Messianic Jew (OPEN)

[AbiYah]

What is the parasha?

Weekly portion of the Torah divided into seven sections corresponding to each day of the week.
www.judaism.com/glossary/gloss1.asp
[SIZE=-1]A Parsha or Parshah, פרשה, meaning "Portion", is the weekly Torah portion in Hebrew. The plural is Parshiot. It is also known as the Parshat HaShavuah ("Weekly Portion") or the Sidra.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsha [/SIZE]

 

[Snowy]

OK, We are not like the Christians who believe the New covenant replaced the Tanakh or it's observances.

There is a timeframe where the sacrifices are made of our lips, and our lives; but the time is coming where again there is a Temple and sacrifice. There was always grace and salvation; but it was not realized until the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

As our ancestors looked forwards; we look back and forward. Back to our spiritual redemption and forwards to the redemption and rejouvenation of the world.

By divorced from it's roots... I would say read up on Church History.

People decided things were "Too Jewish" and removed themselves from the context of worship and made something different.

So, you saying that Christians have forgetton the law of the OT and determined they are not worthy because we have the NT now? And in doing so we have lost part of our own heritage?

I have read the first 3 books of Moses and have to admit that it it sometimes hard to follow and alot to remember when it gets to all the temple practices and what is clean and unclean.

 

[Athaliamum]

Honestly it is good to go through a study of the precepts one by one or in like-groupings. That website I gave you does this.

By the way I edited my other post to contain that info that AbiYah was talking about.

 

[Desperate4Him2]

Sorry NT means New Testament. I understand the Jews only use the NT because they don't believe in Jesus being the son of G-d because they think he still hasn't came yet. So, what I was wanting to know was do Messianic use both the OT and NT but believe that these days are the NT days and the laws of the OT have been written over so to speak by the NT?






What do you mean faith was divorced from it's roots?

Messianics use both the OT and NT. Most study the Torah (first 5 books of OT which were written to Moses under the inspiration of YHVH). I know that I read through the scriptures somewhere between 1 and 3 times a year.

The NT writers' message has lost it's Hebrew flavor when written/translated/whichever into Greek. Greek is a completely different mindset philosophically and theologically to Hebrew which I believe is a language created by Abba. Once I began understanding the Hebrew mindset, the NT opened to me in ways I can't even describe!

BTW, I've seen and admired your posts for quite a while, Snowy. It's not much of a surprise to me that you are interested in Israel and things Jewish!

 

[Desperate4Him2]

So, you saying that Christians have forgetton the law of the OT and determined they are not worthy because we have the NT now? And in doing so we have lost part of our own heritage?

I have read the first 3 books of Moses and have to admit that it it sometimes hard to follow and alot to remember when it gets to all the temple practices and what is clean and unclean.

Exactly!

I happen to love Genesis/Beresheit and Exodus because it teaches all the why/wherefore we need to know. The other three books become more clear the more you read and study them. The Holy Spirit is an invaluable friend in bringing things to my attention. It's fun to say - I never saw that before and then figure out how it fits in!

There are many internet sites on which Messianic Rabbis and/or Jewish Rabbis teach on the reading for that week. It's been very educational!

 

[Snowy]

Messianics use both the OT and NT. Most study the Torah (first 5 books of OT which were written to Moses under the inspiration of YHVH). I know that I read through the scriptures somewhere between 1 and 3 times a year.

The NT writers' message has lost it's Hebrew flavor when written/translated/whichever into Greek. Greek is a completely different mindset philosophically and theologically to Hebrew which I believe is a language created by Abba. Once I began understanding the Hebrew mindset, the NT opened to me in ways I can't even describe!

So I need to get a Jewish Bible written in Hebrew and do my best to learn it. BTW, I have to admit that many of the names of G-d that I have found in Hebrew I wish I could pronounce correctly.

I had been calling G-d The Most High G-d for awhile now but about a week ago I picked up Praying G-d's Word by Beth Moore and found El Elyon which means The Most High G-d in the first chapter. I had prayed for a name I have never heard before to call him by and have to admit that really made me have an experience I hadn't before.

BTW, I've seen and admired your posts for quite a while, Snowy. It's not much of a surprise to me that you are interested in Israel and things Jewish!

Don't give me any credit I just pass along what I believe G-d is telling me to share and ask. But, I do have to admit I have been trying to fight my interest in Jewish beliefs for quite some time but G-d keeps bringing me back. I think I realize now why, I have always craved something more then what I have found by Christian beliefs. I have been wanting more of a relationship then I have and have always felt as if something was missing and there was this wall there.

He even brought a Messianic woman into my life for awhile who taught me so much about being a daughter of G-d but don't see her much anymore. Now, through my church I have met a Messianic man who is very much like a brother to me in just the short time I have known him.

 

[Yovel]

Snowy,

You sound like a Messianic already. Did you know Rabbis teach their students by asking questions and by the students asking the Rabbi questions. This is a very effective way to learn.

Your questions are much the same as people searching for something more than what the church teaches. May the L-rd answer you in a special way.

 

[Wags]

Babysteps sister! You don't need to learn it all in a day. In Acts the council in Jerusalem tasked the gentile believers coming to faith with only 4 minimums since Moshe was preached every Shabbat. (In other words, let them learn it week by week....)

The Complete Jewish Bible is mostly english and you can research and compare it to the version you currently use here. (Look for it under "modern translations")

As previously mentioned First Fruits of Zion puts out some great books and I would highly recommend their book "Restoration" as a great starting place. They also put out a Messiah Magazine and it is another great resource. A trial subscription includes 3 free magazines. There are also a lot of great teaching articles on this site.

Torah Resource is another great resource. Most of the articles are in depth and scholarlly in nature. Some good info on how the church has divorced itself from its Jewish roots.

YashaNet has a pretty comprehensive listing of messianic congregations both in the US and international. They are currently reorganizing their list - so at the moment it is not available.

 

[Athaliamum]

I had started a thread on recommended reading, as at the moment our resource page is only internet based. I should revive it and see if we get more replies so that it can be used as a resource.

 

[Snowy]

Exactly!

And if that is the case then why aren't more Christians going back to their heritage?

It seems like I'm the only one who feels the way I do but then again I haven't talked to any of my Christian friends about any of this either.

I have been asking God to show me what I was missing and I really believe he was pointing here but I was ignoring him and kept asking for something more. I keep wandering back here to wander away and come back again. I have been fighting it for so long but it is getting to where I can't any longer. The more I learn about God the more I want to know. The more I experience him the more I want to. He has really got me this time and the weird thing is I'm not trying to fight him on it.

 

[visionary]

Now the struggle is over, hang on, for the blessings come next.

 

[Yovel]

Snowy, I would say a majority of Messianics here are from the church. The Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) has called us out of the church. It can be lonely but believe me we have all gone through the questioning of why am I the only one that sees this. Well there are plenty of here and we will help you when you ask.

Rev 18:1 After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.
2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Bavel (Babylon) the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury."
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don't receive of her plagues,

IMHO the above verses is the L_RD calling out the true believers from out of the Church. The reason I say this is the church still celebrates Sunday worship and pagan holidays (Xmas and Easter).

Just don't feel alone. The L-RD is going to be calling a lot more people out of the church.

 

[Tishri1]

Hi Snowy, glad you are asking sooooo many questions. You do sound sooooo much like us when we were drawn by ABBA to this place in our lives. Have you done much research on the Festivals? The most facinating study I ever persued in my life! I've learned more about my relationship with ABBA and Yeshua from studying His wonderful appointed times, than anything else I have studied since becoming a Christian

Hope you are blessed by your time here

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them." “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean." But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if G-d has made it clean.” Acts 10:9-15

Do not destroy the work of G-d for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. Romans 14:20

G-d says all food is clean so why do you worry about what you eat unless it causes someone else to stumble which I really don't understand how it could. If G-d said something is ok to eat then doesn't that make it ok as what happened in Acts?





What is D4H2?



I really have no clue if there is a Messianic Jew group near me.

It is my opinion that when God said "this is unclean" that He was saying "this is not food". God pointed out what was considered food and what was not. He did not point to a pig and say "that's food but I don't want you to eat it". He said, "that's unclean, therefore it's not food" If it's not food, it's not food. No matter what is done to it in this day and age. Peter was only doing what God had said. I don't see that Peter was being corrected on his eating habits but on his attitude toward the Gentile. "THEY" were not unclean. That does not change however what God Himself said was not food (but man has chosen to eat anyway) and what was.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Also, I'd like to add, (I don't know if anyone already has or not) but you should follow YOUR convictions. It will not work if you are only trying to follow what you believe are the rules of the Messianic. While God did basically say "this is not food" you have been eating it for a long time and probably enjoy it. However, if God has urged you in your heart to not eat what He did not call food then obey to the best of your ability.

 

[christinepro]

And if that is the case then why aren't more Christians going back to their heritage?

It seems like I'm the only one who feels the way I do but then again I haven't talked to any of my Christian friends about any of this either.

I have been asking God to show me what I was missing and I really believe he was pointing here but I was ignoring him and kept asking for something more. I keep wandering back here to wander away and come back again. I have been fighting it for so long but it is getting to where I can't any longer. The more I learn about God the more I want to know. The more I experience him the more I want to. He has really got me this time and the weird thing is I'm not trying to fight him on it.

I fought it for a long time too but yet I found myself seeking for it.

 

[Snowy]

I love G-d so much. I praise him for everything he has done for me. I know I'm being led down a different path then alot of the people I have in my life now.

 

[Snowy]

Is Kabbalah something that Messianic follow? From what I understand it is about a deeper prayer life but I have heard so many things about it ranging from it is good to it is the occult. What is your opinion on it?

 

[Desperate4Him2]

Kabbala is a mixed bag. Some is spooky; other is simply knowledge that is hidden or secret and not spooky at all. Madonna is into some sort of New Age mishmash of Kabbala.

Anyone else?

 

[Hadassah]

Kabbala is a mixed bag. Some is spooky; other is simply knowledge that is hidden or secret and not spooky at all. Madonna is into some sort of New Age mishmash of Kabbala.

Anyone else?

To quote my elders and teachers....

One does not study "Kaballah" itself until they have a good grasp of Torah and their lives... your rabbis/teachers or elders will make this determination.

But, people often do not realize, from the bema/pulpit you are hearing things that are taught that are "Kaballah" (not the new age "stuff" - the writings from the Rabbinic writings and the Scriptures - primarily the Scriptures themselves).

There is a lot of misunderstanding floating around there and it takes a lot of discernment and study to know true from false.

I often learn and shelve what I do not understand to sort out later. Much of what I have been learning has been very interesting and very helpful to me; but then there are also many things I have to "shelve".

I would suggest not even touching it until you know you are on sure-footing, and let your most trusted teachers make that evaluation as well - as you would with any hermeneutical studies and linguistics studies.

G-d is my teacher foremost, and I follow His lead. If I feel at all uncomfortable with something, I say so and we don't cross that path until I am more comfortable with it.

Just like learning Torah; learning the hermeneutics and linguistics of everything can sometimes get very engrossing and we have to be careful that we don't get sucked down a wrong path or idea; or focus only on the task we are studying (thereby forgetting the entire purpose) - which has happened before.


I know not everyone would agree with me; but when does everyone actually agree on everything with everyone?

Your mileage may vary, but I urge caution in everything.