Denny Cline is my friend and my own pastor. I have learned that when God begins to "burden" Denny with something, it is usually what he is burdening the Body of Christ with.

-- Steve Shultz THE ELIJAH LIST

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"WHAT IF THE BURDENSOME STONE BECAME OUR BURDEN?"

By Denny Cline Pastor, Albany Vineyard Christian Fellowship Albany, Oregon http://www.vcfalbany.org/ Email: vcfalbany@proaxis.com

Last year when Keith and Wanda Davis were with us, Keith said that this year the church needed to pick up the burden of Israel as a "burdensome stone" like it is mentioned in Zechariah chapter 12. At the time, it touched me as being from the Lord, but no genuine burden came to me until a week ago in prayer.

-------------------------------------- STERN WARNING TO THOSE AGAINST ISRAEL --------------------------------------

I had reread Zechariah 12 a few weeks ago and realized how accurately it depicts what is happening in the Mideast right now. Israel is surrounded by her enemies and increasingly becoming a burdensome stone for anyone who supports her cause. Not only is there a stern warning to those who come against Israel in this time to attack her, but also a prophetic hope that in her suffering she will unify as a nation and begin to mourn for "Him whom they have pierced". What an amazing time we are living in.

But what happened in my prayer time overwhelmed me personally having never really been a person who carried a true burden, though I had an admiration for the Jews.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "The Jews are your brothers by linage."

I couldn't understand this, not being in any way that I know related to Jewish blood, except by the Spirit. I was led to Romans chapter 11 verses 16-18 . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off , and you being a wild olive tree were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and the richness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. And if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The entire chapter of Romans eleven should cause every Christian to both fear the Lord and well up with gratitude for the Jews and the nation of Israel. They are truly our brothers.

This is also confirmed in Galatians 3:29, ". . . and if you are Christ's, then you are Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise."

--------------------------------------------------- "WHAT IF THE BURDENSOME STONE BECAME OUR BURDEN?" ---------------------------------------------------

I have this thought:

What if the burdensome stone became our burden as Christians worldwide?

. . . And what if there was a worldwide outpouring of love and support by Christians directly to the Jews and the nation of Israel during this crucial time in history?

----------------------------------------- A GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT THAT REACHES ISRAEL -----------------------------------------

I am not talking about a media event, but something of a grass roots movement that reached the leaders and the people of Israel that let them know this. While Jesus calls us as Christians to love all people, we have a special place in our hearts for the Jew and the nation of Israel, because we are truly brothers from the same root.

What if we were to let them know that we are continually carrying a burden of prayer and support for them as a people and a nation, because we understand as Christians we would not be what we are without them? Could an outpouring of love and support from Christians worldwide in this crucial time, be part of what turns the heart of Israel to mourn for their Messiah?

If this is really God's heart and this is truly the year we are to take up the "burdensome stone" as OUR burden. . . then it is worth considering and asking God what we should do.

-- Denny Cline