Burden Bearing for Israel

It’s my story found in His story through Israel’s story (and maybe your story too)

About a year ago, when we were in the Hebrew month of Kislev, the Lord was giving us war strategy to fight the enemy for the year. It was about a year ago that I started writing on burden bearing for Israel and then all subjects in the back of my mind became a building upon of this subject: burden bearing with Israel, feeling what she feels. It is ultimately for Israel but the strategy usually gets worked out through our everyday life experiences.

With our Israel trip approaching in 3 months, I thought I would write on this topic again.

What is the war?

The war is against God, His children and His family. The enemy uses lies to try and destroy our relationship with God and people.

I believe there is grace in this season to overcome, wage war against the lies of the enemy and grow closer to God and people.

How are we burden bearers?

As partners, intercessors & friends of Israel, we get to feel a little of what God feels for her and of what she feels in life. This allows us to gain strategy into our own lives, going from victim to overcomer in Him. This will also equip us to lovingly lead others and Israel into overcoming. Although it is a great gift to feel what Israel feels, it needs to be recognized and released so we do not take it on as our own (and dealt with first in our own lives, if needed - more on this below). It is the Lord’s burden ultimately, even though He invites us and we say yes to partner. We release the burden through prayer, worship, meditating on His word and fellowship with Him.

If you go to New Haven or if you are my friend , you are connected to Israel because we are connected to Israel. If you pray for me in this trip, you are praying for Israel and have the capacity to grow in Love for God and Israel, as well as feel what she feels. In other words, you may carry a burden that is for God’s glory and to bless Israel.

How do we gain victory?

We gain victory by overcoming lies, hurt and submitting to the refining process in our own lives. There is grace to overcome hurt, in this season. Hurt is our invitation into Him, it is where we find Him in our need. We may still feel the sting of hurt or pain but there is grace to not allow it to take root and cause bitterness. If we allow Him in, it can become new Life, deep Love and real Healing. Also, it can become a wellspring of new life for others and fulfillment in the future.

We experience pain to connect with Him, to remember the pain He encountered and endured on our behalf for the joy set before Him, for love, for us (not that we would feel guilty but loved and worthy of such sacrifice). In this process we connect with Him to receive His comfort and His worth which ushers us into healing and allows us to release His healing to others through prayer.

Scriptures: 1 John 5:4, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 43, Isaiah 62

What is the strategy?

1. Speak truth into our identity and others, leading to confidence in love and life in Him. When we are confident in His love in us, we can walk in our full inheritance to love and bless others (specifically Israel). We are comforted so that we can comfort others, this is our reward.

2. Release what we gain in revelation in our identity and God’s identity over Israel through prayer. (give what we get, it’s not ours to keep but to give away - like crowns in Rev 4)

3. Be aware of the schemes of the enemy but even more the redemption of the Lord. He desires redemption, justice and mercy even more than we do. The enemy would want us to feel “forsaken, unloved, forgotten, disconnected from the body, hopeless” and project this onto people instead of in prayer through receiving God’s mercy and grace so that we can give it away. When we gain victory over lies of the enemy through receiving Truth we can bless Israel in spirit and someday naturally. It’s two-fold, God allows these scenarios so we can gain victory/authority in our own lives but also so we can feel what Israel feels. Partly it’s burden bearing, which is a great blessing if stewarded correctly (through forgiveness & mercy, worship & fellowship). God works all things for good.

4. Be ready to love regardless of the return on investment in the natural. Look for Heavenly Eternal rewards from our Maker. Joseph is a testimony of eternal and heart reward (supernatural forgiveness and mercy) and natural reward many years later (honor, stewardship of resources, family & family reconciliation). Joseph was able to say to His brothers “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life”. God can give us this same grace to speak these words by faith in midst of our struggle and later this place can be a wellspring of new life and place of joy. Joseph also said “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”. Truly God can turn a messy situation into something very very beautiful. This is His desire and this is what He does very very well.

5. Keep our eyes fixed on the gifts, blessings and beauty of God regardless of lack or delay in desires fulfilled (even in the darkness He gives us eyes to see light, hope and truth). The small flock He has given to you, be faithful to it. Do not despise the day of small beginnings. This is the place where growth takes place and you are being prepared to walk in greater love and be entrusted with more. Something great is coming.

6. Trust in God’s timing. We cannot change the appointed seasons. Nothing stays the same, as with a struggle, it will come to an end and newness will begin in due season. Stay with Him. His nearness is a gift and can ease the pain in the divine delay.

7. Receive God’s mercy and release it to others. Realize now that people are imperfect. It doesn’t mean that they are not loving you with all that they have been given. Thier weak love is still real love. This is how God sees our love and calls it forth as beautiful and lovely. We do not deserve God’s Mercy, so we give to others as He has given to us.

8. If it is too heavy, step back from doing love and let God love you, rest in His Love. In Matthew it says when we come to Him weary and heavy laden, He will give us rest. Again and again, over and over, He never grows weary of giving us rest. This is His delight, when we come to Him, He listens and loves us well. Our time with Him is hidden, holy, eternal and the only thing that really matters. His opinion is all we need to be confident in love and life.

9. Fight for what is yours from the Lord (especially in the midst of envy). He’s training your hands for battle and arms for war. You have come so far and you are a new creation. You are not starting over from the beginning, You are gaining victory and momentum from right where you are. You are worthy of all the Lord has given you, do not give it up to the enemy or to a person. Keep fighting the good fight of faith.

10. Know who you are, a powerful and brave person. You are free to choose and make decisions. Especially to choose love and let others chose and be free of expectations. Love is always voluntary. Love awaits voluntary lovers. He will have His bride, when she calls upon His name.

2 Cor 1:4, Acts 17:26, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 18:34, 2 Cor 5:17, Gen 45:5, Gen 50:20

Are you believing any of these lies? (or if you have overcome these in the past, I believe you have gained authority to release what you have received in identity to Israel)

• Believing that you are alone, forgotten or abandoned

• Unloved, not enough, not remembered

• Unknown or uncared for

• Not a part of a family, not belonging or fit in

• Continually misunderstood or taken wrongly or at fault

• Unprotected or unsupported

• Unenjoyed or not liked or invested in

• Not trusted, not good enough

• Always having to do things on your own, not helped

• Unspoken rules exist that disqualify you from relationship or service

• God cannot fulfill the longing in your heart for deep fellowship

It is ok to feel hurt, to mourn or grieve loss and recognize a situation for what has happened in the moment or season. I am sorry for your pain and I want to speak of the after moments of walking it out well. When a pain is inflicted, the enemy tries to use it as a way into your heart to convince you of a lie and cause bitterness. Let Holy Spirit absorb your pain so you can be healed and hear His words of Truth. Think on the life of Jesus who still has scars from His life on earth. He bore the work of the cross, the rejection, our sin and shame. He walked the life that was only for Him to walk out and He did it victoriously. He cried out to the Father, He sweat drops of blood. He knows pain and He knows you. He knows what brings you to your knees and He knows how to heal, set free, wash clean and how to give us joy. Resurrected and everlasting joy. Be patient, it is coming on this earth and eternally. He overcame so that you can overcome in Him victoriously.

If you are believing any of these lies, grab hold of God’s truth and write them on your heart (you might just be in a refining season that has great reward in store, unto the salvation of Israel - hang in there, do not give up).

• You are a valuable part of this family, group, community

• We are better off because you are here

• We benefit when you are present, your contribution matters

• You are favored, blessed, chosen, adored, LOVED, Precious and HONORED

• You are enough, you do not need to do anything more to be loved and liked

• God Remembers You and so do people

• God has never left you or forsaken you

• God is near to the brokenhearted and hurting

• God is Faithful, He sees you and knows you completely

• He is more than able to fulfill every longing He puts within you

• His leadership is Perfect

• He is already your friend, perfect forever friend who longs to talk with you continually

• You are carrying the longing in your heart well for family and fellowship

• You are supported, protected and pursued by God

• You are already accepted and welcomed

• You are victorious in Him

• You are called Hephzibah - His delight and His Protected One

• You are never too much for Him, you can never go too far, He is always there, waiting for your return

• You are the apple of His eye, blessed upon the earth

• You are a sheep who hears the shepherd’s voice; keep listening, keep believing

Meditate on God’s identity - this is your freedom and Israel’s freedom:

• He is your Maker, your Creator, your Potter

• Your Husband, your Bridegroom God

• He is the Servant who suffered - the only One who can truly understand and sympathize with your life and situation

• Your Redeemer - it is so worth it when all things work for good

• Your Deliverer, Your Healer, the Victorious One who has never lost a battle

• Your Family, Abba Father, Spirit of Adoption

• Counselor, Protector, Provider

• Good Shepherd

• Lover of your soul - the only One who can carve out desire in our hearts and fulfill it

• He is Love, the Perfection of Beauty, a Joy to all of the earth

• He is Alive and fighting on your behalf

What does this have to do with Israel again?

I believe the truth we find in the scriptures that sets us free is the same truth Israel needs right now. We have a unique destiny to bless Israel in this time of history. I am convinced that when we gain freedom in our own lives in any area, we are more able to bless Israel. I believe God takes us through difficult situations and seasons so we can empathize and gain compassion with experiential knowledge. When people go through hard things, they tend to pray and talk about those struggles differently, with sensitivity when others go through them. After we go through hard things, suddenly we may find others in our path who are going through hard things. Jesus learned obedience through suffering. He took on skin and our sin, all for love that we may love in return, like Him.

How can we love more like Jesus so that we can pray more like God for Israel? When we go through hard things I believe we are feeling what Israel feels and are more equipped in the future to pray for her as Holy Spirit prays. We are also more equipped to love and bless Israel as God would have us. I believe Israel needs her identity and God’s identity spoken over her by those who understand. I believe God wants to give us a greater purpose and reward to our pain. Sometimes it’s easier to understand or endure a difficult season when there is another purpose involved - unto the salvation, deliverance and healing of Israel - unto the return of Jesus.

Are you carrying a burden for breakthrough in your life? Are you carrying a burden for Israel? Is it two fold or just one? In my experience, it has been both, it is all connected and sometimes I do not know. Nonetheless the solution for both is the same - release the burden through prayer, worship, fellowship with Holy Spirit and writing His truth upon your heart.