Please pray daily for the Orthodox
Thursday 15th January 2013
Rabbis and Marriage
The religious control marriages in Israel and the rules are very strict. Young Israelis under certain circumstances are forced to go overseas to get married.
The Rabbis won’t marry a person born out of wedlock until the tenth generation. The Rabbis won’t marry them. They can’t always check 10 generations but they do check as much as they can.
More on this subject tomorrow
Tuesday 15th January 2013
Elan (please refer to the post January 9th) has been locked out of his house with his four children because he was behind two months rent.
His four children are staying with school friends.
We managed to solve the problem (the landlord has let him off one months rent and the other half was raised (small donations from different places.)
Elan receives council house from the government on the 1st of March. The rent for the council house will be around $100 a month.
Remember Elan has a work accident. He is due to receive a low rent government house on the 1st of March.
Monday 14th January 2013
Update is coming soon. Elan and his four children (From the 9th January post) have been locked out of their house. We are negotiating with his landlord.
Sunday 13th January 2013
Today I am late writing this post because I have guided Israeli groups all morning. (Praise YHWH)
Jer 31:31; YHWH made a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
He goes on to say that it isn’t according to the covenant that we made with YHWH in Sinai because we continually broke that covenant.
I ask my groups this question, “Does any one here think that our people ever managed to keep the covenant we made with YHWH in Sinai”?
Never has one person out of thousands I have spoken claimed we kept the covenant we made with YHWH. We have never been able to keep it up to this very day.
Every Christian group in the old city of Jerusalem claims to exclusively have the truth. We can’t see any community in the Old city, which shines out the New Covenant as was in the days of Acts. Where are we going wrong? We pray and work daily in the YHWH’s strength to bring the testimony back.
Friday 11th January 2013
“Deep darkness is over the people but the Lord will shine on you.” Isa.60:1
Is this promise for the church or the nation of Israel? In context, it is clearly for Israel, but I believe both soon will mingle together.
The church has applied this verse to herself for years. The prophecy of this chapter clearly slides out of our present age into the Millennium when our Lord Messiah is reining on earth, sitting on the throne of David. Here are but a few examples that show this verse and chapter refers to Israel.
- Verse 11; the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
- Verse 12; the nation or Kingdom, which does not serve you, shall perish.
I believe that this year, standing with Jerusalem will determine blessings for individuals, churches, states and nations.
Please click here for photos Pictures of Snow in Jerusalem 10/1/2013
Thursday 10th January 2013
Jerusalem in the Snow
Please click here for more photos Pictures of Snow in Jerusalem 10/1/2013
Wednesday 9th January 2013
We are experiencing very stormy weather in Jerusalem. Floods, rain with strong winds.
I don't usually let "my right hand know what my left hand is doing" when it comes to giving, but so you can pray for this man, I will share his story with you.
On Friday a religious man by the name of Eilan approached me. We have witnessed to him for years and have built much trust with him.
Eilan's wife passed away from kidney failure and he is raising three young children on his own. He works as a security officer on the light rail trams in Jerusalem. Because of an accident on the train, he hasn't able to work for 6 months. The welfare he is receiving because of his accident hasn't been covering all his needs. His electricity was cut off last Friday, which meant he would have had the weekend with no electricity. I helped him with his power bill and he was very touched. I knew how he felt as recently our power was cut off because of an unpaid bill.
Eilan hopes to be back at work soon and is training to be a light rail train driver.
Please pray that he will come to know his Messiah.
The death and mass burial of umbrellas in Jerusalem today because of the strong winds (rain, hail and snow)
Tuesday 8th January 2013
Here we have mourning and rejoicing mingled together. This is the experience of many of us who love Jerusalem. Our Creator, through the Holy Spirit, has put in our hearts his will in order to accomplish his purpose. This joy and mourning is not from us.
We are mourning in labor, crying out and not giving YHWH rest until he establishes this city as a praise in all the earth, until her salvation shines as a burning torch. (Isa.62:1) We have joined hearts with our Creator to bring Israel into her place as the head of the nations.
We mourn and cry out concerning the blindness of his people to their true Messiah, and of the Christian hatred and persecution towards Jews throughout the last 2,000 years. We mourn because the Messianic community isn't the testimony of Christ she needs to be to provoke the Jews to jealousy.
Was this scripture fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation? Or will it happen after the fullness of the gentiles when all Israel shall be saved? Isaiah 66 is an amazing chapter, we shall study and see.
Monday 7th January 2013
Why doesn’t the Jewish Orthodox movement recognize the state of Israel? Why is the State of Israel diametrically opposed to the Torah?
Orthodox Jews do not recognize the state of Israel! They view it as Zionism against Judaism. The Orthodox are against the Zionistic movement and the “State of Israel” because they claim it to be diametrically opposed and completely contradictory to YHWH’s revealed word in the Torah. Here is a quote of the Rabbis:
“Because of all of this and other reasons, the Torah forbids us to end the exile and establish a state and army until the Holy One, blessed be He, in His Glory and Essence will redeem us.”
I can completely understand their reasoning. The Law (Torah) clearly states that if we break YHWH’s law we will be scattered amongst the nations and the only way back to the land and blessings is national repentance.
“But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors, their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me…….. Then I will remember the covenant, I will remember the land.” Leviticus 26:40, 42
The Zionist movement which brought the Jews back to the land of Israel (immigration or Aliyah) from 1882 until now, has not at all been based on repentance and turning back to God.
Here are a few quotes from Newspaper articles and the links to the full articles:
“Although there are those who refuse to accept the teachings of our Rabbis, and will continue to support the Zionist state, there are also many who are totally unaware of the history of Zionism and its contradiction to the beliefs of Torah-True Jews.” http://www.jewsagainstzionism.comLet it be known that: “The State of "Israel" does not represent the voice of Judaism and/or the Jewish people. The Torah clearly forbids the formation of a State, for the Jewish people, in their time of exile.” http://rense.com/general51/agz.htm
This is an interesting YouTube video:
Thousands of Orthodox Jews protest Netanyahu and the State of Israel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBOv3jLirxA
“The rabbinical authorities had led the Jewish communities of the world for nearly 2,000 years. The rise of Zionism was a distinct threat to their authority and their teachings.” http://www.zionism-israel.com/his/orthodox_judaism_history.htm
Sunday 6th January 2013
Family coming to faith
Vered, an Orthodox, single mom with two children, is in the process of coming to faith. She is very dependent on the Orthodox community to look after her. For her to become a part of the Messianic community, she will lose this support. We desperately need prayer, recourses and other assistance.
As you can imagine, Vered lives under the constant stress of providing for her children. Her ten year old daughter’s name is Adi, (ornament in Hebrew), and her son, Ephraim, is 8 years old. Ephraim has a brain disorder and wakes up several times every night. They live in a small, cramped apartment and are of need of much. Israel does not provide assistance to single mothers that US government programs do.
Please pray with us for Vered, who has started a very difficult, painful process. It will be very hard for her to leave family and everything she grew up with and believed was right, (Rabbinical Judaism). Dikla is working close with Vered and they have become good friends.
4th January 2013
Praise report
Today as I arrived to work an hour ago I saw a group of Orthodox ladies (students learning the Torah) standing at the entrance of the compound. I invited them in. They were so very reluctant to enter and were very nervous. After explaining that I was just as Jewish as they were and I kept Shabbat and prayed with Phylacteries they relaxed a little. I was able to share with them and one girl secretly whispered she would be back.
Yesterday a lady came in who was in charge of an Ulpan (a school that teaches new Jewish immigrants Hebrew) came into the compound with a group. I was tired and felt like giving the group to another guide but something inside me said stick with this group. A certain woman kept smiling and responding throughout my message. Afterwards she introduced herself and invited me to give my testimony to the students (New Jewish immigrants) at her school. She also wants to use me as a to guide new Jewish immigrants around the old city and to share with them the Christian faith. She is so open. Her Name is Ruth Noi. Please pray that this seed would not fall by the way side.
3rd January 2013
The Oral Law
The Oral Law is an interpretation of the written law (man’s interpretation). For example, the law tells us we can’t work or light a fire on the Shabbat. What do we consider work? Remember Jesus’ disciples were rubbing grain in the fields and that was considered work. Luke 6:1, Mark 2:23, Matthew 12:1.
Today on Fridays the religious will cut toilet paper because they can’t rip it on Shabbats. They will open a can of Coke on Friday and save it for Saturday because they can’t open a tin on Saturday. They can’t turn on or off a light, pick up a pen to write, pick fruit from a tree or travel in a car. The food must be prepared and be on hot plates.
A head Rabbi's sermon one Saturday was, “Is it a sin to pick your nose on the Shabbat?” The conclusion was yes, you might pull out a few hairs at the same time. And especially if you roll it in your fingers after it comes out of your nose!
They honestly think that if they break the smallest of these rules they anger God.
2nd January 2013
The Oral Law and the Written Law.
Judaism has what we call the “Written Law.” This is the 5 books of Moses which you are familiar with, and “The Oral Law.”
What is the Oral Law? Moses received from God much more than what he wrote down. The Oral Law is a commentary on the law and even more laws than what is written. These commentaries and laws were passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation.
Jesus refers to these laws that the Scribes and Pharisees believed where G-d inspired, as teachings and doctrines of man. Isaiah prophesied of the future corruption of Judaism and Yeshua quoted “Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Is 29:13
After the destruction of the second temple these Oral Laws passed from generation to generation were put in writing and is now known as the “Talmud.” There is a Jerusalem Talmud and a Babylonian Talmud.
1st January 2013
Gods New Year; are we going to keep God's calendar or mans?
Exodus 12:2 ,"This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you." In this verse, God established the biblical New Year.
Accordingly, the 1st of Av is the proper Jewish New Year. In 2013, it will be the13th of March and Passover will be on the 25th of March.
Before the Exodus, the New Year was around September. God changed the New Year to spring, and the Rabbis have changed it back to September.
According to the New Calendar God established in Exodus, Noah's ark rested on the Earth the very day Yeshua rose from the dead. Gen 8: 4 "Then the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month..." When God changed the Calendar in Exodus, the 7th month became the 1st month. Yeshua was crucified on the 14th day and rose on the 17th.
The Essene sect wrote the Dead Sea scrolls, and thus preserved for us the oldest written bible on earth. In Yeshua's day, the Essene's were against the corruption of the temple and kept a solar calendar. At the last supper, Jesus was keeping the Essene Calendar.
I believe G_d is about to reveal to his Body deep truths concerning the stars, signs and seasons. I believe there is also a connection with the 12 tribes, 12 stones and the zodiac. Around Jesus' time, the synagogue floors were covered with mosaics of the 12 tribes and the zodiac.
Why did God change the calendar? In coming blogs we will touch on this issue and the zodiac, but for now, a sample taste.
Monday 31th December
Blessings in a Jewish community
Coming to faith in 1980,I immediately heard many sermons on the importance of
the spoken word. However, I have never experienced practical blessing in the
Christian Community as in a Jewish community.
On birthdays in a Jewish school, the classmates sit around the birthday boy (or
girl) and one by one pronounce a blessing. This custom starts in Kindergarten
and, of course, it is in our homes on a weekly basis at the beginning of every
Shabbat.
By interpreting the dream of the cup bearer, Joseph was released from prison
through his speaking by faith. Joseph's speaking not only released him from
prison, Joseph also obtained authority through the interpretation of Pharaoh's
dreams (41:25-44), and ultimately brought him to the throne to be ruler of the
world.
We can also be released from our prison by speaking. Do not wait until you have
the experience before you speak by faith. Andrew Murray once said that a good
minister always speaks more than he has experienced.
Every year on the evening of Yom Kippur, we have another time of family
blessings called “Kol Nidre.” More about this in another blog.
I would encourage you, not only to make proclamations in your personal prayer
life, but bring the culture of blessing into your family and Christian community.
Sunday 30th December
Here is an excerpt from an article of one of Israelis leading Newspapers. In order
to pray for the Orthodox, you need to understand their way of thinking. We see
a lot of articles in the Hebrew newspapers similar to the one I pasted below, but
very rarely in the English newspapers.
The neighbourhood of Meah Sharim has become a lawless no-man's-land. It's part of
the ultra-Orthodox community's process of radicalization. But there's no reason for
radicalization to lead to unrestrained violence. These are not isolated excesses - large
crowds take part in the incidents. Mea She'arim is ruled by the rabbinical court of the
Eda Haredit, the extreme ultra-Orthodox group that could stop the riotous behaviour if it
wanted to. But it doesn't want to.
The violence is encouraged by the police's kid-glove policy and fear of a full-scale
confrontation with the ultra-Orthodox. Quite often, instead of facing off with the rioters,
the police simply close off the neighbourhood. There are daily attacks on soldiers, police,
technicians and bus passengers without a clear response. The locals realize that Israeli
law does not apply to them. They are immune to punishment.
For the full article click on The Mea She'arim mob
Friday 28th December
On Friday's a Jewish father blesses is sons and daughters
Friday's blessings
The western church has forgotten the power of blessing.
Today is Friday and the father on the eve of Shabbat before Kiddush gathers his sons and daughters around him and blesses them.
The father blesses his girls with “May G-d make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah,” the mothers of the Jewish nation;
The father blesses the boys with “May G-d make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. We are commanded to bless this way! Genesis 48:20 “In thee shall Israel bless, saying G-d make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh.
We bless the girls by saying “May G-d make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Lea”
The question is why don’t we bless our sons by saying “ May G-d make you like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” who are the fathers of the Jewish nation?
I will answer this question in a future recorded audio.
Thursday 27th December
Strongholds continued, (An example)
Judaism has strongholds which are in their minds and thoughts barriers that block revelation of the truth. The greatest stronghold is that 'The Rabbis' interpretation of the Torah is infallible. When proving to an Orthodox that Yeshua is our beloved Messiah in scripture they always answer, "How can you be right and all our wise famous Rabbis be wrong?" Here is one example I use to bring down this stronghold in their minds.
"Rabbi Akiva in 132 ad proclaimed that Bar Kochba was Israel's Messiah, Do you think he was right?" They always answer rather sheepishly, "He was wrong" Then I make this statement, "Rabbi Akiva more than any other man that ever lived was responsible for the Talmud and the interpretation of scripture which you study and believe today. Is it possible that he made other mistakes?"
Five days a week (Please book mark and check from Monday to Friday)
Wednesday 26th December
What are the strongholds Ultra Orthodox trust in? Here is one
Orthodox believe Rabbinical authority is superior and infallible concerning interpretation of the bible. Rabbinical authority is expressed in the Oral law. In order to show them prophecies fulfilled in Yeshua in the Old testament we need to prove that the written word of the old testament has more authority than Rabbinic Oral law (Talmud, Mishna etc)
List of coming teachings
Tuesday 25th December
The outreach went so well. Happy Christmas! I will have photos ready in a few days. Last night I spoke to Joseph, a recent Orthodox convert who is desperate for accommodation. We need 7,000 Shekels a month for a 4 roomed flat. So far we have givers who altogether are ready to give us 3,000 shekels. My heart breaks for these guys. Joseph is the Orthodox who came to faith as a young boy. His parents found out and they sent him overseas to Vienna. Tomorrow I will start a new subject "Orthodox Strongholds"
This evening we give the gospel to hundreds of Israelis. Last year they were very touched. Click here for an audio and written teaching. find out what touches the heart of a Jew concerning the virgin birth. The Virgin Birth
Monday 24th December
Genesis 38:9
But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother's wife he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother.
From this verse Rabbinical Judaism teaches that sex is just for producing offspring, and intercouse where the seed is wasted is sinful. However a man is allowed relations in order to release pressure. Even so he isn’t permitted to enjoy. An Ultra orthodox man must never see his wife's body or hair. This is accomplished by using a sheet with a hole in it.
Sunday 23rd December
Ultra Orthodox views on Sex Part 2
Exodus 19:15 and be ready on the third day: come not at your wifes (abstain from sexual relations NIV)
The Ultra Orthodox claim that sexual relationships disqualify us from being able to come into the presence of God. The people had to consecrate themselves to be able to stand in God's presence by doing two things, washing their clothes and abstaining from sex.
Leviticus 16:15 When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.
When a man is unclean he can’t approach God. In this verse having sex and emitting sperm defiles a man for a whole day. (Please note these are not my views) More on this subject tomorrow.
Thursday 19the December
This subject is a little sensitive but we feel it is important for you to know
Orthodox and Sex
Orthodox believe that Sex is just for making babies. Once the baby is conceived they must not enjoy sex. The pharmacies in Mea Sharim sell often illegal drugs to suppress the sexual desire. They believe that Sex defiles and hinders them from experiencing God and being HolyWhile statistics show the large number of Christian men are caught up in pornography, Orthodox men do everything to suppress their sexual desire. They have a special diet and pills if needed. Women have to shave their hair and wear a wig as natural hair they consider attractive and awakens the sexual desire.
Tomorrow we will look at their scriptural basis for their beliefs on sex (how Orthodox interpret the scriptures and come to their conclusions on sex)
Wednesday 18th December
How Ultra Orthodox prepare for the Messiah
They believe that by learning the mystery of Kabbalah are preparing their hearts for the coming of the Messiah.
A young Orthodox we know was so frightened that the Messiah would come and he wasn’t prepared. Many Orthodox have the same fear.
We prepare with love and good works, their preparation is intellectual and mystical.
Tuesday 17th of December
The Kabbalah (Received) Jewish Mysticism
The basis of the Kabbalah is the Zohar. The Zohar first appeared in Spain in the 13th century. It is written in ancient Aramaic which was common around the second temple period.
Shimon bar Yochai, a rabbi of the 2nd century during the Roman persecution who, according to Jewish legend, who hid in a cave for thirteen years studying the Torah and was inspired by the Prophet Elijah to write the Zohar.
The Kabbalah explores hidden wisdom in the Scriptures concerning the attributes of God, the Messiah, Creation, and the inherent powers of certain combinations of Hebrew letters and numbers, a system known as Gematria.
Monday 16th of December
How did The Zohar develop?
The Zohar was kept secret until the 1270's, when the first manuscripts began to circulate. Thereafter, more and more Kabbalistic works were written, and with the invention of printing they became more readily available.
After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, many sages made their way to the land of Israel, where the city of Safed became major center of Kabbalistic learning.
