In this first article, we introduce the Love and Justice project. In establishing this ministry, we must ask, “Why?” Why is it needed? Why is it important to the Lord? Why now?
Why Love and Justice?
Why? Because in the midst of these spiritually dark days, God’s light is brightly shining, and the Lord is initiating a new Jesus revolution, a Jesus movement. This Yeshua revolution is a returning to the biblical foundations of outreach and discipleship as Yeshua did during the days of His life on earth. He modeled these values, then transmitted them to His disciples who carried them into the Jewish world of their day. Love and Justice is an expression of this great move of God now advancing throughout the earth.
Why? Because Yeshua, the Messiah, is the only answer to the great fear, heartache, and desperation of our day. His invitation is going forth for us to join Him in His work, His revolution, and see many lives changed. He has promised that – if we will turn from our selfish and wicked ways and from the things of this world and live as He commands – He will come to us and appear in our midst. His increasing presence among us and the transforming power of His Spirit are the only hope for a world gone mad, a world in great darkness.
Why? Because the Lord has promised to shake all things that can be shaken. We see Him beginning to do this in a profound way. He’s shaking the ways, the traditions, and the structures men have built in His name, and He will continue to do that in our time. He’s appearing in a new and fresh way so that we can reach the lost and dying world in which we live. People around the world are experiencing the greatest transformation possible – far beyond what one could ever could hope – in the power of the good news of Yeshua, of Jesus, our Messiah!
“People are experiencing the greatest transformation possible… in the power of the good news of Yeshua, of Jesus, our Messiah!”
Isaiah 61 Profile
As the Jewish believers and leaders of our day, our desire is to respond to the call of God and return to an Isaiah 61 profile. The Lord anointed us to go to the poor and the broken – yes, the poor and the poor in spirit as well. Many are poor and broken, broken-hearted people to whom we must proclaim freedom. Those who are demonized in the madness of the sin that’s overtaken our culture can be set free by those of us who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon us. He has anointed us to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God. We will comfort those who mourn and release upon the grieving in Zion – the broken in spirit – encouragement, power, glory, and anointing. Instead of ashes, we will give the oil of gladness and instead of mourning, a garment of praise. Out from among us will be those seen as the planting of the Lord.
“The Lord anointed us to go to the poor, broken, and demonized… (to) be set free by those of us who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
Rebuilding and Restoring
Soon, those who follow Yeshua in a new and exciting way that benefits others will be the ones recognized as His people and spiritual leaders – rather than those who posture and promote themselves, not building the way the Lord intended. All true leaders will give their lives for the benefit of the body of Messiah. They will serve one another in love, honor others, and build something of permanence that bears the marks of our Messiah.
The rebuilding of the ancient ruins, the paths in which to dwell (Isa 58:12) – once destroyed but now the way forward – will be restored for the display of His splendor. We will be those who stand in the gap, do the work of rebuilding and restoring, and carry this powerful message into the next generation.
The Yeshua revolution will be known for its outreach and believer lifestyles that Yeshua envisioned. As Jewish believers, our purpose in the Love and Justice project is to respond to Him as His disciples did in their day. We want to do as Yeshua did. Acts 1:1 says, “…all that Yeshua began both to do and teach.” It says, “do and teach”. Thus, we want to reach out to the poor, the broken, and the lost and do what He did, not just teach.
“We will be those who stand in the gap, do the work of rebuilding and restoring, and carry this powerful message into the next generation.”
Servant-Leaders Challenging the Status Quo
Yeshua emulated John in challenging the status quo of His day. He turned the religious structure and system upside down – confronting burdensome man-made requirements (Matthew 23 – warnings to the scribes and Pharisees), pride (Luke 18 – parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector), and apathy toward the needy (Luke 10 – parable of the Good Samaritan). Following Yeshua’s lead, it’s time for us to go to those who are broken, lost, and poor and live the authentic life of the believer that He demonstrated. The religious, powerful, wealthy, and hungry for God from every walk of life will readily open their hearts when they experience the genuine love of God expressed in us. This is the pathway for Jewish believers who are leaders – to give up their lives and follow in the servant nature of our Messiah. Since Israel is called as head among the nations, it is incumbent upon Jewish believers to take the lead in modeling Yeshua’s headship as the servant of all. We must follow Him in overturning the religious system of our time.
With this in mind, the focus of our congregational activity is as a mission or outreach base. Each person in coming into agreement in the power of Yeshua’s presence begins to enter into functional reality and the things of the Holy Spirit. We will move in the power of the Spirit for service, operating in His manifest gifts and many-sided works, each of us taking our place and working together to achieve what God has intended.
“We must follow Him (Yeshua) in overturning the religious system of our time… each of us taking our place and working together to achieve what God has intended.”
The Good Report
When Yeshua appeared, this is what transpired in Israel – the power of God moved among His people. In the vernacular of English, Isaiah 53:1, “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”, means, “Who could believe what has been heard and the report that we’re giving? Who can believe this? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” This unbelief is exactly the way it is today.
Nevertheless, signs and wonders are taking place on the street, where the demonized, broken, and tragically imprisoned under the grip of Satan are set free. This is our report! – that people are being set free and believers changed as they begin to function, whether on the street or within the congregation, in their culture and spheres of influence. They’re being transformed.
“People are being set free and believers changed as they begin to function… They’re being transformed.”
Deliberate Disciples
Isaiah 53:2 says, “For He grew up before Him (God Most High) like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched (dry) ground…” If you know the dryness of Israel, you understand that, like in the Southwestern desert of the United States, when it rains, many plants burst up from the ground that have been hidden for a long time. Seeds that have been waiting for life-sustaining conditions germinate. With the Yeshua revolution, seeds that have been sown, even prayed for over many centuries, are springing up in this outpouring of God’s Spirit.
One thing is clear today as it was at that time: Isa 53:2, “…He had no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance (beauty) that we should be attracted to (desire) Him.” Yeshua appears in broken men and women like us to go to a lost and dying world. This is something in which we can believe. It is the ministry to which God has called us. We are imperfect men and women, continuously growing in grace – deliberate disciples achieving the purpose of God for His glory.
“We are imperfect men and women, continuously growing in grace – deliberate disciples achieving the purpose of God for His glory.”
Our Calling
This is our calling: to take our place as our Messiah, His disciples, and those who followed after did – men and women of every call and place serving the purpose of God for their generation. We are to win the lost, minister in the power of God, call Israel and the nations to obey God’s word, and free people to enjoy the one true God.
We, the bride, are being prepared to serve in the midst of this difficult time, men and women called by God to exercise authority on earth and conquer the powers of darkness in the face of great opposition. We will prosecute a war against our enemies, and every last man, woman, and child who can be saved will be saved, not by the pompous acts of great men but by servant leaders who gave their lives and bore fruit like their Messiah.
