Life Group Leaders’ Notes
Title: Blessing The Jewish People & Israel
Key Text: Genesis 12:2-3
The Jewish nation which comprises many different ethnic backgrounds, a small nation, has contributed so much to humanity that it is astounding. It’s on the frontline of research and development, innovation and global relations and is amazing to witness and see.
God’s promise to Abraham is that He would make Israel a great nation. Abraham was obedient to that call leaving everything behind him in Ur.
Abraham became the father of the Jewish people and the nation Israel. And, he was blessed with great abundance. We are going to explore what we can do to bless Israel.
What has Israel and the Jewish people given to you? (Romans 9:1-5, John 4:22, Revelation 5:5, Romans 11:1, Zechariah 2:8
Apply
The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse (that is, subject My wrath and judgment) the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.”
Finally, let’s look at Matthew 25:32 and following: “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”
“He will put the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left. Then the king will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
His disciples then asked when they did all these things and Yeshua’s answer was this: “And the King will answer them and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least My (Jewish) brethren, you did it to Me.’
The Jewish nation which comprises many different ethnic backgrounds, a small nation, has contributed so much to humanity that it is astounding. It’s on the frontline of research and development, innovation and global relations and is amazing to witness and see.
God’s promise to Abraham is that He would make Israel a great nation. Abraham was obedient to that call leaving everything behind him in Ur. Abraham became the father of the Jewish people and the nation Israel. And, he was blessed with great abundance.
So, the real question on my mind and our minds is: Why Israel?
I think there is another prayer you all have heard taught but opens a key to understanding God’s heart. Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee.”
What has Israel and the Jewish people given to you?
Romans 9:1-5 – I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart…
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren. My countrymen according to the flesh.
Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the:
Adoption
The Glory
The Covenants
The giving of the Law
The service of God
The Promises
Of whom atre the Fathers
And from whom, according to the flesh , Messiah came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen
Eight items the Jewish people gave to you and I for all eternity. The climax of all ages - The Messiah Jesus, Christ, the anointed one. And we dare oppose what in God’s eyes He has chosen.
Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, ‘Salvation is of the Jews.’ This is an undisputed fact.
Revelation 5:5 is exciting for we know that not only in the past but in the future Jesus is referred to as a Jew: “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.”
Paul writes in Romans 11:1 - “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I am also an Israeli of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Israel is mentioned 72 times in the New Testament and always means the Jews. Not the church! The church never ever replaced Israel and the Jews in God’s prophetic promises.
Another place we read in Zechariah 2:8 - “For thus says the Lord of Hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”
Throughout history, Jerusalem and the Jews have survived against all odds:
The land of modern day Israel was conquered and ruled by: the Persians, the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Fatimids, Seljuk Turks, the Crusaders, Egyptians, Mamelukes, and Islamists.
In 1000 BC King David conquered Jerusalem and made it the capital of the Jewish Kingdom. His son Solomon built the first Temple 40 years later.
The Babylonians occupied Jerusalem in 586 BC and destroyed the Temple and sent the Jews into exile. 50 years later King Cyrus of Persia allowed Nehemiah and the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
Alexander the Great took control of Jerusalem in 332 BC. Where is his empire?
The Ottoman Turkish Empire ruled Jerusalem and much of the Middle East from 1516 to 1917. Turkey’s economy today is very dependent on doing business with Israel and the tourism dollars that Israelis bring to Turkey.
The British then occupied for a short period Jerusalem and parts of Israel. Need I say more.
The lesson to be learned is that Israel has prospered only after the Jewish people returned to what God had promised even though there was always a Jewish community and presence there.
What can we do to bless Israel and why should we?
Romans 11:30-31 tells us: “Just as you were (Gentiles) at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too (Israel) have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.”
What are some of the things we can do to bless Israel?
Subscribe to the VFI News
Visit Israel - Come on a tour with Pastors Wes and Adriana
Bless Good Sound Projects both for the Physical and Spiritual restoration of Israel
Take a stand against anti-semitism and replacement theology
Support politicians who want to move your embassy to Jerusalem and keep strong relations with Israel and who fight against anti-semitism
Be pro-active in intercession and place Israel on your prayer lists.
