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Come, follow me! (Matt. 4:19) These three words changed the trajectory of the religious climate of the 1st-century Messianic community. They transformed the customary approach in how leaders would forever engage people. Yeshua was a masterful leader of people, first engaging them for a life of discipleship and following, then eventually propelling them into germinating and growing other leaders within the Messianic faith for the Kingdom of God. He called His first followers His disciples; however, He did not initially call them to lead, He invited them to follow. Yeshua then spent the remainder of His earthly ministry teaching His disciples how to be effective in their roles of discipleship and followership until He released them to be leaders when His mission was complete. In order to be effective in carrying on the mission and vision that Yeshua started, His disciples first had to learn how to be effective in implementing the lessons of followership. So come, follow me, as we investigate this intricate and vital role of followership. Read the full article here: September ’23 Issue 24 [...]

Happy New Year 5784!

Honey and pomegranates, dried fruit and all kinds of presents for the kitchen are flooding the stores as Israel enters into the Feasts of Tishri which began two Friday nights ago with Rosh Hashanah. Traditionally, the nation celebrates this day as the start of the New Year, 5784. It is a very happy few days as families gather, give presents and enjoy the time off from work and school. Biblically, this holiday is the Day of Trumpets; a day dedicated to the sounding of the shofar which ushers in the 10 Days of Awe, a time of introspection before the solemn Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. On this day, the nation stops completely and fasts and prays that their names will be written in the Book of Life for yet another year. This is followed three days later by Succot or the Feast of Tabernacles which a very festive week long holiday. Families build their succahs and eat and sometimes sleep in them remembering the harvest and the exodus from Egypt. Tourists come by the thousands particularly during this week and fill the streets of Jerusalem with joy and love for this Land. It is quite a month! Sadly, this festive season is marred this year by the ongoing political division and controversary which is an ominous, swirling black cloud hovering over this nation. The Knesset is not in session until November so things are a bit calmer for the holidays but the protests and demonstrations are without break. Dissension is following PM Nertanyahu as he travels to the UN to meet with President Biden. He is confronted with protesters wherever he goes and it illuminates the severe crisis Israel is experiencing. This reform bill which was introduced a week following the start of the new government in the early part of the year has totally dominated the national political scene since then. The depth of the division and conflict it has caused has not been previously experienced here and has touched every segment of Israeli society. The opposition is saying it will be the end of democracy and the coalition is saying it will enhance democracy. The true issues are very complicated, politically charged and highly contentious. The only thing there is agreement on is that this is a dire conflict and the end is not in sight. In a historic meeting last week, the Supreme Court convened with all 15 Judges for the first time in Israeli history. They heard all the arguments concerning the legality of the government’s bill that was passed this summer. This bill which is only one part of the Overhaul Reform bill dramatically curbs the court’s ability to make determinations on certain government actions. This is causing even greater division as the government is saying that the Supreme Court has no right to even hear the bill and is threatening to not abide by the decision – something which has never happened before. Other members have even suggested abolishing the current Supreme Court system and establishing a new one. Please pray with us for wisdom from above to flow into our government and especially PM Netanyahu. Pray for a supernatural political breakthrough. Netanyahu is endeavoring to come up with a compromise and avoid the Supreme Court showdown but there is such a total lack of trust between the politicians that any compromise proposal is suspect. In addition to all this, there is a spirit of violence which has been unleashed and is permeating the society. For almost a year, there has been an ongoing wave of murders by rival Arab criminal families with at least one or two people killed almost every day. There has been ongoing terror attacks in Israel with precious people killed and injured and revenge terror attacks by settlers causing great damage and injury to the Palestinian population. Currently there are riots on the Gazan border, as they throw explosives and incendiary devises towards the Israeli soldiers. There is an increasing amount of violent acts among Israeli youth which has been shocking to watch. The atmosphere is tense throughout the nation during this Holiday season and the police are on the highest alert for attacks. Please pray for an unusual time of peace and that all terror attacks would be thwarted. Let us take our stand against the devil’s strategy to destroy this nation with such severe internal conflict and violence. The good news is that while these things are happening and our world is teetering, we stand firmly on the rock and rejoice in our salvation. Last Shabbat, we had a wonderful congregational meeting as everyone had returned from summer break. It was great to be together and worship together and it was a very joyful time in the Lord. It is especially wonderful to see all the children – from youngest to oldest join in and come up front and dance and rejoice in worship. What a gift to see that next generation feeling free and happy in the presence of the Lord! We could all feel God’s smile as He watched us enjoying Him! It is a season of increase and we have been blessed with more young couples attending our meetings. There is definitely a sense of excitement and anticipation as we learn to move forward in the presence of the Lord. Please pray with us that we would see healings and salvations and his love would overflow from our meetings to the streets of Jerusalem. This is the time! There is a lot happening in Jerusalem during the Feast with many different conferences, worship events, parades and special congregational meetings. The name of Yeshua is being proclaimed loudly in every event. No doubt the enemy recoils and has his own plan. Based on what has been happening recently, we can expect demonstrations against these events. Pray against any violence and that all events would proceed without interruption and even be a witness to those religious Jews who would come to disrupt. Pray against any spirit of intimidation as we boldly declare Yeshua to be Lord and King, the God of Israel. Pray on this Yom Kippur as Israelis fast and ask for forgiveness that they will see the One who gave himself for them. Pray that Yeshua would enter their hearts and minds in dreams and visions. May we be surprised by joy and see these miracles in the spirit. Come Lord Yeshua and visit your people! Thank you for your love and faithfulness in this season of great uncertainty. We are being strengthened by your unconditional support and prayers. May you be blessed with joy and peace as we enter this traditional Jewish New Year. May 5784 be a year of abundance in the spirit as we grow in His love, drawing Yeshua ever closer to the great day of His return. With love from Zion, [...]

The Upper Room Discourse 38

John 15:18-19 If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But you are not of the world, since I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hates you. Did you ever leave a brief encounter with a stranger and ask yourself, “What was that about?” I have. “That” is what this verse is about. Someone in the world hates you for no reason (at least not a reason that is obvious to you or even them). Yeshua is addressing that very situation. Listen to His voice as you read it again. Yeshua tells us, “You are not of the world.” That’s it! We always knew we don’t belong here. Now the Lord of lords has confirmed it, telling us, “I have chosen you out…” Not just called “out,” but called “into” something else. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. So, here’s the lesson, and we’ll wrap this up for today. STOP IT! Stop trying to fit in with the world. If we follow Yeshua, He has called us out and we will never fit in again. There is an end time purpose to it all. 1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. Then while they speak against you as evildoers, they may – from noticing your good deeds – glorify God in the day of visitation. The “day of visitation” is the day of Yeshua’s return. May our “honorable conduct” be a witness to the eternal goodness of Yeshua on the day of His return. Amen. [...]

The Upper Room Discourse 37

John 15:17 These things I command you, so that you may love one another. What we are reading here in John 15, is a continuation of the dialogue that began in John 13, in the upper room at the last supper. Yeshua is speaking the truth urgently, because He is well aware that time is short. He has already dispatched Judas to do his evil. Very soon, Judas will appear with the soldiers and officers from the High Priest’s guard to arrest Yeshua. (But not until chapter 18.) After He is arrested, Yeshua will no longer be able to speak to His disciples. So for now, He persists in teaching, even all night long. Our subject verse is a bit of a pause. Yeshua is explaining Himself. He mentions the “things” He has commanded us. Let’s study the context to better understand what are the “things” to which He is referring. John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. I want to bring forward a thought and see if you agree. “We cannot love God outside of community.” Clearly, Scripture teaches us we must love God. And God teaches us in order to love Him, we have to love people. 1 John 4:20-21 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: that the one who loves God should also love his brother. So then, let me form that statement into a question, “Can we love people outside of community?” The term “community” is really a shortened version of the term “covenant community.” When we throw in that term “covenant,” it makes so much more sense. Loving outside of covenant is adultery. (I spoke that very thing in a sermon once. It got me in trouble with some of the people who were listening, but I stand by it. Apparently, they didn’t like being called adulterers. Are you offended? Ask yourself why.) Everything in Yeshua’s kingdom has a purpose, and that purpose is to give Him glory. John 13:34-35 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. I like to call it, “Playing nice in the sandbox together.” When we do, God receives the glory and we are known as His disciples. Think about the shalom described here … Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. When the people of God, in covenant community, have loving fellowship, and hatred and bigotry are done away between Messianics and Arabs, Jews and Christians, Whites and Blacks, and so much more, that will be Yeshua’s testimony to the whole world. It will be the fulfillment of Isaiah 11. We have received God’s commandments for a purpose, and that purpose is not to make you holy, as many believe, but to make us suitable vessels, (conduits) so that His love will be manifest to the whole world. Let me explain a little further. Holiness is not an end it itself, but a necessary step in manifesting God’s love. May God’s purposes be fulfilled in you and me. [...]

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