First let's get something clear about erroneous notions of Paul and his founding a new religion, which he didn't. True, the halakhah of his Judaism switched from the Pharisaic oral law to the Ruach Hakodesh, but his religion was still one of the Judaisms of the time, not a new non-Judaism Gentile religion.

EZRA NECHEMYAH (NEHEMIAH)

Look at Ezra 3:8. Like Ezra the kohen, the Kohen Gadol Yehoshua

(Aramaic; Hebrew: Joshua) son of Jehozadak (alternately Jozadak)

and his son Joiakim were descendents of the Aaron-Zadok family

line. This man is the one in Zech. 6:11-12 whose personal name

is the Moshiach, giving us an extremely important and impressive

prophecy that pinpoints exactly what the coming Moshiach would be

named, Rebbe Melech Moshiach Yehoshua.

CHRONOLOGY: 722 B.C.E. Samaria falls as the northern kingdom of

Israel begins the Assyrian deportation and dispersion. ca. 712

B.C.E. Isaiah predicts Cyrus will be the name of the one who will

rebuild the Beis Hamikdash (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1, 13). 605 B.C.E.

Jeremiah predicts there will be 70 years of Exile (Jeremiah

25:11; 29:10). 586 B.C.E. Beis Hamikdash destroyed. From

586-516 (70 years) there is no Beis Hamikdash until it was

finally completed ca. 516/515 B.C.E. after many delays, when

King Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon in 539 B.C.E. and sends the

Jewish Persian governor Zerubbabel and the Kohen Gadol Yehoshua

back to Jerusalem in 538 B.C.E. (Esther's story took place around

483 B.C.E. and Malachi may have prophesied around 433 B.C.E.,

after Nehemiah returned to Persia. Haggai and Zechariah

prophesied in Jerusalem around 520 B.C.E.) Ezra returns to

Jerusalem in 458 B.C.E. and Nehemiah returns in 445 B.C.E.

This corpus called Ezra-Nehemiah tells the story of how G-d's

people struggled and were divinely aided in finally rebuilding

the Beis Hamikdash and refortifying Jerusalem so that its walls

could protect its people, the restored remnant of Zareel. When

we read the book of Nehemiah we will see that the restored Jewish

commonwealth (with a Jewish Persian governor, Nehemiah) faced

many problems. Nehemiah tells us about unfair interest (Neh.

12), Tobiah the Ammonite camped out in Beis Hamikdash quarters

(Neh. 13), Shabbos-breakers, stolen tithes (see also Mal.

3:8-l2), and heathenish infiltration into the people of G-d by

such means as intermarriage of the holy people with foreign

idol-worshippers. But Ezra had to bring the people back to the

Word of G-d and make their purified worship of G-d a first

priority. So the altar and the sanctuary were first, and this

was primarily Zerubbebel and Yehoshua's work from 538-515 B.C.E.

finally completed after Darius I (522-486 B.C.E.) gave his

official permission, though the foundation of the Beis Hamikdash

was laid as early as 536 B.C.E. Then came the reforming work of

Ezra in 458 B.C.E. during the reign of Artaxerxes I (465-424

B.C.E.). Finally came the rebuilding of the walls when Nehemiah

arrived in 445 B.C.E.

Ezra 2:62 speaks of certain people who could not prove they were

children of Abraham and were therefore disqualified for the

ordained ministry. Today if you lack the witness of the Holy

Spirit within you that G-d is your Abba father (Roman 8:15-16)

you lack the new birth relationship to Abraham and his Son the

Moshiach necessary for salvation and for a call to the ministry.

In Ezra 2 and Nehemiah we see that ecumenical unity with

unregenerate religious leaders is impossible and forbidden by

Scripture. It is in fact just this that creates the apostate

Prostitute riding on the Beast in Revelation 17. The "Samaritans"

in Ezra-Nehemich were Assyrian imports from Babylon and

elsewhere, who claimed to worship the G-d of Israel but had

grossly compromised the faith. What fellowship does darkness

have with light?

Furthermore, marriage with unregenerate spouses is absolutely

forbidden, since they have no part in the congregation of Israel.

Today we see that many religious Jews are endogamous (marry only

within their own people) and this they understand to be one of

the mitzvot (commandments) according to Nehemiah 10:30. It would

not be socially realistic for ministers to simply ignore this.

Those called to minister to these Jewish people may need to

enculture ethnically to a great extent and, like Ruth,

incorporate themselves fully, remembering the endogamous Jewish

social structure reflected in Ezra-Nehemiah. Unless there are

hundreds of messianic synagogues, messianic yeshivas, messianic

Jewish singles ministries and youth ministries, etc. (creating a

socially realistic messianic Jewish marriage market for messianic

Jews) the Jewish religious community may see the messianic

movement as a sacreligious attempt to ethnically destroy their

endogamous tribal identity as Jews. Instead our "Ruths" (even if

like her they lack Jewish parentage) may become just as Jewish as

Ruth became, identifying Biblically with the Moabitess, and

thinking of themselves as "grafted in," humble members of Ideal

Israel, the kingdom of G-d. Our "Ruths" should put the Bible

first, and at the same time like her they are free to eat as

Jews, worship as Jews, marry as Jews, bury as Jews, and give

their children to marry as Jews. To marry a woman whose ethnic

orientation remains "outside the tribe" may hurt a minister's

credibility in Jewish ministry (see Neh. 7:63-64). These people,

who are called to do this, however, must always humbly submit to

the Bible and never to mere rabbinic "human precept" (Matt.

15:8-9) when it comes to such ultimate concerns as the definition

of who is a member of the true congregation of Abraham.

Arrogant, Biblically illiterate "Ruths" who idolize all things

Jewish and have a patronizing condescension toward anything

non-Jewish are not what the Bible is calling for. And all

believers should have a love that reaches out to all the people

groups of the whole world, not merely the Jewish people. The

Good News is to the Jews first but also the Greek! The "Ruth"

who only wants to learn to read her Hebrew Tanakh so she can

witness in the Jewish Deli but doesn't care to learn to read her

Greek Brit Chadasha so she can witness in the Greek Diner is not

a Biblical believer in the truest sense of Rom. l:16. The rabbis

may love her but the Moshiach may one day rebuke her. Becoming a

child of Abraham requires faith that works itself out in love

(Gal. 3:26-29; 5:6).

Our unscriptural timidity in making this Ruth-like ethnic

incorporation of joining the tribe and identifying with the tribe

in order to win the tribe is one of the unscriptural hesitations

in the body of Moshiach that is holding back the end-time revival

among the Jews. Matthew 28:18-20 commands us to make messianic

learners of whole peoples and tribes, not to destroy their social

structure and threaten their tribal existance by socially naive

congregation-planting strategies. Question: If you feel you must

be married, does your prospective mate share your vision and feel

called to minister to the same cultural people group where G-d

has placed you?

Leadership pointers in Ezra/Nehemiah: when in fear, worship (Ezra

3:3). This reminds you of the most important thing to remember:

that the hand of the L-rd is on you (Ezra 7:28).

Fast and pray for direction before you embark (Ezra 8:21).

When unbelievers are sanctified by G-d to offer you anything,

never compromise your testimony to them in your relations with

them (Ezra 8:22). Remember, ministry is not a mere business

proposition but every project must be a testimony to the L-rd who

drives money changers out of his Beis Hamikdash. Never take down

your guard (Neh. 4:23). As Shliach Sha'ul told Timothy, "Always

keep your head." This means never "provide them a scandal" with

which to reproach you. (Neh. 6:13)(Never let yourself be found in

an embarrassing position that compromises your testimony, since

your whole ministry can be hurt for years with hundreds of people

by one indiscretion.) Don't confide in the people you minister

to, and be very very careful in whom you confide or what you

divulge to anyone (Neh. 6:19). Never bring crass commercialism

into the Lord's household, for we are all, rich and poor,

brothers (Neh. 5:7). As a kiruv outreach worker for Moshiach,

never give unbelievers an excuse to reproach us for materialism

or commercialism (Neh. 5:9). Always keep promises (Neh. 5:13).

Notice the financial accountability in Ezra 8:33 where the

kohanim had to reweigh the Lord's treasure to insure no

misappropriation of funds. Do you understand petty cash receipts,

purchase orders,the receipt/disbursement ledger of accounting,

two signatures on checks, annual trustee board meetings to review

books of the ministry organization, filing a 990 form with the

IRS, etc.? Notice that the tithe is for the ministry and should

be handled by duly ordered, accredited, and accountable

ministers. Much money is wasted today buying mansions and Swiss

villas for charlatans because gullible believers don't follow the

Word (see Neh. 10:39). (Note: a not-for-profit religious

organization can engage in any activity as long as the proceeds

do not contribute to the profit of its officers and boards of

directors and as long as the activity is in line with its

religious statement of purpose. See Neh. 13:8 for a violation of

this).

When planting a congregation or starting a new ministry of any

kind, let your first step be to ask G-d to show you who your

"Levites" are (deacons, board members, staff) and begin sharing

the vision and the responsibility of the ministry with others.

(See 3:8 and 3:24.) Choose as leaders (see Ezra 8:18) people who

are more trustworthy and G-d-fearing (Neh. 7:2) as well as people

who have a natural leadership charisma or acknowledged spiritual

position in the community (Neh. 7:70) and/or enculturative

flexibility that accompanies the gift of Shliach, because if

these "catalyst" people can be won to your cause, those families

interlocked in their group are more apt to follow their leader.

Nehemich 4:18 says "The trumpeter stood beside me." This means

that if you are the leader you should have staff meetings and

inform your people of policy so that they understand that the

"trumpeter" stands beside you. Then they will be less likely to

press the panic button (or blow the trumpet) or make any big

decisions without clearing it in conjunction with your

G-d-ordained leadership. You should have brief well-organized

staff meetings to deal with problems as they arise (Neh. 4:20);

you should work hard (Neh. 4:21), and you should stay under the

covering of the community where G-d has placed you (Neh. 4:23).

Don't neglect the prayer life of that community for this is where

the saints watch.

When you as a builder lay the foundation of a new ministry (Ezra

3:10) by starting that Bible study or fellowship or traveling

group, remember that you must first begin co-laboring with G-d to

woo and assemble the core people, prayerfully setting goals and

dates, visiting people, beginning mail (learn computers) and

telephone ministry, getting co-workers (see Ezra 6:18 for an

example of collaborative duty roster making) involved in direct

kiruv outreach for Moshiach, preparing Bible lessons, song

sheets, music, refreshments, etc. When you assemble your core

people, point out the need to them (Neh. 2:17) and share the

feasibility of your vision based on the planning and research you

have done (see Neh. 2:13, 17) and then share your testimony (Neh.

2:18) and build their faith until they are ready to make the

commitment. Avoid the prima donna: (Neh. 3:5) and those whose

spirits are not right (Neh. 2:20). When all is ready, have an

official kick-off night (Neh. 3:1) to dedicate the enterprise to

the L-rd. Help your co-workers develop a sense of ownership in

the enterprise, where they see they have a stake in its success

(Neh. 3:29). You may need to have a newsletter which lets all

the principal participants know what each other is doing (see

Neh. 3) and "render honor to whom honor is due" (Romans 13:7).

Ask the L-rd to give you the wisdom so that it can finally be

said, "the people's heart was in the work." (Neh. 4:6)

As a maggid, you seek the inspiration of the Ruach Hakodesh to

preach with this purpose: get the people to throw their weight

into the task of rebuilding the Household of G-d (Ezra 5:1-2).

Get the people to think about the legacy that they will leave to

posterity for the L-rd. By the beginning of Ezra 6, Cyrus had

long been dead but his legacy was not lost. What will your

legacy be? Zechariah and Haggai's preaching should be studied in

this context.

The people had the strength to make progress in building the

Kingdom of G-d through their ministry labors because they were

urged on by the expository preaching of the Word of G-d (see Ezra

6:14). Look at 7:6. As a scribe (Sofer), Ezra was not just a

calligrapher/copier; he was a trained teacher and interpreter and

prophetic expositor with a profound knowledge of G-d's laws and

commandments. All his studying finally paid off; someday so will

yours as a maggid through the arts who knows the Word and how to

rightly interpret it artistically and with spiritual power. When

are we going to make the "Ezra" commitment? It says, "For Ezra

had set his heart to study the teaching of the L-rd and to do it,

and to teach the laws and rules to Israel." (EZRA 7:10) Many have

had an opportunity to study, but because of their spiritual or

cultural myopia or immaturity have passed it by for various

superficial reasons and rationalizations. Now they don't have

the Ezra "study goods" and have only themselves to blame for

imminent ministry opportunities they are not ready to seize.

This is not a matter of the prestige of our teaching institution;

it is a matter having to do with the discipline of the learner.

Our goal is to get you to be expository maggidim through the

arts, to have a good theological library and to know how to use

it (see Neh. 8:8 for a definition Of expository preaching). This

is so you may go and establish new ministries throughout the

world and see many come to salvation.

A mesharet (minister) defined: someone who is "commissioned"...to

inquire or regulate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of

your G-d, which is in your care (Ezra 7:14). Like an emissary of

Moshiach's shlichut speaking to his sending agency, Nehemiah

said, "Send me" (Neh. 2:5) and the Bible says the question came

back, "How long will you be gone and when will you return?" And

Nehemiah "gave him a date." So we see that Nehemiah did not go

drifting abroad indefinitely like many drifters I met in Israel

in 1981, but he had a project goal (to build a wall of

protection, spiritually and physically, in a particular place,

fortifying Jerusalem) and he had a time goal to finish his job

for the L-rd in a certain time frame. Furthermore, he did what

an emissary of Moshiach's shlichut must do with the spiritual

leaders and kiruv outreach workers for Moshiach that he is

training: he set a sacrificial example (Neh. 5:15).

An undisciplined person isn't fit to be a deacon, much less an

elder (I Tim. 3:8). Nehemiah trusted the L-rd and did not

succomb to intimidation and threats. He would not run or allow

himself to show fear in front of those he was leading (Neh.

6:11). However, the servant of the L-rd must not quarrel; he

must be kind to everyone, hoping that G-d will give his enemies

the grace to turn and to acknowledge the truth (II Tim. 2:24-26).

As an emissary of Moshiach's shlichut to Israel, Ezra had to

raise support, exempt ministry from taxes, and appoint

leaders! (Ezra 7:14-25). When your theological education has you

readied and you are found trustworthy by the L-rd and duly

approved and accredited, some of you will undoubtedly form

not-for-profit ministries, each with its own tax-exempt status,

tax deductible receipting legal capability, statement of purpose,

constitution and by-laws, name, board of directors or trustees

and officers. Then you will be doing the work of Ezra. This is

what your studies are meant to prepare you for. At the time of

Ezra, scribes were qualified to teach and preach. Unfortunately

very few Bible schools or seminaries today prepare real scribes

when they attempt to prepare people for the ministry. Knowing

Hebrew and Greek is not even a requirement in many schools.

Notice: when you do something for G-d, or even when it looks like

you might, many people under HaSatan's thumb are going to get

angry (see Nehemiah 3:10; 3:3f etc.). Therefore, don't tell the

wrong people or even the wrong believers what you intend to do

(Neh. 2:12), lest by casting your pearls before swine, they turn

a nd hurt you. Then later when things get off to their wobbly

start, don't let any tactless pessimist despise the day of small

things (Zeohariah 4:10). Do a secret and intensive survey of the

problem before you start grandly announcing to everybody that you

have found the solution (see Neh. 2:13--"I went by night"). If

you are going to start a congregation or new ministry, what kind,

with whom, where? Where is it needed? What is G-d's plan?

Where are G-d's co-workers?

To build a congregation, our objective is to win unbelievers to

the L-rd, leading them to confess him in prayer, before the

congregation, in the water, in the L-rd's Supper, and in

community commitment as members of the local body. Do you see

the sanctifying theme in the Pesach Seder and its discipling

tension in Ezra 6:21? We should keep records and lists each

month and totals each year of the exact number of people who

confessed the L-rd in the sinner's prayer, the number who

confessed him before the congregation, the number who confessed

him in the water, and in the L-rd's Supper, and in membership.

(Register your members--Neh. 7:5). We need the computer to help

us keep this hard data. (See member's pledge 9:38; 10:29;

10:39). Numbers are very important, and if we are not growing

something is desperately wrong and we need to keep changing our

methods until we find what touches hearts and wins countable

disciples. Half of our time needs to be spent "watching" in

prayer, not being ignorant of the Devil's devices, knowing that

HaSatan backs off when he knows you know what he's up to

(Nehemiah 4:9-10). We need to get new believers doing this so

that they are perfected and consolidated in their new faith by

learning to pray and then getting the leading of the L-rd in

where to go to witness for Yehoshua/Moshiach Yehoshua.

Notice that as an emissary of Moshiach's shlichut to Israel, Ezra

did more than organize a congregation; he also organized a school

or yeshiva--see Neh. 8:13 where he gathered the leaders to study

the Bible.

Questions: How could you use Ezra 1:2 in witnessing to Iranian

Muslims? How could you use Ezra 1:3-6 to raise your support as

an emissary of Moshiach's shlichut to Israel today? Could you

use Ezra 2:63 to make a case for the teaching that duly certified

mesharetim should be present when the ordinance of the L-rd's

Supper is served? When the tithe is collected (Neh. 10:38)?

What book of the Bible do you have to read to get more details on

Ezra 4:6? (Hint: see Esther 1:1.) How does G-d effect a

reversal in chapter 6 of Ezra? What might you ask the people to

do when you read the Word before you preach (hint: see Neh. 8:5)?

Ezra 1:8. Sheshbazzar may have been either the uncle of

Zerubbabel or his other name.

Ezra 4 begins telling how in 536 B.C.E. the work on the Beis

Hamikdash began but was delayed and interfered with. The author

then goes into a long digression after 4:4 in which he tells of

similar later opposition to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

Finally, 4:24 resumes the story from where 4:4 left off. To

follow the digression, note the dates of Xerxes (486-465 B.C.E.)

and Artaxerxes I (465-424 B.C.E.). The narrative regarding the

Beis Hamikdash begins again at 4:24 with the year 520/5l9 B.C.E.

under Darius I (521-486 B.C.E.), who is the father of Queen

Esther's husband, Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus. It is during

this crucial year that the resumption of the Beis Hamikdash

building begins (see Hag. 1:15).

Enemies to the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem and the Beis

Hamikdash used intimidation, lawyer harassment, attempted

infiltration, lying, accusations, spies and informers to the

Persian monarchy. But, from the standpoint of Daniel chapter 9,

these "delays" were actually measured by G-d, who had already

predicted the exact year in which the Moshiach would begin his

ministry, calculated from the year that the decree would go forth

to rebuild Jerusalem. Also, the Beis Hamikdash was calculated by

G-d not to be completed until Jeremiah's seventy years were up,

so G-d was letting Israel's enemies slow things down until 516

B.C.E., when the 70 years would be up. See notes on Daniel.

See Ezra 6:14. Under the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah,

Zerubbabel and Yehoshua resume work on the Beis Hamikdash in 519.

Darius I makes a march in the archives for their authorization to

do this given to them earlier by King Cyrus. When this

authorization is found, Darius I gives his decree. Delay is now

over, the Lord's work proceeds. The Beis Hamikdash is completed

March 12, 516 B.C.E. 70 years after its destruction. The Beis

Hamikdash is dedicated by sacrifice and the Pesach is

celebrated--see chapter 6. Notice how this points to Moshiach

Yehoshua, who on the night of his arrest, had a Pesach and the

next day made the sacrifice. Then on the third day, G-d raised

up the Beis Hamikdash of everlasting life.

See Ezra 7:11. 458 B.C.E. is possibly the count-down date of

Daniel's first 69 "sevens" (Daniel 9:24-27). It works out if a

solar calendar is used. The commission of Nehemiah (Neh.1:1, 11;

2:1-8) in 445 B.C.E. is another possible count-down date of

Daniel's 69 "sevens" if a lunar calendar is used.

Look at 8:15. The Levites were the deacons of the Old Testament,

in charge of gates, supply rooms, implements (but not making

incense).

EZRA 3:8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house

of G-d at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the

son of Shealtiel, and Yehoshua (Moshiach Yehoshua) the son of

Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the kohanim and the

Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto

Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and

upward, to set forward the work of the house of the L-rd.

EZRA 7:12-16

12. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the kohen, a scribe of

the Torah of the G-d of heaven, greetings:

13. Now I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel,

and of his kohanim and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of

their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. 14.

Foresmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven

counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according

to the Torah of thy G-d which is in thine hand;

15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his

counselors have freely offered unto the G-d of Israel, whose

habitation is in Jerusalem.

16. And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the

province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people,

and of the kohanim, offering willingly for the Beis Hamikdash of

their G-d which is in Jerusalem:

(Some scholars use a lunar calender and compute from the time

(445) that Nehemiah received a commission from the same king.

However, in either case, Daniel's 69 "sevens" puts us in the time

frame of the ministry of Moshiach Yehoshua.)

NEHEMIAH 7:3

The kohanim: the descendants of Jedaiah (throuqh the house

[family] of Jeshua)...

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