Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
2 Kings 6:1-7 (KJV)
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
God has not cast away Israel. The Apostle Paul cited himself who trusted in Jesus Christ for his salvation as an example. His conversion is a marvellous example of God’s grace to save the rebellious. He was persecuting the church, incarcerating Christians before Jesus met him on the road to Damascus.
While the Gentiles nations come to acknowledge Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour, Israel remains rebellious and unbelieving. The word “gainsaying” means “contradicting or opposing”. While the Gentile nations put away their idols and have faith in Jesus Christ, Israel remains indifferent and unmoved.
It is interesting to observe through Church History the movement of Holy Spirit in the salvation of Gentile nations reached with the gospel. From Israel, the Apostle Paul brought the gospel to Europe. And the gospel continued to spread to the continents of Africa, America and Asia. Truly, many of the people in Asia were idol worshippers before they received the gospel, putting away their idols. We are seeing this trend continuing today. God is opening the spiritual eyes of those who have no link with Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. Thank God for His mercy that the gospel is carried by Gentile missionaries to Gentile nations steeped in idolatry.
Matthew 28:16-20 (KJV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Israel is precious in the sight of God. God created and chosen Israel to bear His name out of all the nations of the world. Israel was the apple of His eye. The privileges given to Israel were tremendous. They had God so nigh to them. Yet, they forsook their God by going after strange gods. This is Israel’s history. Time and again they rejected their God.
The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Biblical joy is a cheerfulness, a calm delight and gladness in the heart of God’s children as the Holy Spirit’s fruit. It is the joy that comes with living a victorious Christian life according to God’s will. Jesus taught that obedience to God’s Word brings biblical joy in John 15:10-11 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
The Apostle Paul’s conscience is very clear that his heart was for the conversion of the Jews. Into every city the Lord directed him, he would first preach the gospel in the Jewish synagogue. When the Jews reject the gospel, he would then preach to the Gentiles. He saw that many of the Jews were not ready to receive Christ Jesus for they went about to establish their own righteousness (Rom. 10:3) although the Word of God has been sounded forth throughout the Roman Empire.
The object of the Christian’s faith is Jesus Christ. Whosoever believeth in Him shall not be ashamed but be saved. This faith to believe comes from hearing the Word of God. We need to hear the voice of God speaking to us through His Word. When we hear God’s Word, we get to know God and His Son, therein, we find salvation.
It was sad that Israel rejected their Messiah, Jesus – the Suffering Servant foretold by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:1 (KJV) 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? The people of Israel thought that Jesus the King will free them from being a vessel state of Rome and Israel will once again be strong again as a nation. When He rode on a donkey into Jerusalem on the Sunday before His crucifixion on Friday – His disciples shouted, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38). The disciples understood this Jesus is the King prophesied by Nathan the prophet in the Old Testament who will sit upon David’s throne to rule forever! How can a man rule forever? Jesus Christ, dear friends, is not a mere man, He is the Son of God, the exact representation of God.