Faith toward God.

We now come to the second truth in the foundational series. Having turned from dead works, that is everything not initiated by God, we are called to a life which looks to God for everything - totally trusting him - for, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb 11:6).

When a person first becomes a Christian he usually has very little knowledge of God or his Son Jesus Christ. The Christian life is a continual exploration of the knowledge of God. Obviously you cannot trust anyone you do not know well, and the more you get to know God the more you can trust him.

Faith toward God develops and grows by us using the means available to us to increase in this knowledge. Daniel the Prophet wrote, “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits, and those of the people who understand shall instruct many” (Dan 11:32-33, NKJV). Next week we will pursue the means by which we get to know God, but this week let us briefly consider the subject of faith itself.

Faith unto Salvation

In the Bible, faith is spoken of in three main ways. First, what is termed ‘saving faith’, is the initial faith which brings us into relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul puts it this way, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast” (Eph 2:2-3).

Although one can be told the Gospel message which is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16), it is not possible to explain fully what happens when a person believes. Salvation is a miracle and you cannot explain miracles because they are supernatural.

The whole Godhead is operative when a person comes to Christ:

• Father: Jesus said, “No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44).
• Son: God draws us to Christ. The Lord Jesus gives us eternal life. He said. “For you granted him [Jesus] authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him” (John 17:2).
• Holy Spirit: When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, he told him that it was the Holy Spirit who brings about the new birth, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:5-6). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and when we respond to the Gospel message he comes to dwell within us, thus giving us life.

Although we cannot explain it we know that when we responded to the conviction of sin and came to that place where we were ready to turn from sin, believing that Jesus died and rose again and willing to submit to his Lordship, God gave us the faith by which to receive his Son, Jesus. No wonder the writer to the Hebrews describes it as, ‘so great a salvation’.

The Christian life is a continual exploration of the knowledge of God.

Faith by Which to Live

Second, there is faith by which to live. We have seen that when we become a Christian the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and the “fruit of the Spirit is faith”. Not only is there a God-given faith by which to come to the Lord Jesus, but also a God-given faith to live the Christian life: "the righteous will live by faith".

Our faith is in God, who is the Faithful One. God can be trusted because of the perfection of his character. It is impossible for God to lie. It is impossible for God ever to do one thing which is unrighteous or unfair.

Circumstances can come into our lives which we do not understand and God is not obliged to give us an explanation of everything that happens. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow the words of this law” (Deut 29:29). But even though we sometimes cannot understand, we can be totally confident in the fact that as long as we seek to live in obedience, then “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

Jeremiah the Prophet, out of his experience of trusting God, proclaimed “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam 3:22-23).

The Bible contains a great many stories which confirm God’s reliability. A few examples are the miracle of the partings of the Red Sea and the River Jordan; the feeding of over two million people each day in a wilderness; the sun standing still in the days of Joshua; the closing of the mouths of lions in the den where Daniel was incarcerated; the miracles of Jesus; his resurrection, and so many more. God will allow or ordain circumstances in all of our lives to show us what a wonderful Father he is and how much he loves and cares for us so that we can fully trust him.

The Gift of Faith

Third, there is what is termed ‘the gift of faith’. This is included in the list Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 12 when he is leaching on the different kinds of gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gift of faith is a supernatural endowment of faith given by God for some specific circumstance, or need, or event.

This gift was obviously given to Peter and John while they were both going to the Temple after the day of Pentecost. There at the gate was a crippled beggar who asked them for money. Peter said to him, “Look at us…silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk” (Acts 3:11-8).

God will allow or ordain circumstances in all of our lives to show us what a wonderful Father he is and how much he loves and cares for us so that we can fully trust him.

This special gift is sometimes given to initiate some work or mission, such as the establishment of orphanages by George Muller in Bristol; the launching of the China Inland Mission by Hudson Taylor, etc. It can be given by God to remove some mountain, some obstacle. It can be given to you as he sees necessary for some specific purpose or ministry.

The next step is to explore how we can go on to know this wonderful, powerful, loving, just, and faithful God.

Next week: Exercising faith to know God better.

This article is part of a series, first published as a booklet in 1992. It has been edited for online publication. Click here for previous instalments.

Why evangelical Christians support Israel

As whipped-up Palestinian rioters cry out for Jewish blood in their days of rage against ‘occupation’ of their land, we should be praying that these dear people, for whom Christ died, would instead call on the blood of Jesus for their redemption.

This is their only hope – and ours too for that matter. As Israel is tempted to quake in fear of the vicious international hatred being vented against them, may they too cry out for help from Elohim who sent his beloved Son to die as a sacrificial Lamb to atone for the sins of all who put their trust in him. The doorposts daubed in lamb’s blood back in Egypt later became a wooden cross where God himself took the punishment we deserved.

In this battle over war and peace, the hordes of hell are being unleashed against the Anointed One and his people. But the Prince of Peace – not the diplomats or politicians – has the solution.

Christian Support is Vital

As believers the world over celebrate Pentecost (Shavuot) on Sunday, I think it is highly significant that a Jerusalem Post writer has credited evangelical Christians (or Christian Zionists as they are also known among Jews) for the current political breakthrough which has seen President Trump move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the ‘city of the Great King’.

“It is evangelical Christians who are standing with Israel today in ways that Nehemiah could never have dreamed about,” wrote Tuly Weisz on 12 May.¹

In this spiritual battle, the Prince of Peace – not the diplomats or politicians – has the solution.

We’re talking about their influence on the President as well as their love for the Jewish people who gave us Jesus and the Bible including almost the entire New Testament.

Weisz had asked Christian participants of a Jerusalem conference why the embassy move was so important to them. “The answer they gave is that it is foretold in the Bible,” she wrote, citing Old Testament examples of Cyrus and Nehemiah. Meanwhile Israel’s Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett said the move represented a new era in which the international community’s relationship was based on reality and fact, not fantasy and fiction.²

Gentiles and the Gospel

It’s worth noting that those 3,000 who joined the first disciples on the Day of Pentecost in response to Peter’s sermon were Jews and proselytes from all over the known world (Acts 2:5).

An indication of the significant role Gentiles would play in spreading the good news of Israel’s God came with the healing of the centurion’s servant at the start of Jesus’ ministry. The Roman officer had humbly sought the Saviour’s help, only requiring him to “say the word” as he felt unworthy to receive him into his home.

And so the Gospel – to the Jew first (the leper who preceded this incident in Matthew 8) – was now also offered to the Gentile. We hear much about amazing grace, but Jesus was amazed by this man’s faith. The only other time he is recorded as having been amazed was by the lack of faith in his home town (Mark 6:6).

Faithful Gentiles have made an extraordinary mark on the world.

I wonder too if our Lord was also prophesying of a day when faithful Gentiles would make an extraordinary mark on the world.

The beach near Capernaum, where the Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. Picture by Charles Gardner.In Yorkshire alone in recent centuries (I am biased because I live there) I can immediately think of three men who changed the world through their faith in Jesus – William Wilberforce from Hull, a co-founder of the Church’s Ministry among Jewish people who successfully campaigned for the abolition of slavery, Barnsley’s Hudson Taylor, to whom millions of Chinese Christians owe their salvation, and Bradford plumber Smith Wigglesworth, who raised 14 people from the dead as he helped to pioneer the modern-day Pentecostal movement which had such a profound impact on 20^th Century Christianity.

The Power of Prayer

In honouring the Jewish people in both word and deed, we are simply building on the foundation laid by the Apostles. But we mustn’t forget the importance of prayer – after all, a ten-day prayer meeting had preceded that great initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

In terms of the recognition – and restoration – of Israel, the importance of prayer from men like Rees Howells and his Bible College students at Swansea in Wales cannot be underestimated. They had prayed many long hours at the time of the UN vote in 1947 before victory was secured.

In South Africa, although the government stubbornly refuses to acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself, many Christians are on their knees praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Farmer friends from where I grew up have just emailed me, saying: “We are extremely excited with the USA’s ambassadorial move to Jerusalem and continue to pray for this beautiful capital as well as for the region. What a privilege to witness what the prophets were only able to see in visions.”

In honouring the Jewish people in both word and deed, we mustn’t forget the importance of prayer.

Those nations who oppose Jewish aspirations are in for a big shock. For they will come to nothing, as Isaiah predicted long ago (Isa 60:12). Even the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign received a bloody nose with victory for Israel’s entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest despite their efforts.

Eyes on Jerusalem

It is significant of course that the United States should take the lead in recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, just as they had done back in 1948 when President Harry Truman was the first to recognise the new-born state. Apparently he took just eleven minutes to do so, but “later regretted that he waited so long”, according to US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.³

In fact, there will come a time – perhaps in the not-too-distant future – when Jerusalem will become the capital of the world (see Zechariah 14:9, 16).

Israel will soon be blessed with a Royal visit from Prince William, second-in-line to the British throne. But at the Second Coming of Jesus, which is surely also not far off judging by the signs (see Matthew 24, Mark 13 & Luke 21), they will welcome the King of Kings and Lord and Lords (Rev 19:16).

Come, Lord Jesus!

References

1 Time to start crediting the Christians. Jerusalem Post, 12 May 2018.

2 Jerusalem News Network, 16 May 2018, quoting the Washington Post.

3 JNN, 14 May 2018, quoting Arutz-7.

Frances Rabbitts reviews ‘Jerusalem: The Covenant City’ (DVD, Hatikvah Films, 2002).

This feature-length (115 mins) film from the Hatikvah Trust is now a little dated in its presentation, but remains a good cinematic overview of the “unique, eternal and prophetic destiny” of God’s own city, Jerusalem. Presented by Lance Lambert, the documentary is split into two parts – the first looking at the past (just over an hour) and the second looking at the present and the future (just under an hour).

With such a vast period of history – nearly all of it - to cover, the presentation is necessarily concise. However, Director Hugh Kitson does sterling work in weaving together an array of historical events with Scripture references into one coherent narrative, with no sense of rushing. Newcomers to the topic will receive a wealth of information and insight – and those with more experience will be encouraged with the film’s perspective.

Part I: The Past

Part I starts with the question, so popular with the media, ‘what makes Jerusalem unique?’ Contrary to popular opinion that her significance derives from her importance to three world faiths, we find that it actually owes to God’s declaration of ownership over her.

We are then treated to a fly-through of Jerusalem’s biblical history, beginning with Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac on Mount Moriah, through David, Solomon, the descent of Israel into idolatry, the first exile and the first return. Lance then spends some time on the prophecies of Daniel about the coming of Messiah and space is made for viewers to reflect on the work of the Cross.

Newcomers to the topic will receive a wealth of information and insight – and those with more experience will be encouraged with the film’s perspective.

The film then moves through Jesus’ resurrection, ascension, the second destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of 70 AD, then considering the ‘times of the Gentiles’, including the Ottoman occupation and the centuries of Jerusalem’s decay as an imperial backwater. It concludes with an outline of the history of the return, from the early settlers through to the making of modern Israel.

Here archive footage becomes available and Scripture is interwoven with old photographs and film footage of both the 1948 and 1967 wars.

Part II: Present and Future

The second part starts with moving shots of modern aliyah - stories of Jews returning from around the world. Attention then moves to the decades of contention that have plagued Jerusalem since her unification in 1967 – the bills and declarations, the peace accords and the intifadas. Examples and footage are included here which may well either be new to many, or have long been forgotten.

Here the main narrative is supplemented with interviews with political leaders on the subject of the Jewish claim to Jerusalem, and mention is made of Arab historic revisionism and Western media bias.

Looking to the future, Lance notes that true peace will only come to Jerusalem when Jesus returns. Lance explains the spiritual battle raging over Zion today, with further reference to the Book of Daniel, and then looks at the prophetic milestones we are to expect ahead of Jesus’ return, mostly through straightforwardly reading Scripture. The film ends on a high note of hope in Messiah’s return.

Lance explains the spiritual battle raging over Zion today and then looks at the prophetic milestones we are to expect ahead of Jesus’ return.

Scripture from Start to Finish

Obviously there is a limit to the amount of detail that is possible to achieve in a film with such a huge historical scope, however, Hatikvah does an excellent job. In fact, it feels as if the whole film is made up of Scripture from start to finish, and there is a wonderful focus on Jesus throughout. Though it leaves c.15 years unaccounted for, having been made in 2002, its prophetic teaching remains remarkably relevant, while its biblical/historical accounts are timeless.

An excellent and encouraging introduction to the topic that would be perfect for small groups and Christians with little knowledge of the subject.

Jerusalem: The Covenant City can be purchased from Hatikvah Films for £12 or on Amazon (also available to stream online from £3.19).

Ex-gangster’s amazing story screened in Israeli cinemas

The spiritual restoration of the Jewish people, for which evangelical Christians have been praying for centuries, has taken a decisive step forward, in my view.

And the timing could not have been more apt – with Israel’s imminent 70^th anniversary, now to be accompanied by the US Embassy move to Jerusalem along with the visit of Prince William, marking a watershed in their physical restoration.

As we learn from anecdotal evidence, and from a recent survey which found that 20% of Jewish millennials believe Jesus is the Son of God,¹ it is quite clear that the new generation of Jews are taking Jesus seriously and are open as never before to claims of his being their Messiah.

They are now responding in droves to hi-tech evangelistic efforts from within their own state, with an organization called One for Israel (among others) reportedly making huge strides in reaching their people. Their website is filled with testimonies of Jews who are now following Yeshua, and their various videos have attracted a staggering 55 million views, 15 million of them from Israelis!²

A New Spirit

Indeed, Jesus is even now the focus of an award-winning Israeli movie! Sadly, I understand it met with failure at the box office and was pulled from theatres after just two weeks. It nevertheless represents a major shift as, for the first time in the history of modern Israel, a faith-based film on Yeshua the Messiah has been produced and premiered in the land.

A New Spirit was first shown in December 2017 at the famous Tel Aviv Cinematheque to an audience of hundreds of enthusiastic moviegoers. Billboards and posters advertising the film were also plastered on the streets of Jerusalem and surrounding cities.

The new generation of Jews are taking Jesus seriously.

It tells the story of former gangster Yacov Damkani, who fled to America where he was introduced to Yeshua as his Messiah and discipled in singer Keith Green’s community. His life was turned completely upside down and, three years ago, his testimony came to the attention of acclaimed film-maker Doron Eran while producing a documentary on the Messianic community. Doron felt it had the makings of a Hollywood movie, as he shared with Shira Sorko-Ram (as featured in February’s Maoz Israel Report).

He did not, however, anticipate the controversial nature of his subject – he has since been accused of being a missionary and betraying his people. He does admit to being a “student” (of the New Testament) and the actors have clearly also been impacted.

Imri Biton, who plays the lead, responds to criticism by saying: “Look what Yeshua did for Yacov. He was a gangster. When he believed in Yeshua, he became a new person. These Messianic Jews are telling their own truth. As a professional actor, I can join them.”

Misinformation and Fear

Doron believes the Government has unwisely allowed the Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) to take control of the nation’s soul. “It is a religious dictatorship”, he says. “They are brainwashing our nation.”

He knew nothing of Yeshua before he met Yacov. “I didn’t know that he lived as a Jew and died as a Jew. I was told he was a Christian…”

Yes, it is tragic that both religious Jews and their Christian counterparts (who believe more in form than faith) have conspired to spread such misinformation.

The inspiration for the movie, Yacov’s book Why Me?, has been distributed free of charge to young Israeli tourists in New Zealand for the past 16 years as part of a programme called HIT (Hosting Israeli Travellers) which encourages Christians to host young Jewish tourists at little or no cost. HIT has now been extended to Australia and several other countries.

For the first time in the history of modern Israel, a faith-based film on Yeshua the Messiah has been produced and premiered in the land.

Commenting on the poor box office take-up, a Jewish friend explained:

I am not surprised Israelis didn’t venture into theatres showing a movie that would have been anathema to their parents and society in general. The audience for this movie would have been largely young people who would have been greatly influenced by comments from parents and other relatives the pre-advertising would have provoked. I believe it will have a greater market audience outside of Israel, even with subtitles, and many Israelis might later watch it in private.

I know Israel is the only place where I have experienced feeling intimidated. And as soon as my friends knew I believed in Jesus, I was no longer welcome in their homes, nor would they speak to me. It is okay to be a Gentile believer, but a Jewish believer is looked upon as a traitor. For the movie, I believe that if they will put it up for free on YouTube, asking for donations only to cover production costs, it might still make an impact!

Great Awakening to Come

Many Old Testament prophecies speak of a two-fold return of God’s chosen race – first to the land and then to their Lord. The first stage, though far from complete, has been witnessed before the eyes of the world as exiled Jews from every corner of the globe have resettled in Israel, especially since the re-birth of the modern state 70 years ago.

The second stage began, significantly, around the time of the re-unification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War of 1967 as so-called Messianics recognised that Yeshua was indeed their Messiah and started meeting together in congregations all over the country. The movement has since grown substantially and they have made an impact on the nation out of all proportion to their still relatively low numbers.

Even some Arabs are recognising what is happening. Saleem Shalash, an Arab pastor in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, is reported as saying: “The Bible says God will bring the tribes of Israel back together in this place, and suddenly revival will spring from here.”³

Indeed, the small spring in the desert that bubbled up around 50 years ago is threatening to turn into a fast-flowing stream. The prophet Zechariah, quoting the Lord and speaking of things to come with respect to the Messiah’s reign, wrote: “I will remove the sin of this land in a single day” (Zech 3:9). This suggests a sudden large-scale awakening.

Surely we are not far from that blessed day when they look upon the One they have pierced (Zech 12:10) and welcome him back in the name of the Lord (Matt 23:39). Certainly, it seems that many will have already looked upon the transforming Spirit of Yeshua depicted on screen (whether online or at the movies) – perhaps a foretaste of greater things to come!

Watch the trailer for 'A New Spirit' by clicking here.

References

1 A Jews for Jesus survey featured in the Jerusalem Post, 1 November 2017. The study surveyed 599 Jews born between 1984 and 1999.

2 This figure includes only Facebook and YouTube views, not TV etc (source: One for Israel).

 3 Israel Today magazine, December 2017.

Two meditations for Holy Week.

Reading the Gospel accounts of the last week in the earthly life of Jesus, there are two points that I want to offer for meditation. The first concerns what is known euphemistically as Jesus’ ‘triumphal entry’ into Jerusalem and the second focuses upon his last meal with his disciples.

Riding on a Colt

Matthew records the instruction Jesus gave to his disciples to go to the village ahead where they would find a donkey with her colt. They were to bring them to him for his entry into Jerusalem. Matthew quotes a verse from Zechariah, “See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech 9:9 and Matt 21:15).

I often wondered why Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I could understand his choice of a donkey as a sign of his humility; but why choose the foal of a donkey. It was one of my colleagues in the Issachar Ministries team who pointed to a verse in Exodus that I had not previously noticed. It says, “Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck” (Ex 34:20).

A little research reveals that the donkey was the only animal in God’s creation whose firstborn foal had to be redeemed by offering the sacrifice of a lamb. Donkeys were very important for transport. They carried heavy loads and were usually willing workers. They were certainly very important in an agricultural community: in fact, so important that the owner had to give thanks to God for the firstborn foal before it could be used. The strength of this command was enforced by the instruction in Exodus 34:20.

Of course, Jesus knew this command! But this was the very reason why he chose to ride on the foal rather than the donkey. Here we see Jesus, having deliberately set his face to go up to Jerusalem, with the full knowledge of the murderous intent of the religious authorities to end his life, he now chooses to ride on the foal of a donkey. The foal had not yet been redeemed, hence it was still with its mother. But in this action, Jesus himself was redeeming the foal.

Here was Jesus, the Lamb of God, offering himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world, symbolically redeeming the foal on his way to the cross.

For the One I Love

The incredible humility and determination to go through with the terrible events that he foresaw show something of the amazing character of Jesus. But, added to this, his incredible love is shown a little later in the week when he met with his disciples to share a last meal with them. This is the second point in this meditation.

One of my lasting memories of the late Lance Lambert whom I was proud to call my friend, was on one occasion when my wife and I shared a meal in his Jerusalem home with him and his sister. It was a Friday evening, a Shabbat meal. At one point in the meal Lance took a piece of bread, dipped it in the cup and gave it to me, and similarly to Monica, saying to each of us a little expression of love. He explained that in many Jewish families it was the custom for either the father of the family or the mother of the family to do this, particularly if they had guests as an expression of love.

Lance said it was a particularly poignant practice for the mother to do this for one of her children who had been away and was now back at the family table, or one who had been sick and now was recovered. She would say “This is for the one I love”. Her love was being expressed particularly for the one who had a special need, or to show joy at the reuniting of the family around their table.

At the Last Supper Jesus took bread and broke it and gave a piece to each of his disciples – a symbolic act through which he was giving himself to them and showing his indescribable love. Judas, the man who would betray him was also there and it is surely one of the most poignant acts of Jesus to give bread to the man who was going to be responsible for his betrayal into the hands of his enemies (John 13:26).
The act of giving the bread dipped in the cup symbolising his blood, was highly significant for each of his disciples.

But the most amazing act of Jesus at the Last Supper was surely to dip the bread in the cup and give it to Judas, who was to betray him, conveying the message (whether spoken or unspoken): “This is for the one I love”.

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Walking in the steps of the prophets, patriarchs and Messiah.

As I reflect on a much-anticipated study tour of Israel, I am conscious more than ever that this is God’s land.

Partially thwarted by security alerts in both the north and the south, we nevertheless experienced the miracle of modern Israel, in the context of its connection to an ancient and glorious past, on a tour run by Shoresh (Hebrew for ‘root’), part of the work of the Church’s Ministry among the Jewish people (CMJ), which has been established in this region since the 1840s.

In the Footsteps of the Israelites

Our journey followed a biblical route, via the wilderness through which the Israelites wandered for 40 years after escaping from slavery in Egypt, when the sea opened up to make a way where there was no other way.

We marvelled at how, some 3,500 years ago, that vast multitude survived in these arid conditions, with water scarce and vegetation hardly visible. No wonder they needed manna from heaven, and water from the rock. It was designed to teach them to trust in the Lord – for “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4).

Even today Bedouin shepherds watch over their sheep in this desert, leading from the front, not behind. It is an extremely dangerous environment for sheep – especially at night, with steep ravines, rock faces and sink-holes waiting to catch them off guard, not to mention wolves and other predators.

So they need to stay close to the shepherd in order to hear his voice above all others, and so avoid falling into traps and being taken captive by deceitful hirelings.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”, Jesus taught his disciples (John 10:27).

We marvelled at how, some 3,500 years ago, the vast multitude of Israelites survived in these arid conditions, with water scarce and vegetation hardly visible. 

God Our Refuge in the Wilderness

The Wilderness of Zin. See Photo Credits.We travelled through the vast and magnificent Wilderness of Zin, stretching as far as the eye can see. Surely God is in this place. Indeed, he is our only sure refuge in the great wilderness of sin through which we travel, in an increasingly wicked world that has turned its back on the living God.

At the Dead Sea, we were reminded of the ultimate fate of those who pursue unrighteousness and licentiousness – the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are no more, destroyed by fire and brimstone.

It’s fun floating on the water there, at 1,200ft below sea level - the lowest point on earth - as salt also has a positive role in lifting you up to a higher place. We are called to be salt of the earth in raising the standards of the communities and institutions in which we live and move.

As we ascended the hills of Galilee, our excellent guide explained how sheep cut the grass as they graze while goats pull it out by the roots. I thought of the separation of the sheep and goats at the end of the age (Matt 25:31-46). The sheep feed on fresh pasture as they closely follow the Shepherd while the goats, thinking only of their present needs, cut themselves off from the roots of their faith by considering Israel forsaken by God.

Jesus is the Messiah!

At Caesarea Philippi, we saw why Jesus asked the question, “Who do men say that I am?” For there are remains of temples to idols, along with a huge cave in an overhanging cliff said at the time to have been the gate to Hades (Hell). So Simon Peter made his great confession: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). And Jesus added that on this confession of faith he would build his Church (body of believers), and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it.

God is our only sure refuge in the great wilderness of sin through which we travel. 

On the shores of Lake Galilee, we stood on the beach where the risen Christ cooked breakfast for his disciples, who had toiled all night for a catch of fish, to no avail. He told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat, and they landed 153 fish. And we learn that, in Jewish tradition, the numerical value of this figure adds up to the statement, “I am God.”

Jesus asked Peter, restored and forgiven of his earlier denial: “Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). Could it be that he was referring to the fish (i.e. his business) rather than his fellow disciples? Are we prepared to forsake all else in order to follow the Lord’s leading?

Threats from Without and Within

Weapons recovered from near a tunnel opening in southern Gaza. See Photo Credits.But disturbing news followed in our wake. We heard of Hamas terrorists killed in the bombing of a tunnel into Israel from Gaza in the south, and of a suicide bombing in a Druze village across the border in Syria, naturally also affecting the Druze¹ community within Israel.

This caused a long delay at a checkpoint coming out of Palestinian territory and meant missing part of the tour schedule, including the area where Paul had his dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.

Just 70 years since being recognised as a re-born state by the United Nations, Israel has now developed into a powerful, high-tech democracy with the world’s second-strongest currency, after Jews returned from every corner of the globe in fulfilment of ancient prophecies.

But it remains threatened both from without and from within – in the latter case largely through lack of trust in the God of Israel. The Bible says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps 20:7).

This was soon to become a personal challenge, but before I explain, let me say that Jewish people are beginning to discover the truth about their Messiah (known as Yeshua in Hebrew). A Jews for Jesus survey has found that an astonishing 20% of Jewish Millennials, when asked who they considered Jesus to be, replied that he was “the Son of God”.²

Messiah Will Return

One day soon he is coming back. The Bible says he will stand upon the Mount of Olives in east Jerusalem (Acts 1:11, Zech 14:4) and all Israel will recognise him as their Saviour (Zech 12:10; Rom 11:26).

As I stood on the Mt of Olives, with an awesome view of the city before me, I reflected on this amazing event – on how Jesus ascended from this very place and will return in like manner.

Jewish people are beginning to discover the truth about their Messiah. 

But I also thought of how much it cost him, how he sweated blood in the Garden of Gethsemane below, with its ancient olive trees symbolic of the Messiah, who was whipped for our transgressions (sticks are used to beat the fruit off at harvest) and crushed for our iniquities, as olives are crushed for their oil (Isa 53:4-6).

We know the Bible is true, and that Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies of Messiah. So too will the much-prophesied great spiritual ingathering of God’s chosen people take place in the coming days. God has not forsaken them, but loves them with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3).

God Has Not Finished!

And just as he has not finished with Israel, he is apparently not yet finished with our tour, which was unexpectedly extended when I was prevented from boarding my El Al flight home – because of not having a visa in my South African passport. The British Government is now fining airlines allowing ‘foreigners’ to enter the UK without a visa (the fact that I have lived in England for nearly 50 years doesn’t seem to count!).

I won’t dwell on the details of the stress involved in having to re-organise our lives over this past week. Suffice to say that we two (my wife Linda and I) do not put our ultimate trust in flying chariots or horses, but in the Lord our God, who clearly has a purpose for our extended stay.

Our first extra night was something of an emergency stop, because it was close to the British Embassy, in the luxurious surroundings of Tel Aviv’s Herods Hotel, where we were given a champagne reception on being handed the keys to our $300-a-night room. This was somewhat ironic in view of our pilgrimage as Herod, who also enjoyed the high life, was no friend of the Messiah!

Thankfully we have since temporarily settled in nearby Jaffa, known as Joppa in biblical times and famous for Jonah and the whale, and for Peter’s vision in the house of Simon the Tanner, which opened the way for the Gospel being shared with the Gentiles. How eternally grateful we are for that – and so here we are sharing with the Jewish people the precious gift they passed on to us so long ago. May they be truly blessed with Yeshua’s perfect peace!

Notes

1 An Arab-Muslim sect loyal to Israel.

2 Is it time for a new Jesus movement among Jewish millennials? Gateway News, 8 November 2017. 

 Israel is responsible for the Law as well as the Land.

As the earth is ravaged by an unprecedented series of natural disasters, accompanied with threats of war and terror, world leaders have been presented with a heavenly vision.

In challenging the ‘fake history’ of those who deny Jewish links with Israel’s holiest sites, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu has sounded a clarion call for the United Nations to acknowledge the divine authority of the world’s greatest book – the Bible.¹

Three times he referenced the Bible in a powerful speech to the UN in which he claimed that Israel’s right to exist and prosper as a nation is rooted in God’s word.

Referring to July’s declaration of Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs as a Palestinian World Heritage Site, he said you won’t read the true facts of its history in the latest UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) report.

Weightier Publication

“But you can read about it in a somewhat weightier publication – it’s called the Bible,” he mocked, adding that it was “a great read”, that he read it every week, and that they could purchase it from Amazon.²

Bibi must also seek to apply the Law – that is, the Lord’s teaching on ethical matters – to his domain.

How refreshing that at least one nation’s leader takes his stand on the Bible, though it is entirely appropriate as Bibi leads the people who gave it to us! As well as a sacred book written by divine authority, it is also an historical record which validates Israel’s claim to the Promised Land they now occupy. 

But in making such a divine claim for the territory, Bibi must also seek to apply the Law – that is, the Lord’s teaching on ethical matters – to his domain.

He is right in saying that the words of the Prophet Isaiah – that God called Israel to be a light to the nations – is being fulfilled as the tiny Jewish state becomes a rising power. But their call “to bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isa 49:6) must mean more than hi-tech innovation and being good neighbours through their search-and-rescue teams sent to disaster areas and medics tending to wounded Syrians on their northern border, though we praise God for all that.

Rife with Immorality

Israel is nevertheless rife with immorality – and I am thinking particularly about abortion, a killing of innocents that echoes previous turning points in Israel’s (and the world’s) history at the time of Moses and of Jesus. I appreciate that its practice in modern Israel is less prevalent than in most parts of the West,³ but some 650,000 children⁴ have nevertheless been denied life in a country that gave God’s law to the world, including the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’.

Paradoxically, the killing of innocents has accompanied the greatest rescues mankind has witnessed.

In the UK, shockingly, nine million babies have been murdered in the 50 years since the passing of the Abortion Act, originally designed to prevent backstreet abortions and meant to apply only where a mother’s life was threatened. Now it is virtually a case of abortion-on-demand as further calls are made for relaxing the law. 

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists President Lesley Regan believes terminations should be the same as any other medical procedure, requiring consent from only one doctor, just as if they were having a bunion removed. But the fact that 650 doctors have signed a petition against it is very encouraging.⁵

Massacre of Infants

Paradoxically, the killing of innocents has accompanied the greatest rescues mankind has witnessed. Moses survived the edict of the Egyptian Pharaoh calling for the slaughter of all Hebrew babies to lead his people out of slavery to the Promised Land. Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, survived King Herod’s massacre of infants – ironically by fleeing with his family to Egypt in response to God’s warning – to bring salvation to the world through his sacrificial death on a Roman cross outside Jerusalem.

Moses also received the Law of God; now Jesus writes the Law on our hearts (Ezek 36:26; Jer 31:33). Moses was hidden among the bulrushes of the Nile and became the saviour of his people; Jesus was raised in the backwaters of Nazareth but became the Saviour of the world as he brought true freedom to all who would trust in his redeeming blood (John 8:36).

The Knesset was voting on an abortion law at the very same time that we were discussing Torah.

My colleague, Clifford Denton, tells me of a conference held in Israel in 1996 at which Messianic leaders gathered to discuss the Jewish roots of Christianity. “Unknown to me until afterwards,” he said, “it turned out that the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) was voting on an abortion law at the very same time that we were discussing Torah (the Law of Moses). In fact the Knesset was struck by lightning at that very time.”

Messiah’s Second Coming

With innocents around the world being butchered as never before, the Messiah is about to be revealed to the nations.

Jesus indicated that his coming again would be as in the days of Noah (Luke 17:26) when the world was full of violence (Gen 6:13). Today, terrorism stalks the planet as unbelievable cruelty mars even supposedly ‘enlightened’ societies, while nuclear holocausts have become a distinct possibility with both North Korea and Iran making ominous noises. And all this while nations reel under the ferocious effects of earthquakes and hurricanes – also spoken of as signs of the Messiah’s imminent return (Luke 21:25-28), especially when they follow in rapid succession and with increasing severity, as on a woman with labour pains (Matt 24:8).

The day is coming when the killing of the innocents will give way to the glorious return of the Son of Man.

Of the three major Jewish feasts, Jesus has fulfilled both Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost). Many Bible commentators believe he will soon fulfil the Feast of Tabernacles (shortly to be celebrated throughout the Jewish world) when he returns to reign from Jerusalem. The One who protects his people, and provides for them, as he did in the wilderness so long ago, will finally bring in the harvest of those who believe in him as he comes to ‘tabernacle’ (or livemake his dwelling) among us (see John 1:14).

The day is coming – very soon, it seems – when the killing of the innocents will give way to the glorious return of the Son of Man “coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27) to avenge every wrong as he passes judgment on a cruel world.

Israel – you are truly called to be a light to the nations, and indeed you have impressed so far with many marvellous inventions. But the brightest light is the fulfilment of the Law through Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Messiah), who brings hope, not despair; and life, not death.

Notes

1 Christians United for Israel, 21 September 2017.

2 Ibid.

3 Among European nations, only Croatia has a lower abortion rate than Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post on 31 March 2015. And on 14 January 2014 the Times of Israel reported that, despite liberal policies on the issue, the nation’s abortion rate had been declining for the previous quarter-century, dropping 21% since 1990 to 20,063 in 2012 (or 117 for every 1,000 live births).

4 Johnston’s Archive compiled by Wm Robert Johnston, last updated 25 February 2017.

5 Daily Mail, 22 September 2017.

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘The Messiah Pattern’ by Peter Sammons (CPI, 2017, revised edition released 2019). 

With Shavuot on the horizon, we turn once again to the biblical significance of the Jewish feasts.

Peter Sammons has written several books to date, but his latest is the first to be published by his new outlet, Christian Publications International (CPI). Its subtitle, The Biblical Feasts and How They Reveal Jesus, gives a good indication of the author’s overall intention and the particular emphasis that this book brings to the general theme of God’s appointed times (moedim).

Sammons presents the biblical Feasts within their covenantal setting which is a helpful, even essential, context for unpacking them in terms of God’s overall salvation plan, and which makes them both more understandable and applicable to Gentile believers in Yeshua (Jesus).

Enlargement Theology?

The book is in two sections. Part One sets the scene in which the author argues that God has frequently used patterns to express his plans and purposes, and that the cycle of the Feasts is one of the main patterns that God has woven deeply into his dealings with mankind.

The second chapter, Covenant Promises, is an excellent survey of the ‘Covenant stream’ that has emerged over time. The author explains the covenants in terms of ‘enlargement theology’ - a phrase designed to combat the error of ‘replacement theology’. God has been building a people over history, increasing their number and never discarding any who attach themselves to him through faith in his covenant promises.

The author explains the covenants in terms of ‘enlargement theology’ - a phrase designed to combat the error of ‘replacement theology’.

Also in this first section is a chapter explaining how God’s calendar differs from the one we have come to use with its own traditional festivals, and how his ‘times and seasons’ provide a better setting for understanding the whole span of the life and work of Christ, from birth to return. He also includes a preliminary chapter on Passover (before considering it as one of the cycle of seven) in order to emphasise its special importance as the starting point for the salvation story. The truths of the Exodus account are a much-needed, even necessary, model for our own experience of sin, slavery and redemption.

By the time this section closes (about one third of the book) we have a very good idea of where the author is taking us, and have also been introduced to several diagrams which are a regular feature of his teaching style.

Profound Reflection

Part Two has eight chapters, one for each of the Feasts plus a very important final chapter on what this should now all mean for us. Under the overall title of The Moedim – The Jesus Pattern, each of the seven main chapters is headed by the name of the Feast and its significance within the work of Christ. For instance, Passover (Crucified), Unleavened Bread (Buried), First Fruits (Resurrection), and so on.

There is also a common structure to each chapter. After opening with a significant passage of Scripture, the subsections are Meaning, Prophetic Fulfilment, Present Jewish Observance, Re: Jesus, and Commentary. The author is employing a pattern of his own!

The chapter on First Fruits was particularly enlightening as this is often overlooked or misunderstood, its meaning blurred by being subsumed into Passover, as indeed has also happened with Unleavened Bread (Burial). The author provides a lot of detail on each Feast, bringing out the richness of each so that even for someone familiar with how the Feasts operate within God’s plan there will be something new to learn and appreciate.

There is a sense of profound reflection, a deeper well to draw upon, if we will only pause and drink. There is so much to absorb from these chapters that as well as reading the book all the way through it would be worthwhile re-reading its various sections during the course of a year as each feast comes round.

There is a sense of profound reflection, a deeper well to draw upon, if we will only pause and drink.

What Now?

The final chapter is a key one, and powerful too. It asks the important question ‘Do we comply today?’ basically challenging a negative attitude of ‘So what?’ or answering the more positive ‘What now?’

The author is very much against those who grab such revelation as the Feasts offer and misuse it, especially those who tell other Christians that they must observe these Feasts or that without them their faith is lightweight or less meaningful. He is concerned that the increasingly popular Hebrew Roots movement could easily be led astray by such claims, and confusion could follow. To avoid this, the link of each with Jesus is necessary to provide the correct focus and application (incidentally, the author prefers the term Hebrew ‘Root’, not ‘Roots’, as this stresses the single root which is Jesus himself).

From early on in the book Sammons has been at pains to stress that we are not to become bound up with “observance” of religious ceremonies, and certainly not judge others on that basis. Internal renewal in Messiah Jesus is the aim, to which end he asks: “why not observe and mark this biblical Moedim cycle which is so focused on the life, death, resurrection and completed ministry of Messiah Jesus?” (p44).

The Feasts as a Gift from God

At the end Sammons raises a very significant point. As many churches today are becoming increasingly distant from biblical Christianity, true believers are finding it impossible to remain within their structures. They “find themselves ‘frozen out’ if not actively thrown out of many such institutional churches as their hierarchies refuse to tolerate dissent” (p130).

The solution, or at least part of it, the author claims, is to embrace the moedim as a gift from God in which we will find the full Gospel and a means of revering and honouring the one who has redeemed us.

In the moedim we find the full Gospel and a means of revering and honouring the one who has redeemed us.

The book concludes with some useful appendices, including one on why seven is an appropriate number for the whole cycle as it represents completion, and another containing a table of the covenants and key scriptures. Overall this is not a lightweight book. It requires determination and diligence. But it is well set out and makes a very worthwhile contribution to the literature on the biblical Feasts.

A revised second edition of 'The Messiah Pattern' was released in 2019, containing new material, available from the publisher for £16 + P&P.

Clifford Denton concludes his series on Hebraic living by reminding us about the bigger picture.

Restoration of the Hebraic foundations of our faith will result in significant differences in the daily life of the Christian Church. Yet, it is all too easy to interpret our walk with God solely in terms of this life, becoming so involved in today’s steps on our walk that we take our eyes off the ultimate goal.

There is some merit in this, of course, when we consider that our ultimate goal is in God’s hands - we are able to leave the big picture to Him whilst doing our best with what is before us today. Jesus taught us to pray, “give us today our daily bread”. But being Hebraic also means that we live in the expectation for our eternal future, learning from our father Abraham who “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb 11:10).

Being Hebraic is to live as if Yeshua’s return is both distant and imminent. This is one of the paradoxes of Hebraic faith.

Heaven and Earth

The Apostle Paul encouraged us to “seek those things which are above…set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:1-2). If we busy ourselves overmuch with the down-to-earth perspectives of Torah we can easily get out of balance with those “things above”. Paul is not telling us to ‘be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly use’ (as a popular saying goes), but to have a heavenly perspective on our earthly life.

The writer to the Hebrews also exhorts us to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Heb 12:3). Yeshua (Jesus) is the goal of Torah (Gal 3:24) and his eternal covenant promises are the goal of our halakhah (Phil 3:14).

It is all too easy to interpret our walk with God solely in terms of this life, taking our eyes off the ultimate goal.

True Torah observance would have led Israel to recognise the coming of Messiah. That many Jews did not recognise him at his first coming is evidence for the fact that we too could focus on Torah observance in a similar way, straining for daily observance of our faith whilst missing its chief focus.

The teaching of God (Torah) is to be directed to our love for one another in the context of our love of God, knowing that God’s love for us covers our daily walk to our eternal destination.

It is fitting, therefore, to complete this short series of articles by emphasising this balance.

Maintaining Balance

Throughout this series of articles, we have sought to emphasise the need for believers to strengthen themselves through the entire teaching of God. We must prepare our believing communities to be strong for the last days so that we will move towards unity of Jew and Gentile in the Messianic faith.

Let us also ensure that we ‘look upwards and onwards’ in our interpretation of God’s teaching, not only downwards to our daily needs.

This is a fallen world and will remain groaning (Rom 8:22) until Yeshua returns. Our walk with God will be within this troubled world and our discipleship will be through peaks and troughs of human experience.

It would be nice to think that we could so achieve both the spirit and word of Torah principles so we could restore this world ourselves (as restoration is often incorrectly defined among Christians). However, in reality, it will be an ongoing battle (Eph 6:10-18) to stand in faith through the troubled times preceding the return of Messiah. If we take our eyes off the ultimate goal, we will be disappointed at some stage - possibly frustrated.

This is the biggest of all subjects. We are between the Fall and the coming Kingdom. God’s teaching is meant to take us on our walk to that final goal, more than anything else. All the Bible’s teaching is to be taken in this context.

Jesus in All the Scriptures

Yeshua (Jesus) is the ultimate focus of all aspects of God’s teaching. This is a well-known Christian principle which we must not forget in our quest to be more strongly Hebraic. As we open out the depths of Torah let us remember that this well-known Christian teaching still remains true. The whole of Creation was through him and for him (John 1:3).

Let us look upwards and onwards as we interpret God’s teaching, not only downwards to our daily needs.

A study of his Name in Scripture illustrates the point.

His Name is woven through all the scriptures to give the highest purpose to all God’s teaching. When the angel announced the name of God’s son as Yeshua (Luke 1:31) it was a carefully-chosen name (see this Tishrei study). The name Yeshua means ‘salvation’. When we read the word ‘salvation’ in our English translations of the Hebrew Bible, we will find that it is yeshua.

This surely was God’s intention - that the highest focus of the teaching or meditation would always be the coming Saviour. He is central to all the history of God’s people and all God’s purpose in teaching his people. Scripture is woven together by his Name.

We can look up the many occasions when the word ‘salvation’ occurs in the Old Testament, and meditate upon how this should lift our thoughts and expectations to the fulfilment of Torah in Yeshua (Jesus). For example:

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will accomplish for you today. (Ex 14:13)

Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8)

The Lord is my light and my salvation (Ps 27:1)

The Hebrew word yeshua is the key-word of Torah, pointing to fulfilment in the Man Yeshua, at the time chosen by the Father.

This is one among many illustrations of how the Messianic expectation is woven into Torah. Another is in the construction of the Tabernacle, and another in the Feasts. Again, Yeshua is the central focus of all Torah. Torah observance has Him at the centre.

Yeshua is the Goal of Torah

If we understand Torah as the teaching of God, we can read all of the Old Testament as a teaching programme with an ultimate objective. Mankind was to wait for God’s permanent help in the sacrifice of Yeshua.

The Christian Church was right to emphasise this goal above all else in Torah, albeit that now we need to rebalance to other aspects of Torah, restoring the continuity of all Scripture and of God’s covenant purposes.

Surely God’s intention was that the highest focus of the teaching or meditation would always be the coming Saviour.

In completing this series of studies, therefore, it is important to highlight this as the main purpose of Torah and halakhah, as we seek to be Hebraic in the fullest sense in these last days. We will all be building testimony as we proceed on our walk of faith on this earth - until Messiah comes. This walk will be through many challenging circumstances (how else would a testimony of faith grow?). We are being perfected and will continue to be so until Messiah comes to make all things new. He alone is perfect. He was and is the ultimate focus of Torah.

God through Yeshua is faithful to His covenant with Abraham. All else is within that over-arching covenant, still waiting for its final consummation at Yeshua’s return.

How has the separation of the Church from its Jewish roots affected our faith communities?

In this series we have focussed purposely on personal relationship with God, from which we now move carefully towards the role of community. It is all too easy to place community as a priority over personal relationship with God. This is the way many church fellowships have consolidated, where the weekly Sunday service forms a large percentage of what Christian life is considered to be. It is all too easy to adopt this same mindset and consider that the restoration of our Hebraic heritage must primarily influence the Sunday (or Saturday) service.

This may be the reason why some groups have sought to copy the synagogue, sort of acting out a Gentile version of Jewishness. Personally, I have been surprised and sometimes shocked at what I have seen in some congregations, emphasising Jewish symbolism and clothing – the externalisation of traditional symbols rather than the internalisation of spiritual truth.

More than that, there have been those who have converted to Judaism, which usually requires a verbal rejection that Yeshua (Jesus) is Messiah. I am not against the use of some symbolism from Jewish tradition, of course and, in balance, there is much good in valuing these traditions and building bridges, but not as an end in itself.

Community of Faith

Nevertheless, God is building a community of faith rather than a group of individual believers. A key issue in the restoration of the Hebraic character of community is recognition that the Olive Tree of Romans 11 is a picture of one community of Jews and Gentiles living by faith that Yeshua is Messiah, saved through his shed blood on the Cross.

The Olive Tree of Romans 11 is a picture of one community of Jews and Gentiles living by faith that Yeshua is Messiah.

This re-connection with Messianic Jews re-defines the Christian Church as it was intended to be from the time of the first Apostles of Yeshua. Note, however, that it is faith in Yeshua the Messiah that is our shared heritage, not traditional Judaism which denies Yeshua as Messiah despite our common route to Father Abraham.

The Emergence of the Covenant Community

The writer to the Hebrews made it clear that meeting together is something that believers must strive to do (Heb 10:25). We all, as individuals, look back to “our father Abraham” for the model of individual faith and a personal walk with God, but we are not intended to live this out just as individuals.

Human history can be divided into four recognisable stages in the formation of God’s intended covenant community. First, there was Abraham and his family.

Secondly, Abraham’s physical descendants identified as a nation, learning to walk together with God as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. Israel was shown Torah in an explicitly communal way, because they now formed an interactive community. As well as the laws that were given to govern all aspects of community life and daily interaction, the Sabbath and Feasts were introduced to draw the community - individually, in families and as a nation - into fellowship with God.

This period of Israel’s history must be studied to find the foundations from which Christianity has since emerged. There is also much value in studying the Jewish community up to the present day (with the cautions I have indicated in earlier articles).

The writer to the Hebrews made it clear that meeting together is something that believers must strive to do.

The third stage of the emergence of the covenant community has been since the time of Yeshua. Yeshua took the “curse of Torah” (Gal 3:13) – the punishment for sin – from those who believe in him so that we could all, both Jew and Gentile, submit to the leading of God through his Holy Spirit to have Torah written on our hearts (Jer 31:33; Rom 8).

We were intended to learn together how to be a worldwide community of faith with the new authority to interpret Torah given to Bible teachers, pastors and elders in local communities throughout the world.

The fourth stage will be the Millennial community following Yeshua’s return. We must wait patiently for this and wonder at just how it will all come together.

Separation from the Roots of the Faith

Satan threw a spanner into the works when he persuaded Christian leaders, from approximately the third century on, that God had finished with the Jews. The result was cultivation of alternative Christian traditions, including modifications of the Sabbath and the Feasts (see for example Tishrei Journal Archive Number 17: From Sabbath to Sunday, Passover to Easter and Dedication to Christmas (Some Historical Background)).

A multitude of Church characteristics and traditions have emerged among the various denominations since the days when leaders of the Church in the Gentile world separated from their historic connection to Israel. Anti-Semitism was a terrible consequence that led to a mistaken pride that the Church had replaced Israel.

In so doing many denominations emerged, some trying to replace the religious order of ancient Israel with their own definition of the priesthood and the Feasts. Eloquent liturgies have emerged, but often robbing church members of their personal walk with God.

Satan threw a spanner into the works when he persuaded Christian leaders that God had finished with the Jews.

Some branches of the Christian Church nevertheless retained much of the true heritage passed on, including baptism and regular remembrance of the Lord through the bread and wine of communion. The Lord has blessed his Church over these years despite much that needs restoration and re-thinking.

Greco-Roman Influence

When the Christian Church distanced itself from the Jews, Greco-Roman influence crept in to fill the vacuum. It is instructive to consider the diocese, for instance, which is Roman in origin and inclines towards a centralised system of administration with local representation. Some hierarchical structures of Anglo-Catholic church leadership, including the priesthood, owe much to Greco-Roman traditions of clergy and laity and centralised control.

Also, the idea of a Greek Theatre has imposed itself more than we realise on a large number of congregational meetings (see, for example, Tishrei Journal Archive Number 42, From the Theatre to the Home). This is a major area for consideration to understand the consequences of the Christian Church departing from its original roots.

Time to Restore the Roots

Now is the time to gradually put things right. We cannot over-ride the authority given by God to local communities of Christians, so at best we can suggest taking counsel together. Since this is the prophetic moment for Christians to re-discover their ancient inheritance and re-root more firmly into the flow of covenant history, neglect of this could lead to greater deviation, even succumbing to deception, in the coming days.

This is the prophetic moment for Christians to re-discover their ancient inheritance and re-root more firmly into the flow of covenant history.

There is already a flood of strange spiritual experience here and there in the Christian Church that seems to come more from New Age spirituality than from the Holy Spirit. Something will always come in to fill a vacuum. It is noticeable how many Christians are thirsting for change, recognising the dryness of much traditional Church experience.

Next week this series will continue by offering some suggestions as to the beginning of an agenda – ideas for how to move forward in collectively re-discovering our Hebraic roots.

Next time: Re-thinking Community