World Affairs

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For Fear of the..... Arabs?

We are familiar with the phrase found in the Gospel of John,..."for fear of the Jews." This referred to those Jews, many of whom were religious leaders, who secretly and silently believed in the claims of Jesus. Today, we have a similar situation amongst the Arabs. Not only do we have so-called "moderate" Arabs who are reluctant to publicly confront their more radical brethren as to their ideology and tactics, but Arab Christians, and Christians in general, with few exceptions, share in that same fear. Granted, there is much reason to fear the most severe acts of retribution......virtually, a certain one-way ticket to ostracism, persecution, and probable martyrdom. We must pray for God to raise up fearless voices having the spirit of Stephen, who by the power of the Holy Spirit, will confront, expose, and present the Gospel to a an Arab culture predominantly ruled by its own harsh legalism and brand of scribes and pharisees.

To this day, the descendents of Ishmael still mock the son of Abraham and the descendents of Esau, having voluntarily sold their birthright, still bear a grudge towards Jacob. Only the power and miracle of the Holy Spirit can break the bonds of this relational curse. Let us take a page out of the "anti-terrorist manual," and take the spiritual war to the "spiritual terrorists" who keep their people in spiritual bondage.

Many years ago, there was a book entitled, "The Difficult Sayings of Jesus." No doubt, there are verses in the Bible that our humanity would have preferred our Lord had left out. If there are verses hard for our flesh to swallow, then this Scriptural passage is sure to make many of us gag. Isaiah 19:18-25 ends with this prophetic promise, In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." How amazing to think that God will not only fulfill his promises to Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob, but to Ishmael and Esau as well. Truly, it is not His will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Any truly, His lovingkindness is everlasting..... It's one thing to recognize that the Church and Israel's destinies are intertwined, but to think that would apply to Israel's historic foes, the Arabs, well, talk about a test of soul and spirit....... Does this cause you to stumble?

Fred London
[email protected]

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