ABOUT US

Torah Light Ministries was formed in 1964 by Dr. Stanley L. Chester and his wife Myra. It was a ministry designed for the explicit goal of trying to understand the Bible from a Jewish perspective. Dr. Chester and his family moved to Israel where he completed his 5th degree. Prior to the move, he used to teach physics at U.C. Berkley before he became a full time minister. While being a full time student in The Holy Land he travelled the world teaching at Churches and making television appearances. Without his work and teachings, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Unfortunately, Dr. Chester passed away just a few years ago, but his son, Rabbi Stanley E. Chester, carries on his Messianic teachings. Rabbi Stanley is ordained as an Orthodox Rabbi and is registered with the State of Israel. He is one of the very few Messianics who can legally perform marriages in HaAretz (The Land) and is able to ordain others as Orthodox Rabbis. He and his father designed TLU (Torah Light University) online which is now accredited in Israel by the Rabbinical High Court.

Shalom….I’m Rabbi Stanley Before we get started, I just want to talk a little about who we are and a little about what Messianic Judaism is. What is a Messianic Beit Aveinu is a Messianic organization that is under the spiritual umbrella of another Messianic Organization called “Torah Light Ministries” We believe it’s important to have an umbrella ministry in order to keep within the boundaries of a Scriptural framework. It’s healthy. What is a Messianic What does Torah Light mean? The Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible Gen. Ex Lev. Deut and numbers. It was written by Moses. Torah Light is a reference to sharing the light of the Torah with others and teaching the truth. What is a Messianic My dad is the founder and Director of Torah Light Ministries, his name is Dr. Stanley Chester Sr. He’s spoken at various churches here in Leavenworth. He is also a Messianic Rabbi. Because we both have the same name he goes by Rabbi Chester and I go by Rabbi Stanley What is a Messianic So what is a Messianic? The short answer is that a Messianic Jew is a Jewish Believer in Jesus. We call Jesus by his Jewish given name and that name is Yeshua What is a Messianic If I was to say, Yeshua HaMashiach in Hebrew, that means Jesus the Messiah. What is a Messianic So one of the questions I’m often asked is why do I call myself a Rabbi? Didn’t Jesus, Yeshua say call no man Rabbi? What is a Messianic Yes, He did say that. But we have to look at the context of what he was saying there in that passage. What is a Messianic (Slide) Matt 23 starting in verse 9… 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. What is a Messianic Wow, it really sounds like Yeshua is saying that we shouldn’t call each other or ourselves Rabbi doesn’t it? What is a Messianic But if we look a little closer and we read the context of that passage, then we start to see a little more about what it’s talking about. So let’s read on… What is a Messianic (Slide) 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. What is a Messianic Whenever you interpret Scripture, one thing you want to always keep in mind is that you want to remain consistent. If we’re not consistent, anyone can interpret the Bible any way they want to and make it mean anything they want it to mean. What is a Messianic For example: There’s an organization called “The Church of Jesus Christ Christian based not far from here. They see themselves as a Bible based group of Christians. They hold church services every week and have a Pastor and 90% of what they teach, you’d probably agree with. What is a Messianic That 10% you probably wouldn’t agree with because in that 10% they teach… What is a Messianic That all the Jews should be killed. This church has a better known name and that name is the Aryan Nations. Their actual name is “The Church of Jesus Christ Christian What is a Messianic So how do they see themselves as Christians? Because they don’t interpret the Scriptures with consistency. They take bits and parts of the Bible out of context and they make it say whatever they want it to say. What is a Messianic And it’s pretty easy to do, obviously because those knuckleheads can do it. The KKK also considers themselves to be a Bible based organization. They also take the Bible out of context and they throw consistency to the wind. What is a Messianic Consistency and context keep true scholarship from vearing off into left field. So back to our text. We see that it also says to call no man Father.. So if we’re to interpret where it says that no one can call another person Rabbi, then we have to be consistent and also say that no one can call another person Father. What is a Messianic So if we’re not supposed to use the word Father then common sense would tell us that the Bible shouldn’t use that word either in describing dads What is a Messianic (Slide) But guess what, the Bible does that a lot… Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall

be one flesh. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 10:21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 11:28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 19:31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 19:32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. What is a Messianic (Slide) Genesis 19:33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. What is a Messianic And this is just in one book of the Bible... And none of these are being used to talk about G-d as our Father! “Well that’s Old Testament!” Ok…. What is a Messianic (Slide) Matthew 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: What is a Messianic (Slide) Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. What is a Messianic (Slide) Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. What is a Messianic (Slide) Matthew 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. What is a Messianic (Slide) Matthew 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. What is a Messianic (Slide) Matthew 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death What is a Messianic And that’s just one book in the New Testament. So obviously it’s not saying we shouldn’t call our father’s father and so it’s not saying we shouldn’t call anyone “Rabbi” either. What is a Messianic So what is it talking about there in Matthew? It’s saying we need to understand who THE Rabbi is and who THE Master is and who THE Teacher is.

What is a Messianic It’s not saying you can’t call a Rabbi by his title. If that were true then you couldn’t call a Pastor “Pastor” either or a Deacon “Deacon” or your grade school teacher “Teacher”. If we use a little common sense and keep Scripture in context, it all becomes clear. What is a Messianic And this is why I love messianic Judaism so much… it has answers. Not like the answers were always promised by other movements but real answers. Answers that can be backed up with Scripture and simple reasoning. What is a Messianic Another question I’m often asked is that since we believe in keeping G-d’s Laws doesn’t that mean we are legalists. Well, let’s look at the definition of legalist and find out. What is a Messianic (Slide) Legalist…. One who believes you can be Saved by works. Are we legalists? No, we believe we are Saved by grace and grace alone! One could never be saved by works. Not even in the Old testament. Definitions (Slide) Gal. 3:6 is clear… Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.“ It doesn’t say one word about works there does it? Salvation is by grace. Definitions The Bible teaches we are saved by grace but after we are saved we are to then keep G-d’s Laws, in other words we have to do works. James said in Definitions (Slide) James 2:14… 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, Definitions (Slide)“Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Definitions If anyone tells you that you don’t need works, they’re obviously teaching you something against Scripture. Grace doesn’t cancel out works it goes hand in hand with works. Keeping G-d’s Holy Laws are part of works. Definitions (Slide) Paul himself kept every part of the law and didn’t offend it in any way…Acts 25 says… 8 While he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.” Definitions (Slide) We’re not supposed to offend the Law just as Paul said. Yeah but that’s Paul, we don’t have to follow him” 1 Cor 4:16 says… 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Definitions (Slide) So, yes we do have to be like him, just like he was like Yeshua. And that’s the biggest difference between us many other Churches, we believe that G-d’s Law is holy just and good just like it says in Romans 7:12…Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Definitions G-d doesn’t give his children things that are incomplete or not good for us. Anything He gives us is perfect. That’s a Biblical principle. He gives us perfect things because he is a perfect G-d. Definitions But isn’t the Law a burden? No, it’s not, it’s the exact opposite, it’s a joy! We’re often taught that there’s too many Laws to possibly keep. We hear about the 613 laws of the Jews. There are 613 laws but the vast majority of those laws have to do with the Temple. Definitions We don’t have a Temple anymore so we can’t keep those Laws. Many more of those 613 have to do with the Nazererite vow, the vow samson took. Unless you become a nazerite, you don’t have to keep those laws either. Definitions When it boils down to it, if you’re a good Christian there’s probably only about 6 laws that you aren’t already keeping. One of those laws concerns the Mezuzah. What’s a mezuzah? Definitions (Slide) You may have seen these on the doors of a Jewish person’s home… Definitions (Slide) Well, what’s that for? Deut 6:7 says… 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Definitions (Slide) 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Definitions So we do that, we post them on the doorposts of

our houses, it takes about 5 minutes and we don’t have to do anything with them again unless we move to another house. You do that and you’ve kept a commandment of G-d. It’s that simple. Definitions Then you’re down to 5 more commandments. But when you become a Messianic, you usually take these commandments slowly. After you’re comfortable with one commandment then you take on another one. If you do them all too quickly it can become to much for some Definitions Even growing up as a Messianic, my dad gave me the commandments slowly one by one. We’re not meant to do them all at once And that’s exactly what Acts 15 is talking about when it says… Definitions (Slide) Acts 15 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Definitions One may ask, isn’t telling Gentiles they should keep Old Testament Laws Judaizing? Well, let’s look at the definition of Judaizing Definitions (Slide) Judahizer…. One who teaches that you must be Jewish in order to be Saved. Are we Judahizers? No! We believe anyone can be Saved but after Salvation we keep G-d’s Laws. But aren’t the Laws bad? No. Definitions We see G-d’s Laws as something good. G-d gave us these Laws to help us, not to bind us. G-d doesn’t give His people bad things. He doesn’t give us things that are impossible to do either. His Laws (Torah in Hebrew which means Instructions) help us in our daily lives. Who doesn’t need a little G-dly “Instruction” from time to time? How do we understand G-d’s Laws? But aren’t we free from the Law? How do we understand G-d’s Laws? (Slide) 1 Cor. 9:21 To those who do not have the law, I became like a man who does not have the law in order to win those who do not have the law. However, I am not free from God's law, but I'm subject to the Messiah's law. Now some will point out here that it says, he’s subject to the Messiah’s Laws. Are we “free” from the Law? The Messiah is G-d! Jesus’ Laws are G-d’s Laws and G-d’s Laws are the Messiah’s Laws. We’re not free from G-d’s Laws and don’t wish to be free from them, they’re good for us. They’re G-d’s instructions! Are we “free” from the Law? So that’s a little about Beit Aveinu and Messianic Judaism