On Thursday morning we left toward the Galilee in the North, Jesus' stomping grounds. Our first stop on the way was Masada. Now, before going into what God did on this trip today, I have to say that His hand was all over sending me with this particular group. You see, our guide is no ordinary Israeli tour guide. He's an extraordinary Godly man who left the US to live in Israel many years ago. Since then, he's become an accomplished historian, student of archaeology, antiquities, the Hebrew language, and the Bible. He connects all of the above together. He's devoted his life to educating the Body of Christ about Israel and has many important connections in the land. That being said, we went to Masada, the home of two palaces build by King Herod the Great. Early in the morning, we hiked up the mountain to this site on a high plateau overlooking the Judean desert (the Negev) and the Dead Sea. The most important thing I got from this visit was that Herod, who Rome used as a puppet to expand the empire in Israel, was a Helonist at heart. This means that he worshipped beauty and pleasure. The love of both, which pervades our Western culture to this day, goes all the way back to Greek and Roman influences. Devout Jewish people (and devout Christians) have opposed everything that Helenism stands for since it distracts people from loving God with all their mind, heart, and strength. After that cool and timely instruction, I began praying against the spritual influences behind these "Helenistic" values in modern day Israel. Valuing that stuff has lead many away from pursuing knowing God.
Next, we went to Beit She' an for the afternoon. This city was once the largest Roman city in Israel. There, I we learned so much more about the practices done for the worship of beauty and pleasure, and how the Roman gods were those that you could'nt approach to fellowship with, and were worshipped out of fear. (That reminded me of the idea of God that I had as a child as a Roman Catholic). The Romans built their city as an extention this Philistine city, whose army killed King Saul and hung his body there. (1 Sam 31 8-10). Now, God reminded me that the Philistines also had gods they worshipped out of fear- Ba'al and Ashtaroth- and their acts of worship involved worshipping pleasure. Is it a coincidence that the Romans chose this site to build their temples and bath houses, next to the high place of worship for the Philistines? I think not. I began praying against the old spiritual influences in that place, that the demonic in Israel would be uprooted in that place and declared that doors to the worship of pleasure and beauty and distant gods that hurt people would be shut. We left Beit She'an late in the afternoon and arrived that night in the Galilee in the small city of Tiberias. I'll blog more soon about Fri visit to Galilee, Sat visit to the Golan Heights, and Sun visit to Old Jerusalem. Had some internet problems & very long days this week. Love you all!
Next, we went to Beit She' an for the afternoon. This city was once the largest Roman city in Israel. There, I we learned so much more about the practices done for the worship of beauty and pleasure, and how the Roman gods were those that you could'nt approach to fellowship with, and were worshipped out of fear. (That reminded me of the idea of God that I had as a child as a Roman Catholic). The Romans built their city as an extention this Philistine city, whose army killed King Saul and hung his body there. (1 Sam 31 8-10). Now, God reminded me that the Philistines also had gods they worshipped out of fear- Ba'al and Ashtaroth- and their acts of worship involved worshipping pleasure. Is it a coincidence that the Romans chose this site to build their temples and bath houses, next to the high place of worship for the Philistines? I think not. I began praying against the old spiritual influences in that place, that the demonic in Israel would be uprooted in that place and declared that doors to the worship of pleasure and beauty and distant gods that hurt people would be shut. We left Beit She'an late in the afternoon and arrived that night in the Galilee in the small city of Tiberias. I'll blog more soon about Fri visit to Galilee, Sat visit to the Golan Heights, and Sun visit to Old Jerusalem. Had some internet problems & very long days this week. Love you all!
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