FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE Dear friends in Christ,
The news from the Middle East over the last week has been distressing, worrisome, and polarizing. Accusations from every direction seem to fill the air like bullets or missles. People in the area - and their friends and relatives around the world - are frightened to the point of terror at reports of seemingly random atrocities; and many have quickly jumped (as many seem to do these days) to cast a wide net of blame on one "side" or another. How are Christians to understand the situation? How are we to pray about Israel these days?
I suggest that a good place to begin is with an article by Dr. Reed Lessing that appeared in the Lutheran Witness in 2006, titled "Whose Land is it?" (click the green button below). While the article does talk a bit about the historical and political background of the modern nation of Israel (and Gaza and the West Bank), Dr. Lessing's article seeks to address the theological issues related to claims about the land of Israel.
Our Adult Bible Class has been working through a study of the Book of Revelation. This Sunday (October 15) we will focus on Revelation 12-14, which tell the story of the cosmic war between Satan and the church (the whole people of God). I believe these chapters, along with Dr. Lessing's article, can help us understand the current spiritual conflict in Israel, and guide us in our prayers for all the people involved.
Meanwhile, how might we pray? Perhaps this might help (paraphrased from Dr Martin Luther's explanation to the Lord's Prayer):
Father, we know that your Kingdom certainly comes when You give us Your Holy Spirit. Pour out Your Holy Spirit into the hearts of all your people wherever we might live, so that by Your grace we believe Your holy Word and lead godly lives here in time - even in the threat of war and violence - and hereafter in eternity. We also know that Your will is done when You break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow Your name nor let Your kingdom come. So we pray also that You would indeed break every evil plan and purpose that is causing such suffering and terror in our world in these days. Bring peace to every place that is torn by war, and strengthen and keep us firm in His Word and faith until we die. We know that this is Your good and gracious will; and so we confidently pray all this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
God bless us - and all the people living under the threat of conflict and war - everyone!
Pastor Cahill
The news from the Middle East over the last week has been distressing, worrisome, and polarizing. Accusations from every direction seem to fill the air like bullets or missles. People in the area - and their friends and relatives around the world - are frightened to the point of terror at reports of seemingly random atrocities; and many have quickly jumped (as many seem to do these days) to cast a wide net of blame on one "side" or another. How are Christians to understand the situation? How are we to pray about Israel these days?
I suggest that a good place to begin is with an article by Dr. Reed Lessing that appeared in the Lutheran Witness in 2006, titled "Whose Land is it?" (click the green button below). While the article does talk a bit about the historical and political background of the modern nation of Israel (and Gaza and the West Bank), Dr. Lessing's article seeks to address the theological issues related to claims about the land of Israel.
Our Adult Bible Class has been working through a study of the Book of Revelation. This Sunday (October 15) we will focus on Revelation 12-14, which tell the story of the cosmic war between Satan and the church (the whole people of God). I believe these chapters, along with Dr. Lessing's article, can help us understand the current spiritual conflict in Israel, and guide us in our prayers for all the people involved.
Meanwhile, how might we pray? Perhaps this might help (paraphrased from Dr Martin Luther's explanation to the Lord's Prayer):
Father, we know that your Kingdom certainly comes when You give us Your Holy Spirit. Pour out Your Holy Spirit into the hearts of all your people wherever we might live, so that by Your grace we believe Your holy Word and lead godly lives here in time - even in the threat of war and violence - and hereafter in eternity. We also know that Your will is done when You break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow Your name nor let Your kingdom come. So we pray also that You would indeed break every evil plan and purpose that is causing such suffering and terror in our world in these days. Bring peace to every place that is torn by war, and strengthen and keep us firm in His Word and faith until we die. We know that this is Your good and gracious will; and so we confidently pray all this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
God bless us - and all the people living under the threat of conflict and war - everyone!
Pastor Cahill
