Dear Friend,
As a volunteer police officer on patrol, I responded to many “fireworks” calls. Some municipalities tolerate citizens celebrating with firecrackers on the Fourth of July. Cities in North Texas consider fireworks dangerous and typically issue citations for the offense. Considering that policy, I am amazed by Israel waiting so long to respond not to fireworks, but to the deadly rockets launched daily from Gaza—especially considering the Palestinians’ expressed purpose of killing Jews and destroying their property.
I recently visited a police station in an Israeli town that is pounded by incessant rockets launched from Gaza. The head of the department’s bomb squad took me behind the station to view the large inventory of exploded rockets. They had Arabic inscriptions on the sides saying, “From Gaza with Love” and other brazen taunts. With the latest offensive into Gaza, Israel declared, “Enough already!” Who can blame them for pushing back forcefully?
My knee-jerk response to Israel’s engagement is, “Well, it’s about time!”
We Believers long for peace and prosperity at home and abroad—and for the day when God’s perfect government becomes part of the human experience. I personally believe that a sense of tranquility will prevail as a natural byproduct of Christ’s Kingdom. Anticipating its approach, Christians say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Isaiah longed for the time when “the government will be upon His shoulder”—the Messiah’s shoulder—resulting in “the increase of His government” and a peace on Earth with “no end” (9:6-7a). The famous prophet envisioned a leader who would emerge and be invested with God’s Spirit “rest[ing] upon Him;” who would rule with “wisdom and understanding,” “counsel and might,” and “knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah said that this leader’s concern for those on the fringes of society would cause Him to “judge the poor” in righteousness and “decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (11:2, 4). May He come speedily and in our day!
Until the Lord arrives, we might consider which countries, if any, apply these Kingdom principles to their subjects and our planet.
Islam has a utopian, messianic dream of a world forcibly subservient to its founder and prophet, Mohammed. The twenty-plus Islamic countries in the Middle East are all totalitarian regimes run by despots. Most of their constituents are discontented, living at or below the poverty level. It is difficult to imagine that the messianic vision will be found in their religion. So called “Palestinians” also embrace that dream. Frankly, it seems to be a nightmare, and I’m led to look elsewhere for peace.
Nations with Judeo-Christian ethics and culture have a much happier story to tell, primarily because our societies are founded on superior principles. Let’s take the Judeo-Christian version of democracy, for example.
Though our culture passionately debates the issues of the day, we pull levers, not triggers, to get our points across—we vote. In Israel and America, leaders come to power by making points with their words, not with swords or spears. I believe that the Bible’s Words and influence have a civilizing effect, prompting individuals to control their base impulses and behave in a way that reflects learning from good religion.
Israel has celebrities, but voters there don’t view celebrity as a criterion. Instead they vote for political ideologies. After Israelis’ votes are tallied, a prime minister is selected from the party that wins the largest percentage. Seats in the Knesset (parliament) are doled out in proportion to the votes each party receives. If one party gets 10% of the popular vote, then it gets 10% of the seats in parliament—simple as that.
Under the prime minister’s leadership, the majority party builds a coalition with the minority parties—then the coalition attends to the business of government on behalf of the broader public. In America, though we have our party leanings, we tend to vote for personalities.
The victor in our process surfaces as our president, a term denoting how he represents and leads us. He uses his influence in presiding over the affairs of government on our behalf. The word minister—as in Prime Minister—comes from the word minus, meaning less than. The English term minister may stem from Jesus’ saying that we are not to “lord it over each other” and that “he who is greatest among you must be the servant of all” (Matthew 20:25, 26). In both Israel and America, citizens deliberate on who will serve them best and then vote accordingly.
Believers do the same with religious ministries.
When you choose to participate in your church, you effectively cast your vote. When you invest your tithes in that ministry, you express your belief that God is your King—your source—and that you are pleased to surrender to His Lordship.
Today, while many Americans in the political arena take a look at our new president, would you take a look at an old friend? At thirty years of age, Zola Levitt Ministries has been serving longer than our 47-year-old new president has been an adult. We didn’t just suddenly come to power. By God’s grace, and with your help, we have been “powering up” for decades—teaching the Bible, challenging the indifferent, and enlightening the religious. By God’s grace, and with your help, we’ll continue to do just that.
Your votes of confidence in the form of contributions enable us to broadcast our current series, The Warrior King: David-like Leadership for Goliath-like Times. They are also helping us film and distribute our next series, which deals with the antiChrist’s rise, When the Devil Has His Day. We’re putting your contributions to work. And we’re conducting our affairs in a manner that would please our President and King—Jesus.
With all the options you have on television, I thank you for watching Zola Levitt Presents. Thanks for electing to get behind us.
I cannot sign off without reminding you about our group tours to Israel. Our tour buses and long-term Israeli guides and drivers—whose efforts I oversee—are ready to roll. I invite you to join us. Both of our spring tours depart on March 15. The Deluxe Israel-only tour will return on March 25, and the Grand Petra (Israel and Petra) will return on March 29. Our two June tours depart on June 7. The Deluxe Israel-only tour group will fly home on June 17, while those continuing on the Am Israel Chai (“The People of Israel Live”) Extension will stay to do volunteer work until the 21st. Please call (214) 696-9760 and ask for our travel manager, Abel.
I look forward to seeing you in March or June.
God’s blessing to you in the days ahead.
Your messenger,
Jeff
P.S. Do not let the localized hostilities deter you from the trip of a lifetime. We have never cancelled or postponed a Holy Land tour, nor has there ever been an incident on one of our tours. We simply avoid areas of unrest.
Dear Jeff,
I want to cast my vote for Zola Levitt Ministries in the form of prayer. Also, I am going to ask my friends to sign up for your free newsletter.
“I want to cast my vote for Zola Levitt Ministries with a contribution for February to help you spread the Word of Jesus’ Messiahship.”
The Gospel of Isaiah, written 700 years before Christ, reveals the Jewish nature of our Messiah and the fulfillment of His coming as the Lamb of God. See why New Testament authors have quoted Isaiah more than any other Old Testament source and why this Old Testament narrative is often called the 5th Gospel.
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A piece of the same stone used in the building of Jerusalem for 3,000 years. It’s encased in clear polyurethane that protectively displays a magnificent full color 5“x7” photo of the Western Wall and Certificate of Authenticity.
