"I will bless those who bless you"
"and I will curse those who curse you."
Genesis 12:3
What I want to talk about today
is how NOT to bless Israel.
Now my intention, as a disclaimer
is not to cause anyone
any discomfort or unpleasant feelings
but I firmly believe
it's important for you to know.
I travel to many parts of the world
and in many places, I like to know
what the believers in this place
think about Israel
and if I were to believe what I see
on TV channels around the world,
on Christian TV channels,
then in every street corner in Israel
there's a hungry, elderly person,
and it's your responsibility to
click the button or call that number
and make a donation
otherwise God will curse you!
So many believers around the world
treat Genesis 12:3
as some sort of a magic formula
without really understanding
how God tells us to bless Israel
in this day and age
that Israel as a nation rejects
the Messiah, Jesus.
Now, you may imagine,
and it's factually true,
that billions of dollars are being
donated every year
by evangelical Christians
for various causes around Israel.
Now most of the donors are
believers in the Messiah, Jesus
that love Israel
and have fantastic intentions.
But they do not truly know
what their donation money
is used for
and what causes they're funding.
And so we have done
some research for you.
And here are the 5 causes
that receive the most funding
from evangelical Christians.
Here they are:
No.1: Advancements of settlements
in the West Bank
No.2: The IDF, our military
No.3: A variety of secular goals, like
a secular college, or a hospital wing
No.4: Humanitarian aid
Now, I've got to tell you something
about humanitarian aid:
In Israel, according to Israeli law
it's illegal to share the gospel if
you're giving something to someone.
No.5: Jewish religious causes
like synagogues or yeshiva schools
where they teach that Yeshua
is NOT the Messiah.
As Israelis, we pay 45% income tax
and in addition, 17% VAT
just to fund the causes that
evangelical Christians donate towards.
Have you noticed what is missing in this list,
to which the disciples of the Messiah
donate every year?
You got it.
The gospel is missing.
And so estimates are that
the gospel work actually receives
only 1% or 2%
of the funding coming to
the State of Israel.
This is sad, embarrassing, and disappointing
because as a Jewish Israeli,
let me tell you:
What the State of Israel,
what the Jewish people need
is not material wealth.
What Israel and the Jewish people need
is spiritual wealth
which can only be found in
the Messiah, Jesus.
If you are sending our poor
to hell with a full stomach
what good have you done?
So today, when you "enrich" the State of Israel
when you give to the Israeli military
when you fund building of settlements
when you build synagogues
even when you give to Israel's needy
you need to know, the nation of Israel,
Israelis, do not relate this
to the grace of God, nor to the gospel
nor do they even know
that it comes from Christians
who love Israel
and who do it in the name of Jesus.
As far as our people are concerned,
we are thriving because of our wisdom,
our greatness, and our strength.
And that further pushes out
the message of the gospel
from Israel.
What we really need
as Jewish Israelis
is the Good News of the Messiah
Yeshua.
While it is illegal for non-Israelis
to come to Israel and share the gospel
with Israelis, for us living here,
it is fully legal to share our faith
with our neighbors, our families,
our people.
And this is why we at ONE FOR ISRAEL
firmly believe that
the best way to bless Israel
and fulfill Genesis 12:3
is by sharing Yeshua, our Messiah
and his message
with Israeli Jewish and Arab people.
If you agree that
the best way to bless Israel
and to fulfill Genesis 12:3
is by sharing Yeshua and his message,
please share this video.