October 2011

Proclaiming Yeshua To The Most Senior Rabbis In Israel This Sukkot

Posted: 19 October, 2011

Happy Sukkot! - From Jerusalem

Sukkot, otherwise known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is coming to a close. Ancient Israel was commanded by the Lord to dwell in temporary houses called sukkas (dwellings) during their desert sojourn and in Leviticus 23:42-43, the Lord instructs Israel to memorialize that time in the desert by celebrating Sukkot every year.

It is described as a pilgrimage Feast because all Israel was to journey to Jerusalem to bring a portion of their autumn harvest as an offering. When the Temple was standing, the nation also offered a total of seventy bulls as a sacrifice to the Lord. Many believe this offering of bulls was made to intercede for all the nations of the earth in order for Israel to fulfill their role as a nation of Priests.

Our Heavenly Father, in His amazing prophetic nature, designed this Feast to help us realize our need for Him to Tabernacle (dwell) with us. It also shows how much He loves his people and desires to literally live among us.

The greatest occurrence of Him dwelling with us is when he descended in human flesh to accomplish the most important miracle the world has ever known. It is a safe assumption to say Yeshua was born during this Feast as the Gospel of John tells us that, "the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 YLT)

Not only does this incredible time look back in history, it also sheds light on what will be taking place in the Millennium. The prophet Zachariah show us that all nations will come to celebrate this feast and worship King Yeshua when He is sitting on the throne in Jerusalem. In fact, if any nation decides to neglect this Feast, He will withhold the blessing of rain on that nation!

"Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain." (Zechariah 14:16-17 NIV)

As Zev and Lian entered Jerusalem, they didn't know exactly what to expect but knew it could get pretty dicey down at the Wailing Wall (The Kotel). They had orders from above to tell people the prophetic significance of the Feast! Zev is a marked man at the Wall and has been deemed "the Kotel Bandit" by some anti-missionary groups for his continued zeal to spread the gospel there.

As he and Lian headed down to share Yeshua, they stopped to pray with a group of believers visiting Israel from First Baptist Church in Wylie, Texas. After praying, they felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the task. See photo:

Jews from all over Israel and the world were gathered together at the Wall to celebrate Sukkot. Zev felt grieved because they did not have the full picture, meaning, and importance of the Feast. He yearned for them to know!

As he was walking though the enormous crowd and praying in the spirit, he approached a rather tall and intimidating looking rabbi. Zev asked him why he was there today. The rabbi told him he was there to say the Berkat Kohanim (The Priestly Blessing) of the Feast. See photo.

Zev said, "Sukkot is a time to release the blessing of the Messiah into your life! It is a challenge God places before His people at this time." The rabbi asked where this was in the Bible. Zev pointed to Malachi 3:3-4 where it says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years." (NIV)

The rabbi asked how this applies to him today because there is not a Temple. Zev explained that the Lord tells us to return and bring offerings of righteousness and the only way to do this is through the Messiah; the final, perfect, and complete offering.

The rabbi asked Zev if he was Jewish and Zev said of course he was. The rabbi then introduced himself as Rabbi Steig and asked Zev if he knew who he was.

Zev said, in a loving way, that he is sure the rabbi has a respectable job and a lot of people look up to him. The truth is we are all small people but serve a big God. If we don't turn to him and understand the importance of these holidays and what they truly mean, then instead of receiving the blessings of God we will receive the wrath of God. See Photo.

Zev continued and said there is only one Priest that can bless us. His is the Son of God, Yeshua Ha Mashiach. We are all priests when we accept Him as Savior!

The rabbi gnashed his teeth at Zev and left. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION!

Zev pressed on through the crowd. The Holy Spirit led him to another rabbi named Rabbi Levi. Zev recognized him because He is one of the main Ashkenazi rabbis in Israel and, like Zev, is from the city of Bnei Brak. See Photo.

"Chag Semeach!" Zev exclaimed. "How do you know me? You are not orthodox." Rabbi Levi responded. Zev told the rabbi he was from Bnei Brak and his grandfather was Rabbi Porat. The rabbi immediately knew who Zev was and what he was doing. He then asked Zev if he was there to make trouble. Zev said he is sorry he thinks he is there to make trouble and kindly said he has come to celebrate Sukkot and to tell people that God has always wanted to tabernacle with them. He went on to say that the only way we can have a relationship with Him is through Yeshua.

The rabbi suddenly began to mumble something in Yiddish. A security guard heard this and began to threaten Zev and warned him to leave immediately. Praise God! A group of believers were there praying and they confronted the security guard. They told him Zev was not doing anything wrong.

Again, the Holy Spirit told Zev to move and directed him to walk right into the main Sukka. Zev heard the Spirit say to him, "Tabernacle with me. Don't be afraid. Tell the people in here how much I love them. Tell them I am crying for them and calling them." See Photos.

Zev walked up to a man named David and explained to him that the Sukka is a sign that God wants a relationship with us. He said it is a special time of repentance. At this point, at least 100 people were listening to the conversation in silence. The Holy Spirit told Zev to leave and as he did he could hear the crowd discussing what he had said. Zev sensed the same Shekinah Glory that led the people out of Egypt was present and working in the Sukka to draw people to Himself. Praise God! See Photos.

Zev continued to talk to people and many were approaching him asking if he was a Cohen (Priest) because of the authority he spoke with that day.

Outreach Report

Breaking News: Gilad Shalit to be Released!

Posted: 11 October, 2011

IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit

We are overjoyed to report a deal has been brokered for the release of Gilad Shalit. Sergeant Shalit, an Israeli soldier, has been a prisoner of Hamas since 2006 when he was seized in a raid and taken back to the Gaza Strip.

Since that time, Israel has been desperately attempting to rescue Gilad through various deals. Finally, a deal was struck and Gilad should be home within days. Unfortunately, Israel had to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners in return, but this is a shining example of how much the nation of Israel cares for even just one its own.
Tonight is the beginning of the Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) in Israel. In Leviticus 23 the Lord encourages Israel to rejoice and celebrate during this time. For those of you outside of Israel, please rejoice with us for the Feast and celebrate because an Israeli will be released from the bondage of Hamas.

Let us also be thankful and rejoice when just one Israeli has been released from the spiritual prison of the enemy by the love and power of Yeshua Ha Mashiach. In Luke 15:4-7 He gives us a parable about a lost sheep:

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Gilad is not officially home yet so please pray that the deal would not be derailed for any reason and, above all, please pray for his and his family's salvation.

We want to thank everyone who supports our ministry! Reaching the lost, one sheep at a time, is made possible by your faithful prayers and donations.

Outreach Report

Yom Kippur: Chickens sacrificed for sins in Mea Shearim!

Posted: 8 October, 2011

Mea Shearim - Jerusalem

Yom Kippur is upon us. It is considered the holiest day of the year on the Hebrew calendar. Leviticus 23:28 explains that this is the day Israel's sins were corporately atoned for as the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the sacrificial blood upon the ark of the covenant to cover the sins of the people.

The Jewish people consider this day as a time to fast and confess their sins before God. However, those that reject Yeshua as the Messiah have a serious problem. As stated above, the Bible commands that in order for there to be atonement for sin, there has to be blood sacrifice and it has to be administered in the Holy of Holies. It is quite apparent that blood sacrifice is the only remedy for sin.

Mea Shearim is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Jerusalem and it is probably the most orthodox area in the city. It gets very interesting, to say the least, in Mea Sherim around this time of year. The people so desperately realize the need for a sacrificial substitution to cover their sins, they will actually kill a chicken and wave it above their head in an attempt to atone for transgressions! See photo.

Chickens waiting to be sacrificed.

Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:1-3 NASB)

Our ministry, being led by the Holy Spirit, entered Mea Shearim with a very heavy heart. What we saw was terrifying and heart breaking as we witnessed the spectacle of men sacrificing chickens and waving them over the heads of their wives and children on the corner of every street. This experience seemed demonically controlled and very far from anything the Lord requires of His people. It has no roots in the Torah whatsoever. See photo.

As believers were praying, Zev walked up to a man named Rabbi Vinberg and began to read some of the curses for sinning against the Lord in Leviticus 26. "Does this chicken cover these sins?" Zev asked. "We must pray three times a day, fast on Yom Kippur, and sacrifice a chicken," the rabbi responded. Zev then asked, "Where does it say that in the Jewish Bible?" Rabbi Vinberg responded in the same fashion we hear all too often, "It does not say this in the Bible but this is what all the Rabbis teach." See photo.

Zev continued to question the Rabbi as many were listening at this point, "Is there blood when we sacrifice a chicken?" The Rabbi said yes. Then Zev asked him if he thought God requires blood to be shed for atonement. Rabbi Vinberg said, "No, that was only in the sanctuary thousands of years ago and we no longer have a sanctuary." See photo.

Zev continued, "So, why do we need the chicken if prayer and fasting replace blood? Either it replaces the sacrifices or not because God does not contradict Himself. What do you do with the chicken after you sacrifice it?" "We do a mitzvah (good deed) and give it to the poor," said Vinberg. Zev asked him why he gives a chicken full of sin to the poor.

By the expression on the rabbi's face, it seemed he suddenly felt foolish for the whole experience. His wife and kids also seemed to want to question what they were doing. Praise God! The Holy Spirit was there as the Light of Yeshua was shining in the darkness! We ask that you would please pray specifically for Rabbi Vinberg and his family.

Zev began to declare to the people around him, "God loves you so much! His plan is not a chicken but the perfect sacrifice of His only Son, the Messiah of Israel. He came and died once for all and by His blood we are forgiven!"

Baruch, who was standing there with his family and another rabbi, listened intently. Praise Yeshua! Zev spoke with him and they exchanged phone numbers. Also, the other rabbi stopped sacrificing his chicken and left. Pray fervently for them and the many others that heard the good news of Salvation. See photos.

There are multiple Scriptures in the Bible that talk about the Day of the Lord. This will be a time when the Lord will pour out His wrath on the earth and judge all those that are not sealed by the blood of the Lamb.

Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it. (Isaiah 13:9 NASB)

Yom Kippur is certainly the day that represents this great and terrible time as the last trumpet blows signaling the return of the King.

Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber. (Joel 2:15-16 NASB)

May those of us who take refuge in the Messiah be very thankful during this time and it would be very appropriate to pray for the people of Israel that have yet to receive the good news of Yeshua. We pray they would realize He is the Cohen Gadol (High Priest) that has already paid the price for sin and will appear a second time to bring salvation to all those who are waiting for Him! (Hebrews 9:28)