Summer 2010

Being

A goal of my itinerant speaking ministry is helping the Church fulfill Romans 11:11. This verse speaks of Gentiles making Jews jealous. The type of jealousy, of course, is a spiritual salvation jealousy. It involves making someone desire what rightfully belongs to them by giving it to someone else. We’re reminded here that the Gospel rightfully belongs to the Jewish people; it was promised to them.

The Messiah is a Jew, Jews preached the Gospel, Jews wrote the New Testament (with the exception of Luke and Acts), and it’s a Jewish gospel. That’s why the Lord Jesus said, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). God’s desire and design is for Jewish people to be made jealous for their Gospel through Gentiles who have positively responded to it—receiving its benefits by faith.

I’ve been thinking lately about the need to not only continue talking about this truth, but to more consistently live it. Here’s what this looks like (for both of us):

Consistent Peaceful Lifestyle—a lifestyle that’s consistent with what we say and so guarded by God’s peace that people will want it for themselves.

Concerned and Knowledgeable Love—a love focused on the lost spiritual condition of Jewish people, apart from faith in Messiah; a growing knowledge of responses to Jewish people’s unique objections to the Gospel.

Recognition and Respect for the Jewishness of Faith in Jesus—an attitude that recognizes the Gospel is available for all people, but it was specifically prepared for the Jewish people.

Sensitive but Bold Witness—using terms in our witness that are more effective than others (e.g. Messiah instead of Christ), combined with the uncompromised message that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah to Jewish people.

Praise

• My mother’s aneurysm surgery was successful.

Doing

• There are 58 dates on the 2010-speaking calendar.

Prayer

• Opportunities to share the Gospel with Jewish people at a Torah study I’ve started attending at a Reform Jewish congregation in Plano, TX.
• Wisdom and blessing concerning a new messianic fellowship that I’m starting.
• New Jewish evangelistic contacts to follow-up on from Dallas area churches where I’ve spoken.
• Continued health and financial support for the work of the ministry.

May the joy of the Lord be your strength as we seek to serve and enjoy Messiah.

Your brother and co-laborer in the harvest,

John S. Kanter