Sheri Munson gazed into her refrigerator. She saw a box of Arm & Hammer baking soda, a bottle of ancient mustard, and some very old packets of soy sauce. The barren cupboards held a can of pumpkin and the last remnants a 20-pound bag of rice. That was basically it. Sheri had five children to feed. As Sheri stared into her empty cupboards, she said, "Okay Lord. I'm going to trust you. You've brought me this far. I can't believe you're going to let me fall off a cliff now. You said you would be my husband. Please provide for us..."
There are times in our lives when we need miracles to take place. Even among Christians, though, there's often a sense that God is no longer in the miracle business. Many people complain that God doesn't answer prayers. At least, if He answers, He says, "No," a lot. If God is not a liar and He loves us, then, why doesn't He answer our prayers? What are we doing wrong? Do we just not have enough faith? First of all, God does answer prayers. He answers prayers all the time.
Sometimes He doesn't do exactly what we want Him to do in our timing. He does things His way in His timing. But, we also make some errors in the way we pray, and we need to understand those errors so that we can pray in the kind of faith that God honors. Mistake #2 - Putting Faith in Faith: We often make the mistake of putting faith in faith itself. Our faith isn't supposed to be in how great our faith is. Our faith isn't in us, it's in God. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."A mustard seed is small, the smallest of seeds. The point is, our faith doesn't have to be huge. It just has to be. We need to stop being afraid and doubting, thinking our faith is too small.
We need to trust our God that He can take our small faith offering, and He can work with it. Example - Filling A Fridge: Sheri Munson stared into her empty refrigerator in Rathdrum, Idaho that autumn afternoon in 1997 and told the Lord simply, "I trust You." That was it. That was her great display of faith.Regardless of the magnitude of Sheri's faith, God moved. "I had to pick up my son Tyler from the bus station in Spokane," Sheri told us. Tyler was 17 and a big eater, and there was no food in the house for the four kids already at home. What's more, Sheri had no money for gas to drive to get Tyler. "So, I asked my 9-year-old, Max, for the four dollars he had. He said, 'Mom! I wanted to buy jerky with that four dollars!' I said, 'Max, I have to have gas. We'll buy jerky with one dollar, and with three dollars I can get enough gas to get to the bus station.'"
So, Max sacrificed his three bucks. Just before she left to get Tyler, Sheri's friend Kathy Spackman called and invited Sheri and the kids to come to a barbeque – and not a barbeque in three weeks, a barbeque that evening. "Can I bring something?" Sheri asked, (having nothing to bring but a bowl of rice). "No," Kathy said. "Just come!" That was a relief. At least Tyler would have something to eat when he got in! Then, they lost the three dollars. When Sheri and Max got to the gas station, the money set aside for gas was missing. They looked all over the car for it. "Finally, we just went in to get Max's one dollar's worth of jerky," Sheri sad. That was it. They had nothing left. Sheri didn't want to think about how they were going to go pick up Tyler.
When they came out, though, twenty dollars had appeared on the front seat. "I started crying," Sheri said. "Max said, 'Mom. It's okay. Don't cry. It's a miracle. Let's buy gas!'" So, they put ten dollars into the gas tank. Off they headed to get Tyler and go to the barbeque.Tyler ate at Kathy Spackman's gathering as only a growing young man can. It was the only meal Sheri had to offer her son. After the meal, though, Kathy approached Sheri and asked her to PLEASE take some of the leftovers home with her. There was so much food, Kathy told Sheri, and the food would just go to waste if she and the boys didn't take it. "There were steaks!" Sheri told us, "And chicken and salads and potatoes and corn on the cob. There was so much food! They just loaded my car up."
On top of the leftover food, a man at the barbeque had a truck full of bread from the bread store. Normally he got the old bread to feed to his pigs, but the store had just gotten a truckload of fresh bread in and had taken perfectly good bread off the shelves to give to him. He asked Sheri if she wanted any. Sheri told us, "So, then we got bread and doughnuts and little wheat rolls and pastries – all kinds of bread – and put them in the car too." "Wow Mom," Max said. "God is sure a good shopper with just three bucks!" "Then we got home," Sheri said, "and there was a ham the kids' father had sent us.
And somebody had left us a box of oranges and a box of apples. I still don't know who left the apples and the oranges. And a voice whispered in my heart, 'See, I can take care of you.'" That wasn't the end of it. The next day, Sheri's friend Cheryl called and said, "Hey, Sheri. We had a moving sale, and I have all this food I couldn't sell that I don't want to move it to the new house. Would you like some of it?" It turned out that Cheryl had an extensive pantry. "There was peanut butter and packages of oatmeal and canned food and dried food and, there was just so much!" Sheri exclaimed. "The best part of it," Sheri told us, "Was when Tyler said, 'You know, Mom. You're poor, but whenever I come to see you, I always eat really well!'"
On Saturday, Sheri had simply told the Lord, "I trust You," while facing an empty refrigerator and empty cupboards and kids to feed. By Sunday, her cupboards were full, her refrigerator was full and her freezer was full. Her faith wasn't in how good she was or in how much faith she had. She just trusted God not to drop her. She hadn't told people she needed help, but God knew, and God provided for her - pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing. When we come to God, we must approach Him in Truth, trusting Him and trusting His character. We need to put our faith in His goodness and not our own. That's the beginning of the kind of faith that can move mountains, or fill refrigerators.
Related Links: • Faith and Miracles Part I: Faith In What? - Koinonia House
And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all of your heart! (Jeremiah 29:13) The LORD is good to those that wait for Him; to the soul that seeks Him. (Lamentations 3:25)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas Season Thoughts
This is the first Christmas season that I have not had a immediate family member present other than my wife and grown son; and now a child from another state with no safe place to live. God has blessed my wife and I with the ability to become Guardians of this child.
I am from a family of six. I am the eldest son and for the first time I stand alone on this planet this Christmas as the last representative - Mom, Dad and three brothers have passed the threshold of this life into the eternal. I have good memories of Christmas as a small child. Although our presents were not extravagant because of my father's income (he was a minister), Christmas was always a special time of year.
I remember as a child us four boys being given memory verses to memorize and recite in the Christmas plays in Dad's churches. The atmosphere of those days gone by still linger during this special season. I still have some of the ceramic angel's my brother's and I made during those Christmas season's of old.
I am reminded quite often of what a dear minister said many years ago that " life on this earth is just a dressing room for eternity" the main play has not even begun! If we can keep an eternal frame of mind the heartache of the present world is not as difficult to endure.
I was recently reading the prophecies that were given regarding the birth of Jesus. Mary was full of gladness, the Holy Spirit, and great hope of her Son Jesus. In His short life He ended up on a cruel cross with the sins of the world laid upon His back. How broken hearted Mary must have been! I consider the visit she had with John the Baptist' mother just a few short years earlier when they were both with child. The day of the cross must have made those days seem like an eternity ago to Mary. Consider the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother's womb when Jesus' mother came into her home when these two Jewish girls were with child! What an end for the both of them.
What must have been seen as great hope! What great promise! What honor that was bestowed upon these two innocent ladies to carry in their womb and give birth to two of the greatest men who ever walked the earth. Both suffered greatly in the unending and uncompromising calls to repentance of their sons. John the Baptist lost his head; Christ ended up on the cross. I wonder if the two mother's would have given birth if they had known this was going to happen?
But look at the end result of their actions! Because of these two men the course of the entire planet was changed for all time. Satan, the great adversary of all that is good used everything within his power to stop the message. He failed miserably!
Also, what we do has great effect on both the spiritual and the physical world. Our prayers continually ascend to the heavens to be recorded for all eternity. We are born with eternity in our hearts. From our first heartbeat we are destined to spend forever and ever with Christ our Bridegroom, or the region of despair and torment without Him.
I have the first Bible my father gave me as a child. He wrote on the first page that "The experiences of life will either make you bitter or better..." I choose better as I remember that God says He knew us before the foundations of the earth were laid. He saw each of us form in our mother's womb. We must continue to have great hope that such a God, our King of King's and the LORD of LORD'S has always been, is right now, and will always have our welfare in mind. He says He has carved us onto His hand and He will never leave or forsake us.
This Christmas season I am developing a deeper and more intimate understanding of the concept of being a remnant. I now identify with this word on a first hand basis. But I can say without evasion or mental gymnastics; Jesus is truly a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. I have a Father in the Heaven of Heavens who is not that distant at all. Christ said He is with us always; not someday, but right now.
As we face 2011 let us never forget that the desire of Christ's heart according to John 17 is that we be One with Him and the Father. His prayers are always answered!!
Have a great 2011 thinking on Him; the small baby with no place to sleep but in a manger, the One who gave His all on our behalf, the Father in heaven who loves us so much that He gave of Himself for our salvation. Christ Jesus, the soon coming King of Israel who will renew, restore and reinvigorate planet earth!
I am from a family of six. I am the eldest son and for the first time I stand alone on this planet this Christmas as the last representative - Mom, Dad and three brothers have passed the threshold of this life into the eternal. I have good memories of Christmas as a small child. Although our presents were not extravagant because of my father's income (he was a minister), Christmas was always a special time of year.
I remember as a child us four boys being given memory verses to memorize and recite in the Christmas plays in Dad's churches. The atmosphere of those days gone by still linger during this special season. I still have some of the ceramic angel's my brother's and I made during those Christmas season's of old.
I am reminded quite often of what a dear minister said many years ago that " life on this earth is just a dressing room for eternity" the main play has not even begun! If we can keep an eternal frame of mind the heartache of the present world is not as difficult to endure.
I was recently reading the prophecies that were given regarding the birth of Jesus. Mary was full of gladness, the Holy Spirit, and great hope of her Son Jesus. In His short life He ended up on a cruel cross with the sins of the world laid upon His back. How broken hearted Mary must have been! I consider the visit she had with John the Baptist' mother just a few short years earlier when they were both with child. The day of the cross must have made those days seem like an eternity ago to Mary. Consider the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother's womb when Jesus' mother came into her home when these two Jewish girls were with child! What an end for the both of them.
What must have been seen as great hope! What great promise! What honor that was bestowed upon these two innocent ladies to carry in their womb and give birth to two of the greatest men who ever walked the earth. Both suffered greatly in the unending and uncompromising calls to repentance of their sons. John the Baptist lost his head; Christ ended up on the cross. I wonder if the two mother's would have given birth if they had known this was going to happen?
But look at the end result of their actions! Because of these two men the course of the entire planet was changed for all time. Satan, the great adversary of all that is good used everything within his power to stop the message. He failed miserably!
Also, what we do has great effect on both the spiritual and the physical world. Our prayers continually ascend to the heavens to be recorded for all eternity. We are born with eternity in our hearts. From our first heartbeat we are destined to spend forever and ever with Christ our Bridegroom, or the region of despair and torment without Him.
I have the first Bible my father gave me as a child. He wrote on the first page that "The experiences of life will either make you bitter or better..." I choose better as I remember that God says He knew us before the foundations of the earth were laid. He saw each of us form in our mother's womb. We must continue to have great hope that such a God, our King of King's and the LORD of LORD'S has always been, is right now, and will always have our welfare in mind. He says He has carved us onto His hand and He will never leave or forsake us.
This Christmas season I am developing a deeper and more intimate understanding of the concept of being a remnant. I now identify with this word on a first hand basis. But I can say without evasion or mental gymnastics; Jesus is truly a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. I have a Father in the Heaven of Heavens who is not that distant at all. Christ said He is with us always; not someday, but right now.
As we face 2011 let us never forget that the desire of Christ's heart according to John 17 is that we be One with Him and the Father. His prayers are always answered!!
Have a great 2011 thinking on Him; the small baby with no place to sleep but in a manger, the One who gave His all on our behalf, the Father in heaven who loves us so much that He gave of Himself for our salvation. Christ Jesus, the soon coming King of Israel who will renew, restore and reinvigorate planet earth!
Son Of Man - Son Of God
Born is the King of Israel
©12/26/2010 Asher Intrater
There are several theories as to the date of Yeshua's birth, but there is no solid proof for any of them. In addition, there are many cultural aspects of the celebration of Christmas which are ungodly. Despite those problematic issues, the birth of Messiah into this earth is a watershed moment of human history and biblical revelation.
The Son of God became flesh in a human body in a lowly stable. The King of Israel was born to a virgin maiden of the house of David. It is majestic, humbling and awe-inspiring. The name "Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10) means: "Im" – With; "Anu" – Us; "El" – God. "God with us" – God came to be with us in the form of a little baby.
Here are some impressions from pastor, apostle and spiritual father Don Finto:
"I wonder how many Christians really understand what we are singing in many of the songs about the birth of Jesus. These particular words struck me as we sang "Noel" together in last Sunday's gathering. "Born is the King of Israel!"
King of Israel! Not only was He born to be the Redeemer of all mankind, but He was born to be Israel's King, He is still the King of Israel, and will return to earth to sit on David's throne in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:9, Acts 1:6-11).
"Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus was asked by Pilate just hours before His execution (John 18:33). To which Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world."
"The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end," were the words spoken to Mary on the night of Jesus/Yeshua's conception (Luke 1:32-33).
This Christ, this Messiah, this Anointed One who came to earth as World Redeemer, is Israel's soon-coming King. A Jewish man sits now at the right hand of the Father, awaiting the time of His return. He will rule over the earth in a thousand-year reign of peace before ushering in a completely restored earth in which God and man live together through all eternity (Ephesians 1:19-20, Isaiah 65:18-25, Revelation 20-22)."
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Thoughts
Christmas: "not by might"
By Elizabeth Kendal
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB)
Interposed as the smallest of beings (an infant);
He was born in a most humble abode (a stable);
laid in a most unbecoming crib (an animal's feed trough);
in a most insignificant little town (Bethlehem);
observed by the meekest of witnesses (shepherds).
Yet Jesus Christ was heralded by angels - visited by wise men and His presence truly terrified the king Herod.
Truths stand in tension:
He is Servant, yet he is Sovereign;
He is humble, yet he is holy;
The Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah.
It should come as no surprise therefore, that prayer and promise, not power and politics;
divine covenant and compassion, not human conspiracy and connivance;'returning and rest . . . in quietness and in trust' (Isaiah 30:15),
not arrogant independence and fearful travail are God's appointed means for deliverance.
When we contemplate the meekness of the infant Christ-child this Christmas, may we who know the awesomeness of what Jesus Christ achieved (2 Timothy 1:10), and the sovereign majesty which he attained (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 3:22), find our faith enlightened, encouraged, emboldened.
For truly, it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the LORD (Zechariah 4:6b) that we shall see deliverance.
By faith . . . by faith . . . by faith . . . by faith . . . (Hebrews 11).
By Elizabeth Kendal
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB)
Interposed as the smallest of beings (an infant);
He was born in a most humble abode (a stable);
laid in a most unbecoming crib (an animal's feed trough);
in a most insignificant little town (Bethlehem);
observed by the meekest of witnesses (shepherds).
Yet Jesus Christ was heralded by angels - visited by wise men and His presence truly terrified the king Herod.
Truths stand in tension:
He is Servant, yet he is Sovereign;
He is humble, yet he is holy;
The Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah.
It should come as no surprise therefore, that prayer and promise, not power and politics;
divine covenant and compassion, not human conspiracy and connivance;'returning and rest . . . in quietness and in trust' (Isaiah 30:15),
not arrogant independence and fearful travail are God's appointed means for deliverance.
When we contemplate the meekness of the infant Christ-child this Christmas, may we who know the awesomeness of what Jesus Christ achieved (2 Timothy 1:10), and the sovereign majesty which he attained (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 3:22), find our faith enlightened, encouraged, emboldened.
For truly, it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the LORD (Zechariah 4:6b) that we shall see deliverance.
By faith . . . by faith . . . by faith . . . by faith . . . (Hebrews 11).
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
ISRAEL UPDATE - ASHER INTRATER
Revive Israel Ministries
Israeli News Update ©December 19, 2010
by Asher IntraterKay Wilson
Saturday afternoon, (Dec. 18), Israeli Messianic sister Kay Wilson (46), tour guide for Shoresh Tours, went on a hike with Christian tourist friend, Christine Logan. They sat down on a hill off the trail near Kibbutz Mata. Two Arab men jumped them.
Kay reports that they removed her "Magen David" necklace and stabbed her 12 times with a long serrated kitchen knife. She pretended to be dead. Christine panicked and started screaming. She was also stabbed. All their money was stolen. Kay passed out briefly; then awoke with her mouth gagged and hands tied behind her back. She heard Christine moaning in death throes.
Kay managed to stumble down to a nearby parking area and was found by a group of Israeli children. Police searched the area throughout the night. Christine's corpse was found Sunday morning. At the time of this writing, the murderers have not yet been found. Miraculously, Kay is recovering well in the hospital.
Ahavat Yeshua Congregation
Our home congregation in Jerusalem was started with the vision of the Acts 2 community in mind. We believe in the fullness of Holy Spirit power, committed relationships of love, sharing the gospel boldly, speaking Hebrew, and living within the cultural context of the greater Jewish community around us.
The Acts 2 community had a sense of mission for world evangelism. We share that same heart. This week alone we are sending Eddie, Jackie, Mati, and Alex to India, Youval to London, and Liat to Switzerland. Our vision is to send Israeli believers on short trips to preach the gospel in nations all over the world.
Our heart is to be witnesses of Yeshua first "in Jerusalem," and then in "all Judea, Samaria and even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)." Pray for "D" and "Y" two local Israeli "not-yet-believers" who have been coming recently.
Song of Moses and of the Lamb
This week at Ahavat Yeshua, Ophir was leading us in the powerful modern worship chorus of "Who is like Thee, O Lord, among the Gods." (The words are taken from Exodus 15 at the crossing of the Red Sea, known as "the song of Moses.") In the middle of the song, I sensed a "window" opened in heaven above us.
We read from Revelation 15:3, "They sing the song of Moses… and the song of the Lamb." Then we read what follows in Revelation 15:5, "I looked and behold the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened." We realized that the combining of modern Spirit-filled worship with the ancient covenant worship was a key to opening the heavens.
Chaim came forward and began to lead us in the traditional Hebrew cantorial of "Who is like Thee…" Spontaneously we began to weave the modern charismatic version with the ancient covenant version. The Holy Spirit fell upon us and filled the congregation in a moment of holy awe.
The Holy Spirit is available to anyone at any time. However, when the presence of the Holy Spirit is combined with the promises to Israel and the prophecies of the End Times, a special power is released that opens the heavens to prepare us for the Second Coming and the establishment of Yeshua's kingdom on earth.
One New Man WorshipBy Ariel Blumenthal
In Revelation 7:9-10 and 14:6 we see another piece of the End Times puzzle: Distinct peoples from “every tribe, tongue, and nation” worshipping God and the Lamb. God’s will is not for Gentiles to abandon their culture in favor of Jewish customs, or vice-versa (1 Corinthians 7:17-24).
Together as the One New Man Church from the nations and from Israel, we can redeem and sanctify all cultures to bring before the Lord a beautiful tapestry of creative, Spirit-led worship to the Father and Creator of all! In so doing, we deal a decisive blow to the principalities and powers that rule every people group (Ephesians 3:10), ushering in a great harvest and the return of the Lord.
Lutheran Church and IsraelBy Tal Haroni and Ludwig Benecke
The Lutheran Church normally separates itself from Messianic Jews, in order not to get in conflict with the Central Council of the Jews in Germany. Last week, one of the chairmen in the Lutheran Church, Nikolaus Schneider, gave an interview in Christian magazine "Idea Spektrum.
"Question: In one of your first comments as chairman of the EKD (Evangelical Church of Germany) you voted for more Christian-Jewish dialogue and for confessing Jesus to the Jews. What do you think about Messianic Jews?Schneider: They are a great gift to the church. They make it possible that we - as mentioned in Ephesians - become a church of Jews and Gentiles. We (the gentile church) have a lack of Messianic Jews; we are an only-gentile church. They complete our church.Evangelizing the Jews is still something, with which I have problems: The covenant with the Jews is still valid, so we don't have to explain God to the Jews.
However, we have to witness Jesus to the Jews - even as the Messiah of Israel. For the Jews the way to God doesn't circumvent Jesus. It may circumvent the church, but not Jesus.This might be some kind of entrance. If the gentile church acknowledges Messianic Jews as brothers and sisters in the Lord, it can be not only a big blessing to Israel and the Jews, but also to the church itself.
Israeli News Update ©December 19, 2010
by Asher IntraterKay Wilson
Saturday afternoon, (Dec. 18), Israeli Messianic sister Kay Wilson (46), tour guide for Shoresh Tours, went on a hike with Christian tourist friend, Christine Logan. They sat down on a hill off the trail near Kibbutz Mata. Two Arab men jumped them.
Kay reports that they removed her "Magen David" necklace and stabbed her 12 times with a long serrated kitchen knife. She pretended to be dead. Christine panicked and started screaming. She was also stabbed. All their money was stolen. Kay passed out briefly; then awoke with her mouth gagged and hands tied behind her back. She heard Christine moaning in death throes.
Kay managed to stumble down to a nearby parking area and was found by a group of Israeli children. Police searched the area throughout the night. Christine's corpse was found Sunday morning. At the time of this writing, the murderers have not yet been found. Miraculously, Kay is recovering well in the hospital.
Ahavat Yeshua Congregation
Our home congregation in Jerusalem was started with the vision of the Acts 2 community in mind. We believe in the fullness of Holy Spirit power, committed relationships of love, sharing the gospel boldly, speaking Hebrew, and living within the cultural context of the greater Jewish community around us.
The Acts 2 community had a sense of mission for world evangelism. We share that same heart. This week alone we are sending Eddie, Jackie, Mati, and Alex to India, Youval to London, and Liat to Switzerland. Our vision is to send Israeli believers on short trips to preach the gospel in nations all over the world.
Our heart is to be witnesses of Yeshua first "in Jerusalem," and then in "all Judea, Samaria and even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)." Pray for "D" and "Y" two local Israeli "not-yet-believers" who have been coming recently.
Song of Moses and of the Lamb
This week at Ahavat Yeshua, Ophir was leading us in the powerful modern worship chorus of "Who is like Thee, O Lord, among the Gods." (The words are taken from Exodus 15 at the crossing of the Red Sea, known as "the song of Moses.") In the middle of the song, I sensed a "window" opened in heaven above us.
We read from Revelation 15:3, "They sing the song of Moses… and the song of the Lamb." Then we read what follows in Revelation 15:5, "I looked and behold the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened." We realized that the combining of modern Spirit-filled worship with the ancient covenant worship was a key to opening the heavens.
Chaim came forward and began to lead us in the traditional Hebrew cantorial of "Who is like Thee…" Spontaneously we began to weave the modern charismatic version with the ancient covenant version. The Holy Spirit fell upon us and filled the congregation in a moment of holy awe.
The Holy Spirit is available to anyone at any time. However, when the presence of the Holy Spirit is combined with the promises to Israel and the prophecies of the End Times, a special power is released that opens the heavens to prepare us for the Second Coming and the establishment of Yeshua's kingdom on earth.
One New Man WorshipBy Ariel Blumenthal
In Revelation 7:9-10 and 14:6 we see another piece of the End Times puzzle: Distinct peoples from “every tribe, tongue, and nation” worshipping God and the Lamb. God’s will is not for Gentiles to abandon their culture in favor of Jewish customs, or vice-versa (1 Corinthians 7:17-24).
Together as the One New Man Church from the nations and from Israel, we can redeem and sanctify all cultures to bring before the Lord a beautiful tapestry of creative, Spirit-led worship to the Father and Creator of all! In so doing, we deal a decisive blow to the principalities and powers that rule every people group (Ephesians 3:10), ushering in a great harvest and the return of the Lord.
Lutheran Church and IsraelBy Tal Haroni and Ludwig Benecke
The Lutheran Church normally separates itself from Messianic Jews, in order not to get in conflict with the Central Council of the Jews in Germany. Last week, one of the chairmen in the Lutheran Church, Nikolaus Schneider, gave an interview in Christian magazine "Idea Spektrum.
"Question: In one of your first comments as chairman of the EKD (Evangelical Church of Germany) you voted for more Christian-Jewish dialogue and for confessing Jesus to the Jews. What do you think about Messianic Jews?Schneider: They are a great gift to the church. They make it possible that we - as mentioned in Ephesians - become a church of Jews and Gentiles. We (the gentile church) have a lack of Messianic Jews; we are an only-gentile church. They complete our church.Evangelizing the Jews is still something, with which I have problems: The covenant with the Jews is still valid, so we don't have to explain God to the Jews.
However, we have to witness Jesus to the Jews - even as the Messiah of Israel. For the Jews the way to God doesn't circumvent Jesus. It may circumvent the church, but not Jesus.This might be some kind of entrance. If the gentile church acknowledges Messianic Jews as brothers and sisters in the Lord, it can be not only a big blessing to Israel and the Jews, but also to the church itself.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A Man - Yet God!
10.13.2010
It is so important for us to remind ourselves daily of our position in Christ the Messiah. He is a man, in a glorified Body (one that we will also receive), sitting at the right hand of the Father on high. He is our advocate, our representative in the heavens. We can go to Him 24 hours a day with our problems and issues; and most important of all our praise and worship for who He is and what He has done for us.
There are some thoughts from JB Stoney, Volumn 7 that I was reading this morning that succinctly put this who concept in a form that ministered to me today and set my course for the day. When I read things like this I know that it is like fresh concrete being poured into my spirit and as I meditate on the new concept, the new depth, it gives added depth for the foundation and knowledge I will take with me into eternity when the real me leaves this body of clay and goes into the new world, His Kingdom which will never end!
JB Stoney (1840)
" Christ is raised from the dead, and now there is a Man in glory! He met all the righteous demands of God, not only in Himself personally, but on account of me;"
" and therefore I have now a Saviour in the glory. I have a Saviour, not a law now but a Saviour in glory. That is exactly the difference. This was what so astonished Saul of Tarsus (Paul). He had gloried in the Law, but now he sees a Saviour in the glory."
This fact is now in the eternal. It is a sure as the rising of the sun and the setting of the same. Revelation 1:5 further confirms our position in Christ the Messiah:
" Grace and peace from Him which is, and was and which is to come = and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne - And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the first begotten from the dead (never to die again!) and the Prince of the kings of the earth - unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Revelation 1:5.
Remind yourself daily that our position is secure! His promises are true! Do not believe the lies of the enemy when he and the spirits of Antichrist bombard in our mind and spirit with lies and deceptions.
One of Christ's prayers to the Father before He died for our sins is recorded in John 17. His prayer was, and will always be, that we may be one with Him and the Father.
God hears and answers the prayers of His Son!
He hears and answers our prayers as they ascend into the heavens! Faithful and True is His very nature. What a Father we have!
It is so important for us to remind ourselves daily of our position in Christ the Messiah. He is a man, in a glorified Body (one that we will also receive), sitting at the right hand of the Father on high. He is our advocate, our representative in the heavens. We can go to Him 24 hours a day with our problems and issues; and most important of all our praise and worship for who He is and what He has done for us.
There are some thoughts from JB Stoney, Volumn 7 that I was reading this morning that succinctly put this who concept in a form that ministered to me today and set my course for the day. When I read things like this I know that it is like fresh concrete being poured into my spirit and as I meditate on the new concept, the new depth, it gives added depth for the foundation and knowledge I will take with me into eternity when the real me leaves this body of clay and goes into the new world, His Kingdom which will never end!
JB Stoney (1840)
" Christ is raised from the dead, and now there is a Man in glory! He met all the righteous demands of God, not only in Himself personally, but on account of me;"
" and therefore I have now a Saviour in the glory. I have a Saviour, not a law now but a Saviour in glory. That is exactly the difference. This was what so astonished Saul of Tarsus (Paul). He had gloried in the Law, but now he sees a Saviour in the glory."
This fact is now in the eternal. It is a sure as the rising of the sun and the setting of the same. Revelation 1:5 further confirms our position in Christ the Messiah:
" Grace and peace from Him which is, and was and which is to come = and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne - And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the first begotten from the dead (never to die again!) and the Prince of the kings of the earth - unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Revelation 1:5.
Remind yourself daily that our position is secure! His promises are true! Do not believe the lies of the enemy when he and the spirits of Antichrist bombard in our mind and spirit with lies and deceptions.
One of Christ's prayers to the Father before He died for our sins is recorded in John 17. His prayer was, and will always be, that we may be one with Him and the Father.
God hears and answers the prayers of His Son!
He hears and answers our prayers as they ascend into the heavens! Faithful and True is His very nature. What a Father we have!
Monday, December 13, 2010
DECLARE!
12.13.2010
Psalm 19
" The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament shows forth His handiwork.
Day after day uttereth speech,
and night unto night shows knowledge..."
The heavens declare ( Hebrew is SAPHAR)
the heavens recount, the heavens mark as a tally or a record, or the heavens inscribe as a writer the handiwork of God.
Every time we look up into the heavens, whether it is a beautiful cloud, sunrise, sunset or storm, His glory is being declared for all of His creation to behold. Psalm 75:1 says, " Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto Thee do we give thanks; for that Thy Name is near Thy wondrous works declare."
He is an all encompassing God. He inhabits eternity and every aspect of His creation. We are surrounded by His presence; it does not matter how we feel at any given moment, He is near.
Job 12:7-10 gives a very appropriate picture of God's all encompassing presence. He says, " But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee; Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these (the fish, birds, beasts and the very earth we walk upon) that the hand of the LORD has wrought this? "
Truly - the heavens, the sky, the earth and everything therein declare the glory of God.
The firmament, the sky shows God's handiwork in creation - The Hebrew description for this concept, this fact, is that the firmament stands out, it boldly manifests and certifies His work. Each day utters speech, it gushes forth, belches out, pours out and abundantly declares His glory.
Psalm 78:1,2 says, " I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings of old - which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. "
The nights show knowledge - Dakes Annotated Reference Bible (page 624) describes this well ~
If the heavens number out the glory of God and inscribe the infinite works of the Creator; if the firmament manifests His handiwork and certifies His existence;
If days constantly pour forth teaching; and if nights declare the knowledge of God - then God's existence is everywhere confirmed!
He is with us always; we are surrounded by His Presence. Even unto the ends of the earth!
Psalm 19
" The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament shows forth His handiwork.
Day after day uttereth speech,
and night unto night shows knowledge..."
The heavens declare ( Hebrew is SAPHAR)
the heavens recount, the heavens mark as a tally or a record, or the heavens inscribe as a writer the handiwork of God.
Every time we look up into the heavens, whether it is a beautiful cloud, sunrise, sunset or storm, His glory is being declared for all of His creation to behold. Psalm 75:1 says, " Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto Thee do we give thanks; for that Thy Name is near Thy wondrous works declare."
He is an all encompassing God. He inhabits eternity and every aspect of His creation. We are surrounded by His presence; it does not matter how we feel at any given moment, He is near.
Job 12:7-10 gives a very appropriate picture of God's all encompassing presence. He says, " But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee; Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these (the fish, birds, beasts and the very earth we walk upon) that the hand of the LORD has wrought this? "
Truly - the heavens, the sky, the earth and everything therein declare the glory of God.
The firmament, the sky shows God's handiwork in creation - The Hebrew description for this concept, this fact, is that the firmament stands out, it boldly manifests and certifies His work. Each day utters speech, it gushes forth, belches out, pours out and abundantly declares His glory.
Psalm 78:1,2 says, " I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings of old - which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. "
The nights show knowledge - Dakes Annotated Reference Bible (page 624) describes this well ~
If the heavens number out the glory of God and inscribe the infinite works of the Creator; if the firmament manifests His handiwork and certifies His existence;
If days constantly pour forth teaching; and if nights declare the knowledge of God - then God's existence is everywhere confirmed!
He is with us always; we are surrounded by His Presence. Even unto the ends of the earth!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
HE WILL! WE WILL! BELIEVE IT!
No matter the difficulty, no matter the issue, we are given great and precious promises that we must appropriate, learn, memorize and pray as things begin to wrap up for this age of grace. We are in the beginning of the end of all things as we have known them, and we must remember that when the corrupt world system begins to shutter and fold the angels of God are rejoicing! Are we on their side of the praise? Or do we wring our hands in fear at the things that are coming upon the earth? We have to get on the right side of this thing to be effective for His Kingdom.
Christ instructed us to pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." Do we mean it? Jesus told us what the beginning of sorrows would be like and we are here; what is our mindset? If these things must happen before He sits up His glorious kingdom of righteousness centered in His City, Jerusalem, from where He will rule and reign, what are we thinking? What are we praying?
Do we cheer and look with anxious hearts for His return? If not, then are we prepared for what He will do as an act of mercy and graciousness to make us anxious for His return? He said He is coming for those who are looking for His return. He knows how to make us anxious, and looking! I would rather be in that condition without having the heartache, heart break and fear. I know the mindset of anticipation and expectation comes from the Spirit of God and I am starting to pray daily that His return be first and foremost in my mind every hour of the day.
Most planet earth is in turmoil; tens of millions are in abject poverty; unable to even meet the basic human needs of food and shelter. Tens of millions only make perhaps a dollar a day in wages. Tens of millions are imprisoned and suffering for their belief in Christ. The turmoil and uncertainty has just started in what we consider to be civilized Western nations. This condition will continue to roll out of of control. This will bring untold millions into the Kingdom of God. Salvation and judgment work hand in hand. It is His purpose. From a Believer's perspective we must remember that He already inhabits eternity. Events are already written in concrete what will happen tomorrow, next year and ten thousand years from now. He is God of all!
I want ISAIAH 41:10 - 16 to be my confidence and assurance. I want this principal to be the cornerstone of the rest of my existence while on planet earth; come what may, He is here continually ~
" Fear not, for I AM with you! Do not be dismayed for I AM your God! I WILL strengthen you and I WILL help you and I WILL uphold you with My mighty right hand. All those who were incensed against you shall be confounded and shall be as nothing; those who strive against you will perish. "
" You will seek for them and they will not be there! They shall be as nothing, as if they never existed in the first place! Because I AM the LORD your God and I WILL hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not, for I WILL help you..."
What else does He need to say?
From where do our questions and uncertainty come?
What more do we need?
He will make us a new sharp threshing instrument that has teeth. We will thresh the mountains we face and beat them small and the hills and mountains will be as dust blown away by the wind of His Spirit working through us.
We will and must rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel in the process. ALL honor, ALL praise, ALL glory be to the God of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is King of both heaven and earth and He is riding atop the flood in these last days. We must rejoice with His angels as He finally begins this last phase of preparing planet earth for His return. Do it daily.
What a day that will be!!
Christ instructed us to pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." Do we mean it? Jesus told us what the beginning of sorrows would be like and we are here; what is our mindset? If these things must happen before He sits up His glorious kingdom of righteousness centered in His City, Jerusalem, from where He will rule and reign, what are we thinking? What are we praying?
Do we cheer and look with anxious hearts for His return? If not, then are we prepared for what He will do as an act of mercy and graciousness to make us anxious for His return? He said He is coming for those who are looking for His return. He knows how to make us anxious, and looking! I would rather be in that condition without having the heartache, heart break and fear. I know the mindset of anticipation and expectation comes from the Spirit of God and I am starting to pray daily that His return be first and foremost in my mind every hour of the day.
Most planet earth is in turmoil; tens of millions are in abject poverty; unable to even meet the basic human needs of food and shelter. Tens of millions only make perhaps a dollar a day in wages. Tens of millions are imprisoned and suffering for their belief in Christ. The turmoil and uncertainty has just started in what we consider to be civilized Western nations. This condition will continue to roll out of of control. This will bring untold millions into the Kingdom of God. Salvation and judgment work hand in hand. It is His purpose. From a Believer's perspective we must remember that He already inhabits eternity. Events are already written in concrete what will happen tomorrow, next year and ten thousand years from now. He is God of all!
I want ISAIAH 41:10 - 16 to be my confidence and assurance. I want this principal to be the cornerstone of the rest of my existence while on planet earth; come what may, He is here continually ~
" Fear not, for I AM with you! Do not be dismayed for I AM your God! I WILL strengthen you and I WILL help you and I WILL uphold you with My mighty right hand. All those who were incensed against you shall be confounded and shall be as nothing; those who strive against you will perish. "
" You will seek for them and they will not be there! They shall be as nothing, as if they never existed in the first place! Because I AM the LORD your God and I WILL hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not, for I WILL help you..."
What else does He need to say?
From where do our questions and uncertainty come?
What more do we need?
He will make us a new sharp threshing instrument that has teeth. We will thresh the mountains we face and beat them small and the hills and mountains will be as dust blown away by the wind of His Spirit working through us.
We will and must rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel in the process. ALL honor, ALL praise, ALL glory be to the God of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is King of both heaven and earth and He is riding atop the flood in these last days. We must rejoice with His angels as He finally begins this last phase of preparing planet earth for His return. Do it daily.
What a day that will be!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
In A Nutshell-Asher Instrater
Revive Israel Ministries - Crises in the Book of Revelation
©December 5, 2010
by Asher Intrater
These past few weeks we have reported on several urgent situations. The forest fire in Carmel continues at this moment and is reaching to 50,000 dunams. The danger of nuclear weapons in the hands of irrational regimes, such as North Korea and Iran, continues.
This week the JerusalemYediot newspaper reported an interview with Israeli military, archaeological, and engineering experts of the danger of a collapse in the walls of the Mosques and the foundations of the courtyards on the Temple Mount area.
This week also one of the largest cell phone networks in Israel shut down inexplicably for 24 hours. The collapse of worldwide information, communication, or banking networks could happen one day.
Revelation 8:7 – The first angel sounded: hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown to the earth. A third of the trees were burned up…
Obviously we haven't reached the level of disasters as noted even in the first trumpet. However we are moving in that direction. World disasters will become increasingly more intense. One day there will be a war that will kill one third of the world population.
Revelation 9:15-16 - …were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was 200,000,000. I heard the number.
A third of mankind would be approximately two billion people. An army of two hundred million will attack. Numbers for an army that size and the numbers killed of that size could potentially be fulfilled by an Islamic Jihad war against India-China-South East Asia. (Interestingly, the passage speaks of the origin of the army in the Euphrates area – verse 14.)
Revelation 3:10 - … I will protect you from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
This verse does not mean that God will remove us from the planet, but that He will protect us during trials and tribulations. There is a specific time coming of worldwide disaster. The word "hour" does not mean 60 minutes; it does mean that the time will be relatively short, and it will be controlled and limited. Worldwide disaster is coming; it will be limited in time; God will protect us.
God does not call crises "disaster," but "testing." Despite the hardship and suffering, there will be a hidden purpose of God. There is one purpose toward "non-believers" and another for "believers." Although most unbelievers will not respond correctly, God's purpose is to convince them to repent of wickedness.
Revelation 9:20 - …the rest of mankind did not repent …
Revelation 9:21 - … they did not repent …
Revelation 16:9 - … they did not repent …
God's purpose for the faithful believers is to forge them and refine them for their special destiny.
Revelation – 5:9-10 – You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation; and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.
The scroll of God contains His plan. The seals mean that this plan is hidden to most people. Yeshua, who opens the seals, brings God's plan to come to pass. He reveals that plan to those who serve Him. This verse explains several key elements:
God has a plan. Things are not "going out of control." God's plan is not a spontaneous reaction to circumstances, but one that is prepared before hand. The plan is so concrete that it is written down.
Yeshua is the victor. He opens the seals. He conquers sin and Satan; death and hell. He is the leader of the kingdom. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (verse 5).
We have a destiny. God is using the end times difficulties to purify and strengthen the heart of the righteous to be a special people, as priests and kings (spiritual and government leaders).
We will reign with Him. Our destiny is to rule in the world to come together with Yeshua. It is difficult now, but it will be worth it in the end.
Our destiny as a special chosen people to rule in the world to come together with Yeshua is repeated:
Revelation 20:4 - … They lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years.
We face times of increasing tribulation in the end times. Those tribulations are a judgment against the world; a purification of the Church; a preparation of a special people for God; and a warning for people of every nation to repent. The tribulations of the end times culminate in a massive world war in which all the nations attack Israel (Zechariah 14). At that time Yeshua will return as the head of the Church, the king of Israel, and the commander of Heaven's army.
At that time the dead will be raised; the devil will be incarcerated; and the kingdom of God set up on earth for a thousand years, with its capital in Jerusalem. After that there will come an even better world, the New Creation and New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:3-4 – The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them… God will wipe away every tear… There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There will be a perfect world for eternity. The Garden of Eden will be restored. There will be no pain or evil. Tribulation is temporary; while paradise is permanent. Let us be strong in our faith and endure to end.
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for the fire fighters in the north to gain control of the blaze and prevent further destruction.
Please pray for the national Katzir youth conference this week, for spiritual breakthroughs for our teens.
Please pray for the Ahavat Yeshua day trip tomorrow to Ein Gedi – for a time of fun, relaxation, and relationship building within our congregation
©December 5, 2010
by Asher Intrater
These past few weeks we have reported on several urgent situations. The forest fire in Carmel continues at this moment and is reaching to 50,000 dunams. The danger of nuclear weapons in the hands of irrational regimes, such as North Korea and Iran, continues.
This week the JerusalemYediot newspaper reported an interview with Israeli military, archaeological, and engineering experts of the danger of a collapse in the walls of the Mosques and the foundations of the courtyards on the Temple Mount area.
This week also one of the largest cell phone networks in Israel shut down inexplicably for 24 hours. The collapse of worldwide information, communication, or banking networks could happen one day.
Revelation 8:7 – The first angel sounded: hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown to the earth. A third of the trees were burned up…
Obviously we haven't reached the level of disasters as noted even in the first trumpet. However we are moving in that direction. World disasters will become increasingly more intense. One day there will be a war that will kill one third of the world population.
Revelation 9:15-16 - …were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was 200,000,000. I heard the number.
A third of mankind would be approximately two billion people. An army of two hundred million will attack. Numbers for an army that size and the numbers killed of that size could potentially be fulfilled by an Islamic Jihad war against India-China-South East Asia. (Interestingly, the passage speaks of the origin of the army in the Euphrates area – verse 14.)
Revelation 3:10 - … I will protect you from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.
This verse does not mean that God will remove us from the planet, but that He will protect us during trials and tribulations. There is a specific time coming of worldwide disaster. The word "hour" does not mean 60 minutes; it does mean that the time will be relatively short, and it will be controlled and limited. Worldwide disaster is coming; it will be limited in time; God will protect us.
God does not call crises "disaster," but "testing." Despite the hardship and suffering, there will be a hidden purpose of God. There is one purpose toward "non-believers" and another for "believers." Although most unbelievers will not respond correctly, God's purpose is to convince them to repent of wickedness.
Revelation 9:20 - …the rest of mankind did not repent …
Revelation 9:21 - … they did not repent …
Revelation 16:9 - … they did not repent …
God's purpose for the faithful believers is to forge them and refine them for their special destiny.
Revelation – 5:9-10 – You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation; and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.
The scroll of God contains His plan. The seals mean that this plan is hidden to most people. Yeshua, who opens the seals, brings God's plan to come to pass. He reveals that plan to those who serve Him. This verse explains several key elements:
God has a plan. Things are not "going out of control." God's plan is not a spontaneous reaction to circumstances, but one that is prepared before hand. The plan is so concrete that it is written down.
Yeshua is the victor. He opens the seals. He conquers sin and Satan; death and hell. He is the leader of the kingdom. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (verse 5).
We have a destiny. God is using the end times difficulties to purify and strengthen the heart of the righteous to be a special people, as priests and kings (spiritual and government leaders).
We will reign with Him. Our destiny is to rule in the world to come together with Yeshua. It is difficult now, but it will be worth it in the end.
Our destiny as a special chosen people to rule in the world to come together with Yeshua is repeated:
Revelation 20:4 - … They lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years.
We face times of increasing tribulation in the end times. Those tribulations are a judgment against the world; a purification of the Church; a preparation of a special people for God; and a warning for people of every nation to repent. The tribulations of the end times culminate in a massive world war in which all the nations attack Israel (Zechariah 14). At that time Yeshua will return as the head of the Church, the king of Israel, and the commander of Heaven's army.
At that time the dead will be raised; the devil will be incarcerated; and the kingdom of God set up on earth for a thousand years, with its capital in Jerusalem. After that there will come an even better world, the New Creation and New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:3-4 – The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them… God will wipe away every tear… There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There will be a perfect world for eternity. The Garden of Eden will be restored. There will be no pain or evil. Tribulation is temporary; while paradise is permanent. Let us be strong in our faith and endure to end.
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for the fire fighters in the north to gain control of the blaze and prevent further destruction.
Please pray for the national Katzir youth conference this week, for spiritual breakthroughs for our teens.
Please pray for the Ahavat Yeshua day trip tomorrow to Ein Gedi – for a time of fun, relaxation, and relationship building within our congregation
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