Jesus repeatedly warned His followers that in the Last Days they must be careful not to be deceived. “See to it that no one misleads you,” He commanded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Each of these accounts warns against being led astray by false Christs, false prophets, and false doctrines.
How we long for the Church to heed His warnings! But as Jesus said, false teachings will “mislead many”.
We hear false teachings in many different forms, but there are few greater deceptions taking hold of the Church than the rejection of God’s plans and purposes for Israel.
Christians have not replaced Israel; we have been wonderfully grafted in. And it is impossible to understand the Christian faith fully when you remove Israel from it.
Israel’s history fills the pages of our Bibles. We understand the story of redemption through God’s dealings with Israel. Christian leaders preach sermons from the words of Israel’s prophets. Worship leaders praise the Lord through songs written by Israel’s psalmists. And most importantly, Christians follow Jesus Christ, our Messiah, who was born into this world through a Jewish family as a descendant of the tribe of Judah in the land of Israel.
God loves Israel so much that He identifies Himself with both the land and the people of Israel forever.
When God calls Himself the “God of Israel,” “The Redeemer of Israel,” and “The Holy One of Israel,” they are not disposable labels; they are names He wants to be known by for eternity. When, in Revelation 5:5, Jesus is called “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah,” that is not a throwaway title; it is a name He will always be known by.
God chose Israel, God loves Israel, and He wants the world to know it!
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)
Prayer Points:
Pray for the Church to reconnect to God’s heart for Israel: Too many have been deceived and misunderstand God’s plans and purposes for Israel. We pray that the Lord will open their eyes and their hearts to have real love for the Jewish people. We pray that CUFI’s message will have greater impact in churches in the UK. We pray that the Christian voice will be heard far beyond the church’s walls, and penetrate into our society. Britain’s stand with Israel begins with the Church, and the Church cannot grow when it is disconnected from its Jewish roots.
Pray for Israel’s political situation: The elections have taken place and there looks to be some political turbulence up ahead. We are praying that God’s hand will be upon Israel’s government and that the future of Israel will be secure under the leadership of godly men and women. We pray that the people of Israel will continue to prosper in their land. And, of course, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem (including inside the Knesset)!
Pray for CUFI: We are just weeks away from our event in London. There are still many spaces available, and we are praying that God will help us to fill the venue. We pray those gathered will be encouraged in their stand with Israel. We pray for protection, for provision, and for God to use this event to make an impact for His kingdom.
Remembering Lord Reading: This week we are mourning the loss of a dear friend of CUFI, Lord Simon Reading (Simon Rufus Isaacs, 4th Marquess of Reading, 1942-2026). Simon was an early advocate for CUFI’s launch in the UK, as well as a close friend of the CUFI UK team over many years. The media is highlighting his close friendship with King Charles, but Simon was also a close friend of the King of Kings, the God of Israel! He was an amazing advocate for Israel and the Jewish people, and was well connected with various different Christian ministries and charities, many of whom have a heart for Israel. We thank God for Simon’s 84 years of life well lived and his dedication to his Lord. Our love and prayers go out to Lady Melinda Reading (Mindy), their children, grandchildren, and all the family. His memory will be a blessing!
