Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Shalom,
Yesterday we celebrated Shavuot (Pentecost) at Shomair. (The preponderance of the Jewish world was a few days ahead of us for previously stated reasons.) At the same time, our Messianic Israeli friends, Chaim Malespin, Asher Intrater, Ron Cantor, and many others, were holding a prayer service (see this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRRd1eEt2rE ) on the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount at the Davidson Center when they were interrupted by a demonstration of about 150 anti-missionaries. See this article by the Jerusalem Post here… https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-744442 .
These protesters were led by their rabbis, members of the Knesset and some government officials, tried to disturb the worship service, but were prevented by Israeli police. I’m writing something about this today for two reasons. I want to encourage our own ongoing participation with these ministry efforts and I want to observe that the actions of these rabbis, MKs, and especially Aryeh King, deputy mayor of Jerusalem, brought more publicity to this event than we could even give ourselves.
I also want to make it clear that Israel is a democracy where freedom of religion is valued. Several statements by other government officials quoted in this Jerusalem Post article make that clear. To further clarify, there are only two prohibitions on evangelism in Israel, and when you stop to think about them, they make sense, even if there were no law.
First, it is forbidden to evangelize a minor without his/her parent’s permission. God has given authority over children to parents. Any effort to evangelize children without their parent’s permission violates that God-given order. In biblical terms it should be considered “unauthorized fire.”
The second prohibition of evangelism is against bribing someone to change their religion. You cannot pay someone (or give them an inducement of any kind) to make a profession of faith. This is a little tricky. If you buy someone dinner, and over dinner share the gospel, have you broken the law?
It may not be plainly stated, but similar things go on in third world countries all the time. A village leader might say, if you dig us a well, we will follow your God. There, you just bribed him to change his religion. Anyway, nothing like that was happening yesterday on the Southern Steps. There was prayer. What is the fear of the protesters, that Messiah will come?
As long as I have your attention, let me write one more observation. The protestors were primarily objecting to the location of the gathering. They claim that believers in Yeshua have no historic connection to the Temple area. These same protestors hate it when the muslims say the same thing about them. Then they, without hesitation, say those same things about us. I’m not sure I can label it full-out hypocrisy or just irony, but it is definitely something in between.
For more about this prayer movement, see this short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrhUQgRKzTk When I have more information, I’ll share it here.
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Victory Over Sin part 34 – Romans, part 95
Romans 8:11 And if the Ruach of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Ruach who dwells in you.
“Life in your mortal bodies” is eternal life. The bible calls this “blessed assurance.” Hebrews 10:22 So let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and body washed with pure water. We are washed clean by the Ruach (Spirit) of Yeshua, Whose life is in the blood. In fact, I’m going to say here that you cannot separate the Spirit of Yeshua from His blood.
1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
Why do we need light if we walk by faith and not by sight? (2 Corinthians 5:7) We walk in the light, not so that we can see, but so that others can see us. Evil is done in darkness, while righteousness is done in the light. John 3:19 “Now this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light, because their deeds were evil.”
But we are called out of darkness… John 8:12 Yeshua spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So, let your light shine… Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Those who follow Yeshua will never taste death, but will live forever. Remember our subject verse. Yeshua was raised from the dead to be victorious over it. Then He shares His victory with His followers. Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared the same humanity—so that through death He might break the power of the one who had the power of death (that is, the devil).
The devil’s power is broken. We should all rejoice over being set free. Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 30 May 2023 10th of Sivan, 5783
Nu 5:1-10 Jer 20-21 Job 40 1 Co 4 (Mk 7)