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Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!(Teaching!One:!!Who'is'God?)!

!!Introduction:'''Foundational!to!everything!else!in!Messianic!Faith!and!discipleship!is!the!firm!understanding!of!who!God!is!and!what!His!claims!are!upon!our!lives.!!In!this!first!teaching,!we!observe!what!it!means!to!declare!that!God!is!the!Creator.!!We!will!also!see!what!some!of!His!main!attributes!or!personality!characteristics!are!and!as!well!as!some!of!the!names!and!titles!the!Hebrew!Bible!affords!Him.!!1A.! GOD'IS'THE'CREATOR'OF'ALL'THINGS!!1B.! God!created!the!universe!!(Gen.!1:1)!! ! !2B.! God!created!man!!(Gen.!1:26L27)!!3B.! When!man!sinned,!his!perfectly!mirrored!reflection!of!God!was!now!broken!! and!shattered;!sin!had!disrupted!God’s!purposes!for!man.!!!!!2A.! GOD'IS'THE'ONLY'ONE'WORTHY'OF'WORSHIP'AND'ALL'HONOR.!!Deut.!6:4L9!!3A.! GOD'IS'THE'RIGHTEOUS'JUDGE'OF'ALL'MANKIND.!! Ps. 7:11; 50:6; Ezek. 24:14!!4A.! THE'BIBLE'DESCRIBES'GOD'IN'TERMS'OF'THOSE'ATTRIBUTES'WHICH'CHARACTERIZE'HIM:!!1B.! God!is!omniscient:!!God!knows!all!things;!!! nothing!is!hidden!from!Him.!!! ! !2B.! God!is!a!Person;!He!is!fully!awake,!He!never!sleeps!nor!slumbers.!!! 1C.! God!is!HOLY.!!Ps.!22:3;!Isa.!6:3! 2C. God is JUST. 2 Chron. 19:7; Ps. 19:9! 3C. God is LOVING. “God is love.” 1 Jn. 4:8; Jn. 3:16! 4C. God is GOOD. Ps. 73:1 !! !! 5C.! God!is!TRUE.!!Num. 23:19; Ps. 12:6; Heb. 10:23!!! 6C.! God!is!ONE!!(echad,!a!composite!unity).!!! Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:6; 1 Cor. 8:4 !

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!! 7C.! God!is!ETERNAL! Deut. 33:27; Isa. 9:6 !! 8C.! God!is!THE!SOVEREIGN!MASTER!OF!THE!UNIVERSE.!! 1 Chron. 29:11,12 !!!5A.! ! THE'NAMES'OF'GOD!!1B.! ! YHVH:!!The!SelfLexistent!One!who!reveals!Himself”!!! 1C.! This!is!the!NAME!used!in!God’s!covenants!with!Israel.!!!! ! Ex.!20:2;!Jer.!31:31L34!!! 2C.! The!One!who!is!the!NAME!never!changes.!!!Mal.!3:6!!! 3C.! The!One!who!is!the!NAME!is!the!Universal!Ruler.!!!! ! Amos!5:8;!Ps.!68:4;!Jer.!32:27!!! YHVH*yireh:!!! ! “The!LORD!will!provide”!!Gen.!22:14!! YHVH*rapha:! ! “The!LORD!that!heals”!!Ex.!15:26!! YHVH*nissi:! ! “The!LORD!our!banner”!!Ex.!17:15!! YHVH*shalom:!! “The!LORD!our!peace”!!Judg.!6:23,24!! YHVH*ra’ah:5 ! “The!LORD!my!shepherd”!!Ps.!23:1!! YHVH*tsidkenu:! “The!LORD!our!righteousness”!!Jer.!23:6!! YHVH*shamma:! “The!LORD!is!there”!!!Ezek.!48:35!!2B.! ! EL!! or!! ELOHIM.!!!See!Ps.!86:15;!Gen.!1:1!!! EL*Shaddai! ! “Almighty!God”!!!Gen.!35:11!! EL*ELYON! ! “Most!High!God”!!!Gen.!14:18!! EL*Olam! ! “Everlasting!God”!!!Gen.!21:33! !!3B.! Other!titles!given!for!God!in!the!Hebrew!Bible:!! King,!Lawgiver,!Judge,!Rock,!Fortress,!Tower,!!! Deliverer,!Shepherd,!Husband,!Father!!!!!!!!!!!

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'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!2:!!Who'is'Yeshua?)!

!INTRODUCTION:!!

!Who!is!Yeshua?!!!!We!realize!that!our!salvation!experience!and!eternal!life!are!

based!entirely!on!what!God!has!done!for!us!through!Yeshua,!the!author!of!our!salvation.!!But!who!is!Yeshua?!!1A.! YESHUA'IS'THE'SON'OF'GOD.!!!Ps.!2:6L8!! !

Yeshua!was!sent!from!heaven!by!the!Father!to!reveal!and!to!manifest!the!Glory!of!God!in!human!form.! Jn.!1:9L13!

!!2A.! YESHUA'IS'THE'PROMISED'MESSIAH!!Isa.!7:14;!Mic.!5:2;!Isa.!9:6L7;!52:10L53:12!!1B.! God!had!long!promised!Moses,!the!Hebrew!Kings,!and!the!Hebrew!Prophets,!

that!God!would!send!to!the!world!the!Jewish!Messiah.!!2B.! Yeshua!is!that!promised!Messiah!sent!to!bring!Israel!into!a!greater!place!of!

spiritual!relationship!with!God!and!more!meaningful!usefulness!as!agents!of!God’s!glory.! Isa.!52:13L53:12!

!!3A.! YESHUA''IS'“THE'LAMB'OF'GOD'WHO'TAKES'AWAY'THE'SIN'OF'THE'WORLD”!!!

Rom.!3:23;!Jn.!3:16!!

God’s!justice!required!more!than!man!could!possibly!do!to!atone!for!sin.!!Therefore,!God!took!the!initiative!Himself!to!make!the!eternal!sacrifice!that!would!atone!for!all!human!sin,!past,!present!and!future.!!!

!4A.! YESHUA'IS'THE'REDEEMER'AND'KING'OF'ISRAEL'AND'ALL'MANKIND'UNIVERSALLY!!1B.! Yeshua!is!certainly!the!Redeemer!and!Promised!King/Messiah!of!Israel.!!But!

Yeshua!has!also!been!divinely!appointed!and!anointed!as!the!Messiah!and!King!of!the!Universe.!!Not!only!Israel!but!all!nations!are!obliged!to!submit!to!Him!and!acknowledge!His!Lordship!and!Mastery.!

!2B.! Yeshua!sent!the!apostles!out!to!carry!the!Gospel!Good!News!message!to!all!

nations!that!the!Kingdom!of!God!has!arrived,!and!that!all!nations!and!persons!can!actively!participate!in!the!Kingdom!through!faith!in!God’s!appointed!and!anointed!Messiah!Yeshua.!!!!Matt.!28:19L20;!Book!of!Acts!

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!3B.! Faith!that!God!has!sent!Yeshua!to!be!an!eternal!sacrifice!for!our!sins,!and!that!

God!afterward!raised!Yeshua!from!the!dead!makes!one!a!living!candidate!to!receive!God’s!gift!of!eternal!life!in!Yeshua.!!!! Rom.!10:9L10;!6:23.!

!5A.! YESHUA'IS'RETURNING'SOON'AS'THE'LION'OF'JUDAH'AND'WILL'RULE'AND'EXERCISE'HIS'

UNIVERSAL'REIGN'OVER'THE'ENTIRE'EARTH.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!3:!!Who'is'the'Ruach'HaKodesh,'the'Holy'Spirit?!

!!

Introduction:!!Who!is!the!Ruach5HaKodesh,!the!Holy!Spirit?!! The!Father’s!Agent!to!Bring!Order!out!of!Chaos!! The!Evidence!of!the!Coming!of!God’s!Kingdom!! The!Enabler!for!Kingdom!Enterprise!!1A.! BY'DEFINITION:''THE'SPIRIT'OF'GOD,'THE'RUACH'HAKODESH,'IS'THE'PERPETUALLY'' EMANATING'DIVINE'PRESENCE'OF'GOD’S'REALITY.'!!We!see!that!the!Spirit!of!God,!the!Ruach5HaKodesh,!was!active!from!the!earliest!moments!of!creation.!!Gen.!1:2!!2A.! THE'RUACH'HAKODESH'IS'GOD’S'AGENT'TO'BRING'DIVINELY'CREATED'ORDER'OUT'OF'' CHAOS.!!!!1B.! At!creation!itself!as!seen!in!Gen.!1:1L2!!2B.! But!the!Ruach5HaKodesh5also!brings!divine!order,!structure,!discipline!into!

our!personal!lives.!!This!begins!the!moment!we!receive!Yeshua.!!!!

1C.! The!Spirit!of!God,!the!Ruach5HaKodesh,5has!been!assigned!by!the!Father!to!transform!every!believer!into!the!very!image!and!likeness!of!Yeshua.!Col.!1:15;!Heb.!1:3!

!2C.! The!Ruach5HaKodesh5works!with!us!daily.!

!3B.! In!the!universe.!!!

!1C.! Announcement!of!Kingdom!of!God.!!!2C.! The!Evidence!of!the!Coming!of!God’s!Kingdom.!!3C.! Redemption!of!the!nations!and!reconciliation!to!the!grand!purposes!of!

God.!!4B.! Spiritual!giftings!to!manifest!God’s!presence!are!provided!by!the!Ruach!to!

manifest!God’s!presence!to!meet!the!needs!of!God’s!people!and!assure!that!all!worship!is!conducted!“decently!and!in!order”!!1!Cor.!14:39L40!

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3A.! THE'RUACH'HAKODESH'IS'THE'ENABLER'FOR'KINGDOM'ENTERPRISE!!1B.! Yeshua!told!His!talmidim!(disciples)!that!upon!His!ascension!into!heaven,!He!

would!send!them!a!Comforter,!One!who!would!lead!them!into!all!truth.!!!Matt.!3:11;!Jn.!14:26!

!2B.! That!Comforter,!the!Ruach5HaKodesh,5was!given!to!the!Messianic!believers!on!

Shavuot,!the!Day!of!Pentecost,!in!Acts!2!with!the!evidence!of!speaking!with!other!tongues.!!!

!3B.! This!was!in!fulfillment!of!what!the!Hebrew!Prophet!Joel!had!foretold!

centuries!earlier.!!Joel!2:28L29!!4B.! On!the!Day!of!Pentecost!and!throughout!the!Book!of!Acts,!and!over!the!

twenty!centuries!since,!God!has!been!filling!Talmidim5Meshichim!with!the!Ruach5HaKodesh5as!evidenced!by!speaking!with!other!tongues.!Luke!11:13;!Jn.!20:22!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!4:!!What'is'Salvation?)!

!Introduction:!!!What!is!Salvation?!!What!does!it!mean!to!“be!saved?”!What!is!sin?!!And!why!does!sin!need!an!atonement?!!!What!is!the!“new!birth!or!regeneration?”!And!why!does!one!need!to!be!“born!again?”!!What!are!the!benefits!of!salvation?!!And!just!how!does!one!find!and!experience!salvation?!!1A.! WHAT'DOES'IT'MEANS'TO'EXPERIENCE'SALVATION?!!1B.! Salvation!suggests!a!“rescue!from!danger.”!!!2B.! Salvation!in!Yeshua!is!far!grander!and!eternally!more!important.!!Salvation!in!

Yeshua!enables!us!to!escape!the!eternal!flames!of!punishment!and!receive!even!now!the!gift!of!eternal!life.! Rom.!3:23;!6:23!

!2A.! SIN'AND'ATONEMENT!!!1B.! Sin!is!doing,!thinking!and!saying!anything!that!is!out!of!character!with!God’s!

holiness.!!Sin!is!any!violation!of!the!will!of!God.!!2B.! When!Adam!and!Eve!sinned,!they!were!banished!from!God’s!company!and!

were!no!longer!privileged!to!enjoy!God’s!sweet!fellowship!in!the!cool!of!evening.!!

!3B.! God!would!provide!a!way!for!man!to!be!redeemed!from!his!slavery!to!sin!and!

renew!man’s!ability!to!communicate!with!God.!!!!4B.! That!atonement!for!human!sin!was!made!by!Yeshua!to!satisfy!God’s!wrath!on!

sin.!!!!3A.! REGENERATION'AND'RIGHTEOUSNESS!!1B.! Yeshua!addressed!the!issue!of!the!need!for!regeneration!or!spiritual!rebirth.!!

Jn.!3:3,7! 2B.! The!apostle!Peter!later!spoke!to!the!new!birth!experience.!!1!Pet.!1:23! 3B. When the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit, touches our spiritually dead

souls, He makes us come alive to God again. Jn. 3:5

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4A. AT THE MOMENT OF OUR GENUINE REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN MESSIAH YESHUA, WHEN WE CONFESS THAT YESHUA IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS THAT GOD HAS RAISED YESHUA FROM THE DEAD, WE EXPERIENCE SALVATION. Rom. 10:9-10. 1B. We are touched by the Ruach5HaKodesh5and!become!“born!again.” 2B. We escape all condemnation. Rom. 8:1 3B. We are declared righteous by God Himself. Rom. 6:12-14 We exchange our sin for Yeshua’s righteousness. Sin has no more power or authority over us as we understand we are the blood-purchased possession of God and are at liberty only to pursue righteousness. 4B. We recognize our own total lack of ability to attain to any measure of righteousness that would satisfy God. Rom. 3:24; 5:1; 1Jn. 3:2 !5B.! We!are!sanctified!or!made!holy!by!the!Ruach5HaKodesh.!!

1C.! First!the!Ruach5HaKodesh5washes!the!believer!clean!of!all!the!impurities!in!our!lives!making!us!people!God!can!use!for!His!glory.!!!2!Thes.!2:13!

!2C.! Secondly,!the!Ruach5HaKodesh5marks!the!believer!as!the!property!of!

God!and!prohibited!from!any!kind!of!sinful!activities.!!Rom.!6:19,22;!1!Thes.!4:3,7!

!6B.! The!Ruach5HaKodesh5takes!permanent!residence!in!our!lives,!working!with!us!

daily!and!enabling!us!to!effectively!serve!the!Lord.!!!!His!presence!and!activity!in!our!lives!serves!as!the!divine!guarantee!that!we!have!received!life!eternal.!

!!5A.! GOD’S'GRACE'AND'OUR'FAITH!!1B.! It!is!God!Himself!who!has!taken!the!initiative!to!find!us!and!to!make!us!part!of!

His!new!created!order!of!humanity!under!Yeshua.!!I!Jn.!4:19;!Jn.!3:16;!!!2B.! The!Ruach5HaKodesh5is!God’s!chief!Agent!in!speaking!to!our!hearts!and!

appealing!to!our!need!to!be!reconciled!with!our!Creator.!2!Cor.!5:19!!3B.! We!cannot!reconcile!ourselves!to!God!by!any!other!means!than!simply!

yielding!to!receive!God’s!free!gift!of!salvation!in!Yeshua.!!There!is!no!other!way.!!Eph.!2:8

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!'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'

Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!

!(Teaching!5:!!What'are'the'Two'Messianic'Religious'Rites?)!!

Introduction:!!!!!Are!there!particular!Messianic!religious!rites!that!are!essential!to!Messianic!practice?!!The!answer!is!a!simple!yes;!there!are!two:!!(1)!The!Mikvah!and!(2)!the!Seudat5HaAdon5or!Lord’s!Seder.!!1A. THE MIKVAH--WATER IMMERSION The Mikvah is one of the two ordinances practiced in the Messianic Jewish Movement. Like the Lord's Seder, the Mikvah is indispensable. 1B. Types from the Old Testament (Tenakh) Water immersion per se was not original with the Messiah Yeshua. It had several meanings was commonly practiced in the Hebrew Bible. For example: 1C. The Priestly cleansing for service/worship. Ex. 30.17-21; 40.12; Lev. 16.23-26; 22.6 2C. Ceremonial cleansing of the Leper. Lev. 14.1-9 3C. Part of the spiritual identification process for gentiles coming to faith in the God of Israel. 4C. Ritual cleansing after completion of the menstrual cycle to allow for resumption of normal conjugal rights. 5C. John's mivkah was of the Hebrew Bible order. It signified repentance and dependence on God for salvation in the midst of impending catastrophe and judgment. Matt. 3.1-8 2B. Water immersion (the Mikvah) was prescribed for all new believers by the Messiah Yeshua Himself.

1C. The Messiah Yeshua has commanded that every believer follow His own example of being fully immersed in water. Matt. 28.19

2C. The Mikvah is to be undertaken in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Matt. 28.19

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3C. The Mikvah is to be accomplished by total immersion. 1D. Total immersion is the Biblical and traditional Jewish means of the mikvah purification ritual. 2D. Circumstantial evidence would likewise indicate New Covenant mikvaot were by complete immersion. Acts 8.38 3D. The NT Greek word "baptidzo" signifies "immersion." 3B. The spiritual importance of the Mikvah. 1C. It indicates the washing away of the impurity of sin. Acts 22.16 2C. It heralds the believer's victory over sin; sin has no further dominion over him. Rom. 6.1-14 3C. It declares the believer's total identification with the Messiah Yeshua in His death, burial, and resurrection. Rom. 6.3; Gal. 3.27; Col. 2.12-13; 1 Pt. 3.21-22 4C. It espouses the believer's identification with the redeemed (spiritually circumcised) Messianic community of faith. 1 Cor .12.13; Col. 2.11 2A. THE LORD'S SEDER (Seudat HaAdon) 1B. The Hebrew Bible Background: 1C. Passover (Ex. 12) 1D. At the first Passover (Pesach), God delivered the children of Israel from enslavement to the Egyptian bondage. After some 400 years of servitude to harsh taskmasters, God set the people free to serve God. 2D. Among the rich symbolism of the Passover events and prescribed rituals are two particularly significant emblems.

1E. The Matzah, the unleavened bread, symbolizes the absence of sin. As the afikomen, it is broken

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ceremonially at the conclusion of the meal and distributed to all.

2E. The Wine symbolizes the joy associated with the accomplished redemption and liberty. The Cup of Redemption follows the breaking of the Matzah (the afikomen).

2C. The New Covenant to be divinely made with Israel and Judah was prophesied by Jer. 31:31-34. Biblical covenants were to be ratified and made operational by the mutilation of flesh and the shedding of blood.

2B. The Messiah Yeshua's Institution of the Lord's Seder. Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-32 1C. Yeshua ratified and made effective the New Covenant that God had promised six centuries earlier. 1D. After the Seder meal, Yeshua broke the matzah (afikomen) to symbolize His soon-to-be mutilated flesh and instructed them to partake. (Matt. 26:26)

2D. After their eating of the matzah, Yeshua took the Cup of Redemption (the third cup) and instructed them to drink. The wine symbolized His soon-to-be shed blood.

(Matt. 26:27-28) 2C. This Lord's Seder is to be enjoyed on a regular basis so as to perpetually acknowledge our Messiah's sacrifice on our behalf and so as to constantly celebrate its continuing effectiveness for our lives. (I Cor. 11.24-26) 3B. Qualifications for partaking in the Lord's Seder 1C. One may partake as long as the believer is also exercising a vital faith in Yeshua and has been genuinely regenerated by the Spirit of God. 2C. One may partake who has repented of sin, i.e., one who is not living in a state of rebellion against the Lord. (The initial Biblical witness of this is water immersion) 1 Cor. 11:27-29 4B. The Spiritual Witness of the Lord's Seder to the Believer. By partaking, the Believer: 1C. Acknowledges his confidence in and total dependence upon the atoning work of Messiah. (I Cor. 11.24)

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2C. Identifies with and is acknowledged as an integral part of the Messianic Faith Community (the Lord's Believing Body). 3C. Embraces his liberation from enslavement to sin and self and his freedom to pursue righteousness in his new life in God. Rom. 6:11-14 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'

Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!

!(Teaching!6:!!Who'are'the'Patriarchs'and'What'is'the'Torah?)!!Introduction:!!

Who!are!the!Patriarchs!and!What!is!the!Torah?551A.! The!Hebrew!Bible!Patriarchs!are!Chiefly!Three:!!Abraham!(Gen.!11:27L

25:11),!Isaac!(Gen.!21:1L25:11),!and!Jacob!(Gen.!25:19L35:29).!!

1B.! They!functioned!primarily!in!Mesopotamia,!Egypt!and!the!Promised!Land!of!Israel!during!the!18th!and!19th!centuries!before!Yeshua’s!coming,!nearly!four!thousand!years!ago.!

!2B.! God!made!major!promises!to!all!three!of!the!Patriarchs:!

1C.! To!Abraham:!!15:5L21;!17:4L8;!18:18L19;!22:17L18!2C.! To!Isaac:!!26:2L4!3C.! To!Jacob!(Israel):!!28:13L15;!35:11L12;!46:3!

!2B.! God!promised!each!of!the!Patriarchs!three!essential!things:!

!1C.! Their!children!would!have!vast!real!estate!holdings!reaching!

from!“the!river!of!Egypt”!in!the!southwest!to!the!Euphrates!in!the!northeast.!

!2C.! Their!descendants!would!be!like!the!stars!of!the!night!sky!or!

the!sand!of!the!seashore!for!number.!!3C.! Through!their!progeny,!the!children!of!Abraham,!Isaac,!and!

Jacob!would!be!a!blessing!to!all!the!nations!of!the!world.!!2A.! The!Birth!of!National!of!Israel!!

1B.! When!Jacob!followed!his!son!Joseph’s!guidelines!to!bring!the!extended!family!of!Israel!to!Egypt!to!avoid!starvation!from!drought!conditions,!all!70!souls!of!Israel!relocated!to!Egypt!where!Joseph!now!ruled!as!second!only!to!Pharaoh.!

!2B.! Within!a!few!generations,!political!turmoil!in!Egypt!led!to!the!Egyptian!

enslavement!of!the!children!of!Israel.!!!!

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3B.! Four!centuries!later,!God!used!Moses!to!liberate!Israel!from!their!Egyptian!masters!and!miraculously!brought!them!out.!!After!some!40!years!as!nomads,!God!instructed!Israel!to!receive!their!promised!land!and!establish!a!national!government.!

!4B.! God!provided!the!new!nation!with!a!Constitution!and!ByLlaws!in!the!

form!of!the!Torah,!or!the!writings!of!Moses.!!Hebrew!adherence!to!this!Law,!the!Torah,!would!protect!Israel’s!national!interests!and!preserve!Israel!in!perpetuity!as!Torah!was!obeyed.!!If!God!was!disregarded!or!His!Word!disrespected,!Israel!would!be!removed!from!the!Land!until!such!a!time!that!Israel!would!become!obedient!and!faithful!to!her!divine!assignment.!

!5B.! This!constitution!and!byLlaws!is!contained!in!the!first!five!books!of!the!

Bible:!!Genesis,!Exodus,!Leviticus,!Numbers!and!Deuteronomy.!!

1C.! Genesis!deals!with!the!origins!of!the!universe,!man!and!the!patriarchs.!

2C.! Exodus!focuses!upon!Israel’s!liberation!from!Egypt!and!early!directions!for!the!nation’s!worship!of!God.!

3C.! Leviticus!provides!a!religious!calendar!for!the!nation!and!a!religious!priestly!system!for!operating!the!Sanctuary,!making!sacrifices,!and!priestly!codes!of!conduct.!!

4C.! Numbers!is!so!named!due!to!the!divinely!called!for!census!of!Israel.!

5C.! Deuteronomy,!or!Second!Law,!is!basically!Moses’!reiteration!of!the!Torah!for!the!benefit!of!Israel!as!they!prepared!to!settle!in!the!Promised!Land.!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! 15!

'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!7:!Who'are'the'Hebrew'Prophets'and'What'is'the'Hebrew'Bible?)!

!Introduction:!!Who!are!the!Hebrew!Prophets!and!What!is!the!Hebrew!Bible?!!1A.! The!Hebrew!Bible!consists!of!three!chief!parts:!!! 1B.! The!Torah!(the!five!books!of!Moses!as!seen!last!lesson)!written!in!the!

! 13th!BCE.!!! 2B.! The!Neviim!(the!prophetic!writings!of!the!Hebrew!Prophets)!!!!

! 1C.! There!are!four!major!prophets!(e.g.,!their!books!are!longer).!!! These!include!Isaiah,!Jeremiah!!(and!Lamentations),!Ezekiel,!! and!Daniel,!written!between!the!8th!and!6th!centuries!BCE.!!

! 2C.! There!are!12!minor!prophets!(e.g.,!those!with!shorter!books):!! Hosea,!Joel,!Amos,!Obadiah,!Jonah,!Micah,!Nahum,!Habakkuk,!

Zephaniah,!Haggai,!Zechariah,!and!Malachi.!!These!were!written!between!the!8th!and!4th!centuries!BCE.!

!! 3B.! The!Ketuvim'(History!and!Wisdom!Literature)!

!! 1C.! The!Historical!Books!include:!!Two!books!of!Samuel,!two!books!

! of!Chronicles,!two!books!of!Kings,!Joshua,!Judges,!Ruth,!Esther,!! Nehemiah!and!Ezra.!!These!were!written!between!the!11th!and!! 6th!century!BCE.!

!! 2C.! The!Wisdom!Literature!includes:!!Job,!Psalms,!Proverbs,!!

! Ecclesiastes!and!the!Song!of!Solomon.!!These!were!composed!! in!the!10th!and!11th!centuries!BCE.!!

4B.! The!Torah,!Neviim,!and!Ketuvim!are!frequently!assigned!the!acronym:!!TeNaK!and!pronounced!Tenach.!

!2A.! The!writers!of!the!Hebrew!Bible:!

!1B.! Were!descendants!of!the!Patriarchs!!(Hebrews!of!either!Israel!or!

Judah)!!2B.! Preached!and!wrote!under!the!inspiration!of!the!Ruach5HaKodesh53B.! Although!composed!over!nearly!a!thousand!years,!these!SpiritL

inspired!writings!are!in!full!agreement!and!are!mutually!supportive.!

! 16!

!3A.! The!Hebrew!Bible!fully!anticipates!God’s!Later!Revelation!in!Yeshua:!!

1B.! God’s!purposes!to!redeem!all!mankind!and!reconcile!the!nations!back!to!Himself!and!receive!their!worship!is!clear:!

!! 1C.! In!God’s!promises!to!the!Patriarchs!!

(See!Gen.)!2C.! In!the!call!for!universal!redemption!in!the!Ps:!2;!33:10L12;!

68:31L32;!72:11,17,19,!etc.!3C.! In!the!prophetic!complaint!that!Israel!was!presently!not!

engaged!in!global!proclamation!of!God!but!would!undergo!chastening!to!get!on!God’s!track!prescribed!for!Israel.!

4C.! In!the!Messianic!prophecies!proclaiming!Yeshua’s!mission.!!!Isa.!11,!53,!etc.!

5C.! The!graphic!portrayal!of!global!redemption!in!the!Last!Days,!Isa.!65:17L25,!Ezek.!48,!etc.!

!! 2B.! The!Hebrew!Bible!anticipates!the!establishing!of!a!New!Covenant!

! between!God!and!Israel!and!Judah.!!!! Jer.!31:31L34;!Matt.!26:26L28!

!! ! This!finds!its!inauguration!at!the!Last!Passover!Yeshua!eats!with!His!

! disciples!where!He!ratifies!and!makes!fully!operational!God’s!long!! awaited!New!Covenant!with!Israel!and!Judah!with!His!own!blood!and!! mutilated!flesh.!!This!corresponds!to!the!covenant!making!procedures!! in!Jewish!antiquity.!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!

! 17!

'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!8:!!Who'are'the'Apostles'and'What'is'the'Brit'HeChadasha?)!

!Introduction:!!Who!are!the!Apostles!and!What!is!the!Brit5HeChadasha?551A.! THE'HEBREW'PROPHETS'HAD'INDICATED'THAT'WHEN'THE'KINGDOM'OF'GOD'CAME'TO'

THE'WORLD,'TWO'GREAT'REALITIES'WOULD'ACCOMPANY'THE'COMING'OF'THE'KINGDOM:!!1B.! The!Outpouring!of!the!Ruach5HaKadosh5upon!Israel!and!all!flesh,!e.g.,!Joel!

2:28L29.!!(More5about5this5experience5in5our5final5lesson)! 2B. The Messiah would be sent by God the Father to lead the advancement of

the Kingdom of God upon the earth, e.g., Isa. 9:6-7 2A.! WITH'THE'COMING'OF'YESHUA,'WE'SEE'INTENSIFIED'MANIFESTATIONS'OF'THE'RUACH'

HAKODESH'EVEN'AS'YESHUA'IS'PROCLAIMING'THE'COMING'OF'THE'KINGDOM'OF'GOD.!!

The!!Ruach5HaKodesh5brings!a!heavy!anointing!upon!the!Messiah!as!He!is!Anointed!to!bring!redemption!to!Israel!and!the!world.!!!Luke!1:30L35;!3:21;!Jn.!1:32;!Luke!4:1,16;!Mark!1:15;!Luke!4:43.!!!

3A.! YESHUA'LAUNCHES'THE'UNIVERSAL'KINGDOM'OF'GOD.!!1B.! After!Yeshua!had!Himself!proclaimed!the!coming!of!the!Kingdom!of!God!with!

visible!evidences!of!the!Ruach5HaKodesh5in!His!own!life!and!ministry,!He!was!offered!up!as!the!sacrificial!Lamb!of!God!to!take!away!the!sin!of!the!world.!!!Jn.!3:17!

!2B.! After!Yeshua’s!resurrection!from!the!dead!on!the!third!day,!and!after!40!days!

of!ministry!to!His!original!talmidim5(disciples)!who!were!now!to!be!apostles,!they!were!sent!out!to!fully!represent!the!Kingdom!of!God.!!Matt.!28:18L20!

3B. Yeshua!instructed!the!apostles!to!return!to!Jerusalem!to!await!the!outpouring!

of!the5Ruach5HaKodesh5upon!them.!!

4B. The promised Comforter was then sent upon them in Acts 2 to spiritually empower the apostles and all Messianic believers to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to all men everywhere. Acts 2:1-4

!5B. The empowering infilling of the Ruach HaKodesh then equipped them to

do great exploits for the Kingdom of God recorded for us through the Book of Acts.

! 18!

3A.! IN'THE'SAME'WAY'THAT'THE'RUACH'HAKODESH'INSPIRED'THE'HEBREW'PROPHETS'TO'WRITE'THE'39'BOOKS'OF'THE'HEBREW'BIBLE,'THE'RUACH'LIKEWISE'INSPIRED'THE'HEBREW'APOSTLES'TO'COMPOSE'THE'27'BOOKS'OF'THE'JEWISH'NEW'COVENANT'OR'NEW'TESTAMENT.!

!1B.! There!are!four!Gospel!accounts:!

1C.! Matthew!emphasizes!Yeshua’s!Messiahship!in!fulfillment!of!the!prophecies!from!the!Hebrew!Bible.!

2C.! Mark!makes!clear!the!radical!nature!of!the!Kingdom’s!coming!and!its!obedience!to!the!Master!of!the!Universe.!

3C.! Luke!strongly!emphasizes!Yeshua!the!Jewish!Messiah!who!was!filled!with!compassion!and!good!works,!bringing!healing!and!a!Word!from!heaven!to!the!Jewish!masses.!

4C.! John'points!up!the!divine!character!of!Yeshua!as!the!Son!of!God,!the!New!Adam,!the!One!perfectly!revealing!the!loving!and!holy!character!!of!the!Creator!so!keen!to!reconcile!Israel!and!all!nations!to!Himself.!!

2B.! The'Book'of'Acts!offers!a!!historical!account!of!the!Ruach5HaKodesh’s5use!of!the!Jewish!apostolic!band!as!they!followed!the!direction!of!the!Spirit!in!spreading!the!Gospel!across!the!Mediterranean!world!and!Mesopotamia.!!The!28!chapters!of!the!Book!of!Acts!make!clear!the!powerful!anointing!the!Apostles!enjoyed!as!they!preached!the!resurrected!Yeshua!to!Israel!and!all!peoples!and!the!hope!for!reconciliation!to!God!that!comes!with!entry!into!the!Kingdom!of!God.!!

3B.! Rabbi!Shaul,!also!known!as!Paul!the!Apostle,!was!a!Jewish!rabbi!who!we!see!coming!to!faith!in!Yeshua!as!part!of!the!narrative!in!the!Book!of!Acts.!!He!became!a!RuachLanointed!proclaimer!of!the!Kingdom!of!God!and!salvation!in!Yeshua.!!There!are!some!13'books'in'the'New'Covenant!that!are!letters!with!his!apostolic!instruction!to!local!congregations.!!These!letters!are!filled!with!the!richest!understanding!of!the!things!of!God!as!well!as!practical!guidelines!for!congregational!living.!!

4B.! There!are!a!number!of!other!books!or!epistles!written!by!Peter,'James,'John,'and'Jude.'!

5B.! The'Book'of'Hebrews!contains!the!wonderful!correspondence!between!God’s!earthly!Temple!and!His!heavenly!Temple.!!Yeshua’s!highLpriestly!action!of!making!the!blood!sacrifice!and!pouring!out!His!own!blood!upon!the!mercy!seat!before!God!are!highlighted.!!

6B.! The'Book'of'the'Revelation,!or!the!Apocalypse,!(the5manifestation5of5something5that5had5been5hidden)5focuses!on!the!absolute!confidence!of!the!final!outcome!of!God’s!actions!in!the!earth.!!God!will!be!victorious!as!His!eternal!kingdom!is!established!under!the!glorious!banner!of!Yeshua,!the!Lamb!of!God!and!the!conquering!Lion!of!Judah.!

! 19!

'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!9:!!What'is'a'Messianic'Congregation?)!

!Introduction:!!!For!any!believer!to!be!a!real!Talmid5Meshichi!or!genuine!Messianic!disciple!of!Yeshua,!he!or!she!needs!to!be!committed!to!a!congregation!engaged!in!the!proclamation!of!the!Gospel!to!all!men!everywhere.!!This!raises!questions!like!what!is!a!Messianic!Congregation?!!What!is!the!role!of!Yeshua!and!the!Ruach!in!the!congregation?!!Is!accountability!to!a!pastor!useful?!!And!how!does!the!Messianic!Congregation!finance!its!ministries?!!Well,!let’s!answer!these!questions.!!1A.! WHAT'IS'A'MESSIANIC'CONGREGATION?!!! Every!Messianic!Jewish!Congregation!is!a!full!representation!of!Yeshua!to!the!surrounding!community.!!In!most!cases,!everything!the!community!knows!about!Yeshua!will!be!based!upon!their!exposure!to!the!teaching!and!loving!service!of!the!Messianic!community.!!!! !2A.! WHO'IS'THE'HEAD'OF'THE'CONGREGATION?!!

It!is!absolutely!important!for!us!to!remember!that!Yeshua!rose!from!the!dead!and!is!seated!at!the!right!hand!of!the!majesty!to!make!intercession!for!us!in!His!highLpriestly!role.!!But!just!as!important!is!it!for!us!to!realize!that!the!Living!Son!of!God!is!the!Active!Head!and!Master!of!the!local!Messianic!congregation.!!!Yeshua!is!always!and!everywhere!the!King!and!most!obviously!among!the!local!Messianic!congregational!ambassadors!of!Yeshua!Himself.!!3A.! SPIRITUAL'LEADERS!!1B.! The!Messiah!Yeshua,!the!Great!Shepherd!of!God’s!flock,!does!divinely!assign!

underLshepherds!or!pastors!to!follow!His!personal!direction!and!properly!tend!to!the!spiritual!needs!of!God’s!people,!feeding!the!flock!the!full!counsel!of!God’s!Holy!Word.!!Yeshua!is!the!Living!Master!Builder!of!the!Kingdom!of!God.!!All!parties!are!to!be!attentive!to!what!Yeshua!is!saying!to!the!local!congregation.!

!2B.! To!fully!equip!the!full!Messianic!community!to!do!Kingdom!work!and!thereby!

engage!the!spiritual!energies!of!all!the!disciplined!believers!walking!in!holiness,!purity,!and!in!the!power!of!the!Ruach5HaKodesh,!Yeshua!has!gifted!the!congregation!with!RuachLappointed!leadership.!!These!will!then!fill!the!offices!of:!

!

! 20!

1C.! Apostles—those!sent!by!divine!command!to!proclaim!the!Gospel!in!new!spheres!to!bring!God’s!light!into!darkened!corners.!

!2C.! Prophets—those!who!serve!Kingdom!interests!in!the!local!

congregations!or!in!the!public!sphere!to!proclaim!to!all!just!what!“Thus!saith!the!Lord.”!!Prophets,!like!all!officers!in!the!Body,!are!in!submission!to!the!spiritual!leadership.!

!3C.! Evangelists—those!especially!gifted!with!abilities!and!drive!to!

proclaim!the!Gospel!to!the!unbelieving!world!or!who!inspire!the!members!of!Messiah’s!local!body!of!believers!to!engage!more!fully!in!reaching!the!lost.!

!4C.! Pastors/Teachers—those!knowledgeable!of!the!Word!of!God!who!are!

able!to!feed!the!flock!of!God!the!full!counsel!of!God’s!revelation.!!Solid!pastoral!care!and!quality!teaching!will!prevent!spiritual!disease!or!even!starvation!among!God’s!people.!!Quality!and!substantive!teaching!are!vital!to!Kingdom!growth.!!See!Eph.!4:11L16.!

!4A.! THE'RUACH'HAKODESH’S'MANIFESTATIONS'AND'SPIRITUAL'EQUIPPING'MINISTRIES!!1B.! We!find!in!1!Cor.!12:4L11!a!list!of!nine!spiritual!gifts!that!need!to!be!Ruach*

activated!and!exercised!within!the!Messianic!Community!for!the!empowerment!so!vital!to!our!spiritual!and!Kingdom!successes.!

2B. We also find in Rom. 12:1-8 a set of Ruach-endowed gifts most useful in

the proper functioning of the local Messianic congregation to most correctly exalt Yeshua in the Community.

5A.! WHAT'IS'TITHING?''AND'HOW'IS'A'MESSIANIC'JEWISH'CONGREGATION'TO'BE'FINANCIALLY'

SUPPORTED?!!

The!Bible!makes!it!very!clear!that!God’s!people!are!to!bring!a!tithe!or!10%!of!all!their!income!into!the!local!storehouse!or!congregation!to!financially!undergird!the!local!expression!of!Yeshua!in!each!community.! Mal.!3:7L12;!2!Cor.!9:7!

!!!!!!!!!

!!

! 21!

'Course'for'Talmidim'Meshichim'Foundations for Messianic Jewish Faith

By!Dr.!Raymond!Gannon!!(Teaching!10:!!What'is'the'Infilling'of'the'Ruach'HaKodesh?)!

!Introduction:!!!What!is!the!Infilling!of!the!Ruach5HaKodesh?55And!why!is!it!essential!to!our!victorious!living!in!the!Kingdom!of!God?!!1A.! THE'INFILLING'OF'THE'SPIRIT'WAS'THE'LONG'PROPHESIED'SPIRITUAL'BLESSING'THAT'

WOULD'ACCOMPANY'THE'COMING'OF'YESHUA'AND'THE'KINGDOM'OF'GOD.!!!(Joel!2:28L29)!!

!2A.! YESHUA'INSTRUCTED'THE'MESSIANIC'JEWS'ON'MT'OLIVET'TO'“GO'PREACH'THE'GOSPEL'

TO'EVERY'CREATURE”'BUT'FIRST'THEY'WERE'TO'RETURN'TO'JERUSALEM'UNTIL'THEY'WERE'ENDUED'WITH'THE'POWER'COMING'WITH'THE'INFILLING'OF'THE'RUACH'HAKODESH.'''Acts!1:4L8!

3A.! THE'OBEDIENT'MESSIANIC'COMMUNITY'AWAITED'THE'OUTPOURING'OF'THE'RUACH'IN'

JERUSALEM'AND'WERE'NOT'DISAPPOINTED.!!Acts!2:1L4! 4A. THE EMPOWERING INFILLING OF THE RUACH HAKODESH THEN EQUIPPED

THEM TO DO GREAT EXPLOITS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD RECORDED FOR US THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS.

1B. They were equipped to boldly preach.

Acts 2:38; 4:31; 5:32 2B. They were ready to share this great blessing with others. Acts 8:17; 9:31 3B.! This!infilling!of!the!Spirit!is!for!all!Messianic!believers!in!Yeshua.!!!

Acts!10:44L47! 4B.! This!provided!spiritual!inspiration!in!all!their!hard!labors!for!Messiah.!!!! Acts!13:52;!19:6! !!!