I am one with the Temple the Lord is building in Jerusalem, in Israel. Whether Jew or Gentile, the Christians there are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I choose to pray for them, honour them, love, encourage and support them in whatever ways I believe the Holy Spirit leads me. And I am grateful for their faithful prayer for my nation and the nations of the world.
One thing is certain; these ministries are prophetic by the very nature of what they are doing in loving obedience to the Lord! They and we are part of the one new man in Christ Jesus, and I praise Him for the ways in which walls, partitions and barriers are being pulled down, and people are discovering their unity in Him!