June 9, 2008 by admin.

SHAVU’OT (PENTECOST)

After His resurrection, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah had told His disciples in Luke 24:49: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Also, at His last Passover Seder (Last Supper), Yeshua had already promised to send them the Holy Spirit after He would leave the earth. Even John the Baptist had prophesied that Yeshua would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Picture the scene later on. Jesus had ascended to His Father, and the disciples were left behind…waiting. What were they waiting for? What did they expect? What did they think the Holy Spirit would be like? As Jews, they knew from Leviticus 23 that fifty days after Passover was the celebration of the feast of Shavu’ot or Pentecost. During the time of Jesus, this was an agricultural festival, but the sages of the time recognized it also as a time of celebration marking the anniversary of the Lord giving the Commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai. Also, in Jewish tradition, on the first Shavu’ot the Jewish people were seen as betrothed to God through the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. It was one of the three feasts where all males were commanded to go to Jerusalem for the festivities.

So, there they were in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, Israel. They probably had been eagerly counting the fifty days since Passover in anticipation of celebrating their betrothal and the giving of the Torah, as many devout Jews do to this day. They were also waiting…expecting the Holy Spirit at some point.

All of a sudden…it happened! Acts 2. What a wonderful surprise! What an incredible, awesome gift for the faithful seekers! The supernatural unfolded before them! There was the sound of a violent wind! Tongues of fire came down and landed on each of them! Disciples of Yeshua cried out in foreign languages that they had never learned! Prophesying! Visions! Signs! Wonders! Wow! The Holy Law that had been written on tablets of stone was now written on the tablets of their human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10)! The betrothal period was over. Here on the first Shavu’ot after Yeshua’s death, His people, both Jew and Gentile, now became His Bride!

The 6th of Silvan (Monday, June 9, 2008) marks this year’s celebration of Shavu’ot. This same Fire that fell 2,000 years ago–this same Holy Spirit–is now offered to all those who expect His impartation, believe the words of Yeshua, and wait. He is here! He is being poured out in these last days!

Bless the Name of God (Baruch HaShem)!

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June 2, 2008 by admin.

Yom Yerushalayim

The 28th of Iyar (our June 2nd) marks the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), a national Israeli holiday commemorating the recently gained control over the Old City and the re-unification of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the City of God, where God chose to write His name! Jerusalem, the most holy city in the world! Jerusalem, where Yeshua walked, preached, healed and prophesied almost 2000 years ago! Jerusalem, where Messiah will soon return to the Mount of Olives and enter the Eastern Gate! Jerusalem, the place where the new Jerusalem will descend from above!

In its history, however, Jerusalem has been “trampled on” over the centuries by the Gentiles (Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders, Turks and the British) as Yeshua predicted in Luke 21:24. Recently, some things have begun to change. Israel became a recognized nation in May 1948. However, they still did not have control of Jerusalem. Then, another change came! During the Six Day War in June 1967, the nation of Israel miraculously held off six invading Arab nations and took sovereign control over the City of God!

So what’s the significance? What’s the point? Well, the point is that Yeshua said in Luke 21:24 that Jerusalem would be “trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Well, Jerusalem is now in the hands of the Jews. Does this mean that Jerusalem is no longer trampled on? If so, we’re definitely close to the return of the Messiah. Why? Because Yeshua said, “When these things [along with other signs] begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near!” (Luke 21:28). He went on to say in verse 32: “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened!” Is that generation us…the generation that saw Jerusalem returned to the Jews? Wow! And also, if the “times of the Gentiles” refers to Romans 11:25-26 where it states that after the “full number of the Gentiles has come in,” then it follows that “all Israel will be saved” soon! Look up, your redemption draws near! Your Yeshua draws near! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

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December 4, 2007 by admin.

Hannukah (Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication) is the eight-day period during which Jews around the world celebrate a miracle. Before the birth of the Messiah, the Syrian King Antiochus invaded Jerusalem and forbid the Jews from following their practices written in the Torah (Sabbath, eating kosher, circumcision, etc.). He went so far as to defile the Temple by sacrificing pigs there. A band of Jews led by Judah Maccabee fought the Syrians to regain control of the Temple and then began the process of rededicating it. According to Jewish writings, in 165 B.C. they lit the menorah (lampstand) but had enough oil for only one day. God performed a miracle by making the holy oil burn for eight days. Today, millions around the world celebrate this miracle in their homes by lighting the eight candles of a special Hannukah menorah.

In John 10:22-39, Yeshua (Jesus) spoke publicly about miracles during this eight-day period of Hannukah. When asked if He was the Messiah, Jesus told the Jews that He had already revealed himself as the Messiah (Christ) through the miracles that He performed in His Father’s name. However, those listening did not believe Him.

This year, the first Hannukah candle was lit on December 4. The last candle will be lit on December 11. During this time, let us remember that we are spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham and are wild olive branches grafted into the natural olive tree by God. Let the lights of the menorahs we see remind us that Yeshua is the greatest miracle of all and that He is the Light of the world as He declared (John 8:12). Let us remember that He has come into the temple of our hearts with the everlasting oil of the Spirit that we might shine forth His love. May we let our light so shine before both Jews and Gentiles that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16), and may we rededicate ourselves to the risen, miracle-working Messiah.

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September 21, 2007 by admin.

Friday evening, September 21, marks the beginning of YOM KIPPUR (Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23:27). Seeking for forgiveness, and consequently for their names to be written in the Book of Life for the year, Jews around the world will be fasting, repenting, and attending synagogue services on what they consider to be the holiest day of the year.

In ancient times, it was on this day each year that the Jewish high priest, seeking atonement for the sins of Israel, was allowed by God to enter the Most Holy Place in the Temple–but never without the blood of a sacrifice.

On Yom Kippur and every day we rejoice, as believers in Christ, that our Messiah Jesus, THE High Priest, FULFILLED this holy day. ONCE AND FOR ALL, He brought His own Blood to the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy Place IN HEAVEN (Hebrews 9:12). He thereby obtained eternal redemption, atonement (Hebrews 2:17), for all who repent and believe–both Jew and Gentile–and our names are written forever in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).

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