Word of Messiah Ministries Newsletter for August 2014 Reaping the Lord's Harvest
Many of our readers are somewhat familiar with my book, Messiah
in the Feasts of Israel. The Feasts of Israel are not merely "Jewish holidays," and not only Biblical feasts that all Bible believers can enjoy and be edified by but, in fact, the seven Biblical feasts in Leviticus 23 outline God's redemptive program for the world. The annual feasts are literally called "appointed times of the Lord" (Lev 23:4), and are God's appointment schedule to meet with His redeemed people. Starting in the first biblical month, the first feast of Passover not only points back to the redemption from Egypt, but points forward to its fulfillment and our salvation in “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). The Biblical calendar goes through the yet-to-be-fulfilled fall festivals, concluding with the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), which reminds us of the much anticipated return of the Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, when He establishes His kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:16), and sits upon His glorious throne (Matthew 25:31). Between the last spring festival, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot, the feast of First Fruits, or Pentecost), and the beginning of the fall harvest festivals, the Feast of Trumpets (or Rosh Hashanah, New Year’s, as it is traditionally called) there are several months with no biblical feast. However, the scriptures teach us that it is not a time for idling away the hours, but rather it is scripturally a long summer of service. Nestled between the portion on Weeks and before the portion on Trumpets is this one verse (Leviticus 23:22), “When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God."
In this portion, there are several values that guide our lives as we follow God’s plan of redemption. First is to the time of year to which this verse refers, that is, after Pentecost. Yeshua poured out the Spirit of God upon all believers which, among other things, empowers us to be His witnesses to all people (Acts 1:8); this is the fulfillment of Shavuot, or Pentecost (Acts 2:1). This spiritual enablement in the feast of First Fruits was precisely given so we could “reap the harvest” in the land.
We are empowered to labor in the Lord.
It takes His same spiritual power to reap His harvest that it took to sow the seed. Some of you are aware that the Lord has abundantly blessed Word of Messiah Ministries in bringing the Good News “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16) in numerous areas this past year. We have more Messianic congregation planters trained and sent out to bring the Good News to more and more people--to the Jew first, but not to the Jew only (He loves us all the same). This “blessing” is not what it appears to be. It is not as if these blessings of service just fall out of the sky. The Scriptures remind us, “That which a man has sown, this also will he reap” (Galatians 6:7). When we reap, it is because we have sown or, at least, someone has sown the good seed of the Good News of Messiah. As you can see from Lev 23:22, this is especially expected in Messianic ministry because of the Feast of Weeks. It is a time to reap what we have sown. Look and see what the Lord of the Harvest sees –“the fields are white unto harvest” (John 4:35).
We are empowered to love like the Lord.
Leviticus 23:22 continues, “You shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien.” This work of sowing and reaping is not to be a self-serving venture, nor merely a means to gain everything for ourselves. The words “not reap to the very corners” or go after the loose grains of “the gleaning” are further reminders that through the Holy Spirit His love, as well as His power, were poured out into our hearts. He has made our “summer of service” to be concerned for the hurting and alienated people in this world. We are to have a heart of love as we reap the harvest. Currently, we have only “a remnant by God’s gracious choice" among Israel (Romans 11:5). With all my heart I would want to bring every Jewish person to Yeshua. Though I cannot bring every person to Yeshua, I can bring Yeshua to every Jewish person. For as His witnesses and ambassadors, we each represent Him--and by His grace through faith, we are His instruments of grace, love and the Good News of salvation to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.
We are empowered to live for the Lord.
Leviticus 23:22 concludes, “I am the LORD your God.” All we do is for the Lord, empowered by the Lord and by the authority of the Lord. We serve according to His Word, for His Word is His authority to serve. We are “not to go beyond what was written” (1 Corinthians 4:6). The present opportunity of service is not a personal option, but a biblical mandate. We live by His grace in order to live for the Lord, for His purposes for our lives, and to live for His glory. So as we continue forward with the message of Messiah, please help prepare the ground with prayer, for scripture instructs that we “have not because we ask not” (James/Jacob 4:2). We are asking the Lord to go before us as we prayerfully work to have more Messianic planters’ conferences in the greater Chicago area, Texas, Colorado, and in California, with outstanding invitations for Germany and Israel. Pray with us that the ground would be prepared for more to be accomplished for the Good News among Jewish people worldwide, as we, His laborers, trust Him for His provision for Messianic harvest. by Sam Nadler at 5:36 PM in Planting Congregations, Sam Nadler
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The Messianic Calling for all Gentile Believers
In light of the most recent developments in the land of Israel,
we see once again the importance of our witness to the Jew first but not to the Jew only. The nation of Israel and the surrounding nations will only be able to live in peace when the Prince of Peace, Sar Shalom, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) lives in their hearts. But this "to the Jew first" Good News calling is not only for those of us that are Jewish believers, but is especially for all Gentile believers, as well. I would like us to consider the vital calling that the Apostle Paul shares with us in the New Covenant: "But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them." (Romans 11:13-14)
Paul says, “I am speaking,” not “I will be speaking.” In other words, he was already speaking to the Gentiles throughout the entire chapter. There are some who teach (and many who believe) that once a Gentile comes to faith in Messiah, he or she is no longer a Gentile, but is now a "spiritual Jew" (or spiritual “Israel”). Paul is quite clear on this point: Just as Jews that believe in Yeshua are still Jews (Romans 9:3-4; 11:1), so Gentiles who believe in Messiah are still Gentiles. For the sake of political correctness, many believers might be tempted to ask, “Why does he bother to say that? Shouldn’t we just forget about any differences, since we’re all one in Messiah?” Yes, we are one in Messiah, but that unity is spiritual and entails our diversity as well. We must be careful not to exchange unity for uniformity, disregarding our diversity in Messiah. Paul wanted Gentile believers to reach out to the Jewish people as Gentiles, and not by calling themselves Jews.
The Apostle authorizes an outreach to Israel as a practice of Gentiles and their disciples. By him saying that he magnifies his ministry is not implying that he is arrogant, but rather Paul meant to especially encourage Gentile believers in their reaching out to the Jewish people. Why “as Gentiles”? Paul wanted to show that the Abrahamic Covenant was fulfilled in Yeshua, the greater seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16).
This covenant not only assured Abraham that he would have a Land and a Seed (Genesis 12:1-2, 7; 15:5), but also that all the families of the earth would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 12:3; 22:18). As Paul describes it: “In order that in Messiah Yeshua the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:14)
Gentile ministry to the Jewish people is evidence of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant in Yeshua, a testimony to Israel that Yeshua is the Messiah. This also explains why Paul was willing to give up his life, and certainly his freedom, to bring the financial gifts from the Gentiles to the Jewish people in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:3; Romans 15:25-27; Acts 21:11-13). This gift would be the first fruits of what God had promised in the prophets (Isaiah 2:3; 60:1-6). The testimony of love from the Gentiles by sharing Messiah with Israel in a culturally relevant, yet clear, manner would be proof that God has not forsaken Israel at all. Rather, Messiah Yeshua is the very fulfillment of the hope of Israel. He is God’s faithfulness to Israel.
Paul says, “I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised” (Galatians 2:7). Some may get confused over this division of apostolic labor between Peter and Paul. There were not two different works of God, that is, a work among the Jewish people and a work among the Gentiles. There is only one work of God, to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to Israel. Peter’s work was directly to the Jews; Paul’s was indirectly to the Jews through the Gentiles. The two men worked to reach Israel in different ways.
Gentile believers must embrace their calling as Gentiles to make Israel jealous through their mercy and love. Stop waiting for some special calling before you reach out to the Jewish people with the Good News of Messiah. Every believer is called to and responsible for demonstrating God’s faithfulness to Israel. Even as all ministries are to be oriented “to the Jew first,” all may “magnify their ministry,” whatever that specific ministry may be (Romans 11:13).
Romans 11:14 is one of my favorite verses:
“if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.”
I love the sense of desperation in the phrase, “if somehow.” It communicates Paul’s sense of urgency; he used various creative methods to reach out to the Jewish people. In essence, Paul is saying, “If I don’t do everything to see that my ministry to the Gentiles is effectively reaching out to the Jewish people, then I’m dishonoring my calling and office.”
The job of a Gentile ministry is not merely to give a token effort to Jewish ministry, but to reveal God’s desperate love for Israel and all lost people. If one approach does not work (or even if it does), we try another, even being “all things to all men, as a Jew unto the Jews” that some might be saved (1 Corinthians 9:20-22). This is the forgotten mission of believers generally, one which has been relegated to a table at a missions conference.
I notice that some Gentile believers wear a Jewish Star necklace at work or elsewhere. Others have considered them “wannabe Jews,” or think that wearing the jewelry will at least give off that impression. However, such behavior, rather than reflecting a confused identity, can reflect a renewed sense of mission. I recently suggested to someone, “try wearing a Jewish Star at work. If you are asked about it, you’ll have an opportunity to explain that your Savior is Jewish and about the hope, forgiveness, and joy that you experience because of the Jewish Messiah.” Even simple things may have a new purpose in context.
However, our calling needs to go below the surface. It must be the practice of every Gentile believer and of all congregations to do all they can to make Israel jealous for the Messiah. Paul knew it was God’s will for Israel to be saved; therefore, he did all he could to fulfill God’s will in both prayer and practice (Romans 10:1). That’s what believing God’s will is supposed to accomplish in us.
In Antioch, Paul “sat in the synagogue” and waited to be called upon to speak before saying anything (Acts 13:14-15). Elsewhere, he initiated action and boldly preached in the marketplaces “to anyone that happened to be present” (Acts 17:17). There were no printing presses, Good News pamphlets, newspapers, radios, television, or internet—so he reached the crowds as best he could. In Ephesus, he taught “both publicly and house-to-house” (Acts 20:20). In general, Paul made himself to be as a “servant to all” for the sake of the Good News “that I may become a fellow partaker of it” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 23).
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Listen to Sam's interview on the new DVD series,"Redeemed", a study of the Book of Ruth.
When Wednesday, August 6, 2014
7:30 pm EST
Portland, OR
Where KPDQ Radio, The Georgene Rice Show
To find a station or to listen live, go to: www.kpdq.com
Read more...
August 2014 Radio Schedule
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Sam Nadler on Radio LIVE! Portland, Oregon
When
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
7:30 pm EST
Portland, OR
Where
KPDQ Radio, The Georgene Rice Show To find a station or to listen live, go to: www.kpdq.com
Sam Nadler on Radio LIVE! - Albuquerque, New Mexico
When
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
9:00 am EST
KDAZ
Albuquerque. NM
Where
The Morning Show -- KDAZ To find a station or to listen live, go to: www.am730kdaz.com
Sam Nadler on Radio LIVE! - New Smyrna Beach / Daytona / Deltona, Florida
When
Thursday, August 14, 2014
12:00 pm EST
WKTO
New Smyrna Beach / Daytona / Deltona, Florida
Where
WKTO Radio, Daily Moments To find a station or to listen live, go to: www.wkto.net
by Sam Nadler at 11:01 PM in Redeemed, Sam Nadler, Messianic
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Messianic Life Lessons from the Book of Ruth by Sam NadlerIs your life not turning out as you had hoped? Has God disappointed you? The trials of life test us to see if we will trust in the promises of God. On the surface, the book of Ruth would appear to be about friendship, and that certainly is one theme. However, more profoundly it is the story of people of Israel and the need for a Redeemer. God also desires to redeem your past, restore your future, so that you might find fulfillment in His gracious love!
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Word of Messiah Ministries
(704)544-1948
info@wordofmessiah.org
Word of Messiah Ministries
PO Box 79238
Charlotte, NC 28271 United States
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