Emphasizing The Messiah
Isaiah 50:2
Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Isaiah 59:1-4
1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Numbers 11:23
And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
Matthew 1
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
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Disclaimer:
The following are my thoughts, my concerns, my perspectives. They might be too general and too harsh but … there may be elements of truth we aren’t recognizing as prevalent within what we term The Messianic Movement.
As the saying goes: Take the meat and leave the bone — and perhaps the grizzle too.
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I’m reading Isaiah … again. I was struck with the thoughts I’m presenting while reading in chapter 50. That then carried me to the verses I shared and highlighted at the top.
In those verses our attention is drawn to the fact that God makes a concerted effort to contact people with His message of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus (Yeshua). God is seen as being actively engaged in drawing man’s attention to his sinful condition while at the same time pointing him to salvation In the Messiah.
With that as a backdrop let me share my thoughts regarding the Torah/Messianic Movement.
** There’s a lack of emphasis upon Christ, Jesus, Yeshua … whatever name you want to call Him. He’s not made much of in our congregations or preaching. It’s not uncommon to assemble and not hear Him mentioned much, if at all. We talk Feasts, Festivals, Holidays. We talk Torah-talk. But we don’t do much Yeshua-talk. Coming from my Baptist background this was one of the first things that stuck out to me.
** We don’t spent much time in preaching from the New Testament books. In fact, there’s more talk about non-biblical books at times. And in fact, there’s not much preaching anymore. We teach and we teach and we teach. We teach the Torah portions. We teach Hebraic stuff. But don’t we realize that God, in His infinite wisdom, foresaw the Diaspora and the inclusion of clueless Gentiles that needed to be instructed INTO the Hebraic mindset and walk of life? The New Testament is the Gentiles’ dictionary of the Old Testament. Hence, for example, the writings of Paul to the churches/assemblies/congregations.
** We lack a biblical structure within our fellowships. We don’t seem to have many folks aware that they are sheep in need of a shepherd. Take for example Acts 20:28 where Paul instructs the elders of the Ephesian fellowship to: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” There is structure that is to be in place in our fellowships. Paul highlights this in his letters to Timothy and Titus. He also lays out the structure in Philippians 1:1 - “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”
** We don’t have a consensus on what books are the Bible. Say what you will, but at least Christianity seems to have that one nailed down pretty good. There are 66 books in the Bible … no more, no less. But sadly, that is a bone-of-contention when brought up. If I was the Devil the first thing I’d do to weaken God’s people is what he did in the Garden: “Yea, hath God said?” He did it then and he’s still doing it now.
** Evangelizing the lost has gone the way of the rotary telephone. We have become overly self-focused in our desire to find others that are Torah observant. But we have not been as active in seeking the unsaved. We are growing our assemblies not by “winning the lost” but by reaching out to those who are already saved and who now align with our new walk in the Torah.
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All that I’ve mentioned hinges upon our view of, and magnification of, Yeshua, the Saviour of the world. When we lack a devoted attention to Yeshua the Saviour we lack a zeal for the lost world around us. And that is what I see in the Messianic/Hebraic movement.
When’s the last time you asked someone attending your assembly or attending a gathering of Hebraic folks about their salvation experience? Things like: Are you saved? Have you accepted Yeshua as your personal Saviour. Do you know that your sins are forgiven in Christ and that you’re a child of God headed to Heaven?
These are basic things that we should be focused upon.
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I’ll close with these verses from Matthew 7 to ponder in relation to our Torah Movement.
Notice at the end of verse 23 Messiah’s emphasis on iniquity. “Iniquity” refers to Torahlessness. Those people preached, cast out demons, did miracles and yet were without the Torah, the Word made flesh, Yeshua. They were in the assemblies but they were unsaved. They were in reality workers of Torahlessness.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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Let’s strive to make sure the people we surround ourselves with are really saved, do really know the Lord Jesus and aren’t workers of Torahlessness in the midst of our Torah communities.
And …
Let’s strive to bring the Gospel message of salvation to the lost we encounter each day of our lives.
Let’s strive to:
Emphasize The Messiah.