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Emet Ministries Mission Statement
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· Strengthen families worldwide
· Teach the Hebrew roots of the faith
· Expose pagan practices of religion
· Experience true worship
We accomplish this mission through:
-weekly teaching emails
-audio cd teachings every other month
-an extensive web site
-local worship assembly in Prosperity, SC
-support of other ministries worldwide
Please join with us through prayer and support!
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Spiritual Disasters
By Rabbi Dani'el Rendelman
ravemet@comcast.net
of
Emet Ministries
www.emetministries
.com
MEMBER OF BNAI YAHSHUA SYNAGOGUES
WORLDWIDE
A new report released by the United Nations shows
that the number of natural disasters around the
world rose by 18 percent during the year 2005.
These events killed nearly 92,000 people, affected
the lives of over 157 million people, and caused
hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage.
For the United States, the most devastating event
took place on August 29th when Hurricane Katrina
ravaged the Central Gulf Coast. Over 1,400 people
were killed as damaging winds, rains, and storm
surges blanketed Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Devastation struck the Big Easy city of New Orleans
before and after the event. As if the Category 4
storm was not deadly enough, problems were
multiplied, as mandatory evacuations were not
enforced. Many who did try to leave the threatened
areas were stranded on crowded highways without
gasoline. And hundreds of public transportation
buses sat empty as Government agencies failed to
rescue those who would be left behind. Two weeks
after Katrina leveled the coast, hundreds of people
were still being pulled from rooftops by helicopters
and rescued by boat.
Best and Worst
Natural disasters bring out the best and worst in
humanity. The evening news is full of reports of
looters and robbers who take advantage of despair
and capitalize on desolation. While stories of heroes
who
risk their life to save others are rarely told. Katrina
had its share of both. The Louisiana Convention
Center and Superdome that were supposed to be
safe havens, turned out to be extremely dangerous
places. At these makeshift shelters several women
were raped. Pain and sorrow turned to anger as time
passed and no hope came to those stranded by the
storm. Thousands of citizens were abandoned in
their own hometown without food, water, or safe
shelter. Relief and rescue workers could not work
fast enough.
When an emergency hits, the governor of the
affected state can request a disaster declaration,
which releases federal relief agencies along with
millions of dollars to help those in need. For those
affected by Katrina, relief was too little too late.
Everyone pointed the finger, as the local
governments blamed the state, and the states
blamed the Federal agencies for the lack of help.
The Federal Emergency Management Association
(FEMA) is now working to ensure that a plan is in
place to predict future events and better manage
assistance. We too, as believers, need to examine
these events and change our ways.
Spiritual Disaster!
It should come to Saints as no surprise that natural
disasters are on the rise. Our Master predicted the
increase in floods, hurricanes, fires, droughts,
tsunamis, and devastation. “For nation shall rise
against nation, and Malchut against malchut: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the
beginning of sorrows,” Matthew / Mattitiyahu 24:7-8,
Restoration Scriptures.
Sadly, the do-nothing guilt of FEMA is a repeated
tragedy prevalent in our faith. Believers too should
see
the impending dangers of the future and get to work.
Let’s hear the words of our Savior Y’shua, our
President, as he declares a “National Spiritual
Disaster.” Millions are broken in spirit,
devastated in
their faith, impoverished physically, lonely, sick, and
without hope. We have a message of truth; we
have the Sacred Name; we labor for the Torah; yet
we have lost the first love of Y’shua: “I know your
mitzvoth, and your labor, and your endurance, and
how you can’t bear those who are evil: and you have
tried them who say they are shlichim, and are not,
and have found them to be liars: And have borne,
and have endurance, and for My Name’s sake have
labored, and have not fainted. Nevertheless I have
something against you, because you have left your
first ahava. Remember therefore from where you are
fallen, and make teshuvah, and do the first mitzvoth;
or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove
your menorah out of its place, unless you make
teshuvah. He that has an ear, let him hear what the
Ruach says to the Yisraelite congregations; To him
that overcomes6 I will give to eat of the eytz
chayim, which is in the midst of the Gan Ayden of
YHWH,” Revelation 2:2-7, Restoration Scriptures.
YHWH knows how the Messianic faith battles against
the lies and deception of the enemy. We have His
name and we have exposed false teachers. However
in an effort to always be “right,” many believers have
isolated themselves, lost the faith or become
consumed with esoteric knowledge. The first love of
reaching the lost sheep of the house of Israel has
been forgotten. Has your effort to be in a 100%
doctrinally correct congregation isolated your family
from worshipping with others? Do you choose not to
submit to a teacher or leader becase he doesn't
follow certain precepts in Torah?
To know or do?
Many have traded the call to live the Torah for the
satisfaction of just knowing the Torah. Emails and
newsgroups argue over theological issues while those
new in the faith don’t know where to turn for help.
Divisions arise over every intrinsic detail of Torah and
similarities hardly bridge the gap of indifference.
Groups won’t even keep the feasts together because
they can’t agree on what days to celebrate as Holy.
Families that could meet together are isolated over
issues that are never discussed with leadership, yet
lead to division.
It is no wonder that many quit corporate worship
altogether. Others are isolated because they live
hundreds of miles from the nearest Nazarene worship
center. Lost sheep scattered all over the world are
without shepherds because no one is willing to lead.
All of this feeds the cause of the lazy saint who
wants others to figure everything out and spoon-
feed him the judgments of Torah.
We are to be students of the Word who do not
tolerate unsound doctrine. We are to learn and
increase in wisdom. And then we are DO something
with that wisdom. “A person whose wisdom exceeds
his good deeds is likened to a tree whose branches
are numerous, but whose roots are few. The wind
comes and uproots it and turns it upside down. But
a person whose good deeds exceed his wisdom is
likened to a tree whose branches are few but whose
roots are numerous. Even if all the winds of the world
were to come and blow against it, they could not
budge it from its place,” says Pirkei Avot 3:22.
Meeting for Shabbat or learning Torah on the
Internet is only the fist step in the great calling
YHWH has given us. We are to take what we learn
and share it with others. “Go therefore, and make
talmidim of all nations, doing mikvah upon them in My
Name: Teaching them to shomer all things, which I
have commanded you: and, see, I am with you
always, even to the end of the olam hazeh,”
Matthew / Mattitiyahu 28:19,20, Restoration
Scriptures.
Let’s return to our first love of Messiah before it is
too late. The first love is heart of Torah, which is
the besorah, gospel or the good news of Y’shua our
Moshiach. Remember how young love feels? The
same ecstasy is experienced when the besorah is
shared and converts are made. Y’shua has set
mankind free from death. He gave His life that we
could live forever. What is more exciting than that?
Remember the joy of His salvation and return to
sharing His emet / truth through caring for
others. “For YHWH so loved the olam hazeh, that He
gave His only brought forth Son, that whoever
believes on Him should not perish, but have
everlasting chayim,” Yochannan / John 3:16.
Gather the sheep
YHWH created man so that he could have a dwelling
place in the world below. The first Adam failed in his
mission to walk in the glory of YHWH in an
independent world. Adam sinned and therefore
brought sin into the human race. The people of
Yisra’el were chosen to manifest the glory of YHWH
and testify of His will. “YHWH has called You in
tzedekah, and will hold Your hand, and will keep You,
and give You for a brit of the people, for a Light to
the nations; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the
prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in
darkness out of the prison bayit. I am YHWH: that is
My Name,” Isaiah / Yesha’yahu 42:6-9. Isra’el too
failed to walk in covenant with YHWH. So, to this
nation and to all mankind Messiah came. The second
Adam, our Savior, brought redemption to the world.
Y’shua came to restore the broken relationship
between the Creator and His creation. His message
was simple, “Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at
hand.” He then commissioned his followers to take
His message of restoration to the ends of the earth.
“Go not the way of the gentiles by staying away
from pagan practices, and into any city of the
Shomronim enter not: But go rather to the lost sheep
that have strayed from Beit Yisrael,” Matthew /
Mattitiyahu 10:5-7. The lost sheep of the house of
Yisra’el have been scattered all over the world. Lost
sheep don’t usually just stumble back to their
Master. There must be someone to lead sheep, to
guide them into the fullness of YHWH. Heated
debates and hellfire and brimstone preaching reach
few people. Take a few minutes and reflect about
your own experience:
- What first drew you to the truth?
- On which web site did you first learn about
Torah?
- What ministered to you the most when you
began searching?
- Did you have a heart for the Jewish people or
the Holy Land?
- How did YHWH reach you?
- Was it the Holy Days that peaked your interest?
- Did the Spirit speak loudly to your soul about
YHWH’s Name?
- What books did you first read about the Two
Houses?
- What teacher or friend influenced you to study
deeper?
- Who invited you to a worship service or meeting?
YHWH uses people to reach people. He has
called us
out of darkness into His marvelous Light. We are to
share that Light with others. Evangelism is NOT
against Torah. Outreach is NOT a sin. When we
take the effort to minister to others our soul is fed
and our spirit soars. If your spiritual life is void,
tired, or empty – if you have lost your first love –
remember how it was and return by ministering to
those around you. Ask yourself:
- “Is your spiritual life vivid?”
- “Have you spent time this week sharing the Good
New of our Messiah and the Restoration of Israel with
someone?”
- “Do you daily offer prayer support for those in
need?
- “Are you currently helping in a ministry that weekly
feeds the hungry or clothes the poor?”
- “Have you involved your entire household in a
spiritual discussion this week?”
- “Do you regularly pray, meditate, or intercede for
the lost and needy?”
- “Do you monthly minister to the needs of those
hurting in prisons, hospitals, or nursing centers?”
- “Have you taken steps to improve your spiritual
walk today?”
- “Is your first love Messiah and his message of the
Kingdom?”
-"Are you daily offering prayers for persecuted
believers that live all over the world?"
-"Are you prepared to share your faith with Jews,
Muslims, Agnostics, or Mormons?"
- “What can you do to promote your spiritual
growth?”
While we are busy at our worship centers or reading
emails, the world around us is starving spiritually and
physically. Our own spiritual lives are in a rut and
are rotting away because of a lack of revival. Many
congregations are often too small to open soup
kitchens or do evangelistic meetings. So we do
nothing. How sad.
Excuses are lies
Like those stranded by Katrina, the lost sheep are
waiting for a lifeboat. Stop pointing the finger at the
church or the Jews or other Messianics. Look
inside.
Every excuse imaginable is given for not sharing the
heart of Torah. We say:
- “I’m not a people person”
- “I’m too busy with family or work”
- “I have to learn it first”
- “I don’t know any body”
- “I don’t understand it all yet”
- “I don’t get along with them”
- “I do enough for my family now”
- “I’m just a housewife”
- “No one will listen to me”
- “I am not comfortable in my faith”
- “The government has programs for that”
An excuse is a “lie disguised as a reason.” It is time
to unmask the lies we tell ourselves and get serious
about our faith. As we sit and Midrash Torah, the
needy remain needy. The world waits, needing to be
rescued. Some need a word of heaven. Others need
a loaf of bread or some clothing. Many just want
to
hear a message of hope. Prisoners are lonely.
The
elderly are abandoned. The sick are
forgotten. “Greater is he who performs tzedekah
(actions and gifts to the poor) than he who offers all
the sacrifices, for it is said, to do tzedekah (justice)
and justice is more acceptable to the YHWH than
sacrifice,” says the Talmud.
We have our web sites and our arguments. We have
our Torah commentaries and beautiful tallits. But do
we have our first love?
Y’shua has called us to minister to people’s spiritual
AND physical needs. Convincing articles are a lot
more convincing when they are accompanied by acts
of mercy. The restoration of Israel will NOT fully
occur until both houses deal with their sins. All of
Yisra’el is blinded in part. Today’s believer must bring
balance to both Judah and Ephraim.
The Sin of Judah
The major sin of the house of Judah is the sin of
omission. The Jews have the Torah; they know the
precepts of YHWH. But they don’t accept the
Moschiach. “What advantage, then, is there in being
a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much
in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted
with the very words of YHWH,” Romans / Romiyah
3:1. Though the Jews have Torah, they fail to
recognize the true Living Torah. “For had you
believed Moshe, you would have believed Me: for he
wrote of Me. But if you believe not his Ketuvim, how
shall you believe My words?” said Messiah in John /
Yochannan 5:46,47. According to this verse from
our Master, the Jews who don’t accept Y’shua DON’T
really follow Torah.
The nation of Judah commits its sin by not accepting
the Moshiach and not following His halakhah. The
Jews have great knowledge of Torah. They have
midrashed every yud and nekudah. Orthodox Rabbis
know the Torah backwards and forwards. However,
religious Jews often reject the Spirit of the Law.
Y’shua is not accepted as Moschiach. Judaism
doesn’t actively pursue converts. The religion
frequently views itself as the entire nation of Israel.
The Sin of Ephraim
The major sin of Ephraim is in the area of
commission. The lost tribes have lost their identity,
forgotten their heritage, and committed disobedience
to the Torah. Though the Torah is found within
every KJV Bible, it is forsaken and forgotten
throughout Christianity. The church, as a whole,
believes it has replaced Israel within the plans of
YHWH. Pastors preach that grace overrides the
Torah and Judaism has been outmoded for
Christianity. Major denominations commit hideous
sins by promoting pagan practices, pagan holidays,
and pagan gods. The Hebraic mindset and even
YHWH’s name has been traded substitutions. The
truth of Torah has been purposefully left out of most
pulpits.
Ephraim, found mostly in the church system,
transgresses the Torah without care or concern. It
commits disobedience to the Father’s Torah. “For
everyone who sins practices Torah-less-ness,
because sin is torah-less-ness,” 1 John / Yochannan
3:4. However, the church does a lot of great
things. It has programs for the elderly, the inmates,
and the sick. The church often operates within the
Spirit of the Law through showing love, extending
mercy, and seeking justice for the needy. Consider
Romans 2:12, “For as many as have sinned without
Torah knowledge shall also perish without Torah
knowledge: and as many as have sinned with Torah
knowledge shall be judged by that Torah knowledge.”
‘When the church feeds the hungry, clothes the
naked, build aids treatment centers and preaches
Yahshua as Savior according to Matthew 25, they do
the Torah regardless of their knowledge of which
verses they are fulfilling, or which mitzvoth they are
performing. Those who merely sit all day and listen to
Torah discussions and views, are not keeping Torah,
and can never be justified without Yahshua, and
without acting on that knowledge.
‘“For when the nations, which have not Torah
knowledge, do by nature the things contained in the
Torah, these, having not the Torah knowledge, have
an inbred Torah for themselves,” Romans 2:14. Born
again Ruach led people will do and perform the heart
of the Torah, even though they may not do it on the
right time, or the right day with all the right methods.
YHWH says they have the “inbred Torah,”
the Ruach
HaKadosh, until they come to a fuller knowledge
through teaching. This inbred Torah has raised up
more hospitals, hospices and healing venues, then all
the Torah midrashes alone. Their inbred Torah
keeping excuses their lack of knowledge and details,
although that also needs to be received by teaching.
The Ruach will either excuse, or accuse non-Torah
keepers, based on their actions and their knowledge,
or lack thereof. Yahshua has come to forgive both
those who talk Torah and do nothing for lost and
unredeemed mankind, like many Messianic and
Nazarene leaders, and those who love mankind, but
don’t know the proper methods and details of the
Torah,’” wrote Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky.
Returning Yisra’el
Returning Yisra’el shares the sins of both houses.
We have omitted our identity as Hebrews and
forsaken the Torah. Returning Yisra’el must become
knowledgeable of the Torah and the Hebraic lifestyle
and then share that knowledge and the love of
Y’shua with others. It is easy to slip back into
these areas of sin to become consumed in our
search for Torah knowledge or forsake the Torah
because of excuses. Modern-day, two-house
believers, should seek to unite the letter of the Law
and the Spirit of the Law through following our
Master Y’shua’s high calling.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have
not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a proclaimer? And how shall they proclaim,
except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful
are the feet of them that proclaim the besorah of
shalom, and bring good news of tov things,”
Romans / Romiyah 10:14,15, Restoration Scriptures.
YHWH is restoring all things. He is using web sites,
articles, music, emails, books, cds, and dvds to
restore the true faith and educate people. This
is
just the beginning.
In the world to come our Master will not judge us
upon knowledge but deed. “Come, you blessed of My
Abba, inherit the Malchut prepared for you from the
foundation of the olam hazeh: For I was hungry, and
you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me
drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in: Naked,
and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me:
I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then shall the
tzadikim answer Him, saying, Master, when did we
see You hungry, and fed You? Or, thirsty, and gave
You to drink? When did we see You as a stranger,
and took You in? Or, naked, and clothed You? Or,
when did we see You sick, or in prison, and visited
You? And the Melech shall answer and say to them,
Truly I say to you, Whenever you have done it to
one of the least of these My Yisraelite brothers; you
have done it to Me,” Mattitiyahu / Matthew 25:34-
40.
The knowledge of the Two Houses and even the
knowledge of the Sacred Name are not going to bring
about the restoration of all things. We’ve go to:
Learn it, Live it, Share it, Give it
The process is simple. Don’t stop at just learning the
Torah. Don’t settle for just living it. Share it and
give it to others. Partner with a local group to meet
the physical needs of those in the community. Unite
the letter of the law with the spirit of the law and be
amazed at how YHWH will draw people around you to
the truth.
Learn it
Learn all about the faith. Have a set apart time to
study and worship each week. Try to find a worship
center or group nearby and join with like-minded
believers. Feed your soul through worship, study,
prayer, meditation, and fellowship. Set apart the
home as THE place of worship. Read articles, listen
to audio teachings, watch videos, and study the
Torah. Get a Sacred Name Bible. Read the “Old” and
the “New” Testament. Begin reading the weekly
Torah portion during the week, before it is taught at
the worship center. Subscribe to an audio cd
teaching ministry. Download teachings from
Messianic web sites and highlight the verses and
comments that speak to your soul. Memorize the
scriptures. Keep searching. Learn about your
identity and heritage as an Israelite. Know the
difference.
Live it
Walk out what you have learned. Do it daily. Act
the same on Monday and Wednesday as you do on
Sabbath. Live out your faith in the physical world.
Wear your faith; speak your faith; treat others as a
person of faith. Be led of the Spirit. Try not to be
pushy. Pray, worship, and praise daily. Follow as
much of Torah as you can. Don’t be afraid of failing
or doing Torah the “wrong” way. When you make a
mistake, don’t give up, just keep going. Help others
celebrate the feasts. Speak the blessings when you
can. See the difference.
Share it
Take what you have learned and pass it on. Find
one friend and tell them about your journey of faith.
Forward emails to friends and families. Do what you
can. Pass along books or cds to those you know.
Learn enough of the truth and be ready to share it
with others. Evangelize as the Spirit leads. Don’t
force the truth, share it! Write out your testimony
so you will be able to share it in the future. Let the
glory of YHWH shine through your life. Support a
soup kitchen or food pantry in your community. Be a
light where you are. Write an article or teaching and
submit it to be printed in a local newspaper. Come
out of the prayer closet and help others learn what
you have learned. Stand your ground on the Torah;
yet try to work with other groups to bring about
unity. Contact the American Red Cross or Salvation
Army in your town and put your name on the
resource list so that when there is an immediate
need you can be contacted. Share the difference.
Give It
Commit one hour a week to deliver meals on wheels
to the elderly. Visit the hospital and pray for the
sick. Donate clothes to a local charity. Contact the
prison in your town and ask how you can minister to
inmates. Give and it will come back to you. Donate
money to a ministry far away. Donate time to a
ministry in your community. Help with a food
pantry. Pray, pray, pray! Put a bumper sticker on
your car. Mail articles to believers in third world
countries. When you read about a tragedy in the
local newspaper try to find a way to minister to
those in need. Call an old friend and tell them about
your Yisraelite identity and faith. Mail used or new
books and Bibles to believers in third-world
countries. Set aside a little money every month for a
special needs / tzedekah fund. Give the
difference.
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