But, just occasionally, things don't go as expected.
I'm seeing many positive things at a certain local church. A brief back story: my wife grew up in a Messianic synagogue and I was nurtured in pro-Jewish Roots environment and then I started visiting the Messianic synagogue where I met my wife. Long story short, there was a falling out with the leadership there. So then G-d had us start visiting a certain Baptist Church. All I knew was that they were pro-Israel (they had a prominently displayed Israeli flag in the lobby, etc). But I really wasn't sure why I was there.
- And then the church started hosting Friday night Shabbat gatherings.
- And then I heard rumors that the pastoral team had had some sort of "experience" whilst visiting in Israel.
- And then the church started hosting a Messianic group on Saturdays.
- And then I met with the pastor and, throwing caution to the wind, laid out all of my views on Torah. And, not only did he not get upset, but, to my utter puzzlement, he said he agreed with everything I had said!
The pastor actually encouraged me to visit with the Messianic group and I didn't really want to go because some of them were from the congregation that I'd had a falling out with. But this past weekend I finally visited and it was very pleasant. And the pastor is glad that I finally decided to visit with them.
I guess maybe because I've been hurt by certain groups before that I became pessimistic and overly guarded and missed out on some opportunities. But maybe it's time to let my guard down a bit. This seems to be a safe environment.
I was also encouraged by the pastor's latest sermon which was broadcast on television. He made such a wonderful defense of the Torah. It reminded me of the post I wrote a while back about how some well-known Christian scholars are coming out in favor of the Torah of Moses (LINK). He said "I'm not trying to be heretical..." and then make this argument that since all of Scripture is G-d-breathed by the Spirit and since the Spirit is Yeshua's Spirit that "The commands of Christ are as much in the Old Testament as in the New Testament." He said something to the effect of, "Do we just observe everything in the red-lettered edition of the Bible?" (note: the red-lettered edition is the one that highlights Yeshua's words in red). And then he offered, "Honestly, it's more than the red letters."
The chutzpah on this guy! To say such things to a large Baptist congregation! (Not to mention those watching on television).
G-d is surely doing something in our time!
Shalom and Blessings in Yeshua,
Peter
Shalom in Yeshua Hamashiach:
ReplyDeleteIt was years ago in Israel as a young and confused Jewish believer in Yeshua Hamashiach that an elderly missionary (a Jewess) related this story to me, which eventually led to a blessed clarity of understanding in the Scriptures.
The story begins with a young missionary (a Jewess) who is allowed by a traditional Jewish rabbi to teach his children about Yeshua. The young missionary was very surprised to be given this liberty in the rabbi's home. After the passage of a few months, the rabbi asked the young missionary during one of her lessons to his children if he could ask her a question. She responded with "sure, please go ahead". The rabbi then asked her if we we were under "the New Covenant" today. She replied with an "of course" to which the rabbi requested to see her Bible. She handed him her Bible and he turned to Jeremiah chapter 31 and asked her to read verses 31 thru 34. Then the rabbi said - verse 34 clearly states that when the New Covenant is made with Israel, "they shall teach NO MORE every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord" - so then why are you here teaching my kids to know the Lord? She had NO answer !! Embarrassed and confused she went home and was determined to get the answer !!
After months of wrestling with the Word of God, the Lord opened her understanding to what it means and why is it ESSENTIAL to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (II Timothy 2:15), if "ALL Scripture" is to be indeed "profitable" (II Timothy 3:16) for the believer's ministry. It is our joy to share this study link (Right Division) with the prayer that it will bless your people as it has blessed us.
No joy can compare with that of a believer who clearly understands the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:8,12; Luke 24:27,32).
"By His GRACE" (Berean Classroom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe New Covenant the way "Messianic" understand it is just another second coming prophecy used as proof for Yeshua. Nothing new, you have use second-coming prophecies, because Yeshua has actually fulfilled no prophecy. Jordan, I appreciate your honesty! Can you show me one Bible verse that your "messiah" fulfilled?
DeleteThere are many, but here are a few for starters:
Delete1. Messiah would be BORN in Bethlehem
(Micah 5:2 cf. Matthew 2:1)
2. Messiah would be REJECTED by His own people
(Isaiah 53:3 cf. John 1:11)
3. Messiah would be MOCKED and RIDICULED
(Psalms 22:7-8 cf. Matthew 27:39-43)
4. Messiah would be SPAT UPON and SMITTEN
(Isaiah 50:6 cf. Matthew 26:67)
5. Messiah would be CRUCIFIED (PIERCED hands and feet):
(Psalms 22:16 cf. Matthew 27:31)
6. Messiah's DEATH would be with criminals
(Isaiah 53:12 cf. Mark 15:27-28)
7. Messiah's GRAVE would be with the rich
(Isaiah 53:9 cf. Matthew 27:57-60)
8. Messiah's bones were NOT BROKEN
(Psalms 34:20 cf. John 19:33-36)
9. Messiah's garments were PARTED by the CASTING of LOTS
(Psalms 22:18 cf. Matthew 27:35-36)
10. Messiah's body saw NO CORRUPTION (RESURRECTED the THIRD DAY)
(Psalms 16:10-11 cf. Luke 24:1-8; John 11:17; 39)
For a more exhaustive study: Leviticus 23 (The Feasts of the Lord)
Micah 5:2 Was Jesus ever a RULER?
DeleteIsaiah 53:3 Realizing they were about to come and make Him king by force John 6:15
Psalms 22:7-8 That's not a prophecy, many people can say that to others.
Isaiah 50:6 That's ISAIAH Speaking!.
Psalms 22:16 Like a lion
Isaiah 38:13
שִׁוִּיתִי עַד־בֹּקֶר כָּֽאֲרִי כֵּן יְשַׁבֵּר כָּל־עַצְמֹותָי מִיֹּום
“Reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.”
Psalm 22:16
כִּי סְבָבוּנִי כְּלָבִים עֲדַת מְרֵעִים הִקִּיפוּנִי כָּאֲרִי יָדַי וְרַגְלָֽי׃
Isaiah 53:12 And he divided the booty (war spoils) with the strong?
Isaiah 53:9 HELLO! assigned a grave with the wicked, not the rich! and with the rich in his death, not two thieves!
That's how it should have been, Jesus should have been crucified with two business men and then thrown into a dumpster!
Psalms 34:20 This is not a prophecy, it's a psalm talking about the righteous and the wicked in general! Please read it.
Psalms 22:18, and the Yeshua on the cross said "Please G-d, hopefully a war won't break right now! Deliver me from the sword, I am already naked on that cross, a war and swords won't do me good!"
Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog. That's after your garments...
That's not the Psalm that said "My goodness is nothing apart from You.", who is also myself, the third part of ME, the triune--- sorry complex unitarian god. Makes sense!
Dear "Real Messianic":
DeleteI will be brief and address just one of the above issues above where context is key to an honest and true understanding of Who is the Speaker.
In context, the Speaker in Isaiah 50:6 is said to be the Lord in Isaiah 50:1 with NO change in Speaker when we get to Iaaiah 50:6. This Speaker makes reference to another Divine Person (the Lord God) in Isaiah 50:4. ALL three Divine Persons are brought together (again in context) - two chapters back in Isaiah 48:16-17. There we have the Speaker identified as "the Lord Thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 48:17) testifying as to being sent by the two other Divine Persons identified as "the Lord God, and His Spirit" (Isaiah 48:16).
I believe you may want to be quiet for awhile and have time to seriously think on Who your Redeemer really is the next time you pray to Him (Psalms 19:14).
I initially was NOT going to respond to you, but in prayer the Lord made it real to me that He wanted it otherwise (Proverbs 27:6).
Respectfully, Jordan Karr.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHello! Anyone home?
ReplyDeleteAll quiet at the front, sir!
ReplyDeleteWhat front?
ReplyDeleteHave we run out of topics?
ReplyDeletePraying all is well
ReplyDeleteIt appears a great many "Christian Pastors" are pursuing unity with the Pope. The Pope believes ALL ways lead to God.
ReplyDeleteMore than the red letters? The red letters are the sayings that came from God himself delivered by Yeshua. Yeshua only spoke what the father commanded. That is why he is the Duet prophet that was "to be sent".
Yeshua said "He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."
So, any attempt to denigrate or lesson the words of Yeshua is evil. The rock we build the house on is the red letters. Those who build on something else build on sand.
“For he whom God hath sent speaks the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him”
Shalom! That's great to hear. It does appear more and more believers are coming to understand the beauty of the Torah. I was writing a recent article for school and had to find scholarly sources that validated the Torah is not "done away with." I was pleasantly surprised to find so many articles from scholars who have come to this understanding.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter. Noticed that you haven't been posting for quite a while. Miss your presence on the blog. Hope all is OK with you and your family. Cheers from Canada!
ReplyDeleteI hope Peter didn't die, how would we know?
ReplyDeleteMay be he finally converted to Judaism???
ReplyDeletePeter, It my first time here on this blog. Grace and peace in Messiah.
ReplyDeleteHey, I want to encourage you, Do not grow weary. Serve the Lord your God with love and truth. The Lord who knows the mind and hearts will lead His people in holiness and truth.
"You, however, continue in what you have learned and what you have become convinced of. For you know from whom you have learned, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise, leading to salvation through trusting in Messiah Yeshua. All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed." (2 Tim. 3)
With love, your fellow brother in Messiah, Alejandro.
Has it really been a whole year since we heard from you Peter? Any updates?
ReplyDeletePeter is NOT dead. He still posts snippets on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/peter.vest.5)
ReplyDeleteWell , I'm a pastor and still celebrate the feasts , wear a kippa most of the time, pray with a tallit ...eat kosher food. What else ? Yeshua was a jew , his disciples were jews. Then I am a jew...convert from the goyim who believes Yeshua is the Messiah.I don't feel offended when called christian but in my hezd it is just a translation of messianic. Where I live people are not used with this word either.
ReplyDeleteBunk. Moshe the prophet anointed Aaron Moshiach from the Torah. The prophet Sh'muel anionted Shaul as Moshiach. Moshiach/anointed with oil/ requires a dedication. What did the prophet Sh'muel "compliment" the anointing of Aaron by the prophet Moshe? Law Giver. HaShem rejected the Moshiach of the house of Sha'ul b/c he failed to obey the commandments. Therefore when the prophet Sh'muel anointed David as Moshiach, he did so based upon the precondition that he dedicated David holy to HaShem to keep and observe the commandments.
ReplyDeleteKorach rebelled against Moshe. His ''replacement theology'' sought to replace Aaron as Moshiach.
The noise new testament [it never once brings the Name of the God of Israel - a violation of the 1st Commandment of Sinai - its substitution theology directly compares to the rebellion of Korah and Yerav'am! Limiting the reality of the Gods to 3 physical dimensions defines idolatry. Xtianity must have a physical jesus!