There has been a tradition in the church
over many centuries which has no basis in
Scripture.
I suppose some of you would admit there
are other traditions in the church which have
no basis in Scripture.
I think it's important to bear in mind
that when Jesus came with his message, I
think the main opposition to his message came
from people who had traditions that were not
in line with God's word.
This tradition that I spoke about this morning
gives the name Israel to the church.
I was looking back and thinking of the
time when I was preaching here in London
in the 1950s and I remember I had
a beautiful authorized version, big pages and margins.
And for instance all the latter chapters of
Isaiah, they would be headed like God's gracious
promise to the church.
Although in actual fact the church wasn't mentioned
and the promises were given to Israel.
And I realize how deep-seated this is
in our thinking that the church is really
Israel today.
I believe that has no basis whatever in
Scripture.
And I tried to show you this morning
out of the Scriptures that it is not
true.
It's very simple.
Actually truth is usually simple.
The truth is Israel is the, is Israel
and the church is the church.
And I believe God is not so poor
that if he keeps his promises to the
church he'll have to break his promises to
Israel.
There is a kind of understanding that well
Israel had their chance but they were unfaithful
and they failed God.
Which is certainly true in the large proportion.
So now God has changed his mind and
the promises given to Israel are now for
the church.
I don't think that goes far enough.
Because when I consider the history of the
church in the light of Scripture and in
the light of all that God has made
available to the church.
I'm always left wondering who has been more
unfaithful Israel or the church.
It seems to me if God could change
his mind about his promises to Israel and
take their name and give it to some
other group.
God could just as well change his mind
about his promises to the church and take
that title and give it to some other
group.
So this is really a very important issue
for all of us.
Because in the last resort our confidence in
God's mercy is based on his commitments in
his word and on his covenants.
And if God can change those commitments and
break those covenants.
I feel we're left with no security whatever
as Christians.
In other words it's a very far-reaching
issue.
It doesn't only concern Israel.
But it also concerns those of us who
are not Israelites but have come to God
through the new covenant in Jesus.
The second thing that I tried to deal
with this morning was the destiny of Israel.
And I referred just by way of a
sort of starting point to an article published
very recently here in Britain by a charismatic
Anglican clergyman who is a friend of mine.
In which he essentially followed the line that
I have sketched out and was very condemnatory
of Israel.
And suggested really that God's commitment to give
the land to them was no longer relevant.
I have to be careful what I say.
After all I am an Anglican of a
kind myself.
Anybody here baptized and confirmed.
I was baptized and confirmed by no less
a person than the Bishop of Oxford.
Now that's my confirmation not my baptism.
But in a way I want to say
without being uncharitable.
In view of all that's been happening and
the public statements made by prominent Anglicans in
the last few years.
I think it would be more appropriate for
the Anglican Church to confess its own sins
to God.
And let Israel confess their sins.
I feel that would have a greater impact
on God.
I gave you about half a dozen specific
clear promises taken from the prophets of Israel.
That promised the full restoration of Israel to
their land and to God's favor.
I always put it in that order because
I see in the scripture that God brings
them back to the land unredeemed, not in
faith.
In order that he may deal with them
there.
That was stated in the Prophet Hosea.
In the place where it was said to
them you are not my people.
In that place it will be said you
are the sons of the Living God.
The place where it was said you are
not my people, was the land of Israel.
Consequently their restoration and their acceptance by God,
likewise has to take place in the land
of Israel.
I pointed out that no matter how black
a picture we may paint of Israel.
And that's not difficult.
It doesn't require great cleverness to do that.
Any more than it takes great cleverness to
point out the faults of the church.
When I was a young preacher, I delighted
in pointing out all the faults and inconsistencies
of the church.
That was a favorite theme of mine.
But I came to realize it doesn't do
much good.
It really doesn't help very much.
It accomplishes very little that's positive.
And it doesn't require cleverness to point out
the faults of the Christian Church.
Anybody can do it.
And I think it takes no more cleverness
to point out the faults of Israel.
I think the prophets of Israel did a
much more thorough job depicting the sins of
Israel than any of us have ever been
able to do since.
But the same prophets that depicted the sins
of Israel with such clarity, are also the
ones who predicted with such clarity the total
restoration of Israel.
But I pointed out this morning that the
scripture reveals the Israel that will be restored
is a remnant that has been preserved by
the grace of God.
Now in this particular article that was, that
I quoted, and I'm sure some of you
have seen it.
Reference was made to a passage of Paul
in Romans chapter 9 verses 4 and 5.
Speaking about the Israelites, Paul says, to whom
pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the
giving of the law, the service of God,
and the promises.
And the writer of this article said God
speaks or Paul speaks there of the covenants
and the promises.
But he makes no mention of the land.
I find that a rather misleading statement.
Because as I've already pointed out, there are
countless references to the land in the promises.
So if the promises are for Israel, then
the land is for Israel.
And furthermore God has specifically committed himself with
the utmost clarity by covenant to give that
land.
So when it says there's no mention of
the land, that is misleading if the conclusion
is therefore the land is no longer for
Israel.
Because the land is included both in the
promises and in the covenants.
Now I want to give you one specific
passage of Scripture which states the covenant of
God.
In which he is totally committed to give
the land back to Israel.
That's Psalm 105 verses 7 through 11.
As a matter of fact, in a sense,
God has never taken the land from Israel.
And in the prophets, whether they're in the
land or whether are out of the land.
It is always called their land.
It's as much their land when they are
not there, as it is when they are.
Psalm 105.
I will begin at verse 7.
To me this is like the title deeds
to a property.
And those of you that have ever purchased
a property or been involved in that.
You know the title deeds have to be
very specific.
The exact name of the person has to
be given and so on.
Well to me, these verses are the title
deeds of the land of Canaan.
I want you to listen while I read,
see if you agree with me.
Verse 7, he is the Lord our God.
His judgments are in all the earth.
In other words, when God pronounces judgments, they
are valid, they're in force, in the whole
earth.
Because he is the God of the whole
earth.
He's not just the God of one nation
or one little piece of the earth.
He has remembered his covenant forever.
The word which he commanded for a thousand
generations.
The covenant which he made with Abraham and
his oath to Isaac and confirmed it to
Jacob for a statute.
To Israel for an everlasting covenant.
I don't know of any passage in Scripture
where so many words are brought together so
closely.
All of which indicate God's total commitment to
do something.
Let's just go through those words for a
moment.
In verse 8, he has remembered his covenant
forever.
It's a permanent covenant.
The word which he commanded, it's his word.
It's also his command for a thousand generations.
The covenant again which he made with Abraham
and his oath to Isaac.
Notice again the word oath.
Now the writer of Hebrews tells us why
God gives his oath.
His word is sufficient.
But he says that by two immutable things,
in which it is impossible for God to
lie.
We should have strong confidence.
So first God gives his word and then
he gives his oath.
And in those he's given us two immutable
things.
Two things that cannot change.
In order that we might have strong confidence.
And then he says it confirmed it to
Jacob for a statute.
And to Israel for an everlasting covenant.
It begins and ends with a permanent covenant.
Let's just glance at the other words for
a moment.
It is the most amazing passage of Scripture.
I'm astonished that God would go to such
lengths, in language, to affirm his total unreserved
commitment.
He says in verse 8 it's his covenant.
It's his word.
It's his commandment.
And then he says in verse 9 it's
his oath.
And in verse 10 it's a statute.
And finally an everlasting covenant.
Now what is all this about?
If your Bible is like mine and it
probably isn't.
You have to turn the page to find
out what it's all about.
What if I may say so, is God
so tremendously concerned about?
What is he making such, taking such pains
to make absolutely clear his total commitment?
What is it all to do with?
You have to read the next verse.
Saying to you I will give the land
of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance.
What is all that about?
A little piece of territory at the east
end of the Mediterranean.
Isn't that amazing?
I mean I never read that passage without
being amazed.
That Almighty God, the creator of the whole
universe, the King of the earth, has gone
to such lengths to assert the destiny of
a little piece of territory at the east
end of the Mediterranean.
God must attach much more importance to it
than most of us imagine.
I believe that's true.
And I'll tell you somebody else who attaches
a lot of importance to it.
And that is the devil.
That's why we are in the midst of
a tremendous conflict.
Now I said that in a title deed
you have to specify the exact name and
identity of the person involved in the deed.
See how very careful God is here to
make sure that we know to whom the
land is committed.
Because he says, in verse 10 the covenant
with him which he made with Abraham and
his oath to Isaac and confirmed it to
Jacob to Israel for an everlasting covenant.
So the, the covenant goes from Abraham through
Isaac not to Ishmael but to Jacob whose
name became Israel.
I suggest that you have to have what
I would call a theological squint.
If you can't see what that's saying.
I don't know how God could have said
it more clearly and with more emphasis.
And I have to say reverently I think
it's somewhat insulting to God to suggest that
he doesn't know how to say what he
means.
That's the implication.
If we raise any questions about the meaning
of that we're saying God I know you
said it but I don't think you really
mean what you said.
Which is a position personally I would not
wish to take in relationship to God.
So let's just get this very clear when
Paul said the promises and the covenants belong
to Israel.
He was saying in many different ways the
land is eternally given to Israel.
Now do I have somebody here with an
NIV?
Are you an NIV reader?
You are.
The what?
Oh nearly indispensable that's right thank you I
understand.
All right I just want to read one
verse in the NIV from Acts chapter 17
verse 26.
I appreciate the NIV but I don't use
it myself all the time.
Because I'm so used to the old authorized
version that I whenever I quote from memory
I quote it and the new King James
is close enough that there's no obvious gap
to be bridged.
However in my radio programs I regularly use
the NIV.
Because when people are cooking in the kitchen
or driving a car you need to use
a version which they can get the meaning
of easily without any having to do any
kind of reasoning.
So Paul is talking to the men of
Athens and he says in Acts 17 verse
26.
Trouble with your Bible is the print is
too small for my eyes.
But anyhow verse 26 from one man
God made every nation of men that they
should inhabit the whole earth and he determines
that he determined the time set for them
and the exact places where they should live.
Did you know that?
The God of the whole earth has a
plan for every national group.
He's determined the exact places where they should
live and the times when they should get
to those places.
So God has not merely got a place
for Israel but he's got a place for
every nation.
But there's just one important thing to bear
in mind.
The place he has for Israel is not
offered to any other nation.
Now God has a place for the Arabs.
As a matter of fact they have more
than 400 times as much territory as Israel.
When the original commitment was made by the
Balfour Declaration to give a certain area to
Israel.
Many people don't realize it included the whole
of what is now Jordan.
But Winston Churchill by a stroke of the
British pen in 1922 assigned that to an
Arab state where no Jews are allowed to
live.
And by that once one act 76%
of the total area that was originally appointed
for a Jewish national home was given to
Arabs and Jews were no longer permitted to
live there.
So we're talking now when we talk about
the rest of that territory.
It's only 24% of the original inheritance.
However I don't think that God bows to
the decrees of even Winston Churchill.
So I believe things are going to take
a different course.
But it's very important to remember that God
has a place for every nation and a
time for them to be there.
Thank you.
Now I believe that at the beginning of
this century God's time came for the Jewish
people to go back to their own land.
There's some very significant dates like 1897 the
first Zionist World Conference.
And probably 1917 in some ways when one
of the most significant years.
Because in that year Jerusalem was liberated by
General Allenby from 400 years of Turkish domination.
The Balfour Declaration was issued by the British
government.
And the first officially atheist state in history
came into being.
That is Soviet Russia.
And all those are in one way or
another very closely related to God's program to
close this age.
Now I think as we look at history
we find it very clear that the Jews
for the most part really didn't want to
go back to that land.
There was a minority that were eagerly committed
to it.
But it was not ever a majority.
And had it been left to the Jews
themselves very few would have returned.
But when God wants something to happen he
has his ways of getting it to happen.
And we all need to bear this in
mind.
So when God's time came as I understand
it, this is my interpretation, God permitted the
Holocaust.
Because it was the only thing that would
have uprooted the Jewish communities from Europe.
Where they had lived and settled for hundreds
of years.
And forced them back to their own land.
And of course the agony and the suffering
involved in that is more than the human
mind can easily comprehend.
It included the death of six million Jews.
What I'm suggesting to you is that if
God was that ruthless, if I can use
the word ruthless, in getting Israel back to
the land he had appointed for them.
How will God deal with other nations?
You see if it took the Holocaust to
get the Jews back to their land in
a small measure.
And remember there are still far more Jews
in the United States than there are in
Israel.
I'm asking myself if other nations are out
of their appointed place.
What will it take to get them back?
Beyond that I'm asking the question.
I believe God loves the Jews with an
eternal love.
I believe he will never forsake them and
he will ultimately accomplish his purpose for them.
But six million perished.
Now here's a question and it's for you
to determine how you answer it.
I believe God loves the church with an
everlasting love.
I believe he has a plan for the
church.
Which is a plan of tremendous blessing and
privileges.
But I believe also that at the present
time a great part of the professing church
is not in any way submitted to God's
plan or walking in it.
Now if God used the Holocaust to get
Israel where he wanted them.
What do you think that God might use
to get the church doing what he's commanded
the church to do?
Because I would have to say the command
to the church to proclaim this gospel of
the kingdom in all the world and to
make disciples of all nations was not given
to five percent of the church.
It was given to the whole church.
My personal feeling is that if the church
doesn't do it one way.
God will get the church to do it
another way.
I tell the Christians of the United States
if you don't witness to the people of
Russia and you have plenty of opportunity to
do it.
God may permit the Russians to move into
the United States and then you have to
witness to them.
I am very much in earnest my question
is.
Is it going to take another Holocaust to
get the church obeying God?
I don't know the answer.
But I could easily believe that's what's going
to happen.
I'd like to turn for a moment to
Romans chapter 2.
Just to bring out a principle.
Romans chapter 2 beginning
at verse 6 which says.
God will render to each one according to
his deeds.
Eternal life to those who by patient continuance
in doing good seek for glory honor and
immortality.
But to those who are self-seeking and
do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness
indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish on every
soul of man who does evil of the
Jew first and also of the Greek or
the Gentile.
But glory honor and peace to everyone who
works what is good to the Jew first
and also to the Greek or to the
Gentile.
You'll notice there's an order.
Both blessing and judgment go in a certain
order.
To the Jew first and then to the
Gentile.
Now when I consider the history of the
Holocaust.
I have to say if that happened to
the Jews.
What is going to happen to the Gentile?
Now I don't have the answer.
But I'm inclined to think it's very very
different from most people's anticipation.
I think we're dealing with an extremely serious
issue which has received comparatively little attention from
most of the church.
I sometimes surprise my Jewish friends when I
say I'm on your side with certain qualifications.
And they kind of are surprised that anybody
wouldn't be on their side.
And they say why?
And I say because I want to be
on the winning side.
It's not the way that they're used to
being talked to.
But you see I'm quite convinced they're going
to win.
I'm quite convinced the church is going to
win.
But it's going to have to go through
a lot to make it ready to win.
Now I want to deal with just two
more issues.
I pointed out that God's dealings with Israel
are the expression of his sovereign decision not
made on the basis of work.
And Paul emphasizes this very clearly.
God rejected Esau and chose Jacob while they
were still in the womb.
In order that it might be totally evident
in all his dealings.
That the basis of God's dealings with nations
is his sovereign choice.
Now people tend to object to that.
When it's somebody else who's chosen.
But the truth of the matter is if
we accept the New Testament.
The message it has for Christians.
Exactly the same is true of every Christian.
We are Christians not because we chose God.
But because God chose us.
This is an error of emphasis in much
contemporary teaching.
We're left with a feeling that salvation depends
on us doing something and making the right
decisions.
Really that's a secondary issue.
What salvation depends on is the decision which
God has already made.
And furthermore God made that decision before he
created the world.
You see a lot of Christians would be
a lot less insecure and unsettled.
If they could realize they're the product of
a plan that was conceived in eternity before
creation ever took place.
That's clearly stated.
In other words the same principle of divine
election.
Which we have seen applied to Israel.
Applies exactly as much to the church.
God has no other principle.
God is never going to do anything that
he hasn't initially decided to do.
Now I am aware that this doctrine can
be carried to extremes.
Like the story of the Presbyterian brother who
fell down the stairs.
Broke his leg and said I'm glad that's
over.
However to press this truth to the extreme
and to ignore it.
I think it's probably better to have it
in the extreme than to have it ignored.
Although I don't agree with that.
You know there was a great revival in
the Hebrides in 1948.
And I had a sister in my congregation
here in London whose family came from there.
And she said in the Hebrides you don't
offer Christ to the sinner.
People simply seek to discover whether they are
among the elect.
Which in a sense you know is what
you discover.
But it's not balanced.
But I believe there is a greater imbalance
in totally ignoring the element of God's sovereignty
and his divine choice.
Then there is an over emphasizing it.
I think there's a lot of superficiality and
cockiness and presumption in the charismatic movement.
Because we haven't realized where our salvation comes
from.
I'm just going to take a few minutes
to bring to your attention scriptures directed to
Christians.
Which clearly assert this.
Let's begin in John 15 verse 16.
Jesus is speaking to his apostles.
And he says you did not choose me
but I chose you.
And appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit.
That your fruit should remain that whatsoever you
ask the Father in my name he may
give it to you.
Personally I believe every appointment of any validity
ever made in the church must be God's
choice.
I believe the appointments that are made by
man's choice will never accomplish God's purpose.
But I also believe that those who are
appointed by God's choice will bear fruit that
will remain.
I think the key to remaining fruit, enduring
fruit, is operating on the basis of God's
choice.
I don't believe the church is a democracy.
I don't believe elections are the way to
discover God's choice.
They may do sometimes by a happy accident.
But the authority of the church comes from
above.
And every significant appointment or place or office
or ministry or function in the church has
to be based on the fact that God
made the choice.
You see when I unfold this truth what
a revolution is in store for the church.
Now I personally believe that revolution is coming.
Because God is going to have his way.
The question for you and me is not
whether there'll be a revolution.
But which side we'll be on.
And I would rather be on God's side.
Then look in Romans chapter 8 verses 29
and 30.
For whom God foreknew, he also predestinated to
be conformed to the image of his Son.
Moreover whom he predestinated, those he also called.
And whom he called, those he also justified.
And whom he justified, those he also glorified.
There's a whole succession of verbs in the
past tense.
But it starts with God's foreknowledge.
And on the basis of his foreknowledge, he
predestined us.
My definition of that is you are not
an accident looking for somewhere to happen.
God worked out the course of your life
before creation took place or history began.
I'm glad he did.
Because I'm very sure that I would have
made of a mess of it.
If I, if God had left it to
me.
Now if you go to 1st Peter chapter
1, you get one further stage in this
process.
You have to put a number of different
scriptures together to get the whole process.
Peter, 1st Peter chapter 1 verses 1 &
2.
Incidentally the translation of these two verses is
another example of Gentile prejudice obscuring things that
reply to Jews.
Because it says here in my translation Peter
an apostle of Jesus Christ to the pilgrims
of the dispersion.
You know what the word dispersion is in
Greek?
Diaspora.
What does diaspora indicate?
It's the official Jewish word for Jews living
outside of the land of Israel.
So this epistle is addressed primarily to Jewish
believers.
You are aware that there are four epistles
in the New Testament addressed primarily to Jewish
believers.
Hebrews, James, 1st and 2nd Peter.
I imagine that the majority of Gentile Christians
read those without ever realizing to whom they
were addressed.
James says to the twelve tribes scattered abroad.
Twelve tribes of what?
Tell me.
Israel, that's right.
All right now having gone over that hurdle.
We're to the, to the pilgrims or the
strangers of the diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
Asia and Bithynia.
Now he describes them.
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father.
Elect, modern English chosen.
So first of all God foreknew us.
On the basis of his foreknowledge he chose
us.
Very important to know that God didn't make
an arbitrary choice.
Every person he chose, he chose on the
basis of the knowledge of what he could
make of that person.
That's good news for you.
Because if God has called you to be
something, he determined that from eternity.
And it's no good saying God I can't
do it.
Because God said I knew you before it
creation took place.
And because I knew you, I chose you.
And because I've chosen you, I've predestined you.
I've arranged the course of your life today.
Now I want you to know that all
those three things.
God's foreknowledge, his choice and his predestination, all
took place before creation ever happened.
What a different perspective that gives to us
in our Christian life.
We're not something that suddenly popped up in
the stream of time.
We're the expression of a divine plan from
eternity.
If you could grasp that, many of you
would be much less nervous and anxious than
you are.
I'm serious about that.
I find insecurity is such a powerful force
in the lives of so many Christians.
Probably in many cases, simply because we don't
realize the security of our background.
We're part of a divine plan that God
conceived before he ever brought creation into being.
All right let's look in Ephesians chapter 1
verses 3 through 6.
Now Ephesians is addressed primarily to Gentile Christians,
not exclusively.
Blessed to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in
Christ.
Just as he chose us in him before
the foundation of the world.
When did he choose us?
Before the foundation of the world.
That we should be holy and without blame
before him in love.
I tell you if God hadn't chosen me
to be holy and without blame.
There's no way I could ever be it.
It depends on God's choice.
Not on my best efforts to get holiness.
Having predestined us to adoption of sons by
Jesus Christ to himself.
According to the good pleasure of his will.
So we have, he has chosen us and
predestined us.
Who's us?
Us is we isn't it?
All right so this difficult doctrine of divine
election is not exclusively applied to Israel.
It's applied to the entire Christian Church.
We are on exactly the same footing as
they are.
The truth of the matter is we find
it difficult sometimes to believe that God could
choose Jews.
Tell you something they find it even more
difficult to believe that God could choose Gentiles.
And if you ask them for reasons they
can keep you listening for hours.
Well they give you good reasons.
Actually I think the Bible does indicate it
was more extraordinary that God would choose Gentiles
than he would choose Jews.
Because after all Paul says the Jews are
the natural branches.
We're the wild olive branches.
Those of us who are Gentiles.
I remember there are Jews here.
And let's look also just in Ephesians chapter
1 while we're there in verses 11 and
12.
Speaking about in Christ Paul says in whom
also we have obtained an inheritance.
Being predestined according to the purpose of him
who works all things according to the counsel
of his own will.
Well that's, that's a relief isn't it?
We're part of a plan conceived by a
God who works everything after the counsel of
his will.
In other words whatever God plans is going
to happen.
Stop being so anxious relax and let God
do it.
I think one of the great enemies of
true holiness is religious activity.
I've been teaching on Romans lately and it's
got very deep into me.
Listen the key to Christian success is not
effort it's union.
Jesus said I am the vine you are
the branches.
Have you ever known a vine branch making
a big effort to produce grapes?
It's ridiculous.
Why does the branch produce grapes?
Because the sap rises up through the trunk
into the branches.
In that little simple parable we have a
beautiful picture of the three persons of the
Godhead.
The Father is the vine dresser.
Jesus is the vine and the Holy Spirit
is what?
The sap.
That's right and let me say in parentheses.
This has got nothing to do with my
message.
But I've learned the hard way.
God is the vine dresser.
Don't let people try to prune you.
Now I'll take this comparison between Israel and
the church one step further.
And I'll ask a question.
I've pointed out that the elect in Israel
will be a remnant.
A remnant who will have gone through a
very intensive process of making them what God
intended them to be.
Do you think that the church is going
to go the same way?
Is it possible that God has in view
a remnant in the church who will be
truly his?
It's a very important question isn't it?
Because it concerns every one of us practically.
Let me give you just one or two
scriptures that suggest that.
Turn to Luke chapter 13 verses
23 to 28.
Luke 13 verses 23 to 28.
Then someone said to him Jesus Lord are
there few who are saved?
That's an important question.
And he said to them strive to enter
through the narrow gate.
For many I say to you will seek
to enter and will not be able.
When once the master of the house has
risen up and shut the door.
And you begin to stand outside and knock
at the door saying Lord Lord open for
us.
And he will answer and say to you
I do not know you where you are
from.
Then they will begin to say we ate
and drank in your presence.
You toured in our streets.
But he will say I tell you I
do not know you where you are from.
Depart from me all you workers of iniquity
lawlessness or rebellion.
And in Matthew chapter 7 at the close
of the Sermon on the Mount.
He gives a similar warning.
Matthew the 7th chapter beginning at verse 21.
Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord
shall enter the kingdom of heaven.
But he who does the will of my
Father in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day
Lord Lord have we not prophesied in your
name.
Cast out demons in your name and done
many wonders in your name.
They were lying or do you think they'd
really done those things?
I personally believe they'd done all those things.
In other words being able to do those
things is not a passport to heaven.
Now I want you to notice this answer.
Then I will declare to them I never
knew you.
Depart from me you who practice lawlessness.
In other words you were never on the
list from eternity.
I never knew you.
Whom he foreknew he chose.
Whom he chose he predestined.
You see we're going back to an eternal
plan.
And then in Matthew 24 I hope you
understand that though this the theme of this
meeting is Israel.
What we're saying is extremely relevant to all
professing Christians.
Now in Matthew 24 we have Jesus answer
about what will be the sign of the
end of the age and so on.
And he says in verse 8 all these
are the beginning of sorrows.
I spoke yesterday about the the regeneration, the
rebirth of creation.
Here are the labor pains which indicate the
rebirth is about to take place.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation.
Who's you?
You is who?
Us.
That's right that's not good English.
But it's it's the way it is.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation
and kill you.
And you will be hated by all nations
for my name's sake.
Do you any of you have those little
boxes of promises people used to have?
You know you dip in and you pick
out a card.
And I just wonder whether anybody's got that
verse in their promise box.
Then many will be offended, will betray one
another and will hate one another.
Many who?
Come on I didn't hear you.
Christians that's right.
Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound the love of
many will grow cold.
The love of many who?
Christians right.
That's the Greek word there is agape.
It will grow cold because of abounding lawlessness.
But he who endures to the end shall
be saved.
Seems to me, even as I stand here
this evening.
That there's a very very close parallel.
Much closer than most of us have appreciated.
Between God's purpose and dealing with Israel.
His purpose and dealing with the church.
In each case it comes out of divine
foreknowledge, divine choice, divine predestination.
And the end result is going to be
a people such as God wants.
And he's going to put that people through
many different kinds of experiences and tests.
To make them what he wants them to
be.
And those who stand the tests will be
his people.
That seems to me clear.
Now I could go to Romans 11 to
where he warns the Gentile branches.
Well perhaps we should read that because it's
relevant.
Romans chapter 11 verse 17 and following.
He's talking about the olive tree which has
as its roots Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
Which grew up as God's people Israel.
And then he says and if some of
the branches were broken off.
And you being a wild olive tree were
grafted in among them.
And with them became a partaker of the
root and fatness of the olive tree.
Bearing in mind that it's contrary to nature
to graft a wild branch into a good
tree.
Normally grafting is you, you graft the good
branch into the wild tree.
So that the strength of the wild tree
goes into bringing forth fruit from the good
branch.
So this is contrary to nature.
And I being a Gentile I'm deeply grateful
to God that he went to that.
He took those pains to get me in.
I also realize that when I came in
as a Gentile.
In many ways my attitudes, my traditions.
I was very much out of harmony with
the tree itself.
I'm amazed at God's grace that he was
so patient with me.
And still is patient with me I'd like
to say.
Thank him.
Then he goes on to say now this
is the message to the wild olive branches.
Do not boast against the branches.
But if you boast remember that you do
not support the root.
But the root supports you.
You will say then branches were broken off
that I might be grafted in.
Well said.
Because of unbelief they were broken off.
And you stand by faith.
Do not be haughty but fear.
For if God did not spare the natural
branches.
He may not spare you either.
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God.
On those who fell, severity.
But toward you goodness, if you continue in
his goodness.
Otherwise you also will be cut off.
That's very clear isn't it.
It leaves no room for pride, or presumption,
or carelessness.
It's a strong warning to us.
Now I've done my best.
And we don't have much time left.
But I've done my best to kind of
give you a, a scriptural basis.
For what prayer for Israel stands for.
And of course not only prayer for Israel.
Because there are all over the earth.
There are groups of Christians of non-jewish
background.
Whose hearts God has touched.
With the sense of responsibility to pray for
the restoration of Israel.
I was talking to brother Lance Lambert.
Who's a good friend of ours.
And he was, had been in Singapore.
He may have told you this.
I don't know.
And he said he met a man there.
A Chinese, no a non-Chinese man.
Who'd been into China.
And amongst the Christians there.
And he'd been there in a time when
they were praying.
And he said one Chinese Christian man stood
up.
And began to pray.
And as he was praying in Chinese.
This man had no idea what he was
praying about.
But his, he was so intensely moved.
This Chinese Christian by his prayers.
That the tears were spouting out of his
eyes.
And his, the whole front of his t
-shirt was drenched.
And so this man turned to another Chinese
who spoke English.
And said what's he praying for?
And he said he's praying for Israel.
Now that's totally supernatural.
Because they really have no way of getting
the real information about Israel.
They have very little Bible teaching.
So when I talk about prayer for Israel.
I'm just grateful to God for prayer for
Israel.
Which I think is an outstanding achievement of
God.
But I want to make it plain that
there are many, many other groups, in many,
many other nations.
Who have supernaturally received the same burden that
you people have here.
And my aim has been in a sense,
to try and dispel some of the smokescreens.
That the devil has caused to blow over
this whole issue of Israel.
Their identity and their destiny.
And to present it to you in a
clear and scriptural way.
I trust I've been successful.
Now very briefly as I close.
Let me try to answer a question.
Which I've written in my outline.
In the light of all that I've been
saying.
How shall we respond?
What should our response be?
And first of all I'd like to turn
you to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 35.
Hebrews 10 35.
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which
has great reward.
I think one of the things that Satan
is trying to do at the moment.
By many different instruments and channels.
Is to shake the confidence of people concerned
and praying for Israel.
That God really means what he says.
That he's really going to do what he
says.
I think there are smokescreens deliberately manufactured by
Satan.
To cover up the real truth.
But I want to suggest to you.
Don't take your focus off the Word of
God.
That's the only reliable source of information concerning
Israel and the Middle East.
Ruth and I living there.
I think we have agreed with each other.
That we would not survive spiritually.
If we ever let anything take our focus
off the scriptures.
And there are many many forces at work
that would be directed to that aim.
So when in doubt go back to your
Bible.
And do not cast away the confidence which
God has given you.
Because he's worthy of our confidence.
In fact what some of you are going
through may well be the process of sifting.
Which is going to make you part of
God's, I preached myself into something this evening
you know that.
I've never used that phrase about the church
before.
But as I stand here it seems to
me very clear.
The true church will be a chosen remnant.
And some of you are going through the
testings that will determine whether you're there or
not.
Now having said that I would like to
turn you to one passage in Jeremiah.
Which has been a light for me for
many years.
Jeremiah 31 verse 7.
Remember what Peter said.
He said we should give heed to prophecy.
As a light that shines in a dark
place.
So when you're in the dark.
Produced by the world's media and all the
confusion and ignorance and foolishness and darkness that's
in the world.
Turn to the prophetic word of God.
Because it's a light that shines in a
dark place.
Now Jeremiah 31 is one of the great
chapters predicting the regathering and restoration of Israel.
And in this context God says in verse
7.
Thus says the Lord sing with gladness for
Jacob and shout among the chief of the
nations proclaim give praise and say O Lord
save your people the remnant of Israel.
I believe those are God's directions for how
we should respond to the message that I've
been bringing.
And God says there are three things that
are appropriate.
Jubilant praise, proclamation and prayer.
Now I was delighted with the praise that
went before my message.
But I want if possible that we should
have take a little time as soon as
I close.
To do it on the basis of this
scripture.
Which says sing with gladness for Jacob.
Shout among the chief of the nations.
That's very jubilant, overflowing, noisy praise.
Whoever said that God was embarrassed by noise.
Psalm 8 too says that out of the
mouth of babes and sucklings.
God has ordained strength which is perfected praise.
That he might silence the enemy and the
avenger.
When we really praise God the way he
wants to be praised.
We stop Satan's mouth.
I love the French translation of that.
I was speaking in Lausanne some years ago
with a French interpreter.
And when I I understand French and I
discovered that the French translation says this kind
of praise imposes silence on the enemy and
the avenger.
What a blessed thought that we can impose
silence on Satan.
We can stop his mouth.
How?
By praise.
I think I must tell you this it
happened years ago here in London.
When I was pastoring this little congregation.
We had, my first wife and I Lydia
and I were friends with two Russian Jewesses.
Who had marvelously encountered the Messiah inside Soviet
Russia and had escaped.
And who came first of all to Israel
where they met us.
Then came to London.
Well they were in our living room one
day in Westbourne Grove.
And we were really whooping it up.
I mean we were praising the Lord and
they said in Russia the Baptists make as
much noise as the Pentecostals make in Britain.
And there was a ring at the doorbell
and I went down and there was a
member of my congregation, a lady with a
man in tow.
Whom she was leading by the hand and
she took my breath away.
She said this is my husband he's just
come out of prison.
He has a demon he needs deliverance.
Well in those days I didn't know what
to do with the demon.
I mean I had no idea what to
do with the demon.
But I couldn't turn the lady away.
So I said come up we're praying.
So very diffidently and unwillingly this man came
into the room and we just went on
praying.
And these Russian sisters they didn't bother a
least bit about the man.
They were just praising God.
And after a while he sidled up to
me quietly and he said I'm going there's
too much noise here.
And God inspired me.
I don't claim any credit for the answer.
But I said to him listen the one
who doesn't like the noise is Satan.
Because we're praising Jesus and he always hates
that.
Now you've got two options.
If you go now the devil will go
with you.
If you stay he'll go without you.
So he said I'll stay.
And about ten minutes later he sidled up
to me again and he said it's gone.
I just felt it leave my throat.
That's always stuck with me.
It's the clearest example I know of how
much praising Jesus embarrasses Satan.
The other example I have in mind is
when Jehoshaphat and Judah found that their country
had been invaded by an army.
Which apparently numbered about 1 million people.
And they had a prayer and fasting day.
Which is a good thing to do.
And the Lord spoke and said don't worry
about this battle.
It's all right it's in my hand.
Just go out.
And next day they went out.
But in front of the army.
You know this story.
They set the choir to praise and sing
praises to God.
And so on.
And the Bible says when they began to
praise.
The Lord set ambushes for their enemies.
And when they arrived at the field of
battle.
The enemies had totally destroyed one another.
They didn't have to fight.
All they had to do was gather the
plunder.
And as I've been thinking of the situation
in the Middle East over the past six
months or so.
I feel God has shown me that if
my people will praise me jubilantly, continually, excitedly.
I'll set ambushes for the enemies.
Now I don't like to say the enemies
of Israel.
I'd rather say the enemies of God.
And let God determine who his enemies are.
And then proclaim.
There's a tremendous power in proclaiming.
Undoubtedly the hardest place for the gospel to
make progress, is the Middle East.
You can talk about Japan or Russia or
anywhere else being hard.
But none of them are as hard as
the Middle East.
And you know one main reason for the
hardness of the Middle East.
Is that for nearly 14 centuries, five times
every day, from every mosque, there's gone out
a proclamation, with words praising Allah and Muhammad.
Which I will not use.
And let me say the Allah of the
Muslims, is not the God of the Bible.
And that has, has brought a yoke of
iron, over the peoples of the Middle East.
Now I believe the solution, is a counter
-proclamation.
And because we've got the truth.
I don't think we have to do it
for 14 centuries.
I don't know how long we have to
do it for.
But I think there's so much more power
in the truth, than in the lies of
Satan.
That if we will begin to proclaim, something
will happen.
Now I want to suggest to you what
we should proclaim.
Because it's in the same chapter and the
tenth verse.
And it's a proclamation to be made to
the nations.
Hear the word of the Lord O nations.
And declare it in the isles of far
off.
And that includes the British Isles.
You know that.
They may not seem far off to us.
But remember these words were spoken in the
Middle East.
So this, if anything ever applied to the
British Isles, this did.
Now what are we to proclaim?
Here it is.
He who scattered Israel, will gather him.
That's exciting.
But never stop there.
Because it says and keep him as a
shepherd keeps his flock.
So brothers and sisters, Israel is in a
desperate situation.
But we really do not need to be
afraid of the outcome.
For the same God who is gathering him,
will keep him.
Let's proclaim it.
I love that passage in Hebrew.
Because Hebrew has such a tremendous way of
condensing things.
And the statement, he who scattered Israel, will
gather him.
Is all said in three words in Hebrew.
Mizzareh Yisrael Yecabetzenu.
Mizzareh the one who scattered, Yisrael, Israel, Yecabetzenu,
will gather him.
And interestingly enough, that verb Yecabetz, is directly
connected with the word kibbutz.
It's almost as if God said, when I
gather them back, I'll gather them back in
kibbutzim.
I'm sorry to say that that is all
there is of this recording.