|
|
| CARVIEW |
Many Jews are coming to realize that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Jewish Messiah through a careful reading of the New Testament comparing it with the many Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 53. The gospel is God’s good news for both Jew and Gentile, as Jesus declared in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The church was born on the day of Pentecost slightly less than 2,000 years ago, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples gathered in one accord in Jerusalem, fulfilling the promise of Ezekiel 36:27, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,…”. The following article recently published on YouTube by author Amir Tsarfati reveals the promise of this event for both Jews and Gentiles “united by His Spirit into one body while maintaining our unique identities. What an incredible picture of God’s wisdom and love.”
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/
What if I told you that God planted a 2,000-year-old prophecy about the church in the most unlikely place? A bread recipe.
Today, I want to talk about something that’s absolutely mind-blowing when you understand it. God’s perfect timing through the Feast of Weeks or in Hebrew, Shavuot, what many of us also call Pentecost. You know, many people look at the biblical feasts and think, “Oh, those are just Jewish traditions.” But I want to tell you, friends, these aren’t just random celebrations. They’re divine prophecies planted throughout history. And Pentecost? It’s one of the most incredible examples of God’s perfect planning.
Let’s start with what Pentecost actually is. In Leviticus 23:15–16, God instructed Israel, “ 15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD.’” This feast celebrates two things for the Jewish people, the wheat harvest and the giving of the law, the Torah at Mount Sinai. But here’s where God brings the cherry on the top. Remember what happened exactly on this day nearly 2,000 years ago?
Acts 2:1–4 tells us, “ 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Do you see the incredible connection? On the very same day that Israel celebrated receiving the Law written on tablets of stone, God sent His Spirit to write His Law on human hearts. This wasn’t a coincidence, but a divine appointment set thousands of years in advance. Think about it this way. If God were a filmmaker, He would win every award for foreshadowing. The shadow appears in the Old Testament, but the substance—the reality—is found in Christ. As Paul writes in Colossians 2:16–17, “ 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
Here’s another powerful thing. At Mount Sinai, when the law was given, Exodus 32, verse 28 tells us that about 3,000 people died that day because of sin. Fast forward to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:41, “ 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” The exact same number. Where the law brought death, the Spirit brought life. That’s not a coincidence. That’s God showing off His amazing plan.
Are you ready to go deeper? In Leviticus 23:17, God gave specific instructions for Pentecost that seemed strange at first glance. “ 17 ‘You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD.’”
Did you catch that? These loaves contain leaven. That’s extraordinary because throughout Scripture, leaven typically symbolizes sin. During Passover, all leaven had to be removed from homes. Every other grain offering in Leviticus had to be made without leaven. But here, God specifically commands leaven to be included. Why would God want an offering with leaven? Because these two loaves perfectly picture the body of Christ. One loaf representing the Jews, one representing the Gentiles, both containing leaven. Because, and I hope you’re not hearing this for the first time from me, we all have sin in our lives. Yet despite our imperfections, God accepts us as His. And notice, there are two loaves, not one, not three, but two. This isn’t random. This is a picture of Jews and Gentiles being brought together as one in Messiah yet maintaining their distinct identities. God wasn’t surprised when Gentiles came to faith. He planned it from the very beginning.
And when did the Holy Spirit create this united body of Jews and Gentile believers? On Pentecost, the very day these two leaven loaves were to be presented. The miracle of Shavuot isn’t just a historical event. It’s a living reality for us today. Think about it. Just as God took two separate loaves with leaven and presented them together before Him, He is doing the same with us. Jews and Gentiles, both imperfect, yet both accepted in His sight through Messiah. Pentecost shows us something profound about God’s heart. He doesn’t demand perfection before accepting us. He takes us with our leaven, our imperfections, and transforms us by His Spirit. The same Spirit that came down with power on that Shavuot morning nearly 2,000 years ago lives in you and me.
And here’s something to consider. At Mount Sinai, the people said “ 8 … ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do.’” Exodus 19:8. But they failed because they tried in their own strengths. At Pentecost, God said, “ 27 ‘I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,…’” Ezekiel 36:27. What they couldn’t do under the law, God does through His Spirit. This is why Shavuot matters so much. It’s the day when God’s presence moved from dwelling in a temple made with hands to dwelling in human hearts. It’s the day when the harvest of souls began, a harvest that continues to this very moment as more people come to faith in Yeshua, our Messiah. When we understand Shavuot, we understand God’s perfect timing, His perfect plan, and His incredible love for both Jew and Gentile. As we celebrate this feast, let’s remember we are those two loaves presented together before the Lord, united by His Spirit into one body while maintaining our unique identities. What an incredible picture of God’s wisdom and love.
For all ways to connect with Behold Israel, including media, updates, videos, and teachings:
https://linktr.ee/beholdisrael
The Hebrew word “ruach” often translated “spirit” has the root meaning, “breath”. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit is seen “hovering” or “brooding” over the face of the waters. The image evoked is that of a mother bird brooding over her eggs until they hatch. From this very first reference, the Spirit is seen as the giver of life.
Genesis 1 (NKJV)
The History of Creation
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
We see that on the sixth day of the Creation week, Adam became a living being when God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life:
Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Like Adam, each of us became a living being when the Spirit of God breathed into us, giving us life. Like Job, we all can truly say:
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4 NKJV)
Not only did we receive physical life by the Spirit of God, but we also become spiritually alive when we are born again of the Spirit. In John 3, Jesus teaches Nicodemus about being born again of the Spirit.
John 3 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit brings fruitfulness in life and ministry. When the risen Lord commissioned the Apostles in John 20, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 20 (NKJV)
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
The disciples became spiritually ready to fulfill their calling when they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost:
Acts 2 (NKJV)
Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Those who give themselves fully to God are no longer are being conformed to this world, but are being transformed by the renewing of their minds.
Romans 12 (NKJV)
Living Sacrifices to God
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The Holy Spirit, the breath of God, is drawing us to fully give ourselves to God, to be transformed “in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord,” “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)
The key to becoming all that God created us to be is to pray from our hearts for the Holy Spirit to breathe on us and make us wholly His. This is the theme of the following hymn by Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889.
Breathe on Me Breath of God
1. Breathe on me, breath of God:
Fill me with life anew,
That as you love, so I may love
And do what you would do.
2. Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until my will is one with yours
To do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me,
Glows with Thy fire divine.
4. Breathe on me, breath of God;
So shall I never die,
But live with you the perfect life
Of your eternity.
Abiding in Jesus through the Holy Spirit, we are made clean by His words and fruitful for God’s glory.
John 15 (NKJV)
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/
]]>
David writes in Psalm 24:3-4, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart …” He declares and promises Psalm 24:7, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.”
Psalm 24 (NKJV)
1The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
The King of glory enters our lives when we believe and receive Him by grace. We are born again and all things become new.
John 1 (NKJV)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3 (NKJV)
3 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Jesus declared in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.” By His grace when we receive him with faith, he cleanses and redeems us, and makes our hearts pure. He then commissions us to be “the light of the world”.
Matthew 5 (NKJV)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Matthew 5 (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Paul emphasizes the importance of keeping our eyes and minds focused on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue and praiseworthy.
Philippians 4 (NKJV)
Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
John writes in 1 John 3:2-3 that when Christ is revealed, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
1 John 3 (NKJV)
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Jesus had only one thing against the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5, “that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” May we remember our first love, and obey His first and great commandment:
Matthew 22 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/
]]>
In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray:
Matthew 6 (NKJV)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Ken Hemphill in his 2001 book, “The Prayer of Jesus, The Promise and Power of Living in the Lord’s Prayer” writes, “In this book I want you to see the Lord’s prayer, not as a memorized mantra, but as a pattern you can use at all times, in all situations, and all day long to express prayers to God that connect and communicate.”
“Notice the obvious progression of the prayer—from praise, to promises, to petitions, to parting reminders. See how easily it breaks into even series of three, making it easy to use and remember.”
Ken Hemphill breaks the prayer into the following sections:
The Three-Part Address
Our Stresses community
Father Stresses relationship
Who is in heaven Stresses authority
The Three-Part Commitment
Hallowed be Your name Commitment to Holiness
Your kingdom come Commitment to participation
Your will be done Commitment to obedience
The Three-Part Petition
Daily bread Trust for physical provision
Forgiveness of debts Trust for cleansing from sin
Deliverance from evil Trust for power over temptation
The Three-Part Benediction
Yours is the kingdom Focuses on His rule
The power Focuses on His sufficiency
The glory Focuses on His presence
“When we use this pattern, prayer becomes what Jesus intended it to be: a conscious, volitional opening of our lives to God as we invite Him to accomplish His purpose in and through us. It enables us to seek His resources unselfishly as we commit ourselves to the advancement of His kingdom.” (p. 22)
Addressing God as “Our Father” means that we are praying not just for ourselves, but for others as well. It also expresses the intimacy with God that He desires all of His children to experience. “Hallowed be Your name” is acknowledging that God is holy and completely worthy of all our praise and worship.
When we pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, we are praying that we will be participating in the expression of God’s kingdom and of His will through all that we say and do.
“Give us this day our daily bread” acknowledges God as our provider in whom we can trust for all our needs.
When we pray,“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”,we are confessing our sins to God and committing ourselves to forgive the sins of others against us. Ken Hemphill writes, “Clinging to sin and seeking His kingdom cannot happen at the same time. So if we are going to fulfill the three commitments we have made to God, this petition to “forgive us our debts” must be given equal weight with our request for “daily bread” – our rent, food, and clothing. Yes, God wants us to have four good walls and grocery money. But for us to be useful instruments in His hand, we desperately need the freedom of a clear conscience. If we hide our sin or attempt to deny its existence, we will not experience the incredible joy of knowing God’s forgiveness and the full privileges of sonship.” (ibid, p. 74)
1 John 1:8-9 (NKJV)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”,we are acknowledging our need for God’s help to overcome temptations and repel the spiritual attacks of the devil. Ken Hemphill writes, “The quickest way to make this request a reality is to realize that we can make no headway in holiness without God’s constant provision. Not only are we no match for our adversary the devil, but we cannot even trust ourselves for help in keeping our lives clean. As long as we are here on earth, we will have to contend with our enemy, with our environment, and – yes – even with ourselves in order to let God lead us to victory… When your hope for personal holiness is in Jesus Christ alone, you’ll find you have muscles you never knew you had.” (ibid p. 79-81)
“For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever”.Ken Hemphill writes, “The first part of this benediction reminds us that our greatest desire and privilege as children of God is to participate in the work of His kingdom. He is the King and we gladly serve Him. He alone can grant us the resources we need for daily, victorious living.” (ibid, p. 85-86)
“Thine is the power.” “No matter what you’re experiencing in your daily life, be confident that all power belongs to your King, and His power is available to you as you seek His kingdom.” (ibid, p. 89)
When we acknowledge “Thine is the glory,” we dare request in childlike faith that He reveal His glory in and through us. What a wonder that Almighty God would choose to express His awesome presence through our actions and deeds … Will you be an outpost of glory in your corner of the world? Then seek His kingdom, make your life a pure available instrument for His power … Glory be to God!” (ibid, p. 89-92)
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/
]]>
Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV)
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Mark 11 (NKJV)
7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
Jesus rode into Jerusalem as prophesied, on the foal of a donkey and in the exact time frame prophesied in Daniel 9:25. God is so faithful! His promises are good, and He brings them to pass. Palm branches are a symbol of triumph and victory. The Resurrection was a victory for all who believe. The love of God changes us, and empowers us to be what we are created to be. We receive new life in Christ:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new..” (2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV)
]]>