MY PEACE I GIVE YOU

February 16, 2007

One of the things that Yeshua prophesied regarding the latter days was that there would be wars, and rumors of war: "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6). In the last few years there have certainly been plenty of rumors vis-à-vis wars, and as to the 'making of wars', that seems to be endless. However, in the midst of all these end time happenings, Yeshua says to us, his disciples, not to fear or be troubled by these things for they must come, and moreover, notice what he adds here: "the end is not yet". So why are we concerning ourselves over these issues? Is it a tactic of the enemy to rob us of Yeshua's peace? Are we unwittingly replacing faith with the spirit of unbelief?

We read that "Elohim has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Our Master compassionately says: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Paul adds to this by exhorting us to
"let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

If we have received the "Spirit of Holiness" we have also received His kingdom rule, thus His righteousness, peace and joy should be our continual reality. If that is not the case, then we are being robbed of our spiritual inheritance in Messiah. Is there something we must do in order to maintain these wonderful promises that have been freely given to us in Messiah Yeshua? Paul answers this in his letter to the believers in Corinth: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Yesterday a friend shared a very interesting concept; what we believe can many times be easily offset, or even exchanged, but what we hold as a conviction we will defend to the end. Once we know that we know that something is true, it gets fixed in our hearts and becomes our very reality, it is our life. Thusly, knowing the Word of Elohim and believing that it is true is not enough. This belief must be accompanied by revelation understanding by the Spirit, so that it becomes our conviction and life in us. For if the "Word" becomes our life we are no longer just hearers of the "word", but also doers.

No doubt these are troublesome times, whether we are personally affected, or whether it is a reality for our nation. Yet we can take confidence in our Elohim, for He will never leave us nor forsake us (ref Hebrews 13:5). "For YHVH your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them" (Deuteronomy 4:31). "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). In other words, His peace will not fail us when we abide in Him, as we trust in His faithfulness to keep covenant and are confident of His sovereignty.

Yesterday, during our prayer time with our believing neighbors, we were encouraging one another in regards to the sovereignty of Elohim. I happened to open my bible and saw the following verse: "Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor" (1 Kings 22:34). When the Almighty decrees something He will accomplish it, no matter what we try to do to prevent or change it. The word that stuck out in that little sentence was "random". The bow-man did not specifically aim, he just shot and the arrow happened to find the most vulnerable spot in the armor of the king of Israel, in spite of the king's masquerading attempt. Yes, there may be wars and rumors of wars but we need not lose our peace and give in to the enemy's fear tactics. Instead we are to have unshakeable confidence in YHVH. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of Elohim, you may receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Some have asked me if I have an archive of these Friday letters. Since I do not have an accessible one, I decided to post them on a blog site: http://israeliteletters.blogspot.com/

I started these Friday letters back in August of 1998, so it will take me a while to get them all into this blog. But you are welcome to read what appears there. Freely Abba has given, and freely it is made available to those who are interested.

Ephraim

THE TWO HOUSES IN THE LATTER DAYS

from http://www.1st-born.com/article_two_houses.php

According to Scripture, the “Two Houses of Israel” are two separate and distinct entities. Each of them has its own specific prophetic destiny. But even though two, they are still bound to the calling which they have inherited from their forefather Jacob - that is, to be one chosen nation of kings and priests. However, in the course of their history YHVH divided the nation into two nation/kingdoms for His purposes and plans that are directly related to the covenant that He swore to Abraham. Thus, it is very important to understand the first-born concept and its centrality in YHVH’s plan of redemption, and its connection to the Two Houses of Israel. Grasping the firstborn principle is paramount to the understanding of the latter day events recorded in the Tanach.

Isaiah 8:14 presents the ‘Two House truth’: “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to BOTH the houses of Israel”. As long as these two continue to stumble and take offense over the One who is their Rock they will remain two distinct entities.
Many like to define the two groups as ‘Christians’ (Israel/Ephraim), and ‘Jews’ (Judah), as if they are made up of two religious sects. In spite of that we must realize that all tribes are represented in both houses, and that together they constitute multitudes of peoples, which make up many ethnic groups. But for our purpose here, let us relate to them as nations. We have, then, the nation of Judah/Israel today, being made up mostly of Jews from Judah. On the other hand, because YHVH is true to His word, there is also the other house (Joseph/Ephraim), which YHVH has sown or mixed into many peoples in literally all nations: "Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples” (Hos. 2:8), being the “fullness of the nations” (Genesis 48:19), even though most of them are unaware of their identity. The influence of the multitudes of Ephraim, on some of these nations, brought about blessings of multiplicity, military prowess and economic wealth (see Genesis 49:22-26). In the blessing to Joseph, through his son Menasseh, Jacob pronounced that they would become a great people. However, as a great people the descendants of the northern kingdom would not be able to connect their greatness to the fulfillment of the prophecies, as YHVH was going to blind them and cause them to forget their identity (which is indicated by the meaning of the very name “Menasseh”).

Judah never lost its identityOne of the keys to understanding the end time scriptures is to watch for Judah’s lead. The Jews have never lost their identity, but have been preserved by the Almighty: “Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, I will save them by YHVH their Elohim, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen." (Hosea 1:7) And: “He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts [or rejected ones] of Israel [Joseph/Ephraim], and gather together the dispersed [but preserved and recognizable] of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12)

In Ezekiel 37 we see that Judah’s stick (nation) is gathered first (and indeed it was restored in 1948) and is also being ‘written upon’. (v. 16) Then, during the times of the “latter rain”, Judah is called as a nation to be “a mighty war horse in battle.” (Zechariah 10:1,3) In the course of those days Jerusalem is restored to Judah (which was fulfilled in 1967), who is called to prepare for war against its surrounding nations (see Joel 3:1-2,11). In these self-same days the stick of Joseph/Ephraim is also to be gathered and to be ‘written upon’. (Ezekiel 37:16) Sometime later the two are to join together in the war with the surrounding nations (ref. Isaiah 11:13-15, Zechariah 9:13). These are but a few of the scriptural descriptions and references that have been and are yet to be fulfilled, in what are called the ‘latter days’. [Hebrew word for ‘latter days’ is ‘acherith’, which means latter days or has been translated as ‘hindermost’ by some expositors.]

Our day and age
The nations surrounding Judah and Jerusalem are hostile and belligerent at present. Their hostility extends not only toward Judah/Israel but also toward some of the peoples of Joseph’s progeny who are supportive of the Jews, and who are aligned with them economically and militarily (such as the United States and the British Commonwealth of Nations). With impending war and other potentially catastrophic world events, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the prophetic perspective. When we know that all of this has been predicted beforehand, and that in YHVH’s strategy it is as good as having taken place already, we can rejoice, for our full redemption is drawing closer.

According to the prophets of old, these days are marked by wars and great turmoil. Yeshua’s words about these days also reiterate the same thoughts: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars’.” (Matthew 24:4-6) Most of us don’t have any problems relating today’s world situations to what Yeshua or the prophets said on the topic. YHVH has given us the scriptures, His Spirit and this wonderful world of communication as a tool to reveal to us the truths of His Word.

So why are the kingdoms of this world being shaken? Is it because YHVH so hates the world that He is bent on destroying it? That is far from being His motivation. YHVH’s true motive is always based on His nature, which is, of course, unconditional love, righteousness and faithfulness. All that YHVH does revolves around possessing His inheritance, and establishing His kingdom here on earth. “YHVH’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” (Deut. 32:9) YHVH sent His Son (Yeshua) to restore the House of Jacob (both houses) and set up His everlasting kingdom in and through them (Luke 1:31-33).
What then are these ‘heavy-duty’ judgments all about? Could He be acting now in the same manner that He did in the days when His people, our forefathers, dwelt in Egypt? At that time too YHVH wasn’t just being vindictive when He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. He was not looking for a pretext in order to harm the land and people of Egypt. Neither was He trying to convince them that they had to repent from their ways and turn to Him (at least not directly). He was motivated by faithfulness to His word and compassion toward His people. He wanted to establish them and His kingdom according to His pre-ordained plan, so that Egypt and the rest of the nations would know that He was the Elohim of His people Israel. He never once called Himself the God of Egypt, or the God of Amalek, but He did say repeatedly that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

YHVH says about Himself that He changes not. He is the God of Israel (both houses) and we still belong to Him, just as did our forefathers. We, who have come into the revelation understanding of our true identity, must face up to our history as His covenant people and to our relationship with Him, especially now that He has raised us from the dead spiritually and restored our lost national (natural) identity through the new covenant. One scripture that we have quoted over the years, along with other Two House teachers, is Acts 3:19-21:
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which Elohim has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

The position of the firstborn
Although we had been focusing mainly on the restoration of our natural identity, as well as on what it means to be an Israelite and a firstborn in humanity, and how that bears upon the restoration of YHVH’s kingdom to Israel, there is yet another very important ‘ingredient’ that the redeemed Israelites must consider. This ingredient is perhaps the major theme of the writings of the New Covenant books. It may be defined as, ‘who we are as the first fruit of a new creation order’. James wrote: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” (James 1:18) Paul also says that “if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (Colossians 5:17) Presumably, if that is the case, who needs the ‘old’ and ‘natural’ Israelite, since now we are all ‘new’ and ‘spiritual’ Israelites? Well, let’s not jump to conclusions too soon. The Greek mindset would definitely analyze it from that perspective, but the Hebraic point of view is able to integrate these concepts (otherwise there would be no male or female either).

The Hebrew word for firstborn, in Exodus 13:12, is “peh’ter”, meaning to separate, or first to open. Breaking forth and opening up the way was the responsibility and calling of a firstborn. Thus Yeshua was the first to break forth into the new creation life and existence (spiritually speaking). His birth into this new life was a guarantee that the rest of His brethren would soon follow until “all of Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26) And thus, once the Father brings forth His first fruit company (Israel) of the ‘Adamic’ family, the rest of their brethren in the family of man will follow.

What manner of people ought we to be?However, the question remains: having our restored identity now, what kind of people aught we to be in these days “in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of YHVH, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat”? (2 Peter 3:10-12) In the midst of this very forceful message, Peter challenges and importunes the believer with the question: “What manner of persons ought we to be?”Those who have come into the revelation knowledge of their true heritage and ancestry, and have had their eyes open to the mysteries which have been hidden throughout the ages, must face this question. Paul, writing to the Laodicean congregation, addressed this mystery: “Messiah in you the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 emphasis added) It is the one “mystery” that, according to his own admittance, he had struggled with greatly in conflicts and sufferings, to bring to the nations. His true motive was to proclaim Messiah Yeshua, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that he might present the believers prefect in Him (ref. Colossians 2:24-28). Since this is the case, then “what manner of persons aught we to be?”
The Apostle answered the question as he labored, striving in accord with the Spirit of Holiness that was mightily at work in him (ref. Colossians 1:29). He wanted the believers to know how great a conflict he had for them over this issue, especially for those in Laodicea (mentioned also in Revelation 3:14 and generally compared to the believers of today, especially in the ‘first world’ nations). His burden was to see love, that is, Messiah manifest in the life and relationships of the believing community. He also wanted them to understand the riches of the fullness of these mysteries that are at work in them: the mystery of Elohim, the mystery of the Father and the mystery of “Messiah in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-3).

The Apostle did not want these believers to be “deceived by persuasive words of man’s philosophies,” but to remain steadfast in their faith in Messiah Yeshua, and to allow Him to be master of their lives, walking in Him and “being rooted and built up in Him and abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:4,6-7) Try to imagine having today apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers with this same incredible motivation and burden for the flock of YHVH!!!
The manifestation of His life in and through a chosen and called-out people was YHVH’s plan from the beginning, as recorded in the Tanach (Old Testament). This people had its natural beginning through four mothers, three of whom (Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel) were barren with dead and unproductive wombs, but with YHVH’s intervention they brought forth the life of our forefathers (Isaac and Jacob). Paul writes about this phenomenon in his letter to the believers in Rome. “As it is written, ‘I have made you [Abraham] a father of many nations’, in the presence of Him whom he believed -- God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did [i.e. the nation that would be birthed in a dead womb], who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your seed [Isaac] be.’ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb” (Rom. 4:17-19).

Even though they had this incredible and miraculous beginning, as the called, chosen and elect of the covenant-keeping God of Abraham, the nature of sin was still active in them. The progeny was true to its ‘Adamic’ character and engaged in idolatry, adultery and rebellion, and as a result would need to be redeemed from that condition.

Ephraim the ‘new man’
Having had this miraculous beginning, but a tainted nature, Ephraim (of the two parts that make up the progeny), has had the following endearing words said of him: “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says YHVH. Set up signposts; make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:20-21)

Speaking to the Ephraimites, YHVH addresses them as, “My dear son”, and almost in the same breath as a “virgin”. In one case male imagery is used, and in the other feminine gender. Intriguingly, through Hosea (1:2) YHVH calls these same people a “harlot”. How is this possible? A virgin is one who had never had intercourse, whereas for a harlot it is a way of life. So what has happened to Israel that YHVH would look upon her so differently? In that same chapter of Jeremiah a new covenant is made with Israel/Ephraim and Judah. This covenant was activated by Yeshua’s blood, when He gave himself to the will of His Father and poured out His life. It is through this covenant that YHVH removes the life of the sinner and does away with it. However, within this same covenant the provision is also made for man to have a new spirit life, a ‘new creation’ nature. This new life is the life of YHVH’s risen Son, who is the image and likeness of His Father (see Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 1:3). As mentioned above, the twelve tribes of Israel are to be the first fruit, or the first expression of this new life.

Paul knew this when he went out to preach this good news to the “lost sheep of the House of Israel” scattered amongst the nations. In this generation we are the remnant who have received mercy and have been born again into this living hope, “Messiah in you the hope of glory.” We hear a lot about the “one new man”, but mainly in the context of an answer to the question of ‘who is a gentile, and who is a Jew’, while the Apostle’s perspective and objective was not who the one new man was made up of (ethnically or in gender). Rather, Paul emphasized and depicted the nature and character of this “one new man”, describing him as a holy temple in which the Spirit of YHVH was (and is) resident (ref. Ephesians 2:21-22).

“Therefore, what manner of new creation persons aught we to be, as the elect of God, holy and beloved?” We are to be an expression of “tender mercies, kindness, humility, and meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, and if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Messiah forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to YHVH. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Yeshua our master, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:12-17) This is not what we will become. This is who we are already through faith, “for He [Yeshua] is our life.” (Col 3:4)

EXPOSING THE GREEK BEAST

November 17, 2006

As mentioned in the last two letters we, as the redeemed remnant of the Houses of Israel and Judah, are destined, according to the prophets, to become a united and mighty weapon in the hand of YHVH. The spiritual battle that we face is not a new one; it goes back to the time when Adam and Eve partook of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. From that point in time man became the epitome of a nature that he had not been created for. He was therefore sent out from Elohim’s presence (kingdom) and thrust into a spiritual desert, there to begin to participate in building another kingdom. This kingdom of darkness is characterized by the nature of “Sin”, which is the very opposite of YHVH’s and His kingdom of righteousness. Satan, or Lucifer, was the designated prince of this realm (ref John 12:21; Ephesians 2:2). Interestingly, he is not called “king”, as YHVH is sovereign over every aspect of His creation, including the realm of spiritual darkness.

“ I am YHVH, and there is none else, there is no Elohim beside me: I am YHVH, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I YHVH do all these things” (Isaiah 45:5-7).

When man began to partake of this nature, through the knowledge of good and evil, he became a slave to the power of Sin, establishing Sin’s kingdom here on earth. In the book of Daniel there is a description of four beasts that are symbolic of this spiritual force, as it manifests itself through humanity.

The first expression of Sin, as recorded in Scripture, was through a serpent (Gen 3:1). Later, when Cain became angry with his brother Abel, it says that Sin was crouching at his (Cain’s) door. The word for crouching - “ravats” - is what a cat or other animals of prey do while waiting to pounce on their victims. Perhaps this is why Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, which represent respective empires, was of animals with this particular characteristic. For example, the third beast, which represented Greece, was that of a leopard (with four heads and four wings). Interestingly, leopards are notorious for their ability to go undetected. They are graceful and stealthy and amongst the big cats the most accomplished stalkers. They also are mainly nocturnal and hunt from trees. They are very opportunistic hunters and they will eat just about anything. That is why, of all the big cats, they are the most wide spread in the world. As we progress at looking at the Greek beast and its influences, keep in mind the characteristics of this animal.

Before mentioning the leopard, Daniel describes two other animals (empires); the lion which symbolized Babylon (ref. Daniel 7:4), and the bear - the Mede-Persian empire (ref Daniel 7:5). There was one more that came after the leopard, a fourth beast that is only described as having iron teeth and 10 horns (ref Daniel 7:7). However, I believe that this was the same one that John saw and described in the book of Revelation, as he was alive at the time of this fourth empire (ref Revelation 13:1-2). In next week’s letter we’ll begin to look at aspects of the manifested nature of Sin through humanity, that is, “fallen man”, comparing his image (ref Daniel 2:31) to the four animals.

I was sent the following, and thought to pass it on, as it may be a warning concerning the “Greek beast”.
Shabbat Shalom
Ephraim




HOW LONG DO WE HAVE?

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government." "A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury." "From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." "The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years." "During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence: 1. from bondage to spiritual faith; 2. from spiritual faith to great courage; 3. from courage to liberty; 4. from liberty to abundance; 5. from abundance to complacency; 6. from complacency to apathy; 7. from apathy to dependence; 8. From dependence back into bondage" Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election: Number of States won by: Gore: 19; Bush: 29 Square miles of land won by: Gore: 580,000; Bush: 2,427,000 Population of counties won by: Gore: 127 million; Bush: 143 million Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Gore: 13.2; Bush: 2.1 Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..." Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase. If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty-million criminal invaders called illegals and they vote, then we can say good-bye to the USA in fewer than five years. Pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

HEBRAIC VERSES GREEK

November 10, 2006

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). In last week’s letter I mentioned the war between the sons of Zion (Judah the bow and Ephraim the arrow) and the sons of Greece. (ref. Zechariah 9:13). The unity of these two are to be a mighty sword in the hand of YHVH. Are we now in the day in which YHVH is smelting His sword for an up coming battle?

Interestingly, in a few weeks time we will be celebrating Hanukkah. For those of you who do not know about this particular eight-day feast, it commemorates the victory of Judah the Maccabee and his brothers, in 168 BC, over the Syro-Greek king, who outlawed all Biblical observances. This victory was marked by the cleansing the Temple and re-instating its services, as well as by partly divesting the Jewish society of the Hellenistic influences. This obviously was not the fulfillment of Zechariah 9, as at the time of the revolt it was mainly the Levites of Judah who stood up for the Torah and the Hebraic culture. Much of the Jewry of the day succumbed to the strong influences of that “beast” (the leopard with the four heads, ref Daniel 7:6). Judah may have been a strong bow at that time, but without the arrows of Ephraim they remained ineffective in defeating this powerful influence. As a matter of fact, ultimately even the Priests and Levites compromised with the Hellenistic spirit.

We again see the same beast show up in the Book of Revelation, as the main body of the seven-headed beast of the latter days. “Now the beast, which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2).

Much has been written about these beasts, which are simply manifestations of Satan’s kingdom, through the cooperation of man in his fallen condition. The beastly or fleshly nature of man expresses itself by the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Man’s nature and way of thinking is formed by spiritual influences, both internal and external, of this kingdom of darkness. However, the Father, by sending His only begotten Son, Yeshua the Messiah, has changed the dynamics of this spiritual condition, specifically in redeemed man. We are therefore told now to renew our minds: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim” (Romans 12:2).

We are to have the mind of the Messiah, whose thoughts are not the same as those of the world. We are to think according to the Word and nature of Elohim. That is why the Scriptures exhort us to “cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah” (2 Corinthians 10: 5).

In contrast to the Hellenistic thinking of fallen man, another word has been coined for the mind of Messiah, and that is the “Hebraic mind-set”. I have just come across a list (posted below), in which the Greek-Hellenistic mind is being compared with the Hebraic one. (No name of author or ministry, or rights reserved, were printed on the sheet).
I will write more on this subject next week, YHVH willing.

Ephraim

The following is from an unknown author.
HEBRAIC GREEK
Active-appeals to the heart Cognitive-appeals to the intellect

Motive Motive
Love of God and others. Pursuit of self-interest and knowledge.
Life viewed as a pilgrimage leading Life viewed in circular terms, to someday
to ultimate culmination. achieve a higher state of existence.
Suffering seen as necessary for Suffering to be avoided; people and
development of Christ’s character. Activities weighted for self-gratification:
“How does this person/event benefit me?”

Process Oriented Program Oriented
Stresses direct participation. Heavy program prominence
Emphasizes age and wisdom Emphasizes education
Role modeling, mentoring Relies on speaking skills,
and discipleship indispensable oratory, programmed materials
information conveyance.
Character of leader essential Leader’s personal life immaterial
Personal relationships imperative Personal relationships optional

Biblical Application Biblical Application
Doers of the Word Belief without personal cost
Bible-reality that must be confronted Bible-data that must be taught
Goal-to develop into image of Messiah Focus on rules-do’s and don’ts
Become one expression of the body of Messiah Emphasizes distinct denominations

Ministry Activity Ministry Activity
Small intimate groups Large impersonal groups
Leader as facilitator Leader-directed and controlled
Cooperative, participatory planning Organizational roles important
Spiritual gifts shared Acquisition of knowledge emphasized
Scheduled and personal unscheduled gatherings Reliance on scheduled gatherings

Fruit Fruit
Love, acceptance, forgiveness Mutual toleration
Transparency encouraged Transparency discouraged
Active participation Passivity and lethargy
“How your serve” vital “What you know” vital
Each believer trained to serve Trained professionals utilized
Produces mature believers Produces spectators