Blessing Israel
Phil’s Hanlen’s prayer was to love what God loves , to hate what he hates, and to see life through God’s eyes. God’s answer to Phi’s prayer was a calling to minster to soldiers in Israel and to bring the message of God’s heart for Israel.
God is referred to as “the God of Israel” over 200 times in the Bible. After the fall of man resulting from Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God set a plan in motion to redeem mankind. God made a promise to Abraham that he would make from him a great nation. According to Genesis 12:3, God said , “I will bless those who bless you and those who curse you I will curse. Through you will all the families of the earth be blessed.”
The story of redemption is the story of God’s fulfilling his promise to Israel.. Through God’s dealing with his people Israel, God paints a picture of his character in relationship with his people. The law given to Moses is the law of God that God gave to Israel as the “oracle of God.” The reason that we bless Israel is because they are his chosen people from whom Jesus Christ would come to redeem mankind.
Jesus came 400 years after the last Old Testament prophet Malachi. Jesus came to fulfill the prophesies that God had made to Israel. Jesus before his crucifixion entered the city of Jerusalem as the one who would fulfill the prophesies in the Old Testament. On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem as the people declared, “Hosannah to the son of David, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Only one week later, Jesus was put on trial and the powers of darkness conspired against God’s righteous innocent only begotten son. The religious leaders lead the crowd in their chant: “crucify him. We have no king but Ceasar.” Jesus Christ was crucified for our redemption… he laid down his life as the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we who were dead in trespasses and sins may be made the righteousness of God in him.
We bless Israel because God chose Israel to fulfill his promise of redemption. The story of God’s relationship to Israel is still ongoing. God has called Christians to continue to bless his chosen people…we are called to be eternity minded. Therefore, our purpose is to endure through trials of this life and to see our calling from God’s perspective. According to Romans 11: “I SAY then, Hath God cast away his people? …God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.” However, because Israel has hardened their heart to the truth of the word of God in this present age, God’s grace has been opened to the Gentiles. As Christians, we have been grafted into the root of Israel, God’s original “olive tree.”
According to Revelation 7, the number of those of the tribes of Israel who will be sealed are 12 thousand from each of the twelve tribes of the house of Israel. According to Psalm 122 the Lord says, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.
Phil Hanlen and Ryan Van Deussen have been called to minister to the soldiers in Israel. Their organization, Ambassadors and Embassies’ mission is to “love your neighbor.” They have decided to take their call from 2 Corinthians 5: “Now then are ye ambassadors for Christ. As God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” They will be going to Israel to deliver gifts and send message of love for the soldiers who protect Israel.
God continues to bless Israel. Our calling and the calling of Phil’s ministry is to live out God’s love in action by giving back to those whom God has blessed.
Phil and his friend Ryan Van Deussen will travel to Israel in October. At this event they will present Israeli soldiers a gift package. This gift is a way to show God’s love to these soldiers who have dedicated their lives to protect God’s chosen people. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. Supporting Phil’s mission is one way that we can put on the whole armor of God and act upon the promise of God, “those who bless Israel I will bless.”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael