Ibn Ezra developed an explanation as to why God speaks in plural form in several places in the bible, most rabbis have accepted his view.
They say that the use of the plural form in reference to God is the ‘plural of majesty’, which kings and noblemen were accustomed to use in speech. This is called “pluralis majestatis).
Have Faith in God – Feed on Faithfulness!
A precious insight lost in translation:
Because the New Covenant text was most likely translated from Aramaic to Greek, and then to English, we often lose the connection to the Old Testament.
Often, Yeshua is actually quoting an Old Testament scripture and we don’t know it.
Here is a good example:
“Have faith in God” comes from Mark 11:20. It should be translated “Feed on faithfulness,” a quote which comes from Psalm 37:3.
In this case, by going back to the original language, and making the connection to the book of Psalms, we not only have a commandment to ‘have faith’, but we will learn how to have faith.
Have a glance at the different translations in English for this verse in the Psalms:
“…dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” (NIV);
“…dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” (KJV)
Here, again, is the correct translation;
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.”(NKJV)
“Feed on faithfulness”
Faith and faithfulness are the same words in Hebrew and Greek. Also, the verb “believe” comes from these words. This means we can’t have faith without being a faithful person.’Feed on faithfulness’ means to cultivate faithfulness in our lives.
“Have faith in God (feed on faithfulness) for verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:20
If we want faith that can move mountains, Psalm 37 teaches we must also be faithful.
This is what Yeshua is saying: Cultivate being faithful in all areas of your life and meditate on God’s faithfulness.
Why did Yeshua curse the fig tree? (The context of our quotation from Mark11:20) The fig tree is a symbol of Israel.
Israel, at the time of Yeshua, was unfaithful, and was about to go into a 2,000 year exile. Israel was not faithful (without faith and faithfulness) and was left withered like the fig tree that Yeshua cursed.
It was when Yeshua and His disciples were gazing on this dry, cursed tree that he gave us this lesson, “feed on faithfulness”
God’s faithfulness is also demonstrated in the nation Israel, even in Israel’s unfaithfulness.
After 2,000 years, in 1948, the fig tree, which had been cursed, was revived to life, with leaves and buds for fruit. God’s calling is irrevocable!
There is no better way to understand and to cultivate God’s faithfulness than to study His dealings and promises to the nation of Israel.
“Dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness” Psalm 37
You ‘dwell in the land’ by being faithful and having faith.
Look at this amazing connection: Yeshua curses the fig tree.
The next morning Peter notices it dried at the roots and reminds Yeshua.
Yeshua’s immediate response was “Feed on faithfulness”
The disciples would have known this reference to Psalm 37, having learned this Psalm off by heart and hearing it recited many, many times, so the other half of this verse; “Dwell in the Land feeding on faithfulness” (my translation) would have been an immediate connection and very meaningful to them. They would have known He was talking about the nation’s need to be faithful and that their right to dwell in the Land depended on that faithfulness.
God’s faithfulness is also demonstrated in the nation Israel, even in Israel’s unfaithfulness. After 2,000 years, in 1948, the fig tree that was cursed was revived to life.
“When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh”
(Matthew 24:32)
God’s calling is irrevocable. Israel is destined to be head of the nations. The rejection of the Messiah only postponed this calling, it did not cancel it.
There is no better way to understand and to cultivate God’s faithfulness than to study His dealings and promises to the nation of Israel.
What are some practical outworkings of faithfulness?
Here are only some I can think of, as an example:
Obviously, faithfulness to God and His word is paramount.
Then, there is the consideration of others:
Immediate friends; bearing one another’s burdens, praying together for each other’s needs – Yeshua’s prayer, what we call The Lord’s Prayer, is corporate, not individual.
“… give us our needs, forgive our sins, lead us not…”etc.
Are you praying the Lord’s prayer for yourself; for both yourself and your immediate friends; or not at all?
Priorities; being a reliable worker, and keeping integrity with your word(not idle words but words that are sustained).
Part 2 of this study is to follow – “The connection between the words ‘faithfulness‘ and ‘believe‘ in Hebrew.
Amazing report from Safe house
We are thrilled that Miriam has made such a turnaround. She sat for a full hour writing out a repentance to God for what her life has been. She asked Netanel to put it into the Western Wall for her. (I’m sure you know that the Jews write out requests to God, roll them up, and put them in the cracks between the stones).
She is truly wanting to have a relationship with YHVH. She also wants to learn English and Elisheva is teaching her through the Bible, telling her about Yeshua, at the same time.
She had some US dollars and she gave them to Elisheva (in spite of Elisheva’s protests), saying that she knew God would bless her in return. The amazing, and wonderful, thing is that she now has been given a job at the Western Wall! With her new clothes, new outlook, and new job, she is living life again.
This is a great testimony. Praise God.
Just last Friday, one of the homeless men that we knew at the Western Wall, was shot dead by a security guard.
The women sleeping outside are at high risk and have no protection.
Here is a photo of another homeless who is my friend. His name is Oriel (My light is God). He is what I call “my happy homeless.” He is quite happy living outside and he doesn’t want to be housed. The ladies sleeping outside often get very sick but Oriel never gets sick.
Risa was homeless for over a year. At one time she was sleeping in Abu Gosh, in an Arab house with no roof and chickens running around.
Risa being a homeless herself is helping me to understand homeless. Every individual is different and complex and there can be a thousand reasons why they don’t want to be helped at times. Risa is 26 years of age and is putting me in contact with other homeless her own age in the new city of Jerusalem. Risa also is familiar as to how to get governmental help.
It took a lot of love, prayer, faithfulness and dedication to bring Risa through. Like other homeless Risa came from a very dysfunctional family. She was very bitter and she needed much healing. She now has a job and a flat.
I am still working to house Orthodox. It is three years since we had the last safe house which was closed because of tremendous need and lack of funds. It seems to me that many in the church are indifferent and love has grown cold. Many are bogged down in their own problems and own world and help and labourers are hard to find. There are those who do care. I refuse to get discouraged and indifferent, I refuse to judge and become embittered when help doesn’t come. I refuse to let my love grow cold. I will keep doing my part. I will keep my eyes not on the empty half of the cup but on what we do have. There are still powerful committed followers of Yeshua on this earth who are our family.
Risa was at our home for a Shabbat meal.
We have been sharing Yeshua (Jesus) with Boaz. Boaz is very hungry to know the truth. He so much wants to feel God’s love.
He has been angry at God that his standard is too high and he can’t reach the required holiness to be able to enjoy God.
We are explaining to him that in the New Covenant, God comes down to us. We don’t need to make ourselves good enough to meet Him.
This photo was taken today as I was talking to him. Also Ruken (A follower of Yeshua from Turkey) shared with Boaz scriptures. It was a team effort!
Saturday night they did n’t get a good nights sleep because the men in the synagogue next door were up praying very loudly and blowing the shofar
Bat Zion (on the left) was very distressed as another homeless and taken her corner where she usually sleeps. Also they got very little sleep. We were very concerned for Bat Zion we thought she was loosing her mind. We thought of taking her to the city council for help but we feared that might put her into a mental hospital.
We prayed earnestly and thankfully Bat Zion had a better nights sleep last night.
We are praying we can rent a flat in the old city.
The 8 ladies keep hidden; they have lost all trust in humanity. They have lost trust in the Rabbis and Judaism; in social workers and what there is of the social welfare system in Israel.
They hide in corners, they wait in a dark area of the synagogue patiently until everyone leaves, which is usually around 2 AM, all the time hoping that no one will see them and kick them out. If they do get thrown out, they have the toilets or outside next to the wall itself. All of the ladies disappear during the day.
One of the ladies ( Miriam) is quite sick from spending the nights outside and needs medical attention.
Hila is the only one that keeps clean. She is Ultra-orthodox and wears wigs. Even young Ultra-Orthodox woman have to shave their hair and wear wigs because their natural hair is considered to attract men and stir up wrong desires. Even a married women can’t be seen by her husband with her natural hair.
We think Hila is involved in prostitution. She is the only one who has cloths, the only one that showers, but we don’t know where. We think she chooses the toilets to sleep in because she feels so defiled by her occupation, is full of shame and has a verylow self-esteem. Since Hila is Orthodox and wears wigs, her customers must be Rabbis or Orthodox. She desperately wants a home to live in. I do mean desperately! Please pray that she feels safe and opens her heart.
I will write about Bat Zion soon.
Why the western wall?
It’s a strange phenomenon why these ladies prefer the western wall. They would rather fall sick and die than sleep in a shelter, which is 30 minutes by car from the old city.
Although they have lost all hope in humanity and are like wounded animals, trusting no one, I believe there is left, in their dark despair, a spark of hope that maybe there is a God and are drawn to this source. This, I think, is the reason they are drawn to the western wall.
Miriam
Here is the power of love. In the last update I told the story about Miriam who hadn’t been hugged in years and was hugged for around 20 minutes by Eli Sheva and another lady?
She has now had a shower and has new cloths and was smiling feeling so good about herself.
Bat Zion
Bat Zion hasn’t had a shower year as she won’t have one until we buy her some underclothes, which we are in the process of doing.
We are looking to rent (we are believing to buy) a house or a flat in the Old City.
Extra money we receive will to towards renting a house or a flat in the Old City of Jerusalem. Even if the flat was not in use we could rent. We are putting a monthly statement every new moon stating income and expenditure for this project.
Locals and those who frequently visit Jerusalem are unaware of the homeless.
A friend of mine makes food packs consisting of bread, cheese of humus, chocolate bar and an item of fruit. you can see the bags we give out in the pictures above.
We carry the food backs in packs on our back. We visit the homeless one by one. Many of them are waiting for us.
HERE IS A TESTIMONY FROM MY FRIEND WHO HAS BEEN GIVING OUT FOOD FOR YEARS
Last Monday after finishing food deliveries to the homeless/poor on Jerusalem’s downtown streets, I stopped at Noah’s sidewalk cafe for a coffee – which is something of a tradition when the food delivery is complete, for us and for volunteers who may help out. As I sat there in the sunshine, a gentleman approached me and said, “Excuse me – you’re a Christian, aren’t you”, his Russian-accented words being more of a statement than a question. (Note: It is illegal for Christians to identify themselves as such, or to mention Jesus/Yeshua, while actually handing out food, as to do so can be deemed proselytizing, with the food being the inducement for people to listen. In this case, however, I was no longer handing out food and was simply answering a question.)
“Yes,” I answered. This rather well-kept gentleman then said, “I was sure you were. Do you remember me?” he asked, as he removed his sunglasses. “You do look familiar…” I answered, trying to place him. “You and your wife used to feed me and my friends. I was one of the Russian drunks you used to feed in front of the department store on King George Street.”
Then I remembered him. About 40 years of age, he was always either intoxicated or passed out on the sidewalk, usually with a bottle of liquor nearby. I hadn’t seen him in well over a year, and I had wondered if the booze might have killed him. It was hard to believe this was the same fellow we had known: he was now neatly attired, as clean-cut as a man could look, looking more like a college professor than a drunk: what a transformation!
“What happened to you!” I almost demanded.
“Almost two years ago, I had an unbelievable revelation of Jesus Christ,” he said. “All of a sudden I knew that people had been praying for me – you and your wife were probably two of them – but there were many others who had prayed for me, and the Lord made it clear to me that He was answering those prayers. I had nothing to do with any of this – nothing. It was completely Him, as if He grabbed me and said, ‘Enough,’ and then He started the change.”
Yuri, a Russian Jew who made aliyah some time ago, brought his heavy addiction to vodka with him from Moscow. He went on to explain that at the very moment of his amazing revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, he knew his alcoholism was over. He started attending a Russian church – which is also a Christian rehab center – in neighboring Talpiyot, and is being guided in his Christian walk by the church’s pastor. I came home and told Lesley about my divine encounter with Yuri, and we spent some time in a prayer of gratitude to the Lord for this almost unbelievable miracle.
I “accidentally” ran into Yuri again two days later. It was wonderful to hear him quoting from the Scriptures as he asked me questions about spiritual warfare. From events he described to me, he has obviously been experiencing some warfare since he invited Christ to be Lord of his life. I was able to gently give him some advice, with a suggestion that he enlist as much prayer as possible at his fellowship.
As a result of my two meetings with my professor friend and the rabbinical students, we are planning a first of its kind meeting between rabbinical students and Messianic Jews! The two meetings last week were just a foretaste of more deeper discussions and friendships to come.
As well as sharing my faith we discussed what was in common with Orthodox Jews and Messianic Jews.
They too believe that Israel will be head of the nations; all the nations of the world flowing to the mountain of the Lord, coming to the house of the God of Jacob to worship the Messiah in his temple. They mentioned that a sure sign that we are near the time of the Messiah?s reign in Jerusalem is the American worldwide evangelical interest and support of Israel. Interestingly, they didn?t mention England. They are aware there are 90-100 million evangelicals in America and that some of them are just as zealous as they are for the establishment of Israel as head of the nations.
Please pray for us as we arrange this coming meeting and draw up rules and guidelines.
More breakthroughs!
Last week I became friends with the cultural advisor to the president of Israel, Shimon Perez. Her name is Yael. She and representatives from the ministry of tourism were both so touched by my testimony and presentation that they decided straight away to send me 30 Israeli groups.
Yesterday morning I had a surprise visit from my archeologist friend, Eyal Maron. He brought with him trainee tourist guides. We had a very relaxing and very open two hours together. Many promised that when qualified they would bring many groups.
Our plans with the half way house continues, as well as our contact with orthodox who are showing interest, or are now in the process of receiving Yeshua.
We celebrated Independence Day last Monday. From Isaiah 14:2, we learn that the gathering of Israel back to the land is an ensign for the nations. Ensign means God has set up a sign calling for the nations to come and help. In chapter 14:2 strangers (gentiles) are joined to Israel and they cleave to her.
Blessings in the name of Yeshua
This might sound strange but here is the biblical reason why I can say that.
Exodus 12:2 God established a biblical new year. “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” The month of Passover is the beginning of the New Year, it is the spring festival. So the Jewish calendar says that “spring” is the New Year. New life! The old has passed away and the new has come.
After Passover we have more feasts, which brings us into new seasons.
Does God still work in seasons?
Seasons in our personal life and worship of YHWH
The New Testament clearly says that YHWH works in us in seasons. “Season’s” is wrongly translated as “times” in some translations.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, Acts 3:19. In this passage, the word translated as” times” of refreshing is actually more correctly translated as “seasons” in Greek and Hebrew. God gives us “seasons of refreshing.”
From the very beginning of my Christian walk I noticed a connection to new things YHWH was doing in my life and the Jewish calendar. For example I came to faith and immigrated to Israel and was married at a time of a feast. Also, the times I have been refreshed in the word have been in patterns occurring the same time every year. Even in Eternity, “the new heavens and the new earth” there are still Sabbaths, New Moons, and 12 kinds of fruit every month (Rev 22:2) (Isaiah 66:22-23). The tree planted by streams of water yields her fruit “in seasons” (Psalm 1:3).
Here we see seasons in the new heaven and the new earth.
Seasons concerning Israel and the Church
The Jewish calendar revolves around 49 year cycles. Every 49 years is the year of Jubilee, where there not only is freedom from slavery, but debts are remitted and everyone returns to their inheritance. Daniel chapter 9 shows us the prophecy that reveals the seasons for God’s purpose for the nation of Israel; that Israel would be under gentile rule for 490 years that are 10 Jubilees.
The tabernacle was finished on this very day and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle.
As the New Year came in last night in Jerusalem (our days starts in the evening) we here in Jerusalem celebrated the New Year in a meeting where there was a powerful move of Yeshua with the Holy Spirit. As well as giving both Dikla and I received encouraging prophecies that were clearly from YHWH.
“Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her:
Rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her.” Isa. 66:10
Here we have mourning and rejoicing mingled together. This is the experience of many of us who love Jerusalem. Our Creator, through the Holy Spirit, has put in our hearts His will in order to accomplish his purpose. This joy and mourning is not from us.
We are mourning in labor, crying out and not giving YHWH rest until he establishes this city as a praise in all the earth, until her salvation shines as a burning torch. (Isa.62:1) We have joined hearts with our Creator to bring Israel into her place as the head of the nations.
We mourn and cry out concerning the blindness of his people to their true Messiah, and of the Christian hatred and persecution towards Jews throughout the last 2,000 years. We mourn because the Messianic community isn’t the testimony of Christ she needs to be to provoke the Jews to jealousy.
“Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?” Isa.66:8
Was this scripture fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation? Or will it happen after the fullness of the gentiles when all Israel shall be saved?
Isaiah 66 is an amazing chapter, we shall study and see.
Isaiah 60:1 – Is this promise for the church or the nation of Israel? In context, it is clearly for Israel, but I believe both soon will mingle together.
The church has applied this verse to herself for years. The prophecy of this chapter clearly slides out of our present age into the Millennium when our Lord Messiah is reining on earth, sitting on the throne of David. Here are but a few examples that show this verse and chapter refers to Israel.
Verse 11; the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
Verse 12; the nation or Kingdom, which does not serve you, shall perish.
Look at the context of Isaiah 66, an amazing chapter that, God willing, I will teach more on; v10 commands us to “rejoice with Jerusalem.” Why? Verse 11,“that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom… that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” Other key verses to note; “you who tremble at His word…your brethren who hated you.” (v5) “You rejoiced, mourned and loved Jerusalem.”(v10) The persecutors shall be ashamed and the persecuted shall rejoice.
I believe that this year, standing with Jerusalem will determine blessings for individuals, churches, states and nations.
Jer 31:31; YHWH made a New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. He goes on to say that it isn’t according to the covenant that we made with YHWH in Sinai because we continually broke that covenant.
I ask my groups this question, “Does any one here think that our people ever managed to keep the covenant we made with YHWH in Sinai”?
Never has one person out of thousands I have spoken claimed we kept the covenant we made with YHWH. We have never been able to keep it up to this very day.
Every Christian group in the Old City of Jerusalem claims to exclusively have the truth. We can’t see any community in the Old City, which shines out the New Covenant as was in the days of Acts. Where are we going wrong?
We pray and work daily in YHWH’s strength to bring the testimony back.
