Celebration Israel

August 2-9. 2017

July Update from Gail Dixon

Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendour,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb (Psalm 110:3).

Dear worshipper warriors,

We are in a battle, but we do not fight with the weapon's of this world. Our King and Commander is the Lamb of God, who won by losing, and defeated His enemies by dying. His weapon is an indestructible one, it is the weapon of LOVE. Psalm 110 is one of the foundational scriptures the Lord gave us for Celebration for the Nations. It speaks of the ascension and complete victory of Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father extending His reign from Zion until all His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.

Why do we not yet see every enemy under the feet of our Saviour? Did He not finish His work when He died on the Cross? Yes, He did, but He has left us a part to play, and this part is summarised in the verse I have quoted. This 'day of battle' is also translated 'day of power'. It speaks of the Day we are now in, since Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father.

He told His disciples that all authority had been given to Him, so they could go and make disciples of all nations. He told them that they would receive power to do this work when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This is the day of His power! We have received His Holy Spirit. It is now up to us to willingly volunteer to obey Him. He has provided garments of holy splendour...righteousness, praise, salvation for us to wear.

We gather together on the top of Mount Carmel this year, and then in Jerusalem to celebrate the victory of our King. He truly is the King of all Kings, the King of the nations. We will worship Him as such in the holy garments He has given us. As we worship let us dedicate ourselves to see His rule extend to every nation, every tribe.

This prophetic psalm speaks of the youth coming to Him like the dew of the dawn. Have you ever seen a dew-laden dawn? Could you count the dewdrops? There will be a huge turning of young people to Jesus (the Hebrew word in v3 is generic including men and women). Satan is trying to steal this young generation. They need to see LOVE modelled by us. They need to find what is worth living for, worth dying for. It is when the troops of the Lamb arise and win by losing and defeat our enemies by dying to ourselves, that the youth will arise like the dew.

Druze youth

The Druze live on the Carmel Mountain range of Israel, among other places. They believe in reincarnation. We have heard recently of young people killing themselves in the hope of a better life when they return the next time. Let's pray for their eyes to be opened! We will be living among them. May they see true and eternal life in us!

Messianic Youth

The numbers of Jewish young people who have accepted Jesus as their Messiah is still small, (estimated 1500 in 2011). Pray that they will be bold to share the gospel with their friends, and that the Lord would inspire and lead them in the ministry of reconciliation towards their Arab brothers and sisters.

Youth in Israel

Jewish teenagers struggle with fear of going out in case of terrorist attacks. Arab teenagers grow up with hatred and fear as normal everyday companions. More than 11% of young people in Israel are regular drug users (IADA). Suicide is increasing among youth in the West Bank and Gaza. Satan is trying to destroy this lost generation. As we worship the Lord who loves them, let's say with the song writer….

Hosanna!

Break my heart for what breaks Yours,

Everything I am for your Kingdom's cause (Hillsong: Hosanna).

(N.B. Hosanna means Save!)

Yours for the King!

Gail