Unity within the Messianic movement

''Are you joking?”

 No!

For most of us maintaining unity in our own homes can be a very challenging, however the challenge to establish unity amongst believers may sometimes seem impossible.

Before I attempt to address this issue of unity, let me try and dispel some myths: First of all it is a myth to believe that we must all agree. How boring anyway! There will always be differences because all of us have a limited knowledge and understanding. Secondly many people confuse unity with “uniformity” or “ecumenical” oneness and that can lead to unscriptural compromise. In fact, we see in the prophecies that this will be one of the end time strategies of the enemy and that YHVH has called us to “come out of Babylon”.

There is a destructive kind of division that causes truth to” fall in the streets.” – Isaiah 59:14 and Mark 3:25 “… if a house is divided against itself, that house is unable to stand.

In an apparent contradiction Yahshua said: Mat 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword,1 Footnote: 1 In Lk. 12:51 the word “division” is used, while “sword” has the same meaning here.

Mat 10:35 for I have come to bring division, a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law –

Mat 10:36 and a man’s enemies are those of his own household.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 12:53, Mic. 7:6.

We need to understand the context in which Yahshua was speaking. Yahshua was warning his talmadim (disciples) that they would often find themselves in an environment that was extremely hostile towards the real truth of his Word - The Torah. This condition prevails today, not only in the world but also within our own hearts (Jer 17:9)

We might not like to admit it, but most people out there don’t really care too much about what we think or say, however the days are soon coming when this will change. Truth can often be rejected when it first appears to us because it appears negative and contrary to all that we have learned and believed. We have a sad legacy of this in our own country South Africa. Many people rejected the idea that “apartheid” was inherently unrighteous. Today many of us feel ashamed that we did not do more to speak out against this injustice. The same is often true when YHVH restores truth to His people.

Yahshua knew that many would reject his teaching of the Torah and so he says in 

Mat 7:13,14 “Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. “Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed1 which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Footnote: 1 Or the way is afflicted.

Tehillim/Psa 119:142 Your righteousness is righteousness forever, And Your Torah is truth.

Yahshua never came to do away with the teachings of the Torah.

Mat 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete. Footnote: 1 The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures.

Mat 5:18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17.

Mat 5:19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.

In the Messianic restoration within the Hebrew roots movement one would think that our search for truth would at least unite us; yet we appear to be no better off than our Jewish brothers when it comes to this issue. There is a saying “two Jews, three opinions”

Let us however not justify our carnality. Shaul teaches in:

1Co 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is envy, and strife, and divisions among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man?

1Co 3:4 For when one says, “I am of Sha’ul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not fleshly?

1Co 3:5 What then is Apollos, and what is Sha’ul, but servants through whom you believed, as the Master assigned to each?

1Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but Elohim was giving growth.

1Co 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is any at all, but Elohim who gives the increase.

1Co 3:8 And he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

1Co 3:9 For we are fellow workers of Elohim, you are the field of Elohim, the building of Elohim.

1Co 3:10 According to the favour of Elohim which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But each one should look how he builds on it.

1Co 3:11 For no one is able to lay any other foundation except that which is laid, which is יהושע Messiah.

1Co 3:12 And if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1Co 3:13 each one’s work shall be revealed, for the day shall show it up, because it is revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove the work of each one, what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If anyone’s work remains, which he has built on, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.

1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?

1Co 3:17 If anyone destroys the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, which you are.

1Co 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish, so that he might become wise.

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with Elohim. For it has been written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

Dear brothers and sister there is such a yearning in the hearts of mankind to see and come to know our Messiah in the deepest possible way, yet our doctrines and behaviour have obscured and continues to obscure the beauty of our Messiah to a world in desperate need of a true and full revelation of him.

Eph 4:1  I call upon you therefore, I the prisoner of the Master, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

Eph 4:2  with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Eph 4:3  being eager to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace –

Eph 4:4  one body and one Spirit, as you also were called in one expectation of your calling,

Eph 4:5  one Master, one belief, one immersion,

Eph 4:6  one Elohim and Father of all,¹ who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Footnote: ¹Mk. 12:32,34, 1 Cor. 8:6, 1 Tim. 2:5, Mk. 12:29-34.

The Parable of the Ships.

Stories of ships have always captured our imaginations. Consider the following parable about ships and unity within the Hebrew roots restoration:

There are a multitude of ships out there on the ocean of humanity. Note carefully please that most of these ships sincerely seek the goal of the Kingdom. These ships are all headed for the Messianic rule of the millennial kingdom. Many of these ships will ultimately reach their destination regardless of how you feel about them. Sadly not all these ships are going to make it (Parable of the 10 virgins Mat 25). There are some severe storms coming ahead as well as dangerous obstacles that are floating on the ocean. We have been given many clear instructions concerning our voyage yet many choose contrary instructions as to how to reach our destination. One the great dangers on our ships is “mutiny” there are several people who believe they have been chosen by the Admiral of the fleet to usurp positions of authority that have not been given them. These people must be asked to leave. If you look on the ocean you will see a multitude of small little boats. These people refuse to gather with other sailors and claim they don’t need to listen or take any instructions from men. They apparently receive direct instructions from the Admiral of the fleet. Sadly many of them will never reach their destiny.

Conclusion:

Let us all look out for one another, warn and rebuke if necessary, and seek to make this journey as safe and as pleasant as possible for all our fellow sailors.

May you have a blessed journey and let’s look forward to seeing one another in the millennium.