Jesus prayed, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” Jn. 17:21. Lining up is in the heart of God. From early days the Lord established covenant relationships. His plan included Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, Jesus and His apostles; and from there, the call to line up with God was extended to the nations of the world. There has been a continual call to get lined up. That involves discipleship. We are commissioned to disciple people, to bring their lives into an agreement with God. If people get saved but focus only on their personal needs or situations, they never become disciples. Once their needs or personal situation changes, those who don’t line up with the Lord, can easily fall away. The parable of the sower highlights how easy it is to lose the call. Scripture gives three opportunities out of four to become unfruitful. The distractions of sin, the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches cause believers to dissipate. The seed in the good soil, however, represents those who hear the word and receive it. They embrace the teaching of God’s kingdom and live for a higher purpose than themselves. Part of God’s kingdom teaching involves lining up with Israel. We are called to line up with a Savior, a Lord, a Father, a Holy Spirit, a family, and the government of God.
A Jewish Jesus
The Government of God includes the people of redeemed Israel. This is God’s idea, for Jesus is a Jew. Even in heaven Jesus retains His Jewish identity. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of David. He is the Jewish God-man in heaven (See Revelation 5). It is not that God rolled the dice and by chance decided which group of people His Son would identify with. He decidedly chose the people of Israel. That is why scripture calls them the chosen people and to this day, Jesus retains His Jewish identity. His names connect with Judah and David and when He returns to earth, He lands in Jerusalem. After setting everything right, Jesus will sit on the throne and rule from the temple in that city. Romans nine, verses four and five tell us that His Jewish brothers will administrate the temple worship. The Old Covenant was made with Israel and the New Covenant was made with the Jews as well (Heb. 8:6-13).
We cannot separate the kingdom of God from Israel. If we are lining up with God it means we are lining up with a redeemed Israel. There is no way around it.
Restoring Israel
After the resurrection, the disciples asked Jesus if He was going to restore the kingdom of Israel at that time (See Acts 1:6-7). The disciples looked for and expected the restoration of Israel. They had read the scriptures and all of the prophets spoke of the government of God in this way. Jesus told them that it was not for them to know the times or the seasons that the Father had set in place, but He never denied it. For sure, Jesus will rule over the whole world and Israel will be in the center of His kingdom.
It was never in the minds of the apostles that the kingdom of God was separate from Israel. At first, they thought that everyone had to convert to Judaism if they wanted to become followers of Christ. Later, they realized that the Gentiles did not need to obey the Jewish laws to follow Christ. Still, they understood that all believers would be grafted into the Jewish tree and become part of the commonwealth of Israel. Many in Israel will need to be grafted back into their own tree as well and that can only happen through Christ. Look at the following verses:
“If you (Gentiles) … were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, (Israel) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, (Israel) be grafted into their own olive tree!” Ro. 11:24
“Formerly you, the Gentiles … were … separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world … you … have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Eph. 2:11-13 NAS
Notice, that another word for the family of God, or the body of Christ, is the commonwealth of Israel. The Bible makes it clear that Israel is the root and that the Gentile church does not support the root, but the root (Israel) supports the Gentile church.
Addressing the Gentile church, the Bible says,
“You … have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior … You do not support the root, but the root supports you. Ro. 11:17-18
God includes Israel in His eternal purposes. Understand that lining up with Jesus, involves lining up with Israel.
The Jews are not a tack-on to God’s plan; from start to finish He has made them the apple of His eye and the sheep of His pasture. God’s government on earth began long before the Gentiles became part of the church. During this season, we look for a spiritual restoration in Israel because the church cannot be complete without her.
Jesus speaks of them at the end of the age. He told his disciples that the twelve tribes of Israel will be judged for His purpose at the end of the age. He said,
“When the son of man sits upon his throne of glory, you (the disciples) will also sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.” Mt. 19:28
Jesus also told the disciples that the Jews would be scattered and Jerusalem would be ruled by the Gentiles until a time in the future when the Jews would return and Jerusalem would no longer be ruled by other peoples. He said,
“They (the Jews) will fall by the sword and be exiled into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Lk. 21:24
The Capital City of the World
A time has come for Israel to line up with God once again. The steps are already in motion. Regardless of what happens in the USA or in the other nations, God’s purposes with Israel are unstoppable.
One day, Jesus will rule over Israel and the nations. The ultimate purpose of the Lord is to establish His kingdom over the whole earth. He has put Israel in the center of that plan and from then on, the nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the King.
At that time Jerusalem will not only be the capital of Israel, it will be the capital city of the entire world.
Some churches do not have this revelation, therefore modern Israel is not mentioned in their sermons or prayers. This must change if the church is to line up with God.
Everything starts and ends with Jesus. Salvation through Jesus is for Jews and Gentiles and that is the only way into the family and government of God. Salvation, however, is a door way to God’s eternal purpose, it is not the end goal. The end goal is His kingdom covering the world.
Jesus is the King of the Jews. The wise men were told by God to search for the King of the Jews when Jesus was born. Pilate insisted that Jesus be called the King of the Jews when He was crucified, and at Christ’s second coming we discover the following:
“Before me was a white horse whose rider is called faithful and true … and on his head are many crowns … His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven are following him … to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter … On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Rev. 19:11-16
We cannot line up with God without lining up with Jesus. God has set His King on Mount Zion. He has many crowns. He is King of the Jews, King of America, King of kings, and King of the whole earth. We must seek first His kingdom, pray His kingdom come if we are to line up with the God of Israel.
One Comment
jerry Palmeri February 24, 2020
The rider of the white horse is faithful and true. His name is the word of God. His word will come to pass. He declares here that the armies of heaven are here following him and obey his command which is his word. we are his ambassidors and we decree his word over our nation and isreal. He will rule with an iron scepter. we agree and delare full discovery and logistics going forward. and a breakthrough in restoration and righteousness. for his kingdom.