Others People's Portions

Words and Understandings from Other Individuals

Is That Really Necessary?

by Fred G London
"but only a few things are necessary, really only one..." (Luke 10:42a)

It is imperative that we have right spiritual thinking in order to see a
true spiritual expression of the Kingdom of God through His Church. "Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God,
that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things (we
ought to) speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught
by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (I Cor.
2:12-13).
For this to be accomplished we must be willing to empty ourselves, that
"He might fill all things." We must be willing to "decrease that
He might
increase." We must be willing to lay down our vision that we might be
taken up with Christ’s vision., which is predicated upon a vision of
Christ. This one thing will keep us from being "led astray from the
simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." For most of us, however, it
is too late for that. It is more a case of repentance and restoration,
and for many, quite frankly, it requires one to begin all over again.
We begin with Christ and we end with Christ. "He is the Alpha and the
Omega" and "in Him all things hold together." We hear so much and
speak
so much about callings; corporate callings, individual callings. However,
all callings must be founded upon the preeminent calling as Paul
expressed it, "God is faithful, through whom you were called into
fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Cor. 1:9). As Gene
Edwards so insightfully contends, "Before there was a Jerusalem, there
was a Galilee." Before there is church, agendas, and formal ministry,
there must be a significant, qualitative time of learning to fellowship
with the Son and with each other within the sphere of normal, everyday
life. This took place with Jesus and His disciples for three and a half
years.
There must be a spiritual conception followed by an embryonic stage prior
to birthing. This is Galilee. Men, however, often with the best of
intentions, proceed to start with building their Jerusalem, and therein
lies the fatal problem. It is not fatal in the sense that you cannot
build your Jerusalem if one is bent on doing that. The real question is,
are we building something for God with "the best laid plans of mice and
men" or allowing God to have His own way with and through us? Are we
basing our efforts with an "ends justifies the means" mentality with what
is often supported by pseudo-spiritual terms as "look at the fruit?" Are
we more concerned, or rather consumed with God’s way of doing things, so
readily available to the true seeker, found in Scripture and early church
history in order that a fuller expression of Christ might be manifest?
Deep down in our hearts, surely we know. Of course, we need not fear the
answer if we dare not ask the question.
Men in the Church historically have a nasty habit of adapting worldly
thinking, methods, techniques, and the like in order to help God further
His Kingdom. However, the notion of "the ends justifies the means" does
not work in the spiritual scheme of things. God’s permissive will is
truly beyond human comprehension when one considers such in light of His
eternal purposes. They can be found as nuggets of gold within Scripture
when revealed by His Holy Spirit to the true, desperate seeker.
In the days of Samuel when he and his two sons were judging Israel, the
elders came to Samuel, "and they said to him, ‘Behold, you have grown
old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to
judge us like all the other nations" (I Sam. 8:5). What they were saying
was that the way in which God prescribed for Israel to be ruled was not
working and neither had they had any faith or desire to see it work.
Having a king seemed to work just fine for the other nations. If it was
good enough for them, it should be good enough for us. "And the Lord said
to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they
say to you, but they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me
from being king over them (I Sam. 8:7).
It is interesting to note that generations earlier god foretold of this
when He said, "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you,
and you possess it and live in it, and you say, I will place a king over
me like the other nations who are around me..." (Deut. 17:14). In another
place we have the account where the Pharisees said to Jesus, "Why then
did Moses command to give her a certificate and divorce her?" He said to
them, "Because of the hardness of your heart, Moses permitted you to
divorce your wives. But from the beginning it has not been this way"
(Mat. 19:7-8).
Three key phrases speak volumes in making a point here, "like all the
other nations," "because of the hardness of your heart," and, "but
from
the beginning it has not been this way." There is in fact a common
thread. All permitted. All missing the mark. All missing God’s best, His
Divine purposes. Be assured, there is more Scriptural precedent from
where these examples come from. Human nature has a way of justifying our
settling for, and under, God’s permissive will. And, if that is the
extent of our desire in seeing God’s will manifest on earth as it is in
Heaven, then as we have already seen, God may just allow us to have it.
There is another human element which greatly adds to the corruption of
"the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" which must be mentioned
here. It is "the man who would be king" syndrome. Men who would presume
leadership apart from an experience in "Galilee" and people who would
demand a leader apart from the same. It has been said by some that Moses
was an Old Testament foreshadowing of a type of "New Testament pastor"
and so "they have seated themselves in the seat of Moses." However, this
is quite incorrect. Rather, Moses was a type of Christ (Deut. 18:15,
18-19).
Consequently, it should be of no surprise that in accepting the former
notion as justification for Reformation style leadership, that we have
churches that bear little resemblance to those depicted in passages such
as found in the Book of Acts, I Corinthians 12 and 14, and Ephesians 4.
As we shall see, the usurping of spiritual kingship can be a prelude to
the usurping of the "priesthood" in the House of God.
The story of Uzziah vividly illustrates the pitfalls and tragedy of
exceeding one’s God ordained authority. Now, Uzziah started out doing
right in the sight of the Lord and was used mightily in re-establishing
Judah under righteous rule and military might, reigning for fifty-two
years. "But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted
corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he had entered
the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the alter of incense (II Chron.
26:16).
T. Austin-Sparks offers sober insight concerning this account; "The
temple is the place of worship, and worship is just giving God His
rights, god’s rights are absolute, and in His temple God gets
everything-all is unto God. In the day when the temple was not what God
meant it to be... Isaiah wrote, "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw
the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled
the temple." It is the place where there is no room for anything else. In
other words, Uzziah got into God’s place, and then, when he was out of
the way, Isaiah saw the Lord filling the temple."
The spirit of Diotrophes, ‘who loves to be first among them" (III John
9), lurks in the hearts of even the most sincere spiritual leaders as
well as would-be leaders. Much of this problem is not only attributable
to fleshly ambition or misconceptions related to Church leadership, but
that we really do not trust God and His people. We all must have the
attitude of being willing to decrease so that Christ and His corporate
expression might increase. We must give more than doctrinal lipservice to
the spiritual reality of Christ having "first place in everything." (Col.
1:18b).
Any individual or activity having preeminence or predominance over the
Church robs Christ of His rightful place, "both to will and to work for
His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). The Body is not held together by one or a
select few, but by that which every joint supplies, according to the
proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the Body for
the building up of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16b).
When the Church was young, its success came from the reality of "the
simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." Their secret to building
the Church was in the knowledge that they could not build it. Only Christ
can and will build His Church and He will build it His way, "for unless
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Ps. 127:1a).
"And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with
gladness and simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:46).

Jezebel Never Apologizes
Priscilla Van Sutphin, California USA
Nov.9th, 2007
www.upstreamca.org

I remember when I wanted to confront my mother on the things that were so painful for me, her abandonment of me as a newborn, which I didn't even know about till my aunt clued me in after my divorce some 15 years ago, and all the back and forth between her and foster homes. I remember trying to just talk to my mom about the things I FELT. She refused to apologize for anything. It was just too much for her to admit she had failed.

In Steve Sampson's book " I Was Always on My Mind" he speaks in Chapter 3 of Jezebel being the Ultimate of Flesh in Control. He says:

There is no place that the flesh rules more ruthlessly than through the jezebel personality.
The commonly used term Jezebel, was in actuality the name of the wicked Queen Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, in the Old Testament. She was the daughter of a Sidonian king who made a trade agreement with Israel's King Ahab. Part of the agreement included Jezebel, the daughter. Because of the control she exercised and the tactics she used to exert illegitimate and wicked control over people, her name has become synonymous with the spirit of control.

Jezebel is a product of the flesh that opens the door to an evil spirit. Paul called witchcraft a work of the flesh ( Galatians 5:20). It is behavior that operates through a person to control by the use of manipulative, domineering and intimidating tactics. Although not restricted to either sex, it often is acknowledged to be more prevalent in women; but there is no question that it functions just as proficiently through men.

Where it functions through women, the Jezebel spirit seems to serve as Satan's answer to a male-dominated world, to give a false protection in a world where a woman seemingly never gets her rights, and the protective LOVE of a FATHER and a husband. Out of the lack of love, she rebels against the whole unloving system, and becomes just like it. The controlled becomes the controller; the oppressed becomes the oppressor.
Whether male or female, controllers are almost always motivated out of INSECURITY."

He makes many other good points, and I highly recommend his book which you can get at www.steveSampson.com

This never apologizing is related to lack of REPENTANCE noted in Revelation.
Rev 2:20-23 NKJV
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Jezebel never repented in the Old Testament either, and in the end was thrown out the window, died and was eaten by dogs as the prophet predicted.

The lack of repentance is a function of PRIDE.
There was a woman I used to know slightly who used to come to prayer meetings at the church I attended. She walked with an air of superiority always about her. I had no idea what I had done to offend her but for some reason she had it out for me during a time I had taken in a young man and his wife who needed deliverance from Satanism.

I was not allowed by apt. Standards to have them there, and when they stayed beyond what I felt was right, they had to leave, and went back east, ended up being youth leaders in a church in New York. But somehow through this inter-relationship with this couple, perhaps they complained to her, I don't know, but she just had an arrogance towards me, as though I was the lowest of the low which I certainly am, but she surely disdained me.

One Sunday I was driving to church, and she was right behind me. I instantly got apprehensive. It was raining, and as I put on the brake at the bottom of the hill, I could not stop! I went through the stoplight, thankfully missing getting into a wreck, and very frightening to not be able to stop when putting on the brakes. Later I realized it was that spirit on her, that was likely the culprit.

As I got to church, and started to take my seat, she looked back at me with disdain, and did this hand posturing thing of swiping her hands as if brushing something off her shoulders. The look from her was as if looks could kill. I could not believe her arrogance. I tried to forgive her for all this, but in my heart she intimidated me.

Much later, just last year one time I attended another church, and who was there but this woman. When I saw her, I felt God was urging me to go repent to her of anything she thought I may have done to hurt her. I did that in front of Kathy, the pastoress, as I wanted to her to be witness to it. I told her " I'm sorry for anything I did to you that hurt you. Will you forgive me?" She refused. She bluntly said "NO"! I still felt even after years, a bit shaky from the encounter with her, and went back to my seat. But in this way, it was also revealed to Kathy what had hold of her.

And just as I went back to my seat, another witness to it, came over to assure me I did the right thing, and to just let go in my heart. Which I felt I could do now completely. It was really sad.

Why sad? Because if you don't repent of your unforgiveness, you are holding on to bitterness, and bitterness will keep you out of heaven. This is why the bible cautions us…

Prov 5:3-5 NKJV For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell.

Prov 22:24-25 NKJV Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go , 25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
Prov 22:24-25 THE MESSAGE
Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. 25 Bad temper is contagious - don't get infected.

Job 21:25-26 NKJV Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never having eaten with pleasure. 26 They lie down alike in the dust, And worms cover them.

And in the New Testament:
Rom 3:14-18 NKJV
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness ." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Heb 12:15-17 NKJV… looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Bitterness defiles everyone. A bitter jezebelic person will slime everyone in the body and without. They will ruminate on old wounds, having never forgiven or resolved things in their hearts, never repenting of their part in it. And they will rehash over and over how they have been wounded even to the same person over and over, condemning, and gossiping about those who hurt them. It is one thing to talk to those who can help you get free. It is another to be carrying a huge load of bitter root judgments, and unforgiveness. This stands out like a sore thumb around those who are more healed. REFUSAL to repent or forgive is something Jesus had plenty to say about in His words also:

Matt 6:14-15 NKJV
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus makes it clear here, that if you do not forgive that you will not be forgiven by the Father when you stand before Him. Bitterness brings torment of soul. It is a robber and a thief. It will keep you from advancing in your walk with the Lord or in any area of your life prospering His way. You may prosper from the hand of the devil, but not from God.

Matt 18:34-35 NKJV
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Along with the idea of forgiveness, there is the apology…a repentant heart will be quick to forgive and quick to apologize for any PERCEIVED WRONG.

Matt 5:23-26 TLB
23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and he drags you into court and you are thrown into a debtor's cell, 26 for you will stay there until you have paid the last penny.

There are times even when you try to apologize, or humble yourself, taking on an apology for something you really didn't do to hurt anyone, that no matter how you try that you cannot make peace with some people. But at least if you do your part, you are no longer held in bondage or obligation in the eyes of the Lord. You will be free.

When I was a child there was much pain, much abuse. Growing up with that kind of family, even in the foster home also, there was a jezebelic spirit that no one seemed to ever apologize for wrongs done. My mother was most definitely a good example of jezebel in action. And because I judged her, I became like what I judged. But I was willing to repent. I was willing to apologize for wrongs done, once the Lord got a hold of me. There was a strong fear of the LORD build into me as a child through some of my Catholic background.

The Word says that the FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Job 28:28 NKJV And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord , that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Prov 9:10 NIV "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom ,and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

It is usually our fears of punishment, fear of rejection and PRIDE that keep us from apologies. Fear and PRIDE are the things that undergird CONTROL/ Jezebel. It is so simple to say I'm sorry. And I know that in most alcoholic homes, that I'm sorry never comes. In an alcoholic family, there is way too much insanity and pride to ever hear an I'm sorry.

My ex grew up in such a home, and so there was no example ever set for that apologizing either. This causes so much harm to children who grow up thinking THEY are the cause of all the problems, just because adults they live with don't know how to be adults and apologize.

If you didn't learn from your parents, then you can learn from others in the church who did grow up in healthier families, and learn to say I'm sorry, or I apologize for what I did. It goes a long way in the heart of a child, to be able to forgive their parents for pains caused, sharp words, or perfectionism, if we will just say, I'm sorry and repent to them for those things.

None of us is perfect like God, so we have made mistakes along the way. God needn't apologize as He is perfect in all His ways. But since we are NOT GOD, it's a good plan, even if there is a perceived wrong, that you really didn't feel you did, to apologize. The meek inherit the earth!

Attributes of the Flesh From Steve's book:
1. legalism
2. a bad disposition
3. self-centeredness
4. lack of discipline
5. boasting
6. stubbornness
7. idolatry and covetousness
8. impulsiveness
9. passivity
10. PRIDE

Things about Jezebel:
1. She is religious
2. she is intimidating
3. She uses illegitimate authority
4. He gets what HE wants
5. He is manipulative
6. He gets others to do his dirty work
7. She surrounds herself with eunuchs
8. She emasculates men or if male degrades women
9. She is relentless, furiously determined
10. He or She destroys the prophetic - actually she moves in divination {python spirit} which will try to strangulate the true prophetic in others.
11. Makes excuses for sin including all sexual sins/perversion
12. She is jealous
13. He always knows better than you, what is good for you
14. She is MURDEROUS - often will feel like I'm having a heart attack when attacked by this spirit - comes from murderous spirit
15. She is a thief - if you give to her, you will live in poverty and lack

Her characteristics are in our FLESH and it is what God purposes to remove through sanctification throughout our walk with Him.

Article on Pride vs. Humility:
http://www.upstreamca.org/pridevshumility.html


Warning: Misunderstanding of God’s Dealings with
Israel Could be Hazardous to the Church’s Health

Fred G London 

Within the Church, there are two predominant schools of thought concerning God’s relationship with Israel. First, we have those who advocate what is commonly referred to as "Replacement Theology." This line of thinking asserts that as a result of repeated disobedience throughout Israel’s history and culminating in the general rejection and crucifixion of Christ, that the Church has now inherited the calling and blessings once bestowed upon Israel. The Church, therefore, has replaced natural Israel as the "New Spiritual Israel of God."

The other line of thinking is that God’s covenant with Israel has never been broken by God, and though Israel for the most part has been unfaithful, God remains faithful to His covenant with Israel as His "chosen people." Furthermore, God has never revoked the promise of establishing the land of Israel as the "Jewish Homeland." In 1948, after many centuries, God once again restored His promise to the Jewish people in establishing them as a sovereign nation in the land, generally considered to be "The Final Return." As a result, we are to be fully supportive of both The State of Israel and increased immigration of the Jewish people back to The Land.

Frankly, it is difficult to imagine how even a small number of theologians could hold to the view of Replacement Theology. One must hold a rather acute preconceived notion in order to have derived an interpretation such as this. It is just as doubtful that among numerous references, among them Romans 9, 10, and 11, can such a view be supported when approached with any reasonable degree of objectivity. A legitimate question might be, "If Israel can supposedly be replaced because of its disobedience, can the Church in turn be replaced because of hers?" On the other hand, many who subscribe to the other persuasion may be surprised at the supposition that the latter view is also fraught with serious pitfalls, having even greater negative implications for the Church as well as Israel.

To those within the Church having a genuine love and burden for Israel’s salvation and national preservation, have we been premature in our coronation of Israel and excessive in our kudos pertaining to her accomplishments? Does our lowering of the standards for Israel make it easier to apply those same standards to the Church, encouraging the application of a cheaper standard leading to self-congratulations and complacency? Are the characteristics of present-day Israel consistent with those described in the Scriptures of a repentant people having been restored to The Land by God Himself, comprising a truly redeemed nation?

And will the so-called "lovers of Israel" now boldly proclaimed by some, be ultimately exposed as having been nothing more than fleshly sentimentality when tested at the expense of one’s personal reputation or physical persecution? It is better that questions such as these be applied to "judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts" now rather than later, before that day comes when we shall no longer have sufficient opportunity nor privilege of having our hearts examined, and if necessary, being brought to true repentance. In daring to ask these questions, we also dare to receive answers which may run contrary to our preconceived notions. But, in our quest to understand God’s dealings with Israel, we may also come to better understand God’s dealings with the Church. For in Israel we may come to see a truer reflection of the Church than we ever would have imagined, who made both groups into one. Therefore, we must pay particular attention, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

In the first chapter of Genesis we see God’s original intention for man; to bear the image of God and to have dominion over the earth. When man sinned, his representation of the image of God became tainted, and as a result, he was driven out from the Garden of Eden, his primary habitation. Herein lies the first revelation of a spiritual law God established at the very beginning of creation, and it is eternal. God’s representative and intended counterpart acquired his rightful ownership to the land as long as he faithfully bore the image of God. When he did not, he was disqualified from his inheritance and driven out. Generations later, God, through the patriarchs, would raise up a corporate man,

Israel, who would be called to bear the image of God as a nation and given a specific land as his home. It is critical to our overall understanding to note that due to their rebellion God allowed an entire generation of Hebrews to die in the wilderness prior to their entering "The Promised Land." It was their offspring, a relatively untainted generation whom God would bring into that land. We must bear in mind that God never intended a corrupt, unredeemed people to take possession of, much less even to enter the land, prior to their redemption. It is simply inconsistent with the laws and ways of God. Salvation always precedes inheritance and not before. Neither, do we enter into Heaven prior to our salvation, but rather as a result and reward of our salvation.

In Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, God in graphic detail elaborates on the severe consequences of disobedience to the children of Israel. If they would be faithful to God and His commandments they would enjoy blessings and security in the land. But, if they were unfaithful, among a host of various forms of punishment, they would be expelled from the land. Throughout Israel’s history, this spiritual law would hold true.

Moreover, when God brought those who had been taken into Babylonian captivity back to the land of Israel as described in the Book of Ezra, it was not just everybody and anybody who could return. We read, Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5). The sum total of those who would return was merely a remnant of all those living in captivity at that time and was limited to those spiritually called, prepared, and qualified by God prior to their return.

In Deuteronomy 30, God promises eventual restoration to the land, but please pay close attention to the order of things. The preconditions are as follows: So it shall become when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord will restore you from captivity, and I will have compassion on you, and I will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your
God has scattered you.

In Ezekiel 20, God again bears witness along these same lines when He speaks of future restoration; and I shall purge from among you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I shall bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord. In Ezekiel 37, He says,
Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you in your own land. It is worth going back and reading these passages and other related

Scriptures in their entirety, for it is consistently clear that God first prepares His people by bringing them into judgment: a purging and refining leading to godly sorrow which leads to true repentance and restoration, qualifying us for full inheritance.

God’s ways are certainly not our ways. In God’s economy, death must precede life, the Cross must precede resurrection, and it was out of love that Jesus allowed His beloved Lazarus to die in order that he might experience resurrection life. What was initially perceived through human eyes as a needless death due to lack of compassion, proved to be an act of Divine love, as seen through eternal eyes. Interference with this process, even with the best of intentions, will often circumvent the ways and will of God. For we dare not give the Lord cause to speak these terrible words to us, "Get behind Me, Satan!" In our zeal to sustain life, we may unwittingly prevent real life and God’s purposes from being fulfilled to the one we truly love. Such is God’s dealings with Israel and the Church.

As Israel and many of her well-intentioned supporters claim rightful inheritance to the land prior to and apart from godly repentance, so too many in the Church look towards a premature taking up of the Bride unto Christ. He longs for His Bride who has made herself ready, that He might present to Himself the Church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:27). II Peter 3:11-12 exhorts us to holy conduct and godliness by which we can actually hasten the coming of the Lord.

It should be clear from Scripture that for Israel it will require a proud and self-sufficient people brought to her knees and without hope as depicted in Ezekiel 37:11b, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off." She will be brought to a place of true godly repentance, leading to salvation. It may also mean that out of a true love for Israel, we will have to resist the natural response of, "This shall never happen to you!", and allow God’s dealings to be carried through, having its perfect result..."

To the Church, as with Israel, God says to us, Let us therefore be diligent to enter His rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience (Heb. 4:11). Israel and the Church are prophetically destined to enter their inheritance together. Their paths destined to converge, the process destined to be the same.