Saving Israel

Chapter Six . . .

As I prepared to write that which the Lord had put in my heart, I heard a voice speaking to my spirit. “Why are my people so estranged to my holy place and the people I have preserved throughout the ages and generations of men? Is not Jerusalem my choice?”

Romans 11:18-22

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Wherein do we have room to boost against Israel? We are here by grace. We silently point the finger at Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, but are we not as guilty as they? We were not believers. We, too, were alienated from God by the wickedness of our ways and the evil of our hearts.

Here we are warned of the severity of God. If we do not continue in His goodness we, too, shall be cut off.

Let us learn the character of God and His intent. Let us be sober and consider the dispositions of our hearts.

Romans 11:23-24

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

The Father left the door open for Israel’s return unto Him. This is His true desire. Why is He telling us this? Could it be that this saving of Israel is part of the mystery of Christ which is overlooked by the Church? Could it also be that He is revealing our complacency and apathy towards Israel.

At this point I could feel the heart of God. I knew His thoughts. They are the same today as they were in the days of Paul.

Romans 11:25-26

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

There are devout men and women of the clergy who have elected to champion the cause of Israel in her struggle to remain a nation and reside safe within her borders. And for this, the blessings of the Lord will be granted to any nation or individuals who make themselves a part of this struggle. However, though Israel is a very noble, financial or political cause, it is much more than that to the Church.

Israel is a part of the mystery of godliness. There is a remnant that is saved and is being saved even now. This remnant is defined as such when compared to the fact that they are as the sand of the sea. Blindness is only happened in part to Israel, there are many Jewish Christians in the Body of Christ today. Nevertheless, there would be a lot more saved if the church as a whole would begin to see the nation as a missionary field waiting to be evangelized.

But many of us are guilty of walking in our own conceitedness; which is oftentimes manifested by our profound ability to ignore the Jew. Some in the Body hold contempt for them, which is expressed in a willingness to teach the coming chastening of the Lord by anti-christ to everyone except the Jew.

Romans 11:27-31

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Yes, it is true that the nation is blind concerning the preaching of the gospel, but there are many to be saved strictly by the election of grace. We do not know who they are; just as it was not known that we as individuals would be saved.

There was a time when we did not believe, but the mercy of God found us. My point here is that this calling out of the remnant is also the responsibility of the Church of Jesus Christ. For how can they hear without a preacher, and how can he preach least he be sent?

Moreover, why is this not the heart of the Church? Why is it that we do not feel this great compassion for Israel? It is what the Father feels. It is the emotion of the Holy Ghost. Having alienated Israel from our consciousness, we have closed the door of our faith regarding their salvation. Our mercy toward Israel can only be demonstrated in our never ending intercession and the preaching of the gospel to as many as will hear.

The nation of Israel is rich and wealthy. But that might not be the case with all the Jewish churches in Israel. As ministries of the gospel of Christ and as individuals let us seed into these churches who are bold enough to proclaim Christ the Jewish Messiah.

Romans 11:32

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

At the end of this age, the Lord will return and all Israel will see Him and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” They will receive Him and He will turn away all ungodliness from the nation.

Romans 11:33-36

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Our attitude and disposition toward Israel is one of the judgments by which we will be judged. It is also a manifestation of our true spiritual location. It reflects whether we are truly in fellowship with God. All these things are not laborious, nor weighty in themselves. Neither are these instructions things we must strive to remember. This mind is the mind of Christ. It is His emotions toward His people that we speak of here. If we do not have that mind then truly we are not walking in the Spirit.

Where are the voices of the prophets? This is the word I have for you today. Seek out the remnant of the nation. Do not wait for the evil day of the anti-christ to come against them. It was by my mercy and grace that you are saved. Let that mercy rebound to my chosen. Pray they return to the light. I am able to graft them back into their own vine. Let the true intercessors be stirred. Let them weep and mourn for my people. Send workers into the vineyards that have long been neglected. Let the cry of the evangelist be clear. Go forth and tell them, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

I Love you with all my heart,

Mary Banks

Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ