The Body of Christ – "A Wakening Giant"
A word from Barry Wagner
What a special blessing it is to see first hand the awakening of the Church, "The Body of Christ," to the things of Israel and the Jewish people. Due to over fifteen hundred years of the church's teaching of "Replacement Theology" much of the church had accepted this erroneous teaching that God had rejected the Jewish people because of their unbelief and He had broken His covenant with Israel - He turned His back on them. This theory also teaches that God has replaced his affections and His blessings for the Jewish people with the church. Such spiritual arrogance!
It is my firm belief that the teachings of Replacement Theology helped set the atmosphere for the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, the Russian pogroms and the Holocaust. After all, if God has rejected His people and He has broken His covenant with them why not rid the world of them? I must tell you this. If God has broken His covenant with the Jewish people, if He has turned His back on them, I don't need Him! I say that with all reverence. But if God is a god that does not keep his promises and His covenants then He cannot be trusted and He is a liar.
If there is one thing I do know, it is this. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel is not a liar and He is not a covenant breaker. Our God, the Jewish God is a promise keeper and a covenant keeper! Thank God that so much of the Body of Christ today is awakening to this eternal truth. The church is finally coming alive for Israel and standing with the Jewish people after centuries of time.
Millions of Christians the world over are praying for Israel, traveling to Israel, blessing the Jewish people financially, assisting in their aliyah, (their immigration to Israel) in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. They are reconnecting with their Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. For many years I have marched in the Support Israel parade in Jerusalem during the International Christian Embassy – Jerusalem's Feast of Tabernacles. There are usually more than 10,000 lovers of Israel from as many as one hundred forty nations participating in the parade and the feast.
Churches as well as individuals who are now standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people are experiencing tremendous blessings because once again, God is a promise keeper. He gave us all an exceptional promise in Genesis 12:3 when He said, "I will bless those who bless you (Israel the Jewish people) and those who curse you I will curse." Let's not forget the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40 when He said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."
Who was Jesus talking about? He was talking about the Jewish people. So as Ezra International provides food, medicine, clothing, shelter, blankets, assistance in their return to Israel and much more to the Jewish people of the former Soviet Union countries and South America we are doing it unto Jesus. Churches and individuals who have awakened to this great truth and promise are now supporting Israel and the Jewish people and now they, too, are experiencing wonderful blessings in their churches and their lives.
You have been called into the Kingdom for such a time as this. God has called the Body of Christ to play a significant roll in the rebuilding of physical and spiritual Israel. God has called us to partner with Him in His end-time purpose for Israel, the church and you. I challenge you to become involved in what God is doing so you too can experience the blessings of Genesis 12:3.