SBMF News

I was recently asked why Messianic Jewish Believers use liturgy form a Messianic Jewish Siddur, in their Worship Services. The answer is simple. Here are some examples.

1. The liturgy that we use in our Worship Services relates directly to the Word.

3. The liturgy that we use comes from the liturgy used in Jewish Worship Services.

4. The liturgy that we use in our Messianic Worship Services illustrates the Mashiach (Christ) that is in the original Jewish liturgy.

5. The liturgy that Messianic Jews use will teach our members the prayers, praise and worship, Jewish people use in their Worship Services.

6. This liturgy is the Word and the regular usage of it is a way to teach it to our brothers and sisters in the L-rd.

7. Speaking on a common ground can speak the Truth to those who don’t know Yeshua or understand the connection between Abba, Yeshua (the Son) and the Ruach HaKodesh.

8. The Siddur is an order of service prayer book, known to Jewish people and Messianic Jews alike. The liturgy in the Siddur that Messianic Believers use, is ordered to be similar to the order of Service in a Jewish Synagogue's Siddur.

There are three distinct and main functions in our use of Hebraic Jewish liturgy.

1. This is how we worship the L-rd. Different people groups have different ways that they communicate their Worship to the L-rd. As Jews we worshiped using Biblical Hebrew in the Word in song, prayer and praise. As Messianic Believers we do the same thing. You may know that there are prayers and teachings in some Jewish Siddurs (Jewish Prayer Books) that relate to salvation by works. As Messianic Believers we omit these prayers related to the works of man to Salvation. We understand where our Salvation comes from. (Titus 3:4-7; Philippians 3:7-11; Romans 11:5-6)

Salvation comes by believing in Mashiach Yeshua, asking Him to be L-rd of our lives and asking Him to forgive our sins. He is the blood sacrifice for the sins of the world (Romans 6:5-11). There is no Temple to bring our sacrifice for sin. G-d knew that the Temple would be destroyed. He came to the world in the form of the Son of Man to be the only true sacrifice for our sins.

2. When you teach someone about Yeshua you need to speak in a way that they will understand (Acts 2:1-16). When you teach the truth in Mashiach to Jewish people, you need to speak their language. Using the liturgy that Jews have used since they first came to a Worship Service, brings them to an understanding that the same L-rd is L-rd of all. The same G-d is G-d for all. There is only one True G-d and the G-d of the Christians is the same one as they have worshiped, all their lives (John 17:1-5).

3. "In our contact with the saints we should have only one motive: To minister Mashiach (Christ) to them so that they may grow in the L-rd. Then G-d will send His Word as the rain and snow that water his people to sanctify, transform, and conform them to His image for the building up of the Body." (Marty Roberts, Chicago, Illinois) (Isaiah 55:10-11; Ephesians 4:15-16).

We must build up the Saints (ha'Kadoshim) in Mashiach so they can go out to tell the Good News of Salvation in Yeshua to others. Saints who are healthy in their relationship with Yeshua, pass on the gift of Salvation to others. (2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:9)

We are required to teach our brothers and sisters in the L-rd to speak forth the Truth to all people groups. To do this we must teach them to speak in a language and way that those people groups will understand.

The Jewish Blessings and Prayers that Messianic Believers use illustrate the Christ (Mashiach) in the language that a Jewish person understands. I am not speaking just about the Hebrew language. I am speaking about a paradigm view and understanding from that viewpoint. (Acts 2:1-16)

A Jewish person will not come to Services on a day other than the Shabbat (The Sabbath). Besides believing in keeping the Sabbath many Messianic Jews meet on the Sabbath to open the doors to Jewish people who also wish to keep the Sabbath. Most Messianic Believers and Jewish people alike believe that the Words of Leviticus 23 are Laws that G-d has given us to worship Him. We Believers know that this is not a matter of salvation. Salvation is a free gift of grace, given to those who choose the true Messiah, Mashiach Yeshua. Most Messianic Believers understand that Salvation is not about our works, but His grace (Titus 3:4-7; Philippians 3:7-11; Romans 11:5-6; Ephesians 2:4-10;). We understand that keeping the Shabbat has no connection to our salvation. Keeping the Shabbat is about honoring G-d. Messianic Believers Worship G-d on His Shabbat to honor Him and lead Jewish people to Yeshua, by offering them the venue of a Worship that they understand.

Our job here on earth is to lead others to G-d so they can make a choice to follow Him or not (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). As Messianic Believers we teach the Truth in the Word, the whole Word (the Tanach and the Brit Hadashah). In other words we teach the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation (2Timothy 3:16).

The liturgy we use illustrates the connection between the Tanach and the Brit Hadashah (the Old Testament and the New Testament).

The purpose and reasons are obvious. There are three functions in the good work we do in Mashiach. When it is not about bringing others to Yeshua we should forget about it. If it is not about our gaining more of Yeshua in our lives, we must forget about it. If it is not about Yeshua we better forget about it. It is about Him, and service to Him. He is the giver of Salvation. We can do nothing except choose Life in Yeshua and yet He chose us first (John 15:6-17).

To learn how to speak Christ to specific people groups we should ask those who minister Christ to those people groups. All questions are welcome. Our job at the SBMF is to equip others to speak forth Mashiach Yeshua to our Jewish kinsman. I pray that this helps you understand why we use a Messianic Jewish Siddur (Messianic Jewish Prayer Book) in our Worship services.

Speak the Word in love to all. These are the Words of Yeshua. As Christians we speak the Word forth to tell the Good News. How often do we use the following to tell the Good News of Yeshua? This is also using liturgy.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, " Rabbi, we know that You have come from G-d as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless G-d is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of G-d." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of G-d. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' " The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. "For G-d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "For G-d did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of G-d. "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in G-d." (John 3:1-21 NASU)

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of G-d is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15 NASU}

The L-rd bless you, and watch over you; The L-rd make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The L-rd lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. [Numbers 6:24-26]