Dear friend,
Shalom in His grace! I recently returned from Israel where I spent three weeks encouraging the Chosen People Ministries staff and had the joy of working on some exciting new strategies for reaching and discipling Israelis!
As you probably have gleaned from the past few newsletters—I have Israel on my heart! We are excited about what God is doing everywhere – from New York City to Los Angeles, Chicago to Toronto, and across the globe; we regularly see Jewish people coming to faith in Jesus!
But, the Gospel seems to be moving in power within Israel as more and more Israelis are showing an interest in Jesus!
This reminds me of a passage of Scripture in the Book of Romans, where the Apostle Paul identifies himself as a Jewish believer in Jesus to the believers in Rome. He describes himself as part of the remnant “according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 11:5)!
The eleventh chapter of Romans is filled with prophecy and looks forward to the second coming of Christ. Paul very clearly lets the Romans know that though the remnant of Israel seem few, the day is coming when the Jewish people will all believe in Jesus…at least, I believe, all the Jewish people who are alive at that incredible moment in human history.
We also understand that the reason the Jewish people will come to faith in Jesus is because God promised He would be faithful to the Jewish nation. He still loves His chosen people and has not forgotten His plan revealed thousands of years ago to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! As he writes to the Romans,
From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:28-29)
Will we be alive to see this great turning of the Jewish people to Jesus the Messiah? MAYBE.
I believe that every follower of Jesus should be future oriented, looking towards the great day when God will consummate His promises and we will all be changed, our sinful and broken world will be restored and the knowledge of the glory of God will fill the earth as the waters fill the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)
There is so much we will never know about the future until it comes! But, there is quite a bit we can know about what God has promised in His word, especially as it relates to Israel and her neighbors in the Middle East.
Chosen People Ministries would like to help you learn more about what is to come. We have prepared an incredible conference focusing on the current Middle East conflict to help us better understand what is happening today and what will take place tomorrow from a biblical perspective.
The dates are October 13-14, 2017 and there will be testimonies from Messianic Jews and former Muslim believers in Jesus. You will enjoy the soulful and beautiful music of Marty Goetz and the dynamic Israeli contemporary music of Miqedem, coming to us from Israel. Click here to learn more and to register!
Blessings in our Messiah,
Mitch
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