"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Messiah, let us press on
to maturity. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you
have shown toward His name." (Hebrews 6:1,10)
I have been enjoying teaching and preaching through Hebrews, written to Messianic Jews.
The writer is speaking to a group of believers who have already heard the basics of
faith in Yeshua, and are now in need of pressing on to maturity. The dichotomy here
is that in every group of believers there is a mixture of those who are young and old
(or older) in the faith. Some are ready to progress to solid food while others are
still in need of milk (Hebrews 5). The beauty of God's Word is that it
applies to all people, at all times, no matter where you are at spiritually. Have you
ever listened to a sermon and thought it was spoken directly to you, only later to find
out others had thought the same thing? That's because God's Word is "living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword," and it accomplishes God's desires without returning
empty. I love that. God speaks, and multitudes can hear the message in a way that is
personal and directly related to their needs. How does He do that? God is omniscient,
omnipotent and omnipresent. It's easy for Him because that is His nature.
The writer of Hebrews encourages these Messianic Jews in their work and love for God.
In other words, they were busy about their Father's business putting their faith to
work as an expression of their love for Him. They served and continued to serve.
This is a description of a healthy congregation: people serving each another; meeting
felt needs; laying down their lives for one another. This is a description of Beit
Tikvah, our House of Hope here in Newcastle. May the Lord be pleased as we learn what
it means to press on to maturity.
We have been in our new facility for fourteen months. My how time flies. We have a
new roof on our sanctuary, a new furnace in the Fellowship Building, doors that close
and lock by themselves, security lighting in place, and finally hot water in the
sanctuary restrooms. The new roof on the Fellowship Building is scheduled to begin
September 3rd, and many other projects continue as the Lord provides the funds. You
may recall that we started a 12-month Facility Capital Campaign this past June to
raise the money for some necessary repair and upkeep. We want our property to reflect
the glory of God. As He is a God of order and not confusion, so must our place of
worship be. I want to personally thank all those who have pledged a monthly amount
toward our goal of $45,500. God will not forget your work and the love which you have
shown toward His name.
A few weeks ago someone donated a brand new riding mower to our congregation. Every
time they saw our grassy fields they were impressed with the thought of helping somehow.
After their third or fourth "impression", they believed it was the prompting of the Holy
Spirit and proceeded to call me with the good news. I was humbled and overjoyed as
once again God had provided for a very specific need through His people. There is
some reward on earth as they can see the clean cut fields, but their real reward is
in heaven because they gave as unto God. "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as
for the Lord."
(Colossians 3:23)
Rita and I were in Pennsylvania when we got the call from Sue Braunstein, our bookkeeper.
"Someone vandalized our congregation," she said. "They wrote, 'We're back to get ya' on
the glass doors of our sanctuary. And on either side was a swastika." I was very
concerned but not surprised. Anti-Semitism is increasing at an alarming rate throughout
the world. In France alone, there has been over 400 separate incidences since the
beginning of the year. Jews living in Europe say it is just like the days preceding
World War Two. Anti-Israel rallies are drawing strange bedfellows: neo-Nazis, communists
and pro-Palestinians. What do these groups have in common? Their hatred of Jews.
There may be a political discussion of a two-state model in Israel, but Palestinian
children are taught that the land belongs to them. In their textbooks, Israel does
not exist. May the Prince of Peace come quickly.
I've told our people if they join with the Jewish people in worshipping the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, they may be viewed as one with them. If they are grafted
into the olive tree of Romans 11, wear a star of David around their
neck, have a "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" bumper sticker on their car, a
mezzuzah on their front door, and worship at Beit Tikvah, they need to be ready
for persecution. I believe the Messianic congregation is one of the clearest
examples of the "one new man" introduced by rabbi Shaul in Ephesians 2.
Yet as we worship together, we may be persecuted together. Are you ready?
It is an honor to shepherd this wonderful congregation. May our teaching be true,
our worship full, and may God get the glory. Come and see what the Lord is doing
at Beit Tikvah Messianic Congregation. You may like what you see.
Sincerely, and
In the mighty name of Yeshua,
Hylan Slobodkin
Messianic Rabbi
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