In this series of blogs, I will address some of the issues that confront the American Christian concerning the Hebrew perspective of God's Word. Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, my hope is that you will glean something from the Word of God that will help you grow in your relationship with Him and to have more of an understanding of the scriptures, if not a hunger to go deeper into study and pursuit of the One who died for you!
There are many issues that arise for many believers when they begin to hear about the Hebrew perspective of God's Word or of the Messianic Jewish Movement. It is indeed a movement that was initiated by God in order to restore the Church (Body of Messiah) to her original call and destiny...to know the Messiah and to make Him known. Everything I have gleaned on this journey so far is to that end. As the Apostle Paul puts it, (paraphrasing here) right now we see through a glass darkly, but then we will see Him face to face. As we near the end of the age when Jesus Christ will be revealed in Glory, it is as though He is coming closer into focus for those that are looking for Him. The "glass" the apostle Paul talks about is, of course, the scripture.
I have had people ask me things like, "Don't the Jews have a veil of unbelief over them?" and "Didn't Jesus fulfill the Law?" (By this they mean, according to their understanding, 'Didn't Jesus do away with the Law?') Many of these questions arise out of a sincere desire to understand God's perspective of Law and Grace. The errors in doctrines taught by men throughout the centuries have lent to much misunderstanding and confusion amongst believers about basic questions about salvation. I myself was confused at first. I did not have any other interpretation of the Bible other than the one given to me by the pastor or leader in the American institutionalized church. Until the lenses on my glasses changed....
God gave me a deep love for the people of Israel. This was a supernatural working in my heart. It was not something I aspired to nor mustered up. This was the start of a journey where I have come to know the depths of God's grace and His mercy. He started answering my questions and clarified things for me that were confusing or which seemed contradictory. I am not done! I am still walking on this path He set me on lo those 12 years ago. And everyday I am learning more and more of Him. May it never end!!
JEW AND GENTILE, ONE IN MESSIAH
Before Yeshua came to the earth, it is important to understand that salvation was through Israel. Theirs was the Word of God, the prophets, the knowledge of God. This is why they were the chosen people. The knowledge that there was only One true God was passed through them (Both Abraham and Noah knew this and had faith in God even before the Law). The knowledge of sin came through those who would become known as the Hebrews. Note: the first time the term Hebrew is used in regard to a person is with Abraham, Genesis chapter 14 vv. 13. The knowledge of sin has always been around from the beginning, but God's Torah made man acutely aware of sin. Not only did the Jews bring the knowledge of God and the knowledge of sin to the entire world, but they had the remedy for restoring one's relationship with God, after sin had its ugly consequence (for the wages of sin is death). That remedy was the sacrificial system, first instituted by God Himself in the Garden of Eden then with Abraham and restored to the Israelites during the Passover in Egypt, and consequently codified in the Torah.
The Jews not only brought the knowledge of God to the world, they brought God Himself to the world! Genesis 12:3 says "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (a reference to the Messiah). The Word of God became flesh and "dwelt among us". He was born of an Israelite virgin. He was the Son of God.
Jesus Himself said in John 4:22 "...we worship that which we do know, for salvation is of the Jews".
There was rare occassion when a gentile would come to faith in the Messiah. We find these examples in the gospels. However, during the time before Jesus' own sacrifice, if you were a gentile, you would either have to convert to Judaism or you could become on of the "God-fearers". Priscilla was a God-fearing gentile before she became a follower of Jesus. Such God-fearers would flock to the Temple and/or the synagogues. Although they loved God, they would be considered second-class or at best an accessory to Judaism. They were rarely used by God in order to speak about God and they were required to sit in separate sections in the Temple (the court of the gentiles) and in the synagogues, separated from the Jews by a wall or a curtain. If you were a gentile and wanted to be in covenant with God, you had to enter into the covenant of circumcision along with Israel. Otherwise, you were just considered to be learning about God second hand.
When Yeshua came, He changed all of that. He so loved the world. So that whosoever. Who so ever. Anyone. If you believed in Him (note that the concept of believing from a Greek point of view and a Hebrew point of view are two entirely different things. Because of a heresy called gnosticism which entered the early church and rears its ugly head toay, much of the Greek interpretation in the Western world of believing has to do with creed, while the Hebrew concept also includes deed, as in evidence of your faith, or repentance) If you repented and followed Him, you would not perish but have eternal life. When Jesus came, EVERY person on the face of the earth was allowed to eneter into one and only one way: through Jesus. He was the final sacrifice and the only one acceptable to God. He is the narrow gate and the only path to salvation. If you were Jewish, you must go throught the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. If you were gentile, you had to go through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Salvation became a level playing field and all were accountable to the same standard: that standard being Jesus.
This is why Paul said in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." And also in Ephesians 2:14, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...". What was the dividing wall Paul was talking about? The wall that separated the gentiles from the Jews keeping them from the fullness, the richness of God which comes from being a child of God. This was symbolized by that wall of separation in the Temple. Paul wanted the Galatians and the Ephesians to know that they now too had complete access to the Kingdom of God through Jesus the Messiah. They no longer had to be separated. When it comes to having right standing before God, it no longer mattered if you were a Jew or a gentile. That was no longer a determining factor for salvation.
Modern theologians have twisted these verses to mean that now neither Jew nor gentile even exist! This is preposterous. That is not what the verses state at all. Moreover, why would the nation of Israel continue to exist and that fulfillig prophecy by its very existence if Jews were to be no longer? Why would there be scriptures like Revelation chapter 7 which talks of 144,000 sealed from the tribes of Israel- if God wanted there to not be any Jewish identity for the people of Israel after Jesus?
Paul also, even after following the Messiah, continued to live and serve God as a Jew. And not just to win Jews. For if that were the case, he would forego making deliberate journeys (sometimes such a journey would take a month or longer) to Jerusalem for the Feasts of the Lord as celebrated by the Israelites. He would not be circumcising Timothy, who was a Jew, if he had abandoned the Abrahamic covenant or if he thought it was null and void. He would not continue to "....keep the Feast" as he exhorted the Corinthians to do with him in 1 Corinthians 5:8. (speaking of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Passover).
Yes, Paul had a specific calling to the gentiles to tell those who had not heard about the Messiah. He also had a pain in his heart for his own people (Romans 9: 3,4), as he says, "
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel". If Paul thought being Jewish was suddenly obsolete once the Messiah had come, he would not have referred to them in such a way.
Moreover, the Jewish believers of the first century continued to live and serve God as Jews. The continued to meet in the Temple and in homes, they celebrated the Feasts of the Lord as outlined in Leviticus 23, and many of them were the ones who knew Jesus and walked with Him. They were the ones who saw Him glorified after HIs resurrection. Remember the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus? The "stranger" was Jesus and He caused their hearts to burn within them when He opened their eyes concerning the scriptures and the Messiah. Which scriptures? The Torah and the prophets which spoke of and foretold about Him! The very scriptures which gave them their national identity! Not once did Jesus tell them that they were no longer Jews.
The being "one in Messiah" (Gal 3:28) refers to our standing before God. Yes, we are One Body, with many parts, united in Spirit with the Lord and with eachother. But our unity does not come out of our uniformity. We are not to be cookie cutters. We are to be who we were created to be. Unity does not happen beacause of our sameness. It happens in spite of our differences!! For as Yeshua Himself prayed in the garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion "...that they may be one as we are one:
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:22). He is not advocating uniformity or absence of identity or heritage here, but He is advocating for unity, the type of unity that Jesus has with the Father. They are uniquely distinct, yet in perfect unity. THIS is what will bring glory to the Body of Messiah and the knowledge of Jesus to the entire world. THIS is what Jesus desires us to have! And we have not tasted it yet. But oh boy when we do....!
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
From a practical standpoint, this is very comforting to know for both Jews and gentiles. God does not put a yoke on us which we cannot bear. You can be who you were created to be! If you are Jewish, you don't have to forsake your identity or even the promises God has made to you concerning the Land of Israel and the ensuing physical and spiritual blessings therein!! I would think my husband, son and my Jewish extended family would find that a relief and a blessing. And if you are a gentile, you do not have to become circumcised and do as many people think you have to do which is follow the traditions of the Orthodox rabbis (Their man-made traditions have skewed much truth from the Word of God, by the way). Rather, we can look together into God's magnificent Word and see for ourselves how to align our lives with His will and His teaching.
When I was going through this transformation in my single years, my roommate and best friend was so understanding and patient with me. The issues of our faith never became divisive. She opened up our home with me to allow us to celebrate and learn about the feasts of the Lord and a love for Israel with our friends. We both loved Jesus and He was the topic of our conversation every day. By doing so, she exhibited to me love and understanding and the "preferring" of your neighbor which the sciptures teach, even though she did not understand it all or maybe even agree with everything. And I will always love her for that. That to me was a beautiful picture of how we are to co-exist, both Jewish and gentile followers of the Messiah, in love and unity, not in strife, not in pridefulness of attitude, but in untity based upon the truth, despite our different gifts and backgrounds. Despite the various callings God has placed on our lives. Just as the apostle Paul explains the Body of Messiah is supposed to function. Through this, we exemplify God's complete love for us. And thus we show the world that we truly belong to Him.
More on the Hebrew roots of our faith later. Keep checking in. There is more to come!
**
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Back to the Root Part 1
Over the last 12 or so years I have been on the most adventurous, most thrilling journey of my entire life.
I have been delving into the Hebrew perspective of God and His Word. This persepctive can be termed the Hebrew Root (after the olive tree analogy of Romans 11). This has been a process of discovery, repentance, and refreshment unlike any other I have experienced. In essence, Romans 11:18 says that the gentile church does not support Israel (the root) but that the root supports the church; therefore do not boast against the branches. The roots, as the analogy would have it, go very very deep. I have found that they go deep into God's very nature. And as I plummet the depths of the Word of God, which is God, I realize I am looking into His wonderful face and experiencing a glorious renewal in my walk with the Lord. Once I began this journey, I was never to be the same person again.
And I have not been alone on this journey. The Lord has blessed me with compatriots and close friends, covenant friends, who have been on this same journey alongside me and who can attest with me to the wonderful richness that is in our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), the Living Torah, the Living Word of God.
The messianic Jewish movement of the last 2 or so decades has been the brunt of much criticism and accusations; mostly accusations of false doctrine. Some of it is deserved. However, some of it is not. The messianic movement in America is so wide in scope and diversity of expression, that if one wanted to, one could find any number of heresies taught within. One could also say the same of the American Evangelical and Protestant Church. Digressing here...
Within the messianic movement, I have been priviledged to become acquainted with, through personal involvement as well as reliable reports and biographies, a remnant of followers of the Messiah, both Jews and Gentiles, who cling to the Word of God, rightly dividing the word of truth, and live their lives with integrity and purity. Such people are not "legalistic" or "exclusionists" as some of the critics of the messianic movement claim. Rather, they have a passion for God and a desire to dive into His Word and live their very lives according to that Word.
If you would like to know my testimony of how I came to such a path in my walk, I encourage you to read my previous post entitled, "My Story" from October 26, 2008.
The Apostles and a Savior
The first followers of Jesus were all (with minor exceptions) Jewish. They were raised to know the Torah (the Five books of Moses) and the Tanakh (which includes the prophets and writings, together comprising the Hebrew scriptures). Many of them learned the scriptures from the time they could walk and talk. They read in the prophets about sin, about God's holiness, and about how they had been called out of the nations to be a holy people unto Him. They ate things that were kosher (see Deut. 14), things that were meant to be food. They did not eat things that were not kosher, things not meant for food. They observed the holy days which God had authored. They worshipped God in the manner He prescribed, rather than the manner in which the heathen nations worshipped their gods. They learned how God is a God of separateness, how He separated the light from the darkness, the day from the night, the clean from the unclean, etc.
All of the apostles were Jewish. There has been modern speculation that Luke was a gentile, however, there is in fact compelling scholarly evidence that he was indeed Jewish (for a paper regarding this, please go to the ministry website of Zola Levitt). And the Messiah Himself, the Savior of all mankind is Jewish.
To not acknowledge this truth about Jesus is to leave out a very important aspect of His identity, one which we would be well-served to know and understand.
Many modern Bible preachers, because of a heresy known as "replacement theology", paint the picture that Jesus was anti-everything that is Jewish. Nothing could be further from the truth! They back up their argument with snipets from scripture of how Jesus railed against the pharisees and saducees, the Jewish teachers and leaders of their day, when in fact, in every instance Jesus rebuked them it was because of their man-made traditions (these traditions have been termed 'Fences around Torah', which are still tenets upheld today by many in Orthodox Jewry). These fences were based upon the Oral Torah, rather than the written word of God. The Jewish rabbis and sages prior to Jesus' day wanted to ensure that the Israelites were careful to follow all of God's teachings. So they created a safety net of making sure the people would do this. They in essence created "fences" to ensure the people would obey the Torah. However, in doing so, Jesus accused them of putting a stumbling block in the way of the people so that they could not follow Torah or obey God. They were adding to the Torah, which is expressly forbidden.
Torah= Teaching
The Hebrew word Torah means "teaching". It is God's instructions given to the Israelites through Moses, which includes the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ordinances. Most Christians know that the Ten Commandments is God's moral law given to man. However, the subject of the 10 Commandments in modern times is one frought with confusion and misunderstanding. But what did Jesus Himself say regarding the Torah?
He said, "Think not that I came to abolish the Torah but to fulfill it." (Matthew 5:17). The word "fulfill" means the same as to advocate for, as a lawyer advocates for his client in a court of law. Literally it means to "fill to the full", or fullfill. That is what Jesus did- He advocated for the Torah (the non-twisted version of it) to the Jews. And He came to fill to the full the Word of God. What's more, He is the word of God. After all, it is written in John chapter 1 that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. And in verse 14, "And the word became flesh and dwelt among us". Which word is the apostle John talking about? The Torah! After all, the New Testament had not yet been written. And who became flesh? Yeshua! (Jesus). Yeshua is the living word of God. Therefore, when we consider the words of Jesus, the living word of God cannot be in anywise bad or be abolished. Everything He did and said confirmed God's Torah, God's teaching and fulfilled it.
Paul even says the Torah is not bad, but good. He would have not known sin if it were not for the Torah.
Even when the Jews tried to keep Torah in thier own might, they stumbled and were required to make atonement (prior to Jesus' crucifixion) with the blood of sacrificed animals. When they were not trusting in God and keeping His commandments, they were in sin. For to keep Torah the way it was intended is to trust in God.
Abraham trusted God and it was credited to him as righteousness. God gave the Torah to Abraham's descendants at Mt. Sinai and they said they would do the Torah. Albeit, many of them perished in the desert, a remnant of the Israelites did continue to keep Torah, thus continuing on in the way of Abraham of living by faith. Abraham listened to the word of the Lord and trusted. The children of Israel did the same. The word of God and His teaching as given to the Israelites are one in the same and they are both good.
A good friend of the family and diligent scholar of the Torah puts it this way, "When you consider the Law (Torah), you must consider the intent of the Lawgiver". That says it all right there! God is perfect and just. His intent is perfect and just. Therefore, the law or teaching which He gave, is also perfect and just.
So where does much of the confusion surrounding the Law stem from?
Some of the confusion stems from anti-semitism repackaged and sold in the gentile church. The Roman emperor Constantine did his part by legislating that pagan customs and festivals be observed in the place of the feasts of the Lord, for he said he wanted nothing to do with those "detestable Jews". And he actually made it illegal to be Jewish and be a follower of Jesus. Others followed suit. More on that later. Thus the richness that is the Word of God which has been stewarded by the Jewish people was lost to the newly gentile church. And most interpretation of scripture from that point on has been tainted with error and prideful "boasting against the branches" (Romans 11:18).
Many have incorrectly assumed that since Jesus did away with God's requirement for a blood sacrifice, that He did away with the entire Old Testament. That is patently false! It has been rebutted by Jesus' own words. Moreover, Jesus Himself even said that whosoever teaches these commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of God, and whoseover teaches men to break these commandments will be called the least. Therefore, when a doctrinal concept contradicts the very words of the Lord, one must be willing to question the theological concept and his understanding of it, rather than the truth being plainly stated. It is precisely here that many Christians, rather than searching the scriptures for themselves, have received the inherited religious pride and ensuing error in doctrine passed down by our spiritual forefathers. (David Stern calls such errors 'heresies'. (Jewish New Testament Commentary.)
There are also some technical aspects of the translation of scripture that has lent to this confusion:
In the New Testament, the same concept of Torah has been translated into the Greek for "Law" (nomos). It is a broad term used to include any standard or set code. It is also used in the New Testament to include God's moral teachings, as well as.....man's legalistic perversion of that teaching. In the Greek, the language does not allow for dileneation of the various shades of meaning of the term. Also, there may have been certain biases the translators had. Although it is the inspired Word of God, the attitudes of the earthen vessels it came through may have gotten in the way somehow, much as a prophet brings the Word of God through his or her own personal nuances. Additionally, an anti-semitic interpretation of the verses has perpetuated the misunderstanding of Paul's writings about the Torah.
Paul, the author of 2/3 of the New Testament, uses a very Jewish form of emphasis..that of paralellism, where the same truth is repeated. On the surface, it would seem that Paul is contradicting the points I have outlined here. However, he is not. The more I read the writings of Paul, the more I am convinced that he was not abolishing or even minimalizing God's Torah. But rather, he was dealing with a set of eccumnical issues which crept into the groups of early believers which emanated from a certain group of Jews who were pushing for a legalistic form of observing the Torah. Scripture calls these Jews "Juadaizers". They actually worked against the Torah, not in favor of it, since theirs was an observance by works, not by faith.
History is Key to Understanding
In the first century, the believers heard the good news of the Messiah coming to be the propitiation for their sins. The believed God, repented of their sins, and followed Him, thus perfectly keeping Torah, the way it was meant when God said He would write His law on their hearts (Jeremiah 31). However, a problem arose for these believers and for the apostles in Jerusalem as well, when the Judaizers were coming into their midst saying that the gentile believers must first convert to Judaism, undergoing circumcision, in order to follow the Messiah and in order to be saved. This was contrary to the apostles' teaching. Therefore, the Council of Jerusalem ensued during which the elders addressed the issue and highlighted the things that were important in order to keep following the Messiah. These things included: staying away from blood, fornication, things sacrificed to idols, and strangled animals. They even said that it "seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." that the believers not be burdened with any except the aforementioned requirements (Acts 15:28).
This was the climate in which Paul, who, along with Barnabas, disagreed sharply with those Jews trying to put such a yoke on the gentile believers, and the climate in which he wrote his epistles to the fledgling church. He instructed them (see Romans, see also Galatians) to continue on in their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, just as in fact they were doing. There is an idea in Jewish thought that while one is doing teshuvah (repenting from one's own sinful ways and turning to God's ways), that there not be put a stumbling block in that person's way. Paul knew this and he exhorted the followers to continue in their growth in the Messiah, not taking on a legalistic approach to the ways of God, or trying to attain eternal life or even a higher spiritual status through their own vain efforts, after they had already received the good news of what the Savior had done for them with gladness and trust.
Legalism Vs. Holiness
An invaluable tool for me in my journey into the Hebrew root has been "The Jewish New Testament Commentary" by David H. Stern. For more info, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-New-Testament-Commentary-Companion/dp/9653590111
Leglalism is not the same as trusting in God and His Word. Oftentimes whenever I just bring up the subject of the Torah or the Ten Commandments, I am accused (by modern American Christians) of being legalistic. Just because I have a love for God and His teachings! Was Jesus legalistic? He quoted from Deuteronomy more than any other book. He had a passion for the Holy Scriptures and correctly interpreted those scriptures for the Jews of his day. I would like to think of myself as being on a quest to do the same: to have a passion for God's inspired word, and to help others have a passion for His word also!
When one is legalistic, he is picking and choosing which parts of God's Word to single out and attempt to add to it as a work of the flesh. This is perveritng the original intent of the scriptures. Oftentimes this person is not exhorting others to follow God's teaching at all, but rather is making others feel condemned that they do not do as he does. In effect he exalts the flesh which is religious pride and sin. One who is "circumcised of the heart", with God's instructions in his heart (which includes worship of God alone and there is no room for idolatry, which includes religious pride), will live by faith in the Son of God, will repent when he sins, thus applying the ongoing atoning work of the cross. He will continue on in producing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8 ). Such a person is not being legalistic, but rather living a holy life by faith in God's Torah. (A good example of this is King David.) His works, the outward manifestation of his faith and the fruit of righteousness are the tell-tale signs of his conversion and renewal. ('For faith without works is dead' see James 2:20; James 2:26). In doing so, he is actually establishing Torah, not abolishing it or in any way diminshing its significance.
Please join me for the next few installments of this topic where we will explore answers to such questions as:
* Isn't there no difference between Jew and Gentile, aren't we all "one in Messiah"?
* Should Christians celebrate the Feasts outlined in the Old Testament? What about Christmas and Easter?
* How important is the Old Testament to God anyway?
*Can Jews be saved by any other way than through the Way, that is Yeshua the Messiah?
*Are there any benefits to studying God's Torah for the gentile Christian and the Body of Christ?
* What does having a "heart for Israel" look like and how can we practically bless God's chosen people?
Stay tuned.
Shalom!
**
I have been delving into the Hebrew perspective of God and His Word. This persepctive can be termed the Hebrew Root (after the olive tree analogy of Romans 11). This has been a process of discovery, repentance, and refreshment unlike any other I have experienced. In essence, Romans 11:18 says that the gentile church does not support Israel (the root) but that the root supports the church; therefore do not boast against the branches. The roots, as the analogy would have it, go very very deep. I have found that they go deep into God's very nature. And as I plummet the depths of the Word of God, which is God, I realize I am looking into His wonderful face and experiencing a glorious renewal in my walk with the Lord. Once I began this journey, I was never to be the same person again.
And I have not been alone on this journey. The Lord has blessed me with compatriots and close friends, covenant friends, who have been on this same journey alongside me and who can attest with me to the wonderful richness that is in our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), the Living Torah, the Living Word of God.
The messianic Jewish movement of the last 2 or so decades has been the brunt of much criticism and accusations; mostly accusations of false doctrine. Some of it is deserved. However, some of it is not. The messianic movement in America is so wide in scope and diversity of expression, that if one wanted to, one could find any number of heresies taught within. One could also say the same of the American Evangelical and Protestant Church. Digressing here...
Within the messianic movement, I have been priviledged to become acquainted with, through personal involvement as well as reliable reports and biographies, a remnant of followers of the Messiah, both Jews and Gentiles, who cling to the Word of God, rightly dividing the word of truth, and live their lives with integrity and purity. Such people are not "legalistic" or "exclusionists" as some of the critics of the messianic movement claim. Rather, they have a passion for God and a desire to dive into His Word and live their very lives according to that Word.
If you would like to know my testimony of how I came to such a path in my walk, I encourage you to read my previous post entitled, "My Story" from October 26, 2008.
The Apostles and a Savior
The first followers of Jesus were all (with minor exceptions) Jewish. They were raised to know the Torah (the Five books of Moses) and the Tanakh (which includes the prophets and writings, together comprising the Hebrew scriptures). Many of them learned the scriptures from the time they could walk and talk. They read in the prophets about sin, about God's holiness, and about how they had been called out of the nations to be a holy people unto Him. They ate things that were kosher (see Deut. 14), things that were meant to be food. They did not eat things that were not kosher, things not meant for food. They observed the holy days which God had authored. They worshipped God in the manner He prescribed, rather than the manner in which the heathen nations worshipped their gods. They learned how God is a God of separateness, how He separated the light from the darkness, the day from the night, the clean from the unclean, etc.
All of the apostles were Jewish. There has been modern speculation that Luke was a gentile, however, there is in fact compelling scholarly evidence that he was indeed Jewish (for a paper regarding this, please go to the ministry website of Zola Levitt). And the Messiah Himself, the Savior of all mankind is Jewish.
To not acknowledge this truth about Jesus is to leave out a very important aspect of His identity, one which we would be well-served to know and understand.
Many modern Bible preachers, because of a heresy known as "replacement theology", paint the picture that Jesus was anti-everything that is Jewish. Nothing could be further from the truth! They back up their argument with snipets from scripture of how Jesus railed against the pharisees and saducees, the Jewish teachers and leaders of their day, when in fact, in every instance Jesus rebuked them it was because of their man-made traditions (these traditions have been termed 'Fences around Torah', which are still tenets upheld today by many in Orthodox Jewry). These fences were based upon the Oral Torah, rather than the written word of God. The Jewish rabbis and sages prior to Jesus' day wanted to ensure that the Israelites were careful to follow all of God's teachings. So they created a safety net of making sure the people would do this. They in essence created "fences" to ensure the people would obey the Torah. However, in doing so, Jesus accused them of putting a stumbling block in the way of the people so that they could not follow Torah or obey God. They were adding to the Torah, which is expressly forbidden.
Torah= Teaching
The Hebrew word Torah means "teaching". It is God's instructions given to the Israelites through Moses, which includes the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ordinances. Most Christians know that the Ten Commandments is God's moral law given to man. However, the subject of the 10 Commandments in modern times is one frought with confusion and misunderstanding. But what did Jesus Himself say regarding the Torah?
He said, "Think not that I came to abolish the Torah but to fulfill it." (Matthew 5:17). The word "fulfill" means the same as to advocate for, as a lawyer advocates for his client in a court of law. Literally it means to "fill to the full", or fullfill. That is what Jesus did- He advocated for the Torah (the non-twisted version of it) to the Jews. And He came to fill to the full the Word of God. What's more, He is the word of God. After all, it is written in John chapter 1 that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. And in verse 14, "And the word became flesh and dwelt among us". Which word is the apostle John talking about? The Torah! After all, the New Testament had not yet been written. And who became flesh? Yeshua! (Jesus). Yeshua is the living word of God. Therefore, when we consider the words of Jesus, the living word of God cannot be in anywise bad or be abolished. Everything He did and said confirmed God's Torah, God's teaching and fulfilled it.
Paul even says the Torah is not bad, but good. He would have not known sin if it were not for the Torah.
Even when the Jews tried to keep Torah in thier own might, they stumbled and were required to make atonement (prior to Jesus' crucifixion) with the blood of sacrificed animals. When they were not trusting in God and keeping His commandments, they were in sin. For to keep Torah the way it was intended is to trust in God.
Abraham trusted God and it was credited to him as righteousness. God gave the Torah to Abraham's descendants at Mt. Sinai and they said they would do the Torah. Albeit, many of them perished in the desert, a remnant of the Israelites did continue to keep Torah, thus continuing on in the way of Abraham of living by faith. Abraham listened to the word of the Lord and trusted. The children of Israel did the same. The word of God and His teaching as given to the Israelites are one in the same and they are both good.
A good friend of the family and diligent scholar of the Torah puts it this way, "When you consider the Law (Torah), you must consider the intent of the Lawgiver". That says it all right there! God is perfect and just. His intent is perfect and just. Therefore, the law or teaching which He gave, is also perfect and just.
So where does much of the confusion surrounding the Law stem from?
Some of the confusion stems from anti-semitism repackaged and sold in the gentile church. The Roman emperor Constantine did his part by legislating that pagan customs and festivals be observed in the place of the feasts of the Lord, for he said he wanted nothing to do with those "detestable Jews". And he actually made it illegal to be Jewish and be a follower of Jesus. Others followed suit. More on that later. Thus the richness that is the Word of God which has been stewarded by the Jewish people was lost to the newly gentile church. And most interpretation of scripture from that point on has been tainted with error and prideful "boasting against the branches" (Romans 11:18).
Many have incorrectly assumed that since Jesus did away with God's requirement for a blood sacrifice, that He did away with the entire Old Testament. That is patently false! It has been rebutted by Jesus' own words. Moreover, Jesus Himself even said that whosoever teaches these commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of God, and whoseover teaches men to break these commandments will be called the least. Therefore, when a doctrinal concept contradicts the very words of the Lord, one must be willing to question the theological concept and his understanding of it, rather than the truth being plainly stated. It is precisely here that many Christians, rather than searching the scriptures for themselves, have received the inherited religious pride and ensuing error in doctrine passed down by our spiritual forefathers. (David Stern calls such errors 'heresies'. (Jewish New Testament Commentary.)
There are also some technical aspects of the translation of scripture that has lent to this confusion:
In the New Testament, the same concept of Torah has been translated into the Greek for "Law" (nomos). It is a broad term used to include any standard or set code. It is also used in the New Testament to include God's moral teachings, as well as.....man's legalistic perversion of that teaching. In the Greek, the language does not allow for dileneation of the various shades of meaning of the term. Also, there may have been certain biases the translators had. Although it is the inspired Word of God, the attitudes of the earthen vessels it came through may have gotten in the way somehow, much as a prophet brings the Word of God through his or her own personal nuances. Additionally, an anti-semitic interpretation of the verses has perpetuated the misunderstanding of Paul's writings about the Torah.
Paul, the author of 2/3 of the New Testament, uses a very Jewish form of emphasis..that of paralellism, where the same truth is repeated. On the surface, it would seem that Paul is contradicting the points I have outlined here. However, he is not. The more I read the writings of Paul, the more I am convinced that he was not abolishing or even minimalizing God's Torah. But rather, he was dealing with a set of eccumnical issues which crept into the groups of early believers which emanated from a certain group of Jews who were pushing for a legalistic form of observing the Torah. Scripture calls these Jews "Juadaizers". They actually worked against the Torah, not in favor of it, since theirs was an observance by works, not by faith.
History is Key to Understanding
In the first century, the believers heard the good news of the Messiah coming to be the propitiation for their sins. The believed God, repented of their sins, and followed Him, thus perfectly keeping Torah, the way it was meant when God said He would write His law on their hearts (Jeremiah 31). However, a problem arose for these believers and for the apostles in Jerusalem as well, when the Judaizers were coming into their midst saying that the gentile believers must first convert to Judaism, undergoing circumcision, in order to follow the Messiah and in order to be saved. This was contrary to the apostles' teaching. Therefore, the Council of Jerusalem ensued during which the elders addressed the issue and highlighted the things that were important in order to keep following the Messiah. These things included: staying away from blood, fornication, things sacrificed to idols, and strangled animals. They even said that it "seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." that the believers not be burdened with any except the aforementioned requirements (Acts 15:28).
This was the climate in which Paul, who, along with Barnabas, disagreed sharply with those Jews trying to put such a yoke on the gentile believers, and the climate in which he wrote his epistles to the fledgling church. He instructed them (see Romans, see also Galatians) to continue on in their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, just as in fact they were doing. There is an idea in Jewish thought that while one is doing teshuvah (repenting from one's own sinful ways and turning to God's ways), that there not be put a stumbling block in that person's way. Paul knew this and he exhorted the followers to continue in their growth in the Messiah, not taking on a legalistic approach to the ways of God, or trying to attain eternal life or even a higher spiritual status through their own vain efforts, after they had already received the good news of what the Savior had done for them with gladness and trust.
Legalism Vs. Holiness
An invaluable tool for me in my journey into the Hebrew root has been "The Jewish New Testament Commentary" by David H. Stern. For more info, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-New-Testament-Commentary-Companion/dp/9653590111
Leglalism is not the same as trusting in God and His Word. Oftentimes whenever I just bring up the subject of the Torah or the Ten Commandments, I am accused (by modern American Christians) of being legalistic. Just because I have a love for God and His teachings! Was Jesus legalistic? He quoted from Deuteronomy more than any other book. He had a passion for the Holy Scriptures and correctly interpreted those scriptures for the Jews of his day. I would like to think of myself as being on a quest to do the same: to have a passion for God's inspired word, and to help others have a passion for His word also!
When one is legalistic, he is picking and choosing which parts of God's Word to single out and attempt to add to it as a work of the flesh. This is perveritng the original intent of the scriptures. Oftentimes this person is not exhorting others to follow God's teaching at all, but rather is making others feel condemned that they do not do as he does. In effect he exalts the flesh which is religious pride and sin. One who is "circumcised of the heart", with God's instructions in his heart (which includes worship of God alone and there is no room for idolatry, which includes religious pride), will live by faith in the Son of God, will repent when he sins, thus applying the ongoing atoning work of the cross. He will continue on in producing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8 ). Such a person is not being legalistic, but rather living a holy life by faith in God's Torah. (A good example of this is King David.) His works, the outward manifestation of his faith and the fruit of righteousness are the tell-tale signs of his conversion and renewal. ('For faith without works is dead' see James 2:20; James 2:26). In doing so, he is actually establishing Torah, not abolishing it or in any way diminshing its significance.
Please join me for the next few installments of this topic where we will explore answers to such questions as:
* Isn't there no difference between Jew and Gentile, aren't we all "one in Messiah"?
* Should Christians celebrate the Feasts outlined in the Old Testament? What about Christmas and Easter?
* How important is the Old Testament to God anyway?
*Can Jews be saved by any other way than through the Way, that is Yeshua the Messiah?
*Are there any benefits to studying God's Torah for the gentile Christian and the Body of Christ?
* What does having a "heart for Israel" look like and how can we practically bless God's chosen people?
Stay tuned.
Shalom!
**
Friday, June 26, 2009
Staring Eternity in the Face
The world was shocked today to find out that 2 major pop culture icons died. One expectedly, the other not expectedly. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett left this life today. Many people were shocked. Many questioned their own reason for existence as their own mortality stared them in the face.
There is one appointment on your life's timetable that you will undoubtedly keep. You may not know the day or the hour (neither MJ nor Farrah knew theirs), but one thing is for certain: you will pass from this life never to return again.
The Bible says "...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." (Hebrews 9:27). So make no mistake...once you die, that is it. There's no going back. No reincarnation. No sleeping in the dust in bliss for all eternity. There is judgement to face. Every man must face his Creator and give an account for his life. What will God be looking for?
The Bible teaches that everyone will be raised on that last day...some to everlasting life, others to everlasting condemnation (Daniel 12:2). So who will be raised to life and who will be condemned? For the Bible also says that there is no one righteous, no not one. And also that "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). So, what will be the requirement that allows a man to enter into Heaven?
First, let me just say that God, the Creator of the Heaven and the earth loves you sooo much! How much? Well, He knows (at any gven time no less) how many hairs are on your little (or big) head!! He formed you in your mother's womb, He gave you the personality that you have. He knew all your likes, dislikes, weaknesses and strengths before you ever let out one scream on the delivery table. He knows all your days (Psalm 139). He longs to spend time with you. To fellowship with you. The all-knowing, all powerful Ancient of Days is crazy about you.
Well, "if He is so all-loving, then why does God send people to hell?", you may be asking. He doesn't. God doesn't send anybody to hell. Does that surprise you? Why? You see, the scriptures are clear: God does not and cannot change. He is without sin. He is holy. That is just His nature. He set His moral standard for all humnakind in His Word. Yet, every single one of us has transgressed His law, His standard. We fall short. We sin. We are, by nature, enemies of the very God who loves us so much. Hell (sheol) was not created for you and me, but it was created for the devil and his fallen angels. And sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God, so all who sin must go to the place of torment known as hell, where the Bible describes there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth and their torment never ends. So how can this be resolved to where a person can spend eternity with the Creator if we have all sinned, we have all gone against God's moral standard and deserve hell? (eternity is forever...it never ends. Hard to wrap your mind around, huh?)
The Atonement
In the first Covenant (You may be more familiar with the term Old Testament), God had the same exact standard He holds today. It can be summed up in the Ten Commandments, or the Ten Words. But people sinned back then, as they do today. So God made a provision for them through the instructions He gave to the children of Israel; a way they could be reconciled to Him and have their sin forgiven, by way of a blood sacrifice. Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin. But God did somethiing even MORE awesome than that. By His power and awesome wisdom, He became our sin sacrifice in the person of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. John 1 says "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us". Imagine that! The very moral standard...the very Word of God became human flesh, yet He was without spot or wrinkle, was without sin so that He could fulfill His own requirement for a perfect sacrifice! Then He offered Himself up to die in our place...to take the judgement and wrath we were so deserving of....He took it upon Himself...in its entirety. He did this so that you and I could be purchased, redeemed from the power of sin and death. He did this so that we could live forever with Him in Heaven when we die and so that we can have the abundant, meaningful, and full life He always meant for us to have here on earth! It would be like you were in court, sentenced to death because you broke the law. If someone came and took your place, paid your fine, and it was acceptable to the judge, he could commute your death sentence. It is the same with the Judge of the universe! Jesus paid your fine, setting you free from jail. On the day of judgement, the ultimate court date, your sin has been paid for. You have been purchased and can go free!
Isn't that incredible??
So the only thing that will stand before you and a holy God on judgement day is this: what did you do with God's Son? How did you respond to what He did for you, what He did in your place? Did you trample His blood under your feet? Did you laugh, mock, or think Jesus was for old women and weak people who need a crutch? Did you think His Word was a bunch of stories and fairy tales? Did you passively, if yet cowardly, think that is nice for some people, but I know how to live my life?- I'm doing fine? Or did you gratefully accept His payment for you? Or, instead, did you respond by saying Yes...if Jesus loved me this much, I would like to get to know Him, I would like to trust in Him for my salvation and live forever with God and His holy angels in Heaven. Because, my friend, this life is just a vapor in light of eternity.
Here today. Gone tomorrow. And you never know when your time will be up. All we have is now. Every moment, every breath is a gift of a loving God who does not want you to perish. He does not want you to reject His offer!!! God WILL NOT send you to hell. People send themselves there. They send themselves there by rejecting the one and only provision God has given them, by throwing it back in His face through unbelief, cynicism, and refusal to give up their sin, their pride, and the way they have been doing things. After all, if you were on a plane that was about to crash, and the pilot said "Here, put on this parachute, it will save your life", would you then say to the pilot, "I'll be fine. I've never died from a plane crash before..."? or "A parachute might be good for you, but I don't believe in parachutes..", or even, "I don't belive I will die from hitting the ground, I think I will just go into a very long blissful sleep". That sounds ridiculous, does it not?!
What is even more ridiculous? Having an opportunity to trust God for what He Has said and done and having the most satisfying, fulfilling relationship anyone could have the only one that can bring you true and lasting peace and assurance of Heaven, and squandering it away.
The book of Ecclesiastes states that it is a far better thing to consider death, to mourn and to wail, than to be happy, merry, and bright. Why? Because this is every man's end. No one has been known to escape it. No one ever will. Consider it now. It is your lot in life. And after that, the judgement. Judgement of what you did with the knowledge of God's love for you and His sacrifice for you.
I hope you will choose wisely.
*
There is one appointment on your life's timetable that you will undoubtedly keep. You may not know the day or the hour (neither MJ nor Farrah knew theirs), but one thing is for certain: you will pass from this life never to return again.
The Bible says "...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." (Hebrews 9:27). So make no mistake...once you die, that is it. There's no going back. No reincarnation. No sleeping in the dust in bliss for all eternity. There is judgement to face. Every man must face his Creator and give an account for his life. What will God be looking for?
The Bible teaches that everyone will be raised on that last day...some to everlasting life, others to everlasting condemnation (Daniel 12:2). So who will be raised to life and who will be condemned? For the Bible also says that there is no one righteous, no not one. And also that "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). So, what will be the requirement that allows a man to enter into Heaven?
First, let me just say that God, the Creator of the Heaven and the earth loves you sooo much! How much? Well, He knows (at any gven time no less) how many hairs are on your little (or big) head!! He formed you in your mother's womb, He gave you the personality that you have. He knew all your likes, dislikes, weaknesses and strengths before you ever let out one scream on the delivery table. He knows all your days (Psalm 139). He longs to spend time with you. To fellowship with you. The all-knowing, all powerful Ancient of Days is crazy about you.
Well, "if He is so all-loving, then why does God send people to hell?", you may be asking. He doesn't. God doesn't send anybody to hell. Does that surprise you? Why? You see, the scriptures are clear: God does not and cannot change. He is without sin. He is holy. That is just His nature. He set His moral standard for all humnakind in His Word. Yet, every single one of us has transgressed His law, His standard. We fall short. We sin. We are, by nature, enemies of the very God who loves us so much. Hell (sheol) was not created for you and me, but it was created for the devil and his fallen angels. And sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God, so all who sin must go to the place of torment known as hell, where the Bible describes there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth and their torment never ends. So how can this be resolved to where a person can spend eternity with the Creator if we have all sinned, we have all gone against God's moral standard and deserve hell? (eternity is forever...it never ends. Hard to wrap your mind around, huh?)
The Atonement
In the first Covenant (You may be more familiar with the term Old Testament), God had the same exact standard He holds today. It can be summed up in the Ten Commandments, or the Ten Words. But people sinned back then, as they do today. So God made a provision for them through the instructions He gave to the children of Israel; a way they could be reconciled to Him and have their sin forgiven, by way of a blood sacrifice. Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin. But God did somethiing even MORE awesome than that. By His power and awesome wisdom, He became our sin sacrifice in the person of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. John 1 says "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us". Imagine that! The very moral standard...the very Word of God became human flesh, yet He was without spot or wrinkle, was without sin so that He could fulfill His own requirement for a perfect sacrifice! Then He offered Himself up to die in our place...to take the judgement and wrath we were so deserving of....He took it upon Himself...in its entirety. He did this so that you and I could be purchased, redeemed from the power of sin and death. He did this so that we could live forever with Him in Heaven when we die and so that we can have the abundant, meaningful, and full life He always meant for us to have here on earth! It would be like you were in court, sentenced to death because you broke the law. If someone came and took your place, paid your fine, and it was acceptable to the judge, he could commute your death sentence. It is the same with the Judge of the universe! Jesus paid your fine, setting you free from jail. On the day of judgement, the ultimate court date, your sin has been paid for. You have been purchased and can go free!
Isn't that incredible??
So the only thing that will stand before you and a holy God on judgement day is this: what did you do with God's Son? How did you respond to what He did for you, what He did in your place? Did you trample His blood under your feet? Did you laugh, mock, or think Jesus was for old women and weak people who need a crutch? Did you think His Word was a bunch of stories and fairy tales? Did you passively, if yet cowardly, think that is nice for some people, but I know how to live my life?- I'm doing fine? Or did you gratefully accept His payment for you? Or, instead, did you respond by saying Yes...if Jesus loved me this much, I would like to get to know Him, I would like to trust in Him for my salvation and live forever with God and His holy angels in Heaven. Because, my friend, this life is just a vapor in light of eternity.
Here today. Gone tomorrow. And you never know when your time will be up. All we have is now. Every moment, every breath is a gift of a loving God who does not want you to perish. He does not want you to reject His offer!!! God WILL NOT send you to hell. People send themselves there. They send themselves there by rejecting the one and only provision God has given them, by throwing it back in His face through unbelief, cynicism, and refusal to give up their sin, their pride, and the way they have been doing things. After all, if you were on a plane that was about to crash, and the pilot said "Here, put on this parachute, it will save your life", would you then say to the pilot, "I'll be fine. I've never died from a plane crash before..."? or "A parachute might be good for you, but I don't believe in parachutes..", or even, "I don't belive I will die from hitting the ground, I think I will just go into a very long blissful sleep". That sounds ridiculous, does it not?!
What is even more ridiculous? Having an opportunity to trust God for what He Has said and done and having the most satisfying, fulfilling relationship anyone could have the only one that can bring you true and lasting peace and assurance of Heaven, and squandering it away.
The book of Ecclesiastes states that it is a far better thing to consider death, to mourn and to wail, than to be happy, merry, and bright. Why? Because this is every man's end. No one has been known to escape it. No one ever will. Consider it now. It is your lot in life. And after that, the judgement. Judgement of what you did with the knowledge of God's love for you and His sacrifice for you.
I hope you will choose wisely.
*
Pregnant
I have been away from blogging the last couple of months because I have been very busy with an almost 2 year old explorer and battling morning sickness. We found out we are expecting our second child the beginning of Jan. (or more like the end of Dec). Fatigue, nausea, weight gain, and just plain ol regular life can make it to where the idea of writing a blog just doesn't make it to the top of the priority list sometimes.
Nevertheless, we are excited. I think it will be a girl, but I have been wrong before. (and pleasantly surprised!) There are some boys' name that I am fond of, but not inspired by. There are a couple of girls' names that I like, but only one I am inspired by. Nevertheless, the Bible says a good name is better to be desired than riches. And knowing that God had a hand in naming me, I do pray about what to name our baby. Because I believe that a person's name is significant concerning their prophetic destiny...their character, or what they will accomplish in life for the Kingdom of God.
The sonogram yesterday (day before yesterday? It is 3 am) for Down's Syndrome came back negative. Not that I would be dismayed even if our baby had D.S. It would not change my love for it. However, it was part of the screening and Kaiser was paying for it, so I figured, why not. This and I thought there was a possibility they could determine the sex (they couldn't...it was too early to tell). Besides, who would pass up every opportunity to peek at their child hidden in the womb?- after all, even Tom Cruise bought his pregnant wife a sonogram machine so they could see their infant in utero!
So I sit here in the middle of the night at the computer....gotta love those pregnancy hormones!- hoping I will get a couple more hours of sleep at least, before my son wakes me up for our eventful, fun filled day. Warm milk helps me. And a good- ol fashioned midnight snack doesn't hurt either.
*
Nevertheless, we are excited. I think it will be a girl, but I have been wrong before. (and pleasantly surprised!) There are some boys' name that I am fond of, but not inspired by. There are a couple of girls' names that I like, but only one I am inspired by. Nevertheless, the Bible says a good name is better to be desired than riches. And knowing that God had a hand in naming me, I do pray about what to name our baby. Because I believe that a person's name is significant concerning their prophetic destiny...their character, or what they will accomplish in life for the Kingdom of God.
The sonogram yesterday (day before yesterday? It is 3 am) for Down's Syndrome came back negative. Not that I would be dismayed even if our baby had D.S. It would not change my love for it. However, it was part of the screening and Kaiser was paying for it, so I figured, why not. This and I thought there was a possibility they could determine the sex (they couldn't...it was too early to tell). Besides, who would pass up every opportunity to peek at their child hidden in the womb?- after all, even Tom Cruise bought his pregnant wife a sonogram machine so they could see their infant in utero!
So I sit here in the middle of the night at the computer....gotta love those pregnancy hormones!- hoping I will get a couple more hours of sleep at least, before my son wakes me up for our eventful, fun filled day. Warm milk helps me. And a good- ol fashioned midnight snack doesn't hurt either.
*
Monday, April 20, 2009
Living in the Last Days- Watching the Signs point to...?
For those who haven't been following my blog regularly, I have been warning lately about the signs of the times. I feel we are reaching a critical mass here in this nation where each individual will have to make decisions for themselves and their families that will determine the rest of their lives, and ultimately, their eternal destination.
Now, before you go calling me a right wing conspiracy theorist (I wouldn't be too insulted by the term, but secretly flattered), let's take a look at the importance of many of these "signs" which are adding up:
Jesus said in Mark 13:37, "What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "
And so it is what I am saying to you and everyone: WATCH!
There will be those who will listen to what I say with a grain of salt (if not outright cynicism), but when the rubber meets the road, perhaps you will reflect on the things I warned about and be sobered up so that you may make a wise decision in time.
Last night, I saw the second half of a very touching true story. The movie was shown on a major network and it was called, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler" starring Anna Paquin. It was about a young Polish woman who was a social worker. She helped thousands of Jewish children escape the hands of the Nazis. Many children were pulled out of death's grip and put into orphanages and convents, complete with fake names and identities, just in the nick of time...sometimes within HOURS of the Nazi's filling the trains bound for the concentration camps. The scene which struck me to the core was the one where the Jews were just hearing about the news of a new concentration camp, Treblinka, being constructed, but without barracks. It was this kind of camp where there were to be no survivors. It was then that many of them understood the inevitable. But by then, for many, it was too late.
It was common during that time period for people to hear disturbing "news" as it mounted, evidence as to what the Nazis were planning. Many thought those that gave heed to such reports were paranoid. Many intelligent, thinking, well-educated, loving people really believed that those plans had nothing to do with them. Either that, or they thought that the war would be over soon and they would be safe.
My friend, are we making the same mistake in judgement today?
Here on this blog, I have been alluding to evidence that paints a certain future for anyone who adheres to a philosophy of life which the establishment deems threatening. It does not matter who you voted for. It does not matter if you are a conservative or a progressive. There are more stringent consequences if you do adhere to conservative values, as is evidenced by the recent report from the Department of Homeland Security. However, this should come as a warning to ANYONE who does not necessarily want to embrace what is coming down the pike.
On April 1, 2009, less than a month ago, the DHS issued a report on fusion centers. Fusion centers are local entities created for the movement of intelligence across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The story is they were created to share information on terrorism. However, if you have read the report of the previously mentioned DHS report about the threat of "right wing extremists", then you know that what was meant as an agency for the protection against terrorism can be used for any purpose the government deems necessary. Just like FEMA.
I have taken a little trip around youtube lately and have seen some of the footage about the internment camps and the disposable coffins. They are black plastic coffins. Tens of thousands of them, many being stored on private property throughout the midwest. They are flat on top for easy stacking. More and more reports are popping up baout them on the site because this is something that is hard to ignore. Although not reported in regular news, this story is very newsworthy. People who were interviewed about the coffins have said they were purchased by government agencies. They are indicative of the fact that the government anticipates massive loss of human life in this nation in the near future. That is obvious. But why or for what purpose is a little less clear. Local emergency response personnel have been in communication with the federal government on some of these matters. All the while you have been distracted by Anderson Cooper and his vile comments regarding the tea party protesters as well as his slanted viewpoint on the news. This infuriates me.
I knew about these internment camps 10 years ago. There is even one located within 20 miles of my then-hometown of Modesto. Although I was selective about whom I shared the informaiton with, I was even opposed by members of my family. Perhaps the info I presented did not fit in with their end-time world view? I am not sure. Nothing was ever explained to me. I am sure some of the first "watchmen" during WWII to sound the alarm were opposed by others and ridiculed too. But there was no one laughing or scoffing when peple were being carted away against their will by an insurmountable force known then as the Gestapo. Tragically, the accounts turned out to be true.
You see, not only is there a plan to eradicate the conservatives of our day, there is a global conspiracy to wipe out every Jew and Christian off the face of the earth. It's not my original idea...I wish I could be such a prolific science-fiction writer. Rather, this plan is the truth. It is made evident in the Bible. Genesis chapter 3:15. "I will put enmity between your seed and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel". This is God pronouncing judgement on the serpent (the devil). This is also the first Messianic prophecy in the Bible. The "seed" here, the "he" referred to is the Messsiah. The serpent did indeed bruise the Messiah's heel when Jesus was crucified. But the head of the serpent (the head symbolizing his authority) was crushed by the Messiah. So how does this exhibit a conspiracy theory? It exposes a demonic plan to wipe out a race of people, God's chosen people.
One may look down through time, throughout the centuries and see a pattern of attack and attempted annihilation against the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- the Jews. They are God's chosen people, the very nation God would use to be a light to the nations, to make God and His ways known to the rest of the world. They were also the people through whom He would send the Messiah who is the living Torah. The living Word of God. Perfect in every way. The one who saves from sin and eternal damnation everyone who puts their trust in Him and forsakes his sin. Therefore, the devil sought on many occasions to wipe out the ones through which this would happen. The enslaved Hebrews in Egypt. The killing of the firstborn of every Hebrew slave. The killing of all babies under 2 years old by King Herod (around the time the Messiah Yeshua was born), the sacking of Israel's capital city, Jerusalem. More than once. The 2 captivities. The Hellenistic oppression and attempted assimilation. The pogroms of Eastern Europe. The ovens of the Nazis. The nations currently surrounding Israel and threatening them if they do not agree to a "2 state solution" thus accepting a covenant of the anti-christ, which he will break in the middle of the term. By the way, have you heard the latest threats of Javier Solana? Who?? The head of the European Union. Check out his power and paper trail at fulfilledprophecy.com.
This devilish conspiracy theory will not be over until the Messiah returns to set up His millenial reign on the earth. Judgement will be pronounced upon Lucifer, the fallen angel, or the devil, as well as on all those nations who have come against God's people Israel and those hwo have taken the mark of the beast. But by then, it will be too late. Too late to make up your mind, for the system of the beast as outlined in Revelation 13:17 will have already been in place. Each man not being able to buy or sell anything lest he have the mark of the beast or the number of his name. You will be forced to make a decision by then. The Bible says that those who take the mark (either in their hand or forehead) will be worshipping the beast aligning themselves with him (and the devil who is controlling him) forever more. The scriptures clearly state that those who do so will spend eternity in the place called Hades (hell) where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. For those people who accepted not God's provision for the atonement of their sin, His son Jesus the Christ. There will be no repentance after that final act of taking the mark. And the Lord will then pour out His wrath on the earth and upon all those who have taken the mark of the beast. God's mercy and patience are extended until then. You may repent of your sin and accept the free gift of Messiah's blood to purchase your redemption until then. After that, it will be too late.
The warning judgements have already started. The coming shaking of everything that can be shaken is but birth pains of an extremely tumultuous time, a time uparallelled by any other time, the Bible says. The time of Jacob's trouble. The gospel is being preached to the uttermost parts of the earth. Man sees God's invisible nature and His glory in His creation (as it says in Romans chapter 1), so that man is without excuse. But our nation, America, is being handed over for judgement. God has turned us over to a reprobate mind. Just as the scriptures prophecied about these days we now live in, men do indeed call what is good "evil" and what is evil "good". And lawlessness (Torahlessness) abounds. Only those who repent now- only those who are stirred to repentance and faith, following the Lamb of God who was slain before the foundation of the world, even if it means giving up their very lives, will be saved. Exclusive? Yeah! But I didn't say it. God did. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6).
Not Jesus and Buddah. Not Jesus and Mohammed. Not Jesus and your idolatry. Not Jesus and your tolernance of sin. (Remember- He is the One who said "if your eye causes you to sin, gauge it out".) Not Jesus and your ungodliness. Not Jesus and your popular world-view. Just Him. Salvation is free. But you were very expensive. And if you follow Him, you are no longer your own. For you were bought with a blood-price.
Pre-Trib, Post Trib, or Pan-Trib?
I have some friends who joke and say that they are "Pan-tribbers.....no matter what happens, it will all 'pan out in the end'". A nod to the fact that God soverignly holds all circumstances in His hand. Which is true. I myself used to hold to a "Pre-trib Rapture" theory. Until recently.
The Rapture is when the Bible describes the event of the "dead in Christ shall rise first, then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them and meet the Lord in the air and then will we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
I do believe in a rapture. (I believe in one resurrection as the First covenant talks of: the righteous will be raised to everlasting life, the unrighteous to everlasting condemnation. Daniel 12:2). However, I do not any longer believe the rapture will come before "Daniel's seventieth week". There is no phrase in the bible that calls this time period "the Great Tribulation". There is the phrase "immediately after the distress of those days" (Matthew 24:29) , but it is descriptive of the events described next in the passage, not a completely separate dispensation. The teaching of the Great Tribulation of 7 years and that all those who have put their trust in Christ being raptured out of the earth before tribulation comes, I do not believe there is substantial supportive evidence to support from the Hebrew perspective.
Now, I must note that this is not really a foundational issue. It is not an issue of salvation by grace only through Yeshua which is essential Christian doctrine. Therefore, we as believers can agree to disagree and not break fellowship over it. However, for the sake of practicalities and the decisions to be made in the near future concerning believers, concerning the changing world view amongst many evangelicals today, and concerning the deception that is coming and which is indeed already here, I think it is important to note.
I used to sit in prophecy conferences and hear the scenario being described of how the saints were going to be raptured before what they termed the "Great Tribulation". I read Hal Lindsey's books. But nothing about the picture they were painting seemd to settle in an orderly, peaceful way in my spirit or my mind. Quite frankly, I was confused. Now, I know they have movies and fictional books to help paint this scenario, and I know MOST of the proponents of said theory are godly, intelligent, respectable men (I love Hal Lindsey! He is a godly man and a lover of Israel...I just don't come to the same conclusions he does). However, I disagree with the way they view scripture. Conversely, when I began studying the scriptures in the Hebrew context (in which they were given), and listening to Messianic Jewish teachers who taught on prophecy, combining scripture form Old and New testaments and rightly dividing the Word of Truth within a Hebrew context, I began sensing a peace deep within and an orderliness to the end-time scenario. Besides, the fruit I was seeing from the "pre-trib rapture" teaching was not good. I saw an arrogant attitude, whether inadvertent or not, from saints who clung tightly to this idea that we were not going to experience any judgement. God is a God of mercy and He has not appointed us unto wrath. Which I agree He has not appointed us unto wrath (all true followers), however, I believe God's judgement is His mercy, that He doesn't stop being one to be the other. Moreover, Jesus was warning His followers, His disciples of the distress that was to come in those days (Matthew 24 and 25). He warned us so that we would not fall away. Why would He need to do that if we were not going to experience any of it? He even warned His followers what to do when "you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation' spoken through the prophet Daniel....." (which is a reference to when the anti-christ will set himself up in the Temple in Jerusalem as God),...then He gives His followers instructions. (see Matthew 24:16).
A Hint In the Passover
Remember the plagues of Exodus? The plagues were not directed to the Hebrews, as was evidenced in the fact that the Egyptians suffered, and many times they were unouched by them. But they were affected by them for sure. The Nile turning to blood, for instance. Althought the Hebrews lived in the Land of Goshen, they still got their water form the Nile, the source of all water in the region. And so they did experience some inconvenience. But they did not receive the brunt of God's wrath. And they had the blood of God's Passover Lamb to protect them from death, foreshadowing the Messiah, who is the Passover Lamb and the second death, eternal damnation, respectively. And so too, I believe we will be spared much in the days to come, if we obey the Lord. But we will be inconvenienced. And it will be "as in the days of Noah...and Lot's wife". The righteous taken out of the way immediately before God's wrath is poured out.
There is not enough room to go into the immense detail of this theory here. (That and my son needs to wake up from his nap!) However, the seeker who wants to delve further may contact me personally if you would like the appropriate resources. If the Lord wills and I have the means to oblige at the time, I would be happy to do so.
There is no way that one can know ALL of the aspects of the end times or what to look out for and what to chuck away as happenstance, especially as world events quicken at a rapid pace. But I do know I have been given a glimpse into how the Lord wants us to be watchful for when He comes. Some of that watching may require action.
After all, I am sure that if the Jews of Hitler's era (may his name be blotted out!) were to act on the things they were seeing, perhaps their outcome and the outcome for their families may have been different.
**
Now, before you go calling me a right wing conspiracy theorist (I wouldn't be too insulted by the term, but secretly flattered), let's take a look at the importance of many of these "signs" which are adding up:
Jesus said in Mark 13:37, "What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "
And so it is what I am saying to you and everyone: WATCH!
There will be those who will listen to what I say with a grain of salt (if not outright cynicism), but when the rubber meets the road, perhaps you will reflect on the things I warned about and be sobered up so that you may make a wise decision in time.
Last night, I saw the second half of a very touching true story. The movie was shown on a major network and it was called, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler" starring Anna Paquin. It was about a young Polish woman who was a social worker. She helped thousands of Jewish children escape the hands of the Nazis. Many children were pulled out of death's grip and put into orphanages and convents, complete with fake names and identities, just in the nick of time...sometimes within HOURS of the Nazi's filling the trains bound for the concentration camps. The scene which struck me to the core was the one where the Jews were just hearing about the news of a new concentration camp, Treblinka, being constructed, but without barracks. It was this kind of camp where there were to be no survivors. It was then that many of them understood the inevitable. But by then, for many, it was too late.
It was common during that time period for people to hear disturbing "news" as it mounted, evidence as to what the Nazis were planning. Many thought those that gave heed to such reports were paranoid. Many intelligent, thinking, well-educated, loving people really believed that those plans had nothing to do with them. Either that, or they thought that the war would be over soon and they would be safe.
My friend, are we making the same mistake in judgement today?
Here on this blog, I have been alluding to evidence that paints a certain future for anyone who adheres to a philosophy of life which the establishment deems threatening. It does not matter who you voted for. It does not matter if you are a conservative or a progressive. There are more stringent consequences if you do adhere to conservative values, as is evidenced by the recent report from the Department of Homeland Security. However, this should come as a warning to ANYONE who does not necessarily want to embrace what is coming down the pike.
On April 1, 2009, less than a month ago, the DHS issued a report on fusion centers. Fusion centers are local entities created for the movement of intelligence across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The story is they were created to share information on terrorism. However, if you have read the report of the previously mentioned DHS report about the threat of "right wing extremists", then you know that what was meant as an agency for the protection against terrorism can be used for any purpose the government deems necessary. Just like FEMA.
I have taken a little trip around youtube lately and have seen some of the footage about the internment camps and the disposable coffins. They are black plastic coffins. Tens of thousands of them, many being stored on private property throughout the midwest. They are flat on top for easy stacking. More and more reports are popping up baout them on the site because this is something that is hard to ignore. Although not reported in regular news, this story is very newsworthy. People who were interviewed about the coffins have said they were purchased by government agencies. They are indicative of the fact that the government anticipates massive loss of human life in this nation in the near future. That is obvious. But why or for what purpose is a little less clear. Local emergency response personnel have been in communication with the federal government on some of these matters. All the while you have been distracted by Anderson Cooper and his vile comments regarding the tea party protesters as well as his slanted viewpoint on the news. This infuriates me.
I knew about these internment camps 10 years ago. There is even one located within 20 miles of my then-hometown of Modesto. Although I was selective about whom I shared the informaiton with, I was even opposed by members of my family. Perhaps the info I presented did not fit in with their end-time world view? I am not sure. Nothing was ever explained to me. I am sure some of the first "watchmen" during WWII to sound the alarm were opposed by others and ridiculed too. But there was no one laughing or scoffing when peple were being carted away against their will by an insurmountable force known then as the Gestapo. Tragically, the accounts turned out to be true.
You see, not only is there a plan to eradicate the conservatives of our day, there is a global conspiracy to wipe out every Jew and Christian off the face of the earth. It's not my original idea...I wish I could be such a prolific science-fiction writer. Rather, this plan is the truth. It is made evident in the Bible. Genesis chapter 3:15. "I will put enmity between your seed and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel". This is God pronouncing judgement on the serpent (the devil). This is also the first Messianic prophecy in the Bible. The "seed" here, the "he" referred to is the Messsiah. The serpent did indeed bruise the Messiah's heel when Jesus was crucified. But the head of the serpent (the head symbolizing his authority) was crushed by the Messiah. So how does this exhibit a conspiracy theory? It exposes a demonic plan to wipe out a race of people, God's chosen people.
One may look down through time, throughout the centuries and see a pattern of attack and attempted annihilation against the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- the Jews. They are God's chosen people, the very nation God would use to be a light to the nations, to make God and His ways known to the rest of the world. They were also the people through whom He would send the Messiah who is the living Torah. The living Word of God. Perfect in every way. The one who saves from sin and eternal damnation everyone who puts their trust in Him and forsakes his sin. Therefore, the devil sought on many occasions to wipe out the ones through which this would happen. The enslaved Hebrews in Egypt. The killing of the firstborn of every Hebrew slave. The killing of all babies under 2 years old by King Herod (around the time the Messiah Yeshua was born), the sacking of Israel's capital city, Jerusalem. More than once. The 2 captivities. The Hellenistic oppression and attempted assimilation. The pogroms of Eastern Europe. The ovens of the Nazis. The nations currently surrounding Israel and threatening them if they do not agree to a "2 state solution" thus accepting a covenant of the anti-christ, which he will break in the middle of the term. By the way, have you heard the latest threats of Javier Solana? Who?? The head of the European Union. Check out his power and paper trail at fulfilledprophecy.com.
This devilish conspiracy theory will not be over until the Messiah returns to set up His millenial reign on the earth. Judgement will be pronounced upon Lucifer, the fallen angel, or the devil, as well as on all those nations who have come against God's people Israel and those hwo have taken the mark of the beast. But by then, it will be too late. Too late to make up your mind, for the system of the beast as outlined in Revelation 13:17 will have already been in place. Each man not being able to buy or sell anything lest he have the mark of the beast or the number of his name. You will be forced to make a decision by then. The Bible says that those who take the mark (either in their hand or forehead) will be worshipping the beast aligning themselves with him (and the devil who is controlling him) forever more. The scriptures clearly state that those who do so will spend eternity in the place called Hades (hell) where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. For those people who accepted not God's provision for the atonement of their sin, His son Jesus the Christ. There will be no repentance after that final act of taking the mark. And the Lord will then pour out His wrath on the earth and upon all those who have taken the mark of the beast. God's mercy and patience are extended until then. You may repent of your sin and accept the free gift of Messiah's blood to purchase your redemption until then. After that, it will be too late.
The warning judgements have already started. The coming shaking of everything that can be shaken is but birth pains of an extremely tumultuous time, a time uparallelled by any other time, the Bible says. The time of Jacob's trouble. The gospel is being preached to the uttermost parts of the earth. Man sees God's invisible nature and His glory in His creation (as it says in Romans chapter 1), so that man is without excuse. But our nation, America, is being handed over for judgement. God has turned us over to a reprobate mind. Just as the scriptures prophecied about these days we now live in, men do indeed call what is good "evil" and what is evil "good". And lawlessness (Torahlessness) abounds. Only those who repent now- only those who are stirred to repentance and faith, following the Lamb of God who was slain before the foundation of the world, even if it means giving up their very lives, will be saved. Exclusive? Yeah! But I didn't say it. God did. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6).
Not Jesus and Buddah. Not Jesus and Mohammed. Not Jesus and your idolatry. Not Jesus and your tolernance of sin. (Remember- He is the One who said "if your eye causes you to sin, gauge it out".) Not Jesus and your ungodliness. Not Jesus and your popular world-view. Just Him. Salvation is free. But you were very expensive. And if you follow Him, you are no longer your own. For you were bought with a blood-price.
Pre-Trib, Post Trib, or Pan-Trib?
I have some friends who joke and say that they are "Pan-tribbers.....no matter what happens, it will all 'pan out in the end'". A nod to the fact that God soverignly holds all circumstances in His hand. Which is true. I myself used to hold to a "Pre-trib Rapture" theory. Until recently.
The Rapture is when the Bible describes the event of the "dead in Christ shall rise first, then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them and meet the Lord in the air and then will we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
I do believe in a rapture. (I believe in one resurrection as the First covenant talks of: the righteous will be raised to everlasting life, the unrighteous to everlasting condemnation. Daniel 12:2). However, I do not any longer believe the rapture will come before "Daniel's seventieth week". There is no phrase in the bible that calls this time period "the Great Tribulation". There is the phrase "immediately after the distress of those days" (Matthew 24:29) , but it is descriptive of the events described next in the passage, not a completely separate dispensation. The teaching of the Great Tribulation of 7 years and that all those who have put their trust in Christ being raptured out of the earth before tribulation comes, I do not believe there is substantial supportive evidence to support from the Hebrew perspective.
Now, I must note that this is not really a foundational issue. It is not an issue of salvation by grace only through Yeshua which is essential Christian doctrine. Therefore, we as believers can agree to disagree and not break fellowship over it. However, for the sake of practicalities and the decisions to be made in the near future concerning believers, concerning the changing world view amongst many evangelicals today, and concerning the deception that is coming and which is indeed already here, I think it is important to note.
I used to sit in prophecy conferences and hear the scenario being described of how the saints were going to be raptured before what they termed the "Great Tribulation". I read Hal Lindsey's books. But nothing about the picture they were painting seemd to settle in an orderly, peaceful way in my spirit or my mind. Quite frankly, I was confused. Now, I know they have movies and fictional books to help paint this scenario, and I know MOST of the proponents of said theory are godly, intelligent, respectable men (I love Hal Lindsey! He is a godly man and a lover of Israel...I just don't come to the same conclusions he does). However, I disagree with the way they view scripture. Conversely, when I began studying the scriptures in the Hebrew context (in which they were given), and listening to Messianic Jewish teachers who taught on prophecy, combining scripture form Old and New testaments and rightly dividing the Word of Truth within a Hebrew context, I began sensing a peace deep within and an orderliness to the end-time scenario. Besides, the fruit I was seeing from the "pre-trib rapture" teaching was not good. I saw an arrogant attitude, whether inadvertent or not, from saints who clung tightly to this idea that we were not going to experience any judgement. God is a God of mercy and He has not appointed us unto wrath. Which I agree He has not appointed us unto wrath (all true followers), however, I believe God's judgement is His mercy, that He doesn't stop being one to be the other. Moreover, Jesus was warning His followers, His disciples of the distress that was to come in those days (Matthew 24 and 25). He warned us so that we would not fall away. Why would He need to do that if we were not going to experience any of it? He even warned His followers what to do when "you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation' spoken through the prophet Daniel....." (which is a reference to when the anti-christ will set himself up in the Temple in Jerusalem as God),...then He gives His followers instructions. (see Matthew 24:16).
A Hint In the Passover
Remember the plagues of Exodus? The plagues were not directed to the Hebrews, as was evidenced in the fact that the Egyptians suffered, and many times they were unouched by them. But they were affected by them for sure. The Nile turning to blood, for instance. Althought the Hebrews lived in the Land of Goshen, they still got their water form the Nile, the source of all water in the region. And so they did experience some inconvenience. But they did not receive the brunt of God's wrath. And they had the blood of God's Passover Lamb to protect them from death, foreshadowing the Messiah, who is the Passover Lamb and the second death, eternal damnation, respectively. And so too, I believe we will be spared much in the days to come, if we obey the Lord. But we will be inconvenienced. And it will be "as in the days of Noah...and Lot's wife". The righteous taken out of the way immediately before God's wrath is poured out.
There is not enough room to go into the immense detail of this theory here. (That and my son needs to wake up from his nap!) However, the seeker who wants to delve further may contact me personally if you would like the appropriate resources. If the Lord wills and I have the means to oblige at the time, I would be happy to do so.
There is no way that one can know ALL of the aspects of the end times or what to look out for and what to chuck away as happenstance, especially as world events quicken at a rapid pace. But I do know I have been given a glimpse into how the Lord wants us to be watchful for when He comes. Some of that watching may require action.
After all, I am sure that if the Jews of Hitler's era (may his name be blotted out!) were to act on the things they were seeing, perhaps their outcome and the outcome for their families may have been different.
**
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Poor in Spirit
Lately I have been ministered to by the Word, specifically the truths Jesus explained in the passage Matthew 5:1-10 known as the "Beatitudes". As I read this passage, a couple of things dawn on me: number one, In verse 1 it says "...when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down". The phrase "sat down" is not necessary to the passage and so it causes the reader to say, "Hmm. I wonder why it says Jesus sat down?" In the Hebrew way of studying the scriptures, this little clue is called a "remez" and it is put there so the ardent student will dig deeper.
Why was it necessary to say he sat down? Oftentimes, the text itself in the Bible will paint a wonderful picture. Here we have Jesus rising above the crowd, about to speak of some circumstances which the hearer may not think are ideal (such as being persecuted). The fact that he sat down indicates rest, but it also is a picture for us of God sitting on His throne in Heaven- reigning, sovereign and Supreme over all circumstances which could happen to us here on the earth. This is a beautiful and loving picture our Heavenly Father has given to every follower of Yeshua, to know that when we go through trials of many kinds in this life, and we decide to go through it rejoicing in Him, that God is ultimately in control, no matter what man may do to us and He is awaiting us, on the mountaintop, or rather in Heaven to reward us for our faithfulness. After all, Jesus said that if we give a cup of water to a child in his name, we will not lose our reward in Heaven. This begs the question...."If a cup of cold water, how much more so our very lives?"
Number two: I notice about this passage in Matthew that this seems to be a passage contained in itself- in other words, Jesus begins the Beatitudes with a phrase and ends the Beatitudes with the same exact phrase. In verse 3 it says:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
And then again at the end, a similar phrase:
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
Notice that the phrase "For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" tends to act as a door on each side of the passage. That is another hint to dig deeper. Deeper where?? Deeper into the content on the inside of the doors! In other words, Jesus seems to be indicating that the truths contained within this passage are very important to fulfilling one's role as his follower.
This is what the Lord has been showing me lately: the first Beatitude is of utmost importance if you want to follow the Messiah. Let's look at it again:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingom of heaven.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Is it like being poor materially? The word for spirit here is the Greek word pneuma. It means wind, or breath, but it also means things which are perceived as having no material substance, things such as spirit, heart, mind, the inner things of man which are also created in the image of God. But to be poor in spirit, one is emptied out of self, emptied out of one's own glory. As it is written in Phillipians 2:6 about Jesus, "Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, bing made in human likeness". (emphasis mine)
Jesus is our example of being poor in spirit. He emptied himself out of himself in a way. He took the nature of a servant. He was not prideful. As a follower of Christ, we are called to do the same every day of our lives.
To be poor in spirit means to not esteem yourself higher than you ought. It means I esteem others higher than myself, rather than try to pump myself up, oftentimes using exaggeration (which the Bible calls lying) in order to do so. Just as a beggar is poor of material wealth, the poor in spirit are lacking in their own importance, their own agenda, a sense of their own rights or the need to defend those rights. They have nothing of worth which the Lord has not given them.
Being poor in spirit also means being thankful in all circumstances. Actually thanking God for those circumstances! Wait a minute! You mean even when others (my spouse perhaps?) are treating me unfairly? Yep. That is exactly what I mean.
There is a story told by Corrie ten Boom in her book "The Hiding Place" of when she and her sister were in the Nazi concentration camps. They lived in a crowded barracks. Corrie was tempted to complain and be unthankful for being in such a dismal place. Her sister, however, encouraged her to be thankful. "Even for the lice?" Corrie asked her sister. "Even for the lice", her sister replied. As the days wore on, the two women were sharing the Lord with the other women in their barracks and even holding prayer meetings and worship times with singing. They noticed that the guards let them carry on, not entering the barracks to interrupt this special time with the Lord. They later found out why the guards did not enter those barrack- the guards were avoiding the lice, the very adverse circumstance Corrie had thanked God for!
Seeking to become poor in spirit has been a hard-hitting teaching for me. For don't you know that when God deposits truth into us, He often then sends a trial to test that truth and to see if it has stuck? I mean, I get angry if I am inconvenienced at the grocery store!! I have so far to go...and I am painfully aware of how much I am in need of His grace to do this. When I hit bottom in the realization that I have nothing...nothing of myself to offer to Him that is of any value...then and only then I think I will have just started to hit the tip of the iceberg of what it means to be "poor in spirit".
Right now I would just like to share a couple of stories that are examples to me of Christians, real flesh and blood people, who are poor in spirit, who are emptied out of themselves so that they may be filled with the grace of God to abound to others who need to know Him.
The first story a friend was telling me today at lunch. It is not a long story, but rather a description: 2 missionaries to a foreign country. They wanted to reach a certain group of people and share the gospel with them. They both sold themselves into slavery to these people, forsaking their family members and their friends, not knowing if they would ever see their loved ones again. Not knowing of whether or not their new masters would be merciful to them, or harsh. I said to myself : These people are the real deal!! They did not think it below them to do such a thing. They were truly slaves for Jesus the Messiah.
This reminded me of another missionary story I heard some years ago: a young girl (of which nationality, I do not remember), a follower of the Messiah, was placed in a horrible prison. Her cell was tiny. It was dank and oppressive. There was no latrine and so all the prisoners, each in their own cells, had to "go" on the floor and live in the filth. The prison guards would come by every few days to clean out the cells. Knowing that these guards did not want to do this, and seeing a possible opportunity to both share the gospel with the inmates and be a light to the guards, she offered to go and do the dirty job. The clincher: she had no tools with which to scoop- only her hands. And as she would reach her hands into the dark cells and scoop the excrement, she would whisper to the prisoner, "I know of a better Way...."
Does this story make you well up with tears? It does me. Does it do it for the right reasons, though? It brings me to my knees. It makes me cry out to God from the painful pit in my stomach and the knowledge that I claim to be a follower of the Messiah, and yet I know I do not have the inner substance this young girl had. But I want it. The flesh hates what I am about to write....but my spirit is so excited....I want what this young follower of Messiah has. I am hungry to know what it is like to be "poor in spirit".
I think perhaps the days might be coming soon, possibly during times of great persecution, when I will have the opportunity to be conformed to this aspect of the image of the Messiah,
"...who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:2.
**
Why was it necessary to say he sat down? Oftentimes, the text itself in the Bible will paint a wonderful picture. Here we have Jesus rising above the crowd, about to speak of some circumstances which the hearer may not think are ideal (such as being persecuted). The fact that he sat down indicates rest, but it also is a picture for us of God sitting on His throne in Heaven- reigning, sovereign and Supreme over all circumstances which could happen to us here on the earth. This is a beautiful and loving picture our Heavenly Father has given to every follower of Yeshua, to know that when we go through trials of many kinds in this life, and we decide to go through it rejoicing in Him, that God is ultimately in control, no matter what man may do to us and He is awaiting us, on the mountaintop, or rather in Heaven to reward us for our faithfulness. After all, Jesus said that if we give a cup of water to a child in his name, we will not lose our reward in Heaven. This begs the question...."If a cup of cold water, how much more so our very lives?"
Number two: I notice about this passage in Matthew that this seems to be a passage contained in itself- in other words, Jesus begins the Beatitudes with a phrase and ends the Beatitudes with the same exact phrase. In verse 3 it says:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
And then again at the end, a similar phrase:
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
Notice that the phrase "For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" tends to act as a door on each side of the passage. That is another hint to dig deeper. Deeper where?? Deeper into the content on the inside of the doors! In other words, Jesus seems to be indicating that the truths contained within this passage are very important to fulfilling one's role as his follower.
This is what the Lord has been showing me lately: the first Beatitude is of utmost importance if you want to follow the Messiah. Let's look at it again:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingom of heaven.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Is it like being poor materially? The word for spirit here is the Greek word pneuma. It means wind, or breath, but it also means things which are perceived as having no material substance, things such as spirit, heart, mind, the inner things of man which are also created in the image of God. But to be poor in spirit, one is emptied out of self, emptied out of one's own glory. As it is written in Phillipians 2:6 about Jesus, "Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, bing made in human likeness". (emphasis mine)
Jesus is our example of being poor in spirit. He emptied himself out of himself in a way. He took the nature of a servant. He was not prideful. As a follower of Christ, we are called to do the same every day of our lives.
To be poor in spirit means to not esteem yourself higher than you ought. It means I esteem others higher than myself, rather than try to pump myself up, oftentimes using exaggeration (which the Bible calls lying) in order to do so. Just as a beggar is poor of material wealth, the poor in spirit are lacking in their own importance, their own agenda, a sense of their own rights or the need to defend those rights. They have nothing of worth which the Lord has not given them.
Being poor in spirit also means being thankful in all circumstances. Actually thanking God for those circumstances! Wait a minute! You mean even when others (my spouse perhaps?) are treating me unfairly? Yep. That is exactly what I mean.
There is a story told by Corrie ten Boom in her book "The Hiding Place" of when she and her sister were in the Nazi concentration camps. They lived in a crowded barracks. Corrie was tempted to complain and be unthankful for being in such a dismal place. Her sister, however, encouraged her to be thankful. "Even for the lice?" Corrie asked her sister. "Even for the lice", her sister replied. As the days wore on, the two women were sharing the Lord with the other women in their barracks and even holding prayer meetings and worship times with singing. They noticed that the guards let them carry on, not entering the barracks to interrupt this special time with the Lord. They later found out why the guards did not enter those barrack- the guards were avoiding the lice, the very adverse circumstance Corrie had thanked God for!
Seeking to become poor in spirit has been a hard-hitting teaching for me. For don't you know that when God deposits truth into us, He often then sends a trial to test that truth and to see if it has stuck? I mean, I get angry if I am inconvenienced at the grocery store!! I have so far to go...and I am painfully aware of how much I am in need of His grace to do this. When I hit bottom in the realization that I have nothing...nothing of myself to offer to Him that is of any value...then and only then I think I will have just started to hit the tip of the iceberg of what it means to be "poor in spirit".
Right now I would just like to share a couple of stories that are examples to me of Christians, real flesh and blood people, who are poor in spirit, who are emptied out of themselves so that they may be filled with the grace of God to abound to others who need to know Him.
The first story a friend was telling me today at lunch. It is not a long story, but rather a description: 2 missionaries to a foreign country. They wanted to reach a certain group of people and share the gospel with them. They both sold themselves into slavery to these people, forsaking their family members and their friends, not knowing if they would ever see their loved ones again. Not knowing of whether or not their new masters would be merciful to them, or harsh. I said to myself : These people are the real deal!! They did not think it below them to do such a thing. They were truly slaves for Jesus the Messiah.
This reminded me of another missionary story I heard some years ago: a young girl (of which nationality, I do not remember), a follower of the Messiah, was placed in a horrible prison. Her cell was tiny. It was dank and oppressive. There was no latrine and so all the prisoners, each in their own cells, had to "go" on the floor and live in the filth. The prison guards would come by every few days to clean out the cells. Knowing that these guards did not want to do this, and seeing a possible opportunity to both share the gospel with the inmates and be a light to the guards, she offered to go and do the dirty job. The clincher: she had no tools with which to scoop- only her hands. And as she would reach her hands into the dark cells and scoop the excrement, she would whisper to the prisoner, "I know of a better Way...."
Does this story make you well up with tears? It does me. Does it do it for the right reasons, though? It brings me to my knees. It makes me cry out to God from the painful pit in my stomach and the knowledge that I claim to be a follower of the Messiah, and yet I know I do not have the inner substance this young girl had. But I want it. The flesh hates what I am about to write....but my spirit is so excited....I want what this young follower of Messiah has. I am hungry to know what it is like to be "poor in spirit".
I think perhaps the days might be coming soon, possibly during times of great persecution, when I will have the opportunity to be conformed to this aspect of the image of the Messiah,
"...who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:2.
**
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bye Bye Capitalism! Hello Beast.....
I stand in my bathroom staring at items from antiquity- items of nostalgic pop culture documenting, by virtue of their existence, a by-gone era. Little did I know these relics- framed pictures of advertisements from the 1940's for Campbell's Tomato Soup and Life Savers, a sewing tin advertising Singer Sewing Machines- would ironically have such significance now when everything about the very free-enterprise system which allowed for such ingenuity would soon be a thing of the past.
We can say farewell to the economic system built by our forefathers for a free and independant people. In an unprecedented move, on April 2, 2009, Obama quietly agreed to put our capitalist system under the control of Europe via a radical document that calls for a global economic union. The foundation is being laid for a world economic system which will be taken over and controlled in the future by the anti-christ.
My friends, wake up to the signs of the times. We are being ABSORBED.
As I write this, possibly hundreds of thousands are gathering in protest to their govenrnment. Dubbed as "tea parties", this tax day, 2009, both Republicans and Democrats alike, and everyone in between are assembling in opposition to the radical moves the new president has made to spend billions of tax payers' dollars in trying to "save" the system, which also includes increasing the size and scope of government. But don't be fooled...he has planned this intentionally since his community-organizing days. It is a tenet of a socialist government. And he intends to be the dictator at the helm. Making it look like it is what is best for the American people, he breathes platitudes to the masses. But the gap between what Obama says and what he does is astounding. It is time to start examining the actions of this government in light of a scriptural world-view, rather than blindly hoping in its promises.
Because of his recent motions, no longer will the people of these United States of America have the right to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. But rather, your money and my money is going to pay for abortions (including late term) domestically as well as internationally, our money is going to pay for a government that is going out of its bounds in scope as established by the Constitution of the Unites States of America, the very document Obama swore with uplifted hand to protect, so-help-him-God. Since the governement (and any other entity they align themselves with...European Union?) controls the purse strings, they control the people.
We can expect to see deep division in our nation over these and similar issues, we can expect to see more intrusive government into our personal lives and affairs, and persecution by the governement of all those in opposition to the government. Hello? Free speech? Freedom of protest? They have an antidote for that too... called Homeland Security....
Read the latest from the director of homeland security? The govenrnment is on the look-out for "radical right wing extremists" who hold to such ideals as conservative Christian values, the traditional definition of marriage, and life for the unborn. Their tale-tell signs? The govenment is watching out for our BUMPER STICKERS(!) of all things.....and they have designs as to what to do with such dissidents.....please read my previous posts about the power given to the executive branch of government and FEMA, even during a "perceived crisis". Click here to read about the recent statement by homeland security: http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94803
Do these things shock and surprise you? They shouldn't. We were foretold about this thousands of years ago when God was speaking through His prophets. Many Bible scholars today postulate as to why America is not mentioned anywhere in scripture. The end time scenario doesn't allow for a soverign independant nation whose ideals and principles are based on God and His Word..the concepts held dear in Judeo-Christian principles. No, but we do have an end-time picture in Revelation as well as Daniel of a massive "beast" who appears to be an amalgammation of many different parts. Ten horns and seven heads is the account in Revelation. This system is both political as well as religious (and we can therefore conclude cultural). And where are the faithful followers of the Messiah? This beast system is GIVEN power over all peoples on the face of the earth. See Revelation 13:1 and also Revelation 13:7 where this beast was given power to make "war with the saints and to conquer them". Are we nearing this picture even now? Perhaps we should give a balanced view to potential converts to Christianity of ALL that may be required of them when we present the gospel message? Many followers had their lives required of them~ most of the disciples were martyred. Many considered it a JOY to die for their Lord. "Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword... the world was not worthy of them" (Hebrews 11:36-38).
Again, I submit to the reader, with the recent events of the economic collapse and the recent signing over of our free capitalist enterprise to a European power which-forget what I think about it- but itself thinks it is the revived Roman Empire that we are indeed nearing more and more the trying last days before the return of the Messiah. Jesus told us to watch. He told us to let no man deceive us. He told us to not run after those claiming to be "the Christ" in Hebrew "anointed one", whether they be politician or clergyman. But to be faithful until He comes. Will we be willing to die daily to our own desires, yea, even our own politics and Christian end-time world views in order to be obedient and faithful only unto Him and His Word, His Commandments and decrees?- not taking what this world system has to offer us, even if it means giving up our very lives?
If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints. Revelation 13:10.
Expect the tightening grip of this world system and the cultural pressure to embrace it to become increasingly up close and personal. Some of you may even be persecuted and turned in by members of your own family..."Christian" members.
Please do not misunerstand me...I am not proposing a political agenda. I do not have designs to raise up a revolution of the flesh. Just as in the days of Jesus, there will be those who will be a part of such things. We must be wise as serpents in the coming days and be thoughtful about whom we align ourselves with. What I am interested in is in preparing myself and the saints of God for what is to come...and shortly. My interest is in waking the followers of Messiah Yeshua from their slumber and to see with clarity the big picture, to forsake all sins of the flesh- ungodliness, idolatry, pride. To live is Messiah. To die is gain. Shouldn't we be practicing everyday by dying to self and living according to His decrees? May you be blessed with the wisdom, knowledge, and the patiently-enduring faithfulness which we will be called upon to exhibit in the near future.
To see the above referenced article on the ageement Obama made at the G-20 summit, click on the following link...and prepare yourself to be amazed....
http://watchmannewsletter.typepad.com/news/2009/04/obama-agrees-to-outsource-capitalism-to-european-socialists.html
**
We can say farewell to the economic system built by our forefathers for a free and independant people. In an unprecedented move, on April 2, 2009, Obama quietly agreed to put our capitalist system under the control of Europe via a radical document that calls for a global economic union. The foundation is being laid for a world economic system which will be taken over and controlled in the future by the anti-christ.
My friends, wake up to the signs of the times. We are being ABSORBED.
As I write this, possibly hundreds of thousands are gathering in protest to their govenrnment. Dubbed as "tea parties", this tax day, 2009, both Republicans and Democrats alike, and everyone in between are assembling in opposition to the radical moves the new president has made to spend billions of tax payers' dollars in trying to "save" the system, which also includes increasing the size and scope of government. But don't be fooled...he has planned this intentionally since his community-organizing days. It is a tenet of a socialist government. And he intends to be the dictator at the helm. Making it look like it is what is best for the American people, he breathes platitudes to the masses. But the gap between what Obama says and what he does is astounding. It is time to start examining the actions of this government in light of a scriptural world-view, rather than blindly hoping in its promises.
Because of his recent motions, no longer will the people of these United States of America have the right to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. But rather, your money and my money is going to pay for abortions (including late term) domestically as well as internationally, our money is going to pay for a government that is going out of its bounds in scope as established by the Constitution of the Unites States of America, the very document Obama swore with uplifted hand to protect, so-help-him-God. Since the governement (and any other entity they align themselves with...European Union?) controls the purse strings, they control the people.
We can expect to see deep division in our nation over these and similar issues, we can expect to see more intrusive government into our personal lives and affairs, and persecution by the governement of all those in opposition to the government. Hello? Free speech? Freedom of protest? They have an antidote for that too... called Homeland Security....
Read the latest from the director of homeland security? The govenrnment is on the look-out for "radical right wing extremists" who hold to such ideals as conservative Christian values, the traditional definition of marriage, and life for the unborn. Their tale-tell signs? The govenment is watching out for our BUMPER STICKERS(!) of all things.....and they have designs as to what to do with such dissidents.....please read my previous posts about the power given to the executive branch of government and FEMA, even during a "perceived crisis". Click here to read about the recent statement by homeland security: http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94803
Do these things shock and surprise you? They shouldn't. We were foretold about this thousands of years ago when God was speaking through His prophets. Many Bible scholars today postulate as to why America is not mentioned anywhere in scripture. The end time scenario doesn't allow for a soverign independant nation whose ideals and principles are based on God and His Word..the concepts held dear in Judeo-Christian principles. No, but we do have an end-time picture in Revelation as well as Daniel of a massive "beast" who appears to be an amalgammation of many different parts. Ten horns and seven heads is the account in Revelation. This system is both political as well as religious (and we can therefore conclude cultural). And where are the faithful followers of the Messiah? This beast system is GIVEN power over all peoples on the face of the earth. See Revelation 13:1 and also Revelation 13:7 where this beast was given power to make "war with the saints and to conquer them". Are we nearing this picture even now? Perhaps we should give a balanced view to potential converts to Christianity of ALL that may be required of them when we present the gospel message? Many followers had their lives required of them~ most of the disciples were martyred. Many considered it a JOY to die for their Lord. "Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword... the world was not worthy of them" (Hebrews 11:36-38).
Again, I submit to the reader, with the recent events of the economic collapse and the recent signing over of our free capitalist enterprise to a European power which-forget what I think about it- but itself thinks it is the revived Roman Empire that we are indeed nearing more and more the trying last days before the return of the Messiah. Jesus told us to watch. He told us to let no man deceive us. He told us to not run after those claiming to be "the Christ" in Hebrew "anointed one", whether they be politician or clergyman. But to be faithful until He comes. Will we be willing to die daily to our own desires, yea, even our own politics and Christian end-time world views in order to be obedient and faithful only unto Him and His Word, His Commandments and decrees?- not taking what this world system has to offer us, even if it means giving up our very lives?
If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints. Revelation 13:10.
Expect the tightening grip of this world system and the cultural pressure to embrace it to become increasingly up close and personal. Some of you may even be persecuted and turned in by members of your own family..."Christian" members.
Please do not misunerstand me...I am not proposing a political agenda. I do not have designs to raise up a revolution of the flesh. Just as in the days of Jesus, there will be those who will be a part of such things. We must be wise as serpents in the coming days and be thoughtful about whom we align ourselves with. What I am interested in is in preparing myself and the saints of God for what is to come...and shortly. My interest is in waking the followers of Messiah Yeshua from their slumber and to see with clarity the big picture, to forsake all sins of the flesh- ungodliness, idolatry, pride. To live is Messiah. To die is gain. Shouldn't we be practicing everyday by dying to self and living according to His decrees? May you be blessed with the wisdom, knowledge, and the patiently-enduring faithfulness which we will be called upon to exhibit in the near future.
To see the above referenced article on the ageement Obama made at the G-20 summit, click on the following link...and prepare yourself to be amazed....
http://watchmannewsletter.typepad.com/news/2009/04/obama-agrees-to-outsource-capitalism-to-european-socialists.html
**
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