Why We Came to Jerusalem — David Wilkerson

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Thank God for his presence in the service tonight. That's what we asked for. And God has granted our petition. We welcome you from whatever country you're from. We didn't come as tourists. I hope you get to see some sights and take advantage of the time.

Why We Came to Jerusalem

But we have a very special reason for being here at this time in history. We've asked the Holy Spirit to come and reveal to us and to show us why you are here and why I am here. And that's what I want to talk to you about.

Why we've come to Jerusalem. Heavenly Father, will you come tonight and speak to our hearts? We have not called this a prophetic conference, but we're here according to your prophetic word. We are here to fulfill the prophecy that you yourself made.

Oh Holy Spirit, do something now that will bring rejoicing in heaven, that we will rejoice your heart. It's not just that we stand where you stood. It's not because we minister where you ministered. But Lord, you have called us as a body, as a people, to love your people.

We thank you for the oneness of Christ. We believe that you and Gentile are one in Jesus Christ. And we thank you for bringing people from these nations. Now show us and give us a glimpse of why we are here and what you want from us and what we can give to you corporately as one body in Jesus' name.

Amen. Luke 18, verse 32. It's really dark. I'll just read this so you can follow me. Then Jesus took to himself the twelve disciples and said to them, Behold, let us go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of God shall be accomplished.

We've called this, let us go up to Jerusalem. And Jesus said that all things written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished. Now there is an eternal purpose in your being here.

Some of you came at great expense and sacrifice. Some of you may have been here before but something said to you there was a still small voice and the still small voice said go up to Jerusalem. Go at this time and you are here on a divine purpose.

See this is just one of many Christian gatherings here in Europe in Israel, in Jerusalem. Someone gave me a list of all some of them have been here just recently. Probably two or three conferences every week.

And this is just one of many that have been blessed of God and one of many that God has touched in a very special way. But let me focus on four reasons I believe the Holy Spirit gave me why He wanted me to come and why I think He wanted you to come at this particular time.

This is a short message and I'm going to get right to the point. And at the end of it what we're going to do as we've been told in the Scripture we're going to pray for Israel. Actually this first night is a prayer meeting.

Tomorrow there will be two services in the morning beginning at 9 .30 and I believe 11 .30 you'll be off for the afternoon and then we're back here again for 7 .00, 7 .30 in the evening. And I trust you will not miss any of these meetings because God has brought a special word I believe for those that are joining us here in this pulpit.

Israel as the Church's Spiritual Heritage

Now let me get to the point. Reason number one I believe we're here at this time in history. First of all we're debtors to Israel. It's incalculable. We cannot count the debt and we can't even conceive the indebtedness to Israel as the church of Jesus Christ.

It's impossible for a true Christian a true believer to divorce himself from Israel. I just began to think of what happened in this city and in this country. The heritage of the church of Jesus Christ.

And when you think of it it's absolutely overwhelming. Since they are Israelites Paul said it in Romans there is the adoption of the Jewish people and the glory and the covenants the legislation and the worship and the promises theirs are the fathers and from them as far as human nature is concerned has come Christ who is over all God bless forever.

Out of Israel came our Christ we begin there when we begin to calculate our heritage Israel is considered God's first born Israel is my son even my first born God said to them you should be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people for the earth is mine.

They are my people they are my chosen separated among all nations. God's glory fell on a tabernacle near where you are sitting now I've seen artist views of Solomon's temple. Could you imagine being in the city of Jerusalem at that time.

Could you imagine the sheep that are lined up outside gates the blood that was shed. All the types and shadows of Jesus Christ. The church of Jesus Christ rejoices. We are not in those types and shadows now but that has taught us to know and understand who our Christ is.

We have a debt to Israel because of this teaching this revelation of who Christ was he illustrated sermons you can touch and you can feel there will never be another human sacrifice. There will never be another human sacrifice.

There was only one sacrifice forever. All the events in the gospel happened in Israel except for Mary and Joseph when they went down to Egypt. All 17 New Testament books were written by Israelites. Except Luke who was a Gentile proselyte.

Those who ascribed those who established the first churches were all Jewish. All 12 apostles were Jewish. In Revelation 5 .5. This is written 50 years after the ascension of Jesus. And those who teach the replacement theology had not.

What do they say of this. It was written 50 years after the ascension of Christ by John in the Isle of Patmos. He is the Lion of Judah the Root of David. Hebrews were told there is a city of God with foundations.

The architect and builder is God. And on its gates are inscribed the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. How can a believer who claims to be a child of Christ how will he ever enjoy heaven. But every time he sees a gate there's the name of an Israel prince on it.

I'm not trying to be facetious. He is still the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus himself said salvation is from the Jews. All prophecies came from this nation. God said he would restore Israel in one day.

And we have lived to see it 1967 1968. And I was here just a few weeks after. Tanks were still on the hills. The wailing wall was opened. The wall was opened. And to see and to feel the power and the incredible sense that prophecy was being fulfilled.

It was overwhelming. God said he's going to bring in the end time now all the nations down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There's going to be a time of turmoil. The scripture says. But Zechariah in the 14th chapter said this in that day Christ, meaning Christ will put his feet on Mount Zion which is in front of Jerusalem to the east.

I don't know where it is from here east, west, where is it? Listen to it. The Lord said he's coming back and he's going to put his feet on the mount. And the scriptures of the Mount of Olives will be split down the middle east and west.

And there will be a very large valley half the mountain will move toward the north and the other toward the south. Then the Lord God will come all the holy ones with him. The Lord will be king over all the earth.

In that day the Lord will be only one and his name only one Jew and Gentile united in Jesus Christ. You are sitting you are within short distance of that very moment or that mountain where Jesus Christ will split the mountains number two.

Provoking Israel to Jealousy Through the Gospel

We've come to Jerusalem to provoke Israel to jealousy. That's found in the 11th chapter. And this is Paul's answer to all anti-semitism. And he's very blunt and accurate about it. Romans 11 1 and 2 in verse 11 God has not rejected his people.

Has he? May it never be. God has not rejected his people who he foreknew. I say then that they did stumble as to fall. I say then did they not stumble so as to fall? May it never be. But by their transgressions salvation has come to the Gentiles to make them jealous.

Folks I believe what God wants to accomplish even tonight is to make the Gentiles jealous to remove any doubt in your mind about what God has for Israel. And why as a true believer who loves Christ you can never let go of this truth.

And there's so much being taught so much being taught about God having forsaken Israel given up and that covenants have been broken and God no longer deals with Israel. And there's so much being taught about how God has forsaken Israel and forgotten the covenant.

Satan has planted that lie. When I first went to New York City led by the spirit to establish the church. One of three things God said I had to do as a pastor as a founding pastor honor Israel. God said if you honor Israel I will bless this church.

The altars will always be filled. You will never lack for funds and folks in 20 years now. And my pastor and his wife are right here in the front seat Pastor Carter and his wife. And for 20 years God has kept his word.

And I know in great part it's because we have blessed Israel. Paul goes on to say. And he is thanking God for his ministry to the Gentiles. He said so that somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.

In chapter 10 Paul refers to the prophecy of Moses. He said Moses said I will make you speak in the latter days. Moses is speaking about the latter days of Israel. I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation by peoples without understanding.

I'm going to provoke you. Here's Paul's argument. Yes Israel heard the gospel and they hardened their hearts and God in turn hardened those who had hardened their hearts so that there was a spiritual super.

And Paul said that still remains. He said there was a fall into hardness and there was a veil but he said it was not fatal. They did not fall to be destroyed. God gave them this spirit because of the hardness that they themselves had in their hearts.

Also God moved on a mass of people great masses of people to provoke you to jealousy. And in Rome Paul said that there was much God was moving. He infers that there was a wonderful move of God in Rome.

But when you read between the lines Paul is saying that there was some anti-Semitic teaching creeping into the body of Christ in Rome among the Gentiles and the Jews. The same doctrines we hear today.

The same kind of resentment against Israel. And Paul said you have a problem with that. What do you do with me. Paul said I'm a Jew. I'm a blue blood Jew. I'm an Israelite a descendant of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin.

You can't get any more Jewish he said. And I've come after the cross. I've come in the last generation the generation you say God is no longer dealing with as far as Israel is concerned. Paul said do you not know that Elijah pleaded against Israel.

He's convinced that God was no longer working with Israel. He pleaded against Israel. He said Lord they've killed your prophets they've torn down your altars and I alone am left and they seek to take my life.

But the scripture according to Saul says I have kept for myself 7 ,000 who have not bowed their knees to Baal. And then he really nails it he said. Even so now there is a remnant that has come about according to God's gracious choice.

Encouraging Israel's Remnant

Thirdly we are here to encourage that remnant. Paul said just as Elijah pleaded against Israel thinking it was unreachable. He's the only one left. So at this present hour God has a people a Christ loving people.

There is a remnant folks I believe we would be shocked. We would be overwhelmed if we knew how many underground believers there are in this nation. I believe we would be shouting. God still has his holy remnant.

He has a people who are yearning after him who are crying out after him. Salvation has come to the Gentiles the scripture said to make them jealous. Salvation has come to the Gentiles to make the Jews jealous.

Now that begs a question. I ask this question myself. What do you see in the church today that would want to make a Jew become a believer. I've gone over and over this with the Lord Paul said the gospel is given to us to make Israel jealous.

And I look at the church what is called the church especially in America one of the major denominations to just pull all their investments out of Israel. And they are asking all other religious organizations to withdraw investments from Israel.

And they have sided with the enemies now of Israel to make Israel jealous. What is there on so called Christian television that would make a Jew want to become a believer in Jesus Christ. Gold gilded stages covetous men in the garb of a preacher of Christ making Jesus a part of a den of thieves.

As if you could buy Christ you could buy eternal salvation. One preacher recently was offering healing normal everyday healing for $500 $1000 for cancer to make Israel jealous. The Christianity of materialism preachers begging for money.

If you want to know why we are here we are here to make a statement against all of that. And the only antidote that I can see the only defense against this anti-semitism that is sweeping even evangelical churches.

And the womb of all of this is coming out of the so called prosperity gospel. Oh one of these days when God drops the hammer and silences all of these things that they take the name of our pure savior.

Doesn't it leave your heart. Doesn't it hurt your love for Jesus. When you see these things happening. And Paul said we are supposed to live such a life. We are to have such love. We are to have such unity that they will look upon us and say they have been with Jesus.

If I were ever going to become a believer. That's what I want to see. Israel has so few friends. I believe that 1967 the time of the Gentiles was fulfilled. I'm going to say it again. I believe that because up to this time when you read the history of those who governed the Gentiles who governed in Jerusalem the Byzantine Empire then came the Persians the Arabs the Crusaders the Ottoman Empire the British then the Jordanians.

But in 1967 and 1968 the Gentiles lost root over Jerusalem and Israel. We are closer to the coming of Jesus than any of us can understand. We are at the door of the coming of Jesus Christ when he is going to come and be Lord of all he reigns in the heavens now.

And every believer believes that. And he said he is going to come to reign among the nations. Glory be to God. May I just throw this in. We have hundreds of people who come from around the world. And we have not had a single complaint to one of our staff members.

You see the only way you and I can show Christ is in the marketplace. We are not here to go up to our Jewish friends and say I am a Jew in faith. When you stand there trying to argue the price of your souvenir down.

I won't go any further on that. The cabbie the cab driver the doorman the guard. It won't be heard like it was heard here in one of the marketplaces. It won't be heard like it was heard here in one of the markets a Christian group going through the old city and trying to mark down the prices and get it from almost nothing.

And to hear an Arab merchant say those Christians are all thieves. And to make Israel jealous. What would they see in me. What would they see in me. What would they see in me. Would you ask yourself that question.

What do they see in you. What do they hear. Just a few scripture verses. No it's something of the heart. It's something the Holy Spirit does in you to say oh God put a love in my heart no matter what abuse I take no matter what I see that I may be able to pray in faith that they could see Christ in me.

Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem

Fourth and last of all we're here to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalms 122, 6 -9. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper. Who love you. May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces.

For the sake of my brothers and friends I say now that means I pray now. May peace be with you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God. We will seek your good. You could not have come to Jerusalem in a more critical time than this.

Iran is sworn to wipe this nation off the earth. And Israel has so few friends. And I was told and I read in a book about Israel written by a believing Jew. And he had questioned so many people after the 1967 war.

And this city was convinced even some rabbis that evangelical Christians were among the fewest friends they had. There was something happening a friendship a brotherhood in the flesh. But that's all changed because of the growing anti-Semitism even in Pentecost in some of the Assemblies of God.

Because I've heard preachers on radio railing against this country railing against the Jew vicious railing how it must have grieved the heart of God. We're here to pray for Israel. We're here to pray for those who live under this cloud of threats hatred and bitterness.

And now one of their last friends out of the few left the United States of America. And if you're an American and you're in this service if you're from Times Square Church we know where you stand. Every pastor preaches it.

We believe that every promise in the book made to the Jew is also for the believer. We believe that the church stands on two feet Jew and Gentile connected to the head which is Jesus Christ our Lord. But God made a covenant with Abraham a land covenant a blessing covenant.

And he said it was forever. And that covenant still stands. And the prophet Zechariah prophesied he said I'm going to make Jerusalem a burdensome stone to every nation. And you see that happening now while we're here now this is the most burdensome stone of every government.

And the prophet Zechariah said everyone who moves against this stone shall be cut to pieces. God will have his day. And we're here to pray for those of you who live here those who live under the threats and wake up every morning.

And we can't understand that we've had one terrorist attack it shook our nation and you have lived under that for so long. We're going to pray for you for your safety for the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

God will meet your finances. God will stand with his people and every prophecy is going to be fulfilled. And I stand here to declare to you in Jesus' name thus saith the Lord. Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob.

Shout among all the chiefs of the nations proclaim now give praise and pray. Oh God save this people. The remnant of Israel. Jeremiah 31 -7. We are directed by the Holy Spirit to stand with Israel and to pray for Israel and to sing with Israel and to shout with Israel and say God is King and Jesus is Lord.

Will you stand please. I told you it was short and I'm asking the Holy Spirit to make this real to your heart. Do not allow the enemy to bring anything in. On closing word I was so shocked when I found this this past this past week.

Rejecting Christian Anti-Semitism

I said Lord where did all this anti-Semitism come from this creeping into your church. Where did the seed in theology come from. And you can trace it back to a highly respected theologian many years ago named Chrysostom.

And this is what he wrote. The Jew is greedy. They are bandits murderers devil possessed and they have the manner of a pig. Chrysostom's theology skipped the church all the way through the reformation and he still considered the father.

And this man was respected and considered a holy man. And it has affected theology ever since. Folks we are not theologians. We are lovers of this book. We are lovers of this book. It's going to get worse.

But I believe with all my heart our savior is pleased that you came. And I have just a hunch in my heart that when we get to heaven and we are in that eternal city I'm going to be able to go to the apostle Paul and I'll walk where you walked.

I'll pray where you prayed. I'm going to say to David we danced where you danced in my first trip to Israel. And Lord I would say thank you Lord. I'm walking where you walked. He said that's fine as long as I walk where you walk.

So we have this wonderful thing of walking with Jesus in the spirit. And now for many nations we're saying thank you Jesus that in this nation. And we're walking the streets and in some areas you're walking the same stones.

All that should do is cause you to thank God for your heritage and to thank God for your heritage. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. And I want you to thank him for his sacrifice. I want you to thank him that he enabled you to come to make a statement.

You say where will be heard outside of this auditorium. Well it's heard by Pastor Claude Rouge who's here with a delegation from Canada and he's in a position to reach his nation. There are bishops here that have many many pastors that they can bring the message to.

And you're here. You can in your area whether it's among businessmen or wherever you're at. You can take that stand. You can take that stand as you're taking your stand for Christ. I'm sorry I missed you.

Do you remember anything I said. I want you to sing thank you Jesus for putting this love in my heart for you and all God's people. And when we pray we're going to pray in just a few moments. I want us to take 10 minutes and lay hold of God and everyone pray with a voice a voice.

Intercession for Iran and the Muslim World

We're going to pray for Islam. We got a desperate appeal from an Iranian body of Christ in California asking us to pray for believers in Iran. And the report is outstanding. What God is doing in Iran.

I had a businessman tell me in a country just recently he's a businessman in Iran. And years ago 50 ,000 Cross of Shutzpe books were published in the Iranian language. And it was a part of an awakening.

And he said Pastor Dave there are thousands and thousands of true believers in Iran there in Pakistan Uzbekistan and in every Islam nation God has a people. And the same veil that's over Israel is over all these other nations.

And when the veil comes down it comes down over Iran and Iraq. It comes down over it all and for all of the time that's been spent in prayer about this night and this gathering. We have received a word from the Lord that at this time of the service especially the heart of the Lord will rejoice when he hears what he's about.

To hear our prayers that go throughout the wonderful delegation from Italy. You pray in Italian or whatever country you're from. We have a number of interpreters. It's a wonderful thing. The Lord knows how to decipher all these languages.

I don't want anyone to leave. I'm not going to leave you in prayer. I'm going to sit up aside and I want us to lift our voice. And it doesn't. It's not going to be the volume not how loud it is but how much of the heart is involved if you live in Israel.

I want you to raise your hand. Just raise your hand. And I want those around you to see where you're at. Will you hold your hand and just tie it for just a moment please. And I would like to have every believer around.

Just place a hand on the shoulder. Don't touch the head just the shoulders and pray for them. God protect God. Keep God. Bless. Bring forth the holy remnant. Let's pray. Let's stand or be seated and pray.

We're going to pray the next 10 minutes. That's what this meeting is about. Come now Holy Spirit and give us the spirit of prayer. He said pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for my people.

Closing Praise and Commitment to Prayer

Close the service with an offering of praise.

Just with lifted hands to the Lord you don't even have to lift your hands. But I want us to give Him an offering of praise. And I want you to pledge in your heart that from this day on every day till Jesus comes until you go to your grave every day you will pray this prayer for the peace of Jerusalem and the blessing of God with my people on Israel.

From this time on now let's give Him an offering of praise. Lord we praise you. We thank you. We glorify your name. Let it come to heaven. Reach out to heaven. Lord we reach out to you. Now we worship we praise your holy name God of the Jew God of the Gentile God of the Islam one God one Christ.

We glorify you right here in your place we lift our hearts in our hands to praise almighty God. Hallelujah. Bless the name of the Lord. Hallelujah. Thank you for being here tonight. Amen.