GUESTS
Reconciling Christians and
Jews
By The 700 Club
CBN.com
– One New Man
Bill McCartney spent more than a decade as head of the phenomenally
successful men's ministry, Promise Keepers. When he attended their
pastors' conference in Phoenix, Ariz., in February 2003, he felt
the prompting of the Holy Spirit that his time with Promise Keepers
was done. He says he spent the nine months from March 12 to December
12, 2003, in the Lord's "waiting room" as he sought
confirmation on the next step in his life. He journaled daily
and even considered returning to coaching. The Lord told Bill
to connect the dots on how He had moved throughout Bill's life
as he sought the Lord for his future.
Back in the late '90s, Dr. Henry Blackaby came to minister to
the Promise Keepers staff. Dr. Blackaby said he had asked the
Lord if there was any specific word for Promise Keepers. Blackaby
read all the words of Jesus in the four gospels and was struck
by the verse about Simon the Cyrene carrying the cross for Jesus.
Dr. Blackaby said God showed him that Bill was to carry the cross
of reconciliation. This resonated with Bill as he had been involved
for years with racial reconciliation.
Ephesians 2:14-16 says, "For He Himself is our peace, who
made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing
wall by abolishing in His flesh the enmity … that in Himself
He might make the two into one new man … and might reconcile
them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put
to death the enmity."
At the end of the nine month "birthing process," Bill
says it was clear that the Lord's calling for him was to work
on the One New Man ministry, which was renamed The Road to Jerusalem.
The Road to Jerusalem
Soon after the Apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesians, the Jews
were dispersed throughout the world. It has only been in the last
few decades that they have returned and Israel has blossomed.
Bill says that as the believing gentiles and believing (Messianic)
Jews come together as the one new man, there will be the anointing
to release the world's greatest revival. While many believing
Jews understand this today, the irony is that when Paul spoke
of it, the believing Jews didn't want to accept it, and now the
believing gentiles don't want to accept it.
Many Evangelicals are strong backers of Israel but keep Messianic
Jews at arm's length to maintain good relations with Jewish leaders.
The Scripture is clear that we embrace and help the believer first,
then help the unbeliever. It is a mandate from the Lord that the
Messianic Jew, who has double honor, be embraced, honored, and
loved by the Christian who has single honor. Too many Christian
organizations help the unbelieving Jew first and neglect the believing
Jew. Bill says the Father heart of God is that His chosen people
will come to faith in His Son. With the rise of anti-Semitism,
today the believing Jew is rejected by both the Jews and the world.
Bill contends Messianic Jews are among the most oppressed believers
of Jesus.
Holy Shabbat Celebration in the Desert
On Friday, December 3, 2004, Road to Jerusalem will hold its
inaugural event at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in the Palm
Springs, Calif, area. It will be one of the largest shabbat service
in the United States as Christians and Messianic Jews stand together
as ONE to demonstrate their love for each other, the Jewish community,
and Israel. As Christians they will not ignore the past sins against
Jewish people in the name of Christianity; rather, they will take
responsibility for them and become part of the healing balm. Bill
says there will be repentance. He anticipates a mighty move of
God, including signs and wonders as promised in Mark 16:20.
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