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: 41-46

Chapter 41: Under the Overshadowing Wings of Shekinah

What is the revelation designated as Shekinah? How is the reality of Shekinah presence recognized? Where is the first mention of the divine glory dwelling in a person? What does Paul teach us in 2 Corinthians 3:18, regarding the way believers reflect his glory?
What was the spiritual significance and message received in the dramatic portrayal across the panorama of the heavens? What was especially noteworthy in this specific sequence of scenes? How did this prove to be a message from the Lord for us for our return to Israel ? Why had the Lord chosen this way of preparation?
What was uniquely special about Immanuel House as chosen site for the new beginnings about to be initiated? Discovering all this amazing volunteering of time and talent and initiative, what did it signify, as noted from Psalm 110:3, “Your people willingly volunteer in the day of Your power”? What powerful initiative of God was this volunteering demonstrating? How was the process of dismantling, and renovations permeated with prayer, all imbued with the presence and Spirit of the Lord?
What new ministries were birthed for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ in the Land? How was the ministering family of God formed first? What was the secret of “the drawing of the Heavenly Father” now bringing seekers in increasing numbers, soon to become believers in Jesus, and a vibrant part of this growing family of faith?
What surprising discovery was experienced at the wedding in the courtyard, of the glory presence that awakened recognition and overwhelming sense of need for spiritual help? What life-changing experiences were transpiring among the growing family of God?

Chapter 42: Supernatural Superpowers

What is the spiritual significance of the Heights in Gilead in biblical times? What does it mean to be spiritually prepared by prayer to dethrone supernatural superpowers dominating and controlling a regional territory? What did it require for Elijah to be able to take a stand on Mount Carmel , and in the court of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel?
How did the transfer happen at Dugith Gallery Bookstore to become a magnet for believers and ministry center in Tel Aviv? How was the courageous initiative in outreach from Dugith begun? What was the strategy for providing a prayer covering of protection that prepared the way for meeting persons open to receive the witness and testimony of those who went out?
Why is it important to pray to discern and discover the spiritual strongholds troubling a region? What important insight do we discover from Daniel 10? What do we learn about the importance of persistence in intercession, and the difference it can make in dethroning the principalities and powers?
How did the prayer group gathered at Dugith know when the timing was right to go out onto the streets? What changes did they notice, confirming their steps were approved of God, and assured of blessing?
What was discovered in the ministry session with Tamar, of the deadly and injurious effects of targeted curses religiously invoked upon her, her parents, and siblings? How is it possible to reverse those curses, to cleanse the apartment and premise, and bring release from this fiery affliction that was plaguing her life? How was Tamar set free, and her apartment cleansed and filled with the presence and peace of Jesus?
What was the clear indication that the “words from the Lord” received were from a demonic spirit, dictating “automatic writing,” and therefore were not from the Lord? When confronted, what confession confirmed the “gift” had originally come through a sorcerer?

Chapter 43: Reconciling Presence

What did an absence of shalom in the heart reveal as to why there is no shalom in the Land? Here where bitter memories were kept alive, was shalom / salaam possible? If hope for Messiah, as the one who will bring shalom, has died, how can hope for shalom in the Land be achieved? If it requires a Messiah to cause shalom to happen, while belief in Messiah has largely been abandoned, is a genuine shalom that everyone craves for, not an unrealistic ideal?
Since according to the New Testament, in Jesus, the Messiah has come, the messianic age has dawned, and “He is our Shalom!” Is this the real reason that the witness of the alive and growing local church is anointed by the Holy Spirit with a winsome appeal, and a convincing testimony that resonates as truth in receptive hearts?
How does the peace that Jesus has brought move beyond Shalom? What does it mean that the new humanity born by the Holy Spirit is likened to the Holy Place in the Temple ? How will the Presence of the Lord be revealed in and through this new humanity? If that revelation can only come through reconciled relationships, where former enmity is gone, and the dividing wall of hostility is broken down, then is not the clearest revelation of this seen when Arab Christians and Messianic Jews are worshipping and communing together as “the one new man” united?
Even though the bitter root has been killed, in what ways can the historic memories live on in the carnal mind? What does this reveal as essential priorities in discipling and prayer-counseling ministry to those coming to faith? Can this become part of the pastoral ministry if basic prejudices still are present in the heart of those who teach and mentor? Why is it the snare of our calling to take on the one-sided prejudices of those we serve? In what ways does this make us ineffectual as “ambassadors of reconciliation”?
In what ways was the team appointed to service in Israel expressing a common vision and commitment, to seek to be a presence in the Land in a reconciling mission and ministries of service?
If the revelation of reconciliation can only be partially evident in the motley mixture of ethnic nationalities gathering as one body in worship, then where is the miracle of reconciliation most clearly revealed? If reconciliation is the heart of the gospel, in what ways can the message proclaimed in our centers of worship become visible and relevant there where we live as families?

Chapter 44: Wrestling to Release Ready Wrestlers

Why did Paul select the word picture from the Olympic athletic contests to illustrate the intense agony exerted to impart the message into every realm of their life? What was that central objective for which he wrestled in his teaching, preaching, and prayer? Why was Paul wrestling so intently? Why is it so important to truly grasp and fully lay hold of the incomprehensible secret of God revealed in Christ?
Are we also wrestling for that prime objective and with such intensity? Is the fact that we do not, the reason our churches are not as fervent and as deeply taught, and able to withstand the onslaughts of the world, the flesh, and the Devil?
What does this word Paul uses (agon) signify? How does Christ become fully formed in our character? How does this enable us to grow into spiritual and moral adulthood, living in fruitfulness in the kingdom of God ? How did Paul spur the believers on to emulate this quality of devotion and exertion to bring others forth?
What was the notable change that occurred in Israel in the 1980s? How were the ministries at Immanuel House designed to meet the challenge of the growing numbers of seekers and new believers? What was the preparation that enabled young believers to strenuously contend with all that threatens to undermine their spiritual development and maturing as over-comers?
The most intensely exhausting kind of wrestling was the vicarious suffering together with Palestinian Christians, struggling under a repressive occupation, loss of identity and livelihood. Equally agonizing was listening to the anguish of insecurity as target of relentless hostility experienced by Jewish believers. How do we express genuine empathy, how do we absorb the pain of both? How do we avoid becoming captive to one side only?
What was learned from Archbishop George Appleton, committed to be a true shepherd to both the Arab and the Messianic communities, refusing to take sides, absorbing the pain of both in order to wrestle it all out in the agony of intercession before the Lord, until the burden lifted? Is this the role, the calling, and the inevitable burden of the true shepherd, intercessor, and reconciler? Why is it that so few are willing to show empathy to both, are willing to learn so as to embrace the pain of “the other side,” and equally to intercede for the suffering and irreconcilable condition of both?
If as we were frequently reminded, since we were neither Arab or Jewish, we could bring a reconciling vision, word of direction, and wisdom into the conflicted condition, how do we refrain from judging while speaking helpfully so as to shed light, and not compound the darkness?

Chapter 45: The Vision That Will Unite The Nations

What is the relationship between vision that has its origin in God, and learning to know what the will of God is? What was it that confirmed that the vision given will be fulfilled in its appointed time? Since God has confirmed his vision that all the nations of the world are to come to know him, to love and worship him, how is the unfulfilled dimension of this vision to be carried forth into fulfillment?
It has been said, “ Israel is still in the shadow of God’s hand,” in what ways is this statement true? How is the unfulfilled dimension of God’s vision for Israel , to know and love and worship him, being advanced through those bringing a reconciling witness in the Land? What was the vision and purpose in the call of God to Israel in relation to the nations? Why was Jonah who was called and sent on a mission to Ninevah, unwilling to remain there as a missionary discipling that repentant nation into fulfillment of God’s vision for the nations? How was Jonah a revelation of disobedient Israel? In what ways is Jonah a revelation of a non-missionary Church?
In the vision of Isaiah 19, what events transpiring in Egypt cause the awaited outcry to the Lord for his intervention, that inaugurates a spiritual change? How does this vision reveal the ultimate purpose of God? What is this totally new event in revelation that Isaiah declares? How does this event that transforms Egypt reach out to embrace Assyria ? What in all this will bring spiritual awakening to Israel?
Since the passage of two and a half millenia has wrought historic changes, with the nations of the Middle East predominantly Muslim, has this rendered the Isaiah 19 vision irrelevant because it is impossible of fulfillment? Is Habakkuk 2:3 a promise we can cling to in this present? How does our answer to these questions affect our intercessory prayers?
What in Isaiah 19:23 is the key to the realization of this vision? What does the “highway” indicate? What conditions does Isaiah describe that enable the theophany to happen? What are the powerful affects upon unbelief? What does the phenomenon of multiple Christophanies reported within Israel , Egypt , and the Middle East signify?
How did the event of a tragic accident become the opening of a higher way into reconciled relationship by means of “Sulha” and a Christ-like response of reaching out?

Chapter 46: The Pressured Pathway of His Purpose

What were those faith strengthening, character refining events that surfaced new discoveries because of constricted circumstances? How did the pressures force our witness out into the open? In what ways did pressure contribute in bringing to light its true reality and power? What is different about the missiological principles learned on the pressured pathway of his purpose? When faith is exercised amid trial and preserved under pressure, what are the refining fruits of steadfastness?
How did personal experience reveal that our faith-life is refined and purified amid fiery trial, bringing to light its reality and power? How does reflection make clear that faith strengthened amid pressure leads to victory and fruitfulness?
Why is this so essential to the witness in the pressure-cooker of this conflicted region? In what ways has it been confirmed that true shalom emanates solely from the reconciled community where the Prince of Shalom is worshipped? Despite the multitudes in this region who would challenge this assertion, why is it true?
What is it that reveals and refines the gift of discernment? Why amid chaotic circumstances and pressured times is this spiritual gift of knowing what the Body of God’s people ought to do, so essential? What light does 1 Chronicles 12:32 shed regarding discernment that “understands the temper of the times,” knowing the best course of action God’s people should take?
How did the pressured pathway lead on to a healing purpose for Elsbeth, and a peaceful home going for Ellie? How did the pressured pathway of his purpose confirm the timing of God for termination of our ministry in Israel , and preparation for departure? Even though the timing seemed premature, why was the rightness unmistakably clear? What was the vision given of where we were being led of God?
How has it been true for us, “when the purposes of God ripen, and the people of God are ready, vision comes forth with an energy that only God imparts”? In what ways does the vision live on, even exceeding all dimensions of what had previously been envisioned? What assurance does this give, that we can ask largely and specifically for vastly more than is recorded in this book, confident that with ever increasing volumes of intercessory prayer, God will do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or imagine?
In what ways are the great benedictions of the New Testament epistles being experienced within the reconciled Body of Christ in Israel today? What further dimensions of releasing await the partnering in intercession for Israel by the Body of Christ worldwide? How is the Lord calling you to be involved?

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