An Overview of Israel and Their Land

by Stan Feldsine (www.tojesusbeallglory.com)

The promise of God to give Israel land was not given in the Mosaic Covenant, rather, the land promises were given in the Abrahamic Covenant.

Gen 12:7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

There were no conditions on the promise of the land in the Abrahamic Covenant.

Gen 15:17-18 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. (18) On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, ....

The "conditions" that were later brought into play in the Mosaic and the Covenant at Moab governed the Israelites "use" of the land, not their ownership of the land.

Deu 29:1 These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.

If they are obedient:

Lev 26:40-42 "'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors--their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, (41) which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies--then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, (42) I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

If they are rebellious:

Deu 29:23-25 The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur--nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger. (24) All the nations will ask: "Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?" (25) And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt.

The promise of the ownership of the land is everlasting through the Abrahamic Covenant, which was unconditional. Conditions came into play regarding their blessing in and use of this land.

Psa 105:8-11 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, (9) the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. (10) He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: (11) "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."

God declared an oath when He gave the Israelites this land, and He did so to show His immutable nature.

Heb 6:17-18 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. (18) God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

God MUST return Israel to their land and bless them because if He does not then it directly and negatively affects His name. He will bring the Israelites back to the land, not for anything good in them, but for His names sake.

Eze 36:22-24 "Therefore say to the Israelites, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. (23) I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. (24) "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.

Even as Israel is disobedient, they are loved. God's gifts and call on Israel are everlasting. They will yet receive God's mercy. There is no expiration date on Israel's receipt of the blessings.

Rom 11:28-31 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, (29) for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. (30) Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, (31) so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

They have not permanently lost their Kingdom and promises, for they will yet be saved. Salvation will come to the nation when the religious and secular leadership repents and turns the nation back to God by accepting the sacrificial atonement of Christ. All those living when this happens will be saved, the whole nation. Their hard hearts will only last until the full number of Gentiles come in. Israel's sins will be taken away.

Rom 11:25-27 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, (26) and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (27) And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

After that time, when all Israel is saved, then the promised Messianic Kingdom will come.

Isa 2:1-5 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: (2) In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. (3) Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (4) He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (5) Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

And when Jesus comes, His Millennial reign will begin:

Rev 11:15-17 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." (16) And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, (17) saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

He will reign over a physical kingdom from David's throne in Jerusalem.

Zec 2:10-11 "Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. (11) "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

Zec 8:3 This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."

Zec 14:9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

Ezekiel makes it clear that Jesus's throne is a place for the "soles of His feet", a physical reference, which other passages clearly identify as earthly Jerusalem.

Eze 43:7 He said: "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name--neither they nor their kings--by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.

The saints will rule and reign with Jesus here on earth.

Rev 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

When the Kingdom is established, from that point on Israel will never again lose the use of their land:

Amo 9:13-15 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, (14) and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. "They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. (15) I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.

Lesson 09 - Inventory

    

                     Principle 4: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

“Happy are the pure in heart.” (Matthew 5:8)
 

Step 4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40)

Introduction

The first of the 4 lessons is the Moral Lesson. This is the theory, or the principles that are involved in doing an Inventory, such as making time, being open, relying on the Lord, and analyzing or thinking about your past. The last of the acrostic letters in this lesson is "LIST". We talk about the reason and benefits of making a list, and actually start the list in the next lesson.

The second of the 4 lessons is the Inventory Lesson. In this lesson we actually step through the Inventory form and actually begin to make a list. We cover the columns on the form with headings such as the person, the cause, the effect, the damage and my part.

The third and forth of the 4 lessons brainstorming sessions that provide lots of ideas for what kinds of things we might want to work on. Things such as relationships, priorities, our attitudes, integrity the first week, and our mind, our body, our family and our church the second week.

An inventory is a list of things we want to be set free from.

Romans 6:18 You have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to right living.

How is freedom fulfilled in our life? You have been set free by “intent” and “dedication”.

(19) Because you are human, you find this hard to understand. So I have said it in a way that will help you understand it. You used to give the parts of your body to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give your bodies to be slaves to right living. Then you will become holy.

Paul brings it home so they can understand what he is saying. It is the “giving” of ourselves to a way of life that leads to evil or holiness. Paul is explaining that we chose how to live, and accordingly we lived.

(20) Once you were slaves of sin. At that time right living did not control you. (21) What benefit did you gain from doing the things you are now ashamed of? Those things lead to death!

Paul reminds them that it is their choice of “intent”, “dedication” and “giving of ourselves” that determines our lot in this life, death or life.

(22) You have been set free from sin. God has made you his slaves. The benefit you gain leads to holy living. And the end result is eternal life. (23) When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.

Paul explains that provision has been made such that we can experience freedom from sin, and freedom to God. This is a spiritual reality. Jesus's death destroyed the power that Satan and our flesh once had on those who did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling.

John 8:31-32 Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. "If you obey my teaching," he said, "you are really my disciples. (32) Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free."

We have heard the saying, “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. What leads to freedom? A pattern of believing and obeying which brings about an experiential knowledge of the truth by walking in it. It is more than acceptance of knowledge, but an understanding of the inner working based on practical observation.

Making an inventory list is an intentional step we take of obedience. In Lamentations 3:40, Jeremiah is giving the Israelites instructions and highlighting the faithfulness of God, and he tells them “examine your ways and test them and return to the lord”. That is what we are doing here, and doing this will lead to understanding and freedom.

Doing this can be daunting if we think too much about it and try to go it alone. We are intended to live in community. It is in community that we find the encouragement and strength to follow through on our intentions. Meet regularly for that encouragement, whether it be in CR, Home Groups, Bible Studies, and so on. The believers of the first century understood this and met together every day. We still need this fellowship today.

Acts 2:42-47 The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread and ate together. And they prayed. (43) Everyone felt that God was near. The apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs. (44) All the believers were together. They shared everything they had. (45) They sold what they owned. They gave each other everything they needed. (46) Every day they met together in the temple courtyard. In their homes they broke bread and ate together. Their hearts were glad and honest and true. (47) They praised God. They were respected by all the people. Every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

It is thought and sometimes taught that God demands obedience to His law and if you don't obey the law you are punished. This sort of thought pattern comes out of a mindset in which we think we have to perform in order to be under God's grace. It leads to self condemnation in the belief that we are just not good enough. That is simply not the case. We don't perform to get God's grace, God has given us His grace so we can perform.

The Greek word translated “obedience” means "to listen attentively" and "heed or conform". It is not a command to perform, it is the gift of transformation that God has given us through His Holy Spirit. It is ours to grab onto and fully recover.

Inventory

The five-column inventory sheets in Participant’s Guide 2 were developed to help you with this task. It provides prompts that help us to think through the events of our past more thoroughly.

I have created a worksheet which you can find any time on the information table.

Column 1: “The Person”

In this column, you list the person or object you resent or fear. Go as far back as you can. (Names, institutions, places). Remember that resentment is mostly unexpressed anger and fear.

Ephesians 4:31 tells us, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

Remember to list all the people and things that you are holding resentment against.

Column 2: “The Cause”

It has been said that “hurt people hurt people.” In this column you are going to list the specific actions that someone did to hurt you. (Events, incidents) What did the person do to cause you resentment and/or fear?

An example would be the alcoholic father who was emotionally unavailable for you as you were growing up.

Another example would be the parent who attempted to control and dominate your life.

This reflective look can be very painful, but that’s why having a sponsor and an accountability team is essential. These people will be there to walk with you through the pain. Of course, Jesus will be with you too. God promises:

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

There is healing in exposing these hurts.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Column 3: “The Effect”

In this column write down how that specific hurtful action affected your life both in the past and in the present. (Feelings, emotions, belief system), (Shame, guilt, inadequacies)

Column 4: “The Damage”

What damage did that action do to my basic social, security, and / or sexual instincts? (Broken relationships, slander, physical safety, financial loss, abusive relationships, etc.) (Loss, broken relationships, financial fear, intimacy, distrust).

• Social—Have you suffered from broken relationships, slander, or gossip?

• Security—Has your physical safety been threatened? Have you faced financial loss?

• Sexual—Have you been a victim in abusive relationships? Has intimacy or trust been damaged or broken?

No matter how you have been hurt, no matter how lost you may feel, God wants to comfort you and restore you. Remember

Ezekiel 34:16 (GNB): “I will look for those that are lost, I will bring back those that wander off, bandage those that are hurt, and heal those that are sick.”

Column 5: “My Part”

What Part of the resentment am I responsible for? Who are the people I have hurt? How have I hurt them? (Character defects, choices, addictions, behaviors, compulsions, attitudes. **Childhood abuses – none or not guilty).

Lamentations 3:40 states: “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

It doesn’t say, let us examine their ways. You did that already in the first four columns. Now you need to honestly determine the part of the resentment (or any other sin or injury) that you are responsible for. Ask God to show you your part in a broken or damaged marriage or relationship, a distant child or parent, or maybe a job lost. In addition, in this column list all the people whom you have hurt and how you hurt them.

(You will use Column 5 later in Principle 6 when you work on becoming willing to make your amends.)

Psalm 139:23 (GNB) tells us: “Examine me, O God and know my mind; test me, and discover if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.”

Please note: If you have been in an abusive relationship, especially as a small child, you can find great freedom in this part of the inventory. You see that you had NO part, NO responsibility for the cause of the resentment. By simply writing the words “NONE” or “NOT GUILTY” in Column 5, you can begin to be free from the misplaced shame and guilt you have carried with you.

Celebrate Recovery has rewritten Step 4 for those that have been sexually or physically abused:

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, realizing all wrongs can be forgiven. Renounce the lie that the abuse was our fault.

Wrap-up

There are five tools to help you prepare your inventory:

1. Memorize Isaiah 1:18 (TLB): “Come, let’s talk this over!” says the Lord; “no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!”

2. Read the “balancing the scale verses” on page XX of Participant’s Guide 2!

3. Keep your inventory balanced. List both the good and the bad!

This is very important! As God reveals the good things that you have done in the past, or are doing in the present, list them on the reverse side of your copies of the “Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 Inventory Worksheet”

4. Continue to develop your support team.

5. Pray continuously.

Don’t wait to start your inventory. Don’t let any obstacle stand in your way. If you don’t have a sponsor or accountability partner yet, talk to someone tonight! If you need a participant’s guide, pick one up at the information table. Set a time and place and get busy! You can do it!

The Five "Kingdoms"

by Stan Feldsine (www.tojesusbeallglory.com)

 The Bible describes 5 different “kingdoms” in which God reigns. When discussing the various kingdoms in scripture, it is important to determine the context of the passage. The context will determine the kingdom.

1. The Universal or Eternal Kingdom - This kingdom refers to God's rule over all the universe for all time. It includes the angelic realm, and has always existed. This is the kingdom the believer enters upon death (1Co 15:50, 2Ti 4:18).
   
   Psa 93:2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
   
   Psa 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
   
   Scriptural references: 1Ch 29:11-12, Psa 10:16, Psa 29:10, Psa 74:12, Psa 90:1-6, Psa 93:1-5, Psa 103:19-22, Psa 145:1-21, Psa 148:8, Jer 10:10, Lam 5:19, Dan 4:17, Dan 6:27, Act 17:24).
   
   

2. The Spiritual Kingdom - This is God's rule in the heart of a believer. This kingdom is comprised of all who have been born again by the Holy Spirit.
   
   Joh 3:3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
   
   1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men (10) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
   
   Scriptural references: Mat 6:33, Mat 19:16, Joh 3:3-5, Act 8:12, Act 14:22, Act 19:8, Act 20:25, Act 28:23, 1Co 4:20, 1Co 6:9-10, Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, Col 1:13-14, Col 4:11, 1Th 2:12, and 2Th 1:5.
   
   

3. The Theocratic Kingdom - This is the rule of God by means of a theocracy over the nation of Israel. This kingdom started when the Law of Moses was established and served as the constitution of the nation of Israel. This kingdom ended with the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586BC. This kingdom is documented from Exo 19:1 to 2Ch 36:23.
   
   Exo 20:22-23 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: (23) Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
   
   

4. The Messianic / Millennial Kingdom - This is the future kingdom during which time Jesus will rule over saved Israel and all the earth from David's throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years. This kingdom is the subject of a great deal of OT prophecy as well as being the kingdom that was declared to be "at hand" by John the Baptist and Jesus (Mat 3:2, Mat 4:17) and rejected by Jewish authorities.
   
   Mat 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea (2) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
   
   Psa 2:4-6 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. (5) He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, (6) "I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain."
   
   Scriptural references: Psa 2:1-12, Psa 72:1-20, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 11:1-16, Jer 23:5-6, Jer 32:14-17, Eze 34:23, Eze 37:24, Hos 3:4-5, Mic 4:6-8, Mic 5:2, Mal 3:1-4.
   
   

5. The Mystery Kingdom - Following the rejection of the Messianic Kingdom, Jesus's focus switches to the "mystery" kingdom. This is a kingdom that Jesus revealed on the day of Israel's rejection of Himself (Mat 13:11, Mat 13:35). This kingdom covers the period of time between the first and second coming of Jesus.