By James Fire
For some 1800 years after the diaspora of the Jews from their native land of Israel in 70 AD, the idea of a Millennial Kingdom established in the nation promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob where the Messiah would rule His people Israel (LUKE 1:32-33), even among the most competent of Bible scholars, seemed unlikely. The Jewish people were dispersed throughout the world. The land known as ‘Palestine’ (a name created by Israel’s enemies) was a barren wasteland of parched, dusty deserts and malaria infested swamps. Muslims who owned much of the land around major cities would apply a tax on any tree that the Jews had on their properties to promote further desolation.
Very few pastors and teachers taught that Israel would be reborn, but those who took the Word of God seriously, understood that her day would be coming prior to the Second Advent of Christ!
But before we continue in this series on the Millennial Reign of Christ, I want to address this issue of Israel’s rebirth as a nation (there are some, even professing Christians, who deny the authenticity of the State of Israel and dismiss it out of hand for certain reasons I would like to respond to) and what is in store for her. So, let’s have a look at this amazing prophecy in EZEKIEL 37!
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By James Fire
Here again we have the LORD Jesus speaking in parables; He began this in chapter 13 because of what transpired in chapter 12: the Pharisees attributed the power by which the LORD Jesus cast out demons to Satan, rather than the Holy Spirit, Who anointed Jesus as the Messiah – “the Anointed One”. This was a seriously grievous deed, and by rejecting the witness of the Holy Spirit, by Whose power the LORD worked these miracles (prophesied in Scripture to be signs done by none other than the Messiah Himself; see ISAIAH 61), they were guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
As the national leadership, these Pharisees brought judgment upon Israel by their rejection – the LORD is still reaching out to individual Jews, but this was a pivotal point in the nation’s path (also prophesied in Scripture; see ISAIAH 53). This judgment took the form of speaking in parables, which, for those who reject the truth, will hide truth from their understanding.
So, when the disciples came to Jesus in chapter 13, asking why He spoke to them in parables, He said:
MATTHEW 13:11-17
11 . . . Because, it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
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By Sonny Islas
HINDERED PRAYER – PART 5
Prayer is essential for the Christian disciple of Christ. Lord teach us to pray . . . ! That’s what the disciples asked of the LORD in LUKE 11:1.
So far, we’ve discovered (in Parts 1 & 2 in this series) that (1) marital discord, (2) insincerity, (3) selfishness, (4) coldness (and in Parts 3 & 4) (5) a lack of confidence, (6) overlooking God’s will, (7) not praying, (8) an evil lifestyle (of the unbeliever), and (9) staying away from God’s Word hinders our prayers.
Today I’m going over the next four ways in which our prayers can be hindered.
Hindered prayers is a temporary blockage between us and God. It’s kind of like a blood clot. A blood clot blocks the blood from freely flowing to the heart and in the same way hindrances block our prayers from gracefully flowing to God’s heart.
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