Russ-01 Mystery of Israel - Part 1 — Art Katz

Good evening, students. I usually say, good evening, kinder, good evening, children. I'm old enough to qualify for that. But I also have a fatherly heart for the Church. After all, we Jews were in this much sooner than you, much earlier.

And though we are temporarily set aside, at the conclusion of the age, we will be prominent again.

But at the end of this century, we will take up our position again. Oh, praise the Lord.

Israel's Place in the Church's Apostolic Maturity

You will probably think that I'm speaking about the subject of the Jew and Israel because I'm Jewish. That's not the case. I'm speaking about the centrality of the Jew because of my call to the Church.

In the way that I hope I can make you understand, the Church cannot come to its full formation and maturity independent of the issue of the Jew. That's not my wisdom, that's God's. But it's a profound wisdom.

And it's a wisdom that contradicts the wisdom of this world. And it's in this context that I want to set before you this mystery. God forbid that we should make it something less. Our sentimental feeling for Israel.

Our affinity for Jews. Or some sense of obligation that we have as Christians. These are all inadequate motives.

So I want us to see the issue of Israel in its apostolic context.

For that is the key to our own apostolic character.

For that is the key to our own apostolic character.

And the Church that is not apostolic is not the Church. That was true at the beginning of the age and also especially true at its conclusion. The key question is, what does this word apostolic mean?

Then you can ask me, what does this word apostolic mean? That's a great question.

And one that we should hold in our hearts with great respect.

And one that we should hold in our hearts with great respect.

I have spoken about the meaning of this word for five days in Switzerland, at Youth with a Mission.

I have spoken about the meaning of this word for five days in Switzerland, at Youth with a Mission.

And I examined it from different perspectives. What is the apostolic distinctive?

What is the apostolic characteristic?

What is the apostolic perspective? What is the apostolic mindset? Is there such a thing as apostolic character?

Is there such a thing as apostolic character? Or apostolic statement? I want to assure you that there is such a thing.

And if we do not accept it as the Church, we condemn ourselves to something less than God's intention, and must fail in our historic mandate to the Jew. You didn't know that we had one. I want to say that we do.

And that God has appointed the Church for its fulfillment. But the Church of what kind? Charismatic? Of the American style? Very impressive. But it falls short of the glory of God.

This is something ultimate. This is very important. And we cannot accept it regardless of our call to the Jews. Only the Jewish question raises us to this height.

And I wish I had many days to develop this with you. But you'll have to listen intently to the short time that we do have. And pray for the Russian translation and edition of a book on apostolic reality.

Which we plan to produce in English and in French. It should be a classic foundational book for the Church. And the issue of Israel is central to all of these things.

And the Jewish question is central to all of these things. And so if we approach the Jewish question from a sentimental point of view, from a position of reflection and debate, it will not lead us to God's relationship.

Apostolic Sending and the Word Preached to Israel

For example, in Romans chapter 10, Paul speaking of his own people,.

He says, how shall they call upon him of whom they've not heard? And how shall they hear except one preach? And how shall one preach except he be sent? For faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord.

This is much more than a little glib formula on how to witness to Jews. This is the ultimate and radical apostolic requirement.

This is the most important and radical requirement for apostolic mission. This is not a formula. That is, the Jews want to hear from you not some formula. They want to hear the word of the Lord. Such a word that creates and gives life.

This is a special kind of preaching. This is like an apostolic statement. How can someone preach if he is not sent? Let's look at the root of the Greek word apostolos. This is sent. A lot is happening these days.

And it brings a certain value and blessing. But it is not yet the ultimate thing. The apostolic thing. That cannot originate with men. It cannot originate with men. It must originate with God. And so be sent from the throne of God.

But not in some mystical and insubstantial way. But also out of the earth from a sending body. As the first apostolic church was. Not so much at Jerusalem as in Antioch. This is a critical question. The first mention of apostolic sending is Acts chapter 13.

When the Holy Ghost spoke into the congregation of believers. Separate unto me Paul and Barnabas for the work unto which I have called them. God does not even say what the work is. It doesn't matter. That's how separated these men are.

Even from their own religious ambitions. And their own necessity to do something for the Lord. They are men who have come to a priestly detachment. An ultimate separation. Even from themselves. In their best well-meaning intention.

And only in that condition can they be sent. How does one come to that condition? It's a painful sanctifying process.

I would say a very painful and painful process of sanctification. Which can take place only in the apostolic body.

People who have come to a certain intensity and character of relationship.

Regardless of all kinds of differences and variations.

That's why the apostolic church did not begin in Jerusalem, but in Antioch.

This is what is said in chapter 13.

There was in the church of Antioch certain prophets and teachers. Men of diverse calling in the body of Christ. But also equally of diverse racial and ethnic origin. They were Jews and Gentiles. They were Africans and white.

How do we know that? Because the Holy Spirit took the pain to identify these men by their name and from their location.

Because the Holy Spirit took the pain to identify these men by their name and from their location. And this is an ancient classical word that denotes Africans.

So God gives us a picture of a cosmopolitan church. Of remarkable ethnic, racial and national diversity. Why is that important? Because they had broken through into a heavenly place of relationship.

And they have already gone through all this and have risen to the level of the relationship of those who belong to the Kingdom of God. Through these differences that they once had. You do not know the depths of your own heart.

Overcoming Historic Enmity in Apostolic Community

I gave an informal, quick and unscheduled testimony at Minsk. And they loved it. It was so colorful and quaint. A Jew getting saved. But the moment I pressed the issue of the Jew for the church. I began to see, particularly in the older Christians, a change of face and attitude.

How deep are these things? Very deep. It has to do with our insecurity. Our sense of identity in God. It has to do with historic enmities and strife between peoples. That we have taken in with our mother's milk.

And the very air that we have breathed. I speak out of my personal experience as a Jewish Christian. When God required a number of Jewish believers together with me to experience a deliverance. Of things of which we were not even consciously aware.

Anti-Gentile feelings. Subtle Jewish superiority. Feelings against the church. And I was already a minister in the church. And God had to break the power of these things. They are historic. And transmitted through the generations.

But where in the course of our services do we have time and disposition for this? This is not going to take place in a large celebration. It takes place in the intimate and intensive relationship between believers in community.

And only there. Ten thousand Sunday services will never give us the opportunity. But going from house to house daily will. We are all very private in our inner lives. There is a certain distance that we maintain.

And certain things we don't share. And all of that is coated over with hallelujahs and amens. And the powers of the air that brewed over Minsk.

And over Kiev.

Apostolic Authenticity and the Church as Pillar of Truth

Do you believe that they exist? And affect men and nations? They are the effectual rulers of this world? The gods of this world? Who look down on us? They are only required or obliged to respect one thing only.

Apostolic authenticity.

Are you following me? This is church. And it's often painful before it becomes glorious. Paul says the church is the ground and the pillar of the truth. And what is the nature of truth? It's the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Or it's not the truth. These powers can look down and say Jesus we know and Paul we know. These powers of the air can look down and say Jesus we know and Paul we know. But the church at Kiev who? This is my newest book.

It needs a Ukrainian and Russian translation and edition. Anyone who has that gift and wants to volunteer you can see me afterwards. It's foundational for the church. So who are you Katz? Are you a saint one?

Or just a man doing his thing? That's a critical question. And the truth of it will be demonstrated in these days.

I'll tell you how insanely jealous we are over this time. I will tell you how insanely jealous we are over this time.

I will tell you how insanely jealous we are over this time.

I will tell you how insanely jealous we are over this time.

We will be witnesses of how God will lay the true foundations.

Foundations that cannot be moved.

Regardless of everything that's been going on in the last few days. Because I am jealous of the apostolic reality in Kiev and Ukraine. And if it doesn't come,.

My Jewish kinsmen who are here do not have a chance. For unbeknownst to them, they are waiting for a certain word. A word that is more than the information about the gospel. It's the word of event. Of the kind that I trust that I myself am speaking to you.

That even when the mind does not totally take in all that is being said, the word is still creating something.

The word is still creating something inside of you. For your foundation. Because you are the foundation for the Jews. Faith comes from hearing. Hearing of the word of God.

The preached word. The foolishness of preaching. By them that are sent. From a sending body. That has itself come to an apostolic constituency. This is work. This is sacrifice. This is suffering. In the church.

Before it becomes a glory. I'm smiling because I'm thinking of my 20 year history in community. I can tell you that I would much rather suffer the abuse of outraged rabbis than some of the things that I've had to bear from the church itself.

In our own community in northern Minnesota. In the depth of the issues that arise out of the intensity of the life together. I'm sure that you have been occupied with your ministry. And how to do it. And what kinds of methods can we learn from Americans.

I'm calling you to something altogether other than that tonight. Let's begin. All of this was introduction. Let's begin with Ephesians chapter 3. Verses 9 I think through 11. Paul speaks of himself as being the least of all men.

The least of all saints in verse 8. To whom a grace is given.

To make known the unsearchable riches of Christ. Now listen intently to these next three verses. They are your foundation. If apostolic reality is ever to come to Kiev.

This is the foundation for it.

The Mystery Hidden in God and Revealed in Its Appointed Time

Yet Paul calls it a mystery.

Before we read it. What is a mystery? Is it a detective story? Is it a detective story? Something strange and exotic? Okay you Bible students.

What is a mystery? Paul was a steward of the mysteries of God. Though he was the least of all saints in his own sight. Whatever a mystery is. Will it be revealed to us? Except that we also are the least of all saints.

In our own sight. Spiritual egotism. Self-exalting Christianity. Closes the door to mystery. And shuts off all opportunity for apostolic reality. You are doomed to be charismatic only. Which is quite enjoyable.

And has a certain efficacy. A certain effect. Only one thing is wrong. And that one thing is everything. It falls short of the glory of God. Have you ever taken that thought seriously? I plead with you.

I will go down on my hands and knees. For this one thing only. That despite every other question. Of your ministry and its success. Of the needs of the nation. And even of the world. This one question only.

At the center of everything. Or you have no center. The glory of God forever. This is what makes apostolic apostolic. And will make you insane. Make you strange. Even with other Christians. Because you have a divine jealousy.

A divine dissatisfaction. For something more and something other. Something transcendent. That when it is obtained it expresses itself in power.

It manifests itself very strongly in you.

But we can not seek it for power. We can only seek it for Him. For His glory. And this search for the glory of God.

Will make you behave in such a way. That you will disappoint congregations. You will disappoint yourself.

Because of this jealousy. For the glory of God. Which is absent from the modern church in the world today. And needs to be contended for and sought. And obtained and jealously maintained. Now let's look at these verses.

Why don't you read that 9 through 11. How much time shall we give to explicating or developing these verses. The understanding. We have after all another half hour. Let's be elaborate. Maybe we'll take a half hour tomorrow as well.

Oh what that says about us. American to American. Ukrainian to Ukrainian. We share the same mentality. It's practical and expedient. Yes maybe we'll give this a whole hour. Because after all there are other important things.

That we need to do. I would say we should spend a month on these three verses. And not count that extravagant. We learn right away in verse 9 what a mystery is. Which of course you already knew. Something which is hidden in God.

Until it is time to be revealed. No amount of intelligence can obtain it. Scholars and theologians will miss it. A mystery is something hidden by God. Until a time appointed. I remember my disappointments in reading Karl Barth's great classic The Epistle to the Romans.

How many here have never heard of Karl Barth? Oh dear kinder. Do you want to see a grown man cry? Not in Russian. See all the more reason for you to learn English.

You all need to learn English if you don't speak Russian. Because it is worthy of it. Because the best Christian literature is available only in English.

It is the international language. And even the spiritual language. In terms of the wealth that's available for us.

In that language. So if I can interrupt myself.

And not exhaust my interpreter. Karl Barth is one of the giants of the 20th century. Who is linked or seen as having the same value as Luther or Calvin or Saint Augustine in their own generations. His first book in 1918 erupted like a bomb over the theological landscape.

His commentary on the book of Romans. With a return to the word of God. And a Christological center. By a German theology that had become completely liberal. And into whose vacuum Nazism was to come. And into whose vacuum Nazism.

Israel, Romans 9–11, and the Mystery of the Church

When God began to open to me the mystery of Israel. I had already been Jewish for over 50 years. And a believer for over 20 years. But I did not have that mystery by virtue of being either Jewish or a Christian that long.

Not because I was in time. But because I was a believer.

There came a moment when that which was hidden was revealed. Out of a personal season of suffering and death. And I immediately rushed to my theological hero.

And I immediately rushed to my theological hero.

What will Colbert say about chapters 9 through 11 of the book of Romans? And I was astonished. He had nothing to say. He spiritualized everything away. In every reference to Israel he saw the church.

In every reference to Israel he saw the church. It was full of precious insight.

About the church. But it missed the issue of Israel entirely. It was hid from his sight. It was not yet time. But the set time to favor Zion has now come. And that's why we're speaking what we're speaking.

Listen to this. That this mystery, whatever it is, is hidden God through Christ who created all things to the intent that now under the principalities and powers of heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.

Let this sink in to the depths of your Slavic mind.

Let this sink in to the depths of your Slavic mind. It's staggering. It's staggering.

It's shocking that God has created all things. The whole of the cosmos. All of creation. Nations and races for one thing something that has to do with the church to the intent that now through the church that he did not think it too extravagant to create everything that there would be a foundation in the earth for a church that can make this demonstration for which reason he has created all things the manifold wisdom of God.

What do you think of that? Mamma mia. This is extraordinary. And we don't even know what that wisdom is. But one thing we do know it can only be revealed through the church. But a church of what kind?

An ultimate kind. An apostolic kind. The very same kind that moves the Jews to jealousy. Nothing less. Now understand this, children. If we make our purpose to move Jews to jealousy we will fail. But if we seek the glory of God and His satisfaction in that which is important to Him a demonstration that can only come from the church in its full corporate character as the ground and pillar of truth then Jews will be made jealous and nations shaken and the purposes of God completed in the earth and in the nations when we have not made the work the purpose for our being but the fulfillment of this mystery which has nothing to do with us practically.

But everything to do with Him it's important to Him.

It has to do with His everlasting glory and that is the wisdom of God. Listen carefully. When a people on the earth will take as their foremost and central reason for being the satisfaction of God that has no practical relevance for themselves that itself is a necessity.

That will be another wisdom.

Radically different from the wisdom of this world and the powers of this world which operate in the religious realm as well. We are talking about my ministry what I am going to do for God what my church is going to do or what my denomination is going to do.

This is the spirit of the wisdom of this world.

And if the authorities look down on such churches they yawn they are completely bored.

Utterly indifferent they don't care how loud and how boisterous your worship is. They know that you are not to be feared by them.

Because you are still operating on the basis of their wisdom.

Are you following me? Is this being taped tonight? Yes so you can hear it again and again. You will need to hear it several times until this breaks through and into your consciousness because it has to be made conscious it has to come into your consciousness.

The Mystery of Israel and the Gentile Church

Now let's go back to the other mystery. There are only two mysteries at the end of the age. Only two this one that we have just looked at briefly and the mystery of Israel and the church. Where is that spoken in scripture?

Where is that spoken in scripture? It is in Romans 9 -11.

And in chapter 11.

Paul says brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery and he calls this question about the church and the Jews.

A secret not an evangelistic methodology.

And he says I do not want you to be ignorant of it.

Lest you become wise in your own conceit.

And this is a punishment for not knowing this mystery you become conceited like the kingdom now.

Or the church is the kingdom or the church is Israel these are all popular movements in my country.

These are all popular movements in my country but they are not apostolic because they did not perceive this mystery. And why is this question about the Jews a mystery for the church? The pagan church because it gives the church a purpose which is contrary to its own self-interest.

Why should a pagan be occupied with the Jews?

Especially seeing what has been true in history. Suspicion and irritation jealousy, misunderstanding, friction. They are different than us. We feel uncomfortable with them. We are secretly envious of them.

Look how they succeed in business and in school getting all the good grades and the Nobel prizes far out of proportion to their numbers in the population. They are people of remarkable accomplishments.

And we are just gentiles struggling to get ahead. There is everything in this to invite resentment and history has shown how that has been expressed in blood. And you are immune to this? You are not susceptible to such feelings?

Then you must be extraordinary gentiles.

And if you do not experience this, then you are a strange scholar.

This is what makes you extraordinary. You cannot come to this out of a sense of obligation. I guess we owe so much to the Jews. After all, they gave us the apostles and the prophets. We should show them kindness.

This will never do. It will never fulfill the mystery. We have got to move them to jealousy. And if I had time to tell you that we are coming to an hour when Jews are going to be in flight for their lives in every nation and most will not survive it except a remnant that are taken in by Christians who like in the Nazi time will do so at the risk of their own lives.

Oh brother, such a time will never come again.

I will never see such a time again. I will never see such a time again. We have learned from the past.

Such an anti-Semitic spirit could not prosper in our country. You are naive children because the scriptures already speak of such a time coming and it will test us. Jews have always been the test of the church which test the church has historically failed.

Luther failed. Chrysostom was the golden orator of the early church and a notorious anti-Semite. We are moving toward a conclusion and it is the ultimate test of the church which will also be a saving demonstration to Jews who perceive it and at the same time inflict a final defeat on the principalities and powers of the air.

Self-Sacrifice, Apostolic Suffering, and the Defeat of Worldly Wisdom

For in extending yourselves toward Jews at the risk and peril of your own life you are demonstrating another wisdom. The wisdom exhibited by Jesus at the cross. The spirit of self-sacrifice that strikes at the heart of the world's wisdom now manifest in Kiev on every street.

I have never seen more Mercedes Benz in Russia, in Ukraine of men who are making fortunes getting rich seizing opportunity to take care of number one the unspoken wisdom of the world self-interest. But God has created all things in order that now through the church might be demonstrated to the principalities and powers.

The manifold wisdom of God. I am just about to finish. I pray my interpreter's energy will not fail. And your ability to contain this. I have set the Jew in the context of the cosmic conflict. The mystery of two wisdoms seeking to prevail over the entire creation.

And everything resting in the last analysis upon a church that has at its very heart the jealousy for God's glory that can only come by the fulfillment of this mystery as it comes to us practically through the Jew.

At the end of our time at the very moment when we live with you. So I want to pray for you.

You ministers of such a church with such a foundation.

In which there is such a foundation such a vision such an apostolic thinking it will be your sign. If you speak from your heart yes to such a vision it will be a sign. It will be a sign for these governments and bosses that will collapse on you because they will now be afraid of you because you now have such an intention.

Do you want this? Because it is only voluntary when you say yes to such a vision.

I said yes to this some years ago and it changed everything and opened the door to sufferings of an exquisite kind even persecutions under one's own roof under one's own roof.

In one's own church because before glory there is always suffering. Let's pray.

Prayer for the Church to Become the Ground and Pillar of Truth

Thank you Lord. I bless these children. Such words as I have expressed to them could not have been created by man. You gave me no opportunity to prepare for such words. But it's a moment whose time has come for these children these appointed ones in this last hour.

I bless them in Jesus' holy name and I pray that your word would find lodging in their hearts. It would be the foundation of their very being and open them for every sacrifice by which the church becomes the church the ground and pillar of truth in the midst of a corrupt, filthy, lying world.

That when Jews encounter it they will see the light of God and be moved to jealousy unto salvation. Do these things. Seal this word. Perform it. We receive it with gratitude. Let it be an event for us in Jesus' name.

We pray. Amen. If I were you I wouldn't let the moment pass without myself saying something to God. This is not another teaching. This is a holy call and it's not for everyone. It's totally voluntary.

A Voluntary Call to Apostolic Commitment

You don't have to be a candidate for apostolic suffering except you choose to and have respect for the eternal reward.

And you want to receive the eternal reward.

Can we talk for a few more minutes. Please say something to the Lord right now. No eloquent statement but a statement. I choose this what has been described to me tonight.

I perceive as my call.

Whatever it requires you say that to the Lord and something will be transacted for which the powers of darkness over Kiev tremble. Right now you speak.