Tov Rose
Charismatic, gentiles, jesus, jewish, jewish evangelism, jews, judaism, messiah, Pentecostal, Pentecostalism, romans 11, yeshua
-
1217 Views
17May
I think what you’re going to continue to see is the continued growth of Pentecostalism and the charismatic
movement. The Charismatics and Pentecostals have already won the worship war—most churches are now comfortable with what would be "Calvary Chapel" worship in 1980. They are in the process of winning the spiritual gifts debate concerning cessationism, a view which seems in decline in the next generation.
Yes, that growth has slowed in North America and the charismatic practices (both inside and outside of the movement) have also been tamed, however, this is not the case elsewhere in the world. The next generation coming up in the North American Church is not as reticent to embrace the belief that God is still active in signs and wonders today.
In other words, Pentecostals and charismatics are growing and influencing, but they also look a lot less like the Pentecostals and charismatics of a few decades ago.
Many in the movement are shying away from the oddities and excesses of Pentecostalism, while evangelicals are moving towards the theology of Spirit-filled and Spirit-led ministries.
I see both of those trends continuing.
Want to know why I think this? Because, Cessationism is based on the "Greek" need to follow wisdom, to engage in intellectual debate to win someone to Jesus through convincing proofs. This has worked in the previous generations among Gentiles (Non-Jews). Jews on the other hand are less likely than other nations , people and tribes to be won over by intellectual argument. They are more interested in seeing the POWER of God revealed.
One of the primary reasons for this, is that modern Judaism is devoid of power and interaction with the Godhead. It has been heavily influenced by the Greek's Socratic (intellectual) methods of reasoning. The majority of Jewish people worldwide have for this reason rejected the religion of Judaism.
The Apostle Paul rightly described this in 1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom..."
My Jewish people still demand signs of God's power. For this reason God will continue to raise up those of the Nations who are not Jewish to work in Signs and Wonders, because the proper method God has laid out for the salvation of Jews is for Gentiles (Non-Jews) to do the work of Jewish evangelism! This is the purpose that holds together all the words of Paul's letter to the Romans. In fact, it is his central theme and is discussed at length in Romans 9-11, which has been ignored throughout most of Church history, but in these last days, God is raising up thoughtful, Spirit-directed Gentiles who are heeding the call of God and His desire for Gentiles to reach out to Jewish people with Love and Power. Gentiles from other nations who have embraced the present movement of God's Spirit are also passionate about Jewish things, like the Jewish Roots of faith in Jesus, and reaching out to Jewish people with the Gospel. Unlike most of the Church in the West, which has traditionally rejected both the power of God for today, AND the need for them to personally and denominationally do Jewish evangelism.
Paul's central sentence in the entire book of Romans is found in chapter 11:11, "So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous."
Those denominations that have historically rejected Jewish evangelism--making Israel Jealous--are those top seven today in the USA who have become the most apostate.
- United Methodist Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
- Episcopal Church
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- American Baptist Churches
- United Church of Christ (UCC)
- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
It is through the marriage of believing Gentile's showing both the LOVE and POWER of God through signs and wonders that mass numbers of Jewish people will take notice and become JEALOUS for what those Non-Jewish people have, namely a relationship with God that pales in comparison to what non-believing Jews have.
Which begs this important question: Will you, your church, your ministry fellowship, network and/or denomination go down the same road as the "Big Seven," or will you choose to follow God's method and His plan which is fulfilled in this: If you are not Jewish, then by your very existence in the Kingdom of God, you are Jewish evangelism.
-Tov
