HeartforIsrael.com

Why Christians Should Have a Heart for Israel

Excerpts from "Developing a Heart for Israel" by Jerry Marcellino and Yochanan Ben Yehuda

Many years ago, when I was in my early years as a Christian, I caught with my ear the phrase, "Christianity is fundamentally a heart-religion." As the years have passed, I have come to more fully understand the truth of this statement. This undeniable truth can be found throughout the whole of God's word.

It is quite apparent from scripture that Christianity is in its essence a heart-religion. That is ,when God saves a man, woman, or child, He does not merely reform their external actions, but He literally transforms them from the inside out. In other words, He gives them new hearts! The new hearts were made new by God's Sovereign mercy and grace! They become the temple of the living God( 2 Corinthians 6 :16 ) the residence of the Holy Spirit, who then begins the work, God the Father has worked into every new believer ( Philippians 1:13) namely, a brand new life which flows out of a brand new heart ( 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Such a life wants to obey God's word, and desires to love what God loves. We frequently observe these spiritual qualities so powerfully at work in believers when we hear them say about others, "so and so has a heart for God," or he has a heart for ministry". or about themselves when they say, "I have a heart for the lost." Now depending on where you are living in the evangelical Christian world, you might have heard these and many other, "I have a heart for _____" statements to add to our list. However, one statement that is rarely heard, no matter where you live, which ought to be heard often among evangelical believers everywhere is, " I have a heart for Israel." This passion and aim was obviously the heart of the great apostle Paul to the gentiles, when he said, " Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is their (Israel's) salvation" (Romans 10:1). Such passion should be ours for the lost sheep of Jewish people in our days as well! This explains why the apostle Paul emphasized this heart conviction at the outset of His epistle to the Romans, when he said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jews first and also to the Greek" (1:16). The Hope and prayer behind the writing of this book is to stir up all believers every where to honestly ask themselves the following question, "Do you have a Heart for Israel?" If you can answer yes to this question, then may this booklet stir you even more to pray for the future restoration of Israel (1 Thessalonians 4:1b). If your answer is no, then may this article be the means that God uses to convince you why all Christians everywhere should have a heart for Israel. May it move you to love more, to faithfully bear-witness to, and to begin to fervently pray for the soon fulfillment of Romans 11: 25-29. For I do not want you brethren to be uninformed of this mystery Ñ so that you will not be wise in your own estimation Ñ- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles has come in: and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION (Isa 59:20. " ...a Redeemer will come to Zion"), HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB....THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM. WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." From the stand point of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of their fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

Why Christians Should Have a Heart for Israel

Why should Christians have a heart for Israel? Many Christians have lived and died having never considered this most vital question. There are probably many reasons for this, Possibly, a few of the more important reasons have been that they have lived in a geographical area where no Jews were to be found and therefore there was no stimulus to catch a burden for the salvation of the Jew. Perhaps others were from a tradition within Christianity that believed national Israel is no longer considered to be a concern to God. They were taught that Israel as a nation, at present is no more important to God than Mexico, Russia, Canada, or Bosnia. Whatever the reason or reasons have been our hopeful aim is to call Christ's church to consider the abundant Biblical reasons for her having a present, persevering heart for the spiritual prosperity of Jewish people. Let us now consider these Biblical reasons and their practical applications for all believers everywhere:

1. Christians should have a heart for Israel because God still has a heart for Israel.

The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you... Deuteronomy 7:7

2. Christians should have a heart for Israel because God's Word calls to preach the Gospel to the Jew first.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16

3. Christians should have a heart for Israel because of the Scriptural promise of her certain future Restoration.

For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? Romans 11:15

4. Christians should have a heart for Israel because of the Spiritual reward that is promised by God to everyone who blesses Israel.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Psalm 122:6

If you would like to learn more, you can receive a complete booklet when you purchase the music CD; Heart For Israel Worship Volume One.

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