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Bronze snake or Poisonous snakes
(The FORGE 5th Meeting Report :Saturday 17th September 2011)
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ….. The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. (Numbers 21:6-9)
Making a bronze snake or Killing poisonous snakes?
Moses should have killed the snakes to save people and he should have helped to release people suffering from poison. But Moses ignored the people who were dying and didn't get rid of the snakes, instead he added another snake among them as God had told him to do.
If Moses had responded to the situation or emotion: people were dying and crying, and snakes were biting; he would have disobeyed God. Moses had to ignore the situation and emotion in order to obey what God had told him. He set the fire and started forging to make a bronze snake although he didn't have the skill of a blacksmith, but he obeyed.
The bronze snake didn't have any power to heal people but anyone who believed what Moses delivered the word of God and looked at it, they lived. How did it happen? Because God said that it would work like that. The bronze snake contained the word of God or His promise. Now Jesus himself is the Word more than the bronze snake that contained the word of God. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:14-15)
All around the world, a lot of things are happening right now. Despite the dying people's situation and emotion or the biting poisonous snakes, we have to set our heart and mind on things above; Jesus Christ. We need to look after people and fight against the snakes but it is endless work without Jesus. He is our ultimate solution and should be our main focus because he is the Prince of Peace. (Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 3:1-4)
Dear brothers and sisters,
Thank you for standing with us for Israel and the eternal purpose of God to be fulfilled. Especially thank you for those who were fasting for 21 days and 3days with us. On the 17th September, we were going to have the FORGE meeting regarding the Bible College of Wales but we felt that we should stand with Israel and also Tomas Sandell (ECI) provoked me to stand with Israel as Rees Howells and his people did. We launched 21 days partial fasting like Daniel and 3days fasting like Esther for Israel. We gathered on three evenings, 18th, 19th, 20th September at Parkland Church in Swansea. Although we were hungry, it was a very encouraging, inspiring and powerful time. Special thank you Rowland & Gail Rodrick and Heyjin LEE.
1. Saturday afternoon (17th) at Parkland 21 People Participated
People were welcomed, including a Korean lady who came all the way from France just for this meeting. We then spent time in worship and praise.
Sharing about STAND in London and Cardiff : Steve M. shared about the Stand for Israel in Westminster London, outside the houses of Parliament. Between 700/800 people attended. Several MPs came out to show support and encourage people who were taking part and spoke of their support for Israel.
Caleb P. shared about the Stand in Cardiff outside the Welsh Assembly. Approximately Fifty people attended. Different Scriptures concerning Gods promises to Israel were declared and people were able to pray as the Lord led. We also prayed for members of the United Nations who would be involved in the vote regarding the request that was to to be put before them about the land of Israel. Members of the welsh Assembly were also prayed for.
We Prayed Four Areas : Rowland and Gail R. had prepared a presentation to enable us to pray for Israel. We divided into 4 groups we prayed and declared scriptures in each; Blessing Palestinians and Arabs / Jerusalem / The land and its borders / The United Nations members, Security Council.
2. Three Evenings Prayer and Fasting
Sunday night (18th) at Parkland 12 people: Scriptures shared. Including Psalm 2. A constant prayer each evening was that God would use this situation to bring both Jew and Arab to know Jesus. Prayed for protection for Arab Christians. Prayed for Korean leader of UN, Ban Ki-Moon and other leaders, Israeli government, Palestinians. Prayed that leaders would stand for truth and righteousness. Protection for Israel.
Monday night (19th) at Parkland 9 people: Scripture about Esther and the banquet was shared. We had communion ..... Prayed that leaders would be troubled in the night, like Xerxes the king was (Esther 6:1-2), and not sleep but examine the history of Israel and Arab conflict. Also that church leaders who believed in replacement theology would be disturbed and read scriptures and have truth revealed to them. Senite had a picture of the Bride (Israel and the Church) needing to turn and face The King for intimacy. Psalm 83 prayed....that God would protect ...
Tuesday night (20th) at Parkland 15 people: Banquet scripture shared again, Esther making her plea 2nd day of banquet. We were encouraged to make our plea.... Also Ezekiel 36/37 shared: the physical, God has brought Israel into the land and spiritual, that people would be saved. Communion shared. We prayed for families, I.D.F., Jerusalem, safety and protection, Repentance from representatives of Great Britain for their part in previously betraying Israel.
3. Next the FORGE meetings
- Saturday 29th October at 12pm-4pm
- Saturday 19th November at 12pm-4pm
- Saturday 3rd December at 12pm-4pm
- Venue: Parklands Church, Maes Y Gollen, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8HQ