Here is the word that is on my heart for Canada. I’ve entitled it “First Things First”. I submit this word to you and the CPC from Jerusalem, for your prayerful consideration.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
1. The First of the First - Israel
2. The First Page
3. The First of the Last – Christchurch, New Zealand
1. FIRST OF THE FIRST - ISRAEL
Israel is a prophetic sign of the church.
In June 2009 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sided with 66% of Jewish Israelis and publicly agreed that “Two States for Two People” is the solution to peace in the Middle East.
As a result, Israel is now posturing to surrender its very heart and soul - the Biblical heartland of the nation, Judea and Samaria. It is here key Biblical landmark cities Shechem, Shiloh, Bethel, Hebron and of course, Bethlehem reside.
Giving away Judea and Samaria (otherwise known as the West Bank) will make Israel both geographically and militarily indefensible, opening the door for the presence of foreign troops (possibly NATO). As the West Bank envelopes Jerusalem, these troops will literally be positioned around the Holy City. (Note Zech 14).
However, the Palestinian Authority (the current political entity that is serving as a precursor to the Palestinian State) is not only interested in the land, but the eviction of every Jew currently residing there, a community of approximately 300,000. Israel is openly considering this option. If this happens, Daniel Dayan, chairman of the YESHA council of the Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and Gush Katif concedes, “The backbone of Israel will be broken.”
Strikingly, it is the majority of Jewish Israelis who agree that “Two State” is the solution to the peace problem. It is also the majority who agree that the moment Israel becomes indefensible, Israel’s enemies will attack.
So why in the world is Israel willfully walking into this trap?
Two reasons.
Battle fatigue. Israel is just plain tired of fighting. They are so tired they are willing to give away their “soul” for a shot at peace.
Secondly and more importantly, Israel has lost its First Love. For the most part a secular nation, Israel puts its trust first and foremost in its military and its alliance with the foreign nations, not in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I believe when we, the church, lose our First Love, we too can become exhausted and battle fatigued.
Note: If the Peace Process completes its current course, this land will become Palestine as early as 2011/2012.
The sobering reality is that Israel is, in affect, poised to concede not just any ol’ land but covenant land, made between a covenant-keeping God and his covenant people Israel.
Woe to the nations pressuring Israel to make such a decision. God clearly hates broken covenants. I believe the fallout could be catastrophic.
And Canadians don’t think we’re immune. Although Prime Minister Harper has spoken publicly and staunchly in support of Israel, the official position of our government is the support of the Two State solution and the conversion of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into the state of Palestine.
Conclusion: As Israel is a prophetic signpost of the church, church be aware of Battle Fatigue. It could lead us to make bad decision and even give up hard fought for “ground”.
The key: get back to our First Love and intimacy with the Lord.
2. THE FIRST PAGE
Last July, at the CPC roundtable in Toronto, Chief Kenny Blacksmith came forward with a dream. In His dream a Jewish man gave him three pages. He was able to read the second and third page, but he couldn’t discern what was on the first page. It troubled Kenny. Something very important, in fact the starting point, the first priority, was missing. Kenny believed that the pages related to ministry endeavours in Canada.
I believe the first page is this: God is calling the church in Canada to align with the First of the First Peoples - the Jewish community.
I believe it is critical that we prepare to help the Jewish community, as a great time of need is coming upon them. And this will include preparation to help the Jewish people return to Israel.
Note: on the world scene, the US government is a key player in the current MidEast peace process, applying strong pressure on Israel to agree to the division of its land and the creation of the state of Palestine in Israel’s Biblical heartland. As a result, I believe things will get “darker” in the US. It will become increasingly dangerous to be an American Jew living in United States.
As worldwide anti-Semitism continues its upward climb, the winds of persecution will begin to blow stronger south of our border. Church in Canada get ready to help American Jews looking for refuge in our nation.
I believe Canada will be a refuge for Jews for a season. Ultimately they will experience pressure that will cause them to look to Israel for refuge.
A key element of Canada’s end time calling, I believe, is to help Canadian and American Jews return to Israel. As we step into this role, I believe a great spiritual harvest will take place in our nation.
Pray that Canada will be a sheep nation. (Matt 25:31-40).
3. THE FIRST OF THE LAST – CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch, New Zealand - a prophetic sign of the Church of Christ.
Matt 24:14
“And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
On September 4th, 2010 a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, larger even in magnitude than the Haiti quake, shook Christchurch, New Zealand at about 4:35 in the morning. Most of Christchurch was asleep.
Eighty percent of the homes in the city were damaged, twenty percent were completely inhabitable.
To date there have been over 1000 aftershocks, some up to the magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter’s scale. Aftershocks continue daily. New Zealanders are still expecting within the next 40 years an even larger earthquake of 8+ magnitude. So the current shakings are deemed as warnings of what is still to come.
Many stately traditional church buildings have suffered extensive damage as a result of the quake; steeples have collapsed and facades have come down, exposing what is on the inside. One church looked fine on the outside but once inside, one could see that the foundation has been rend in two.
For the most part, churches alive in the Holy Spirit seemed to be spared. In speaking with a believer from Christchurch, most of the homes of her Christian community remained habitable after the quake.
Christchurch could be a prophetic sign pointing to a shaking coming to the church at a time when the church is asleep. The church that is alive in the spirit, alive to their First Love may be spared destruction. The dead church may not fare as well.
The city positioned on one of the farthest trajectories from Jerusalem is Christchurch, New Zealand. To many this city is known as the “ends of the earth”, an example of the fulfillment of the Great Commission of Acts 1:8.
Christchurch could therefore also be a sign of the completion of the time of the Gentiles.
When comparing notes with Dean Bye of Return ministries, Dean related to me how God spoke to him that the name of the nation, New Zealand - New Zeal Land - is significant. “The Land”, Dean believes, ultimately represents the land of Israel. Therefore the Church that survives the shaking will have a new zeal possibly for their own land, but also for the land of Israel.
Note: Acts News Network is currently working on a story about Christchurch.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Church in Canada, I believe the Lord is saying to put first things first: Get back to your First Love and get aligned with God’s purposes for the First of the First Peoples – Israel.
And then you will be clear-headed, making right choices, not prone to deception, or giving up and losing ground; staying awake and standing strong in the time of shaking that is coming upon ... the church of Christ.
Eyes & Wings
