Volume 5, Number 2
February 2007
As always, special thanks go out to Zola Levitt Ministries / T o The Jew F irst Ministry for their ongoing funding contributions To First to B’rit Hadashah Ministries, helping to make these mission trips to Israel possible.
Part 10 “They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” Romans 15:27
A continuation of Todd’s memoirs from the March 2006 mission trip to Israel
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aul and I went to the Dead Sea for a brief respite. While Paul floated in the Dead Sea, I noticed a lifeguard standing in his lifeguard booth. The Holy Spirit prompted me to go up and talk to him. The man’s name was Ami. He was a friendly, animated fellow. While Ami was telling me some interesting facts Todd Baker about the Dead Sea, Paul returned and we both were able to share with him the panoramic plan that God has had for Israel down through the ages. We explained how such a plan specifically involves sending a Messiah for the salvation of all peoples. This grand event was observed and recorded in history by the Jewish writers of the B’rit Hadashah. When Paul and I offered Ami the New Testament and study materials to go along with it to help him better understand Scripture, Ami happily accepted it. We assured him that when we return to Israel in the near future we Ami is a lifeguard at the Dead Sea would visit him again. On our last day in Jerusalem, Paul and I visited Ben Yehudah Street— the busiest thoroughfare in modern Jerusalem. As we left the hotel, we ran into Gil the hotel security guard we had witnessed to when we first arrived in Jerusalem. Now, we were able to add to our Gospel witness. Gil said that he had questions about the seeming contradictions between the Tenach (The Old Testament) and the B’rit Hadashah (The New Testament). We explained to Gil that there really are no contradictions between the Testaments since the one binding force that unites the two
is the divine revelation about the Person of the Messiah. The alleged contradictions, then, upon further examination, do not exist between biblical Judaism and Christianity but are complimentary features. The old fulfilling and completing the new. When we offered Gil a free copy of the B’rit Hadashah to study and discover this for himself, he eagerly accepted it, repeatedly telling us, “I will read it, I will read it.” When we arrived at Ben Yehudah Street, there was a checkpoint where two IDF soldiers were stationed making sure the area was secure from any potential terrorist activity. This was election day in Israel so there was added security throughout Jerusalem. Paul and I told both soldiers that we had been sent to Israel to encourage, pray, and share the good news of Yeshua the Messiah with the Jewish people. At this point, Paul spoke to the tall soldier, while I focused on the other soldier. His name was Tal. Tal asked me if I was Jewish. I told him that my great, great grandfather (Harry Friedman) was an Orthodox Jew who emigrated from Germany to America at the turn of the twentieth century. I then added that I am more Jewish now because I received the Jewish Messiah as revealed in the promises of God’s Word about Him. He now lives in my soul and has made Tal, an IDF soldier, accepted a copy of the me truly Jewish. B’rit Hadashah for further studying Tal and I then discussed the definition of what constitutes being Jew. He told me that this was a complicated matter that is addressed by the rabbis through Halakah. Halakah, in Judaism, is the body of law regulating all aspects of life, including religious ritual, familial and personal status, civil relations, criminal law, and relations with non-Jews. Tal concluded that circumcision is a key characteristic of being Jewish. At this point in the conversation, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance what the Scripture says about Abraham and the issue of circumcision (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3,9). I said to Tal that according to scripture God accounted Abram righteous in His sight before circumcision was required simply because Abram believed the word of God. Therefore, as important as circumcision is to being physically Jewish, the more important aspect is being spiritually Jewish. This entails having a right relationship with God which comes by showing faith in the promises God made in the Tenach about the Messiah. When the Messiah comes, our belief and acceptance of Him will make us in right standing with God. Tal was taken back by this response from me. I concluded this thoughtprovoking Gospel witness to Tal by telling him that Messiah has come in the Person of Yeshua of Nazareth, and the B’rit Hadashah is the divinely inspired record documenting the proof of this monumental event in Israel’s history. I then asked Tal if he would like to read and investigate this claim for himself. Tal accepted a copy of the New Testament in Hebrew—the Word of God that circumcises the heart and makes one truly Jewish with a heart of flesh replacing the heart of stone. This the Lord promised He would do for Israel when He returns. (see Ezekiel 36:24-27). ✞
BY
STUART ARDEN
ISRAELI CORRESPONDENT
Par artt 2 This is the continuation of last month’s article discussing the three-pronged attack against Israel. The first two “prongs” are physical aggression and attempts to push Israel back to the indefensible “green line.”
the capitol of an emirate of the same name), but Israel’s capitol, Jerusalem, is never listed on this type of map, and CNN isn’t alone in this delegitimizing.
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he third “prong” are subtle and not-so-subtle attacks on Israel’s sanctity by attempting to delegitimize Israel, and are perpetrated by both friend and foe alike. You know the old saying about “the three biggest lies” where the first one is usually, “The check is in the mail.” Well, I’ll give you your choice of number two, but number three (stated by both American Presidents and presidential candidates) is: “We’re going to move the Embassy to Jerusalem.” Israel is the only country in the world where the U.S. Embassy is not in that country’s capitol; it’s in Tel Aviv even though everyone knows that Jerusalem (which has never ever been an Arab capitol) is Israel’s capitol. Americans living anywhere in the world can have their children registered as American citizens, but if the child is born in Jerusalem, Americans have to choose either Jerusalem or Israel, but are not allowed Jerusalem, Israel. This, from our best friend! For the first 57 years of modern Israel’s statehood, Israel’s Magen David Adom (its “Red Cross”) was NOT accepted by the International Red Cross; technically this means that Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David) ambulances could be fired upon indiscriminately, in time of war. Finally, on 8 Dec. 2005, a “Red Crystal” symbol was approved by the International Red Cross for Israel’s use (with most of the negative votes coming from Arab countries), even though the Red Crescent
Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red... Crystal? of Moslem countries has been in existence since 1919. Israel is the only country in the world that cannot be a member of the United Nations Security Council; nations must belong to a “regional group” and the Arab states won’t allow Israel to be a part of the Asian group. CNN (the “Convoluted News Network!”), the world’s first international all-news network, regularly posts regional maps on its weather segment, and a copy of one such map accompanies this article. Saudi Arabia, being a rather large country has the temperatures of two of its cities listed, including its capitol Riyadh, and all the other countries, even small ones, have their capitol city appearing on the map (Muscat is the capitol of Oman, and Abu Dhabi is
For those who think that MY interpretation of the letters CNN is libelous, consider the following concerning a CNN report during Israel’s 2006 incursion into Lebanon: “Challenged by Reliable Sources host (and Washington Post media writer) Howard Kurtz on Sunday [presumably 23 July 2006], [CNN reporter Nic] Robertson suggested Hezbollah has “very, very sophisticated and slick media operations,” that the terrorist group “had control of the situation. They designated the places that we went to, and we certainly didn’t have time to go into the houses or lift up the rubble to see what was underneath,” and he even contradicted Hezbollah’s selfserving spin: “There’s no doubt that the [Israeli] bombs there are hitting Hezbollah facilities.” Robertson’s admission of “managed news” (a gentle euphemism) is, AFTER THE FACT, after CNN’s broadcast had been disseminated, aired, had its effect of denigrating Israel, and been accepted by gullible viewers worldwide. This isn’t surprising since back on 3 Nov. 2000, CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America) wrote: “CNN anchors and interviewers consistently allow Palestinian guests [and all other Arabs] to say anything they want, but pressure and interrogate Israelis, signaling viewers they shouldn’t believe anything said on Israel’s behalf.” Between 29 March and 21 April 2002, Israel mounted an offensive into the city of Jenin, under control of the PA (after numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians). The socalled Palestinians seized upon this action as a great opportunity for defaming Israel and in interviews in the western media various spokesman told exaggerated tales of bodies being taken away in refrigerated trucks, mass graves, and a massacre of over 500 killed. However, on 1 May 2002, the Continued on page 4
February 2007
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he duration of Israel’s hidden and rejected state is only temporary, and will end when Messiah returns to redeem and restore them. The lost condition of the twelve tribes has lasted for some 2,500 years. The time is coming when the whole house of Israel will be regathered back into the Promised Land as one whole nation under God and the Messiah (Matthew 24:31). This will happen at the second coming of Jesus Christ. There are several passages in the Scriptures that distinctly promote the idea that the treasure hidden by the Lord is Israel. In Deuteronomy 32:2830, 34 we read: “For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them and the Lord had shut them up. For their rock is not our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges… Is not this laid up in store with Me, and sealed up among My treasures?” These verses from Deuteronomy 32 are prophetic in nature. They deal with the historical condition of Israel as a nation during their “latter end” on the earth. Verse thirty says that the Lord had “shut them up” because of their wicked disobedience and unbelief. In verse thirty-four, this is conclusively affirmed. “Is not this laid up in store with Me, and sealed up among My treasures?” Something that is “shut up” and “sealed” is secure and covered. Israel’s chief place in the Messianic kingdom remains hidden until the heavenly Owner returns to excavate them from the nations of the
world. If this treasure were to be prematurely uncovered, it would endanger its security and safety. Another enlightening passage from prophetic Scripture concerning the Lord’s hiding of Israel upon their rejection of Him is found in Hosea 8:3. There, the Jewish prophet predicts: “Israel is swallowed up. Now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.” Anything that is “shut,” or “swallowed,” and “sealed up,” especially a treasure of inestimable worth, cannot be visibly seen, for it remains inconspicuous and hidden from sight. Israel has remained dormant as the chosen nation of God for over nineteen centuries since the last dispersion in A.D. 70. From that time on, the Jews were to be “swallowed,” “shut up,” or “sealed” as a nation hidden and scattered among the Gentile nations of the world. During the Diaspora, the Gentiles are to have the preeminence over the wandering Jew. The great prophet Moses foretold of this worldwide dispersion in Deuteronomy 4:26-27. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it. You shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the nations to which the Lord will scatter you.” Likewise Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews into all nations until “the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is near.
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“Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
- Matthew 13:44
Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-24). Christ hid His beloved treasure Israel after the destruction of Jerusalem occurred in 70 A.D. At that time the Jews were taken away into captivity and scattered throughout all the nations of the earth making way for the church age or the “time of the Gentiles.” ✞
February 2007
Three-Pronged Attack Continued from page 2
Washington Times repor ted: “Palestinian officials yesterday put the death toll at 56 in the two-week Israeli assault on Jenin, dropping claims of a massacre of 500 that had sparked demands for a U.N. investigation….The official Palestinian body count…was disclosed by Kadoura Mousa Kadoura, the director of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement for the northern West Bank, after a team of four Palestinianappointed investigators reported to him in his Jenin office.” Attempts to defame and delegitimize Israel by Arab, Moslem, and Leftist propagandists would fill volumes if they were all collected together, and much of the world’s media participates, either latently or blatantly; case in point: Reuters’ “doctored” and mislabeled photos from Lebanon. In a Ramadan sermon on PA-TV, 13 October 2006, Dr. Hassan Khader said that the Israelis arrived in Jerusalem during the Ottoman Period, 1400 years after the start of Islam. Can anyone take PA proclamations seriously when this
is what they purvey in their media?! “Israelis” only “started to exist” in1948, but the Israelites (i.e. the “Jews”) have lived in the Holy Land, continuously, after the Exodus from Egypt, approximately 1400-1500 b.c.e., whereas Mohammad the Prophet was born in 570 or 571 c.e. As Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir said at the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991: “We are the only people who have lived in the Land of Israel without interruption for nearly 4,000 years; we are the only people, except for a short Crusader kingdom, who have had an independent sovereignty in this land; we are the only people for whom Jerusalem has been a capital; we are the only people whose sacred places are only in the Land of Israel.” On 2 December 2006, six anti-Israel resolutions were passed by the UN General Assembly, yet not one single word of condemnation for the daily and incessant firings of Kassem rockets into Israel from Gaza, after Israel’s COMPLETE withdrawal from Gaza. On this same date Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred to Israel as both a “fictitious” and an “illegitimate regime.” Lest anyone doubt the seriousness of the attempts at destroying Israel, the Teheran Museum of Contemporar y Ar t in Iran has announced that there will be an annual Holocaust Cartoon competition. The exhibit’s curator, Masoud Shojai said, “Actually we will continue until the destruction of Israel,” and Ahmadinejad says that Israel will soon cease to exist. Israel is libeled, slandered, and vilified in attempts to attack the sanctity of the only democracy in the Middle East, a country which has contributed so much to the world in the fields of medicine, science, technology, and others. Diplomatic effor ts are continuously undertaken to isolate and weaken the Jewish state. Subtle and not-so-subtle propaganda is spewed forth to delegitimize Israel, and all of this takes place between the periodic wars to try and obliterate the State of Israel. ✡
The Importance of Israel to the Church In this day, it is essential for Christians to be educated about our Jewish roots and God’s plan for Israel as it directly impacts the future of all Believers. To have Todd speak to your church, organization, or Sunday School class about this and other important topics affecting Christians today, please contact Teresa Brown at (940) 367-7939 or email BHMengagements@gmail.com. The following are just a few of the topics that Todd teaches on: Eye on Israel - volatile current events in the Holy Land and its relevance to prophecy; Israel and Prophecy - the importance and knowing and understanding the relationship of Israel to the Church; Israel’s Right to the Land - where and what is Palestine, and do Arabs have claims to the land?; Seven Reasons the Gospel must go to the Jews - is Jewish evangelism Biblical, and why is it so largely ignored?; Messengers of Messiah to Israel - based on Dr. Baker’s recently released book that testifies to what God is doing in the hearts of the Israerlis, both Jew and Arab; The Dead Sea Scrolls - exploring the authenticity and reliability of Scripture
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Invite Todd to Speak to Your Group Page 4
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✞ PARTNER WITH US ✡ Tiberias who has accepted Yeshua as his Messiah and Savior. Please consider (if you have not already done so) becoming a monthly partner. As you can read for yourself in the newsletter articles, these worthwhile donations are directly impacting individual lives in Israel. Isn’t that what Yeshua’s earthly ministry was about? We thank you deeply for your support, whether you are able to give monthly or a onetime donation. It all goes a long way in helping us achieve God’s purpose and plan for this outreach ministry.
his is a humble but effective ministry whose goal is to bring the gospel of Yeshua to Israel and to raise awareness in America about God’s preeminent call to take the Gospel to the Jews - Romans 1:16. Because of the support of our faithful partners, there is a young Jewish woman attending a university in Jerusalem who now has a B’rit Hadashah (New Testament in Hebrew), and IDF soldiers in Haifa who can read that the Messiah Yeshua has come to bring hope and peace to their souls. Your donations have changed the life of an Arab shop keeper in Make checks and money orders payable to: B’rit Hadashah Ministries PO Box 796127 Dallas, TX 75379-6127
We also accept: You can also make your donation online at: www.Brit-Hadashah.org
* Donations are tax deductible in the U.S. as you give to this 501(c)(3) Non-profit ministry. *
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
MARCH 2007 MISSION TRIP
Missionary Prayer List
✡ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). ✡ Pray that we have the Father’s wisdom and guidance in
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ISRAEL
Be a Part of our 2007 Outreach to Israel
Here is a suggested list from Scripture to use when praying for our missions.
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everything we do (Psalm 32:8; 48:14; Colossians 4:5). Pray for witnessing opportunities (John 4:35; Luke 10:2; Acts 1:8). Pray that God will open the hearts of those who will hear (Psalm 110:3; Acts 16:14). Pray that God will give us the boldness to proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first and also the Gentile (Acts 4:31; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 6:19). Pray for spiritual unity and agreement among us (Psalm 133:1). Pray for our health, protection, safety, and God’s protection from the hand of the enemy, both seen and unseen (Psalm 91: Matthew 6:13). Pray for spiritual fruit that will last (John 15:7-8; Galatians 5:22-23). Pray for favor among the Chosen People as we share the Gospel with them (Proverbs 12:2). Pray that the Chosen People will come to faith in Messiah (Christ) Jesus (Romans 10:1; Matthew 15-16; Mark 8:2729, 14:61-62; Luke 9:18-20; John 4:25-26). ✞
Did you know that the Israeli people do not have easy access to the New Testament (B’rit Hadashah)? Their bookstores usually do not carry it, and even some universities offer courses on Yeshua but only provide exerpts from the B’rit Hadashah. Your donations during the months of January, February, and March can put the Gospel directly into the hands of Jewish people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to read about their Messiah. Throughout the year, your donations help make these trips possible. But during these months, our focus is on funding the gift of scripture and other materials that we give out as the Holy Spirit leads us. We are excited about what God is doing through these mission trips. And it’s equally as exciting to know that our partners will be blessed through their support which makes all of this happen. Genesis 12:3 speaks specifically of those who bless His people, Israel: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” What a way to bless the Jewish people, by giving them the words of life. Thank you for supporting this ministry.
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February 2007
February 2007 issue
B’rit Hadashah Ministries
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This publication is a monthly newsletter of B’rit Hadashah Ministries. For more information about our ministry, or to be added to our subscription list, you may contact Elisa at: elisar@cebridge.net. Visit our website: www.Brit-Hadashah.org
In This Issue Debtors of Messiah to Israel (Romans 15:27) ................................... 1 Three-Pronged Attack .............................. 2 Matthew 13 - Hidden Treasure Parable .... 3
Don’t Forget about Todd’s New Book Available for Purchase on our Website
UPCOMING MESSAGES Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Mar.
2 9 16 23 2
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