Beth Ariel Messianic Congregation

Rabbi Gary continues to teach about the Holy Spirit. He is a Divine Person. He is eternal, powerful, omniscient, omnipresent, emotional. His works include convicting and prosecuting unbelievers for their sins, and for their lack of God’s righteousness. He works through believers to spread the Good News of Messiah Yeshua.

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In this Radio Feature, Rabbi Gary discusses Psalm 8. This 1 minute episode will air on KKLA 99.5 in Los Angeles, beginning September 5, 2025, on Fridays during rush hour.

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Alan teaches on the Beatitudes from Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:3-10.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called the Sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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In this Radio Feature, Rabbi Gary discusses Psalm 3. This 1 minute episode will air on KKLA 99.5 in Los Angeles, beginning August 29, 2025, on Fridays during rush hour.

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Last week, we noted that the Scriptures, both the Hebrew and New Testament Scriptures, teach that the Spirit of God is a person. The question is, what kind of a person?

The Scriptures further teach that He is a divine person. By divine, it does not mean "excellent," or "delightful," although He is certainly that. Rather, by divine, it is meant He is deity. As the third person of the triune God, He is God, just as the other members of the triune God, the Father and the Son. This is seen in that He manifests the four essential attributes or characteristics of God: eternity, omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence.

With respect to his eternal existence we read in Hebrews 9:14:

"How much more will the blood of Messiah — who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself unblemished to God — cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

The Spirit of God is also omnipotent, all powerful. He was engaged in the creation of the world, ordering, arranging, and giving life to what otherwise would have remained "void," "formless" and shrouded in darkness (Genesis 1:1-2).

The Spirit of God is also omniscient, all knowing. Paul writes, "...The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men, knows the thoughts of a man, except the man's spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God" (I Corinthians 2:10-11).

Lastly, the Spirit of God is omnipresent, everywhere. David writes, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:7-10).

How wonderful is this for believers in Yeshua. He imparts His Spirit to us, to be with us everywhere and anywhere we might be in this life, and for all of eternity. His presence serves to guide and protect us always!

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In this Radio Feature, Rabbi Gary discusses Psalms 1 & 2. This 1 minute episode will air on KKLA 99.5 in Los Angeles, beginning August 22, 2025, on Fridays during rush hour.

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In Jewish thought, the Spirit of God is referred to as "the Spirit of the Lord," "the Spirit of God," and "the Holy Spirit" or "Ruach ha-Kodesh" (רוח הקדש). He is often identified with the Shekinah Glory.

However, in Jewish thought, the Spirit of God is not understood to be a person. Rather, He is conceived of as a created entity brought into existence, often thought of as merely God's active force or abstract manifestations of God's power.

Interestingly, whenever the Spirit of God is made reference to in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, His work and activities, His responses and actions, are always described in personal attributes.

He possesses "wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2). The Spirit of God possesses emotions. He is one who can be rebelled against (Psalm 106:33), and as a result, be grieved. In addition, the Spirit of God possesses a will. As such, He provides instruction regarding the will of God.

For this and other reasons we will review, the Spirit of God is a person, not a force, a metaphor, or a figure of speech. He is a person, for He manifests the attributes of personhood - namely, intelligence, emotions and will. 

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In this Radio Feature, Rabbi Gary discusses Psalm 72. This 1 minute episode will air on KKLA 99.5 in Los Angeles, beginning August 15, 2025, on Fridays during rush hour.

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TISHA B'AV: A DAY OF FASTING AND MOURNING

This coming Saturday evening, August 2nd, the Jewish people will be observing Tisha B'Av. The name Tisha B'Av means "the Ninth of Av," Av being the fifth month in the Jewish calendar. 

It coincides with the months of July and August in the Gregorian calendar and is a day set aside for fasting, mourning, the reading of Scripture and prayer. It commemorates a number of tragedies that befell the Jewish people throughout their history.

The observance of Tisha B'Av is nowhere commanded or instructed in the Scriptures, but reference to its observance by the Jewish people is found in the prophet Zechariah. In chapter 7 we read:

"In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev. The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech, together with their men, to entreat the Lord by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, 'Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month (the month of Av), as I have done for so many years?" (Zechariah 7:1-3; cf. vs.5, 8:19) 

The rabbis taught that the Jewish people experienced five tragedies on Tisha B'Av: the expulsion of the Jews from Israel by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC and then by the Romans in 70 AD, the fall of the city of Betar in 135 BC which ended the third Jewish revolt against Rome and the plowing of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans following the crushing of the rebellion.

Despite all the tragedies and anguish the Jewish people have experienced at so many times and in so many places, Tisha B'Av is observed with a sense of hope. On Tisha B'Av the book of Lamentations is read and we are reminded:

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord...Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven...I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: Do not close your ears to my cry for relief. You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.' O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life." O daughter of Zion, your punishment will end; he will not prolong your exile...You, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation...Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old..." (Lamentations 3:22-26; 3:40-41, 55-58; 4:22; 5:19, 21)

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In this Radio Feature, Rabbi Gary discusses The Book of Psalms. This 1 minute episode will air on KKLA 99.5 in Los Angeles, beginning August 8, 2025, on Fridays during rush hour.

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