Page 5 - Contact Spring 2020.indd

High Kirk Trip to Israel “Branches were broken off

so that I might be grafted in.”

Romans 11:19

This is something that hits you when
you are in the country - a place in which
we find our roots, a place where Jesus
walked, and yet also a place where most
of the people we encountered (whether
Jew or Arab) steadfastly refuse to bow
the knee to Jesus. This is frustrating and
saddening and many of us ask “why do
they not see it”. We need the Holy Spirit
to move, it is the Holy Spirit who opens
eyes and unstops ears but for God’s own
reasons this is not happening yet on a
large scale. There are some who come
to faith but many do not. We need to
continue to pray and also to support
those who seek to share the good news Service on the Sea of Galilee
with their fellow citizens.

Many are convinced that God is not
finished with Israel and that it will
feature strongly in the end times and
Paul looks forward in Romans 11:26 to
“when all Israel will be saved.” A lot
of ink has been spilt on what “all”
Israel means. In the meantime we pray
and long for the Holy Spirit to fall
mightily on this land and its people.
To visit it is a special experience.
I personally experienced a lifetime’s
highlight in leading a service for us and
preaching on the Sunday morning in a
boat on the Sea of Galilee, and the Sea
was perfectly still. I know of no other
country that has had such an impact
upon me and in the various comments
Sea of Galilee here from my fellow pilgrims you can see

that it was a significant time for them.

Shalom.
Norman