From the Vicarage

In 1999 during our Holy Communion service, out of the blue, we had a tongue and an interpretation “return to Israel”. It took some time for the meaning and significance of that strange word to dawn upon us. Looking back with hindsight it all becomes much clearer. Gradually, it so happens, from 1999 onwards till now, we have been digging deep into the Jewish roots of our Christian heritage and dedicating ourselves increasingly to supporting Israel and the Jewish people. It is a mystery (at least to me) why the gift of tongues and the other wonderful Gifts of the Holy Spirit did not continue in our worship service after that Sunday more than ten years ago.

Whatever the reason, God is speaking (and acting!) again amongst us but nowadays Sunday by Sunday in one way or another. Praise be to God! Why now? One phrase that stands out for me amongst the words that have been shared in recent days is (do you remember?): “for a time such as this”. Now that’s an interesting phase. I wonder if anyone in church at the time recognised those words as a key bible phrase. I often marvel at how the spiritual gifts so often sheds incredible light on the Bible.  Sometimes just a little phrase can open up a bible passage and show it’s significance for today. Very often the person prophesying may not even know that the words they are using are scriptural!  The phrase “for a time such as this” comes from Esther 4:14

"For if you remain silent at this time, re-lief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

This refers to the message given to Esther by Mordecai. “A time such as this” refers Haman’s edict to “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews - young and old, women and little children - on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods".  Esther saved the Jewish community from genocide in the Persian period - i.e., prior to 330BC.

Isn’t it uncanny that in our own time a new leader in Persia (modern day Iran) constantly threatens the total annihilation of Jews in Israel and may be developing nuclear weapons to do just that. And we are witnessing a resurgence of world-wide anti-Semitism with its diabolical double-standards against the democratic state of Israel.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are for a time such as this. The book of Joel makes that crystal clear.  Now we hear again, more than 10 years on from 1999, the call - return to Israel!  So we continue steadfastly to stand with the Jewish people and with Israel.  We continue to dig deep into the Jewish roots of our Christian heritage.  It is with good reason that we support through our 10 percent tithe CMJ (The Churches Ministry Amongst Jewish People) and CFI (Christian Friends of Israel).

I encourage you to come to our Behold the Man! series after Easter.

Peter