Sisters and Brothers in Messiah,
This month the church world will celebrate the first coming of The Anointed ONE/Christ, while the Muslim world has Ramadan, March 10 – April 8, as the Jewish Holiday of Purim begins Saturday, March 23, ends on Sunday, March 24 and Passover is coming April 22-30 (consider the differences between the present day calendar and the Biblical one)!
With ALL that being said, Yeshua/Jesus told us to learn from the example of the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22; 24:32-35; Mark 11:12-25; 13:6-32; Luke 13:6-9; 21:29-33; Proverbs 27:18- Micah 4:4; 1 Kings 4:25; Zechariah 3:10 & John 1:48 (there are 44 Bible verses about Fig Trees).
So, in this third month of 2024/5784, ‘The Year of the Open Door,’ let us look to the third person of the Holy Trinity, to lead and guide us into ALL Truth & understanding, regarding ‘ISRAEL/Yisra’el!’
In Genesis 32:28, God (In Hebrew, the word translated “God” can refer to Yahweh but can also refer to an angel as a “divine being”) gives ‘the name’ Israel to the patriarch Jacob. ‘The name’ Israel may come from the root word sarah/sareta which means “to rule, contend(s), fight, have power or prevail over.’ Because Jacob was faithful, the Lord gave him the special name of Israel, which means “one who strives or prevails, wrestles or struggles/struggled with God [‘el]” and men or “let God prevail” Jacob had twelve sons. These sons and their families became known as the twelve tribes of Israel, or Israelites (see Genesis 49:28).
Consisting of the action verb yashar, to be upright and the word ‘el, God, it means to be upright or in right standing, righteousness of, in and with God or Elohim! In Aramaic, the word “Israel” is translated and referenced as House of God. The land and the nation were formed most recently in 1948, but this quote from Genesis 12 is the first time the Bible promises, “I will bless those who bless Israel” – God.
NOW, the big question of the day is, “Who Is Israel?” This is NOT about (the so called) ‘three faiths of Abraham,’ but about Abram, who believed in The ONE, True God, he took God at His Word and became the father of a multitude of nations and according to the New & Better Covenant, our Father of Faith! As the Lord commanded Moses to say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord and Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.” Salvation in Hebrew is Yeshua, meaning Jesus. In Hosea God states, when Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Hosea]: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” – Matthew 2:15b AMP.
For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus]. 16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Galatians 6:15-16 AMP).
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering], 23 and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], 24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].
The Unshaken Kingdom
25 See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God’s will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven? 26 His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the [starry] heaven.” 27 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:22-29 AMP).
My dear sweet brothers and sisters in Jesus, The ONE & ONLY, True ISRAEL! This is NOT about replacement theology, in any way, shape or form, but to clarify the statement made by Martin Luther, “The Great Exchange,” referring to Jesus hanging on a tree, becoming sin for us, so that we, both Jew and Gentile, as the ONE New Man, could become the righteousness of God In Christ. As Stephen stated in Acts, referencing the tent in the desert or the tabernacle, the temple, the actual Greek word used is ‘ecclesia,’ sometimes spelled ekklesia, but this is the same and only word used by Messiah Himself, when He said, “I Will Build My Church,” literally meaning ‘the called out ones,’ called out of the world and into the kingdom, called out of darkness and into His Marvelous LIGHT.
You and I are of the commonwealth of Israel, joint heirs with Christ, ONE in the Holy Spirit & ONE in The LORD, ISRAEL! As the Household of God, His New Creation, given The Name above ALL names (there’s no other name under heaven by which we must be saved), let us go forth to a shaken world, declaring their sins are forgiven and giving them the hope that will not disappoint, Jesus. If you or someone you know would like to hold a prayer gathering, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Shalom,
Mark Tross