How Should Christians Respond To The Crisis In The Middle East?

When Jesus was on earth He wept over Jerusalem because they had largely rejected him. They had also rejected many of their prophets before Him. He wept because He knew the destruction that would follow (Luke 19: 41 - 44). In AD 70 the temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were scattered all over the world.

In 1947 Israel was restored to their land as a nation which many prophetic words in the Bible had predicted (Jeremiah 30: 1 - 38: 22). So we can see that God is working prophetically fulfilling His word. But does this mean we should agree with everything the state of Israel does as Christians?

But does this mean we should agree with everything the state of Israel does as Christians?

I don't believe so. Although the early church started from the root of David, Jesus being the Jewish Messiah, it was also made clear that He came for the Gentiles (the nations) (Matthew 28: 18 - 20). The early church was a Jewish movement, however it soon became clear that the Spirit was sending the church into the whole world (Acts 1: 8). This caused tensions in the early church between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.  Slowly the church realised that it was to be a worldwide movement and that the only qualification for being a part was to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and be born of the Spirit.

The church gradually learnt you didn't have to practice the Jewish religion to be a Christian. Or as Paul puts it, you had to have a spiritual circumcision of the heart rather than a physical circumcision (Romans 2: 28 - 29). 

However, in case the non-Jewish Christians should become proud and persecute Jews, Paul also made clear that we as non-Jewish believers should always remain humble and grateful to God for grafting us into the fig tree (a symbol of the Jewish people) (Romans 11: 11 - 31). We should respect that Israel was chosen to have the original covenant with God and give Jesus the Messiah to us. Our job now is to show them mercy and share the Good News with them.

Does this therefore mean that everything that present day Israel does should be supported? 

Does this therefore mean that everything that present day Israel does should be supported? I do not believe so. We as Christians must always be followers of Jesus. He showed compassion to the poor, the oppressed, the up and outs and the down and outs. When the Jewish religious leaders rejected the Samaritans, Jesus spoke prophetically to the woman at the well and her whole town became believers and followers of Jesus.

The Forgiveness of the Cross

I believe that right now Jesus is weeping over the people of Israel and those who have had these atrocities carried out against them by Hamas. Hamas in the Hebrew Bible is the word for violence (Genesis 6: 7 - 11). God said he would wipe out the earth in the flood because of violence (Hamas). However in the New Testament we are told that God sent Jesus to cancel the record of debt and sin that was against us (Colossians 2: 14). The word for cancel or blot out is the same word in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that God used to say he was going to wipe out the sin and violence in Noah's day. The gracious thing about the New Covenant established by Jesus death on the cross, is that everyone whether Jew, Gentile, Palestinian, etc. can have their violence and wickedness cancelled and forgiven.

How Should We Respond?

So how should we respond as Christians to this crisis in the middle East, between Israel, the Palestinians and Hamas. We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We should weep over the suffering of their men, women and children. But we should also pray for the peace of  the Palestinians and weep over the death of their men, women and children. Jesus, I believe is weeping over both Jew and Palestinian at this time. He is reaching out his nail pierced hands to them and saying you are forgiven, repent and believe in me to have your sin, violence and hatred wiped out by the cross. And then turn around and forgive and love your enemies.

Lets pray for this kind of reconciliation for the Jewish and Palestinian people towards God and each other. Let's pray for the healing of Ishmael and Isaac, the Ishmaelites and Israel. 

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 2: 14 - 18 NIV

BURN BRIGHT - PRAYER - PRESENCE - PURPOSE (THEME 2023)

ISAIAH 62: 1-12 MSG

For 2023 in London Network Church, we as a leadership felt God was calling us to burn bright through prayer. This leads to a greater sense of God's presence, which in turn leads to a greater sense of God's purpose.

BURN BRIGHT

Regarding Zion, I can’t keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue, Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. 

ISAIAH 62: 1-2 MSG

We are called to be God’s Prophetic Mouthpiece, Kings and priests who cast their crowns and adore Him, a people called to reign and rule. God will vindicate us and He delights in us.

There is a call… for the church to BURN BRIGHT as His people, His body, His bride. You can be secure in His covenant. We are to speak to the world through sharing the gospel and speaking God's truth in love this year. The world is looking for answers because everything is crumbling around them. There are wars, economic stress, health issues and political polarisation.

When God calls us something we become it - that is why the truth sets us free. The truth calls us from what we are into who He has purposed us to be.

You are precious to God. HIS HEART BURNS BRIGHT and He longs for us to draw close and be held by Him.

Remember that God WILL build HIS CHURCH. So what part are we to play? One of those things is to proclaim his gospel and prophetic word; but also we need to pray.

PRAYER IS THE ENGINE ROOM OF THE CHURCH

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
    they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
    give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes her the praise of the earth.

Isaiah 62: 6 - 7 NIV

Prayer is the engine room of the church, it’s the secret weapon for us to wield. Be tenacious, draw intimately close to the Father, call to remembrance the promises of God. Take seriously the call to PRAY. Prayer releases PROMISE, POWER and PRESENCE. It’s not about religious ritual, but intimate relationship. PRESENCE, PURPOSE and POWER is released through INTIMACY.

God is going to restore a love for His word.

There is going to be a release of finance, abundant radical provision that is almost counterculture.

God is going to restore mental health and true peace and joy. The church is going to clear the way for breakthrough in the nation. There will be fulfilment of promise and release into purpose, a Joseph season of abundance. Invest for the future. Turn your ear to the voice of the Lord and He will direct your steps.

So answer the call: BURN BRIGHT

Three Ingredients Needed To Build Leadership Trust By Alex Afriyie

 

Why did Boris lose his position as the Prime Minister of Great Britain? Boris Johnson had the biggest conservative majority since 1985.

He was popular even with those who didn't normally vote Conservative. He was admired for a number of accomplishments like getting Brexit done and introducing the vaccine early in the UK.

So what was the problem?

Aristotle talks about three things being important for winning an argument.

1) Logos (LOGIC)- Your argument needs to be logical. People need to see that what you are saying and doing makes sense. I think people could see that with Boris. Even if they didn't initially agree with him on something like Brexit, they could see it made sense to be strong and stand up for Britain and get rid of European regulation and get good trade deals for the country. People also supported his leadership in defending Ukraine. Jesus is described as the logos (John 1: 1) who created everything at the beginning and holds everything together with his divine logic (Word) and who is in fact God.

2) Pathos (EMOTION) - Your argument needs to make people feel something. They need to feel the anger of a cause with you, or sympathy for your point of view or even envy for what you are promoting. Boris also had the ability to win people through his open, humorous and enthusiastic way of speaking. He also related well to ordinary people by visiting them in their workplaces and wearing their uniforms. We are told the logos (the word) became flesh and dwelt among us. God related to us in Jesus. People could and we can connect with him.

3) Ethos (VALUES) - This is about values. You have to be trusted. That you are a person of integrity. You mean what you say and you say what you mean. This I think is where Boris failed.

People stopped believing what he was saying. Although many in his own party liked him and tried to defend him on numerous occasion it became obvious that he was liar. This meant he was a liability.

His party knew that even though his arguments were logical and people could connect emotionally with what he was promoting they just wouldn't trust him because his words and actions were not congruent. 

It is exactly the opposite with Jesus the logos (Word) made flesh. People beheld his glory, full of grace and truth, full of integrity.

CONCLUSION

It will be interesting to see who wins the Conservative leadership race and becomes the next Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Will it be Rushi Sunak or Liz Trust? Who will win the arguments and be most convincing in terms of logic, pathos and ethos?

Bear this in mind when you are leading others: Are you making sense in their eyes (logos)? Are you connecting with them emotionally (pathos)? And are you someone who can be trusted by them (ethos)? WWJD - Ask yourself What Would Jesus Do as a leader?

Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash

Theme For 2022 - Enlarge The Place of Your Tent

In 2022 we are sensing that God is speaking to us about 'Enlarging The Place of Our Tent' (Isaiah 54: 2). This means God is calling us each as the people of God to our full capacity; we might not know what that is or how we can get there but because God is saying it, He will do it.

This is about stepping out in faith even if we feel we don't have the energy or resources (Isaiah 54: 1). Good examples of this are Jesus with the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14: 13 - 21). 'You give them something to eat', Jesus said. But the disciples  only had 5 loaves and 2 fish from a small boys lunch. Or the widow who was about to get her children taken away because of a debt. Elijah asked her to find containers so God could fill them with oil so she could pay off her debt (2 Kings 4: 1 - 7).

This year God is saying to us that we are to move in actions of faith, where we stretch our capacity and He will meet the need. He will supply the emotional or physical strength. The Lord will supply the materials or finances needed. He will supply the relationships needed and the spiritual strength. All we need to do is offer what we have to him and he will increase our capacity. 

What Do We Need To Do?

We will need to be obedient to Jesus; the obedience of faith is key (Romans 1: 5). It's not about lots of self-effort or 'virtue signalling' but being governed by the Spirit of God (Romans 8: 14). As King Saul discovered, obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15: 22).

As we engage with God and strengthen our tent pegs, by rooting them firmly in Christ we will see ourselves flourishing (Isaiah 54: 2). This does not mean things won't be hard or traumatic but it does mean we will see God bring about His purposes, His provision and increase, supernaturally. He is El Shaddai - God Almighty - the 'All Sufficient One', He is our Husband, our Maker (Is 54: 5) and He won't abandon us.

However, this will be a walk of faith. As the disciples and the widow had to offer what they had in the boys lunch and jar containers, so we have to make available what we have; our time, talent and treasure so God can increase them supernaturally.

So let's not hold back our hearts from God this year because He will increase our capacity and cause us to change the world as we pray, share his gospel, disciple new believers and serve Him and His world.

I truly believe the church, God's people, you and me, are the hope for our troubled world. So we need to lead the way in 2022 to demonstrate God's power, truth and steadfast love.

As Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who has just died) once said, 'Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.'

Like the heroes of faith that have gone before us and seen great change; Susanna and Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon,  Billy Graham, Desmond Tutu; we too can see transformation as we enlarge the place of our tent, our capacity. 

Reflecting on 2021 by Alex Afriyie

We began 2021 as LNC (London Network Church) with the word Shalom. Shalom meaning peace, well-being and wholeness. It has been a whirlwind of a year with various reports of Covid, the ups and downs of restrictions, lock-downs, political turmoil, conspiracies and mistrust of those in power. 

This has affected people’s mental health, finances, family gatherings and general well-being. One of the positive things we have seen is a great increase in the amount of people seeking God and coming to Christ. We need to have our anchor somewhere and natural things are seeming to be less and less stable. 

Many have wanted to gather together and when we have been allowed to, real deep fellowship has been appreciated. We’ve worshipped together, eat together, had BBQs and biblical feasts. We’ve seen marriages this year and rejoiced in the birth of new babies. 

Despite the pressures we continued with livestream and in person services and it has caused many people to deepen their relationship with God and each other. We thank God we were able to minister to people online through our well-being shalom clinic. It was great to be able to be there to listen and pray with people as they shared their concerns. 

It’s also been great to see the increase in people coming to faith, getting baptised and joining life groups this year. We have especially seen an increase in the 20 to 35 age group this year in our church. 

As we enter 2022, let’s continue to put our faith in Jesus, the rock who never fails us. As an old chorus says, ‘Though the winds may blow and the rains may fall, He will never let go of your hand!’ 

‘…That they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified (for the display of His splendour NIV). (Isaiah 61: 3 AMPC)

SHALOM IN 2021 By Alex Afriyie

As we sought the Lord for a Word for 2021 at London Network Church, we felt that God was speaking to us about Shalom. Shalom is the Hebrew Old Testament word that we translate ‘Peace’. But a fuller way of understanding this word would be our modern understanding of ‘Well Being’ and ‘Wholeness’. God’s peace affects not only our inner being but can extend to the whole of society. It means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity. We as believers are to carry that peace (John 14: 27) despite what is happening in the whirlwind of world events. We are to demonstrate the harmony of peace because ‘Christ is our peace’, and He has made us all one in our diversity (Ephesians 2: 14).

When quoting Isaiah 61, Jesus made clear in Luke 4: 18 – 19, that the Spirit of the Lord had anointed Him to preach the gospel to both the physically and spiritually poor (Matthew 5: 3 & Luke 6: 20) and heal the broken hearted, those with the deepest emotional and psychological needs. Jesus is there to heal, to deliver people spirit, soul and body. To meet spiritual, emotional, physical and even social needs.

In the 1700s Wesley referred to Is 61 in his revival which came immediately after great difficulty and unrest. Out of unrest came a great revival that affected the whole of society.

After the unrest of 2020 (e.g. Covid, justice Issues, Brexit) I believe that God wants us as sons and daughters of God, as ‘anointed ones’, to bring healing to people’s whole beings, meeting their spiritual, psychological, physical and relational needs through the Good News. We can preach and demonstrate the year of the Lord’s favour. This will happen through what we say, how we serve, through providing a listening ear, offering prayer and supplying access to healing communities.

One of the things we are looking to provide this year is a regular healing clinic for the community where people can share their needs and receive healing, prophetic word, a listening ear and practical help. It is time for the nations in London, the UK and the world, to say, ‘…Let us go up to ….the house of …God… and He will teach us His ways’ (Isaiah 2: 2 – 4).

The world is hurting (Romans 8: 19 – 22); I believe that as we arise with courageous love and faith as the church and as individual believers, we will have something unique and healing to bring to the world in 2021. SHALOM!

What A Year 2020 Has Been? By Alex Afriyie

Who could have imagined at the beginning of 2020 that we would have been dealing with the corona virus, race and justice issues worldwide and the possible end of a Trump presidency.

Photo by Julian Wan 

What has God been doing through all these things?

Well at the beginning of this year we felt that God gave us Isaiah 60 1 - 3 as a church:

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.

We had the prophetic theme on our hearts, 'Living the Kingdom Life' and a global theme 'Better Together'.

I really believe that this interprets what God wanted for us this year. 

To arise in the darkness and show up strong as Christian's knowing that our light (the light of Jesus shining in our hearts - 2 Corinthians 4: 6) has come.

Darkness speaks of ignorance produced by sin (a state of rebellion and separation from God), but light speaks of revelation and clarity and peace.

This has been a year where as the people of God we have had to learn again to make God our source of security and then courageously be present to serve the world in love and power. The world has needed our love and unity in the midst of political disunity (including Brexit), racial disharmony and suspicion surrounding the Covid virus.

I hope this year you have arisen in leadership, compassion and your unique spiritual and natural gifts and made a difference to your family, friends, church, neighbourhood and sphere of influence in the market place. 

People living in darkness need us as the church to speak clearly about the dignity of all human beings, the availability of help and healing in Jesus and the Kingdom of God that is greater than any earthly political party or movement.

I hope you've had the courage to stand for the kingdom of God and not get bogged down with the enemies agenda of division and fear.

Photo by Julian Wan