THE MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE
Spr ing 2018
Yom Huledet Sameach Israel!
CELEBR ATING THE NATION OF I S R A E L' S 7 0 T H BIRTHDAY
L I F E F R OM T H E L A N D Featuring FIRM
FELLOWSHIP OF ISR AEL REL ATED MINISTRIES
DATES TO REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE O F I S R A E L' S 7 0 T H SMT STUDENT TESTIMONIES
6
FE ATURE ARTICLE
Israel: the Miraculous Imperfection
CO N TE N TS
Contact Information P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261 (817) 864-9300 USAoffice@mjbi.org • mjbi.org
Online Schools
3
For Zion’s Sake
4
The Significance of Israel's 70th
6
Israel: the Miraculous Imperfection
The King’s University
Accredited Messianic Jewish Studies Program tali.snow@tku.edu • TKU.edu
By Nic Lesmeister
By Martin Sarvis
By Nic Lesmeister
10
Life From the Land
11
School of Messianic Theology (SMT)
School of Messianic Theology SMT@mjbi.org • smt.mjbi.org
Spring 2018
Featuring FIRM: Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries By Casey Tait
Recent Testimonials from SMT Students
International Schools ARGENTINA Argentina@mjbi.org MinisterioBetEl.org
RUSSIA Russia@mjbi.org
Dates to remember
ETHIOPIA Ethiopia@mjbi.org
UKRAINE Ukraine@mjbi.org OrHaMashiah.org
May 3 National Day of Prayer
HUNGARY Hungary@mjbi.org
ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe@mjbi.org
May 13 Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day)
May 13 Mother's Day May 20 Shavuot (Pentecost) May 28 Memorial Day June 17 Father's Day July 4 U.S. Independence Day
ECFA Accreditation You have invested wisely during your lifetime. Now let these investments make a lasting difference in people’s lives with a gift to the Messianic Jewish Foundation. Your gift will go directly to sharing the Good News with Jewish people and helping strengthen Messianic Jewish congregations and ministry around the world for years to come. Please contact us at 817-864-9300 or USAoffice@mjbi.org for more information.
July 22 Tisha B'Av (9th of Av) September 3 Labor Day September 10 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year 5779) September 10–19 Days of Awe September 19 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) September 24-30 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
View this issue online 2 | SPRING 2018
at m jb i .o rg /z ea lo u sma g a z ine / s pr ing - 2 0 1 8
FOR ZION’S SAKE NIC LESMEISTER ZEALOUS
ries
Magazine
F
or a year between 2014-2015, my family and I lived in Israel. One weekend we decided to take a trip to the Galilee region in the north of Israel to take a break from the busy city life in Jerusalem. As we drove towards the Sea of Galilee on a new, 4-lane highway very similar to our interstates in the United States, I began marveling at the fact that a nation that has fought in over 15 wars has been able to build such modern, reliable infrastructure for their citizens. I began to think about all of the ways that Israel's very existence truly is a miracle: the regathering of millions of Jews to her cities and mountaintops, the powerful start-up economy, and the countless breakthroughs in scientific advancements. All of these things happened while ruthless enemies waged war and violence on them from just miles away, and, not to mention, while Israel absorbed millions of Jewish immigrants from over 40 different countries! In this issue of Zealous, we celebrate 70 miraculous years of the restoration of the homeland of the Jewish
Nic Lesmeister
people. We start with a very unique article by our friend Martin Sarvis who has lived in Jerusalem for nearly 20 years with his wife, Norma. I share perspectives on what makes Israel the "miraculous imperfection, " and you'll hear from my close friends at FIRM— Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries— in our Life from the Land feature. This is a special anniversary for the State of Israel, and we invite you to share in it from the comfort of your office, living room or wherever you may read this. And as you read, I hope you will be encouraged by the image of a faithful God, who never has or will abandon His Covenant People – whom you and I are grafted into through Yeshua the Messiah!
Editor-in-Chief
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Tara Kieschnick Managing Editor
Carol Adams Editor
ART & DESIGN George Estrada Graphic Designer
COVER
Yom Huledet Sameach Israel translates to "Happy Birthday Israel!"
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook.com/mjbi.usa Twitter.com/mjbi Youtube.com/mjbiusa
For Zion’s Sake,
Instagram @mjbiusa
NIC LESMEISTER, PRESIDENT & CEO MJBI.org/zealousmagazine MJBI.org
SPRING 2018 | 3
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ISRAEL’S 70 TH By Martin Sarvis
S
halom! We have moved into a very special year in the Land. This spring Israel will celebrate her 70th anniversary! There is a sense here that because it IS the 70th, there is something incredibly important about the entire year. This anticipation is being felt across the globe: Israel is expecting more international tourists in 2018 than ever before. Already, many hotels are finding themselves overbooked throughout the year!
THE STATE OF ISRAEL.” That evening at midnight, after over 2500 years, a nation under the sovereignty of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob once more came into being! In 1948, May 14 fell on the 4th day of the 2nd month in the Hebrew calendar, the month of Iyar. Since then, “Independence Day,” as with other holidays and
about the number “70"? We certainly cannot explain all the reasons. But we would point out that the numbers “7” and “70” turn up at very significant times in the Hebrew Bible. Often the number “7” in Scripture appears to signify “completion” or “fulfillment.” And 70? It is recorded in the Book of Genesis (46:27) that the number of sons of the house of Jacob (Israel) who came down to Egypt in the days of Joseph was 70 (and 400 years later, they would depart a mighty nation). In the early days after the Exodus, God met with “70 elders of the people” (Exodus 24:9).
On May 14, 1948, a miracle occurred.
On May 14, 1948, a miracle occurred. The Hebrew people, who had for centuries been scattered throughout the world, were now, as foretold by their prophets, gathered back into their ancient land of promise. In their restored Hebrew language, David Ben Gurion read aloud the Declaration of the Establishment of the State (Declaration of Independence) that afternoon in a Tel Aviv hall, which included these words: "[We do] HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS 4 | SPRING 2018
festivals in Israel, has always been celebrated according to the Hebrew Calendar rather than the Gregorian. While there may be other 70th commemorations on May 14, the 4th of Iyar falls on April 19, which is when the primary celebrations will take place. Why is this 70th year so important? Why do so many people sense there to be something very significant
Is “70” a number related to beginnings and leadership which will expand? In Daniel 9:24, there is a mysterious prophecy of “70 weeks” for the Hebrew people and Jerusalem, which is related to “finishing transgression, making an end of sin, making atonement and bringing in righteousness.” In 605 BC, Daniel was among the captives of the southern kingdom of Judah when they were exiled to
Babylon. They were released from captivity 70 years later and allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple. Might the completion of this first 70 years of modern Israel signal a time for release, of a new freedom in the area of worship? The last paragraph of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, signed 70 years ago this year, begins this way, “Placing our trust in the Rock of Israel, we affix our signatures to this proclamation…” This concept of Israel trusting in God as her Rock is very ancient. In the Book of Deuteronomy (Chapter 32), she was given a song in which over six times God is referred to as her “Rock”— her source of strength, anointing, salvation, and protection. In many of the Psalms (18:2, 31, 46; 19:14) King David declares the LORD to be his Rock—his Deliverer, and Redeemer. As Israel wandered in the desert before entering Canaan, the LORD provided water for His people out of a rock (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8). In the New Covenant Scriptures, Rav Sha’ul (Paul), a first century Messianic Jewish teacher, reveals that the Children of Israel had actually been strengthened during their wanderings in the desert by a spiritual rock which followed them—and that rock was their Messiah! (I Corinthians 10:4). This brings me to a wonderful thing which has happened during these first 70 years of our nation. Many, many Jews in Israel are awakening to the identity of their Messiah. Today there are tens of thousands of Messianic Jews living in Israel (A Messianic Jew is one who has come to believe that Yeshua/Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and Savior). Moving in the authority of their Messiah, believing Jews are rising into areas of influence within Israeli so
ciety—government, military, education, the arts. In the schools, believing Israeli children are learning to pray for each other, and to share their faith with their schoolmates. One thing more about “70”! In Hebrew there is a numbering system made up of Hebrew letters. The letter signifying “70” is ayin. Besides the number 70, ayin is also the Hebrew word for “eye." As we move through this “ayin” year, may the “eyes” of many Israelis be opened to recognize and trust in their Messiah, Yeshua—the true Rock of Israel, mentioned in their Declaration of Independence 70 years ago this year! MARTIN SARVIS AND WIFE NORMA have lived in Israel almost 20 years. Along with writing and speaking engagements abroad, they help lead the Sukkot Hallel prayer house in Jerusalem. Their weekly Torah Portion and Israel Prayer Update contributions can be found on the MJBI website: mjbi.org/resources
Article reprinted by permission of the Polish magazine Nasze Inspiracje
7.8 million Population
Home to 45% of the world's Jewish population Capital: Jerusalem Currency: Shekel (ILS) Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, English
Culture Minister Miri Regev unveiled the logo for Israel's 70th anniversary celebration during a press conference on January 15, 2018.
Spring 2018 | 5
FE ATURE ARTICLE
ISRAEL
The Miraculous Imperfection BY NIC LESMEISTER
6 | SPRING 2018
Scenes from the early days of Tel Aviv.
I
n September of 1897, a 37-year old man by the name of Theodor Herzl opened his personal diary and began to write. Just days before, he had successfully organized the world’s First
Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. Over 200 delegates from around the world gathered for three days to carefully begin planning how they would advance their movement to create a Jewish homeland in what was then Palestine. It was the official launch of the Zionist movement. Herzl, overwhelmed by his self-appraised success of the event, penned this in his diary:
If I had to sum up the Basel Congress in one word—which I shall not do openly—it would be this: At Basel, I founded the Jewish state. If I were to say this today, I would be greeted by universal laughter. In five years, perhaps, and certainly in 50, everyone will see it. Theodor Herzl’s incredible prediction was only one year off. Fifty-one years later, on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was officially born.
an exercise in amazement. Each of these individuals lived very secular Jewish lives, scarcely practicing their Jewish faith at all. Yet, in retrospect, each of them was a tool in the hands of God to advance His ancient promises of restoring the Jewish people to their own nation in their ancestral homeland in the Middle East.
For those of us who are students of the Word of God, these kinds of stories should come as no surprise. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Herzl is officially referred to in the Israeli Declaration of David, Solomon, and many more of Independence as "the spiritual our Bible heroes were men of great father of the Jewish State". imperfection. Yet they were all used by God to advance His causes on the earth.
Studying the lives and work of the Zionist founders like Herzl, David Ben-Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister), Chaim Weizmann, and Ze’ev Jabotinsky is
Many Jewish people call the Hebrew Bible (what we would call the Old Testament) “the family diary of
Spring 2018 | 7
the Jewish people.” It is filled with ups and downs, rights and wrongs, successes and failures. It’s Israel’s story of being completely imperfect, but wedded covenantally to a miraculous and perfect Father. The ancient people of Israel were a miraculously imperfect people, and the current people of Israel—and their national homeland—are no exception. To me, this is the great wisdom of God on display. He has chosen for himself a representative people from all people groups in the world to be an example of His great mercy on all mankind. Ancient and Modern Israel show that it is okay to be human, for God works through humans when we’re willing to cooperate with Him.
It’s Israel’s story of being completely imperfect, but wedded covenantally to a miraculous and perfect Father.
God clearly reminds the people of Israel about this in Deuteronomy:
“It is not because you are more numerous than all the peoples that Adonai set His love on you and chose you—for you are the least of all peoples. Rather, because of His love for you and His keeping the oath He swore to your fathers…” (Deut 7:7-8) New Jewish immigrants arrive in Israel.
The Jewish people continue in this pattern of being “least of all peoples” today. Israel is only the 100th most populated nation on the earth, and the Jewish people are one of the smallest global minorities. Yet this tiny nation and small group of people can boast that they have more PhDs per capita, more libraries and museums per capita, more companies listed on the NASDAQ than any other country besides the USA and China, and 23% of the world’s nearly 900 Nobel Prize winners. Even with all of these miraculous success stories, Israel remains imperfect. For as much as the current Israeli 8 | SPRING 2018
Photo credit: Gwen Paget
government does to bring good to the world— through fighting back Islamic extremism, to protecting innocent life from terrorists, to sending aid around the world when disaster strikes, it suffers from some key shortcomings. One of the biggest is in the way it handles the Messianic Jewish community living in the Land. When Israel was founded in 1948, the State created the Law of Return, which guarantees that any Jewish person with a Jewish grandparent could immigrate to Israel and receive immediate citizenship. Over three million Jews have gone through this process in the past 70 years. However, when it comes to a Jew who professes faith in Yeshua, the process is not so smooth.
sianic Jews, they lost their appeal and had to leave the country. It is in light of all of this that I call Israel the miraculous imperfection. Yes, the Israel Defense Force has mistreated Palestinians at times. Yes, the government mistreats Messianic Jews at times as well. Yes, the city of Tel Aviv hosts one of the biggest gay pride celebrations in the world each year. Yes, corporate Israel has not accepted Jesus as their Messiah. None of this, friends, negates the fact that Israel exists today to celebrate her 70th birthday because a miracle working God has been faithful to keep his promises. What He began through the secular hands of A.D. Gordon, Leon Pinsker, Theodor Herzl, and David Ben-Gurion over a century ago continues today as proof that Israel is not the hero of the story— the God OF Israel is!
Many Messianic believers are outrightly denied citizenship, and many others go through long, expensive court cases to win their citizenship from the government. When Israel will never be perfect, she Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected will always make mistakes, and her in 2015, he had to make a deal with people will continue to be a stiffAnti-Messianic Orthodox Jews are the Ultra-Orthodox political party in necked, loud, unruly bunch. But her arrested for disrupting a Messianic order to officially form his governperfection is not in her performance congregation in Jerusalem. ment in the parliament. Netanyahu as a nation-state or as a collective agreed to give their party greater control over the Jewish people. It is, instead, in the fact that she is Ministry of Interior, which oversees the citizenship covenantally bound to a faithful God who chose her process. The Ultra-Orthodox are very much today’s thousands of years ago because He loved her. version of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, and they do not accept Messianics as Jews, and often barely even I find personal encouragement in knowing that it is as humans. God who faithfully keeps His promises, even through our tattered history of failures. The State and People In 2016, some dear friends of Tabatha and mine were of Israel are a sign to the nations of the earth that the kicked out of the country with their three children God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Yeshua is the True when the Supreme Court would not recognize them God, and He is worthy of our trust and affection. as Jews because they believed in Yeshua. Frustratingly, they had been living in Israel for five years attempting to receive their citizenship, spending thousands of dollars on legal aid to fight for their cause. One set of their parents were even Israeli Messianic citizens, and so were some of their siblings. Yet due to the persecution from the Ultra-Orthodox nonprofits that advise the courts on cases dealing with Mes-
Happy 70th birthday to the miraculous imperfection—Israel!
SPRING 2018 | 9
Life from
the Land
F E ATU R I N G FI R M F E L LOWS H I P O F I S R A E L R E L AT E D M I N I S T R I E S
I
SRAEL IS A MIRACULOUS testimony to the
covenant faithfulness of God—the People of Hope restored to the Land of Hope. “Out of them [the tents of Jacob] shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.” Jeremiah 30:19 At FIRM (Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries), we celebrate the miraculous works of God among His people in Israel and desire to see a new generation of believers around the world join in that celebration through prayer, support, and service. FIRM exists to engage Christians to love and support Israel; to connect them with effective ministries in the Land; and to serve the local Body of Messiah in a spirit of unity. How do we do this? FIRM facilitates international events that teach Christians about what God is doing in Israel today. We intentionally
10 | SPRING 2018
develop relationships with pastors and leaders who can influence many to love and support Israel. We design mediabased campaigns to highlight member ministries and inform believers about relevant Israel-related topics.
FIRM hosts local events and conferences that provide a platform for believers to interact with Israelfocused ministries. We facilitate connections between pastors, leaders and member ministries based on shared vision and values, and strategize ways to highlight FIRM members locally and internationally. Our heart is to serve. We aim to bless effective Israel-related ministries and promote fellowship, collaboration, and unity among the Body of Messiah. We champion and support member projects and endeavors, providing practical tools, finances, and resources to equip them for effective ministry. FIRM stands with the Body of Messiah
serving on the frontlines of Kingdom ministry in Israel. We celebrate freedom in Yeshua. We celebrate restoration of Jew and Gentile to the divine purpose of God. We celebrate exponential growth and health in the Body of Messiah and the increase of laborers for the harvest. We celebrate discipleship and outreach efforts, family ministry, humanitarian aid and social justice programs, teaching and resources, and the fresh hunger for the presence of God evident among local congregations. Join with us as we engage, connect, and serve the Body of Messiah together! WRITTEN BY CASEY TAIT FIRM Director of Member Relations
To receive more information about FIRM or our Member Ministries, visit firm.org.il
WHAT OUR ONLINE STUDENTS ARE SAYING...
smt.mjbi.org
A R I E LL A D I N N E R
THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF YESHUA
"I would like to congratulate MJBI because the online course offered was GREAT! I loved it! I learned things about the life of Jesus that we never get to hear in a regular service. I would like to take more online courses in the future with you guys. Thank you very much for doing this!'
Dr. Dan Juster has great wisdom and insight on this topic of leadership. I would
HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to others for ministry leadership training. J O H N GA N N E T T
PRINCIPLES OF RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP
IVO K R I S COVI C- G O N Z A LE Z NEVI'IM: THE PROPHETS
"Good work. Rabbi Waldman explains things very clearly and in a very joyful way that makes it more interesting. Thanks, MJBI."
A LB E R T H E N D E R SO N
THE RISING STAR OF DAVID IN AFRICA
I enjoyed Dr. Gannon's teaching and look forward to more of the courses you offer. My soul was truly blessed by what I learned and what I will do from this day forward.
"It was very informative and educational. I believe that it will help to equip a new generation to minister more effectively to the people of Africa, Israel, and the Middle East."
THANK YOU. DWI G HT GA R TR E L L
THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF YESHUA
TA M M I DAU G H E R T Y
A V O D A H : J E W I S H L I T U R G I C A L W O R S H I PÂ
"I am so grateful for this course! I was adopted by non-Jewish parents, but discovered through DNA testing that my biological matriarchal line is Sephardic Jew. This course has helped me so much to understand my roots and my God in ways that simply amaze me. I have always been close to my God and His Messiah, but that closeness has deepened. While I have only finished one course thus far, I'm very excited to continue."
Spring 2018 | 11
MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE P.O. B ox 61010 5 D a l l a s , Tex a s 75 2 61
We've had an evening with a President. Are you ready for an evening with a Prime Minister?
November 15, 2018 IRV ING C ON V EN T ION CEN T ER Irving, Texas
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ARLINGTON, TX PERMIT #255