Category: Discovering Your Ministry

1 Kefa 1:13-25

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Discovering Your Ministry3 Comments

Called to Be Holy

In my last post, we explored what Kefa describes as A Living Hope. In this post, we explore how Kefa says we are Called to Be Holy.

13 Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed. 14 As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. 15 On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; 16 since the Tanakh says,

“You are to be holy because I am holy.” (see Leviticus 11:44-45)

Get your minds ready for work. Be mentally prepared for opposition, distractions, temptations, and unexpected setbacks. Refusing to be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant of Yeshua the Messiah are necessary in order to heed Kefa’s main exhortation, namely, to become holy yourselves in your entire way of life.

17 Also, if you are addressing as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s actions, you should live out your temporary stay on earth in fear.18 You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold;

The worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you. This is neither pagan idolatry nor the Mosaic Law as set forth in the Tanakh, but the perversion of the Torah into an oppressive, legalistic way of life which your fathers, the Jewish establishment passed on to you Jews who have come to believe in Yeshua the Messiah. This interpretation assumes that Kefa is addressing Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles identifying with them, rather than Gentiles retaining a pagan mindset, whose former worthless way of life would have consisted of idol-worship and gross immorality.

Kefa is repeating what he said to the legalizers at the Jerusalem Conference, Why are you putting God to the test now by placing a yoke on the neck of the talmidim which neither our fathers nor we have had the strength to bear? (see Ac 15:10).

19 on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot.

A lamb without defect or spot. Starting with the lamb offered by each family at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 12:5), all sacrifices had to be without blemish. Yochanan the Immerser calls Yeshua“God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Yeshua was a lamb offered as a sin offering to atone for our sins according to the Torah (Ro 3:25–26, 8:3–4); He was also the final Pesach lamb. In the past He died; in the present, we share His life; and, in the future, He will return as “the slaughtered Lamb” (see Rev 5:6; Isaiah 53:7, and Acts 8:32) who, because He was without, is worthy to open the scroll with seven seals and to rule the Kingdom of God as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (Rev 5:5). In Him the Lamb and the Lion “lie down together” (Isaiah 11:6–7) by virtue of being one and the same person, Yeshua the Messiah.

20 God knew him before the founding of the universe but revealed him in the acharit-hayamim for your sakes.

God knew him, Yeshua the Messiah, before the founding of the universe. This corresponds to the Jewish teaching that God created the Messiah before He created the world.

But revealed him in the acharit-hayamim (“the end of days”) for your sakes, as Sha’ul said at Eph 1:8–10, 3:3–11.

21 Through him you trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory; so that your trust and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love each other deeply, with all your heart. 23 You have been born again not from some seed that will decay, but from one that cannot decay, through the living Word of God that lasts forever. 24 For

all humanity is like grass,

all its glory is like a wildflower—

the grass withers and the flower falls off;

25 but the Word of Adonai lasts forever.

Moreover, this Word is the Good News which has been proclaimed to you.~ 1 Kefa 1:13-25 (CJB)

We will learn about The Living Stone and a Holy People in 2 Kefa 2:1-10 in my next post.

Click here for the PDF version.

 

Kefa Learns About the Destruction of the Temple

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Discovering Your MinistryLeave a comment

In my last post, Kefa learned the Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree. We continue in our chronological journey of Kefa in this post, Kefa Learns About the Destruction of the Temple.

This lesson taken from Mark was taught on Tuesday afternoon of Passion week as Yeshua and His talmidim were leaving Yerushalayim.

Mark may have risked severe trouble with the Roman authorities for writing this chapter. Jewish underground tracts about the time of the end usually included Isra’el’s exaltation, and Rome distrusted any threat to its power. Prophecies favoring Rome’s greatness were welcome, but not those implying its demise. But this chapter before Yeshua’s arrest climaxes Yeshua’s warnings to His talmidim. [1]

1 As Yeshua came out of the Temple, one of the talmidim said to Him, “Look, Rabbi! What huge stones! What magnificent buildings!”

The First Temple, built by King Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, was a building of great magnificence. The Second Temple, built under Z‘rubavel in 516 BCE, could not compare with it. King Herod, the Great, to ingratiate himself with the Jewish people, undertook its renovation and expansion. According to Yochanan 2:20, it took forty-six years, but it was successful, and the remodeled Second Temple dominated all Yerushalayim.

The Temple complex consisted of many buildings and was perhaps the most massive, most magnificent structure in the ancient world; it was twice the size of Solomon’s Temple. Construction had begun before Yeshua’s birth and was still continuing at this time.

Although unnamed, based upon what we have learned so far in our study in this series, the talmid that said, “Look, Rabbi! What huge stones! What magnificent buildings!” was in all likelihood Kefa.

2 “You see all these great buildings?” Yeshua said to him, “They will be totally destroyed – not a single stone will be left standing!”

This prophecy was fulfilled literally in 70 CE when Rome overwhelmed the First Jewish Rebellion by capturing Yerushalayim and sacking the Temple. Excavations made after the Six-Day War revealed enormous stones from the Western Wall of the Temple Court (of which the still-standing “Wailing Wall” is part) lying helter-skelter, not one left on another.

3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple, Kefa, Ya’akov, Yochanan, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what sign will show when all these things are about to be accomplished?” ~ Mark 13:1-4 (CJB)

The Mount of Olives rose 300 feet above Yerushalayim, across the Kidron Valley. It provided a panoramic view of the temple complex and Yerushalayim. As Yeshua and his talmidim sat on the Mount of Olives, they asked him when these events would happen and about the sign of their accomplishment. They connected the events with the end of the age and the beginning of the Messianic kingdom (see Matt. 24:3).

Since we are only focusing on Kefa in this series, I am not going to address Yeshua’s complete response.

In my next post, Kefa is instructed to Make Preparations for the Pesach.

Click here for the PDF version.

[1] Bible Background Commentary – New Testament.

Racism In America

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Discovering Your Ministry1 Comment

Alex has stated my take on the issue of Racism in America very well.

Spiritual Minefield

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This was originally a response to a comment about racism in America, but since it got too long and plus I added a testimony, I decided to make it into a post. I care for this brother in Christ and will keep his name from being mentioned. He is a faithful believer and preaches the truth.

[My brother in Christ’s comment] “The Democrats stand for some things that I agree with, and they support some things that I have an issue with. The Republicans stand for things I agree with, and they promote some things that I have an issue with.”

All Democrats, are in support of murdering babies and for homosexuality. They pretend to care for Spanish and black people. All they want is our vote. There is zero good in a Democrat. They are godless and if they claim to believe in God, then they are deceiving themselves…

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Have We Overlooked the Deadliest Virus?

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Discovering Your Ministry1 Comment

A great post on the deadliest virus…

Looking for the Blessed Hope

Image result for sin is diease

After a week of hype and hysteria, I want to deliver breaking news: another virus with far greater deadliness than coronavirus is sweeping the globe. In fact, every person on the planet is infected.

While the world freaks out over the coronavirus, with a death rate of less than 5%, a virus that is 100% deadly is given little to no thought.

That virus is sin and the cure is Jesus Christ.

Stick with me here! The Bible says:

  • There is none righteous, not even one. (Romans 3:10)
  • For allhave sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
  • For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
  • Therefore, just as throughone man [Adam] sin entered into the world, anddeath through sin, andso death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

In short, we all sin. You sin…

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I Am Jesus

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Discovering Your MinistryLeave a comment

I just have to share this thought-provoking post from David Peever. Are you just like Yeshua??

live4him.ca

If there ever was a line that should not be crossed I think it is one I just crossed. Proclaiming that I am Jesus invites everything from mocking and laughter to concern and planned intervention. Before I am made fun of and publicly ridiculed, before I am hurried off to the closest psych ward and sedated, I must warn you, not only am I Jesus but you are too!


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Prayers for Donald Norris

On By Wally FryIn Discovering Your Ministry9 Comments

Reblogging this here at Don’s place for his friends who might not have seen it at mine

Truth in Palmyra

Hey blogging friends, I don’t know who out there are friends with Donald Norris at My Heart Is For Israel, but I have a brief update for you if you are. As you may know, he recently had some back surgery; well, he now has a staph infection at the surgery site and is in the hospital since Sunday. Except for a few minutes the last two days, he has been in the bed.

Right now he is scheduled to have an additional surgery to clean out the infection in his back; that  will be at 200 pm Pacific time tomorrow.

He also may have to go to a rehab center when they release him if he cannot walk by then. He says he will catch up on reading as soon as he feels able. In the meantime, prayers would certainly be in order.

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Yeshua: His Better Covenant ~ Part 4

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Discovering Your MinistryLeave a comment

Messianic Jews 9:11-14
Letter to the Messianic Jews

In my last post, we concluded our exploration of Messianic Jews 9:1-10 the Temporary Levitical Sacrifices. In this post, we examine Messianic Jews 9:11-14 concerning The Eternal Heavenly Sacrifice of Yeshua.

The Eternal Heavenly Sacrifice of Yeshua

“11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all. And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!”  ~ Hebrews 9:11-14 (CJB)

Barclay has this to say about this passage of Messianic Jews:

We must remember three things which are basic to the thought of the author to the Hebrews.

  1. Religion is access to God. Its function is to bring a man into God’s presence.
  2. This is a world of pale shadows and imperfect copies; beyond is the world of realities. The function of all worship is to bring men into contact with the eternal realities. That was what the worship of the Tabernacle was meant to do, but the earthly Tabernacle and its worship are pale copies of the real Tabernacle and its worship, and only the real Tabernacle and the real worship can give access to reality.
  3. There can be no religion without sacrifice. Purity is a costly thing; access to God demands purity; somehow man’s sin must be atoned for and his uncleanness cleansed. With these ideas in his mind, the author to the Hebrews goes on to show that Yeshua is the only High Priest who brings a sacrifice that can open the way to God and that that sacrifice is himself.

I confess that I get goose-bumps when I read this passage. The enormity of its implications is almost beyond my ability to grasp.

Having described the Mosaic Covenant’s system of cohenhood and sacrifice, the author now addresses his readers’ preoccupation with it by showing several ways in which the New Covenant’s system and its cohen/mediator are better:

  1. With Yeshua arrive the good things that are happening already. The entire discussion that follows, through 10:18, demonstrates that these things are better than what came with the Mosaic Covenant’s system of cohenhood and sacrifices.
  2. Yeshua serves in a better Tent. It is greater, more perfect, and not manmade (that is, it is not of this created world). Moreover, it is not merely a copy of the actual Tent, but the heavenly original.
  3. Yeshua, unlike the Mosaic cohen hagadol, has entered into the Holiest Place once and for all. His single, unique and eternally effective sacrifice and entry into the Holiest Place is discussed further at 9:25-28, 10:10-18.
  4. Yeshua’s means of entry into the Holy Place was better:
      • His own blood, not the blood of goats, calves, and bulls and the ashes of a heifer. The blood of any other human being would not only have been an abomination itself but would have accomplished nothing useful for others. But because Yeshua was sinless, He was a sacrifice without blemish, and God accepted His shed blood (see 7:26-28).
      • His sacrifice was through the eternal Spirit authorized by God.
      • His death was necessary to set people free from the transgressions they have committed under the first covenant. The ineffectiveness of animal sacrifices in comparison with Yeshua’s sacrifice is taken up again at 10:1-4.
  5. What Yeshua’s death accomplished is better than what the death of animals accomplishes: setting people free forever and purifying our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God, versus not having our conscience brought to the goal and instead merely restoring outward purity. Restores their outward purity means that they may enter the Temple as ceremonially clean.

According to Numbers 19, anyone defiled by contact with or proximity to a corpse was ritually cleansed by sprinkling him with water containing the ashes of a heifer.

Verse 14 offers us a further glimpse of the Trinity: the Messiah, the eternal Spirit and God (likewise 10:29).

The ancient sacrifices may have cleansed us from ceremonial uncleanness; the sacrifice of Yeshua cleanses our soul. Our body might be clean ceremonially, and yet our heart is full of deceit. We might feel able to enter the Tabernacle and yet far away from the presence of God. The sacrifice of Yeshua takes a load of guilt from our conscience. The animal sacrifices of the Mosaic Covenant might well leave us in estrangement from God; the sacrifice of Yeshua shows us a God whose arms are always outstretched and in whose heart is only love.

As Believer’s in Yeshua, we have been redeemed by and washed clean by His blood.

In my next post, we’ll continue our mini-series on Yeshua: His Better Covenant which will cover Messianic Jews 9:15-22 ~ The New Covenant Validated by the Death of Yeshua.

Click here for PDF version.