Land of Revelation

A Reconciling Presence in Israel

by Roy H. Kreider

This Study Guide is also available for download as a Word document or in PDF Acrobat format.

See also Land of Revelation in the MPN online catalog.

Foreword/Chapters: 1-5	Chapters: 6-10	Chapters: 11-15
Chapters: 16-20	Chapters: 21-25	Chapters: 26-30
Chapters: 31-35	Chapters: 36-40	Chapters: 41-46

Chapters: 26-30

Chapter 26: Preparing the Groundwork for Refreshing

How can we learn, as the prophet Elisha had learned, to be there in the place of greatest need, at the divinely appointed moment of desperation and preparedness to receive? If channels are to be opened up before the Lord will respond with needed refreshing, what is that “abundant spadework” required to enable refreshing and deliverance to happen?
What was Mary telling us and indirectly revealing regarding her inner assurance from the Lord, “I will be healed when the body is ready”? Was it her physical body, or the congregation that needed be made ready for miracles from God to be released? Can the spiritual condition of “the Body” stall the releasing of God in performing miracles among us? How did the miracle of Mary’s amazing healing happen—even before the prayer was prayed? What did this miracle of God inaugurate?
What was the higher purpose of God in granting these miracles of healing? What new initiatives in faith and ministry were we being prepared for? When God begins to do something new among us, is it possible to misinterpret what he is doing, even in the midst of high-points of blessing?
How should we respond when we are being moved beyond our depth? What happens when the wineskins to which we have been accustomed are being stretched and strained beyond capacity to contain what God is doing among us? What is our part in enabling the Lord to reshape our ministries and our life together?
In what ways did the Lord who had initiated the miracle, initiate also the necessary training and equipping for Spirit-led ministries? How was the Lord preparing us for the seekers who would be drawn, and soon to become new believers needing to be led into the deeper things of God?

Chapter 27: The Kingdom Breaking Out

How does this word-picture of the sheepfold illustrate what was beginning to happen in the Land? How does this picture of the shepherd rising, and thrusting an opening through the wall, then stepping out over the fallen stones, and the flock bounding out after him, represent “the kingdom of heaven breaking out”?
The phrasing in Hebrew in this Micah passage is equivalent to the Hebrew translation of the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:12, signifying that Jesus was quoting this Micah text. How had Jesus arisen, and how had he broken down the wall? How was the little flock bounding out, following in his steps? How did this illustrate the kingdom breaking out with him? How was the Lord who was present in our midst causing in and through us a kingdom break through? What comprised that breaking out with him? How do we learn the meaning of Jesus’s words, “Those breaking out with him, lay hold of kingdom power”?
What were the signs of a spiritual change evident within the UCCI? What was the surprising challenge presented to the Christian leaders by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion? What initiatives for peace was he challenging us to take? Why did he conclude that the churches in the Land were in prime position to help prepare the way for peace in the region?
What important insights did the Interfaith Peace Symposium in the Haifa area reveal? Is there a tried and tested structure for resolving inter-communal strife and offenses as Joseph Abileah and Judge Wajdi Tabari confirmed, a process that could be implemented, locally led for resolving conflict and peace making? Since it is declared to be possible, when there is the will for it, and “not too difficult,” why has it not been recognized and implemented?

Chapter 28: Search for Shalom, Salaam, Peace

What is the reassuring word of wisdom of a higher order of which James writes in 3:18 ? Why is Shalom expressed as the action of a flowing stream? What are those deeds of action which “peace-doers” are to be exercising? In practical terms, how are we to lie in wait for the opportunity to ambush so as to sieze shalom?
What commendable initiatives had the West Bank Palestinian notables taken to meet with Israeli governing authorities? What were the positive potentials in their invitation and request that could have changed the ingrained hostility toward openness, cooperation and goodwill affecting Arab attitudes throughout the entire region? What initiative did the UCCI take in appealing to persuade the government to be magnanimous in its response? Why was this urgent proposal not accepted? What were the regrettable consequences of delaying, and in effect declining to give a positive response?
What was the significant high level initiative taken by the Quaker delegation in 1970? What was their commission and purpose? After meeting this delegation within the framework of the UCCI executive committee, why was it felt essential that I also come to the meeting by the Quaker delegation with a broad representation of Jewish scholars
In the final document that was published, what was the hopeful conclusion and conviction confirmed by their findings? What was discovered to be silencing the voices of moderation? In what ways were the findings and reporting in the document prophetic?
What words of wisdom, recommendation, and appeal are contained in the conclusions to the document that are still important to pursue?
What evidences can be cited that the challenging recommendations of this document reverberated in official halls of government in Jerusalem , Washington , and the United Nations?
What positive initiatives did Mennonite Central Committee take in appointment designed to strengthen peace dialogue and peacemaking in Jerusalem and West Bank?

Chapter 29: The Encircling Encampment

Can we confidently lay claim to fulfillment of the promises of God in our daily life? What are the prerequisites to experiencing the fruit of that claim?
What is the claim of God upon my life discovered through the biblical promises? What does it mean that my life belongs to God, and that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?
What does it mean to embrace the promise that the life of the Son of God is formed in me through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and by means of sanctification?
Is the spirit of my mind in agreement with the life of the Son of God being formed in me, or is my intellect governing my life? Am I forming the mind of Christ who was always in submission to the will of his Father?
Is God having his way in my life, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more?
Do we truly believe that our capacity in spiritual things is to be measured by the promises of God rather than by our education or intellect? Do I really believe that the Lord is furnishing me with all that is essential to do his will in this overwhelming situation?
Do I believe that God is able to fulfill his promises for me? Why are these promises essential to experiencing the over-ruling protection of the Presence and power of the Lord in dangerous situations?
What does it mean to firmly believe that in this chaotic world, despite all the disorder and violence, “the government is upon his shoulder”?
If I would confidently be assured that my life, my family, all for which I am responsible is within the encircling angelic encampment of divine protection, I must take firm hold daily upon those faith sustaining precious promises of God. How do I do that?

Chapter 30: Learning to Stand in the Night Season

Is anything worthwhile ever accomplished without risk, risk of failure, risk that more will be unleashed by our initiative than we realized was involved, risk of misunderstanding, accusation, judgment, abandonment of friends? What did Joseph of Arimathea risk as member of a zealously religious Sanhedrin, by openly identifying with a condemned criminal, who was dead? What was the faith, the high devotion and courage that moved Joseph and Nicodemus, in the darkness of that awful night, to do the most honorable thing, that which none other had the faith and courage, coupled with the authority to do, risking everything to do it?
In the meeting in the lobby at King David hotel with the President of the Orthodox Synagogues of America, and his entire presidium, what were the issues of concern? Why had they come as a large delegation to Jerusalem ? What had they determined to accomplish while in Israel ? What were the specific charges and complaints for which they intended to demand restrictive legislation by the Knesset? Against whom would that legislation be directed? What were the serious implications of that action?
How had the information contained in the document been obtained from these Messianic congregations identified? Since the informer had gained membership into these congregations by false pretense, how credible was the report submitted? What did this dishonest method of obtaining information through a hired infiltrator reveal?
How did it help mollify their agitated and angry mood that I could affirm my own membership in the Israel Interfaith Organization and Jerusalem Rainbow Dialogue Group? Why was the query crucial regarding the actual date the document was prepared and submitted to the president? What was it that changed the attitude of the president and the presidium, leading them to cancel the scheduled meeting with the Prime Minister and the Knesset, and to dismiss the hired informant?
In answer to prayer, by laying hold of his precious promises, how did the Lord intervene? How did he over-rule the determined will of the presidium, and over-turn the darkness of an encroaching night season for Messianic believers in the Land? How did the Lord turn a darkening night into daylight as bright as are the promises of God?

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