©27 March 2015 Revive Israel Ministries

Irrevocable Calling

By Dan Juster

As far as the gospel is concerned; they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable - Rom 11:28-29. 

The Jewish people, the nation of Israel, has an irrevocable calling. I have written about this calling in my book, The Irrevocable Calling.  Israel’s preservation and return to the Land of Israel is a great testimony to the faithfulness of God and His ultimate Lordship over history. 

Israel’s testimony memorializes God’s action in the history of the nation and points to the end days and the Age to come.  For example, the Sabbath is a testimony to the fact that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.  It is a foreshadowing of the Age to Come, when all will enter into a total Sabbath rest in Him.

Passover leads to the Exodus from Egypt, and foreshadows all nations coming into their destiny in the Age to Come.

Shavuot (Pentecost), the first large harvest, was the time of the outpouring of the Spirit in the first century.  It foreshadows all the earth being filled with the Spirit; the knowledge of God will cover the earth (Isaiah 11:9).

Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets (Shofarot), announces the judgments of God and the coming of the Messiah to rule and reign. It includes the re-gathering of Israel (Isaiah 27) and the resurrection of the dead (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the High Priest made atonement for the people.  Yeshua, our High Priest, entered into the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Tabernacle with His own blood of (Hebrews 9).  This atonement is yet to be applied nationally to Israel and the nations, (Zechariah 12:10, Rev. 22:2)).

The great Feast of Harvest, of Tabernacles, looks forward to that Day of the Kingdom of God in which Israel and all the nations will be one under the Messiah. (Zech. 14:9)

Jewish followers of Yeshua are part of their people; Paul showed that he was obedient to Torah and demonstrated his continued part in the nation of Israel (Acts 21). Messianic Jewish congregations are a key way for Jewish followers of Yeshua to maintain their part both in Israel and the “church”.  These congregations include Gentiles who enjoy identifying with the Jewish people and worshipping in a Jewish rooted context.  Jewish life is communal  and is hard to maintain individually.  We affirm Jewish culture where it is good and beautiful, and we seek to live within this cultural context.  Jewish disciples of Yeshua are both the saved remnant of Israel and the Jewish members of the Body of the Messiah, the Jewish part of the One New Man.  They join Israel and the Church together in an unseen corporate connection.  Someday all Israel will be part of the Body of the Messiah, grafted back into their own Olive Tree leading to life from the dead. (Romans 11:15)

All believers are to affirm that Israel is still chosen, has not been replaced, and that Jewish believers are still a part of this important calling.  God’s goal is that Israel and the nations will be one under the rule of the Messiah.

Much prayer happened leading up to the recent elections in Israel, but now there is an equal or more urgent need for prayer as the government coalition is being formed.
There are two parts to forming the government of Israel:

1. Election - who is to be the “king of the Jews.”
2. Coalition - who will form the government.

We tend to think of the cross only in terms of atonement—the forgiveness of sins.  Amen. But at the time, the great contention that led to the crucifixion surrounded another issue: is he really the Messiah, the “King of the Jews.” (John 18). Today, the prime minister of Israel sits in the earthly position of the 'King of the Jews,' but obviously does not “wear” the full messianic and divine mantle. . Because Israel ceased to be a nation for nearly 2000 years, this “king of the Jews” issue similarly disappeared. But now that Israel is again a nation, this leadership position has returned and is again the most contested and attacked position in the world.

The spiritual battle over the Israeli government has to do with unity to form the coalition. You cannot form a government without a coalition and you cannot have a coalition without unity among the party leaders. This same issue is found in the international church today. The King is Yeshua, He's been elected (Ps 2), but there is not enough unity among His followers for His kingdom to function and advance. (John 17).

To watch Asher's message in English, click HERE!

By Cody Archer

Over the last month here at Revive Israel we have had the privilege of hosting another wave of visitors coming from around the world to visit us! Having the opportunity each week to pray, prophecy, teach, encourage and build relationships with those hungry for connection is very humbling and can even feel overwhelming at times. A challenge we face is finding the balance between the local and international sides of ministry. It would be much simpler just to focus on one of the two, but this is a tension God has called us to.

Last week, while meeting with a group of church elders from the US, of whom their pastor sent them to Israel to 'spy out the land' in search for local believers to partner with, they told us that the time they had with our team was the highlight of their trip. This is something we are hearing more and more. The One New Man unity and partnership of Jew and Gentile, really is growing in our day!