Messianic Jew

Getting past regret in YOUR life – What the Bible Says – A Bible Study for You

Each Saturday, for many years, I’ve led men in a Bible study.

Some of you know my story, most of you don’t.

The thumbnail sketch is that I grew up as a non-practicing Jew. My life began unraveling when I was in college. I had seen some awful stuff involving the deaths of several people when I was a kid and it was eating me up.  I wanted to know if there was a God and if there was, how could I get to know him. I was scared to death of death. I tried to get advice from the campus Rabbi, but his sincere efforts to help did nothing to fill that deep void in my heart.

I wanted to know that God was for me and not against me.

Simultaneously I met a wonderful young woman who challenged me to read a book that I believed to be forbidden: The New Testament.

Upon reading it I became encouraged by the stories of regular semi-screwed up guys like me whose sins were forgiven by a man who claimed he was “the way, truth, and life.”

His name? Jesus (Hebrew, Yeshua).

I soon recognized that he was the promised Jewish Messiah. I surrendered my life to his Lordship and things have never been the same.

The study I have planned for my guys this Saturday is powerful. It has to do with something we all have wrestled with from time to time: regret.

Here’s the study. I hope you’ll be blessed.

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Saturday Men’s Bible Study, January 30, 2021

Dealing with Regret

It’s easy to fall into the tarpit of regret, both for the sinful choices we have made as well as foolish,
ill-advised choices. Today we’re discovering how God would have us handle regret.
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Regret from foolish choices
Such regret can be transformed into a learning moment. Take confidence in Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Regret from sinful choices
– This first shows up in Genesis 3:10 when Adam and Eve were busted for eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam told God, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
– King David is a severe example. His sin with Bathsheba resulted in the death of their son; his conspiracy to cover up the adultery caused the death of her faithful husband (2 Samuel 12). Later his sin of counting the people of Israel led to the death of 70,000 Israelite men (1 Chronicles 21, 2 Samuel 24). In each case David’s remorse was great and his repentance sincere.
– Later we see it in Peter who said to Jesus, “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (John 13:37-38). Then during Jesus mock trial Peter denied know Jesus three times: Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So, Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:60-62).


THE GOOD NEWS: our regret was dealt with at the cross.
– In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and  prudence (Ephesians 1:7-8).
– 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 (Acts 3:19).
– There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2).
– …according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7).
– For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).

Forget Regret and Move Forward
– Regarding his past, Paul says, “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
– Paul also tells us: For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Questions:
– Have you ever made the wrong decision with the right intentions? What did you learn from it?
– Has regret ever motivated you to do the right thing?
– Why is groveling in your regret harmful?
– Next time you are faced with regret, how will you handle it?

 

Waiting and Wondering What’s Next

This post was originally published on my Facebook page. An expanded version of this message is available via audio format at Hidden Headlines Podcast, #54 

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!  –Psalm 27:14

Psalm 27, written by ancient Israel’s King David, is one of great encouragement, particularly for those finding themselves in a time of trial. At this juncture in my life’s journey it’s a divine message that strikes a chord.

As some of you are aware, God has allowed me to be inflicted by an infirmity that at times has the ability to negatively impact my cognitive wellbeing.  As such I could not, with confidence, conduct a live radio talk show.  Other aspects of my life are also at times compromised by this disorder (such as my ability to drive—a real bummer because I own a car that is, shall we say, exhilarating).

Fortunately, there are tried and true medicines that should eventually bring my situation under control.  It’s also possible that (if the Lord allows) this condition will eventually depart for good.

Before I share my plans going forward, allow me to elaborate on Psalm 27, verse 14.

The original Hebrew word used in this passage for “wait” is qavah (pronounced kaw-vaw). It implies a type of waiting that includes tension, patience, and endurance. In other words, this type of waiting is not passive, it’s expectant.

“Courage” is chazaq (pronounced kaw-zahk). It means to be strong. In this context it seems David is telling us to be especially determined during our time of expectant waiting.

This verse also uses the Hebrew word amets (pronounced aw-mets) which means stout, strong, bold, and alert. In this case it’s translated “strengthen.”

The Hebrew word for “heart” is leb. It refers to our inner human, that is our mind and will, the things that make us tick.

So, my personal interpretation of this text is:

Expectantly and with determination, wait for the Lord to provide remedy.  As you do, allow Him to enable you to confront the challenge that lays before you and He will in the process strengthen your mind, thus permitting you to gain clarity and see what He will/can/is able to do.

Oddly, it’s not medical challenges that have caused me to wait on the Lord.  The question laying before me is what to do with the gifts and talents He has blessed me with.  I no longer host a hugely popular radio program; it’s as if my worldly significance as a man has been lost. However, I’m reminded of another Biblical scripture which is pretty deep, but says this:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel (Colossians 1:21-23).

In more simpler terms, this passage declares that all of us are inherently opposed to the ways of God. However, God came to earth in that of the perfect human, Jesus the Messiah, to be sacrificed for our sins, thus reconciling us before our heavenly Father and, should we decide to place our faith in Him, give us eternal life.

That said, my significance is not based on the gifts and talents which made for a good radio show. Instead, my significance is based on what God did for me: He died for my miserable sins and has promised me life eternal. That’s beyond awesome!

So, at the advice of some trusted friends (and my always astonishing wife), I am waiting on the Lord.  They’ve all suggested I sit out from mass media for an entire year.  It will be a time for me to seek God’s will and hopefully realize how He would like to use the abilities He has graciously given me going forward.

It’s interesting to note that the Colossians passage I shared was written by the man often referred to as Saint Paul.  He was an ultra-orthodox Jew who formerly hunted down fellow Jewish men who followed Jesus, even putting some to death. After his shocking decision to become a follower of Jesus, Paul disappeared for well over a decade to wait on the Lord for direction. I’m sort of doing the same thing.

I have no idea what the future might look like. A blog? A podcast? A video-channel? A book? Live speaking? One-on-one communication? Or nothing of the sort? I have no clue, but I’m open to whatever God wants from me.

So, this is my last post perhaps for a long time.  Right now, I plan on returning for a follow up in three-months, just to inform those interested where I am in this pilgrimage and what God is revealing to me.  I have produced a brief podcast and video (available via my website) which also share this same message.

Thank you for your outpouring of support. I eagerly await what is to come.

May the God of all Creation richly bless you.

 

 

Popular Megachurch Pastor’s Alarming Theology

Andy Stanley leads a huge Christian church in Atlanta and, following in the footsteps of his father, Charles Stanley, has become a very popular author as well.  However, unlike his dad, Andy has put forth some controversial theological opinions that, I believe, rob Christians of their rich spiritual heritage, and perhaps much worse.

His theology could also enable one who’s faith is immature, or yet to be developed, to fall away from their relationship with Jesus.

Or, worse still, could foment anti-semitism.

No, I’m not doubting brother Andy’s salvation or walk with the Lord. In fact, I’ve utilized one of his books for the creation of an evangelical curriculum my wife and I periodically use for new/non believers (I added quite a bit of “Old Testament” to enrich the study).

Here’s the story: in a response to the growing opposition to Ten Commandment monuments in the United States, Andy Stanley told Relevant Magazine,  “[I]f we’re going to create a monument to stand as a testament to our faith, shouldn’t it at least be a monument of something that actually applies to us?”

“Participants in the new covenant (that’s Christians) are not required to obey any of the commandments found in the first part of their Bibles,” Stanley wrote. “Participants in the new covenant are expected to obey the single command Jesus issued as part of his new covenant: as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Stanley went on to argue that the single commandment, to love God and others, is “a replacement for everything in the existing list. Including the big ten.”

He then posed another question: “Dear Christian reader: Why? Why? Why would we even be tempted to reach back beyond the cross to borrow from a covenant that was temporary and inferior to the covenant established for us at Calvary?”

Stanley also claims that when Jesus became the living sacrifice, many old rules went away, the Ten Commandments included.

“The new covenant replaced the old one. The covenant established by Jesus retired the covenant God established with the nation of Israel. This is why most Christians don’t mind a little bacon with their eggs,” Stanley said.

What Stanley is describing is often called, “replacement theology.”  I believe such a take on God’s word is robbing innocent Christians of fully comprehending the magnificent character of God.  I also believe when Christian pastors avoid teaching from the “Old Testament” they are setting up new believers for potential failure.

Allow me to briefly explain.

When religious Jewish people come to acknowledge that Yeshua (Jesus) is Messiah, suddenly their eyes are opened to the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).

  • They see the very first promise of a Redeemer in Genesis 3:15 (“And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”).
  • They understand why God chose Abraham and Sarah to bring forth a nation that would ultimately bear the offspring first mentioned in Genesis 3.
  • By knowing the account of the first Passover, they have a deep comprehension of the need for a blood sacrifice to cover the sins of all who surrender to His plan.
  • Through the Ten Commandments (and the other 603 commands) they have gained a better glimpse of the totality of God’s character.
  • By having an understanding of the Jewish prophets, they grasp the need for the Messiah’s virgin birth, his ministry to the Jews, his sacrificial death, his ascension from the grave, and his second coming.
  • And for those Messianic Jews who do continue to keep or abide in various elements of the Jewish Law (clothing, diet, holidays, etc.), they do so with great gladness and joy because the full meaning of life and eternity has been revealed to them in that of Yeshua.

As a result of this abiding faith in the totality of the  scriptures, you don’t meet many Jews who come to follow Messiah, only to fall away.  Sadly, I’ve watched countless gentiles “accept Jesus as Lord,” and in time go back to their former ways as if nothing ever happened.

Perhaps if they had a regular diet of both the “Old” and “New” Testaments, their newfound faith would have stood the test of time?

Last year Stanley sparked controversy when he preached a sermon series calling on Christians to “unhitch” their faith from the Old Testament.  That’s what many refer to as  “replacement theology”—the idea that the Church has replaced biblical Israel and that God’s promises to Israel as a nation and the Jews as a people are essentially over.

Stanley said his words had been taken out of context.

However, after reading Stanley’s most recent book, Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World, Ryan Lambert, a Messianic Jewish teacher and outreach director for First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ) ministry based in Jerusalem and Atlanta, wrote, “My concerns that had been raised during Pastor Andy’s sermon series were not only confirmed but significantly increased.”

By avoiding the rich teachings found the “Old Testament,” I believe that Andy Stanley (and perhaps others) are feeding their flocks an unbalanced spiritual diet.  It’s like serving up a delicious desert without a healthful meal beforehand.

Finally, consider this: those who wrote the “New Testament” had only the Jewish scriptures as their point of reference to the truth.

My prayer is that Andy Stanley has a moment of clarity and recants this reckless replacement theology.  I’ve tweeted this post out and am hoping Andy will see it and respond.

Not my favorite “holiday,” but I deal with it

It’s certainly not a “holiday,” and it’s definitely not rooted in wholesome faith.  Halloween is essentially a pagan festival with some very dark roots, and the modernized version of this celebration of evil is still a cause for concern by many who have placed their trust in the Messiah. Some say celebrating it in any form opens your family up to evil influences. Read more about that here from an ex-Satanist.

The Christian church launched “All Hallow’s Eve” to co-opt the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which means “end of summer.” According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, which is what connects the pagan festival to ghosts, witches, goblins, fairies, and demons.

According to Live Science, the tradition of dressing in costumes and trick-or-treating may go back to the practice of “mumming” and “guising” in which people would disguise themselves and go door-to-door asking for food. But others would wear costumes to try and scare off or trick evil spirits into leaving them alone on Samhain.

That holiday took a turn when Christians arrived in the Celtic nations and created “All Saints’ Day” and “All Souls’ Day” to be celebrated on November 1st and 2nd to try to counter the pagan holiday.

In modern times, Halloween has become the second largest commercial holiday in America. It grosses $8 billion, coming in second place behind Christmas when it comes to sales. Christmas totals more than $700 billion.

Many followers of Jesus see Halloween as an opportunity to share the gospel, holding outreaches of various kinds, “Harvest Festivals” on church property, or simply encouraging Bible believerss to use the opportunity to show the love of God with those who come to their doors. Since Halloween is a neighborhood event it’s also an excellent opportunity time to be salt and light to your neighbors.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21

What’s happening to our country?!! I have a clue…

My heart is especially heavy on this Saturday evening. As the Nation Anthem finished during the 4th game of the World Series, I said to the family, “I’ll be right back.” I had to do this video, which reminds us that the Anthem protestors, the morality dismissers, the America haters, and the violent kooks in this country are an illustration of how far we have strayed from our fundamental underpinnings.  Feel free to share this with others.

Okay, I’ll chill and go watch some baseball with the family.