December 11, 2009 by admin.

HANUKKAH,  Isn’t that Jewish?

What’s the connection to me, I’m a Christian?

Sunset on Friday, December 11, 2009 marks the beginning of the eight days of Hanukkah (also called the Feast of Dedication or Festival of Lights). We read in John 10:22-23: “Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” Think of it. It was the celebration of Hanukkah, and there was Jesus in Jerusalem telling the Jews how He had already revealed himself as the Messiah through His works (miracles). He told them that those who hear His voice and follow would have eternal life, but they did not believe. Earlier, He had even called himself the “Light of the World!” But what’s the connection?

You see, Hanukkah is the eight-day period during which Jews and many Christians around the world celebrate the miracle of the lights! Jesus, a Jew, certainly knew the Hanukkah story that unfolded 165 years before His birth. At that time, the Syrian King Antiochus invaded Jerusalem and forbid the Jews to follow their religious practices (reading the Torah, observing Sabbath, eating kosher, circumcising all males, etc.). He went so far as to defile the Temple by sacrificing pigs there. Next, a band of Jews, led by Judah Maccabee, courageously rose up to defeat the Syrians, regained control of the Temple, and then began the process of rededicating it. According to Jewish writings, they lit the menorah (lampstand) but had enough oil to keep it lit for only one day. God performed a miracle by making this holy oil burn for eight days! Today, millions celebrate this miracle in their homes by lighting the candles of a special Hanukkah menorah.

During this time, may we remember that we Gentile Christians are spiritual Jews–sons and daughters of Abraham. We are the wild olive branches that have been grafted into the natural olive tree of Israel by God. May the lights of the menorahs that we see or light remind us that Yeshua (Jesus) is the greatest miracle of all and that He is the “Light of the World” just as He declared (John 8:12).

Let us remember that He has come into the temple of our hearts with the everlasting oil of the Spirit, that we might shine forth His love. May we let our lights of love, mercy, and truth so shine before both Jews and Gentiles that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. May we rededicate ourselves to the risen, miracle-working Messiah!

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

September 28, 2009 by admin.

DAY OF ATONEMENT

The shofar was sounded in synagogues around the world last Saturday and Sunday to mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Tomorrow (Monday, September 28), marks the next appointment time with the Lord, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), a Sabbath of fasting and repentance (Leviticus 23).

In the time of Yeshua, when the Temple in Jerusalem was still standing, the Jewish high priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place in the Temple, but only once a year on Yom Kippur, and always with the blood of a sacrificed animal. This was the means of seeking atonement for the sins of Israel.

Jewish tradition now says that only the names of the righteous, inscribed in the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah, are sealed in the Book on Yom Kippur. Because there is no longer a Temple to make animal sacrifices for their sins, religious Jews believe that they can be sealed in the Book only if they perform good deeds and their repentance is sincere and complete. Only those who names are sealed in the Book of Life will experience God’s blessing in the upcoming year. As a result, on the holiest day of the year, Jewish people, fasting, flock to the synagogues seeking forgiveness and God’s blessing.

On Yom Kippur, believers in Yeshua, too, can fast and repent. But, as believers in Yeshua, we can also rejoice. He is our Atonement! He is the High Priest who entered into the Most Holy Place in heaven! He is our righteousness! “Once and for all” He brought His own blood to the Mercy Seat (Hebrews 9:12), thereby obtaining eternal redemption, atonement (Hebrews 2:17), for all who repent and believe –both Jew and Gentile. And, our names are written forever in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27)!

Here we have the prophetic picture of the final three feasts celebrated each fall (Leviticus 23):

1. Rosh Hashanah–The shofar sounds, announcing the return of the Lord Yeshua.
2. Yom Kippur–All Israel is saved (Romans 11) as they now recognize Yeshua as their atonement, the High Priest that takes away the sins of the world.
3. Feast of Tabernacles–Believing Jews and Gentiles all tabernacle together on earth for a thousand years with King Yeshua ruling and reigning in Jerusalem!

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

September 16, 2009 by admin.

ROSH HASHANAH

At sundown this Friday, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the 5770th year since Creation, according to the Jewish calendar. Some- times referred to as the Jewish New Year, it is actually the first of the fall feasts of the Lord, followed by the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the Feast of Tabernacles. Leviticus 23:24 says, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘In the seventh month (Tishrei), the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy con- vocation announced with blasts on the shofar…’” (CJB).

Rosh Hashanah is a special or holy time to meet with the Lord each year simply to rest and remember. Also, one of the meanings of the Hebrew word for convocation is “rehearsal.” So, with the sound of the ancient shofar, we remember and rehearse. But what do we remember and what do we rehearse?

Jewish tradition has come to see this day as the day on which the Lord writes the names of righteous people in the Book of Life. He then seals the names of the righteous 10 days later on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). This tradition teaches how repentance and good deeds lead to one’s name being sealed in the Book.

As believers in God’s new Covenant, we understand that our names are already written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We rest by faith in the finished work of the Lamb, Yeshua (Jesus), who blotted out our sins on Calvary with His blood.
Therefore, may the breath of the Lord Yeshua flow into our hearts through the ancient shofar, awakening us once again to return to Him, to remember, to rehearse, and to rest.

REMEMBER (among millions of other things)
… that Yeshua, the Creator of all, is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
… that He is our God, Redeemer, and King–and He is here!
… that the Jewish people have preserved His Word for us.
… that Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac foreshadowed the sacrifice of Yeshua.
… that the one true God literally walked on this planet to demonstrate His love.
… that His mercy endures forever!

REHEARSE (the return of the Lord, in your mind)
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with God’s shofar, those who died united with Messiah will be the first to rise; then we who are left still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, CJB).

REST (in the Messiah)
“Come unto Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

May you have a holy and awesome new year!

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

July 26, 2009 by admin.

Tisha B’Av - Huh?

To most Christians, hearing the words September 11th strikes a chord of sadness, grief, and other painful emotions, but the term Tisha B’Av (pronounced tee sha b’ahv) means nothing. Let us change that by learning something new today about Tisha B’Av.

Actually, it is a date on the Hebrew calendar, the 9th day in the month of Av. This year it falls on our Thursday, July 30. It is on this day that many Jewish people fast and grieve over the great losses and tragic events that happened on this date in their history. According to the sages, here are some of the tragedies that have happened on the 9th of Av:

1. In 586 BC, the First Temple (built by Solomon) was destroyed by the Babylonians. One hundred thousand
   Jews perished, and millions were exiled.
2. In 70 AD, the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, led by Titus. Again many Jews died and
   many were exiled. This destruction was prophesied by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew 24:2.
3. In 135 AD, the Jewish Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. A stronghold of over
   100,000 Jews was slaughtered.
4. In 1290, an official decree was signed, expelling all of the Jewish people from England.
5. In 1492, the large Jewish community in Spain was expelled from the country.

As Christians, we are the spiritual seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). Therefore, the Jewish history and family tree is our history and our tree. Her losses become our losses and her mourning, our mourning. I believe the heart of Ruth, a Gentile, toward her Jewish mother-in-law could be expressed like this: “Where you go, I will go; where you live live, I will live; your people will be my people; your God will be my God; and your losses and grief will be my losses and grief.”

On Thursday, may the Lord knit our hearts together with the grieving Jewish people (”Weep with those who weep;” “Jesus wept”) and make us sensitive, as well, to our own losses and grief as spiritual Jews. As the Lord leads, may we join together in fasting with many Christians and Jews around the world.

Finally, although this day reminds us of the hatred aimed at God’s Chosen People, let it also remind us that Adonai has preserved His people, in spite of Satan’s continual attempts to destroy their hope. “Am Y’israel Chai!” (The Jewish people live on!) And, indeed, soon all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), the Third Temple will be built, and we will all rejoice together, forever with our Messiah, Jesus!

Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
all you  who love her; rejoice greatly with her,
all you who mourn over her” (Isaiah 66:10).

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

May 30, 2009 by admin.

PENTECOST
Feast of Weeks or Shavu’ot

How long will the fruit on the tree remain if we cut off the tree from its roots? Not long! “No Roots, No Fruits!” As God’s people, we need to draw upon the nourishment from deep down in the roots of the Tree that our branches have been grafted into.

Let’s look at Pentecost, for instance. This coming Saturday, the 6th of Silvan (May 30, 2009), marks the celebration of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. Gentile believers tend to think of Pentecost only as the time in Acts 2 when the promised Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the Upper Room, causing them to speak in other tongues. What awesome power! Yeshua came back to dwell in His people. A great “Act 2,” but let’s take a look at “Act 1,” so to speak, to round out the picture.

Why did the Spirit come on that day? In the Old Testament, Pentecost (50) was an appointment time with God (see Leviticus 23). (It’s a good idea to keep an appointment with Yahweh!) It was the fourth of seven specific appointments –all of which were extremely significant (Passover, for instance, was the first; the Feast of Tabernacles was the seventh). Pentecost was 50 days from Passover and was the time of the wheat harvest. The people would thank Adonai for providing the basic staple of life. It was also believed to be the exact time that Moses received the Law/Commandments (Torah) from God on the fiery Mount Sinai. It was a time when the Israelites received the Word of God and became betrothed to God as a people and nation.

Now, Yeshua the Messiah had told His disciples in Luke 24: 49, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Also, at the Passover Seder (the Last Supper), He had already spoken about sending them the Holy Spirit. Even John the Baptist had prophesied that Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Picture the scene back then. Jesus had left, and His followers were eagerly waiting for His Promise. But, they were also counting the 50 days up to the celebration of the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. Then, suddenly, on the exact date, Yeshua comes upon them with tongues of fire, fulfilling His promise and fulfilling the shadows that had pointed to Him in the Feast of Weeks. The True Bread (Wheat) from heaven descends upon them. What an appointment! Life had been assured! Whereas out of the fire at Sinai came the Holy Law, now comes the fire of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Law that had been written on tablets of stone was now written on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10)! Whereas the Israelites in the desert became betrothed, now both Jew and Gentile became the Bride! What a celebration! At Sinai, 3,000 died, but in Acts 2, 3,000 were saved!

This same fire–this same Holy Spirit–is offered to all those who expect His impartation, believe the words of Yeshua, wait, and arrive at the appointed time. He is here! He is being poured out in these last days! Cling to the Root of Jesse as the rain of His Spirit pours down.

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

April 6, 2009 by admin.

PASSOVER

Sundown, Wednesday, April 8, 2009, marks the beginning of this year’s Passover. Jewish people around the world, and many Christians, have celebrated the Passover every year for the last 3,500 years! This celebration, in the form of a special meal (Seder), has been going on ever since the blood of the ancient sacrificed lamb was spread on the doorposts of the homes of the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt. The Lord commanded in Exodus that Passover would be an everlasting ordinance to memorialize the deliverance of the Israelites whose lives were protected by the blood of the lambs.

As believers in the Messiah Jesus, we now see how the ancient Passover lamb was a foreshadow of the coming Messiah, who would himself become the Passover Lamb, sacrificed for our sins. His blood alone can bring deliverance from sin and give eternal life to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him. The Apostle John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29). And Paul said, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). We, now, have become what Rabbi Jonathan Cahn calls the “Passover People” whose sins have been passed over by the mercy and power of God, enabling us to pass over the sins of others and to pass over the trials and tribulations of our own lives.

Our Passover Lamb, Yeshua (Jesus), though once slain on a deadly cross, is alive and reigns in heaven and in our hearts. He has joined us, as one, with the remnant of believing Jews. His Spirit causes us not only to look back and remember the exodus but also to look forward to the future–to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) where we will dine with our beloved Bridegroom, Yeshua!

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | 2 Comments »

December 21, 2008 by admin.

Jesus and Hanukkah

Tonight (Sunday, December 21, 2008) is the first night of the eight-day Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah or Festival of Lights). We read in John 10:22-23: “Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” Think of it, here it was Hanukkah, and there was Jesus in Jerusalem telling the Jews how He had already revealed himself as the Messiah through His works (miracles), but they did not believe. He had also called himself the “Light of the World.” But what’s the connection?

You see, Hanukkah is the eight-day period during which Jews and many Christians around the world celebrate the miracle of the lights! Before the birth of Messiah, the Syrian King Antiochus invaded Jerusalem and forbid the Jews from following their practices written in the Torah (Sabbath, eating kosher, circumcision, etc.) He went so far as to defile the Temple by sacrificing pigs there. A band of Jews led by Judah Maccabee fought the Syrians to regain control of the Temple and then began the process of rededicating it. According to Jewish writings, in 165 B.C., they lit the menorah (lampstand) but had only enough oil for one day. God performed a miracle by making the holy oil burn for eight days. Today, millions celebrate this miracle in their homes by lighting the eight candles of a special Hanukkah menorah.

During this time, let us remember that we Gentile Christians are spiritual Jews, sons and daughters of Abraham, and are wild olive branches grafted into the natural olive tree by God. Let the lights of the menorahs we see remind us that Yeshua (Jesus) is the greatest miracle of all and that He is the “Light of the World” as He declared (John 8:12). Let us remember that He has come into the temple of our hearts with the everlasting oil of the Spirit, that we might shine forth His love. May we let our light so shine before both Jews and Gentiles that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven, and may we rededicate ourselves to the risen, miracle-working Messiah.

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

August 10, 2008 by admin.

Tisha B’av

Sadness and grief are natural, human reactions to a serious loss. It often hurls us into the arms of our God for comfort. We look to Him and trusted friends for help in examining ourselves and our relationship to the lost object of our love. It is through grief that we face the painful reality of losing something that we love, whether it be our parent, our child, our spouse, our friend, or even our childhood, our home, or our health. They are all losses. Besides grieving our own losses, we are touched when a friend is grieving a loss. Even our Lord Yeshua wept when He saw His friends grieving at Lazarus’ death.

Today, on August 10, 2008 (the 9th of Av or Tisha B’av on the Jewish calendar), the Jewish people grieve over the great losses and tragic events in their history. As Christians, we are the spiritual seed of Abraham. Therefore, the Jewish history and family tree is our history and our tree. Her losses become our losses and her mourning our mourning.

I believe that the Gentile Ruth’s heart toward her Jewish mother-in-law was, “Where you go, I will go; where you live, I will live; your people shall be my people; your God shall be my god; and your losses and grief will be my losses and grief.” May the Lord make us sensitive to the pain of our ancestors.

According to the sages, here are some of the tragedies that happened on the 9th of Av:

1. In 586 BC, the First Temple (built by Solomon) was destroyed by the Babylonians. One hundred thousand Jews perished, and millions were exiled.
2. In 70 AD, the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, led by Titus. Again many Jews died and many were exiled. This destruction was prophesied by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew 24:2.
3. In 135 AD, the Jewish Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. A stronghold of over 100,000 Jews was slaughtered.
4. In 1290, an official decree was signed, expelling all the Jewish people from England.
5. In 1492, the large Jewish community in Spain was expelled from the country.
6. In 1914, WWI broke out when Germany declared war on Russia. German resentment from the war set the stage for the Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed.

Let us also remember that although this day reminds us of the hatred aimed at God’s Chosen People, it can also remind us that God has preserved His people, in spite of Satan’s continual attempts to destroy their hope. “Am Y’israel Chai!” (”The Jewish people live on!”). And, indeed, soon, all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), and we will all rejoice together–forever with our Messiah, Jesus!

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her (Isaiah 66:10).”

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

June 9, 2008 by admin.

SHAVU’OT (PENTECOST)

After His resurrection, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah had told His disciples in Luke 24:49: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Also, at His last Passover Seder (Last Supper), Yeshua had already promised to send them the Holy Spirit after He would leave the earth. Even John the Baptist had prophesied that Yeshua would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Picture the scene later on. Jesus had ascended to His Father, and the disciples were left behind…waiting. What were they waiting for? What did they expect? What did they think the Holy Spirit would be like? As Jews, they knew from Leviticus 23 that fifty days after Passover was the celebration of the feast of Shavu’ot or Pentecost. During the time of Jesus, this was an agricultural festival, but the sages of the time recognized it also as a time of celebration marking the anniversary of the Lord giving the Commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai. Also, in Jewish tradition, on the first Shavu’ot the Jewish people were seen as betrothed to God through the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. It was one of the three feasts where all males were commanded to go to Jerusalem for the festivities.

So, there they were in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, Israel. They probably had been eagerly counting the fifty days since Passover in anticipation of celebrating their betrothal and the giving of the Torah, as many devout Jews do to this day. They were also waiting…expecting the Holy Spirit at some point.

All of a sudden…it happened! Acts 2. What a wonderful surprise! What an incredible, awesome gift for the faithful seekers! The supernatural unfolded before them! There was the sound of a violent wind! Tongues of fire came down and landed on each of them! Disciples of Yeshua cried out in foreign languages that they had never learned! Prophesying! Visions! Signs! Wonders! Wow! The Holy Law that had been written on tablets of stone was now written on the tablets of their human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10)! The betrothal period was over. Here on the first Shavu’ot after Yeshua’s death, His people, both Jew and Gentile, now became His Bride!

The 6th of Silvan (Monday, June 9, 2008) marks this year’s celebration of Shavu’ot. This same Fire that fell 2,000 years ago–this same Holy Spirit–is now offered to all those who expect His impartation, believe the words of Yeshua, and wait. He is here! He is being poured out in these last days!

Bless the Name of God (Baruch HaShem)!

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »

June 2, 2008 by admin.

Yom Yerushalayim

The 28th of Iyar (our June 2nd) marks the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), a national Israeli holiday commemorating the recently gained control over the Old City and the re-unification of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the City of God, where God chose to write His name! Jerusalem, the most holy city in the world! Jerusalem, where Yeshua walked, preached, healed and prophesied almost 2000 years ago! Jerusalem, where Messiah will soon return to the Mount of Olives and enter the Eastern Gate! Jerusalem, the place where the new Jerusalem will descend from above!

In its history, however, Jerusalem has been “trampled on” over the centuries by the Gentiles (Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders, Turks and the British) as Yeshua predicted in Luke 21:24. Recently, some things have begun to change. Israel became a recognized nation in May 1948. However, they still did not have control of Jerusalem. Then, another change came! During the Six Day War in June 1967, the nation of Israel miraculously held off six invading Arab nations and took sovereign control over the City of God!

So what’s the significance? What’s the point? Well, the point is that Yeshua said in Luke 21:24 that Jerusalem would be “trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Well, Jerusalem is now in the hands of the Jews. Does this mean that Jerusalem is no longer trampled on? If so, we’re definitely close to the return of the Messiah. Why? Because Yeshua said, “When these things [along with other signs] begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near!” (Luke 21:28). He went on to say in verse 32: “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened!” Is that generation us…the generation that saw Jerusalem returned to the Jews? Wow! And also, if the “times of the Gentiles” refers to Romans 11:25-26 where it states that after the “full number of the Gentiles has come in,” then it follows that “all Israel will be saved” soon! Look up, your redemption draws near! Your Yeshua draws near! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

Posted in Jewish Roots, Messianic Ministry | Print | No Comments »