Word of Messiah Ministries – January Newsletter 2014
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Eternally Desiredby Miriam Nader
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The Coming of the King
It’s ordinarily difficult, if not impossible, for most Jewish
people to understand the reality of Messiah’s birth in the typical Christmas
celebration. The phrase Jesus is the
Reason for the Season simply doesn’t compute in the way the holiday is commonly
portrayed. There’s just too much commercialized wrapping paper covering the
gift of Yeshua, the Savior of the world. Though we live in a confused,
materialistic, Santa-saturated world, we can still be a bright light shining in
the darkness, like the star of Bethlehem.
To clearly see the truth of His birth, we need to see it through
the eyes of the Hebrew prophets. During this season, we have the opportunity to
emphasize the reality of Messiah’s birth, and what His coming means for each of
us, and for all people. Instead of the
focus on buying gifts, we can emphasize the birth of Emmanuel—a tiny Jewish
baby born to a poor Jewish couple in a humble stable in Israel. Why did Messiah
come as a baby? The Scriptures declares, “The Son of man came not to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; John
18:37).
Christmas through Jewish Eyes
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch
from his roots will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1)
The Scriptures describe how the house of David had become arrogant
and prideful and had to be cut down to size. But Isaiah prophesies how from
this stump would grow the most fruitful Branch.
In an overview of the birth prophecies of the book of Isaiah we
notice the progression of provision in Messiah for all people, beginning in Isaiah 7 with “the house of David” then in
Isaiah 9 for the whole of Israel, and finally in Isaiah 11 for the entire
world. To get a sense of the context closer to the portion, Messiah is seen in
Isaiah 10:21 as El Gibbor, Mighty God, and in verse 27, the shemen or anointing
oil pictures the assurance of Israel’s redemption in the future. The ancient
translation of Targum Jonathan says, “And his yoke from upon your neck and the
nations shall be shattered before Messiah.” It continues with Isaiah 11:1: “And
a king will come forth from the sons of Jesse, and the Messiah shall be
anointed from among his children’s children.”
Who is this root, or stump, of Jesse? In the book of Revelation
He is the Root of David, as John describes in Revelation 5:5; 22:16: “one of
the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe
of Judah, the Root of David’ - that is, Yeshua - ‘has overcome so as to open
the book and its seven seals.’”
In the Gospels we learn about the branch as it is written,
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in
the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Yeshua of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’
Nathanael said to him, ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said
to him, ‘Come and see’” (John 1:45-46). Matthew also writes that the city where
Yeshua grew up, Nazareth, fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets “He
shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23). The word for Nazarene has the same
root as Netzer, the Branch spoken of in Isaiah 11:1. Yet, both the New Covenant
writers and Isaiah emphasize the lowly origins of Messiah at the time of His
birth.
Despite the House of David’s royalty, the metaphor used is of a
“stump” (Isaiah 11:1). When Messiah was born, though the line of David was
still in existence, the dynasty had been without power for nearly 600 years.
Notice that Isaiah refers to Jesse, who was never himself king, rather than to
his son David.
The prophecy points as well to the absence of royal dignity of
David’s house at the time of Messiah’s coming. According to the Gospel
accounts, Joseph and Miriam (Mary) were poor. Their child was born in a manger.
When Miriam made an offering at the Temple to fulfill the purification rite for
her son’s birth, she used the poor person’s offering of two pigeons, rather
than the lamb and pigeon (Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:8). Though Miriam and Joseph
were both of the House of David, their low estate is clear. Messiah was thus
portrayed as “a root out of dry ground” (Isaiah 53:2).
This Messianic line would be a source of true hope. His kingdom
will administer righteous rule, and the Anointed King will speak the word with
power (Isaiah 11:1–5; Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:15). Thus Isaiah saw the full
picture of Messiah’s coming along with this humble beginning, a picture of
peace and harmony restored between peoples and even within creation (Isaiah
11:6-9). Though a stump is apparently unproductive, it would miraculously
spring forth and bear fruit.
His birth was a surprise, founded in promise. So too, those who
trust in Him are surprised by new birth, a fulfillment of the promise of God.
Those who trust in the Root of Jesse bear the fruit of righteousness by that
promise, awaiting the return of their humble King.
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A Breakthrough in Israel
There are Messianic congregations continually emerging
throughout the Land of Israel including in the desert area known as the Negev.
The Negev which extends over Israel’s southern region accounts for over half of
Israel’s land area. Due to its desert character, however, the Negev is sparsely
populated but even so there are groups of believers in these desert cities
where the Living Water of Yeshua is flowing freely through the testimony of
their lives.
If you have traveled to Israel you may have visited the Negev to
see Abraham’s well in Beersheva. In fact, Beersheva is the region’s largest
city and administrative capital. At its southern end is the Gulf of Aqaba and
the picturesque city of Eilat. Throughout the Negev are several towns,
including Dimona, Arad, Sidrot and Mitzpe Ramon. This past November there was a
Negev Conference in Beersheva, where the Messianic congregations from all these
cities and towns came together for a day of worship and Bible teaching.
This was the 14th year for such a gathering and this year it was
our honor to participate as Sam was invited to be one of the speakers.
This Messianic conference theme “Breakthrough” was a call to
those who attended to make Yeshua the center of their lives and allow Yeshua
the Messiah to break down every barrier and obstacle that would hinder their
growth in the Lord. The auditorium was filled with believers of all ages and
backgrounds reflected in the multi-lingual translations of Hebrew, Russian,
Spanish and English.
Sam presented a message from 2 Samuel 5:20,
“So David came to Baal-perazim, and defeated them there; and he
said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough
of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim [Lord of the
Breakthrough].”
He exhorted us to realize that God is the One who defeats our
enemies that come against us and gives us the victory.
Furthermore, we read in 2 Samuel 5:17 that when David was
attacked by the enemy, he first went to the stronghold and prayed to God.
Seeking God and His will preceded the victory and the breakthrough for David.
God answered David’s prayer and did give him the victory. David learned that
God is the Lord of the Breakthrough.
Throughout the conference the worship music was extraordinary
with a group of 10 musicians who had come together from the various
congregations. Their voices and instruments lifted up the name of Yeshua as we
sang in Hebrew together (with English and Russian translation on the Power
Point). Many of the Hebrew songs were written by believers in Israel using both
the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament verses as their lyrics. However the
worship highlight for me occurred as the team began to play a song that sounded
so familiar. The guitars, piano and violin blended together with the voices
softly singing in unison.
All of a sudden I realized they were singing one of my favorite
hymns entitled, O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus. How marvelous it was when the
words, the harmonies and the instruments came together in a great crescendo of
praise during the first verse that had been translated into Hebrew.
I realized afresh, that in a desert place, it is only the deep
love of Yeshua that can cover us like a mighty ocean. His love is powerful
enough to change and give the breakthrough for each of us from being dead and
barren to alive and fruitful.
The conference concluded with an extended time of prayer. Sam
invited the elders of the congregations to come to the front and for the next
hour they gathered to pray with many who came forward. Some came forward for
salvation, some for rededication, others for prayer regarding their various
burdens and barriers desiring to have a breakthrough in their lives. Afterwards
we heard from several leaders what a blessing the conference had been to them
and their congregational members who attended.
In the foyer of the auditorium there were book tables where
during the breaks we distributed 50 of the newly published Hebrew “Messianic
Discipleship” books. I mostly gave them to the congregational leaders for
discipling new believers in their respective communities but there were a few
individuals who were eager to have a book. One young Israeli in her 20’s picked
up a book to look at it; I explained, “This is a discipleship book that can
help new believers grow in their faith.” With a big smile she responded, “I
recently accepted Yeshua as my Messiah and this is just what I need.” Please
pray that this book will be a helpful tool to further discipleship in these
Negev congregations and throughout the land.
The rest of our visit flew by quickly as we spent our days
meeting with individuals and couples regarding both personal and congregational
needs. We are so privileged to come alongside and encourage what is happening
in Israel with congregations being both planted and strengthened. Please keep
the leaders and their families in prayer as well as the new believers who are
being discipled. Thank you for standing with us in prayer for God’s
breakthrough.
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Messianic Women's Retreat in May 2-4, 2014
Join us for our 14th Annual Women's Messianic Retreat, May 2-4,
2014 at the Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC.The theme of the
retreat is Transformed by His Glory. Click here to learn more or download
brochure.
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Planter's Conference in Florida
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Register today for our Regional Conference: Florida 2014!"
from February 15th-17th, 2014. To learn more go to www.MessianicLeadership.com
or click here to download brochure.
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Word of Messiah Ministries
PO Box 79238
Charlotte, NC 28271 United States
Contact us:
phone: 704-544-1948
Email:
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