Dear Family in the Messiah Yeshua! Greetings and blessings to you from your brothers and sisters at “Holy Land Ministries”, Israel!
At this time, we are completing the Counting of the Omer and approaching the fiftieth day, the Pentecost or “Shavuot” in Hebrew, the Festival of weeks. The word “Shavuot” literally means “weeks” and refers to the counting of these specific seven weeks described in Leviticus 23:15-16 and Deut.16: 9.
This year Shavuot begins at sunset on Saturday, June 4 and ends at sundown on Monday, June 6 by the Gregorian calendar.
As you may know, this same “Moed” of Shavuot (“Moed” in the Scripture designates the L-rd’s appointed timing) was chosen to commemorate “Matan Torah”, the giving the Torah to the Jewish people on mount Sinai and for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Yeshua’s first disciples many centuries later in Jerusalem, also known as the Birth of “Kehillah” (Church).
Meditating on these significant and amazing events of the past, that took place on Shavuot, leads us to think about the unspeakable glory of His future Kingdom, and the long-awaited Reign of our Blessed Messiah. I am sure that all of us would desire to bring many eternal fruits into His glorious Kingdom and that we need more of His strength and holiness to enable us to accomplish this task.
The Moed of Shavuot gives us this wonderful opportunity to attend the L-rd’s appointed time and to renew the strength, joy, and anointing, which are so necessary for our life’s testimony and ministry.
Thus, it is an ancient custom, practiced in Israel today, to spend the night of Shavuot in Torah study and prayer, expecting the L-rd’s special blessing and visitation at this anointed time, at His special “Moed”.
As usual, we would like to share with you the Shavuot teaching of our local rabbi and dear brother in the Messiah Yeshua:
בס״ד
The Festival of Weeks (Pentecost)
Before Yeshua’s ascension back into the heavens, He commanded His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to remain there for the Promise of the Father (See Acts 1:4). The Promise, who He was referring to, was of course the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter two, when the day was fulfilled, when the period of counting the Omer was complete (i.e., Seven weeks and one day, which totals fifty days, the meaning of the term Pentecost) the Holy Spirit came upon all believers. This event was not understood by many and as some began to mock what was taking place, Peter stood up with the other disciples and began to speak.
When Peter began to teach, the Scripture states it was the third hour. Although this refers to nine o’clock in the morning, it is very important for the reader to pay attention to the actual numbers in the Bible. The number three relates to revelation and therefore the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at the third hour reveals something. The prophet Isaiah states that there is a direct relationship between redemption and the Spirit of G-d (See Isaiah 59:20-21). In fact, these two verses from Isaiah are read every day in the synagogue. Peter, however, was led to speak from another prophet, the prophet Yoel. He instructs the people saying,
“And it will be in the last days, says G-d, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions and your old men will be made to dream dreams. And also upon My servants and upon My maidservants in those days I will pour out from My Spirit and they will prophesy. And I will give wonders in the heaven above and signs upon the earth below; blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifested Day of the L-rd comes. And it will be all whoever should call upon the Name of the L-rd will be saved.” Acts 2: 17-21
Peter uses the term, “the last days”. This phrase must be understood in two distinct manners. The common use of this term is the “End Times”, relating to the last seven years prior to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom (frequently, the events just before these last seven years are also included).
However, Peter uses this phrase according to the second usage.
This usage emphasizes not the period immediately before the establishment of the Kingdom, but the period when one can begin to experience some of the Kingdom benefits.
Peter mentions the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh; as the verses from the prophet Isaiah taught (See Isaiah 59:20-21). This is only possible as a result of redemption, which relates to the work of the Messiah. Peter wanted to reveal that this work of redemption was completed when Yeshua died on the Cross on Passover and confirmed by G-d when He raised Yeshua from the dead on the first day of the counting of the Omer. Now one can enter into the New Covenant, which is the Kingdom Covenant. In other words, the invitation concerning the Kingdom of G-d (the Gospel) is no longer just a prophesied concept, but now is available to all when he or she responds to this invitation.
One of the mysteries that Paul reveals is the Church. In the same way that Moses thought that when the Children of Israel entered into the Land of Israel the Kingdom would begin, so too did the people think that Messiah’s coming would also initiate the beginning of the Kingdom in the fullest sense. The error of both the people and their leaders was the failure to perceive that Biblical redemption contains two necessary elements. The first element is the payment for redemption פדות (Pdut) and the second one is the outcome or the results of this payment גאולה (Geulah), which relates to the establishment of the Kingdom. There was also a failure to comprehend that there would be a significant period of time between the payment for redemption and the establishment of the Kingdom. During this period, believers would serve G-d, proclaim the Gospel and testify of the power of redemption which they had received through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. This testimony was to include demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit by doing both good works and manifesting G-d’s will in one’s life.
In Peter’s message on the Festival of Shavuot (Pentecost), he also mentioned,
“And I will give wonders in the heaven above and signs upon the earth below; blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifested Day of the L-rd comes. And it will be all whoever should call upon the Name of the L-rd will be saved.”
While these events did not occur on Pentecost, when they do take place, they will mark the end of the period known as the Church Age. When one examines this prophecy closely, such signs relate to the time immediately before the Day of the L-rd. The Day of the L-rd relates to the wrath of G-d, which believers are promised never to experience,
“Because G-d has not appointed us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our L-rd, Yeshua HaMashiach.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9
The sun turning black and the moon becoming red like blood are also mentioned in the book of Revelation,
“and I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood.” Revelation 6:12
John instructs the reader that this is the sign of “The Wrath of the Lamb”; however, the sixth seal only announces the coming of G-d’s wrath and His wrath does not begin until the seventh seal is opened and the Seven Trumpet Judgment tarts starts.
In conclusion, Peter’s message revealed that the Feast of Pentecost (The Feast of Weeks) initiated the Church Age, when those who accept the Gospel will experience one of the outcomes of redemption, i.e. the receiving of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who equips every believer to serve G-d, carrying out His purposes and will. The Church Age will continue until just prior to the beginning of the Day of the L-rd. The event that will bring about the end of the Church Age is the Rapture, when every believer will be changed and receive a new body which is perfectly designed for eternity in the Kingdom of G-d. Now is the time when believers should utilize G-d’s provision of the Holy Spirit to do the will of G-d and bear witness to the truth of G-d in order to be found faithful when this age will come to an end.
May you have a blessed festival celebration!
Dear Friends, please pray for the ministry of our shelter in Ashqelon, providing free hospitality and a first home to Jewish people returning to Israel.
Recently, we began to extend this hospitality not only to the Jewish emigrants who arrive in Israel for the first time, but also to those who have already made “Aliyah” (Jewish Return to the Land of Israel) at some stage of their life, but unfortunately, for one reason or another, have found themselves again in the “Galut” (a Jewish concept that means exile, living outside Israel), and again, years later, facing many challenges of the “Aliyah”.
You may remember the story of Rantik, which we have published in one of our recent publications. Thank you for remembering him in your prayers. Rantik is doing much better now and his health has improved since we last reported about him. Rantik’s case is the typical story of the prodigal son, which, sorrowfully, so many of us, can identify with…
But our hope and strength are always in the grace and mercy of our Messiah, receiving everyone who comes to him with repentance of a humble and broken heart.
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, o God, will not despise”. Psalm 51:17 NKJV
…. “one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out”. John 6:37 (b) NKJV
Regrettably, our present shelter residents are in a very similar situation that Rantik was, when he returned to Israel six months ago.
At this time, we are asking your special prayers for our new shelter guests Roman and Larisa, Jewish emigrants from Russia. Roman and Larisa are mother and son, who are not just bound by family ties, but also share a Faith in Messiah Yeshua. Hallelujah!
Unfortunately, this wonderful fact is the only joyful reality in their present circumstances. Of course, as we know, this alone incomparably outweighs any other possible benefits, if one must choose, and gives us a strong hope for their future prospects. Larisa and Roman, just like Rantik, are also in the category of “Toshav Chozer” (a returning citizen) and thus they have no access to social welfare, no free medical care or any other government benefits for the next six months.
The main challenge of Roman and Larisa at the moment is their physical condition. These poor people are seriously sick with a number of chronic diseases. Neither experience good health, but during the last few years their condition has deteriorated drastically. And, as we explained above, their situation is complicated by the fact that Larisa and Roman have not been in Israel for the past two and a half years and thus have lost their right for national health insurance, which could provide them with good, free medical care, as would be the case for other Israelis with such medical problems.
The first time Roman and Larisa made Aliyah, (emigrated) to Israel was in 2004. They remember this as a very difficult time for them, full of pressure, the challenges of the foreign, middle eastern culture and constant dread of the endless terrorist attacks. On the other hand, all these difficulties and sufferings caused them to seek for answers and look for help outside of their comfort zones. This is how they met Messianic believers and eventually came to faith in Yeshua.
Mother and son have a lot of similarities in their character. They are both very sweet and gentle people by nature, well educated and can be called typical representatives of the Russian Jewish intelligentsia. They always had compassion and love for the people around them, especially for those who have been disabled and felt lonely and rejected. Needless to say, they continued in their ministry to the needy with more zeal after coming to faith in Yeshua. As they did in the past, they have been arranging various charitable projects and support for the handicapped people.
Roman and Larisa have learned to love Israel, but they were still often drawn to Russia, to the familiar culture, to old friends and home. Thus, since 2004 they have been in Israel, but most of their time they were in Russia.
Besides that, they had to take care of their elderly, sick family member, Roman’s grandmother, who is not Jewish, just as Roman’s father is not Jewish. This commitment has kept Roman and Larisa in Russia for the greater part of the last few years.
But now, Roman’s and Larisa’s return is final. The time has come for them to make a definite decision, and we are glad that they have made the right one.
Both Roman and Larisa are at the stage of physical exhaustion at the moment and we are asking your prayers for supernatural healing, for full recovery and for the L-rd’s inexhaustible grace in the life of these dear people.
Please pray with us, that the L-rd will bless, strengthen and establish these precious Jewish people in the land of their fathers; and once they are strengthened and established, that He will cause them to bear much fruit in Israel, spreading the light and glory of our Blessed Messiah and His coming Kingdom.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
Please meet Eugene, another new emigrant and former resident of our shelter in Ashqelon.
We first met Eugene this last winter, when he arrived to us straight from the airport. As with many other people, that we meet in our shelter, Eugene was in the middle of a difficult life situation and, as a result, had no place to go. He had already made the Aliyah from Ukraine with his family about two years ago, but then, a year later he flew back alone due to the split in his family, which, unfortunately, is quite a common situation among the new immigrant community in Israel.
So, this time, Eugene was returning back to Israel by himself. He was in the process of a devastating divorce from his wife and felt absolutely heartbroken. He was losing his family, his home, his wife and his little daughter, – all these precious things had meant everything to him in life. Beside that he has found himself practically in a beggar’s situation, without money, without home and friends in a new country. Eugene is a really hard-working man, which made him a successful lawyer and notary back in Ukraine. He had never been in a homeless situation, but now, at this time in his life, he has come really close to this dramatic experience.
Somebody told him about us and the possible aid we might provide for him considering his circumstances; so he contacted one of our volunteers, asking for help with free accommodation till he earns the necessary sum to move into his own rented flat. We had no reason to deny his request and invited him to stay in the shelter.
We must say, that he has found a job really quickly and had hardly used any practical help which we had offered to him. Right now, he is living in his own little place and fully supports himself and his little daughter by accurately paying the alimony to his ex-wife. So, in a social sense, Eugene is a really successful case. Baruch HaShem! But the most important thing that has happened to Eugene in the middle of his personal drama, which this poor man had hardly survived, is that we had a real chance to minister to his true spiritual needs while he was staying with us. We had an opportunity to share the Gospel message and the life-giving teaching of our Messiah Yeshua with this poor broken man. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28 NKJV
Like many other new emigrants coming from the former Soviet Union, Eugene had a very vague idea about spiritual reality, about the importance of repentance and living his life in accordance with the moral law of the eternal G-d, the Creator of the universe. According Eugene’s own confession, he has never realized the vital importance of this truth and its application in his life, which consequently has destroyed his own personal happiness.
The good thing is that it is not the end of Eugene’s story, but only the beginning. We can clearly see that the L-rd is bringing healing and hope into Eugene’s life, as he is studying the Word and gradually recovering from the wounds of the past.
Eugene is regularly in touch with our team, though, Baruch haShem, he does not need any longer our material helps or any other practical services. Quite the opposite, he is constantly seeking every opportunity to be useful and involved in the voluntary work of the ministry even during the working week, if possible.
Eugene also loves to visit us on Shabbat and study the weekly Torah portion together.
Please pray with us for this dear man. He is only a spiritual “baby” and is making his first steps in the new life. May the Lord grow and encourage Eugene in his new journey, guide and keep him till He completes the work in Eugene’s heart even till His very Return.
” …being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1: 6
Dear Friends, please continue to pray for our ministry in Beer Sheva!
Three months ago we opened a new house in Beer Sheva for the practical implementation of projects, tasks and the vision of our ministry.
One of the continuous long-term projects that we carry out in this ministry house is the preparation of food for the poor, elderly and handicapped people who need this kind of assistance in the Beer Sheva area.
So, once a week, towards the end of the week, before Shabbat, we get together to cook food for our wards and pray…
Most of these elderly and disabled people are not able to walk, so we deliver this food to their homes and are thus seeking to keep in touch and pray with them and for them.
Please pray with us, that through these meals prepared by our team with a lot of care and diligence, the hearts and souls of these dear lonely people will be reached and revived through the power and love of our L-rd Yeshua HaMashiach!
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5 :16 NKJV
Happy Shavout to you, dear Family!
Happy Shavout to you, dear Family!
Holy Land Ministries 