Acts 2:17 – “In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.”
Watch 1 – Topic: Unity of the Body of Messiah
Theme Verse: John 17:21 – “That they all may be one.” (also Acts 1:14)
22:00 – 23:00 – Praise and Worship
23:00 – 24:00 – Prayer and Intercession
Watch 2 – Topic: Coming of the Kingdom of God
Theme Verse: Matthew 6:10 – “Let Your kingdom Come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (also Revelation 11:15)
24:00 – 1:00 – Praise and Worship
1:00 – 2:00 – Prayer and Intercession
Watch 3 – Topic: Reaching the Nations
Theme Verse: Acts 1:8 – “Be witness of Me in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (also Matthew 24:14; Psalm 2:8)
2:00 – 3:00 – Praise and Worship
3:00 – 4:00 – Prayer and Intercession
Watch 4 – Topic: Miraculous Power of Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: Acts 4:29 – “…Stretch out Your hand to heal, that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy servant Yeshua.” (also Isaiah 61:1)
4:00 – 5:00 – Praise and Worship
5:00 – 6:00 – Prayer and Intercession
Watch 5 – Topic: Salvation of Israel
Theme Verse: Romans 11:26 – “And so, all Israel will be saved.” (also Romans 9:1; 10:1)
6:00 – 7:00 – Praise and Worship
7:00 – 8:00 – Prayer and Intercession
Watch 6 – Topic: Coming of Yeshua
Theme Verse: Matthew 23:39 – “Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord.” (also Revelation 21:20)
It is so simple. It is so profound. It is so earth shaking. It’s so exciting.
Acts 2:17 – “In the end times I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.”
This has not happened yet. It really will happen. It will happen soon.
When does this happen? – In the end times.
What will happen? – Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Who will it happen to? – All flesh.
There are three major elements:
1. In the end times,
2. God will pour out His Spirit,
3. On all nations.
Any individual or congregation can receive the Holy Spirit at anytime. Yet this prophecy is referring to a world-wide revival. Gifts of prophecy will be multiplied, particularly among the younger generation (Acts 2:17-18). It will happen during the events concerning the end times and the tribulation (Acts 2:19-20). It will usher in the Second Coming of Yeshua (Jesus), the great and terrible day of the Lord (Acts 2:20). It will be accompanied by a massive sweep of evangelism (Acts 2:21).
This is the same kind of revival that the disciples experienced in Acts 2. Yet it is yet to come. It will involve all nations. It happens right before the Second Coming instead of right after the First Coming. It will be accompanied by fire – not just fire of revival, but also of judgment. The fire of the First Pentecost (Shavuot) launched the gospel and the Church around the world from Israel. The Second Pentecost will bring Yeshua back to Israel and establish the kingdom of God on earth.
Before the outpouring in the first century, the early Messianic believers prayed together in unity all night in anticipation of Shavuot (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1). In the twenty-first century, it is upon us, International Christians and Israeli Messianic Jews, to pray together in unity all night, in anticipation of this great end times’ outpouring. As we do the same preparations they did, we will look forward in faith to the same kinds of results, and greater.
Simon Peter’s prophecy was quoting from Joel. Joel went on to mention that the catalyst for the prayer leading to the world-wide revival would be the renewed Messianic Jewish remnant in Israel (Joel 3:1). It will happen parallel to the time that the nations are gathering against the people of Israel and the land of Israel (Joel 3:2). All the conditions are coming into place now as they have never been in history.
We want to be obedient to this heavenly vision. Won’t you please join us in prayer and intercession! Pastors, prayer houses, and youth groups in Israel will be praying all night. Wherever you are, you are invited to prayer along with them. Attached is an English translation of the announcement that went out to the Israel Messianic community. Attached as well is a basic outline for the prayer and praise watches throughout the night. Please invite your friends, Facebook contacts, congregations, email lists, and prayer groups.
Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived in Washington D.C. on Friday for a week long official visit. President Obama met with Netanyahu for an hour and a half, one-on-one meeting. The meeting was described as tense, the discomfort between the two leaders apparent by their body language and statements to the press.
In Netanyahu’s speech on Monday, he indicated Israel’s partial acceptance of a future agreement based on the 1948 border, with several reservations concerning defensible borders – including the control of the Jordan Valley, and the creation of Jewish settlement clusters within the proposed Palestinian state.
President Obama stated simply in his speech on Thursday that the 1967 borders should be the borders of the future Palestinian state.
Obama’s speech was perceived by the international community as aggressive, both in its demands of Israel, and the Palestinians. This represents what many see as a change in American foreign policy, indicating a lean towards “tough diplomacy.” Both Netanyahu and Obama are expecting elections in 2012, and both are trying to prepare for the possible unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence in September.
Interestingly, the concept of a Palestinian State along the borders of “The Green Line” has been accepted by previous Israeli governments, once by PM Ehud Barak at Camp David in 2000, and again when PM Ariel Sharon accepted the guidelines set by US President George W. Bush in the 2003 “Road Map.” Those plans were rejected by the Palestinian leadership. Both clearly stated that the majority of the West Bank (more than 95%) would be given to the Palestinians, and the excess would be given in a land exchange.
Obama’s speech on the Middle East was eloquent, attractive and idealistic. The ideal of a peace plan based on 1967 borders with exchange of territories and disarmament in the Palestinian territories is appealing to most Israelis. The big problem, however, has to do with three “little” problems that Obama mentioned in his speech: Hamas, Jerusalem, and the refugees.
Hamas is not alone, but rather part of international jihad groups including Islamic brotherhood, Al-Wahabi, Al Qaida, Taliban, Hizballah, Iranian Ayatollas, etc. This is not a small recalcitrant group, but a murderous fanaticism that touches hundreds of millions of people within close proximity to Israel’s borders.
Jerusalem is not just a city like Berlin that can be re-united. The issue is the few square kilometers around the Temple Mount, an area sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. The clash of religious beliefs is central to the conflict, and cannot be avoided.
The refugees remaining from 1948 are small in number. However, the number of their descendants and relatives is much greater. What is greater yet is the demography of 100’s of millions of Arabs and Muslims surrounding the 6 million Jews in the tiny Jewish nation. That demography is an enormous problem that threatens the very existence of the State of Israel.
Video on 1967 Borders
World media and politicians are calling for a return to Israel’s 1967 border. Watch this simple video graphically describe the dangers involved:
We continue our preparations for the all night prayer vigil (10 PM to 10 AM) on June 7-8. We believe that God has promised a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the end times, which will usher in the last great wave of evangelism and lead up to the second coming of Yeshua (Jesus). Acts 2:17 – 20 – “In the end times I will pour out my spirit on all flesh… before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord… and all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost (Shavuot) morning 2,000 years ago, it is clear that the disciples prayed all night in expectant faith. In order for a world-wide Pentecost, we believe that there should be world-wide prayer, on the same night, led by the Messianic Jewish remnant in Israel. So please plan to join together with us, in whatever nation you live and whatever language you speak. We will send a fuller explanation and guideline for the prayer watches.
Walid and Mossab
Unfortunately there has been a publicized disagreement between two dear Christian Arab brothers, Walid Shoebat and Mossab Yousef, in which Walid accused Mossab of being a fraud. One of the evidences in Walid’s charge was an interview that Mossab made on Al-Hayat Television. Al-Hayat is likely the most fruitful ministry in the world for evangelism to Muslims.
The leaders of Al-Hayat are close friends, brothers, and partners to me and our team. I spoke with them about Mossab. They assured me that Mossab is a committed Christian and indeed served with the Israeli security forces. Mossab never claimed to be pro-Israel. (Walid’s faith, on the other hand, includes a strong pro-Israel stance.) Mossab believes that the love of Christ calls him to stop murder and hatred wherever it exists, and therefore he worked with Israeli security to thwart terrorism. Mossab’s testimony has had a strong impact on Muslims around the Middle East. Let’s pray for a godly reconciliation between these brothers.
Please PRAY for our ongoing ministry in Israel of indigenous evangelism, planting Messianic congregations, the discipleship training center, prophetic praise and prayer watches in Hebrew, and financial aid for the needy. Please PASS these updates on to others you believe would benefit from them. Please PARTNER with us financially to strengthen the body of Messiah in Israel, to foster revival here, and to spread the message of Israel, the Church, and the End Times to the nations.
We received a recent report from France of many Jewish people walking on the streets whose clothing indicated they are Jewish in cities in France with large Muslim populations being attacked and brutally beaten by Muslim youth. Many of the French Jews have already and are now preparing to make Aliyah to Israel. The 700 Club very accurately reports what is happening to “white French people” at the hands of Muslims. Please share with others. Sharia law is being demanded around the world in previously non-Muslim countries.
Please watch this video to see part of what is going on in France.
In a seemingly unprecedented move, a group of Amish Christians from the US made widespread use of modern technology – including airplanes, tour buses and even iPhones – in order to come to Israel and apologize to the Jews.
The Amish are most notable to outsiders for their shunning of the technological conveniences that have made life so fast-paced for everyone else. But they did not shy away from using whatever means necessary to accomplish what they viewed as the vitally important task of making things right between their community and Israel.
The Amish, both in the US and Europe, have a long history of anti-Semitism and have traditionally been firm proponents of Replacement Theology, which claims that God cast aside the Jews for their widespread rejection of Jesus as their messiah. Many Amish once believed the Nazi Holocaust was God’s punishment for that rejection of Jesus, and actually applauded Hitler.
“We are here to say we are sorry,” group leader Ben Girod told Israel’s Channel 2 News as the group visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem. “God reminded me that this is not who He is. We no longer want to reject you or look at you as not being God’s people. You were God’s people long before we were.”
Group member Jonas added, “Our people have had some bad attitudes toward the Jewish people and have rejected the Jewish people to a certain extent, and we have come to restore that and apologize.”
In another clip, Girod is shown reading Psalm 121:4 to the group, reminding them that “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
But the group did not only speak of these things amongst themselves. A strong declaration printed on a beautiful parchment was presented Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who oversees the Western Wall, on behalf of the entire Amish community. In the declaration, the Amish ask Israel’s forgiveness “for our collective sin of pride and selfishness by ignoring the plight of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.”
The document concludes by committing the Amish from this point forward to speak out strongly in support of the Jews and the Jewish state.
During their stay in Jerusalem, the group made great efforts to interact with average Israelis, who needed little prodding to satisfy their curiosity regarding these odd-looking foreigners who had come with a message of such warmth and love.
“Iran today is a closed land with countless open hearts. It is the most open nation to the Gospel in the entire world. Tens of thousands of Iranians are turning to Christ.
“Betrayed by the government, disillusioned with the religion, depressed by the prospects of the future, Iranians when they come to know the Lord Jesus Christ are completely transformed. They proclaim Christ in the marketplace. Entire families, men and women, are coming to Christ.”
One of the most prestigious offices in Israel is the General Commissioner of the police. Uri Bar Lev is the nominee to be the next commissioner. After his candidacy was announced, there came an accusation of sexual assault by Doctor Orly Inez, a highly placed woman advisor in the police department. Rumors of sexual immorality within the upper ranks of the police department are being smeared all over the newspapers and television.
This case is one of a series of scandals, having included in the past former Justice minister Haim Ramon, and former President Moshe Katsav. Most sexual abuse accusations involve an inherent problem in that there are usually no witnesses. Thus the case becomes the man’s word against the woman’s word. (The Bible deals with the question of absence of witnesses in Deuteronomy 22:24-25 and Deuteronomy 19:15.)
Interestingly, this week’s Torah portion describes the event in which Joseph in Egypt resists attempted seduction by Potiphar’s wife, who then accuses him of having molested her (Genesis 39). In the case of Bar Lev, there seems no doubt that there was sexual misconduct, whether there was sexual abuse or not.
All of us as disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) are being trained for positions of government in His kingdom. We would do well to learn from the biblical examples as well as from the modern ones. Bar Lev is likely to lose his nomination, whatever the truth behind the story is, just as Ramon and Katsav lost their positions. We need to avoid even the appearance of sexual misconduct, let alone actual immorality or abuse. If we walk in righteousness, we will rule and reign with Messiah (Romans 5:17).
Korean Missile Attack By Asher Intrater, Song Mansuk, and Kim Yeh Jung
On Tuesday, North Korea fired 176 missiles against South Korea, killing 4 people and wounding 19. It began when Pyongyang warned the South to halt its routine military drills with the US Army. When Seoul refused, the North began firing artillery on the small island of Yeonpyeong, which houses South Korean military installations and a small civilian population of about 1,700 civilians, mostly fishermen. Some analysts believe that North Korea started this crisis in order to turn the eyes of their own people away from troubling internal problems.
There are reportedly some 400,000 evangelical Christians living underground in North Korea; they are persecuted cruelly. Let us lift them up in prayer during this present crisis.
Nadav Ayal, in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, wrote a commentary that there is a logical connection between the nuclear plants in Iran and those in North Korea. When a totalitarian regime obtains nuclear power, it obtains a certain insurance policy for itself. North Korea purposely attacked South Korea. Although South Korea is stronger and wealthier, it must react with restraint. Why? – Because South Korea has a rational way of thinking and does not want to start a nuclear war over this incident.
The world has labored for several decades under a concept that peace would be assured because the great nations with nuclear power would not risk mutual destruction by starting a world war with responses on both sides. That rationale has worked… until now. That view makes an assumption: That the leaders of nations with nuclear power have a minimum level of rational thinking. However, in the case of a dictator like Kim Zong Il or in the case of radical Islamic leaders, the basic assumption of rational thinking is not applicable.
Should Iran invade across the border and take over Iraq, would anyone be willing to take a stand? The scenario at this point would more likely be a volley of statements at the U.N. that the action was “deplorable” and even “unacceptable.”
The world faces a danger in this decade that has never been faced before: weapons of mass destruction in the hands of irrational leaders. In the past, a guarantee of world peace was “deterrence”: Unfortunately, the concept of deterrence is not relevant to leaders who border on insanity or who are brainwashed by religious deception, to whom massive destruction to their own people is not a deterrent.
Rabbi Haim Amsalem
The fourth largest political party in Israel is Shas, the Orthodox religious Sephardic party. One of its Knesset members, Rabbi Haim Amsalem, has started proposing reforms, such as teaching core educational curriculum in their schools, easing restrictions on conversion to Judaism, and sending Yeshiva students into the work field – all greatly supported by the majority of Israelis. By proposing these reforms, Amsalem set himself in opposition to the Shas leadership, who in turn rejected him from their party, calling him an “Amalek,” a “despicable person,” and, as the worst possible insult, even comparing him to “That Man” (Jesus).
Since his proposals would be a benefit to Israeli society and a positive reform to Orthodox Judaism, it would be worthwhile for us to pray for him.
It’s holiday season again in Israel. This time it’s Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication when Israelis spend 8 days remembering God’s miraculous victory, through the hands of Judah Maccabee to defeat the Syrian army and re-claim the Second Temple! To make sure you’re ready to celebrate come shopping with us at the Israeli Shuk (market) as we learn all about Chanukah!. WATCH VIDEO
IRAN’S PARLIAMENT TRIES TO IMPEACH AHMADINEJAD
Iran’s parliament revealed it planned to impeach President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but refrained under orders from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, exposing a deepening division within the regime.
Lawmakers also launched a new petition to bring a debate on the president’s impeachment, conservative newspapers reported Monday.
In a report released Sunday and discussed in parliament Monday, four prominent lawmakers laid out the most extensive public criticism of Mr. Ahmadinejad to date. They accused him and his government of 14 counts of violating the law, often by acting without the approval of the legislature. Charges include illegally importing gasoline and oil, failing to provide budgetary transparency and withdrawing millions of dollars from Iran’s foreign reserve fund without getting parliament’s approval.
“The president and his cabinet must be held accountable in front of the parliament,” the report stated. “A lack of transparency and the accumulation of legal violations by the government is harming the regime.”
Authorities have tightened security and arrested members of the opposition to prevent riots and uprisings in response to the subsidy cuts, which economists say will drive up inflation.
The move to remove the president from office marks the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic that parliament has discussed impeachment of a president. Though the legislature is backed by the Iranian constitution, lawmakers can’t drive Mr. Ahmadinejad from office without the supreme leader’s agreement.
One issue on which both camps are broadly united is in supporting Iran’s right to proceed with its nuclear program against the objections of the international community.(Extracted from The Wall Street Journal, 11/22/10)
U.N. REPORT PROVES HEZBULLAH KILLED LEBANESE P.M.
An investigative report by the Canadian television network CBC has unequivocally concluded that Hezbollah was involved in the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The report said the UN probe had evidence pointing to Hezbollah’s involvement as early as 2006, but initially failed to pursue it. This evidence was supplied by a Lebanese police officer, Capt. Wissam Eid, who was himself assassinated in 2008.
Only in October 2007 did the commission finally order an analysis of Lebanese phone records. Two months later, this analysis produced a list of mobile phone numbers belonging to people apparently involved in the attack, including eight who, based on their cell phone data, had evidently been shadowing Hariri in the weeks before his death.
But despite all the telecommunications evidence obtained by both Eid and the UN, one problem remains: It is not evidence that would stand up in a court of law. Whether the commission will ever succeed in collecting the necessary supporting evidence remains unknown.
In recent months, Hezbollah has taken to claiming that it was actually Israel that killed Hariri.(Extracted from Haaretz/CBC, 11/23/10)
AMERICANS WANT ‘ISRAELI’ AIRPORT SECURITY
Should the US adopt Israeli-style airport security measures? A debate over just that issue has been running at full steam over the past few days due to profound public criticism of invasive security techniques which include a full body search and pat down.
In the past, Americans vetoed the security system used at Ben Gurion Airport claiming it casts suspicion on one sector in an inclusive fashion, namely, against Arabs and Muslims. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs explained on Monday that the reason US authorities refused to adopt Israeli methods was because Israel has one international airport and we have 450 of them and that makes all the difference”.
And yet, it seems that the American public disagrees. A Washington Post and ABC network poll revealed that 70% of Americans support adopting the Israeli profiling system and its implementation in US airports. (Extracted from Ynet, 11/23/10)
ISRAEL NOW TREATING CHOLERA IN HAITI
Almost a year since an earthquake struck Haiti, killing at least 200,000 people and reducing much of its capital of Port-au-Prince to rubble, authorities in the impoverished Caribbean nation are now struggling to contain a new disaster from spreading.
Over the past month about 1,200 Haitians have died in an outbreak of cholera while thousands more have sought treatment in hospitals.
International aid organizations including Israeli and Jewish groups have rushed into action trying to help the UN bring the situation under control. On Monday the UN declared IsraAID’s clinic in Leogane, a town located about 30 kilometers west of Port-au-Prince, a cholera treatment facility.
Since the announcement, the facility’s Israeli, Canadian and local staff have been preparing for the expected influx of patients by adding dozens of beds and stocking up on medical supplies.
“There’s a large auditorium behind our clinic which we’ve cleaned and filled with beds,” Shachar Zahavi, the head of IsraAID, said on Monday. “The largest medical center in the area is a Doctors Without Borders facility nearby, but UN officials who visited our facility were impressed with our work and designated us to be the area’s second treatment center.”
Since it opened last September, the IsraAid-Tevel center, which is fully funded by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, has treated hundreds of patients for various ailments. (Extracted from JPost, 11/23/10)
WE ARE ONE NEW MAN AND YET let us understand how we are one. (video following)
Rachem (Mercy) has always been one of my favorite Jewish songs. A very moving video you can watch after reading this article. Well, you can skip the article and watch the video but it will make more sense to read this first I add humbly. You can see the cry of the Israelis wanting so much for “Next Year Jerusalem” for peace, for it being their capitol city and to have the entire Temple Mount which is rightfully theirs.
See how the Jewish young cry out to God and watch in amazement with such anticipation and joy. Unlike the Palestinian children so sadly and terribly dressed in war uniforms and weapons crying out for the blood and extinction of Israel and her allies.
God has for this time in history re-established a Permanent Israel for His purposes. His plans are to take place in the Eretz Yisra’el (Land of Israel) in the acharit-hayamim (End Times), to re-establish a holy separated people to Him by restoring the fallen branch, as in the cry of the young and old in Israel, a cry for for Rachem (Mercy). The Jewish as a nation are having the scales fall of their eyes one by one. This video exemplifies the cry of the heart of every Jewish person believing and knowing the same God that we do, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That cry is for the same Messiah that we know to return to set up His Eternal Kingdom. Only The Name has not been revealed to them as a people, a nation. Yet!Ha Shem Yeshua Adonai! Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach-Jesus the Lord and Messiah. There is still the Temple Mount (Mount Zion) to be completely restored to them as well as the original borders from the Nile River bordering Egypt to South to the Euphrates on the Syrian border to the North. Genesis 15: 18-21 gives the map of countries to be taken over: Lebanon, Jordan also parts of: Egypt,Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Those are the borders only God Himself can and will retake in His time.
As the blinders are removed off of the eyes of both the Jews and their cousins the Middle Eastern tribes out of Ishmael and Esau this is a vibrant signal of both ‘Perilous Times’ and the ‘Return of the Lord’, both as our Blessed Savior Messiahand Violent Redeemer,“THE WORD OF GOD“ with Judgment and Destruction proceeding from out of His mouth as a two edged sword. Isaiah 42:13-14, Revelation.19:11-21.
One may ask where is the “Church, The Remnant, The Body of Christ/Messiah” in all of this since once a Jew or a Gentile receives Jesus as their Savior aren’t we all “One New Man” a widely diverse Kingdom within a worldwide system also so diverse as well. Watchmen will note that the extreme diversity still exits among the nations of the world but how similar is the mindset of the educated, industrial countries as if there is one momentum, one fascination, an obsession to become as one on a political and monetary basis thus leading to a world system of morality and spirituality in nature as well. The nature of the Evil One… Abaddon and also the one who carries his nature in order to rule worldwide for a brief period.
Who alone stands against this system whatever form it takes now and in the future? Of course the “Church”the unified “Body of True Believers in Christ Jesus”, Jew and Gentile alike in all things having to do with spiritual matters of following the Lord Jesus, Yeshua Adonai. Branches on the same tree of the same Judaic root; by the Line of Abraham to Judah to King David to Joseph and Mary to our King of Kings, Lord Jesus only doing what He saw his True Father do. So by believing and trusting in Jesus we have been grafted into the Judaic Root set by God for this purpose of ‘one new man’….then we as wild and natural yet fallen branches are all grafted into the line of Abraham. Romans 2:29 “On the contrary, the real Jew is one inwardly; and true circumcision is of the heart, spiritual not literal;….” Romans 8:6-8 But the present condition of Israel does not mean that the Word of God is failed (you can say that for today as well). In other words it is not the physical children who are the children of God, but the children (us..Jew and Gentile) the promise refers to who are considered seed.” [emphasis mine]. Paul goes on to quote Hosea 2:23 “Those who were not my people I will call my people;…”.
So we as ‘One’ in Jesus the Messiah are totally without distinction spiritually as Jew or Gentile. We don’t look alike but we have that same ‘look’ in our eyes. We think alike in many ways of love, prayer and adoration. We all have the Bible to read, a love letter of instructions written by God condensed to Ten and then Two major cornerstone commandments. “Love the Lord thy God with all of your heart, soul and mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-39 The law will show you your sin, yet if you do all things as these two commandments read then they will show you how to have joy,fulfillment and contentment within the law and the commandments. As Gentile Believers/Christians we are to biblically not do three things as to the law. “….abstain from things polluted by idols, fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” Acts 15:20. Yet keeping what is instructed us in the scriptures as to righteous living. Remember when this was being discussed there was no New Testament just the Old Testament of God’s testimony of what He instructed on living Godly lives. Please, as a people that have so many church dogmas and traditions remember that physically we are either still Jews or Gentiles (non-jews). Hitler if anyone in modern times proved that!
We as Gentile Christians have formed many non-biblical traditions: Sunday Sabbath, Christmas, Easter, sprinkling baptism, different times for communion and on and on.
What we have discarded are Jewish traditions that Jesus, the Disciples and Paul as Jews still participated in: Temple rites, Shabbat congregational meetings, other laws, and most importantly of all: the biblical appointed times of the festivals and 7th day Shabbat observance. These last two are permanent and eternally set for the Jews. Jewish Believers in Jesus as their Messiah are perfectly secure in continuing these permanent observances for them if they choose to do so and not the Christianized rituals of the ‘church’. They are still Jews fulfilling their biblical love. We as Gentile Believers grafted into the root of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (no other tongue or tribe) should stand by our brothers spiritually as one appreciating what they observe as fulfilling their lives walking, as we, in the Light of God’s holiness and truth. When we error and swing too far to orthodoxy on either side with partition, then we are in sin against our brethren. Can a Jewish Believer come into a Gentile Church on Sunday and eat leavened communion bread (as some churches do) and still be in kinship without any hesitations..yes! Can any Gentile Believer go to a Messianic meeting on Shabbat evening or morning and partake in the singing of the ‘Shema Yisra’el’ as they turn towards the East….most certainly with delight and the joy that brotherhood brings.
Spiritually we are identically one new man and no more separated…. yet physically and traditionally we are still visibly different until the Lord himself sets His foot on Mount Zion and all the gathered tribes of Israel see him ‘Face to Face’. Then we will become as the ‘True Church’ the ‘Gathered Ones from every tribe and tongue’, indistinguishable physically and spiritually; but yet mysteriously as any son or daughter exclusive in our created individual selves, perfected beyond earthly imagination. Thank You Lord Jesus!!!! There is one precursor to this for those who have gone on ahead to Heaven where the transformation of being both physically and spiritually as one takes place. Again Thank You Lord Jesus! Thank You Father God!
This is how we together as Jewish and Gentile Believers fight satan and his invasive hordes upon the earth in this time…a time set in history. Together as one, standing strong against the enemy while loving, caring and appreciating one another for how God Created us each one. The victory is not us overcoming the world around us but us in the midst of a world overcome by darkness and for us to shed the ‘Light of the Truth of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’. Then Jesus Himself is the Overcomer through the Holy Spirit directed by God the Father. Amen and Omaine!
Just an added word: I am not a scholar or of a theological degree ( I’m sure you caught that right off ). I just see matters in black and white as I meditate upon God’s Holy Word and ask to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Apostolic Attitude toward Religious Judaism in the Book of Acts
by Asher Intrater
There has been a continuing controversy among the Messianic pastors in Israel concerning our attitude toward religious Judaism and the Law of Moses. There is a small percentage (perhaps about 10%), who believe we should accept everything of Rabbinic Judaism; and another small percentage (perhaps about 20%), who believe we should reject everything of Rabbinic Judaism. The majority are caught in the middle of the discussion.
I have noticed a similar controversy in pastors in churches around the world. A very small number become so enamored with Rabbinic Judaism that they desire to keep all of Jewish culture. A larger percentage is still affected by replacement theology, anti-nomianism (anti-Law), and even anti-Semitism. Many Christian leaders who see a love for Israel and the Jewish people in the Bible also find themselves caught in the middle, and remain somewhat confused.
This controversy can be compared to the Acts 15 controversy 2,000 years ago. There the question was asked whether the Gentiles should be required to keep the Law of Moses. The answer of the apostles, as I interpret it, was that Gentile Christians are free from symbolic ceremonial elements of the Law, but the elements of universal moral Law are still incumbent upon them.
Note: This distinction between priestly symbols and universal morality is not an invention of the New Covenant; it was already expressed by the prophets of Israel. Yeshua taught on the subject in Matthew 9:13, 12:7, 23:23, and Mark 12:33. Yet, the distinction between symbolic law and moral law can be seen earlier in I Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 1:11 and 17, Jeremiah 4:4, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:7 and 8. My favorite is Proverbs 21:3 – “Doing righteousness and justice is more desirable to the Lord than animal sacrifice.”
In order to provide some background information, I prepared a brief survey of the attitude of the apostles by listing every verse in the book of Acts that concerned Rabbinic Judaism or the Law of Moses. I found 148 verses on the subject: 78 verses contained criticism; 70 verses contained affirmation. There was not even one chapter that did not contain some reference to this issue. As it was significant in the early community of faith, so is it today. What can we learn from this survey?
First of all, we see that there is a balance on the issue. To see Rabbinic Judaism as totally negative or totally positive is not biblical. There are pros and cons. I appreciate Paul’s (Saul’s) summary on the subject in Romans 11:28 – “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, yet concerning the election, they are beloved because of the forefathers.” There are elements of Rabbinic Judaism that are inimical to the grace of God and the gospel of salvation; yet within Judaism there are elements that maintain the historic faith from Abraham and Moses.
Of the 78 verses in Acts which are critical of religious Judaism, the great majority concern their persecution of Messianic Jews (59) and their rejection of Yeshua (10). Only 9 verses criticized them for legalism or sin. I found no verses that denied the position of religious Judaism as the continuation of the faith of our forefathers.
This is significant on both sides: Do not be deceived. There is an underlying “agenda” in rabbinic Judaism to oppose faith in Yeshua. Those who are not discerning will be weakened by being overly influenced by rabbinic teaching. On the other hand, Jewish belief and practice on issues not concerning the gospel are NOT necessarily rejected by the apostles.
Of the “affirming” verses, the largest category (16) was the statements of the apostles identifying themselves as part of the faith, culture, and ethnic background of the Jewish people. These expressions were voiced particularly when sharing the gospel, in an attempt not to let faith in Yeshua be separated from the people of Israel.
The second category (15 verses) was the attitude of the apostles to the Law of Moses. They saw the Law and the Prophets as the authoritative word of God. They viewed themselves as keeping the commandments and submitted to the prophecies of ancient Israel.
The third area of affirmation (15 verses) was of rabbinic tradition. The apostles did not affirm the traditions as the word of God, yet they made every effort to be respectful to the culture of their family and friends. Another 10 verses spoke of the custom of the apostles entering the synagogue in each city. The synagogue was seen as a valid place of prayer, community, and bible study.
Finally, I found 14 verses that spoke of a certain godliness, faith, and calling within the religious Jews themselves. The fact that they did not yet know the Messiah did not invalidate the degree of righteousness they did have within the Jewish religion.
We are committed to the truth of the whole word of God: Torah, Prophets, and New Covenant. Secondly, we desire to share our faith effectively with those around us. In the recent interviews on Israeli television and newspaper, many of the questions turned to how we in the Messianic community approach issues of Judaism and the Law of Moses, despite the fact that the Israeli media itself is predominantly secular.
As Yeshua and His disciples had to deal with issues of Torah when sharing the gospel with the Jewish people, so do we today. As the gospel goes out again to the nations of the world from Jerusalem, as it did in the first century, we desire our message to have the same kingdom priorities as expressed by the early apostles.
Our approach is to be radical in the work of the Holy Spirit, bold in presentation of the gospel, committed to moral integrity, and balanced in our approach to Jewish religious tradition. We follow in the footsteps of the apostles. Pray for unity on these issues in the Messianic community in Israel and in the international Body of Christ.
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