I personally find this world to be a strange and a wrong place. And those who try to understand it rationally and determine how things will develop, where it all leads, from time to time come to a dead end and do not understand why it is happening.
But the Lord warned against this in advance and many times. Because this world is not subject to human rational analysis and predictions. He exists in a completely different dimension. And very often we see that such measurement goes against even the basic benefit of the decision makers.
Putin and Hamas – senseless decisions
For example, what did Putin lack? He had everything before the invasion to Ukraine. And now he has to go and bow all the time—either to China or Iran, or (can you imagine?) begging North Korea’s detested dictator, Kim Jong-un, to give him missiles. He became an outcast dictator that all civilized people can already see through. How much his inner circle lost in the world. Sanctions after sanctions. Long-broken relations with Ukraine, which they called brotherly. Why? What’s the point?..
Another example is the “Great Victory of Hamas over Israel” declared by Hamas and Iran. What did that mean? That they killed about 1,300 defenseless civilians including the elderly, children and women in a gruesome manner. And what did this “great victory” entail? That Israeli forces are simply destroying Hamas.
Before this “great victory” Hamas ruled Gaza – everything was in their hands, all the money that came from Israel, Europe and America. It was a completely tyrannical system. The entire Hamas core leadership lived abroad in luxurious conditions and the second echelon of the leadership lived like kings in Gaza. The current Prime Minister of Israel gave gifts to Hamas. They occasionally fired rockets at Israel and Israel responded by lightly bombing vacant lots and empty garages.
This is why at the moment the entire infrastructure of Hamas, which was built over decades, has already half collapsed. Those who remain are herded into the tunnels. Millions of Gazans migrated south. And now Hamas is calling for a global pogrom against the Jews and calling on its Islamic brothers, including Iran. But no one defends Hamas, not even among their closest friends, and no Arab country wants to receive refugees from Gaza. It turned out that everyone was ready to rally against the Jews, but no one really wanted to go to war. Why did they do that?
The only book that unlocks the essence of what is happening
If we do not know the Bible, if the Lord does not show us that the prince of this world is the one who is called the prince of this world in the Scriptures and he is the enemy of all people, then we cannot understand what is happening in this world. And this enemy is first of all the enemy of Israel and the children of God from all nations, but also the enemy of all other people. Ultimately, the prince of this world is the enemy of even his own servants, whom he uses and leads to hell.
This is due to his rule, because he has an invisible army of dark servants of evil, and he promises his slaves a lot and sooner or later betrays them, but they are behind what is happening. If we do not understand this spiritual background, if we do not delve into the Word of God, if we do not understand the prophecies that are being fulfilled before our very eyes, then we will be completely bewildered, confused and afraid, not knowing what to expect, where to go and how it will end.
But we know how it all ends. We know that the Lord is preparing a great victory over all the forces of evil, all darkness and all those who now think they are successful. He is preparing a victory that will change this whole world. This whole world will be renewed in the fire of God’s glory. This earth itself changes and the heavens change. And the Lord will rule over all the earth in Jerusalem.
That is why we did not stop praying for Israel in Ukraine
Before what happened in Israel on October 7, the last day of Sukkot, many of our brothers and sisters from different good churches were perplexed: “There is a terrible war going on in Ukraine. Why do you pay so much attention to the Jewish question, anti-Semitism and Israel? Besides, Israel does not help Ukraine as actively as America or several European countries.”
We had to explain the situation at length, in detail and a lot. And now everything has become easy. Because there are two wars in the world for all people in any country of the world, even those wintering in Antarctica, that affect the whole world – the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel. And many Christians, especially evangelicals, now no doubt realize that these two wars, geographically very far apart, are very closely connected spiritually.
Of course, the world media has now switched from the Ukrainian war to the Israeli war. But those who know that the entire Bible is one book, now try to delve into it and compare everything that happens with this one written Word of God, and they will perfectly understand who is behind these two wars, now central to the whole world.
They can perfectly understand that the same spirit that started the war in Ukraine also started the war against Israel. This is the same spirit that seeks to prevent the fulfillment of God’s promises in the Church, in the Body of Messiah among all nations, and God’s promises to God’s chosen Jewish people. He started these two wars and he is also trying to turn many people around the world against Israel.
The rise of anti-Semitism after October 7
According to the results of recent statistical studies, the number of anti-Semitic speeches and even crimes worldwide has increased 11 times since October 7. Not one and a half or two times, but eleven!
Israel suffered because he wanted to appease these demons. He wanted to appease that evil, appease Hamas. And everything that Israel gave them, they turned into a weapon against Israel. Everything Israel did to appease them, it all worked against Israel.
And what was the reaction of anti-Semites around the world afterwards? Israel is guilty and America is guilty. Russia, posing as Israel’s friend, told the UN that Israel has no right to self-defense because “Israel is occupying Palestine.” It turned out that when the Jews began to brazenly defend themselves, they crossed the red line but why? Because the elites of the world and those madly obsessed mobs who now support Hamas all over the world will only allow Israel and the Jews to exist if they act as victims who do not defend themselves. The attitude of the part of the world subject to the prince of this world is this: “We pity you when they mock you, kill you, and you suffer and weep.” But as soon as Israel dared to retaliate…
This is very reminiscent of what happened in Ukraine, especially at the beginning of the war. How many so-called brothers from Russia called and wrote: “Well, Ukrainians, surrender and give in. You understand, you cannot do anything against great Russia… Just as Israel surrendered to Babylon, now you surrender to Russia.” Moreover, they did not understand that if they compare Russia to Babylon, then Russia is an idolatrous and aggressive empire.
The same spirit is not only behind the aggression against Ukraine and Israel, but also behind those who explain to Ukraine and Israel what they can and cannot do and make them believe that it is time to surrender to violence.
The importance of messianic ministry today
Now many of our brothers and sisters, both in Ukraine and in other countries, understand why it was so important to pray not only for Ukraine, but also for Israel, why it was so important to pray not only against the aggressive attack against Ukraine, but also against all the forces of darkness that stood against Israel and prepared this attack.
The annual prayer against anti-Semitism and the weekly prayer for Israel, initiated by our congregations, now take on a special meaning. It is worth noting that prayer for Israel existed even before we began to unite communities and churches in this prayer. But praying against anti-Semitism and Nazism is, in a sense, a unique phenomenon. Interestingly, it was once initiated by our daughter churches in Russia. Every year, a central prayer against anti-Semitism and Nazism is held in Kiev, and more than 40 countries join in this prayer that God gave us.
We see that our vision is very relevant. We understand that our ministry is a ministry to save the Jewish people, a ministry to free the Body of Messiah from the curse of the spirit of anti-Semitism, and a ministry to restore the fullness of the Body of Messiah, not only in Ukraine, but throughout the world (and fullness is impossible without a living Jewish New Testament family) – this ministry will become every year, every month and every week more and more relevant.
I didn’t want this what’s happening now to happen. Of course we prayed for something else. But by the grace of God, our prayers and the prayers of our brothers and sisters around the world prevented much worse. And what has happened and is happening shows how important our ministry is. Be sure that even your simplest prayers in these directions, even if you did not experience power and fire, but nevertheless prayed in unity with the whole congregation and many other communities and churches, brought a certain result.
Right now it is very important for us not to stop this movement and not to be distracted from the two main directions of our life service. Why important? Because in the Word of God, especially in the New Testament, the life of believers and their ministry to God and people are not separated from each other.
Antisemitism in peaceful Switzerland
My wife, who is currently in Bern, called me today and told me an interesting story. When I was there recently, the local synagogue held a special service dedicated to solidarity with Israel. The Israeli ambassador arrived and a rabbi flew in from Israel. And there was our friend Pierre Bezonson. He and the leader of the local synagogue bought a large number of Israeli flags and printed on them a quote from the book of the prophet Zechariah: “Whoever touches you [Israel] touches the apple of My eye” (Zechariah 2:8). And these flags were hung in many places in this in the French canton of Neuchâtel.
Within a short period of time, almost all of these flags were desecrated. Many had the word “Israel” crossed out and “Palestine” written on top. Many had swastikas drawn on them. Only two flags remained intact because they were placed very high. And it took place in Switzerland! In Switzerland, where there were no aggressive demonstrations in support of Hamas, and those demonstrations that were organized were peaceful and small in number. Can you imagine what is happening in France, England and Germany? True, in Germany to a lesser extent, as German police eventually breaks up demonstrations in support of Hamas.
The conference in Switzerland that I attended on my last trip brought together believers from different parts of Switzerland. Good brothers and sisters. But most of them were older people. In Swiss evangelical congregations, young people are not particularly ready to support Israel and speak out in defense of the Jewish people. A new generation of believers is distancing themselves from it. The situation is very difficult. But when I asked them the question: “Which European country has only demonstration in support of Israel, but no campaigns in support of Hamas and Palestine?”, some of them thought that it was Ukraine.
Time to actively fight against the spirit of anti-Semitism
I will say more. Even many Ukrainian anti-Semites have already realized that we have a common enemy with Israel. It reached them even through the veil of anti-Semitism. Therefore, we have great hope that God will completely break the curse of anti-Semitism in Ukraine, give victory over this filthy spirit, and the Ukrainian people (I would like it to be forever) will be freed from this age-old defeat.
Friends, we are right, we have the fire of the Holy Spirit and, although limited, but the power of Yeshua to act so that the Ukrainian people can be freed from this terrible thousand-year defeat and enmity against God’s chosen people. So that the people of Ukraine can throw off this deception. That the lessons of Khmelnytskyi, Koliivshchyna, the pogroms and the horrors of World War II would finally be learned, and that no one could ever justify fighting the God of Israel.
Imagine that they painted swastikas on these flags of Israel with a quote from the prophet Zechariah, without even realizing that they were confirming what was written there, that they were trying to touch the apple of God’s eye. We know very well what happens to those who play such games. But we must also pray for them, the enemies of God, the enemies of God’s people, the enemies of the Body of Messiah, that they may be filled with the fear of God and be freed from the captivity of the devil who holds them captive.
Boris Grisenko, Rabbi of KEMO
Word preached at KEMO service November 4, 2023.
Source: Всплеск антисемитизма в мире: время верующим действовать (kemokiev.org)
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