Showing posts with label Messianics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Messianics. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

What the Universal Shema Represents to Christians, Messianics - TOBY JANICKI CHARISMA NEWS


The Shema is universal. It applies to Jews and Christ followers.
The Shema is universal. It applies to Jews and Christ followers. (Flickr )

What the Universal Shema Represents to Christians, Messianics


Deuteronomy 6:4 is one of the most important prayers in Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is one."
Known as the Shema, from the first word "hear" (שמע), it is a declaration that the LORD is Israel's God alone, that He is their King, and that they will listen and obey His voice. It is said twice a day in the daily services of the synagogue and it is also the last prayer said upon dying. Many Jewish martyrs breathed their last breath while uttering this declaration of faith.
In Jewish thought, the Shema also represents the hiddenness of God in the world. How so? The prayer is Israel-centric. It is not "Hear, O nations," but "Hear, O Israel." It is a declaration that the LORD is the God of Israel. It's not saying that He's not the God of the whole Earth, but that's not the focus of the prayer. In that sense, it represents the current state of exile, where God has revealed Himself to Israel but not to every nation on the Earth.
The good news is that this revelation of God is coming in the future. In the Messianic Era, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) will return, and the knowledge of God will flood the Earth. Habakkuk tells us: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (2:14). In that day everyone will know the God of Israel. This knowledge began spreading when Yeshua extended the message of the gospel to the Gentile nations but it will not be fulfilled in its entirety until He returns.
So is there a universal Shema? Rashi (the great medieval Jewish Bible commentator) commenting on Deuteronomy 6:4 writes:
"The Lord is our God; the Lord is one:" The Lord, who is now our God and not the God of the other nations—He will be [declared] in the future "the one God," as it is said: "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure speech that all of them may call on the name of the Lord" (Zeph. 3:9), and it is [also] said: "In that day it will be—'The Lord is one,' and His name is one" (Zech. 14:9).
The full verse from Zechariah 14:9 reads: "And the Lord will be king over all the earth. In that day it will be—'The Lord is one,' and His name is one." This represents the fullness of the Shema message. God is king and He is the one God not only of Israel but of all of the nations on the Earth.
For now, the Jewish people and those who join them recite a truncated version of this promise. We recognize that in this era God revealed Himself to the Jewish people and it is through them that the knowledge of God is spreading over the whole Earth. This will then be culminated in the Messianic Era when the LORD will be the one God of the Earth, He will be king over all, and all will obey His voice.
It is therefore interesting that Zechariah 14:9 is recited three times a day in the synagogue toward the end of each service at the end of a prayer called the Aleinu ("It is our duty," עלינו). The second half of the Aleinu prayer focuses on the kingdom when all nations will bow before God and worship Him alone:
Therefore, we will hope in You, O LORD our God, to see quickly the majesty of Your strength, to cause idolatry to pass from the earth, and the idols will be utterly cut down, to repair the world in the kingdom of Shaddai. And all humankind will call on Your name, to cause all the wicked ones of the earth to turn to You. All of the world's inhabitants will recognize and know that to You, every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance (Is. 45:23).
Before You, O LORD, our God, they will bend their knees and fall, and they will give glory to Your precious name. They will all receive the yoke of Your kingdom, and You will reign over them, quickly, forever and ever. For the Kingdom is Yours, and forever and ever You will reign gloriously, as it is written in Your Torah: "The LORD will reign forever and ever!" (Ex. 15:18). And it is said: "And the LORD will be king over all the earth. In that day it will be—'The Lord is one,' and His name is one" (Zech. 14:9).
In my mind then, the daily prayer services in the morning (called "Shacharit") and the evening (called Ma'ariv) become a picture of the story of redemption. The Shema, recited early in the service, represents God's original revelation of Himself at Mount Sinai to the Jewish people, while the Aleinu, recited at the end of the service, represents the final revelation of the LORD to the whole in the kingdom of heaven. May it be soon and in our days! 
Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer, and project manager for First Fruits of Zion – www.ffoz.org.  He contributes regularly to Messiah Journal and has written several books including God Fearers: Gentiles and the God of Israel. 
3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go deeper!
Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.
Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive it by email.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Love For His People - 2015 Annual & Financial Reports


2015 Annual & Financial Reports


Jan. 22, 2016
Charlotte, NC USA


Greetings friends and blog readers.

We were blessed in 2015 (our 5th year of the ministry since its birth in 2010) to share the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, with many friends in Israel and other countries. Following are the 2015 financial reports for Love For His People, Inc., with 2014 figures also included.

In a short statement, our income for 2015 totaled $21,044 while expenses were $21,427. Love For His People does not have a paid staff.

Our primary purpose is to support our friends in Israel, with direct funds sent to them. We generously support on a monthly basis a Messianic Jewish family of seven within the capital city of Jerusalem itself ($300/month), plus a volunteer couple serving with Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem ($25/month), living also within the city.

In addition, we support other ministries that also stand strong with the people of Israel. Those ministries that are in other countries we send funds to include India (Lighthouse Center - India with Pastor John Ebenezer), Pakistan (Shalom Today Ministries with Moses Julius - $50/month) and Vietnam ($50/month).

Here are listed below the Israeli and USA ministries that we support with contributions, having offices in the USA. They are sorted by monthly and annually times of giving.

Monthly donations are regularly sent for support to:

      1. Messiah’s Mandate – Ron Cantor (Tel Aviv, Israel) - $25/month
2. Hope of the World – Jonathan Chan (Lodi, NJ) - $25/month
3. Global Initiatives Foundation - Morris & Carol Ruddick (Denver, CO) - $50/month
4. CBN - Pat Robertson (Virginia Beach, VA) - $25/month
5. Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM) - Wayne Hilsden (Jerusalem) - $25/month
6. Dr. Michael Brown (AskDrBrown radio) (Charlotte, NC) - $25/month
7. MorningStar Ministries - Rick Joyner (Fort Mill, SC) - $70/month

8. Christian Friends of Israel-America (CFI-America) – Jerusalem/Texas - $25/month
9. Proclaiming Justice to the Nations - Laurie Cardoza-Moore (Nashville, TN) - $25/month
10. GODTV - Wendy Alec (Jerusalem, Israel) - $25/month
11. One For Israel - Jerusalem/CA - $25/month

On a semi-annual or annual basis, Love For His People also gives to these ministries:

12. ISRAEL TODAY - Aviel Schneider (Jerusalem, Israel)
13.  Heart of G-D Ministries – Richard & Carolyn Hyde in the Galilee, Israel
      14.  ISRAEL365  - Rabbi Tuly Weisz (Israel
      15.  Shepherd’s Staff Ministries  - Nissim & Hadassah Lerner (Israel)
      16.  Highway To Zion – Cathy Hargett (Charlotte, NC)
      17.  Christians For Messiah Ministries – Dr. Peter & Joy Wyns (Rock Hill, SC)
      18.  Derek Prince Ministries - Dick Leggatt (Charlotte, NC)
      19.  Morningside Church - Jim & Lori Bakker (Branson, MO)
20. Identity Network - Jeremy Lopez (Birmingham, AL)    
21. Present Word Ministries - Robbie Phillips (Columbia, SC)
      22.  Vision For Israel – Barry & Batya Segal (Jerusalem)


Our Ahava Adventures program, noted on our financial report, is our ministry trip time to Israel. In May of 2016 we will make our 11th trip to the Eretz Yisrael to be with our friends during the celebration of Israel’s Independence Day (May 14, 1948).

In other news to report, in 2015 I authored and the ministry published three of our 11 books, Standing for Truth in a World of Deception, End of Days, and Arms of Love. These can be purchased directly from the ministry or on Amazon’s website, along with the other eight books published since 2013.

Love For His People gave away over $900 worth (in actual cost of printing our books) to donors, churches, ministries and other individuals. You will see that on the financial report.

Our blog, Love For His People blog, will reach the 1 million pageview mark in the spring of 2016. My messages, Now Think On This, are posted on that website and also on both our main website Love For His People and Now Think On This blog and Cross TV - Love For His People Ministries.
Our main ministry website, Love For His People, continues to be produced and maintained by our son, Ben Martin. He also is the one who has done all our logos and media graphic design work since the beginning of the ministry. (You can see his work readily on all sites!)




We welcome your gifts in 2016! Please stand with us as we stand with Israel and the nations. You are able to contribute online or by check, using the methods listed below.

In Yeshua's name, we give thanks,

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.


Laurie & Steve Martin, Founders

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. 
Fed. ID #27-1633858.


Love For His People. Inc. is also a GOLD MEMBER participant of GUIDESTAR FINANCIAL, SO YOU CAN GIVE WITH ASSURANCE OF OUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOR YOUR SAFE DONATION.

You can view on online report there also. Click here: GUIDESTAR



  






Note: We use Quickbooks for our accounting records.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. 
Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People - PayPal or credit card. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 
Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  
martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

This posting is an updated one from our Jan. 20, 2016 posting - to reflect more of an annual report in addition to the financial report given. Steve Martin


Saturday, October 3, 2015

For Israel My Glory (Bill & Cindi Duerfeldt) - The Jerusalem March - Sukkot 2015

Jerusalem March -- Sukkot 2015
Bill & Cindi Duerfeldt
Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 Jerusalem



On the same day (1 October 2015) in which Prime Minister Netanyahu made his 
excellent and impassioned speech before the United Nations (I hope most of you 
got to see it), more than ten thousand Christian Believers from approximately 
100 nations participated in the annual Sukkot Jerusalem March, declaring their 
solidarity with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

Cindi and I; our children Amy and Todd; our grandson Christian; Cindi's parents; 
Cindi's sister-in-law Vicki; and Cindi's cousin Robert -- have all participated in 
this march at one time or another in years past. It is an indescribable experience 
to realize that the Holy Spirit is moving upon the hearts of Believers all over the 
planet, and compelling them to physically come to the Land of Israel (HaEretz) 
and to say, by coming, "God is with you, and we are with you too, and praying
 for you." And just as every year before, the response of the Jewish people toward 
the Believers who come to bless them, is both powerful and overwhelmingly positive 
as you can see below.

This year we had the privilege of seeing the march from the vantage point of the 
Israelis -- standing on the sidelines and watching the parade pass by. It took two 
full hours for those 10,000 Believers to pass in front of us!! In many ways, this 
experience was more impacting on our hearts and spirits than being a part of 
the parade itself. I don't think Cindi and I had a dry eye for the full two hours!

The verse from the Song of Songs kept running through my mind as I watched 
the procession: "You are as beautiful as Jerusalem, and as majestic as an army 
with banners." (Song of Songs 6:4).

I will say no more, but I will simply let the photos below and the three short 
video clips, representing just a snippet of the two hour pageant, tell their own 
story. Oh how I wish each one of you could have been here to see it all!

The march begins, up the hill toward the center of Jerusalem.

(Remember to click on any photo to see it larger.)





































"The LORD has made known His Salvation (Yeshua);
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of all the nations."
[Psalm 98:2]