©26 December 2014 Revive Israel Ministries

Life of Character

By Dan Juster

Understanding the Gospel of the Kingdom leads to the way of life we call Kingdom life.  The Gospel of Matthew is very helpful because it connects the Kingdom of God to the commandments of Yeshua.  In Matthew 28:19-20 we read, “ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...”

The commandments of Yeshua are the foundation for character evaluation and the instrument for character training.  We are able to grow in obedience to His commandments by depending upon His transforming grace (abiding in the Vine-John 15).  This includes identification with His crucifixion whereby the deeds of the flesh are put to death.   Resurrection power is also crucial, for we are to be constantly filled with the Spirit to motivate us to obedience.   

Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 5-7 shows us how to apply the Torah. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  How can believers attain this?  It is only by His power and grace.

Character is part of our life witness.  The Torah is applied to the issues of the heart.  Believers are not only ones who do not murder, but they do not have anger and hatred in their heart.  They love their enemies, pray for them, and even do good to them.  Not only will believers not commit adultery, but they will obey the higher command to have no lust in their hearts.  Oaths are not taken to prove that we are speaking truth.  The follower of Yeshua is fully honest and carries out His word! 

The call to character, whereby we die to self is little taught in the Western church.  Character enables one to maintain lifetime covenant relationships; whether in marriage, friendship or community life.   People who are growing in Kingdom character will learn to love one another more and more. Godly character is a foundational pillar of the Kingdom of God. 

By Asher Intrater

One of the character qualities we see in our forefathers (and their daughters) is their immediate reaction, whenever an opportunity arose, to serve in hospitality and seemingly dirty chores.  They were not only ready to serve, they "ran" to serve.  Abraham ran to serve the Angel-YHVH figure, who came to visit him (Genesis 18).  Rebecca (Rivka) ran to serve Abraham's servant and even water all his camels (Genesis 24). Both of these events took place in the heat of the day in the desert sun.  They most likely felt hot, dirty, sweaty, tired and not particularly filled with energy.  Yet they jumped up and ran with an energy born of spirit-led motivation, in a desire to demonstrate the love and faith within their hearts.

In this second video of four, Cody Archer speaks about intimacy with God being the first key to walking in sexual purity. By regularly giving ourselves to the Word of God, worship, praying in tongues and fasting with the focus of growing closer to God, we will find the strength to resist sin and walk in victory. To watch, click HERE!

By Eddie Santoro

Congregation Ahavat Yeshua is moving to a new home. These last two years in our current location have been blessed and fruitful. Because of increase in families with children, our current facility has become severely lacking in space for the children's program.

The new location, in the very heart of Jerusalem, is owned by a Christian organization and will be shared with us by a sister Messianic Congregation.  The renovations on the children's wing and meeting hall will provide ample space for our congregational home.

Our congregation has been blessed by the faithful support of so many of you. Therefore we are bringing before you a financial need. The renovations will cost $130,000 USD. To date, through the faithful giving of members in the congregation, we have $30,000 in our fund.

We are continuing to raise funds locally but apart from your help, we cannot reach our goal. We still need $100,000 to pay for the current project. Your generosity is making the impossible possible.  If you desire to make a special donation to our building fund, please click HERE!

By Francis Frangipane, (excerpt)

We were created to become like Christ. Even as Jesus has not changed, neither has the plan of God for the church. Our transformation will burn in God's heart "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).

Our focus should be upon attaining Christ-like transformation and His love for people. This has been the Father's purpose from the beginning of time and it remains His unchanging goal at the end of the age. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 8:29)

Paul said that the result of seeking the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ is that "we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14). Even a true doctrine can have a false emphasis and lead us astray. 

As a result, Paul wrote that intimacy with Christ was the deepest cry of his heart. He said, "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Phil. 3:10).

He was not speaking of some esoteric knowledge of Christ but an intimacy that led to conformity. He wrote, "That I may know Him . . . being conformed." Knowing Christ and being conformed to Him is of the same essence. Christ Himself is the true foundation upon which we must build our lives.