I would say that my “heart music” is rather eclectic, and it probably depends on the mood or situation or setting, which may also change as I am going on in my ‘personal’ worship alone, or in a corporate setting. For sure, the instrumentation should not overwhelm the hearing (or the singing!) of the words.

I do think that worship leaders have a great influence on how others may or may not enter in. If it is only a matter of style, then I need to get over that and praise and worship God anyway. But sometimes it is a matter of trust: do I trust the person leading me into God’s presence? Is that what he or she is doing, or is he/she causing me to pay too much attention to him/her, or is his/her life simply not measuring up clearly enough to really believe that he/she is a “worshipper” who follows the one true God and His Son? The clothes are important to God from what is written in the Bible, so if the worship leader or others have, for example, their pants to tight, or down below their butt line; or if the women have their tops or their dresses too low or too high (and this is not always merely a subjective or a cultural issue), then they are certainly drawing attention to themselves, are not really mindful of their presence before God, and are a worrisome and uncomfortable distraction to those they are ‘leading’.

One thing that commends a teacher or a worship leader is when he/she pays attention and engages when someone else is doing the teaching, or leading the worship. I have seen many instances in numerous places where this is not the case, which suggests that it may really be all about themselves more than about the Lord. It would be so encouraging to other teachers of the Word and to other praise and worship leaders to see ‘their equals’ respect them in this way; and it would be a sign of humility to others that teachers and music leaders can receive from and appreciate one another.

As in any other ministry of the Holy Spirit, we need to grow and to mature and become more discerning. It is not really an issue of age; but no doubt “me, myself, and I” will color how I view these things; yet we all need to be learning from the Lord throughout our life spans. It is clear from Scripture that the House of God is too infiltrated by the world and the spirit of the world, so we do need to be diligent on our watch, and in our discipling of others by word and by example.

There is an appropriate form to content. For example, new wine must be put into new wineskins, not into old. And there is the pattern/form of sound words and doctrine. (2Tim 1:13) For all the good lyrics here and there in a song, the form may have nothing to commend it, and in all the frenzy I’m not so sure that the right message would be clear. Jesus and the apostles, and the prophets before them, never reached out ‘in the flesh’, nor teach us to do so, as a means to draw people to repentance and faith in the gospel, or as a means to bring back those who have fallen or retreated. That would simply promote one professing Jesus to live with lots of compromise on the commandments to “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy”, and to “love Jesus more than even ourselves” . What a mixed message!

God is dealing with the sanctification of the whole person, not less. We mature at different rates and stages, but it is the whole person that is being dealt with at all times, even if parts of the whole are out of sync in progress. Prophetic types and artists (of whatever variety) sometimes use their personalities and idiosyncrasies as excuses for ungodly manners and behavior. We may start in the Spirit, but go on in the flesh.

Many unbelievers don’t smoke or drink, aren’t depressed or given to swearing or lying, and can speak of changing from those bad habits and sins without ever knowing the Lord and Savior. Our new life in Messiah has to get beyond merely giving up those things as the proof of my being a disciple of Jesus. It is a good start, but surely there is far more (Acts 15:28-29). Our ‘message’ goes far and wide beyond our immediate ‘target audience’, and we are to avoid being a cause of stumbling to others. Giving a novice too much influence too soon often wreaks havoc, with pride and confusion, rather than produce the good fruit which glorifies our Father in Heaven and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

One thing for sure, it is always one of those stop, pause, think about the pros & cons every time the issue arises!

I view the Rabbi title as Priest in the temple where the Pastor title as Shepherd.

The job of Shepherd is looked down and has been among our people since coming into the land. They look down on Shepherd’s as the Egyptians did when we entered their land.

I hold the title of Pastor and it wasn’t until God allowed me to get some goats did I fully realize that the job of tending livestock and people where very much the same.

But the bottom line on this is Yeshua teaching is clear and straight forward. We are not to be called Rabbi.

He also told us to stop sinning. Do we skirt that one as well to satisfy our egos?

Thanks, A, for this nice summary.

As for Paul, he may have indeed been a trained Rabbi, but after knowing the Lord, he sat at Yeshua’s feet.

Howard

Summary

An issue arose as to whether the apostle Paul (Saul) should be referred to as rabbi. On the one hand, he is never called rabbi in the New Covenantsc-riptures. On the other hand, he is clearly described as one who had a rabbinic-type position, had letters of authority from the High Priests (Acts 9:2; 22:5), was among the leaders of Orthodox Judaism (Galatians 1:14), was a member of one of the most radical sects (Acts 26:5), and was trained in a Jerusalem Yeshiva by Gamliel (Acts 22:3).

Another related issue is whether it is appropriate to refer to Yeshua as rabbi. In the Modern Hebrew version of the gospels, Yeshua is referred to as rabbi 50 (!) times. Of those fifty, 13 are from the Greek word rabbi (primarily in John), 36 from didaskalos (often translated as “master” or “teacher”), and 1 from kathegetis. Verses listed above.

While none of these references represent a command to refer to Yeshua as rabbi (in contrast to such mandated terms as Messiah (Christ), Son of God (Matthew 16:16), and Lord (Romans 10:9), taken altogether they do prove the validity of using that term when appropriate to a Jewish audience or when emphasizing the historical-cultural context of the New Covenant to an international audience.

Matthew 23:8 – Do not be called “Rabbi (rabbi), for one is your Rabbi (didaskalos), the Messiah (christos), and you are all brethren.

While this verse might point to the invalidity of using the term rabbi for Messianic leaders, it might equally indicate the validity of using the term for Yeshua Himself. There is no necessity for Yeshua to be called rabbi among Gentile nations. However there is justification in using that term in order to demonstrate cultural context.

A

I appreciate your stand for the word of God. We all need to come back to child like simplicity when it comes to obedience to his words.

I agree with what one of the brothers wrote, that Yeshua meant we should not boast. That is the main point that lays behind his commandment not to be called Rabi. But then lets also obey what this commandment says up front. Not only the principal behind.

God bless you,

D

Shalom.

Again, well done Howard. You are correct in that the concept of pride and humility are expressed, but that does not take anything away from Yeshua’s teaching. The term Rabbi has the same meaning today as it was back then. Nothing has changed. Context helps us understand elements within the text, but does not change the content of the text itself. Yeshua specifically states for us not to be called “rabbis.” If we eliminate this teaching of Yeshua, what keeps us from eliminating other teachings of Yeshua that we would like to neglect.

Blessings,
J

Howard, i don’t disagree at all with your point–in fact, I think that is exactly what Yeshua was referring to–and some of their priestly outfits are ridiculous, competing with the pope. However, when I go with a team, I am focused on the team, a team from ISRAEL, a culture that has little respect for leadership. So I take the opportunity to teach them honor, while also explaining how much I personally dislike titles. Also, I almost always sign my emails to the leaders in Africa, ‘R’. But I still address them as they prefer to be addressed, because I don’t feel that it is my place to correct them. Maybe I should be bolder in that. If I was coming to train leaders I would definitely bring it up.

Blessings and Hag Sameach!

By the way, R, as for the Africans, I have also addressed their many titles and kings’ and queens’ chairs.

When they began to give me titles, I told them they could just call me Howard, and I would do the same towards them, for we are all brothers and sisters. Their whole thing of excessive honor is a ‘gentile’ mentality, which Jesus told His disciples not to be like. We are to learn a Kingdom of God culture, not to bring in our own unredeemed one. Those who are not bent towards a skewed prosperity “gospel” are the most responsive, and are even released from a false sense of proving one’s worth. Yeshua brought the good news to the poor — whether in spirit or materially.

Hag sameach,

Thanks, R. Absolutely the issue of pride and humility are involved here. And with that comes the issue of humbly accepting the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all the truth, when it comes to temininology. The external threats we all face are a given until the end, yet Yeshua wants His house in good order. (Rev 2 & 3)

When people ask me who I am, even overseas, I say I am Howard. Only if they ask me what I do do I tell them that I serve a local Messianic congregation as the pastor. If that raises a question in their mind, I am more than glad to explain to them why that term is perfectly acceptable — and it also becomes clear to Gentile and Jewish believers that we are speaking of someone who believes in Yeshua/Jesus and the New Covenant.

We also have to explain to people sometimes when we say that we are Jews, or even Israelis. For some, these terms are also problematic, yet that does not seem to trouble us. We know that they are issues of identity which are Biblical and from God for those to whom it rigthly applies.

I don’t think I am being dogmatic here, but I am, in the fear of God, not wanting to look for all kinds of human reasoning why not to simply submit to His Word, which He has seen fit to speak to us living at the end of the age. Israel is given to the Church as an example in many areas, and YHVH has brought Gentile believers into the Commonwealth of Israel (not Israel proper, in my imperfect understanding), under the welfare of the God of Israel, who is instructing them as well as us together: one new man in Messiah.

Called by many names, but go by. . .

Howard

Dear Howard and others,

I think that the reason that the responses, as mine to you, were tongue in check, is because in light of everything else we deal with (rockets, CatC, Iran, etc) this is not a big issue in Israel as most of us, like you, are simply Howard, Avner or Ron. I am not aware of anyone in the Land who demands a title. In fact, just today I had to explain to a dear African friend that while in Africa he is Apostle so and so, here he is just so and so, we even call our PMs Bibi and Arik. However when we travel to Africa I have to tell our team members to refer to me differently, not because I need a title, but because the Africans serving us would see it as a sign of disrespect not to call someone in ministry ‘pastor’ or ‘evangelist’.

Having said that, I don’t think that Yeshua is against titles. He is against inflated egos that come with titles. In Matt 23:8ff:

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

If we take this literally, then clearly He is outlawing all titles, including Pastor or Shepherd. He is not zeroing in on rabbi…but he mentions Father, Instructor/Teacher as well. Taken literally I cannot even refer to my earthly father as father. However the heart of the passage is in verses 11 and 12 where he speaks to the need for humility. I believe He is speaking hyperbolically here, just as in Luke 14:26 when He says:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

Clearly the God of Love is not advocating hate, but emphasizing that our love for Him should be far greater than for any human being. Or…

When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing (Matt. 6:3)

Because my hands don’t have brains, this is really quite impossible. The meaning is clearly: don’t be stingy in your giving.

And lastly, I hope no one takes Matt 5:29 literally, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…”

So, seeing that Yeshua often employs hyperbole in His teaching, it is more likely that He is not doing away with titles, but seeking to deal a fatal blow to man’s ego, which loves titles. The issue, as I see it, was not titles, but the ego boost that we derive from titles, positions and promotions.

So, what about Rabbi?
I personally do not like it when Messianic leaders come from the US and judge certain Messianic expressions here in Israel as not being Jewish enough. However, I don’t think it is my place to judge how they function in their efforts to bring the good news to Jewish people abroad. In Israel, it would be foolish, certainly in Tel Aviv, to go by the term rabbi, as most secular Israelis are not looking for something that looks like the datim.

Yet, in the US, where the spiritual leader of a Jewish Community is called rabbi, I can see why some Messianic leaders feel that it is the appropriate title. My aunt, who just became a believer a few weeks ago, sends me emails raving about her rabbi. After going to a Baptist church and feeling guilty, she finally went to a Messianic congregation (that interestingly meets in the synagogue that she attended as a girl) and loves it. During those six months she wanted to give her life to Yeshua, but could not bring herself to do so. However, after one visit to the Messianic congregation, she came to faith. She loves the fact that there is Yiddishkiet and she loves her rabbi. If the rabbi there suddenly announced that he was going to now go by the term pastor, she would say, “But I thought we were Jewish.”

I would also argue that in those Messianic congregations where the term rabbi is employed, when congregants hear the word ‘rabbi’, they feel ‘shepherd’. A word is only as powerful as the meaning we give it. If you are arguing for the word Shephard/Pastor, then you have won, because these people see their rabbis as their spiritual leaders—their shepherds.

The problem is that in the wider Jewish community, a guy can’t just start a meeting and call himself rabbi. He must be trained in a rabbinical seminary. I do believe the UMJC does require significant training now before a member can use that title.

But once again, I will leave that to them. I live in Israel. I personally cringe when someone calls me Rabbi Cantor. First of all, it’s confusing…I could also be Cantor Rabbi or if I sang better, Cantor Cantor. But because of the negative experience I had growing up in the synagogue, the term never appealed to me. But that is my personal feeling and I will let others make up their own mind. I think this is an issue where there needs to be freedom, not dogmatism. The more important issue, whether we have the title of Pastor, Rabbi or no title at all, is that we seek to serve from a humble heart.

R

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the gifts of Yeshua to the congregation (our church, without getting hung up over terms), in the five-fold ministry, one of them is Pastor (shepherd in Greek). A pastor is an elder/overseer, but apparently there would be one (or more) among the elders who would be recognized as having more overall responsibility.

The elders would be appointed by those with spiritual authority; the pastor would be set apart by the Lord.

I think the best Biblical term is Elder. You can also have Founding Elder, or Leading Elder. In all of the congregations founded by Shaul, there were no Pastors, only Elders.

Yep. I agree with you on all counts. I just think what’s important is that we communicate the right concept to people’s minds. In other words, the words I choose will create the same image in the hearer’s mind, as it does in mine. If I use a word in which the hearer’s definition of that word is different than the definition of me as the speaker — that’s miscommunication. That’s why we need to worry about what people think. What they think, is what they think of Yeshua. If I communicate well, they will think of Yeshua correctly — whether they reject Him or not. Thanks for your time. I enjoy our friendship.

I think we worry too much what people think, J. Being called Israeli or Jew doesn’t always have a positive connotation to those we may be communicating with: not all Israel is Israel, after all. The name Christian doesn’t always ring well; yet, like Jew, it has both a badge of honor and of dishonor.

I say usually that I am a Jewish believer who believes in Jesus/Yeshua. After that they can call me what they want. I say I am Howard. If they ask me what I do, I tell them I pastor a local Messianic congregation.

Thanks for sharing, J.

Hi again,

I thought I would just make an additional comment with reference to what you said:

When I said it was too “Christian”, I meant that in today’s society the Jewish person would lump the term “pastor” with all the unbelieving mainline Christian denominations. They also use that term, and has been identified with them in the media. When speaking with believers, I would have no problem with using the term pastor as you correctly outlined.

As with the term “rabbi”, it is not important what I think the meaning of the term is. It’s important what the other person thinks I’m communicating. So the question becomes what does that Jewish person think of when I use the term “pastor.” If only believers used that word, I would be much more comfortable using it. I suppose for me, if I was in the US, I would simply say that I’m the leader of a Messianic congregation. I think that says it all.

Comments?

J

Most of the responses privately and publicly (which are not posted here) show that the problem is either dismissed or trivialized. Some Jewish believers with some influence seem to think that by using the Biblical Jewish Messianic term ‘pastor’ it makes us sound too Christian. Yet it is precisely the term that the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Scriptures to use — to Israel’s shepherd-Kings and -Priests first of all.

“What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.” (Rom 3:1) “For what if some ]do] not believe?
Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed , let God be true and every man a liar!” (Rom 3:2-4a)

Is Stephen still correct as he spoke to [some] of our people as he was heading for a hail of stones thrown his way by them?: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers so you!” (Acts 7:51)

In brotherly love,

Me, too, S!

The problem is that many Jewish believers have more affinity for our rabbinic tradition than that of Moses and the Prophets, not to mention Yeshua and the Apostles.

My friends and brothers call me Howard!
Blessings,

Of course you are right.

However, in the US, they have chosen to use the term rabbi. I
believe most of those using it, have in mind, “Jewish Leader,”
and are not thinking too, much of either the Biblical meaning or
that in current Judaic circles (one who has been trained in a
rabbinical school).

In English, shepherd is a little strange, and pastor of course has
its own connotations. The generic term, congregation leader, works, but is on the weak side.

Glad I live here.
ושמח להיות רועה קהילה בארץ!!!

Hag Sameach
S

Dear — what? leaders? pastors? rabbis? friends?

Here is what I wrote in Messianic Jewish Manifesto in 1988:

e. Messianic Rabbis. Starting with the New Testament side of this issue, we have Mattityahu [Matthew] 23:8, where the Messiah warns his disciples, “But you are not to let yourselves be called ‘Rabbi’; because you have one Rabbi, and you are all each other’s brothers.” But a literalistic approach here seems inappropriate, since he also warns against being called “father” or “leader.” The context leads me to believe that Yeshua here prohibits believers from allowing themselves to accept unearned honors generally rather than outlawing three titles forever.

What would a “Messianic rabbi” be? Merely a pastor under another name? It seems to me again that as with “synagogue” the term “rabbi” sets up Jewish expectations which ought to be fulfilled. Therefore, someone who calls himself a Messianic rabbi, or who permits his congregation to call him that, ought to have training commensurate with that which would enable him to qualify as a rabbi in a non Messianic Jewish setting. (But in which setting Orthodox, Conservative or Reform? or is that a wrong question?) Should a Messianic rabbi have smikhah (ordination)? If so, should it be Messianic or non Messianic? If Messianic, who is qualified to give it? Where can an aspiring Messianic rabbi get the necessary training? In any case, in order not to embarrass the Messianic Jewish movement, I urge leaders without rabbinic training to resist letting themselves be called “Rabbi.” (In other contexts, assuming an unearned title is tantamount to fraud — if you don’t think so,
try advertising yourself as a medical doctor without an M.D. degree, and see what happens.)

(FYI: The current title of this book is Messianic Judaism — A Modern Movement with an Ancient Past. The Hebrew translation of the book is called ?יהדות משיחית — מהי)

David Stern

Howard,
Interestingly I was lead to mention this same violation of calling leaders Rabbi, in my message two weeks ago. I called Paul a Dr. Dr. Paul …..

One of the members started giggling. I stopped and asked him why are you giggling….. Then came the punch line:
Why do we giggle when Paul is called a Dr. But we stay at ease when he is called a Rabbi?
D

PASTOR OR RABBI? – 3 Apr 2012

How is it that so many spiritual leaders in the Messianic community who believe in Messiah Yeshua would take upon themselves, or accept it being given to them, the title of Rabbi, when Yeshua Himself, the Messiah of God to Israel and the Jewish people first of all, says not to? (The same question can be asked of those in the Roman Catholic community who go by the name Father.)

Mt 23: 8-12 “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Master Teacher, the Messiah/Christ, and you are all brethren. . . .”

Instead, the Jewish Messiah, speaking to and teaching His Jewish Israeli apostles and disciples, says to Peter (who perhaps could be called the first Pastor) three times: “Feed My lambs.”; “Tend My sheep.”; “Feed My sheep.” (Jn 21:15-17) This was after Jesus had already warned and prepared Peter for his denial of Him, when He said to Peter, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Lk 22:31-32)

A pastor is a shepherd. Yeshua is the Good and Great Shepherd of the sheep. In Ezek 34, YHVH rebukes the false shepherds, and promises Himself to be the Shepherd who seeks and finds the lost sheep of the House of Israel to care for them, to tend them, to feed them, to strengthen them — exactly what Yeshua commissioned Peter to do, and Paul and Peter the elders of the church. (Acts 20:27-31a; 1Pt 5:1-4)

When we think of a ‘pastoral scene’, we picture an open field, with rolling grassy hillsides, a watering hole, and sheep and goats grazing freely and safely. It is pastoral because it is the ideal of a shepherd’s beautiful landscape. The Hebrew word for shepherd is the same as that used for a congregational overseer of the flock: ro’eh. He looks after them, as a brother is his brother’s keeper; as a father lovingly cares for His children.

Pastor is a good Jewish word; it is Hebraic; it is Biblical; it is Messianic; it is from God.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Master made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Master, when He comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that He will make him ruler over all His goods.” (Mt 24:45-47)

Blessings in abundance as you enjoy the Passover and the Resurrection of the Lord every day, and in a special way this weekend!

Joy and blessings to you all!
Edi Evans

“Return our exiles, O Lord, like watercourses in the Negev. Those who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy. He who goes along weeping, carrying the seedbag, shall come back with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves” (Psalm 126:4-6).

In this beautiful and beloved psalm, the return of the exiles to Israel is compared to the “watercourses in the Negev. “Why the Negev and not simply “the desert”? The Negev streams come from collecting basins incomparably larger than those of the Judean Desert. When rain falls on the Negev mountains, water begins to flow into hundreds of tiny rivulets that drain into dozens of larger watercourses. These carry the water, in ever-growing strength, to larger streams that can reach several hundred meters in width.

This picture––myriad tiny rivulets coming together from distant areas to form powerful streams–is surely what inspired the psalmist to pray for the ingathering of the exiles from the four corners of the earth “like watercourses in the Negev.” (See Nogah Hareuveni, Desert and Shepherd in Our Biblical Heritage, p.89-90.)

Those who “sow in tears and reap with songs of joy” is a parallel image. The sowers put each tiny, precious seed into the ground, not knowing whether or not there would be a harvest. And if the blessing of the harvest does come, each seed will have multiplied itself many dozens of times-like the tiny rivulets in the Negev that, together, form rushing streams.

(from website of Neot Kedumim
http://www.n-k.org.il/public/english/what/newsletter/2005/donor.htm

When it comes to voting for a political candidate for high office, often times we hear from evangelical believers that the position on Israel should be determinant.

But what if a strong Israel supporter also supports abortion? What if a non-supporter of Israel is against abortion?

What is a voter to do when neither the candidates nor the voter can discern between their right hand and their left? When do we begin to call upon the Lord to come — even as we continue to obey Yeshua with faith until that time — to punish workers of iniquity who refuse to repent from their evil deeds, and to save His people from their own sins?

The anointing of persons in the Old Testament was with oil, essentially to consecrate someone for service unto YHVH. This was normally restricted and applied to Aaronic priests for religious service(Ex 28:41); to kings of Israel to lead and to victoriously deliver the people, judging the nation in righteousness and justice (1Sam 9:16; Ps 89:14; Gen 18:19); and to prophets of YHVH, who were to keep the people, including the kings and priests, accountable to God. (1Kg 19:16; Is 61:1-3)

Yeshua/Jesus is THE Anointed One/THE Christ/THE Messiah.(Mt 16:16; Lk 4:17-21) His anointing was by the Holy Spirit. (Jn 1:32-34)

All born-again believers in Jesus Christ are born-again by the Holy Spirit, who indwells and consecrates the believer unto God through and in Messiah; and every believer has the anointing to know God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Jn 3:3-8; 2Cor 1:21-22; 1Jn 2:20-28)

So as ‘anointed’ believers, as we are conformed to the image of the Son of God, in Messiah we ought to be demonstrating that for which the anointing is given, maturing in these qualities and responsibilities; and recognizing that each of us may tend more toward one anointed office or another, so we need to both seek the wholeness and also accept the balancing which other believing ‘anointed ones’ in Christ have and contribute.

We ought to be sympathetic priests, if not the High Priest, as we relate to other believers who are sinners saved by grace as we are, and also to unbelievers, since we were once, too. (Heb 4:14-16; Eph 2:4-10; 1Cor 6:9-11) As priests, we draw near to God, and the Lord Himself is our inheritance. (Heb 10:19-22; Ezek 44:23,28; Num 8:14; Dt 18:1-2; Rev 3:12)

We ought to be prophetic, if not the Prophet, “for the Lord YHVH has spoken, and who can not but prophesy!” (Amos 3:8) And with that, we ought to be ‘prophesying’, speaking edification, exhortation, and comfort to all, especially within the Body of Messiah. (1Cor 14:3)

We ought to be kingly, if not the King, ruling over our own spirits, living righteously, as we subject ourselves to the lordship of the Holy Spirit within us and of Yeshua over us, and overseeing the flock of our Shepherd King. (Prov 16:32; Gal 5:22-26; Eph 4:25-32; 1Tim 3:1-7; 1Pt 5:1-7)

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one.” (Col 4:6)

With this anointing given to all who believe in Jesus as the Son of God (1Pt 2:9), we who are in Christ can look forward to that day when we will be priests of God on thrones, judging righteously the world, ruling and reigning with Him who is King of kings, and Lord of lords! (Rev 3:21; 20:4-6) Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!

It is like the Persians in Haman’s day, and Iran today with their leaders: many of the ‘common people’ could not understand why leaders wanted to destroy the Jewish people and nation, and were glad when the surprise victory came.

So, too, the current situation in Israel and the Middle East: many of the political and religious leaders of the different Arab peoples stir up trouble to get people so upset with ‘the Jews/Israelis’, even to the point of wanting to see them killed off, or at least sent back into exile. But surely there are many ‘common people’ — the ‘salt of the earth’ — who wonder why this should be so and who inwardly rejoice when they see the Jewish people overcome yet again. They need to be encouraged to withstand threats and false accusations.

Things do not change; history has a way of repeating itself, and the Bible isn’t being changed to meet ‘changing times’. It would help if we would learn from history, rather than ignoring it as a relic of its past.

Exactly! The gospel of the kingdom through repentance towards faith is the true message! Amen! I just hope that as we, the Jewish people, and the messianic Jewish community, are on a journey to find out what it means to belong both to our family’s heritage, legacy, and inheritance (in the land of Israel)….that the Arabs here can also find or develop a Spirit-led family identity, heritage, legacy, and thus foster an inheritance (whatever that may be). That we may truly live the reality of what it means to be both part of the kingdom of God/body of Messiah and part of our particular people groups and familial legacies.

In many ways, the so-called Palestinian people, as refugees from many different Arab tribes and families over the last couple hundreds of years, will see themselves as a sort of patriarchal generation forming a vision for their newly formed people group for years to come. Just like America, as a refugee state, formed an American heritage out of many different people groups. Many Americans were refugees of Italy, France, England, Scottland, Germany, etc….but today they are “Americans” and would not want to be classified as any other people group. So I think the Palestinians don’t have a familial identity of their own. This causes an identity crisis, especially since the political situation (not only in Israel, but in the entire Middle East) doesn’t allow them the roots of their original familial/tribal identities. So they are patriarchs of a new identity and heritage for generations to come as a conglamarate people group. The only thing I am trying to do now is challenge them as to WHAT their identity is. Is Palestinian or Palestine the best identity? I personally would love to see them throw their destiny and future generations in with the destiny of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel (and support politically a one-state solution state of Israel- a Jewish state for all its people). However, as patriarchs forming a new people group, it is up to them to develop a healthy multi-generational family vision. Since the “Palestinian peoples” roots are everywhere (Kurds, Egyptians, Jewish converts to Islam or Christianity,Samaritans, Edomites, Crusader Europeans, Syrians, Saudi Arabians, etc.)…if they see themselves as one people, and the Palestinian Christians see themselves as belonging to that ONE people even having many roots depending on what Palestinian family they are from…it is time to develop One Root with a new family vision. Like Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldeans and developed a new family vision. Because to know where you are going as a people group, you have to know where you came from.

Anyways, I don’t know how many Palestinian christians have ever thought about legacy, roots, heritage, and a multi-generational vision. I would guess if they had thought about it, the word “Palestinian” is not something they would pass on to their children’s children as an inheritance.

If the Palestinians associate their heritage with the Philistines, who as you point out come out from Greece (Javan, a son of Japheth), then they are not Semites, not sons of Abraham, with all that that means.

In any case, the only hope for all peoples of any lineage is repentance and faith in Yeshua, His death and resurrection, so that we become a new creation, rooted in Him, the second and last Adam/Man.

I appreciate your willingness to offer reconciliation and relationship, even going to places like Bethlehem to stand with them in hard times. You put feet to what you believe and say! You also do this as a believer who chooses to stand with God’s promises for Israel and the Jewish people. You are truly a brave man of God!

A,

I work in both the territories among Palestinian Muslims and in Israel among messianic Jewish believers planting house churches. If you may let me provide a little bit of perspective as someone who not only loves Palestinians, but risks my life many times in a southern West Bank city to see many of these precious people have the life of the Lord Yeshua for the past three years.

First of all, there is a major identity crisis that is taking place. I know this may cause you to have a knee-jerk reaction of offense, but it isn’t meant that way. It is actually meant in Great Love that I am willing to die so that you may live. The word, Palestinian, even used by the Jewish people prior to 1948, is an offensive word for anyone to take upon themselves, Jewish or Arab. It comes from the Hebrew “polesh” which means “to invade.” The land adopted this name in 135 AD after the Emperor Hadrian wanted to spitefully paganize the land of Israel and rid it of any monotheistic themes as a response to the Bar Kockva revolt. This is why he also built a temple to Jupiter on the Temple Mount, and a temple to Aphrodites on the place of the death and ressurection of our Lord Yeshua. He renamed Israel as Palestine after monotheism’s arch enemy, the pagan extinct Philistines who were also Greek. He renamed Jerusalem, the city of peace, as Aelio Capotolina which is a pagan theme.

I believe that many Arab Christians and some Muslims connection to the land is just. Even though the land was promised to the Jewish people, God keeps His promises not because of Israel’s perfection, but becomes of God’s faithfulness and namesake. Israel has not been the most just nation on the earth, although we may have differing opinions on how just they are. Israel has not always treated the “foreigner in our midst” with justice as the Bible entreats, but the foreigner in our midst has also not treated Israel with honor as well.

That all being said, the Arab connection to the land of Israel has caused an identity crisis. Some of this crisis is because of war and displacement, some because of injustice, and some because of hatred and antisemetism. Either way, your people have adopted a lie called “the Palestinian people.” It may seem to you like I am trying to strip you of your identity and your people and degrade you, but the truth is that I am trying to liberate you and help you find your true identity.

There is power in a name. Names describe generational heritage and legacy. Surnames describe occupations (smith, carpenter,levi, cohen, goldstein, etc.), and some names are given to describe your very spiritual identity. God renamed Abram and Sarai, and even curse others with the name Ichabod. Our Lord Yeshua’s name even describes His role as giving salvation, and Simon’s name was changed to Peter (small rock) to describe the first person to receive the greatest revelation of all times. Barnabas’s name describes his action as an encourager to John Mark. This is why names have power.

Your people, the “Palestinian” people, are at a crossroads. No permanent solution or identity has been afforded to your people yet. You are establishing a heritage and legacy for generations to come and not only this living generation now. Much of the strength you see from the Jewish people is this understanding of heritage and legacy and the power of a name (Israel means to “reign with God”). Great heritages and legacies always have inheritances, which is why the Jewish people feel such a connection to the land of Israel. They have maintained a concentration on building and maintaining family legacy and heritage in the last century when the world has been plagued with modern and postmodern individualism. The ideal of family heritage and legacy has been brought next to nothing and has bowed down at the altar of Western modernism and Western postmodernism.

So my question to you, and the Arab peoples of Judea and Samaria that I lay down my lives for is this:

1.) Where are your roots?
2.) Where are your people from?
3.) Where are you going?
4.) What principles do you want to pass on from former generations as generational blessings, and what ungodly principles do you want to change from former generations as generational curses?
5.) If there is power in a name, by what name do you want your people group to be called for generations to come?

I leave you with these questions, which is at the heart of building a healthy “family vision”, legacy, and heritage; and thus passing on a healthy family inheritance as well.

S

Part of the problem, as I see it, is calling Islam one of the Abrahamic faiths, which it is not. (And neither is rabbinic Judaism, nor a faith-less Christianity.)

Abraham is the father of the Israeli/Jewish people; can be said to be the father of Arab people through Ishmael, and also Esau/Edom, who married a daughter of Ishmael; and is the father of all who believe in his God, YHVH, and in His Son, Yeshua/Jesus/Yasu, as the Messiah, Son of the living God.

Islam does not believe in this God, therefore Muslims are not sons of Abraham, and neither is their faith in the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob/Israel. Their God is not the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yeshua said that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword, to the world. There is peace for all who repent and believe in Him. But His covenant divides families, nations, peoples — just as happened in the family case between Isaac and Ishmael, and between Jacob and Esau — and in the nations which have come out from them. Within those nations, there are those who do believe and those who do not. God is looking for faith in Him and His Word — in His righteousness — that all who believe may have His peace, even while the sword is still discomforting the others.

The Bible must be our highest and ultimate authority for what is truth — otherwise there is just much confusion of faces — for it is the written and abiding Word of God who governs and judges all, and to Whom we will all give account. Distortion of truth needs to be refuted and repudiated in our battle to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Purim is coming, and the same God of yesterday is the same as always. The laws of Persia (Iran) can not be altered, and their leaders today are still hoping to annihilate the Jewish people. (see the Scroll of Esther) YHVH watches over His people and His interests to perform them by His zeal! Thank God, for we could not get it done without Him!

The time is near for God Himself to act, to intervene — both in the affairs of men and nations, and also within the Body of Messiah/Christ — to put His fear in us all, that as many as will would turn to Him who alone is God Most High. Yeshua has received all authority in Heaven and on Earth.

There are such impasses, and so many words have already been spoken over and over, and such fears and threatenings over our ‘sacred positions, that surely the time is near that Yeshua will straighten us all out that we might know what He approves, and be better prepared for the things yet to come.

Dear A,

We are aware of our differences, which have been clear for many years now. But I don’t think you and the others have caught the feeling or the emotion behind what I asked regarding the silence of my Arab brothers regarding the horrible situation in Syria, given your loud desire for “the Evangelical world to know our perspective” regarding Israel and the “occupation”, and its cause of suffering on the Arab Palestinians.

Perhaps the Lord Jesus should throw all of us out of His land for all our unrighteousnesses and injustices against Him and one another.

Trusting in His lovingkindnesses in Messiah,
Howard

Dear Howard,

No, absolutely! I have never been offended by you personally. I value the fact that you come to Bethlehem with R and other brothers and sisters and meet with Palestinian Christians. I regularly meet with Messianic brothers and sister and I fully trust God’s grace on them. I cherish every moment and every occasion when brothers and sisters from both sides meet across the divide.

What offends me and (perhaps) you is our varying political and theological positions. We do not see eye to eye when we talk about the land, God’s Chosen people and the future of this country. We have different interpretations of Biblical verses that relate to God’s people and the land. Some Messianic brothers and sisters support the occupation of the West Bank and they use the Bible to justify the occupation of the land. Their position is offensive to me. On the other side, the fact that I use the same Bible to question the legitimacy of the occupation of the West Bank, I become offensive to some Messianic brothers and sister. I have become persona non grata to many MB/S. Many in the Messianic congregations believe that God intervened on behalf of Israel to bring about victories for Israel in 1948 and 1967 wars. That kind of thinking offends me. I do not see God in the New Covenant taking sides in wars. But when I express my perspective, I could offend a Messianic brother or sister. We have different ways to look at prophecy and once we open our hearts and express our opinions, there is the risk that we could offend each other.

The only way to keep the spirit of unity and love is to commit to each other to accept the other in spite of our perspectives on land and eschatology. I want to say to a MB/S, ‘I do not agree with you but you are still my brother/sister and I love you’. And I expect the same from my brother/sister. If most of us reach that maturity, ‘the offense’ will become insignificant because ‘…love covers a multitude of (offenses) sins’.

I do not invite MB/S to endorse my perspective or agree with it but rather to accept me as a brother in spite of my perspective and to stay in fellowship with me regardless.

In His name,

A

Dear A,

Where there is light, there is fellowship. Praise God, for that is what does keep many of us in the bond of peace for Christ’s sake, wanting to demonstrate the love of God which will glorify our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank-you again for responding, A.

As you probably know, my wife — and sometimes some of the children — have been going to IEC for their Christmas service for many years now. After this last service, at which brother Y and his wife D also participated, I wrote in our newsletter the following paragraphs, and a Swiss Christian magazine wants to use it in their next issue, along with a statement from N:

“With these two universally known Hebrew words, Hallelu-Yah and Amen — both of which speak of the true God and Savior (Rev 3:14) — we visited Bethlehem yesterday on Christmas Day with two other families from our congregation, and some medical students and other friends. We went first to IEC, where we have been going since 2003 — during the Intifada — as an expression of the reconciliation which we have through the cross, even though our peoples continue to be in a perpetual state of hostility with each other.

At the Arab church there I was asked to share some introductory remarks from my heart, and spoke of the hope we all have through the gospel, which includes that Jesus will come back again to bring the Kingdom of God to Israel and the rest of the world. Political solutions will not satisfy the need for the righteousness of God, the peace which He gives, and joy in the Holy Spirit. At the end of the service, I was asked to bless the elders and the church with the priestly blessing in Hebrew, the language of the ‘enemy’. I gently reminded the brothers and sisters there to remember that the name of YEHOVAH God is still upon His people Israel, and asked them to pray for the Jewish Israeli people to honor His name and of His Son. Then I blessed them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It was a very special time, and I thank the Lord that the pastor took the risk to ask me for this honor.”

Brother A, we do what we can to maintain Holy Spirit relationships with all other brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes even at some risk. This is the love of God, and we pray that He would continue to enable us to do so — both to give, and also to receive.

Could you please tell me, A, what is it about “your position” (that is, “my“) that is “offensive to many of [you]“, as you write in your letter?

I will be out of the country from this Sunday until the 23rd.

In Christ with you,
Howard

Dear Howard,

Today, I spoke with S and he expressed willingness to help (through M) organize a meeting to focus on prayer for Syria. S said the most difficult challenge is to find the time when a good number of brothers and sisters from both sides would be able to attend. In such a meeting, we do not need to highlight political or theological disagreements.

We do have theological and eschatological issues that we do not agree on. I believe both Messianic believers and Palestinian believers have reached a level of maturity of faith and commitment that we are able to keep the unity of the Body in spite of these differences. Let us be firm in our love and acceptance for each other in spite of our many political and theological differences. If we wait to agree on these issues before we have genuine fellowship, we will be waiting for years and perhaps never arrive to a time when we see eye to eye on all issues and we will miss fulfilling the commandment of our Lord to love one another. The secret is to agree to disagree and recognize the grace of God working with those who we do not agree with. The love of God that was poured in our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ is much greater than any point of disagreement that we have. As Palestinian Christians, many of us have a different perspective on the subject of fulfillment of prophecy and how the prophecies relate to the current political situation. If you consider that our position is offensive to you, believe me, your position is offensive to many of us. Yes, we want the Evangelical world to know our perspective. Messianic Jews and many evangelical Christians do not agree with our perspective and for years they have been teaching their perspective all over the world. In the US, there are at least 200 TV channels and over 500 radio station that support the Messianic Jewish position on the issues of prophecy and politics. I doubt it if there is one station that promotes our perspective. Of course, each camp believes that it has the Divine and true Biblical perspective. But even with our varying perspectives, we do not need to compete, fight, demonize or delegitimize the other.

At BBC, we do not agree with many of the policies of the State of Israel but we are not anti-Semitic. We do not call for the destruction of the State of Israel and we do not deny the holocaust. We long for a genuine peace between Israelis and Palestinians and aspire to see Jews and Arabs live in harmony in this land. We strongly believe that followers of Jesus should be in the forefront of those who work for peace and justice. We will keep our hands extended and our hearts open to our Messianic brother and sister regardless of their attitude towards us.

Let us keep focusing on the One who unites us,

A

Hello J,

I do not know if we are at a point yet to do what you are asking, but I do hope and pray that we will get there. In the meantime, I suggest, as I have, that even if we are not able to come out with a joint statement, that my Arab brothers would consider doing so anyway in a publicly clear way for all to see — in Arabic, English, Hebrew.

To make any such statement from the “Holyland” is still part of the problem, J. There IS a country called Israel, and there is at present a political entity called the Palestinian Authority. I remember being in a conference in Jordan when JORDAN was called the Holy Land because Yeshua taught there! I was the only participant at that conference with a name tag that did not state what country I was from. My tag said Holy Land. Would it have been clear to every one which ‘Holy Land’ was being referred to?

On Sunday I am leaving the country until the 23rd. I will not be in much e-mail communication, but if something important needs to be communicated, please do write, and when I do see it, I will respond, if necessary.

Thanks,
Howard

Thank you Howard for your concern and thank you A for your input, I feel the Lord is moving us maybe to come with a statement against what is happening in Syria.

I suggest that A and H compose such a statement or a letter and all of us endorse it, we can call it A Joint Statement from Arab and Jewish Believers in Christ in the Holyland against the evil that is going on in Syria.

Then maybe we can have a joint prayer meeting very soon, and set a fund for the help of the brethren in Syria.

J

Dear Howard:

Greetings my friend and brother in the body of the Messiah. Thank you for your email. I have read it with interest and enjoyed reading your interaction with A. You might be interested to read the following articles (NB: they are posted on our website i.e. Christ at the Checkpoint).

http://christatthecheckpoint.com/index.php/blog/86-jesus-christmas-and-the-arab-spring-a-letter-from-nazareth

http://christatthecheckpoint.com/index.php/blog/90-reflections-on-the-arab-spring-and-the-persecution-of-christians

I pray that you will be able to join us at Christ at the Checkpoint. We truly love to see you.

Your brother

Y

Thank-you for responding, A, to my letter you received through J. You are the only one that has written back; another gave me a call.

I would certainly be interested in working in cooperation with others from among the Jewish and Arab brothers, but would prefer that it not be done as an initiative by any particular organization. If S would want to offer the administrative services … available to help put out some joint invitation for whatever action may be taken, that could be very helpful.

At the same time, unless there is some acknowledgment that the ‘new theologies’ being developed work towards voiding clear covenant promises of God — which not only concern Israel as a people in a land, but also would invalidate the hope and future of Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians, etc, as people in
their own lands — and simply promotes Israel bashing and delegitimization, and not genuine Christian Biblical study of the Bible. I am not sure that we could really come together in unity of heart, in the face of the silence on my brothers’ part regarding the far worse situation in Syria than has ever been the case here. Righteousness and justice, which we all want, is not at the expense of the rest of the whole counsel of God, which whole counsel includes doing what we can to do justly, to love grace, and to walk humbly with our Father and Lord. The silence in the face of the brutality of the Syrian government betrays a self-interest. Nor, of course, do we hear anything from Fatah or Hamas, whose positions regarding Israel’s existence are public knowledge. Some evangelical churches have already been sealed closed by the Syrian regime, because of being portrayed as anti-government, sometimes by the institutional churches trying to maintain their own worldly power and safety!

For the record, I do not believe that Israel must have all the promised land now; nor do I exclude the possibility that there could be a Palestinian state. God will do what He has to do to accomplish His purposes for us who believe in Yeshua, for those that will refuse to, and for those that simply fear God and do righteousness without knowing Him personally before He comes. We have the gospel to preach to anyone and everyone, and the teachings in the Scriptures to build up the believers in our local congregations that promote holiness in the fear of God, and fellowship with Him and one another to do the work He has given us to do until the Lord returns.

We must find the way to get away from extreme positions that do not promote our unity, and find with the help of the Holy Spirit that common ground that is not natural to any of us, but is the better ground in which we have been placed together in Messiah/Christ. It will surely cost us to be outside the camp —
any camp — with Him, bearing His reproach, but worth far more than whatever the devil or the world or our self-interest would offer instead.

In brotherly love,
Howard

Dear Howard,
I agree with you that we, members of the Body of Christ in Israel and in Palestine need to respond to what is happening in Syria. At our church in East Jerusalem, we are praying for Syria and especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ there. In the sermon I preached last Sunday (yesterday), I reflected on the turmoil in Syria and I shared with the people that beyond the fighting that we see, between a brother and his brother in Syria, a cruel spiritual warfare in is raging on. Evil spiritual powers are causing so much hate, bitterness and fear. I referred to the passage in John 10:10 where Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (NIV). As God’s people who are filled with the Spirit, our mandate is to use the spiritual powers and authority available to us from our Lord to confront these powers of darkness that cause so much pain.

I believe, many of us are in shock and perhaps are num and wonder what we can do. One brother told me today, I can’t watch TV and see what is happening in Syria because it makes me sick. Yes! It is heart-breaking to see all the killing and destruction and realize that we can do so little to change the situation. We must always remember that he that is within us is able to make a difference. I suggest that we call for a day of prayer and fasting for Syria. Perhaps M can take the initiative? Perhaps on that day, Messianic and Palestinian brothers and sisters can gather together to have a special time to pray and intercede for Syria. This call of prayer can be circulated by Come And See, Linga and any other media outlets that reach our people. To go a step farther, we may set up a fund to encourage our people and congregations to make contributions to help brothers and sister in Syria who have lost everything due to the conflict. In addition, we need to pray for world leaders that the Spirit of God will lead them as they seek to help Syria out of her dilemma.

Thank you Howard for raising this important issue,
In His service,
A

Every human being who has ever been born or will be born has been redeemed by the sacrifice of God’s Son for sinners — all persons. The Man, Christ Jesus/Messiah Yeshua, is the Redeemer.

Not everyone is saved. The Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua Messiah is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

I wanted Judge Ruzin to give a decent verdict so that God could continue to have mercy on Israel, rather than seeing it having reached a point of removing the restraint. We haven’t quite gotten there yet, but the verdict in May, 2010 — and the way it was covered up locally/nationally — kept Israel on a course heading for severe troubles from the Judge who stands at the door, who also happens to be Sovereign Lord over worldly affairs.

There is growing religious revival all around the world, with the Middle East having the highest profile, perhaps. What we want to pray into is for this search for ‘meaning and purpose’ will lead seekers for true truth and righteousness and peace to be brought all the way till they are confronted with the reality of those good and noble things being found in Yeshua and the Father.

Levi genes can not save! (1Tim 1:4; Heb 7:11-13)

My prayer is that believers grasp by revelation and faith the reality of the new creation, the one new man, in Messiah (Gal 6:14-16; Phlp 3:7-16; Jn 17:20-23; Is 41:17-20).

It is not just a matter of Jewish and Gentile believers worshipping the one true God together; that will be fully realized as a Millennial Kingdom reality when Israel and the nations will be ruled and reigned over by Yeshua and those holy and blessed ones who have part in the first resurrection. (Rev 20:6) It seems to me that that company of first resurrection saints are a set apart priesthood and Bride — the one new man reality prayed for by our Lord — whose inheritance is Yeshua, and the Father’s Kingdom with Him.

My Husband -

1 Do I have a gentle and quiet Spirit as I relate to him ?

2 Does he feel and know that I respect him ?

3 Do I affirm his leadership ?

4 Can he have total confidence in me ?

5 Am I completely faithful to my husband in my thoughts, as well as my words and actions ?

6 Do I bring Honour to him ?

7 Can it be said that I bring Glory to my husband ?

8 Do I think about how to encourage and affirm him ?

9 Do I take time to think and pray through his aspirations and goals ?

10 Am I committed to being a helper to my husband ?

God bless you all. Naomi

“That victory, which was accomplished not only by the Australlian Light Horse, but also by British infantry, as well as New Zealand horsemen, broke the Turkish-German line, and led ultimately to the British-led conquest of all of Palestine and the province of Syria. This in turn led to the collapse of the four hundred year old Turkish Empire.

“Coupled with this great military event was the decision of the British Government on the very same day, 31 October 1917, to favour the establishment in Palestine of a Jewish National Home, which in time became the State of Israel. . . . In other words, what happened in Beersheba on 31 October 1917 had far-reaching historical importance. Without an Allied victory there, the land of Israel may have remained under Turkish Islamic control, and the Jewish people would not have had an internationally recognized legal framework under which to be restored. Also, five independent Arab nations (Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia) may not have come into existence.

“So we are not looking here at just an ordinary military victory. We are looking at something that had significant worldwide ramifications.”

Quoted from the Introduction to the book, JOURNEY TO BEERSHEBA, by Kelvin Crombie, 2011
kjcrombie09@bigpond.au

It is by personal faith in YHVH God and His Word that we are saved and in a vital union and fellowship with the Father and the Son, and with all others born-again by the Holy Spirit. Natural birth and culture may give privileges and honor, but do not guarantee acceptance. Many are called but few are chosen. Yeshua/Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.

Acts 17:1-6 the world turned upside down: This suggests that the new and living way is no mere correction or fine-tuning; nor a re-newed covenant; but rather something new and radical which turns our world upside down, a very significant thing.

Mt 16:13-18; 1Jn 2:22 belief that Jesus/Yeshua is the Messiah/Christ, the Son of the living God. The holy and righteous Creator God took on flesh and blood to redeem us human beings (whom He had created in His image and likeness) in order to restore us to Himself through the sacrificial death of the Son of God/Son of Man.

Jer 31:31-34 (30-33 Heb) a new covenant; not like the old “You have heard it said, but I say. . . .”

1Cor 3:16; Col 1:26-27; Jn 14:19-23; 2Cor 6:16; 1Jn 3:24; 4:12-16; Rev 3:20
God is in us, not just for us, with us, upon us It has all to do with loving Jesus Christ/Yeshua Messiah and obeying Him.

Acts 2:16-18 the Holy Spirit given to all believers, not only to Israelis, men, prophets, priests, kings

Jn 15:4; 1Jn 2:24-25 in Messiah; in the Son and in the Father; not merely a cultural or a national religious affiliation This gives us the assurance of faith in the hope of the love of God in His promise to us — eternal life.

Jn 1:12; Gal 4:6-7; 2Cor 6:18; 1Jn 3:1 we are sons and daughters of God, not merely slaves or servants: Such love! The world does not acknowledge us as children of God, for it does not know [the true] God. This was our own condition before we were saved and brought into the truth and the light.

Mk 7:14-16; Acts 10:9-16; Rom 14:2-3,14,20; Heb 13:9 food and other social barriers broken down We are freed to eat with whomsoever — and them with us — wherever God may have us or send us!

Heb 7:12; 1Pt 2:4-5 Law changed; priesthood of all believers–male and female–from any and all families, with direct access to the Father through our High Priest Jesus, by the Holy Spirit Requires no special ordination.

Heb 7:20 – 8:6; 10:19-21; 1Jn 2:25 a better covenant with better promises
–the priesthood; access to God through the veil
–our sins and sinful nature totally forgiven, removed, and forgotten through shed blood of Messiah
–we are a new creation; one new man
–resurrection of the body for eternal life
–all the other things mentioned above

Gal 1:11-12; Rom 10:1-4; 1Cor 1:21; 11:23 the gospel is neither Jewish nor Greek; not of man, but by revelation from God in Messiah; not of religion or of science or of philosophy

Gen 25:23b; Mt 20:24-28 the greater shall serve the lesser
–to whom much is given (the birthright and blessing by sovereign will, wisdom, and grace), much is required
–Is 40:2; Rom 2:9-10 double honor and double judgment
–Rom 2:17-20; 3:1-2; 9:4; 11:24 for individuals and for nations

Jn 13:12-17; Mt 20:28; Lk 12:37 Yeshua came to serve; He washed the disciples’ feet; He made them breakfast; He will serve us at the great supper; He cares for us each and every day.
God can not deny Himself; He is who He is!

The U.S. Secretary of State announced yesterday that the U.S. will begin to use diplomatic and foreign financial aid to push the legitimacy of homosexuality (of both sexes) and transgender people (sex-changed) in countries around the world.

Once accepting that something unnatural is natural and a ‘universal’ human right, then willingness to engage in it can not be too far behind. After all, it is deemed ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable’ by those “who have exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and who worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever”. (Rom 1:25) Isn’t it interesting that the Hebrew word for ‘gay’, transliterated as a term for homosexual, is the same word for ‘pride’ — גאה, גאיים – ‘gay’ah‘; ‘gay’im‘ — in the singular and plural forms. This was the core of the sin of the sinners of Sodom, for which God judged them (Ezek 16:48-50; 2Pt 2:6; Jude 7) as an everlasting example known by all.

This season marks the celebration of Jesus Christ coming into the world as a flesh and blood human being to save sinners. May many of the LBGT’s be convicted by the Holy Spirit of their unbelief and sinful nature, in the hope that they would call upon the name of the LORD — who has Himself established what is holy and profane, good and evil, clean and unclean — to save them in His great mercy and power. As a new creation in Christ, their shame in which they now glory will be turned to the praise of the God of Glory, who forgives, heals, delivers, and cleanses.

Being now three generations in Israel, with the birth of our granddaughter, looking at the Bible and Israel’s history, we wonder if this, too, is not a ‘sign’ of the times foretelling about when the Lord Jesus Christ will return. There is one family that I can think of who represent four generations of Jewish believers in Yeshua here in the land.

YHVH God refers to the 3rd and the 4th generations in significant ways to do a judgment, and a consequent redemptive work for those who stay with Him, or else repent and return to Him. (Gen 15:12-16; Ex 20:4-6; 34:6-7) The third generation is still a ‘living link’ to what the first generation went through (the grandchildren of the first generation; whereas, the fourth generation either ‘believes’ the report and identifies in a healthy way after all the trauma; or, they believe the account and are bitter regarding their history; or, they are apathetic and cut themselves off from their own family’s and nation’s history. (This is a simplistic and generalized analysis.)

Where are we. . . as the Judge stands at the door, and the only wise God and Savior is preparing to intervene in powerful ways to make His order out of the prevailing chaos within His own household, and among His own people and nation, and in the wider world which He created and made?

We are newly-grandparents!

The conception of Jesus the Messiah was miraculous, being that it was by the Holy Spirit and the young virgin maiden, Mary (Miriam).

His birth was completely natural, like our baby granddaughter. Praise God for this amazing and incredible reality and truth!

Jesus Christ is the only person ever born without a sinful nature; therefore, He knew no sin; did no sin; sin was not in Him: He was truly God with us — Immanuel — God manifested in the flesh! We were all born in sin; Yeshua was not. He took on the likeness of sinful flesh, that He might be tempted in all things as we are, yet the Son of Man showed Himself to be also the Son of the Highest.

This being so, Jesus/Yeshua was the perfect baby. All things natural for a baby to do, He would have done. Yet. . .He was without sin. All of His ‘babiness’ would also have been distinguished by sinlessness, by no self-ishness. His body systems would have been in perfect working order for normal functions and normal stimulus responses, but without showing indications of some measure or sympton of ‘sickness’.

Can you consider how the Perfect Person — outwardly and inwardly, naturally and spiritually — throughout His life from beginning to end — when He became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him — would be seen as ‘other’, as holy, in all things in every way? It is a bit difficult for me, a sinner saved by grace with sin still evident, to reflect with much wisdom on such high and wonderful things.

Glory to God!

Bless you,
Howard

While others see the events of our days through a political prism or a nationalist prism, those of you actually laboring in the harvest field in Israel often see current events as the hand of God sweeping Israel along towards His ultimate desire for His people.

I really appreciate you sharing the biblical account that this major news event brought to your remembrance. And I really love what you brought out about Esau never accepting God’s Sovereign choice in giving the land to Jacob/Israel. I don’t think I have ever seen that before.

What would you say that the Spirit is speaking to the churches today?

”Then Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, YEHOVAH who said to me, “Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you”. ‘I am not worthy of the least of all the lovingkindnesses and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me, and the mother with the children. For You said, “I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude”.’ ” (Gen 32:9-12 [Eng])

I believe that Jacob’s prayer about 3800 years ago needs to become Israel’s and the Jewish people’s prayer today: to honestly and humbly [re]turn with faith to YEHOVAH, the Everlasting God Who Is, acknowledging His faithfulness to keep His covenant promises regarding the land (and the return to it), the good things, the innumerable multitude of the people. And to confess sincerely their hope in Him, and their fear of their brother Esau (who also represents a nation Gen 25:23), whom Jacob/Israel has good reason to believe intends to kill him and the whole family. (Gen 27:41)

This family history is playing out to its fruition in our day and time: the seed that was sown is bearing its fruit and showing its kind. Israel’s only hope is in returning to her God, who is also her Savior. Until now, Israel relies on his/their own abilities and power, rather than on the Spirit of YEHOVAH. (Zech 4:6)

Israel and the Jewish people do not have a completely clean conscience, which keeps them from turning in contrition and in faith to ask God’s intervention on their behalf. The Lord knows how to bring even this to pass. Hallelu-Yah!

“In that day,there shall no longer be a Canaanite (‘merchant’) in the house of Yehovah of Hosts.” (Zech 14:21b; Jn 2:16-17)

While Israel’s prophets prophesied the restoration of God’s kingdom to Israel, when all things will be HOLINESS TO YEHOVAH, we who already have been redeemed and saved can recognize that the particular reference to Jerusalem’s sanctity is also applicable to the whole of the people and land, and ultimately to the entire Earth and peoples. These things will be when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in great power and glory to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth. Then will the Father’s will be done on Earth as in Heaven.

Meanwhile. . .the house/land of the LORD is filled with Canaanites, traders merchandizing religion at great profit to themselves. There is much use of the rich religious history here throughout the land of Israel to capitalize on the Biblical record, which is seen everywhere.

Pedlars from all the religious interests here exploit what God has done here, having left a record written in the rocks and human structures lying in ruins as witnesses of the truths written in the Bible. Sceptics, cynics, opportunists, unbelievers in the God of the Bible make money off His fame; business men and women come up with schemes to capture the wealth of the nations; religionists sell their versions of history and truth in competition with the others. Praise the Lord for those who serve Him with meekness and integrity!

It is wonderful to travel around Israel and see so much evidence of the events recorded in the Old Testament and in the New. Our faith is not based on fables, but on concrete eyewitness accounts, and on the witness of the Holy Spirit. (2Pt 1:16)

For those in Messiah now, we are the field and the House and Temple of God. Are we selling ourselves and enriching our own selves and houses, or are we faithfully representing and serving the Lord Yeshua/Jesus with holy zeal for the Father’s honor and glory?

“…You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mt 6:24)
“For the love of money is a root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1Tim 6:10)

May we see in our generation the cleansing of YHVH’s House, His land, His people! Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!

On Sunday, we went to an evangelical Palestinian church in Bethlehem, ‘dropping in’ to the surprise of our friend the pastor. We came in a bit late, having to find our own way to where the church meets (with a little help from some friendly taxi drivers). When the pastor noticed us, he asked me to come up to pray for the Lord’s Supper which was about to be served following the worship in song. This is something which very much blessed a number of members of that church — most of whom would probably be in favor of a new country called Palestine. I mentioned to the pastor later in his home that should that happen, what took place that day will probably not be able to happen again. There will be a heavy loss of fellowship if the world is allowed to have its way, and for those who would consent. There will always be a heavy price to pay as long as people — especially Jewish and Christian — insist on ‘ a way that seems good to a man, but its end leads to death’. It is my firm conviction that the Lord will use whatever takes place over the course of the next month to serve His own purposes, including bringing even more of His people back to Him through Jesus, and to bring many others to new birth by the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in the gospel.

We have been to four weddings in the last month-and-a-half. Some have been Jewish, or a combination between Jewish and Gentile believers; another has been Arab. They have each been different. One thing that particularly concerns me about our young people — and about those who have assumed spiritual authority over them — is that too many times the wedding ceremony (or some other event) may be Messianic/Christian, but the “party” following is definitely not. Why shouldn’t the celebration also be clearly discernible as being of the Holy Spirit just as we confess in our vows and in the words of exhortation to the new couple? Speaking as a Jewish believer, it seems that sometimes we are more concerned with whether there is a chuppa (wedding canopy), a kippa (yarmulke; skull cap), or a tallit (modern prayer shawl), or a glass to break with the foot than we are with the substance of what it is to honor what is taking place and the spirit that manifests once the formalities are concluded. Is this only an issue with me, or in Israel among too many believers, or do others of you in your own countries also worry and grieve over this? The Scriptures clearly teach that discerning between good and evil is an indicator of spiritual maturity (Heb 5:14), is the responsibility of the priesthood (Ezek 44:23), and reflects the character of God (Gen 3:22). Let there be music; let there be dance! But let us know the difference between Mordecai and Haman; our right hand from our left (Jonah 4:11). Let all that we do be unto the Lord, and not what the Bible calls idolatry. (1Cor 10:6-11)

For those of us living here, we too often complain about things. But for a visitor from Africa, he sees a great deal to be thankful for. Victor’s first impression after being picked up from the airport is the quality of the road and highway systems. Where he lives, and what we have experienced in the few African countries we have visited, roads are hugely neglected, and often a rutted and gutted dirt path is what is called a ‘road’. He sees fields ripe for the natural harvest, full of food and available to the people. There is drinkable running water from the tap in every city, town, and village. We live in a land of plenty — to the glory of the God of Israel — a testimony and pledge of the fruitfulness that will come when Yeshua returns to His own people when they call on HIM with a cry of ‘Hosanna’, ‘Save us’.

Victor has seen that the reports he hears from the media back home are NOT representing the reality of his on-site eyewitness. He expected the Israelis to be unfriendly, but that has not been so with him. He expected a violent people, but that has not been what he has felt. (And he knows what violent people are like, coming out of African culture.) He has seen Arabs and Jews intermingling freely. In short, he has seen a nation that ‘stands alone’ — a ‘land’ surrounded by ‘seas’ of Gentile nations. It is a testimony of GOD keeping covenant BECAUSE Messiah Jesus has died — and risen again — to CONFIRM the promises made to the fathers. There are some Jewish sects that do not recognize the State of Israel! Why? Because, they say, the Messiah has not come! But He has, and that is WHY Israel is being re-established back in the very land which YHVH promised! O for that day when He comes again!

According to Messiah Himself, knowing and understanding the first of His parables is crucial to understanding all the rest of His parables. It is the privilege of His disciples to know them, whereas the multitude does not. The parables of Yeshua help us understand the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven as God works in the world today.

Some key points to get hold of from the first parable (Mk 4:1-20):

–Everyone hears the Word of the Voice of God: Ps 19 1-4a (5a Heb); Rom 1:18-23; 10:14-18;

–Not all who hear receive, accept, believe, obey: Is 53:1; James 1:22-24; 2:18-19; Is 29:10-13; Heb 3:14-15

–There is eternal security for the believer: Ps 16:8-11; Rom 10:9-13; Heb 3:14-15

–The Lord knows His own, and all who call upon His name will depart from iniquity: 2Tim 2:19

The parables of Jesus help us understand the way of God with His people – both Israel and the Body of Messiah. When Jesus gave the apostle John His letters to the seven churches that are in the Book of Revelation, He evaluates the condition of the believers based partly on what He taught His disciples in His parables. Let us in the fear of YHVH gain knowledge, understanding, and wisdom for the times in which we live so that we are walking in the Spirit of Truth with our God and Savior. God has a plan and is carrying it out by His Spirit according to His Word and covenants.

The Kingdom of Heaven governs our lives. Our attitudes and relationship to it and to the Word of the Lord determine the quality of our life – both in this world and in the world to come.

The Earth is ~70% water and 30% land.

The human body is ~70% water and 30% solids.

Isn’t it interesting to ponder that the Creator of the heavens and the Earth made the first man from the dust of the ground, and is of the earth — 70/30?

Israel’s present physical state reflects an interesting present spiritual reality: ~70% desert and 30% green.

Let us look with faith and hope to that day when “the desert and wasteland shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of YHVH, the excellency of our God”. “For YHVH will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her desert like Eden, and her wilderness like the Garden of YHVH. Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (Is 35:1-2; 51:3)

Israel has four bodies of water — the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, the Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee. Plus it has the famous Jordan River, the Yarkon River, the Kishon River, and the Yarmuk River. At other times, the wadis (dry river beds) become filled with flowing streams. Israel has a rainy season (or two, depending on which reckoning one uses), and it snows on its mountains, most critically on Mt. Hermon on the borders of Lebanon and Syria. For all this, Israel lacks water — both natural and spiritual.

As the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray for revival within us, so, too, He wants to revive and refresh His Land. It begins with us who believe in hope of the coming of the Lord, who will transform even the Negev Desert into the Garden of Eden, the Garden of YHVH. (Is 51:3) Then, the world that He returns to, that He made, will know Him. Then, His own, to whom He will come, will receive Him. For all that have thirsted, it will be finished!

Yeshua’s first words to the question by His disciples regarding the last days were, “Take heed that no one deceives you!”. ‘No one’ can be human, angelic, or demonic. (2Cor 11:1-15; Gal 1:8)

One of the clearly false teachings of these days (although not a new teaching) goes by the name of “Dominion Theology”, or “Kingdom Now”, or some such variant of the idea. The main thrust is that Christians — and a special elite group at that — are to rule over the world before Jesus returns, if He returns at all. These will be the manifest sons of God, some special ‘Joel’s Army’ that is more than willing to bring down fire from heaven on those who do not “walk with us”. Yeshua rebuked His apostles who considered that an option. (Lk 9:51-56) Notice that this took place as Yeshua set His face to go to Jerusalem, knowing His time was coming to be crucified in His love for His Father first of all. This fire from heaven that even some of His closest fellows wanted to call down in emulation of the power of Elijah is not the same fire that Jesus will baptize us with. (Mt 3:11) How is it that the gospel is going to bring forth a huge harvest of living saints to present the Kingdom of God to the returning King of kings and Lord of lords, when the Lord Himself says that unless He returns, no flesh would be left alive?! (Mt 24:21-25; Rev 6:9-11)

We know that Yeshua was the Son of God/Son of Man before He was born and took on flesh and blood. He is God with us, the express image of the invisible God. Yet, it was by His resurrection that He was declared with power to be the Son of God! (Rom 1:4; Ps 2:7)

So will it be for us. The revelation of the sons of God for which the whole creation groans and waits will be manifested at the first resurrection. Those who are holy and blessed to have part in that resurrection will be declared with power to be the brothers and sisters of Jesus, who hear the Word of God and do it, and have overcome through repentance and faith to be the Bride of Messiah, who will sit with her Husband on His throne to rule and reign with Yeshua for 1000 years over Israel and the other nations. (Rom 8; Rev 20:6; Lk 8:21; Rev 3:20-22)

Many of those caught up knowingly or not in this aberrant teaching think that God is going to culminate His great plan of redemption in them. The U.S. — or the “victorious” Church in the U.S. — seems to still hold the prominent place in their thinking, therefore replacing Israel as God’s chosen nation destined to become the head when they finally accept Jesus/Yeshua as Lord and Messiah. This is just another manifestation of replacement theology, even though many of these deceived Christians who are deceiving others are supporters of Israel! (2Tim 3:13) I thank God for all those who stand with Israel from God-fearing motives, but ‘Israel’ is (mis-)understood in all manner of ways by all manner of believers and unbelievers. The strength of deception is that, if we are, we do not know it. We do have a present responsibility to be overcomers in the face of the wiles of the devil, doing what is possible now to promote righteousness, even as we anticipate with longing for that blessed hope of the Lord’s return.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews helps us see our place in God’s sovereign plan of redemptive history: “And all these [great cloud of witnesses], having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” (emphasis added Heb 11:39-40)

God is creating one new man in Messiah Yeshua. It is a corporate thing, a body thing, made up of countless individual living stones who have put their hope in the promises of YHVH God throughout history. Those who are that by His marvelous grace will inherit together whatever God has planned for the next 1000 years or so, when He completes His purposes for this very good creation in anticipation for that which is perfect to come.

We certainly do need a revival within the Body of Christ — not to have a military spiritual coup, but to get right with Jesus, and demonstrate that we are sons and daughters of God His Father.

There is no place like home! Vacations are usually nice; traveling to other cities and countries can be very interesting and exciting; but there is no place like home.

The ‘prodigal son’ came to realize that it is much better to be ‘home’, than on his own, doing his own thing, in rebellion against his father, family, and home. One does not necessarily need be physically away from ‘home’ to be ‘not home’. Although Abraham was in the land which God promised him for an everlasting possession, he, nonetheless, looked for a permanent home, an eternal dwelling place with God, where he would no longer be a stranger and sojourner in the land, in the world, but forever home.

When my wife and I married, we considered moving away from my hometown city of Richmond, Virginia, where we also met. At that time, it did not matter that much to me where I lived, and my wife thought she would prefer somewhere else after having lived there for about five years already. We took a bicycle trip after our wedding — a cyclelogical odyssey — looking for a ‘home’. As we considered other cities as possibilities, we became more aware that each one had its own pros and cons, and Richmond began looking better to my wife. While on the U.S. west coast, we saw for the first time coffee shop bookstores. (This was back in 1980.) That struck a chord with me, and where better to open one if not in my own city where I was familiar with the neighborhoods, and I would at least have some initial customers: family members and friends!

Psalm 137 speaks of the heart of the Israeli Jew: it needed/needs to be in Jerusalem , the physical and spiritual center for the home land of the children of Israel. One may be in physical exile, but the heart needs to know where it’s home is, if the soul is to know any hope and joy. The Lord Jesus says that where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. I had come twice to Israel in my early 20′s: once as a tourist; once as a volunteer on a kibbutz in the afternmath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Israel was important to me; it was “our” country. But. . .I still felt that the U.S. was my home: my family was there; my friends; my comforts; my freedom to travel. I was at ‘home’ in exile, but, praise God, He was also working on that!

While still on our cycling journey, in the first nano-seconds of being born again by the Holy Spirit, the Word of God spoke to me, “Go to Israel.” Jesus made Israel HOME on Earth for me! Not Richmond; not the U.S. We arrived seven months later. I have a Palestinian pastor friend, who thinks that ‘the occupation’ began in 1948 (!). I told him that Jesus brought me home. These are obviously two opposing ‘worldviews’ for the present age. What we do agree on, though, is what the Holy Spirit needed to do to convict me that I was a sinner: Yeshua died for me, and because of me and my sins, and has brought me home to my Father in Heaven.

May we all, who know God the Father and Yeshua, whom He sent, earnestly look for that eternal day of great joy in the Father’s house when all His children are rejoicing together at home in His love.

Gen 21:27-31

And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and both of them cut a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said to Abraham, What are these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves? And he said, For you shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, so that they may be a witness to me that I have dug this well. This is why he called that place Beer-sheba, because they swore, both of them, there.

(taken from The Bible Wheel, p. 208, by Richard Amiel McGough) “The Hebrew idea of an oath is the fullness and completeness of commitment. An oath is not an oath if it is anything less than a complete and perfect assent to whatever terms and conditions are stated. The symbolic power of the Number Seven therefore combines the ideas of fullness, completeness, the giving of one’s word, the making of an oath. . . .God marked the Bible with the Number Seven as a sign that it is the fully sealed, completely finished, and perfect revelation of His sevenfold oath, His covenant, His promise to us. It is God’s numerical signature to show us that He has fully given us His Word.”

God has given us who live in Beer Sheva — a desert oasis — a significant place to bear witness to His covenant promises and oath which He gave to our Fathers, and which He is bringing to pass in these last days through His Son by the outworking (working out) of the Holy Spirit. Even as YHVH has made Abraham the father of all who believe in Yeshua/Jesus, Beer Sheva remains a prophetic place of destiny for the redemption and restoration of the national Israel of God. May the hearts of the fathers be turned to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, as the Day of the LORD nears.

Bassoon: the choice instrument of a particular variety of excellent low-toned fish

On this U.S. Independence Day celebration, isn’t it wonderful to know that, as her light is fast waning and gross darkness is encroaching upon the Earth, “we have the prophetic word confirmed, which [we] do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in [our] hearts”! (2Pt 1:19)

Messiah Jesus plainly says in Mt 24:36-37:

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, but My Father only. But, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

It does the cause of the truth no good whatsoever, as it regards the gospel and the Kingdom of God, when some one claims that he knows or that the Bible guarantees a specific day and hour. YHVH is the God of Hosts (Armies), and knows how to wage war and to keep certain necessary things secret. There is an enemy who could figure it out, too, if it were revealed to any one else.

The Lord Jesus also rebukes His people, especially those who are given to rule and lead, in Mt 16:3a:

. . .Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

So, there are signs of the times, and if the sons of Issachar could discern the times and have understanding as to what Israel should do (1Chr 12:23, 32) without the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, how much more should we who do have that promise of the Father through the risen Savior understand our own times in this generation which God has given us to live in!?

Jesus/Yeshua bemoans His rejection by His own people, in Mt 23:38-39:

Behold! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, You shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of YHVH’!

In other words, “Blessed are You, Lord Jesus Christ!” “Save us, Lord Jesus, Son of David!”

Thank God for His ‘untils‘!

The Apostle Paul writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in Rom 11:25:

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Another sign of the times and a clue as to the timing of the taking up of those alive and remaining in Christ until His coming (1Thes 4:15-18) is given us by our Savior in Lk 21:24b:

. . .And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The victory and capture of Jerusalem by Israel in the June 1967 Six-Day War did not bring to fulfillment the times of the Gentiles nor their fullness into the Body of Messiah. Jerusalem is still being trampled under foot by various Gentile agencies: the Temple Mount has a Gentile temple upon it; East Jerusalem, which is the Biblical part of today’s Jerusalem, is mostly populated by non-Jews, and has long been considered as a possible concession to them should there be a Palestinian state; the Vatican and the United Nations all claim and insist that Jerusalem, in some form or other, be under international control rather than under Israeli sovereignty. Clearly, the ‘untils‘ have not yet occurred.

So, it seems that the rapture will not occur until individual Jewish believers and the time and the fullness of the Gentiles have been completed –for the Bride is made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers as one new man– and until the Jewish people as the nation of Israel call out desperately for Jesus/Yeshua to save them. No one can predict or prophesy the day and hour for all this to concur, but we are to be discerning of the times we live in, watchful and prayful as we continue in His business until that day does surely come.

I was once asked by a Christian believer whether I considered myself a Jewish American or an American Jew? Not long after, I was asked by another Christian, “What’s a Jew?”, in reply to my query regarding the Jews being the Chosen People. Both questions were appropriate and provocative, and interestingly enough, my wife and I immigrated (made aliyah) within a year of those questions.

Whether the debate is about authentic Jewish thought, the Law of Return, legitimate Jewish faith and religion, valid conversions, the status and relevance of the Bible, or even anti-missionary activities, the answer to “What/Who is a Jew?” remains elusive. Who has ultimate sovereign authority to say? By our own internal quarreling and judgments, both within the State of Israel and in the dispersion abroad, we, the children of Israel, give credence to the New Testament Christian understanding (who have similar crises of defining identity and belonging) that not all Israel is of Israel, and not all of Abraham’s natural descendants through Isaac and Jacob are truly Jews/Israelis.

My own answer to the two questions I was asked — “I’m a Jew!” — was no more conclusive than those being given now in the nation’s search for true identity with integrity. What is it that makes a person a Jew, and not merely Jew-ish? One does not necessarily have to be a Jew in the full sense in order to do things ‘Jewishly’, especially when living in Israel.

I once heard a Talmud teacher answer a question I put to him following a public lecture that to seek the truth is a mitzvah (a commandment; a good deed), but to find it is a sin! Please, let us not so dishonor the God of our fathers with such vain and futile unbelief.

YHVH God says though Moses to the children of Israel, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. (Lev 19:18)

Golden Rules
Judaism – Talmud, Shabbat 31a

“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary.”

Christianity – Matthew 7:12 (New Testament)

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

Islam – Number 13 of Imam “Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths”.

“None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother (i.e., fellow Muslim) what he wishes for himself.”

God and Christ/Messiah (Prophet, King, Priest)
Judaism says that YHVH God is a Father, and there is a Messiah, but that Jesus is not God’s unique and only begotten Son, nor is He the Messiah and King of Israel.

Islam says that God is not a Father, and so He has no Son (or any children), and that Mohammed is the Prophet of their God.

Christianity says that Jesus/Yeshua is the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the Living God. (Mt 16:16; 1Jn 2:22-23)

As the NATO forces fight in Libya and witness and complain about the fact that the Muslim forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi use mosques, hospitals, schools as places from which to fight and to store weapons; as they use women and children as shields; as they call for ‘truce’ but believe that the jihadists will simply use it to re-group….will these same NATO and other nations continue to blame and to condemn Israel when she must fight to defend herself against the same ‘unfair’ rules played by those who do not recognize the rules of the game — I mean of the war!?

Yeshua is alive! From His resurrection and the emptying of His grave, He began — as the omer (the sheaves of wheat waved before God each of the 50 days by the priests beginning the day after the Sabbath during Passover week as proof by faith of the coming harvest) — to show Himself alive with many infallible proofs to Mary and to His apostles and on to the other of His disciples — all together about 500 people. Not that many, and far less than the eyewitnesses at Mt. Sinai when YHVH manifested His presence to Moses and the children of Israel. Once again we see that numbers are not crucial with the living God to change a people or to do His works. Israel was not chosen to be His ‘peculiar’ people because of their great number, and certainly not because of any inherent righteousness; yet…through Israel He has given a microcosm of all humanity for an example to the Church — to all people everywhere anywhere at all times who come to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob through the Messiah Yeshua of the Tribe of Judah, yet Who is also the representative Son of Man and also the express image of the invisible God. What a God! What a Savior!

So we press on to enter into that blessed hope of our own resurrection or rapture, and towards the great harvest to come as the fullness of the Gentiles comes into the Kingdom, and the salvation of all Israel, with an innumerable multitude of sheep nations to serve Yeshua, the King of Israel and the Jews.

In his letter to the Phillipians, the Apostle Paul speaks of the high calling in Messiah Yeshua. He lived his life in such a manner that he might obtain that for which he was called and chosen. He wanted to live so that he might attain to the resurrection from among the dead.

Paul is not here referring to the general resurrection of the dead, which even the unbelievers and condemned will experience, but, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he writes regarding the better resurrection, the first resurrection, the one which the Lord Himself speaks of in the Revelation as being ‘blessed and holy are all those having part’ in it.

What would be such a life that would ‘qualify’ us for that blessed hope at the Lord’s coming? Certainly, we would say we must love others as ourselves. Perhaps Yeshua would take us beyond and require that we love [the brethren] in Christ as He has loved us.

As Paul, none of us would confess that “I” have attained, or that “I” am already perfected. But are we pressing on? Is the high calling, this resurrection in our sights, our vision? Is being the Bride of the Lamb, co-rulers with the King of kings, loving His appearing as dear to us as it very much seems to be to Him? Are we making choices, and concerned how our attitudes, motives, actions stemming from those choices affect others in a way that reflects on the name of Jesus/Yeshua, and on other believers? In other words, are we loving Him above all, and loving others as ourselves regarding the consequences of what we do or not, and why we are doing it or not?

With Passover drawing near, many of us see in the appointed feasts/holy days of the LORD as not only actual historical events, but also redemptive and prophetic. When Yeshua came the first time. . . and was killed, buried, resurrected, appeared to many, ascended to Heaven, and gave the Holy Spirit as the promise of the Father. . .all these took place right on time and within the timing of the calendar days. Should we not apply the same thinking and interpretation of the same Scriptures speaking of the upcoming appointed times, which prophetically and redemptively speak of the end-times in anticipation of the Lord’s return and the establishing of the Kingdom of God here? That is, these will be fulfilled right on time and within the timing of the calendar days. Even so, the day and hour of the Lord’s return can not be known, but as children of the resurrection, we can be secure in faith that the Holy Spirit will help us in whatever way necessary that we can be prepared and ready as we understand the times in which we live.

Thank God! May He have mercy on us all, and may we encourage one another, provoking one another to love and good works, especially as the day nears.

The unrest and uprisings in N. Africa and the Middle East have western Christianized nations speaking out of their own imaginations of democracy finding expression in the results of the overthrows of the existing oppressive regimes. Democracy has become almost a mantra, and certainly an idol to praise and bow down to. Yet isn’t it evident that its most inspiring expression, as seen in the United States of America, is shorter-lived than the major historic empires of history?

In Israel, where government is more democratic than in the Islamic world surrounding it, there are also elements which reject democracy as their model. The ultra-religious admit that Judaism and democracy conflict: Israel can not be a Jewish nation concurrently with democracy, which deteriorates to everyone doing what is right in his own eyes. Messiah Yeshua intends to restore the Kingdom of God back to His people whom He has chosen to be His inheritance, and the first-born of many other nations. This is not democracy, yet, being the King whose throne is established in righteousness and [righteous] judgment, there will be much freedom for those subject to His rule.

The prophetic voice calls for repentance back to YHVH God, and for mercy and justice to the poor and needy in society — both for the native born and for the stranger who has joined himself to the people. We are called to be salt in the world, and to maintain the salt of the covenant. If this salt becomes saltless, Yeshua teaches that it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out. Yeshua is coming back!

With Purim just past, and as we were studying from the book of Genesis this evening, it dawned on me that Haman is our (Jewish people’s) distant relative! How can that be?!, you may be saying.

Let’s trace it out; it won’t really take that long:

Gen 25:23 Esau and Jacob are fraternal twin brothers/two nations
in their mother Rebecca’s womb; and the older would serve the younger.

Dt 23:7a; 14:1-3

You (children of YHVH God) shall not abhor an Edomite (another name for a descendant of Esau), for he is your brother.

Gen 36:15-16

These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, were . . . Chief Amalek . . . in the land of Edom….

1Sam 15:8

[King Saul] also took Agag, king of the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Esth 3:1

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

So, Haman is a son of Agag, son of Amelek, son of Esau, the brother of Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham!

The verse in Dt 23:7 in the Law of Moses prepares us who believe, by the grace of God, in the Lord Yeshua as Messiah and Savior to seek God for an increase of faith perhaps to fulfill the New Covenant commandment to love one’s enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us, that we may be sons of our Father in Heaven…. (Mt 5:44-45a)

Passions and murderous grudges run deepest within families, especially when one feels cheated out of an inheritance or blessing, even if beforehand those same gifts were of little value to them. (Heb 12:14-17; Mt 10:34-36; Mic 7:5-7)

Our present suffering cannot compare to the glory to be revealed! Vengeance is the Lord’s!

Dt 25:17-19 Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when YHVH your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which YHVH your God is giving you to possess an an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.

The God who sovereignly and ‘secretly’ superintended and oversaw events in the days of Mordecai and Queen Esther, is the same God today who is still going about His business, even if most of His own people in Israel and within the Church do not acknowledge it and give Him honor. For example, is Israel today of God, or of man? Is Yeshua bringing to fulfillment all that is written in the Law and the Prophets, or has God broken or annulled them now that Messiah has already come once? God is still hiding His face, but do we who know Him in Messiah ‘see Him’ in all the things taking place?

Believers in Yeshua must deeply root ourselves in the matter of the integrity of our lives and testimony: when people see us, they are thinking about Jesus! Who and what are they seeing that reflects back on God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ? What is our manner of life and the use of the members of our bodies?

Is 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure!”

Num 23:18-23 Then [Balaam] took up his oracle and said:

Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor!!

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that he should regret. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received [from YHVH] to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!

He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. YHVH his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them. God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox.

For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, “Oh, what God has done!”

Is 54:17 ‘No weapon formed against you shall succeed, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of YHVH, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says YHVH.

Jer 31:31,34 Behold, the days come, says YHVH, that I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel, and with the House of Judah. . . .No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know YHVH!’, for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says YHVH: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jer 50:20 In those days and at that time, says YHVH, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found: for I will forgive those whom I preserve [as a remnant].

Jer 51:5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God, YHVH of Hosts, though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

Mt 1:21 And [Mary] will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua (Jesus), for He will save His people from their sins.

Mt 16:16-18 . . .on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades/Sheol shall not prevail against it!

Rom 11:1,11 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!. . . I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah also loved the Church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Rev 3:19-22 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent! Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!

Rev 1:8 “I am the Alpha (Aleph) and the Omega (Tav), the Beginnng and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

God bless you and yours.

Lk 17:28-30 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

As we were studying Genesis in our Bible study some weeks ago, a verse spoke out loudly to me concerning these days leading up to final things:

Gen 19:9 And [the men of Sodom] said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to live here, and he keeps acting like a judge; now we will deal worse with you[, Lot,] than with [your male guests].”

How long had Lot been living in Sodom from the time he separated from his uncle Abram/Abraham? The record isn’t too clear, but it seems like it had certainly been some good number of years. The Apostle Peter lets us know by the Holy Spirit that Lot was a righteous man, who was daily vexed in his soul by the wicked and filthy lawlessness of the city where he resided. (2Pt 2:6-10) Yet for all of Lot’s years and life there — growing and raising a family, engaged in his work — the moment of truth came when he took a righteous stand for godliness (Mt 5:10): “Who are you to come here to judge us!?”

What struck me here was the truth that when God sets His face to bring judgment on a people, a city, the world, it is because their iniquity has become full. (Gen 15:16) What the Lord Jesus says about His deliverance and His judgments at the end of the age being like as in the days of Lot, He is also telling us that we, or anyone or anything else, can not prevent it. Those of the world will not accept us who are no longer of the world. (1Jn 4:4-6) For the cleansing of a people, a city, a land, righteous judgment is necessary to bring inner defilement to an end. (Ezek 36:16-36)

The gospel is the power of God to save! It is the gospel that we have received that causes us to go out ‘to make a better world’. But the Scriptures have given us Lot as an example to know that there are set limits to our efforts, or to the world’s appreciation of those efforts: Who are you to come here and judge us?!

We can not ultimately impose God’s righteousness on a fallen, rebellious world. Satan is still the god of this world, and will be so till the Lord returns and puts him away. Israel is still the enemy of the gospel, and will be so till they bless Yeshua who alone comes in the name of YHVH. Until these two issues have been resolved by the coming of the Lord, the world will not be a ‘better place’ to live and fulfill God’s purposes from His eternal perspective. We are pilgrims and sojourners here — strangers — which is how the ungodly men of Sodom considered Lot when he admonished them for their wickedness: “This one has come here to live and makes himself our judge.” We are ambassadors of another King and another Kingdom — of Messiah.

2Tim 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who who enlisted him as a soldier.

Are we serving as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, or have we become entangled with the world order that is opposed to Him? (Mt 26:52-54; 13:22)

1Cor 5:11-13 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. For what do I have to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person”.

Our primary sphere of influence for righteous living is within the Body of Messiah. Our lives should be such that those outside have no legitimate accusation against us, even though they may not believe the truth of who Yeshua is. (1Pt 2:11-12) Our good works outside done in the name of Yeshua are our light to bring honor and glory to Him and the Father. (Mt 6:1-4) And as the Lord Himself teaches His disciples, we want to guard against over publicizing our good deeds, lest we wind up with that being our reward, and not receiving a far better one from our Father. Doctrine helps in making us strong believers; applying doctrine in our life should give us a fragrance of Messiah. (2Tim 3:16; 2Cor 2:14-17)

Ja 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

We are challenged to maintain the integrity of the gospel of God and the uniqueness of Yeshua as being the only Savior and way to real life which God has prepared for those who love Him. It becomes an entanglement, a snare, to unequally yoke ourselves with unbelievers, or with those named brethren who are not walking in the light, in matters of business, politics, etc., if we must leave Jesus out to do so. (2Cor 6:14 – 7:1)

As it was in the days of Lot, even so will it be in the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Relegating Israel to the dustbin of history, by either hoping or believing that God has rejected or else replaced her, is not something that only began with Gentile Christian history. God’s dealings with His people have perplexed other people for millennia up until these end times of the last days. Hear what the LORD let Jeremiah know about 700 years before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD:

Jer 33:23-26 Moreover the word of YHVH came to Jeremiah, saying, “Have you not considered what these people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families (i.e., David’s for the kingship, and the Levites for the priesthood) which YHVH has chosen, He has also cast them off!‘? Thus they have despised My people, as if they should no more be a nation before them.

“Thus says YHVH: ‘If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and Earth, then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them.’”

Mt 16:16-18 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Yeshua answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (Sheol) will not prevail against it.”

Gen 49:24b . . .by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)

Yeshua and His legal father, Joseph, are called carpenters (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3). They may well have been; the Galilee area around Nazareth certainly has plenty of trees. But the region is also rich in stones. The Greek word used in the two passages referred to is transliterated tekton. It generally refers to a skilled builder or craftsman, used for carpenters as well as for stonemasons and metalworkers. The Hebrew equivalent would be pronounced charash, and is also used for skilled laborers in wood, stone, and metal.

It is interesting that the imagery throughout the Bible makes much use of rocks and stones when it comes to building things, especially for endurance. There really is not a whole lot speaking of wood for overcoming the rock of the ages and the sands of time. Fire, especially, is an enemy of wooden structures. Rocks, gems, and precious stones can withstand the heat and other forces for a much longer period, and are often enhanced in color and purity. Rocks speak of strength, solidity, and stability. Gems and jewels express symbols of beauty, worthiness, divine qualities. YHVH God is our Rock; He is our refuge; and we are His workmanship!

Here are some verses (English numeration) from the Scriptures that suggest the probability that Jesus, while perhaps also working with wood, was primarily, perhaps, the best stonemason and gemologist who ever will be! The natural physical qualities and abundance of stones and rocks in the Land of Israel provide the template for working with us and on us spiritual stones:

Ex 20:25 And if you build Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it.

Dt 8:9b …a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper

Ps 31:2b …Be my rock of refuge, a house of defense (a fortress) to save me.

1Cor 10:4 (Ex 17:6) and all drank the same spiritual drink. And that Rock was Christ (Messiah).

Is 51:1-2a Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek YHVH: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug (the quarry). Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you. . . .

Ezek 36:26-28 I will give you a new heart and a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers: You shall be My people, and I will be your God.

Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42; 1Pt 2:7 The stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone!

Is 28:16; 1Pt 2:6 …Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

Is 8:14: 1Pt 2:8 He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel. . . .

Mt 3:9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!’

Lk 19:40 But [Jesus] answered and said to [the Pharisees], ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out!‘

1Pt 2:4-5 Coming to Him as a Living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua Messiah.

1Cor 3:9-15 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Eph 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Mt 16:18; Jn 1:42 [When Peter confesses Yeshua as the Messiah, Son of God, this testimony of who Yeshua is is the Rock upon which Yeshua builds His church, His body. What is interesting is that the new name which Jesus gave Simon was Peter, which means ‘rock, or stone‘. Upon the likes of simple, ordinary people, who are also sinners, Jesus takes us as living stones to build His body, a holy and stable spiritual House of God. It is Peter in his first epistle that uses this metaphor for born-again believers, and the foundations of the wall of the great city — the holy New Jerusalem, whose architect (designer) and builder are God (Heb 11:9-10) — are the twelve apostles. (Rev 21:14)

More than that, Yeshua is the Son, which in Hebrew is ben. This is the root word for boneh, which means Builder! The Hebrew word for house is ba’it, whose root word is baht, meaning Daughter! O for the wisdom of God and the treasure He has given us — Yeshua and the Bible! Praise the Lord for Zion, and the virgin Daughter of Zion, the dwelling place of the Father and the Son in the house of God (Jn 14:23): for the New Jerusalem, the Mother of all who are a new creation through Messiah Jesus! What honor and glory to become the virgin, spotless, and glorious Bride of the Son of God — co-heirs with the King of kings and Lord of lords, all living together in the Father’s house — the eternal new heavens and new Earth!

Rev 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

Rev 21:9b-11,18-21 “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. . . .The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: . . . . The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Lord Jesus Christ. . .more than a carpenter indeed! There is NONE like Him!

In Ezek 20:33-38, the Lord YHVH expresses His dissatisfaction (could be an understatement) with His people, and speaks of gathering them out of the countries where they (we Jewish children of Israel) are scattered, and bringing us into the ‘wilderness of the peoples’dealing with us “face to face” as He did with our fathers in the wilderness of Egypt. The word translated as ‘wilderness’ here (midbar) is better translated ‘desert‘. This land that is the ancestral home for the Chosen People of God had lain a desolate and dry wasteland for all the intervening centuries of the dispersion of the Jewish people, and only with their return here over the past century or so has it begun to show its potential for regeneration.

As believers in Yeshua, we know that Israel today – representing most of the world — is a spiritual desert, with a few oases located here and there. The shepherd’s job and responsibility is to lead his flock to these pastures of food and drink on the way to being the final resting place — Zion.

Yeshua is dealing with His people ‘face-to-face’ in our own land, yet it is but a desert/wilderness. They/we have not yet entered the promised land which YHVH covenanted with an oath to give to the descendants of Jacob. The promise land is called here the Land of Israel. The Lord will not bring the rebels against Him and His covenant into that inheritance, which encompasses far more territory than now “possessed”, and where/when He will rule over them!

Israel finds herself vis a vis the nations similarly to the believers in Yeshua/Jesus here find ourselves vis a vis Israel: little or nothing they or we do to explain, defend, justify themselves/ourselves is taken to heart as sufficiently acceptable to change the envy and hatred without a cause towards either Israel in the eyes of the rest of the world, or of Yeshua and those who believe the gospel in the eyes of the powers that be in Israel. When we are not walking in obedience to the Word of God, our moral strength of conviction of HIS righteousness is weakened (2Cor 10:3-6). God is squeezing us all into a tight and narrow road that we will feel the pressure, either bringing about a humility of love for those we are mutually pressing and for the Lord Himself, or bringing about an unloving and self-preservation attitude from within the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.

If Israel today is a desert of the peoples, how much more so the spiritual reality in lands not chosen to be “the Holy Land“?

Many Jews and Christians teach that the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law from Sinai, given by YHVH through Moses for Israel, are God’s righteous standard — that they reflect the full righteous character of God for human beings to live up to. Many churches and Messianic congregations display the 10 Commandments, or have a Torah scroll in a special cabinet, as if to maintain God’s standard before the congregations. (Why shouldn’t believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah/Christ, the Son of God, have the whole Bible in view?!)

I believe that that the New Testament/New Covenant shows us and requires of us a much higher standard of God’s righteousness (which is further testimony that the New Covenant is new, not re-newed).

Here are a just a few examples of this much higher standard of righteousness than that which the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law (Torah) demand — similar to a standard for children or for slaves being raised even higher for more mature sons and daughters, and for real friends:

1. Mt 5:21-22 [Messiah Yeshua says], You have heard that it was
said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever
murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you
that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall
be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his
brother, ‘Raca!’, shall be in danger of the council. And who-
ever says, ‘You fool!’, shall be in danger of hell fire.

2. Mt 5:27-29 You have heard that it was said to those of
old, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that
whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye
causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for
it is more profitable for you that one of your members
perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

3. Mt 5:31-32 Furthermore, it has been said, Whoever divorces
his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I
say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason
except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and
whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

4. Mt 5:43-45a You have heard that it was said, You shall love
your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love
your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. .

5. Mt 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.

6. Mk 7:14-16 When He had called all the multitude to Himself,
He said to them, Hear Me, everyone, and understand: there is
nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him;
but the things which come out of him, those are the things
that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!

7. Jn 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love
one another: as I have loved you, so you also love one
another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if
you have love for one another.

8. Rom 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the
Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ,
to all and upon all who believe. . . .

It is often said that Jesus/Yeshua kept the Torah perfectly, and some want to try to do the same themselves now that they believe in Him and have the Holy Spirit. Yet, there are many requirements in the Law that Yeshua did not have to do: the Law is for sinners; Yeshua was not a sinner, but God Himself in flesh and blood! He lived a higher standard of righteousness than what the Torah recognized, but did point to. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:3-4)

God is love (a noun): He does not merely love (as a verb). YHVH’s thoughts and ways are far above ours. His wisdom is inherent in Himself; we must ask wisdom from above when we are aware we lack it. The Word of God (who is Yeshua) “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart“. God is perfect; He does not need to be perfected. Our ‘perfection’ will only become realized in the resurrection, and even then, we will forever glory in the wondrous greatness of our Father God and Savior!

Legislated law — however excellent — can never change the heart of persons. We must be born again by the Holy Spirit, through faith in the gospel of the death and resurrection of the Son of God/Son of Man for our sinful natures and our sins, and receive a new heart and a new Spirit. Even so, ‘Come, Lord Jesus, to bring the righteous Kingdom of God to this Earth!’