Category: Opinion

My trip to Israel in early spring was life changing. It was educational but most importantly spiritual. Yes, I “walked where Jesus walked” and peered into the Garden Tomb, but I also worshiped Him in song and dance. The music was unfamiliar to me, and I didn’t know any of the choreography. But the Holy Spirit’s presence was evident in the prayer and praises the locals and I offered up to Yeshua. Want to praise Him Messianic style? Click below to watch a Jewish dance.

When you arrive in Israel and drive past road signs to Jerusalem or Nazareth, it is easy to think you have just entered the biggest theme park in the world. Almost a million Christians visit Israel every year. As a native-born Israeli, I am blessed to see these groups walking the land and discovering the world of the Bible for themselves, but I am also saddened to know that few of them connect with local Israeli believers.

I understand that for most people it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk where Jesus walked and that tour companies pack their schedules with trips to as many ancient sites as possible. But what about the living stones—the local people the Lord is building into His spiritual temple?

Every day in Israel and other parts of the world, Messianic Jews are persecuted for their faith in Yeshua. Family members and the community shun some, while others become victims of character assassination, harassment and even assault. They are targets of ridicule, but they continue to take a stand for Messiah. Christians around the world must intercede on their behalf. Click below to watch the video, and then slip to your knees in prayer.

Nehemiah says, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). We saw this fact demonstrated in a dramatic way when we attended the first Jewish festival that was held in St. Petersburg, Russia. This festival was designed to reach out to the Jewish people.

The music artists shared not only their music, but also their personal testimonies of how they came to know Jesus as their Messiah. The first evening as people gathered into the auditorium, I studied each face. The people seemed expressionless, almost without any emotion, and I did not see one smile. Then the music began.

A Messianic congregation is suing the chief rabbi of Beersheba, Israel, and a Jewish anti-missionary organization for damages incurred during a riot that lasted more than three hours and interrupted regular Sabbath services on the premises of the congregation.

On Dec. 24, 2005, hundreds of Orthodox Jews forced their way onto the property of Nachalat Yeshua (“Jesus’ Inheritance”), throwing chairs, equipment and punches at some worshipers. Police testified to arriving on the scene shortly after the riot began, witnessing the violence and arresting some of the rioters.

The Obama administration has dropped demands for a Jewish construction freeze in eastern Jerusalem, according to a report filed by Ha’aretz on Thursday. The news comes as a result of a meeting held this week in London between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell.

While rejecting a total freeze in settlements and stressing the need to guarantee “normal life” for Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu proposed a nine month halt to settlement construction in the West Bank. Besides Jerusalem, the agreement would also exclude about 2,500 Jewish homes in disputed territories already under construction.

Pnina Pie is a successful baker in Tel Aviv, Israel. But when authorities discovered she is also a Messianic Jew, they revoked her kosher license, told other Jews to boycott her bakery and started a campaign to close down her establishment. Pnina took her case all the way to Israel’s Supreme Court and won. But that’s not the end of the story. To learn why Pnina and others like her suffer for their faith, click below to watch the video.

Did Israel go far enough earlier this year in its battle against the terror and rockets of Hamas? The Bible holds the key to understanding this question.

The Jewish prophet Amos wrote, “Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near” (Amos 6:3, NKJV). The ancient Hebrew word for what our English Scriptures translate as “violence” is the word hamas. In fact, many of the Hebrew Scriptures use the word hamas wherever it says “violence.”

As I read Romans 9 and 10, I see in my mind’s eye the religious Jews in Israel as they bobbed back and forth, their prayer shawls waving gently with their movements while they prayed earnestly at the Western Wall. I just returned from Israel and saw this same scene, which always brings tears to my eyes. They are praying for Messiah—when Messiah has already come.

These Jews have great zeal in their religious activity, but they are without knowledge. Paul recognized this. He says about them, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:2-3).

The Sea of Galilee is one of the most popular tourists spots in Israel. This historic body of water is home to 27 species of fish, but in biblical times, Yeshua stood on its shores—and sometimes on the sea—and performed many miracles. He saw Peter and Andrew casting their net into the water and said, “‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men'” (Matt. 4:19, NKJV); He walked on water (see Matt. 14:22-33), and fed more than 5,000 people with five fish and two loaves of bread (see Matt. 14:13-21). To learn how to cast your net in this ancient sea, click below to watch the video.

Most Christians support Israel theoretically, but in day-to-day life, the nation, her people and her concerns seem far-off.

However, I believe the time has come for our outlook to change. Israel is rapidly evolving into what may become the most fundamental issue to face every Bible-believing Christian in the world.

Nations such as Iran are calling for the annihilation of Israel. An increasingly violent, militant Islam is poised to inflict global terror on all who stand with Zion. Historically Christian Europe is in demographic danger of becoming a Muslim continent.

Running through Jerusalem is a dividing line that becomes clearer with every passing day. When this reality hits us, we will be compelled to choose a side. Every committed Christian, I believe, will soon have no choice but to prepare for action.

Former Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee said it is “virtually unrealistic” for a Palestinian state to be placed “in the middle of the Jewish homeland” and that Israel should be able to build settlements where it wants, according to the Associated Press (AP).

While on a three-day tour of Israel this week, the former Arkansas governor and one-time Southern Baptist pastor told reporters on Tuesday that the international community should consider establishing a Palestinian state elsewhere.

“The question is should the Palestinians have a place to call their own? Yes, I have no problem with that,” Huckabee said. “Should it be in the middle of the Jewish homeland? That’s what I think has to be honestly assessed as virtually unrealistic.”

The Menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum used in ancient synagogues long before the birth of Jesus. It is a symbol of Judaism and remains an emblem of the nation of Israel today. To learn more about the Menorah and the Star of David, click below to watch the video.