Author: Richard Wilkins

By Mr Brent Grey

A little more than 100 years ago in a small village in Scotland there was a conference of believers, and one man raised the question to one of the brothers at the conference who was involved in Jewish ministry, and asked him “What is the critical need in ministry to the Jewish people today?”, and the answer that was given to him was “More Tears”…

If that very same question was asked of us today, I think the answer would sadly remain the same, because when we look at the Christian Church today, her tears of compassion for Israel have long dried up.

“More tears” based on the truths of God’s word regarding Israel is one of the pressing needs I see in the Church today.

But be forewarned, some may not weep with you, and some may not share your burden. God will allow Israel to serve as a strategic point of division in the Church today, as some in the Body of Christ will stand with Israel; others will turn away.

As global conflict escalates between Israel and her enemies – your stand in the end will be less about Israel and more about the God of Israel, and more about the integrity of His unfailing word, because sadly today Christians are forsaking the word of God at such a rate there is no real concept of Israel in the sense that Israel is the primary instrument in the outworking of God’s plans and purposes throughout human history. If I were to ask you what is the purpose of human history and in particular Jewish history – How do you think you would answer that?

I believe Jesus answers that for us in Matthew 23:37 where He outlines the purpose of Jewish history and says “Jerusalem, Jerusalem those who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings”… That friends is the purpose of Jewish history – for God to gather His own under His wings. But in the very next breath we see the tragedy of Jewish history when Jesus says “and you were unwilling… behold, your house is being left to you desolate”. If there is one thing that describes the last 1900 years of Jewish history, it is one of complete and utter desolation. But Jesus didn’t leave it hopeless; as He went on to say what will be the triumph of Jewish and world history… “For I say to you, from now on you will not see me again until you (Israel) say blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD”. This is a Messianic acknowledgement, meaning that Jesus won’t return until Israel as a nation acknowledges that He is the promised Messiah bringing about His second coming and God’s kingdom on earth. Even the prophet Zechariah foresaw this event in Ch 12:10, but sadly it will take a tribulation or what is known as “the time of Jacobs trouble” for them to realise that. We worship and serve a covenant keeping God and every jot and tittle of His unfailing word will be fulfilled regarding both Israel and the Church, and we need to clearly understand that and get excited about it.

But why does Israel seem to draw out the best and worst in us?

The Jewish nation is designed by God to test and expose the hearts and intents of humanity – the scriptures and history shows us that, but does that mean everything Israel does is right? Of course not; the test would prove less genuine if issues involving Israel were so simple. Though matters may seem complex on the surface, Israel is ultimately about Him and His word, and if you know Him as the God of Israel, with your heart beating with His and His word raised up high, all you can do is shout Amen.

That is what we are all about at Awake to Israel, lifting up high and making known to all the God of the book, the Messiah of the book and the people of the book and shouting Amen.

I believe the Lord is using Awake to Israel to grow in His Church a deeper prophetic understanding of His ways and character, because God wants you equipped to live for Him and understand clearly what He is doing in the world both now and the days ahead, because sadly these truths have been obscured for centuries to the Church through amillennial and postmillennial teaching which had served to rob the people of Israel of their promised inheritance, the Messiah of Israel of His earthly throne, and the God of Israel of His future glory… we need to again awake to the truths of God’s word and “awake to Israel”.

Now is the time for us all to once again take a stand, rekindle our passion and find our tears for the lost sheep of the house of Israel based on the wonderful truths of God’s unfailing word.

May we all share in the words of Paul in Romans 11:15 “for if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” – Much is depending on it…

Shalom Brent