Messiah Podcast

84 – A Former Muslim’s Analysis of Islam, Israel, and the West | Danny Burmawi

For hundreds of years, secular thinkers in the West have considered Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to have similar claims to the Jewish patriarchs. Our guest today, Danny Burmawi, has a different perspective. A convert from Islam to Christianity, he’s here to argue that Islam’s appropriation of Jewish history is fundamentally flawed, that Islam’s core values are incompatible with democracy, and that Islam’s theological claim to the land of Israel requires a new approach at the negotiating table between Israel and the Islamic world. 👉 Key Takeaways: ► The Quran as “Dictational Inspiration:” Christian and Jewish views of the divine inspiration of religious scriptures allow room for rationality, reasoning, and wrestling with the text. The Quran on the other hand explicitly commands Muslims “not to ask questions.” ► The Political Fabrication of Jerusalem's Holy Status: Jerusalem's status as Islam’s "third holiest city" is a historical and theological fabrication driven by political motives. Muhammad initially prayed toward Jerusalem but changed the direction to Mecca after the Jewish community rejected him. Decades later, a caliph in Damascus politically asserted the Temple Mount was the site of the "Distant Mosque" (Al-Aqsa) during a rivalry with the caliph in Mecca. ► How Islam plans to take over the West: Most Muslims in western countries are not plotting to overthrow their country of residence. Islam as a religious system, however, is a theologically motivated system, whose inherent goal is world domination. This theological mandate makes it an ideological and existential threat. The number of adherents in the west grows due to the promise of strong relational community bonds, and it expands political power through religious loyalty. 🔖  Chapters 00:00 Introductions 01:58 A Radical Muslim becomes a bold follower of Jesus 05:18 Missions to Muslims and its challenges 12:37 The cost of Islamic dogmatism 21:01 Muslims once prayed toward Jerusalem 29:09 The real reason Islam is growing 38:57 The global ambitions of Islam 45:55 Conversion of both people and place to Islam 50:22 Narrative of Islamic victimhood 58:06 What does the future look like? 👉  Resources Book: Islam, Israel and the West: https://www.amazon.com/ISLAM-ISRAEL-WEST-Muslims-Analysis-ebook/dp/B0FP16RQW8 Danny Burmawi Online: https://www.danburmawi.com/ [https://www.danburmawi.com/] Danny Burmawi on X: https://x.com/DanBurmawy [https://x.com/DanBurmawy] Ex-Hamas Wife Meets Jesus in a Dream: https://youtu.be/6bnBUKY24c4?si=udDjnCo7UcKDI7On [https://youtu.be/6bnBUKY24c4?si=udDjnCo7UcKDI7On] – Who is Messiah Podcast? – Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion [https://ffoz.org/] (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel. Messiah Podcast [https://messiahpodcast.org/] is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend [https://ffoz.org/friends] today.

83 – Food, Faith & Freedom – Finally Finding Jesus in Messianic Judaism | Hope Egan

In the first century, Jewish believers in Jesus kept being Jewish. There was no conflict between their Jewish identity and their discipleship. Unfortunately, that changed, and for most of church history, Jewish followers of Jesus had to stop being Jewish. Today, many Jews are seeking God and are interested in Jesus, but they are not interested in giving up their Jewish identity. The solution is Messianic Judaism. Our guest today, First Fruits of Zion's Outreach Coordinator, and this very podcast's associate producer, Hope Egan, is here to share the story of how she found her spiritual home in Messianic Judaism, lost that home, and then found it again. We'll discuss ecclesiology, the food laws, and how to prevent an obsession with theology from derailing your personal walk with God.    👉 Key Discussion Points:  ►  Messianic Judaism Offers a Solution for Jewish Identity and Faith: Messianic Judaism beautifully shows that being Jewish and following Yeshua (Jesus) are not contradictory but deeply connected, just as they were in the first century. If you are a Jewish person seeking God, you can absolutely embrace Yeshua without giving up your rich heritage and identity.  ►  The Spiritual Journey: Finding Your Way Home: Hope Egan's story is an inspiring testament that your spiritual journey is rarely a straight line, and that's okay! Finding your spiritual "home" can sometimes involve a few detours, a period of feeling lost, and the courage to find it again.   ►  Theological Study: A Lifelong Adventure: Don't be discouraged if you feel like you never have all the answers. That's the best part! The exploration of profound truths is a continuous, exciting journey that offers endless opportunities for discovery. Embrace the questions you find with each study; they are the very things that invite you to keep learning.  ►  The Priority: A Personal Walk with God: While it's fascinating to dive deep into theological topics, remember the most essential relationship of all: your personal walk with God. Let your study and passion for theology enrich your relationship, but don’t let it become an obsession that distracts you from loving and walking with him. Keep your focus on your heart connection, and the rest will fall into place!  👉  Resources  HaYesod: The Foundation [https://hayesod.org ]  Biblically Kosher [https://ffoz.store/products/biblically-kosher-book ]   Articles What Replaces Replacement Theology?  [https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/the-biblical-blueprint-of-peoplehood ] How the Gentile Church Lost the Jewish Kingdom [https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/lost-kingdom ] How misunderstanding one simple New Testament idea derailed the whole church. [https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/there-is-no-distinction ]  Locating the New Testament Church within Judaism and the Jewish People  [https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/dismantling-replacement-theology ]   ✡️  What is Messiah Podcast?  ✝️   Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with – Who is Messiah Podcast? – Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion [https://ffoz.org/] (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel. Messiah Podcast [https://messiahpodcast.org/] is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend [https://ffoz.org/friends] today.

82 – Pioneers of Messianic Worship | Dr. Greg Silverman

The emergence of Messianic Judaism into the American cultural milieu in the 1960s and 70s brought with it a distinct genre of sacred music with roots in Ashkenazi klezmer and traditional Jewish liturgy. Since then, Messianic music has come into its own, having been influenced by a wide variety of genres from wherever the Jewish people have been dispersed. Our guest today, Dr. Greg Silverman, has recently released a documentary called Pioneers of Messianic Worship that chronicles the humble beginnings of this now iconic sound and gives us a hint as to what’s in store for its future. 👉 Key Discussion Points: ►  The Emergence of Messianic Worship: As Messianic congregations formed in the 1960s and 1970s, the founders of modern Messianic Judaism desired to create worship centers that looked and felt more like synagogues than churches. To accomplish this objective, early pioneers like Stuart Dauermann began writing new songs with Ashkenazi, Klezmer, and “Fiddler on the Roof” sounds to resonate authentically with the Jewish people they were trying to reach. ►  The Corporate, God-Centered Nature of Messianic Music: A defining characteristic of Messianic Jewish worship is its emphasis on the corporate (“we”) experience rather than the individualistic (“I”) experience common in contemporary Christian music. This focus on a communal experience as a people group mirrors the language found in traditional Jewish prayer. ►  Traditional Hebrew Liturgies: Messianic music frequently incorporates ancient Hebrew liturgical prayers and melodies into songs. This reinforces the connection with the historical prayers of the Jewish people. The beauty and spiritual discipline of these liturgies—which are often verses from the Bible put in a specific order—are seen as a way to direct the heart and mind toward God’s truth, helping believers stay focused and internalize God’s oneness, mercy, and faithfulness. ►  The Global Impact of Paul Wilbur and the Passing of the Baton: Paul Wilbur stands out as one of the first and most successful artists to connect the Jewish roots of the faith with a worldwide Christian audience. Behind the grand success is a humble, genuine, wholehearted worshiper. The next generation of artists, like Joshua Aaron and Misha Goetz, is taking up the baton and ensuring a future for Messianic worship.   👉  Resources ►  Watch the Documentary: Pioneers of Messianic Worship [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBQecYkvUy4] is available on YouTube.  ►  Greg Silverman’s Ministry [https://gregsilverman.com]: Find music, videos, recordings, and information on training for worship leaders at the Greg Silverman Ministry Website. ►  Sheet Music Resource [https://shalomesongs.com.]: Worship leaders can find chord charts and sheet music for Messianic songs.  ►   Follow Greg Silverman on Social Media: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/drgregsilverman/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/greg_silverman/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/gregsilverman1] ►  https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/theyre-playing-our-song-the-liberated-wailing-wall – Who is Messiah Podcast? – Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion [https://ffoz.org/] (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel. Messiah Podcast [https://messiahpodcast.org/] is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend [https://ffoz.org/friends] today.

81 – The Discovery That Transformed Our Understanding of Scripture | Dr. Rebekah Haigh

In 1947, a Bedouin goat herder stumbled on a collection of clay jars filled with ancient scrolls by the Dead Sea in Israel. When these scrolls made it to scholars and antiquity dealers, it became clear that they had been written around the time Jesus walked the earth. Today, the Dead Sea Scrolls are some of the best examples we have of Second Temple Jewish literature. Our guest on this episode is Dr. Rebekah Haigh, and she joins us to discuss how the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized New Testament interpretations. 👉 Key Discussion Points: ►  The Discovery: The classic tale is told of a young Bedouin shepherd, in search of a lost goat, stumbled upon the scrolls in a cave near the Dead Sea in 1947.  ►  The Significance: The scrolls are an incredible witness to the stability of the biblical text and broaden our understanding of the different varieties of ancient Judaism that existed before and during the time of Jesus. Before their discovery, our primary sources on early Judaism were limited to the New Testament and later rabbinic writings. The Dead Sea Scrolls filled this “blank slate,” providing evidence of Jewish life and thought. ►  The Essenes: Opinions regarding the community responsible for collecting and writing the scrolls vary. The most common theory points to a group affiliated with the Essenes. This group was interested in ritual purity, communal living, preparing for the end of days, and was often with suspicion toward the Second Temple and its priesthood. ►  Connections to the New Testament: The podcast explores the parallels between the Essenes and the early Jesus movement, noting similarities in their apocalyptic expectations, focus on ritual purity, and ideas about the Messiah. The conversation also touches on how the book of Revelation and the rest of the New Testament should be read as Jewish literature. 👉  Resources Women Who Went Before Podcast https://womenwhowentbefore.com Rebekah Haigh Socials https://x.com/rebekahjhaigh https://x.com/womenbefore Torah Club https://torahclub.org End of Days: Torah Club Study Track https://endofdays.org ✡️  What is Messiah Podcast?  ✝️  Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God’s prophetic promises to Israel. https://ffoz.org  Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today. https://ffoz.org/friends  Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved. – Who is Messiah Podcast? – Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion [https://ffoz.org/] (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel. Messiah Podcast [https://messiahpodcast.org/] is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend [https://ffoz.org/friends] today.

80 – Jesus Is Jewish, and That Changes Everything | Damian Eisner & Jacob Fronczak

Our tagline here at Messiah Podcast is “Jesus is Jewish, and that changes everything.” But what exactly do we mean by that? What changes specifically? Our guest today, Messianic Jewish Rabbi Damian Eisner, is here for a conversation about what the Jewish Jesus means for Christians and for Jews, and how this seemingly simple historical fact opens up the world of the Bible like never before.  👉 Key Discussion Points: * The Messiah Podcast Tagline: The present-tense phrasing, “Jesus is Jewish,” is critical, drawing a parallel to Jesus’ use of the present tense when referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to prove the resurrection (Matthew 22). It’s a reminder that his Jewish identity is ongoing. * The Torah and the Commandments: Messianic Judaism sees Jesus not as a voice of opposition against Judaism but as an ultimate Jewish rabbi and Torah teacher. * Reading the New Testament: Realizing Jesus is Jewish changes how the New Testament is read, adding an essential historical and cultural Jewish context. * Impact on the Jewish Community: Seeing Jesus as a Jew and a Torah-loving rabbi changes the Jewish perspective on him from being disqualified as Messiah to being a candidate.  👉  Resources * Book Recommendation: Yeshua Matters by Jacob Fronczak [https://ffoz.store/products/yeshua-matters-book] * Topics: Messianic Judaism, Jesus’ Jewish identity, Torah, Law of Moses, New Testament Context, Replacement Theology, Corporate Salvation, Rosh HaShanah. – Who is Messiah Podcast? – Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion [https://ffoz.org/] (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel. Messiah Podcast [https://messiahpodcast.org/] is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend [https://ffoz.org/friends] today.