Today we took a morning tour of the old city through the Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Armenian quarters. We went to the Temple Mount as well and saw the Wester Wall as well as the Dome of the Rock. I was deeply moved by hearing the prayers being offered up to God. I just felt a cry of desperation rising up in me. I could hear it in their voices as they offered up prayers on Shevat (Sabbath). I don’t know if I should call this emotional or spiritual but I felt a connection to the people there and my heart absolutely broke for the situation they found themselves in. In an unstable region many Christians are put to the test on both sides. I had the opportunity to each lunch with a Palestinian CMA Pastor today and talk in his Jerusalem shop for about 3 hours. It was such a blessing and an opportunity to share with each other about our faith and the struggles we face in two very different cultures as well as share a love of turkish coffee and my new favorite middle eastern dish: Chicken liver and kidneys on a pita! I was so amazed as other pastors came by and visited as well as other believers. He introduced me and I was happy to meet with them. There perspective was very fresh.
As Palestinians, they are very disappointed with how Israel is handling the Gaza situation. But they are also upset with Hamas and how they are provoking Israel and the rest of the Arabic world to continue to act in violence. They know many people in the Gaza Strip I was told and they are just praying that the cycle of hate is broken by God. I think that is what I was struck by the most. They don’t depend on any of their own strength to do anything at all. They witness in a very hardened region of the world whether you are jewish or muslim. The pastor told me how many muslims receive visions from God after having the Gospel preached to them and that this was his experience of conversion as well. He made the point from Luke 4 when Jesus said, “I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” He said this is so important to understand. “We do not build the Church God does. And the gate of hell can’t even stop it! We do not taking enough time to soak in the meaning of that verse and all that it does for us.”
His insights are so true and so powerful for us to remember a world away. I want to ask to continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem as I urged everyone yesterday and specifically for this pastor and his family. That they would be protected from any local tensions and that God would use this humble man mightily for His Glory!
With all the violence and tension that happens here in Jerusalem and seeing hell’s evil and hurt running rampant through this land it is such a message of hope to hear those words from Jesus. After feeling disturbed at how things have played out thus far in Israel it was the best encouragement I could have received: that no matter how hard the enemy presses in the Church will stand and shine like a city on a hill because Jesus Christ has ordained it so!
Blessings,
-AM
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