“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ”On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord,” (Leviticus 23:34). 

The Hebrew word sukkah is roughly translated into English as “tabernacle” or “booth.” Neither of those terms fully convey what a sukkah is. A sukkah is simply a temporary structure. It is not a permanent building, but is made only to serve a specific purpose. So what is the Feast of Sukkot? Sukkot is simply the plural form of the word sukkah. Therefore the Feast of Sukkot finds a suitable translation in the phrase Feast of Tabernacles. 

What Does the Sukkah Represent?

God Dwelling With Mankind

God’s desire is, and has always been, to be close to His children. As the nation of Israel traveled through the wilderness, God was making the journey along with them (Exodus 13:21). Eventually, God instructed the people to build a tabernacle for Him, and He would let His presence rest there (Exodus 25:8-9). The sukkah reminds us of this tabernacle in the wilderness.

Likewise, when the time has come for the new heaven and the new earth, God will be our eternal home and He will build His tabernacle among His people once again (Revelation 21:3). The sukkah is a picture of God’s desire for a relationship with mankind.

Our Dependence Upon God

As God led Israel through the wilderness, He provided manna to eat, water to drink, and had them dwell in tabernacles for shelter. To serve as a reminder of this great provision, He instructed the people to build the sukkah in future generations (Leviticus 23:42-43). So great was His provision that even after forty years of wandering in the Wilderness, the clothes on their backs and sandals on their feet did not show signs of wear (Deuteronomy 29:5). 

The sukkah is a reminder of God’s provision in our lives, not only in the physical sense, but spiritually as well (Luke 12:22-23). He has given us the true manna, which is His Son (John 6:33). Through Yeshua (Jesus) we will never be spiritually thirsty (John 4:14). And we can always count on God to be our shelter (Psalm 91:2).

A Wedding Canopy (Chuppah)

In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are married underneath a canopy, called a chuppah. After the wedding, the bride and groom spend a seven-day honeymoon inside the wedding chamber, which was a special room built by the groom. After this time, the bride and groom come out and celebrate with their guests with an extravagant marriage supper.

The sukkah reminds us that we are the bride of Yeshua (Jesus). He has left to prepare a wedding chamber (John 14:3). While He is away, we, as His bride, are to be preparing ourselves for His imminent return (Revelation 19:7-8). Many of Yeshua’s parables are about how we are to be preparing for His return and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The sukkah should cause us to consider whether we are ready for His second coming, for truly, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” (Revelation 19:9).

Our Relationship With the World

The sukkah is, by definition, a temporary structure. As the people of Israel traveled through the Wilderness, their homes needed to be able to be taken down and moved as God led them. Likewise, the sukkah is to be taken down after the Feast of Tabernacles is over each year, to be set up again next year. 

Scripture tells us that our bodies and the world around us are not going to last (1 Peter 2:11). The sukkah reminds us that we should conduct ourselves in the same way as those who showed their faith in days of old (Hebrews 11:16). Although the tabernacle of our body is temporary and fading, the decisions we make in it will have consequences in eternity (2 Corinthians 5:1, 10).  

Being Joyful

The Feast of Tabernacles holds a special place among the Appointed Times. Everyone in the community is commanded to rejoice during this time, something which is not done for any of the other feasts (Deuteronomy 16:14). The sukkah represents this joy that should fill our hearts during this time. 

Scripture shows that God’s desire is for us to serve Him with a joyful heart in all circumstances (Philippians 4:4). Even though life is often difficult and painful, we are able to have joy because of the hope we have in Yeshua (1 Peter 4:13).

Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Body

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). In this verse, the Greek word translated as “dwelt” more literally means “tabernacled.” This interpretation brings a fuller understanding of Yeshua’s incarnation. The word “dwelt” paints a picture of simply residing or living among us. But when the word “tabernacled” is used, it serves to remind us of the tabernacle in which God’s presence dwelt. We also see Him in the symbolism of the temporary shelters the Israelites themselves dwelt in, as He did not remain permanently here on earth, but rather ascended into Heaven.

While it stood in the wilderness, the tabernacle was the physical representation of God to the people of Israel, and their entire lives revolved around the worship that it required. Likewise, when Yeshua (Jesus) was born into a human body, He was the physical representation of God to the whole world, and our lives now revolve around Him and our service to Him. God had the tabernacle set up so that He could be close to His people and live among them. In the same way, God sent His Son in the tabernacle of a human body so that He could dwell within us through the Holy Spirit and so that we can dwell with Him for all of eternity.

The Ingathering of the Harvest

This time of year in the land of Israel marks the end of the harvest time. Signifying this, we see another name for the Feast of Tabernacles: the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). The term “ingathering” simply means that it is the time when all the produce has been harvested and “gathered in” to be processed into usable materials, such as flour from grain. Often harvesters would build temporary huts, sukkahs, out in their fields so they could make the most of their short window of time before the autumn rains began. 

Because of His audience’s familiarity with the agricultural lifestyle, Yeshua taught using the harvest as a focal point of many parables (Luke 10:2). The sukkah is a reminder of our duty to be a harvester of souls while we still have the opportunity, for: “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire,” (Matthew 3:12). 

The Millennial Kingdom

The Feast of Tabernacles is intrinsically connected to the Millennial Kingdom, also known as the Messianic Age, when Yeshua (Jesus) will reign on earth for 1,000 years. In fact, it is specifically mentioned that during this time, the nations will come up to Jerusalem and celebrate this very festival (Zechariah 14:16). Interestingly, any of the nations who decide not to celebrate it will be punished (Zechariah 14:18).

If we are going to be celebrating this festival when Yeshua comes back, why should we wait until then? We have the wonderful opportunity to recognize the blessing this Appointed Time can bring us today. 

Traditions of the Festival

Living Water

In the book of John, we see Yeshua celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day of the feast, He makes an interesting proclamation: “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water,”‘” (John 7:37-38). Why did He use water as a central theme in these words?

During the time when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, there were many joyful ceremonies which took place during the Feast of Tabernacles. One such ceremony was called the Celebration of Water Drawing. A joyful crowd would accompany the priest down to the Pool of Siloam, where he would draw a pitcher of water; this “living water,” as it was called, represented the Spirit of God (Joel 2:28-29). Then they would return, as joyfully as they went out, to the Temple where the water was poured out upon the altar. This ritual draws itself from Isaiah 12:3: “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” If Yeshua didn’t speak these words during this ceremony, then He was certainly referring to it in John 7 as He beckoned the people to joyfully draw near to Him, the only source of true living water. 

Light of the World 

The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of great joy and festivities. When the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, it was the center of these activities. During the Feast, giant menorahs would be lit in the Temple courts, sending a beacon of light out for everyone to see. This was symbolic of the presence of God filling the Temple and emanating out into the world. It is interesting to note that the Jewish rabbis referred to Jerusalem as “the Light of the World” because of the Temple and the light of the menorah within it. There was a menorah lit within the Temple at all times, but the menorahs brought out during Tabernacles were in addition to this.

It was shortly after the Feast, undoubtedly with this image still fresh in people’s minds, when Yeshua said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life,” (John 8:12). According to verse 20, He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts. The light of those giant menorahs during the feast were only there bringing joy to the people for a little while. How much greater is the light of Yeshua, which is our source of joy and our guide through the darkness not only for a short time, but forever. 

The Four Species

Leviticus 23:40 is a commandment to take four types of vegetation and celebrate before God. The rabbis identified and standardized the particular types of vegetation to use and injected some interesting symbolism. 

Fruit of splendid trees, etrog: The etrog is a yellow, lemon-like fruit. This fruit has a strong taste and a strong smell, and so is said to represent someone who has wisdom (inner attribute, like taste) and also does good deeds (outer attribute, like smell). Because of its shape and size, it is also said to represent the heart, which is considered to be where our desires and motives originate. 

Palm branches, lulav: The palm branch  is straight and rigid. It has a taste, but no smell, and therefore represents a person who has wisdom, but doesn’t do good deeds. Because of its rigidity, it is said to represent the spine, which is considered to be where our actions originate. 

Boughs of leafy trees, hadas: The leafy boughs used are those of the myrtle tree. These branches have rows of many small leaves. It has a strong smell, but can’t be eaten, and therefore represents someone who does good deeds, but doesn’t have wisdom. Because of the shape of its leaves, it is also said to represent the human eye. 

Willows, aravah: Willow branches have thin, elongated leaves. It has no taste and no smell, and therefore represents someone who doesn’t have wisdom or do good deeds. Due to the shape of the leaves, it is also said to represent the human mouth, or the lips. 

A tradition involving these four species of vegetation is that they are taken in the hand and lifted up together before God. As we have shown above, these types of vegetation represent people who have differing relationships with God, and binding them together and lifting them represents how one day, everyone will worship and give an account to God (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10). We also saw them representing parts of the human body which we must keep in check: our heart (Luke 6:45), our spine or actions (James 4:17), our eyes (Matthew 5:28), and our lips (Matthew 12:36). We must put to death the flesh and take on the yoke of the Kingdom. 

The Eighth Day

There is a curious command found in regard to celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a seven-day long celebration, but there is mention of an eighth day: “For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation,” (Leviticus 23:36). It would seem this eighth day is a part of Tabernacles, and it is often celebrated as such; however, it is in fact a separate holiday called Shemini Atzeret, meaning “the assembly of the eighth day.” The rabbis came up with an explanation for why there is an extra holiday tacked on to the end of Tabernacles. They compare the festival to a party, and after the seven days are completed, the host (God) has enjoyed the time so much that he begs his guests to stay another day. As our desire is to always spend more time in God’s presence, it is His desire as well.  

The eighth day is also called Simchat Torah, meaning “Rejoicing in the Torah.” Torah is the Hebrew word for “teaching,” and is most often used in reference to what we call the Old Testament. Each Sabbath of the year, a portion of Scripture from the first five books of the Bible is read aloud in the synagogue. This cycle is designed to read through the first five books in one year. On Simchat Torah, the last section of Deuteronomy is read, directly followed by the beginning of Genesis, thus never allowing the cycle to end. We also should allow the Word to move us and be our source of joy, for we have: “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,” (Hebrews 6:5). 

Was Yeshua Born During the Feast of Tabernacles?

The actual date of Yeshua’s birth is not explicitly stated in the Bible, which has led to much speculation as to when it actually occurred, and when, or even if, it should be celebrated. Over the course of time, December 25 was established by the early Catholic church, a day that had previously been marked by pagan celebrations. However, most accept the fact that this was not the actual date of His birth. Although the writers of the Gospels didn’t record the date, there are some clues we can follow which point to His birth being during the Feast of Tabernacles.

A good place to begin is in the fact that Yeshua was conceived six months after John the Baptist (Luke 1:36). This alone is not enough to pin down a date, since John’s birth date is not given either. However, we know that John’s father Zechariah was a Levite. The Levites served in the Temple at specific times of the year, each term lasting one week. Zechariah was in the order of Abijah, so his first term of service for the year most likely took place in the 3rd month, with John’s conception taking place shortly thereafter. The 9th month of the year would then mark Yeshua’s conception. Following this logic, John could have been born around the feast of Passover (in the 1st month). This is interesting, because Jewish tradition says that Elijah will come to announce the Messiah during Passover, and John is the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 17:12). Six months later, we can expect to see the birth of Yeshua in the 7th month. The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles is the 15th day of the 7th month. Yeshua, being Jewish, would have been circumcised on the eighth day. If He was born on the first day of Tabernacles, then this would place His circumcision on the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the most joyful day. 

Another piece of evidence is that Mary and Joseph traveled to partake in a Roman census. It is reasonable to assume that Herod would plan this census at a time when all the people would be making pilgrimage. Three times a year, on Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, God commanded the people to come up to Jerusalem. So, it is very possible that this census was planned around Tabernacles.

While there is a great deal of evidence for the belief that Yeshua was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, since there is no record of the date, the best we can do is speculate; but what better time offers such a rich visual picture of the birth and life of our Messiah?

Is it important to have the cross of Calvary always in our forethought? The cross is an instrument of suffering and death. So should we dwell on the cross of Yeshua day and night? I say, “Yes.” It reminds me of a song we used to sing, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” The one verse says, “The cross before me, the world behind me.” This is what we want to discuss today, the importance of the cross before us. There is only one place where we can find our salvation, our forgiveness, and our cleansing, and that is at the cross where the precious shed blood of Yeshua was spilt.

The world seems to be at such a fast pace today. With all the technology at our disposal we can get answers instantly. We are connected by social media so that we can communicate faster than ever before. The years are flying by and each one of us is getting older by the minute. In the last few years the life expectancy of man has fallen. Drugs have increased to the point that hundreds of people in the United States die each week and we want to keep legalizing more and more every year. One other thing that has increased is persecution right here in America and martyrdom around the world. The believer in Yeshua/Jesus is at greater risk today of meeting with opposition to our faith than ever before in this country.

Yeshua told His disciples in Matthew 10:22 that they would be hated. John 15:18-21 says this: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me.” The believer is destined to be persecuted. Yeshua wanted to prepare His disciples, so He spoke so much about this. In Matthew 5:10-12 in what we call the Sermon on the Mount, one of Yeshua’s first teachings, He said this: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Paul told the Corinthians, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” And again to Timothy he says, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, whereby you have also been called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” We see Jude tell his readers, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

So how do we contend for the faith? Well, we must always keep it before us. The cross of Calvary, the shed blood of our Messiah, must be our focal point. If we lose sight of the cross then there is not really any meaning to our faith, and the world will cause us to lose sight of our faith. The Scriptures tell us that friendship with the world makes us enemies to God (James 4:4). Yeshua prayed to His Father that we would be in the world but not part of it. In Philippians 3:18-19 Paul speaks of those who are enemies of the cross because their mind is on earthly things.

How do we keep our minds off the world and on God? Paul tells us that we must crucify our flesh in Galatians 5:24. We must die to ourselves. Romans 6:1-7 tells us, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” Our lives are wrapped up in the cross of Yeshua. We must walk in His footsteps, and that leads us to the cross. But only through death will we find life, strength, and courage to walk in the valley of the shadow of death. When persecution and trials and tribulations come, we are able to contend for the faith because once we die to ourselves we live only to God. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who can separate us from the love of God? “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Yeshua not only warned His disciples, but He encouraged them. John 16:33 records these words: “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We as believers must be rooted and grounded in Messiah so that we are able to stand, so that we are overcomers. Let’s take a look at several verses of Scripture that speak on this subject.

1 John 5:4, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Romans 8:37, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Revelation 3:5, “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

And again Revelation 3:21, “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.” So we see that if we remain true to our Father through the times of persecution, trials, and tribulations that we will be rewarded. Let’s keep our eyes on Him who saved us by His sacrifice, in the shedding of His blood, and may we also walk in His footsteps.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord'” (Leviticus 23:34).

The Hebrew word sukkah is roughly translated into English as “tabernacle” or “booth.” Neither of those terms fully convey what a sukkah is. A sukkah is simply a temporary structure. It is not a permanent building, but is made only to serve a specific purpose. So what is the Feast of Sukkot? Sukkot is simply the plural form of the word sukkah. Therefore the Feast of Sukkot finds a suitable translation in the phrase Feast of Tabernacles.

The Sukkah Represents: God Dwelling With Mankind

God’s desire is, and has always been, to be close to His children. As the nation of Israel traveled through the wilderness, God was making the journey along with them (Exodus 13:21). Eventually, God instructed the people to build a tabernacle for Him, and He would let His presence rest there (Exodus 25:8-9). The sukkah reminds us of this tabernacle in the wilderness.

Likewise, when the time has come for the new heaven and the new earth, God will be our eternal home and He will build His tabernacle among His people once again (Revelation 21:3). The sukkah is a picture of God’s desire for a relationship with mankind.

The Sukkah Represents: Our Dependence Upon God

As God led Israel through the wilderness, He provided manna to eat, water to drink, and had them dwell in tabernacles for shelter. To serve as a reminder of this great provision, He instructed the people to build the sukkah in future generations (Leviticus 23:42-43). So great was His provision that even after forty years of wandering in the Wilderness, the clothes on their backs and sandals on their feet did not show signs of wear (Deuteronomy 29:5).

The sukkah is a reminder of God’s provision in our lives, not only in the physical sense, but spiritually as well (Luke 12:22-23). He has given us the true manna, which is His Son (John 6:33). Through Yeshua (Jesus) we will never be spiritually thirsty (John 4:14). And we can always count on God to be our shelter (Psalm 91:2).

The Sukkah Represents: A Wedding Canopy (Chuppah)

In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are married underneath a canopy, called a chuppah. After the wedding, the bride and groom spend a seven-day honeymoon inside the wedding chamber, which was a special room built by the groom. After this time, the bride and groom come out and celebrate with their guests with an extravagant marriage supper.

The sukkah reminds us that we are the bride of Yeshua (Jesus). He has left to prepare a wedding chamber (John 14:3). While He is away, we, as His bride, are to be preparing ourselves for His imminent return (Revelation 19:7-8). Many of Yeshua’s parables are about how we are to be preparing for His return and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The sukkah should cause us to consider whether we are ready for His second coming, for truly, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” (Revelation 19:9).

The Sukkah Represents: Our Relationship With the World

The sukkah is, by definition, a temporary structure. As the people of Israel traveled through the Wilderness, their homes needed to be able to be taken down and moved as God led them. Likewise, the sukkah is to be taken down after the Feast of Tabernacles is over each year, to be set up again next year.

Scripture tells us that our bodies and the world around us are not going to last (1 Peter 2:11). The sukkah reminds us that we should conduct ourselves in the same way as those who showed their faith in days of old (Hebrews 11:16). Although the tabernacle of our body is temporary and fading, the decisions we make in it will have consequences in eternity (2 Corinthians 5:1, 10).

The Sukkah Represents: Being Joyful

The Feast of Tabernacles holds a special place among the Appointed Times. Everyone in the community is commanded to rejoice during this time, something which is not done for any of the other feasts (Deuteronomy 16:14). The sukkah represents this joy that should fill our hearts during this time.

Scripture shows that God’s desire is for us to serve Him with a joyful heart in all circumstances (Philippians 4:4). Even though life is often difficult and painful, we are able to have joy because of the hope we have in Yeshua (1 Peter 4:13).

The Sukkah Represents: Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Body

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). In this verse, the Greek word translated as “dwelt” more literally means “tabernacled.” This interpretation brings a fuller understanding of Yeshua’s incarnation. The word “dwelt” paints a picture of simply residing or living among us. But when the word “tabernacled” is used, it serves to remind us of the tabernacle in which God’s presence dwelt. We also see Him in the symbolism of the temporary shelters the Israelites themselves dwelt in, as He did not remain permanently here on earth, but rather ascended into Heaven.

While it stood in the wilderness, the tabernacle was the physical representation of God to the people of Israel, and their entire lives revolved around the worship that it required. Likewise, when Yeshua (Jesus) was born into a human body, He was the physical representation of God to the whole world, and our lives now revolve around Him and our service to Him. God had the tabernacle set up so that He could be close to His people and live among them. In the same way, God sent His Son in the tabernacle of a human body so that He could dwell within us through the Holy Spirit and so that we can dwell with Him for all of eternity.

The Sukkah Represents: The Ingathering of the Harvest

This time of year in the land of Israel marks the end of the harvest time. Signifying this, we see another name for the Feast of Tabernacles: the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). The term “ingathering” simply means that it is the time when all the produce has been harvested and “gathered in” to be processed into usable materials, such as flour from grain. Often harvesters would build temporary huts, sukkahs, out in their fields so they could make the most of their short window of time before the autumn rains began.

Because of His audience’s familiarity with the agricultural lifestyle, Yeshua taught using the harvest as a focal point of many parables (Luke 10:2). The sukkah is a reminder of our duty to be a harvester of souls while we still have the opportunity, for: “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire,” (Matthew 3:12).

The Sukkah Represents: The Millennial Kingdom

The Feast of Tabernacles is intrinsically connected to the Millennial Kingdom, also known as the Messianic Age, when Yeshua (Jesus) will reign on earth for 1,000 years. In fact, it is specifically mentioned that during this time, the nations will come up to Jerusalem and celebrate this very festival (Zechariah 14:16). Interestingly, any of the nations who decide not to celebrate it will be punished (Zechariah 14:18).

If we are going to be celebrating this festival when Yeshua comes back, why should we wait until then? We have the wonderful opportunity to recognize the blessing this Appointed Time can bring us today.

Traditions of the Festival: Living Water

In the book of John, we see Yeshua celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day of the feast, He makes an interesting proclamation: “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water,”‘” (John 7:37-38). Why did He use water as a central theme in these words?

During the time when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, there were many joyful ceremonies which took place during the Feast of Tabernacles. One such ceremony was called the Celebration of Water Drawing. A joyful crowd would accompany the priest down to the Pool of Siloam, where he would draw a pitcher of water; this “living water,” as it was called, represented the Spirit of God (Joel 2:28-29). Then they would return, as joyfully as they went out, to the Temple where the water was poured out upon the altar. This ritual draws itself from Isaiah 12:3: “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” If Yeshua didn’t speak these words during this ceremony, then He was certainly referring to it in John 7 as He beckoned the people to joyfully draw near to Him, the only source of true living water.

Traditions of the Festival: Light of the World

The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of great joy and festivities. When the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, it was the center of these activities. During the Feast, giant menorahs would be lit in the Temple courts, sending a beacon of light out for everyone to see. This was symbolic of the presence of God filling the Temple and emanating out into the world. It is interesting to note that the Jewish rabbis referred to Jerusalem as “the Light of the World” because of the Temple and the light of the menorah within it. There was a menorah lit within the Temple at all times, but the menorahs brought out during Tabernacles were in addition to this.

It was shortly after the Feast, undoubtedly with this image still fresh in people’s minds, when Yeshua said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life,” (John 8:12). According to verse 20, He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts. The light of those giant menorahs during the feast were only there bringing joy to the people for a little while. How much greater is the light of Yeshua, which is our source of joy and our guide through the darkness not only for a short time, but forever.

Traditions of the Festival: The Four Species

Leviticus 23:40 is a commandment to take four types of vegetation and celebrate before God. The rabbis identified and standardized the particular types of vegetation to use and injected some interesting symbolism.

Fruit of splendid trees, etrog: The etrog is a yellow, lemon-like fruit. This fruit has a strong taste and a strong smell, and so is said to represent someone who has wisdom (inner attribute, like taste) and also does good deeds (outer attribute, like smell). Because of its shape and size, it is also said to represent the heart, which is considered to be where our desires and motives originate.

Palm branches, lulav: The palm branch is straight and rigid. It has a taste, but no smell, and therefore represents a person who has wisdom, but doesn’t do good deeds. Because of its rigidity, it is said to represent the spine, which is considered to be where our actions originate.

Boughs of leafy trees, hadas: The leafy boughs used are those of the myrtle tree. These branches have rows of many small leaves. It has a strong smell, but can’t be eaten, and therefore represent someone who does good deeds, but doesn’t have wisdom. Because of the shape of its leaves, it is also said to represent the human eye.

Willows, aravah: Willow branches have thin, elongated leaves. It has no taste and no smell, and therefore represents someone who doesn’t have wisdom or do good deeds. Due to the shape of the leaves, it is also said to represent the human mouth, or the lips.

A tradition involving these four species of vegetation is that they are taken in the hand and lifted up together before God. As we have shown above, these types of vegetation represent people who have differing relationships with God, and binding them together and lifting them represents how one day, everyone will worship and give an account to God (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10). We also saw them representing parts of the human body which we must keep in check: our heart (Luke 6:45), our spine or actions (James 4:17), our eyes (Matthew 5:28), and our lips (Matthew 12:36). We must put to death the flesh and take on the yoke of the Kingdom.

Traditions of the Festival: The Eighth Day

There is a curious command found in regard to celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a seven-day long celebration, but there is mention of an eighth day: “For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation,” (Leviticus 23:36). It would seem this eighth day is a part of Tabernacles, and it is often celebrated as such; however, it is in fact a separate holiday called Shemini Atzeret, meaning “the assembly of the eighth day.” The rabbis came up with an explanation for why there is an extra holiday tacked on to the end of Tabernacles. They compare the festival to a party, and after the seven days are completed, the host (God) has enjoyed the time so much that he begs his guests to stay another day. As our desire is to always spend more time in God’s presence, it is His desire as well.

The eighth day is also called Simchat Torah, meaning “Rejoicing in the Torah.” Torah is the Hebrew word for “teaching,” and is most often used in reference to what we call the Old Testament. Each Sabbath of the year, a portion of Scripture from the first five books of the Bible is read aloud in the synagogue. This cycle is designed to read through the first five books in one year. On Simchat Torah, the last section of Deuteronomy is read, directly followed by the beginning of Genesis, thus never allowing the cycle to end. We also should allow the Word to move us and be our source of joy, for we have: “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,” (Hebrews 6:5).

Traditions of the Festival: Was Yeshua Born During the Feast of Tabernacles?

The actual date of Yeshua’s birth is not explicitly stated in the Bible, which has led to much speculation as to when it actually occurred, and when, or even if, it should be celebrated. Over the course of time, December 25 was established by the early Catholic church, a day that had previously been marked by pagan celebrations. However, most accept the fact that this was not the actual date of His birth. Although the writers of the Gospels didn’t record the date, there are some clues we can follow which point to His birth being during the Feast of Tabernacles.

A good place to begin is in the fact that Yeshua was conceived six months after John the Baptist (Luke 1:36). This alone is not enough to pin down a date, since John’s birth date is not given either. However, we know that John’s father Zechariah was a Levite. The Levites served in the Temple at specific times of the year, each term lasting one week. Zechariah was in the order of Abijah, so his first term of service for the year most likely took place in the 3rd month, with John’s conception taking place shortly thereafter. The 9th month of the year would then mark Yeshua’s conception. Following this logic, John could have been born around the feast of Passover (in the 1st month). This is interesting, because Jewish tradition says that Elijah will come to announce the Messiah during Passover, and John is the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 17:12). Six months later, we can expect to see the birth of Yeshua in the 7th month. The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles is the 15th day of the 7th month. Yeshua, being Jewish, would have been circumcised on the eighth day. If He was born on the first day of Tabernacles, then this would place His circumcision on the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the most joyful day.

Another piece of evidence is that Mary and Joseph traveled to partake in a Roman census. It is reasonable to assume that Herod would plan this census at a time when all the people would be making pilgrimage. Three times a year, on Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, God commanded the people to come up to Jerusalem. So, it is very possible that this census was planned around Tabernacles.

While there is a great deal of evidence for the belief that Yeshua was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, since there is no record of the date, the best we can do is speculate; but what better time offers such a rich visual picture of the birth and life of our Messiah?

Philippians 4:4 tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. But we find it so hard to rejoice in affliction, when times are bad, when life just doesn’t seem to be kind to us. And yet that is when we are to rejoice the most. When we suffer, that is when God is the closest to us.

Philippians 4 goes on to say, “Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” Paul tells us that when we are suffering, it is at that time that we must show all men that it is well with our soul, because God is with us. We must have a forbearing spirit, or in other words, we are to be patient. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit.

Romans 5:3-5 tells us, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (patience), and endurance (patience) produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Yeshua/Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Let’s keep looking at some Scripture so that we see clearly that rejoicing in our times of trouble is really what God wants us to do.

Paul tells the Philippians this in Philippians 2:14-17: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Messiah I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Sometimes we have to sacrifice so that good will come from it, and so we must rejoice that we have the opportunity to do good for others.

Paul tells the Colossians in Colossians 1:24-26, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Messiah’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.” We see that Paul could rejoice because he saw the outcome of his tribulations. He knew that his life, with all of its troubles and hardships, was resulting in the good of God’s people.

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Messiah Yeshua! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Peter tells us that we can rejoice because of Messiah Yeshua who suffered for us. So now we know that when we suffer it is for us to grow, so that we too may have the same result from our faith, salvation. And again in 1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice insofar as you share Messiah’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”

And of course Revelation 19:7 tells us the greatest reason to rejoice is because it makes us ready for the day: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”

During this time that we give thanks, let us rejoice because we have so much to be thankful for, for in all things rejoice always.

We want to look at the Nazarite and what he has in common with the Believer. Numbers 6:1-21 speaks to us about the vow of a Nazarite. We know that Samson and John the Baptist were both Nazarites, and even Paul had taken the vow once or twice in his life. These rules may seem strange, such as not eating anything from the grapevine, not being defiled by a dead person, and not even cutting one’s hair. But these were rules of holiness.

By definition, the Hebrew word nazir simply means, “to be separated or consecrated.” This is what holiness looks like. It looks like anything that God tells us we need to abstain from or to be set-apart from. This is what we are going to take a closer look at.

Romans 12:1-2 tells us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We are to separate from the world as a Nazarite was to be set-apart and holy.

James 4:4 tells us this way: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

2 Peter 1:4, “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

The Nazarite was not only to be set-apart from the world but also dedicated to God, which made him holy.

2 Timothy 1:9 says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

1 Peter 1:15 tells us, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

So we see that like the Nazarite we must be set-apart and holy. But where was the sign of the Nazarite? All covenants had a sign, and the sign of the Nazarite was his consecrated head. We see that when Samson cut his hair, he had broken the covenant with God and he lost his strength. A consecrated head—does this have anything to do with the believer? YES, it does! Let’s take a look.

Consecration is dedicating oneself to a specific purpose or intention, so as we dedicate ourselves to God, the Scriptures tell us this.

Matthew 22:37-38, “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

Colossians 3:2-3, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Proverbs 4:23, “Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.”

So we want to look at one another Scripture, and that is Ephesians 6:17. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

When speaking about the armor of God, we see that salvation guards our head. Just like the Nazarite, who has the consecrated head, so does the believer. The Hebrew word for “salvation” is Yeshua. Yeshua is the Word made flesh. We see here in this Scripture that the helmet of salvation is paired up with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. So if we are truly consecrated, set-apart, holy unto the Lord, we will fill our minds with the Word of God.

So was Yeshua (Jesus) a Nazarite? He was, but He only took the vow right before He was crucified. He took the vow at the Last Supper/Seder when He said to His disciples, “I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29), and when He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Yeshua consecrated Himself by setting Himself apart as the perfect, innocent Lamb of God. On His consecrated head He wore a crown of thorns and gave us salvation. But one day, Yeshua will trade that crown of thorns for a kingly crown, when He will sit on His throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years.

How about you? Have you dedicated your life to God by setting Yourself apart from the world? 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 tells us, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” As we celebrate this time of Hanukkah, which is also called the Feast of Dedication, let’s dedicate our lives to God as we too can make the Nazarite vow to be consecrated and dedicated to God. Today, put on the helmet of Yeshua (salvation) and consecrate your head and follow in His footsteps, pick up your cross and follow him in dedication and holiness. As we too are lambs of God, we too must say, “Not my will but Yours be done.” Let’s clean out our hearts and fill them with God’s Spirit, the Word of God, as living temples dedicated, consecrated, and holy unto the Lord, as Nazrites set-apart to do God’s will.

As we celebrate the birth of Yeshua (Jesus), we want to look at who Yeshua is. Isaiah speaks to us about the man of grief and sorrow. We want to take a closer look at this passage in Isaiah 53, because we as believers don’t meditate enough on this thought about Yeshua (Jesus) as a man who went about with grief and sorrow . . . or is this passage talking about someone else?

Isaiah 53:1-3 says this: “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

The opening statement is so obscure and mystical. “Who has believed what he . . . “—who is the “he”? “Has heard from us . . . “—who is the “us”? “And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” What and who is Isaiah talking about here?

Well, let’s start with the easiest. The arm of the Lord is a reference to God’s strength. So the line would say, “And to whom has the arm of the Lord (strength of the Lord) been revealed?” I would think your first answer would be Israel. So let’s see, then, if that would be true if we said, “Who has believed what he (Israel) has heard from us?” But then who is the “us”? As far as I know, it’s Isaiah speaking . . . or is it? Well, In Genesis 1:26 it says, “Let us make man in our image.” So here we see God referring to himself as “us.” So we can conclude that it is God speaking about Israel . . . or is it?

It goes on to say, “For he grew up before him like a young plant.” Who grew up before who? So, if we plug in the “he” as Israel and the “him” as God, we can say that Israel grew up before God as a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground. Who is the root? It can only be Yeshua. Isaiah 11:1-3 tells us, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” And we know that Israel is the land of milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). Even though many people say this is talking about Israel, and it may be so, the only possible explanation is that this tender shoot must be Yeshua. He was born of lowly descent, a carpenter as a father, born in a manger with the livestock around Him, who grew up with no education to speak of. He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, in other words, as a king He should have been raised in a kingly fashion with traditions known to a king. He had no beauty that we should desire Him. He was not handsome like Jacob’s son Joseph (Genesis 39:6) or like King David (1 Samuel 16:12).

He was despised and rejected by men. Why? Because Yeshua did not come from wealth. The priests and the scholars had their status, like Paul who was educated (Acts 22:3). Paul was not a good-looking man either, and yet he was not despised by the elites of his day because of his education and his status. This passage goes on to tell us that men actually hid their face from Yeshua. They wanted nothing to do with him. Yeshua was a man of sorrow. When we read the gospels, they do not indicate this. We can only assume this was the case by Isaiah’s account.

Isaiah 53:4-6 goes on to say, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Yeshua was a burden-bearer.

Yes, how significant it was that Yeshua rode into Jerusalem before His crucifixion on the back of a donkey! Zechariah writes in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

So, let’s look at the beginning part of Isaiah 53 again and put in who’s who. “Who has believed what (he) Yeshua has heard from (us) God? And to whom has the (arm) strength of the Lord been revealed? For (he) Yeshua grew up before (him) God like a young plant, and like (a root) the root of Jesse, He sprouted out of the dry ground.”

Now that we have determined who we are speaking of, let us continue looking at Isaiah 53:7-11. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Hebrews 5:8-9 tells us, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.” God disciplines those He loves, even His only begotten Son, and so we too must be disciplined and suffer so that we too may learn obedience and yield the fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:1-11 tells us, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

It is important that we remember that God does not ask us to do anything that He Himself has not done. Yeshua went before us so that we can follow in His footsteps. He is our example. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us, “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Yeshua was the perfect sacrifice.

1 Peter 1:17-19 tells us, “And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Messiah, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

We do not think about this too often. We celebrate Messiah’s birth with jubilant celebrations and decorations and gifts, and yet here was One destined to a life of grief and sorrow and pain and death.

Yeshua tells us in Matthew 16:24, “Then Yeshua told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Yes, God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to be crushed under the weight of sin and death, to be slaughtered as an animal, as a perfect sacrifice upon the altar, so that we may have eternal life. Our hearts must also be crushed from our sins, iniquities, and transgressions, sorrowful and full of grief, repentive as we come.

Psalm 51:17 speaks to us this way: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.” We too are asked to lay down our lives on the altar as living sacrifices. Romans 12:1-2 says to us, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We too are to be without spot or wrinkle. Ephesians 5:25-27 tells us this regarding being perfect: “Husbands love your wives as Messiah loved the chosen and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, so that He might present the Bride to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Matthew 5:48 also says this to us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

At this time, and every day for that fact, shouldn’t we be meditating on the life of Yeshua, so that we too can walk in His footsteps? Shouldn’t we start today as we prepare not for His first coming, but His second? As believers, we too are being crushed so that we may be pure and perfect and obedient, leaving the world behind us and having the cross before us leading us to our Messiah. Like the star that led the wisemen, so too the cross leads us, and only the wise follow it.

It’s the holiday season, and as they say, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” What makes it so wonderful? Is it the lights, the decorations, the festivities, maybe the gifts? Or maybe it is all of these things. Christians traditionally celebrate Messiah’s birth on December 25th since the fourth century CE when the Emperor Constantine made this the official date of Messiah’s birth, but many historians believe that the Messiah was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and was circumcised on the eighth day, because of the theme of Tabernacles (“God with us” and the celebration of the Word). But we also find that in this same month on the 25th of Kislev on the Biblical calendar is the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah, which can be as early as the end of November or as late as the fourth week in December.

Today we want to look at the holiday season and see how it is all connected and how we are to relate to it as believers in Messiah. We want to start by looking at John 10:22-28: “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yeshua was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.'”

Why does Scripture tell us that it was the Feast of Dedication and that it was winter? Well, that is because it was Hanukkah. Hanukkah means “dedication.” So we are going to take a closer look into this to see why John feels he needs to tell us that it was Hanukkah, a time of dedication.

Let’s look at the Hanukkah story. There was a cruel king named Antiochus (look at his name, it almost looks like his name is antichrist), who came to power. He wanted all the Jews to follow the Greek religion of polytheism, for the Greeks worshiped many gods, but the Jews worshiped only one God, the One True God. The Jews refused to worship these false gods. In fact, the king wanted them to change their names to Greek names and wear Greek clothes and eat unkosher Greek foods. The king wanted them to put statues of Greek gods in their homes. When they refused, the king was very angry and he ordered his soldiers to destroy their homes and the Temple, and many people were killed. Then he set up an idol on the Temple altar (the Abomination of Desolation). It is important that we remember that this was a battle between two worldviews: God’s and Satan’s (which is Humanism; for more info read Fleeing Babylon).

There was a man who was called Mattathias who refused to listen to the king, and he and his five sons gathered together the farmers, shepherds, and townspeople. They took whatever they had that they could use as weapons to fight the king’s men. These people became known as the Maccabees, named after Judah Maccabee (“The Hammer”), their leader after the death of Mattathias. God was with them and gave them the victory over the Syrian army.

As the story of the Maccabees continues, they go to restore the Temple, for it was badly damaged. After repairing and cleaning the Temple, they had to rededicate it—thus the name of the holiday, Hanukkah, meaning dedication. But when they went to light the Menorah, they found that there was only one day’s worth of consecrated oil.

The people found themselves in a dilemma when they realized that they only had one day’s worth of oil, because the Menorah was to be continually lit, as Exodus 27:20 tells us, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.”

Leviticus 24:2 says, “Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.” To make the oil for the Menorah, the olives were to be crushed, beaten, and struck. Does this make us think of anything? It should! Isaiah 53:4-5 says this: “Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

John 19 tells us, “And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him, ‘Prophesy:’ and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands.”

Luke 22:63-64 says, “The men who were guarding Yeshua began mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded Him and demanded, ‘Prophesy! Who hit you?'”

Isaiah 53:10a tells us this: “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.”

So why did the olives have to be crushed, struck, and beaten? Well, one reason is that the menorah represents the Messiah. In the Temple, the Menorah is called the “Light to the Nations.” The Menorah represents Messiah, the “Light of the World.” John 8:12 records this: “Again, Yeshua spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” Because of this, every time they made the oil for the “Light of the World,” it was a prophetic witness to the death of Messiah. We see that it pleased God to crush Him because through this He was going to bring about salvation, as Hebrews 5:8-9 tells us, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

We want to look at carbon as an example. Carbon is what makes up the graphite in a lead pencil, and carbon is what also makes a diamond. When only low pressure and heat is put to carbon, you get graphite, the lead needed for a pencil, but if you put carbon under great pressure and high heat then you get a diamond. In fact, this is true of all precious gems. God wants us to be diamonds, full of light, reflecting Him.

If our Messiah is the Light, then we too must also be light. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Because we are light also, we must follow the example of Messiah. We are to follow in His footsteps. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:7-12, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Messiah. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Messiah—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Messiah took hold of me.”

What did Messiah take hold of? Our salvation.

Yeshua tells us just how important it is for us to keep our lamps burning in the parable in Matthew 25:1-13. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

But to get the pure oil needed to keep our lamps burning, we must also be crushed. The word “press on” that Paul uses in Philippians 3:12 is just like the pressing that takes place when you crush an olive.

Paul tells us about this pressing in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. “Are they servants of Messiah?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”

Paul tells us again in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, “But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.”

Yeshua tells us in John 12:25, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”

James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

So how is your supply of oil? We all need a daily refueling. We all need the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep our light burning, and to do that we must walk in the Spirit and live in the Spirit as Galatians 5:25 tells us.

Well, returning to the Hanukkah story, the God who told the people that the light must never go out and that the Menorah must be continuously lit made sure they did just that. The one-day supply of oil lasted eight days. What a miracle! On the 25th day of Kislev, 165 B.C.E., the temple was rededicated. Exactly three years to the day that the Abomination of Desolation was placed on the altar, the new rebuilt and dedicated altar was now offering up sacrifices unto God, and thus this feast was also called the “Sukkah of Fire,” referring to the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).

We too must be living sacrifices unto God, as Romans 12:1-2 tells us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The Maccabees had just finished keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, and when they wanted to keep the remembrance of the dedication of the temple and the great victory and miracle, they considered having another eight days of Tabernacles. They brought out the boughs and the palms, and they rejoiced for eight days as they lit an eight-candle candelabra—one candle for each of the eight days. But before the Feast of Tabernacles, they had just gone through a 40-day preparation time, preparing for the Day of Atonement, a time when one considers his deeds and repents and, as it were, rededicates his life to God. As we had said in the beginning of this teaching, historians believe that Yeshua was born during the Feast of Tabernacles. Today many people keep Advent as a time to prepare for the birth of the Messiah. We know that Messiah came, so now we must be preparing for His second coming.

This now brings us to another story that took place many years after the Maccabees, another story of light: the star that guided the three wise men. Historians believe that they were three rabbis from Babylon.

Luke 2:1-21 gives us the account of His birth: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named Yeshua (God’s Salvation), the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.”

Yeshua was a king that was born a pauper in humble surroundings, and yet hosts of angels sang and rejoiced and praised God, appearing to lowly shepherds out in the fields. Wisemen would travel a great distance to pay homage to the king and give him costly gifts. When King Herod heard that there was a newborn king, he sent his soldiers to kill all the baby boys under two. Right here we see that our two stories are connected: the family name of the Maccabees was Hasmonian and they were a priestly line, but when they won the victory over the Syrians they became the ruling class in Jerusalem. Of course, they were illegitimate because they were not of the line of David, but Levi. So years later, we find that King Herod, who kills all the babies because he felt his kingship threatened, is of the Hasmonian dynasty.

Luke 2:25-32 continues the story. Mary and Joseph bring Yeshua to the Temple: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'”

We continue to read in Luke 2:41-42, “Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” After leaving Jerusalem three days, Yeshua’s parents finally realize that their son was not with them. So they went back to look for Him. “After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:46-47). It is so interesting that this took place during Passover. Yeshua could not be found for three days (a foreshadowing of Him being in the grave), but then He was found (resurrection). Found where? In the Temple, among those who were teaching the Word of God. Yeshua loved the House of God so much that we find Him one day making this point in Matthew 21:12-13, “And Yeshua entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you make it a den of robbers.'”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

This is a season about so many things: miracles, a baby, a king, a savior. But it is also about many things that we need to be. We are to be light, and we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and we too must be holy and our temple must also be a house of prayer. Like sheep we must hear God’s voice and follow our Shepherd, the Messiah. It may have been just the shepherds who saw and heard those angels that night, but God’s Word speaks to us today telling us that Messiah has come to bring us Good News.

Conclusion

The Apostle John tells us that it was the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) because John wanted to remind the people what Yeshua told them that day during Hanukkah, as they gathered themselves at Solomon’s Colonnade, that His sheep listen to His voice and follow Him, because as Mark 13:14 tells us, Yeshua warns the people, “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

The people understood Yeshua’s reference to the Abomination of Desolation, that it was referring to the time of Hanukkah, and that Yeshua was warning them that it was going to happen again—and it did. The people remembered His warning and did just as He had said. They were saved because they listened to His voice. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Satan has been at war with God since he fell, and Humanism has been his religion. Humanism tells us that there is no One God—we are all gods, and we have the ability to help ourselves. Humanism is what creates power, elitism, and slavery. Humanism is the religion that will usher in the Antichrist. Like Antiochus, he will be anti-torah, law-less, and everyone will have to worship the god of Humanism. But Yeshua tells us how we can avoid falling into the trap of Humanism, and it starts by hearing God’s voice and doing as He says.

Yeshua goes on to say in Mark 13, “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look, there He is!” do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”

Today let us keep our light shining and let us be the temple of the Holy Spirit, holy unto the Lord. Let us proclaim like the angels, like the shepherds in the field, God’s harvest fields, that Yeshua is coming back and we need to prepare.

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King, and let every heart prepare Him room.”
Have a very blessed celebration of Messiah’s birth and a very happy Hanukkah!

Today as we begin the new year, we want to take a closer look at a few things. Many things have happened over the past year and now so many of those things have become memories. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, so we must treasure today. At twelve midnight on December 31st we begin anew, but every day and even every moment is a new beginning. We must make the most of every minute because no one knows what the next minute will bring.

So when it comes to people, do we really want to hold grudges? Were all those arguments and fights worth the tragedy of separation? The song that comes to my mind is, “Auld Lang Syne.” That is the song played every year at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The words tell us a lot, and I think they are very important.

Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song that came out about 1787. It means “Old Long Ago” or “Old Times Sake.” It is a song about friendship, and it goes like this: “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? / Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne (old times’ sake)? / For auld lang syne (for old times’ sake) my dear, for auld lang syne (for old times’ sake) / We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne (for old time sake). / And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! and surely I’ll buy mine! / And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne (for old times’ sake).”

The cup of kindness was a drink shared by friends. Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Kindness is on the list of godliness. And as God’s people, Paul tells us in Colossians 3:12-15, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Forgiveness: this is what believers are to do. When the disciples ask, “How often do I need to forgive my brother,” Yeshua answered this way in Matthew 18:21-22: “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Yeshua said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” Yeshua in Matthew 6:14-15 tells us, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” And in Matthew 5:23-24 He says, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

The Bible speaks over and over again that we are to love because our Father so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us so that we who believe may have everlasting life, and He loved us when we were still sinners (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). God is love and one of the fruits of the Spirit is love. Love is the greatest of the three: faith, hope and love. Love is godliness and holiness. Love is a commandment. John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love must be true or else it is fake and evil as Romans 12:9-10 tells us, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

1 John 4:16-21 puts it like this: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Yeshua. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

So as we begin the new year, or if we are just ending the day, let us forgive one another and truly love one another with acts of kindness. For Yeshua tells us in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” and He ought to know because He laid down His life for you. Is there anyone you need to forgive today? Go to that person and make things right and then say, “Let us lift up the cup of kindness, “For old times’ sake.”

There is a famous poem written by Robert Frost that we want to look at in part. It reads like this:

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

This poem reminds me of a passage of Scripture in Luke 10. Luke 10:38-42 tells us, “Now as they went on their way, Yeshua (Jesus) entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Yeshua tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better way and it will not be taken from her. Was there anything wrong with what Martha was doing? The Scriptures tell us that we are to be hospitable and that we must serve one another. When 13 people show up at your door, it takes a lot of work to feed them. So why did Yeshua tell Martha that He was not going to stop Mary from sitting and listening to Him teach? Mary chose the road less traveled and it made all the difference.

No doubt Martha needed much help, but Mary heard Yeshua’s words and they were compelling. To her she was feasting on His Words, and Martha, on the other hand, only thought of feasting at her table. We cannot be so consumed by this world that we only think about earthly things. If Martha was just as compelled as Mary, she too would have stopped and listened to the Master’s teaching, and she would have eaten at His table. She would have seen that spiritual food is as necessary if not more important than physical food. She also would have seen that the time she took to listen to Yeshua would have been redeemed and her chores would have been accomplished. What you sow you reap. When we make time for God first, He always makes the time for us to accomplish what we need to accomplish.

Martha, like so many of us today, only knew one road, but for those who find the road least walked on, they find something more. They find the greatest gift: Wisdom. Proverbs 3:13-18 tells us, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.”

John 6: 35 tells us, “Then Yeshua declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” Maybe Robert Frost knew his scriptures for Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

How about you? Are you a Mary or a Martha? Two roads to travel, and yet only one will make the difference. You could be a faithful servant of the Lord’s, but do you stop to feast at the Lord’s table? Do you put Him first before all else? Do His words compel you to want to stop and listen and put everything else aside?

Two roads. . . why did most people take the one road versus the other? Maybe because the one road was too narrow and everyone else was walking the wider road. Maybe because they did not have the wisdom that it took to choose the better way, the narrow way, the road less traveled on.

Just some food for thought!

So what is prophecy and who is a prophet? Prophecy in religious circles is a foretelling, but in many cases it is a word given to the prophet by God. A prophet can give a word in anyone’s name, because he is sent by that person to speak on his behalf. Like Aaron was Moses’ prophet even though Moses himself was a prophet (Exodus 7:1). We want to take a closer look into this and see if you can learn how to prophesy and be a prophet.

We see that Samuel was the first to start a School of the Prophets, as we read in 1 Samuel 19:18-24: “When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. Word came to Saul: ‘David is in Naioth at Ramah’; so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied. Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, ‘Where are Samuel and David?’ ‘Over in Naioth at Ramah,’ they said. So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’”

We read in 1 Samuel 10:1-7 that when Saul was anointed king that at that time he also prophesied. “Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over His inheritance? When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, “The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, ‘What shall I do about my son?’” Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipesand harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.’”

So, was Saul among the prophets? We want to take a closer look into all of this and find the answer to this question, “Can you learn to prophesy?”

Let’s start with Moses in the wilderness. We see in Numbers elders prophesying as Numbers 11:16-17 tells us: “The Lord said to Moses: ‘Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.’”

And as it continues in Numbers 11:24-30, “So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, ‘Moses, my lord, stop them!’ But Moses replied, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!’ Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.”

We see here that God took some of the power off of Moses and put it on the seventy elders and they prophesied, but did not do so again. We see the same thing with Saul. In fact, we see in 1 Samuel 28:5-6 that Saul became so rebellious and unrepentant that he no longer heard from God: “When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.”

So far, we see that prophecy can be for just a specific purpose. God can use you for a short time or even just once, but God is the one who determines it .We see Yeshua (Jesus) in John 20:21-22 tell His disciples, “So Yeshua said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” We see here that even though the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they did not begin to prophesy. Also on the day of Pentecost we see in Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Again we see that though the Holy Spirit came upon them with tongues of fire that they did not prophesy but only spoke in tongues, in the languages of those who heard them.

What does the Scripture say in Ephesians 4:11-16? “It was He who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Messiah, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—as a mature person, attaining to the measure of Messiah’s full stature. So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Messiah, who is the head. From Him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.”

We see that prophecy is just one gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:27-30, “Now you are Messiah’s body, and each of you is a member of it. And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?” So prophets were only a part of God’s purpose and the Body of Messiah.

We have to ask ourselves then, why were so many people prophesying back in the day and how was it that Samuel had a School of the Prophets? First, we know that a prophet was ordained by God as we see in Jeremiah’s calling as just one example. Jeremiah 1:4-5, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”

Also in Luke 1:13-17 we see again that John the Baptist was called before he was born: “When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”

This is what Yeshua spoke about John as recorded in Matthew 11:9: “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” So this takes us to the question, if you are called by God and you have the Holy Spirit in you, then can you learn to be a prophet? I tell you, beware of prophetic ministries and churches and Facebook pages, for prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit and only God can determine if you will have the gift of prophecy. The Bible warns against false prophets in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Yeshua tells us in Matthew 24:24, “For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 God tells us this, “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.”

But what if what he says does come true? Deuteronomy 13:1-5 tells us, “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—’and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.”

One more thing. Matthew 7:15-20 tells us, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

We have learned over the years that just because someone uses the name Jesus in a song does not mean that He has a true relationship with Him. So too with the prophet. If he is not leading you to have a closer relationship with God or causing you to lead a godly life, if he is not speaking to you about sin and repentance, if what he says does not line up with scripture, beware.

What is his track record? What is his lifestyle? Giving a message is not the only part of the prophet, it is only the beginning. We see so often Christians sending things like this: “If you pass this on to five people you will receive a blessing”; “If you recite this prayer God will send you a blessing or you will be healed.” A prophet is accountable to God, to the people he gives the message to, and to the message. It is not like giving a weather forecast, if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen. Remember what the Bible tells us in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Even the Bereans checked out Paul’s teaching as Acts 17:11 tells us, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” And so we too must do this with anyone who says they come in the name of the Lord.

Before the day of Pentecost, people were not filled with the Holy Spirit, and they received from God differently than those who were filled with the Holy Spirit. They drew lots or they had the Urim and Thurim, and yes, they did also hear from God like a prophet hears from God today. I’m sure Samuel’s School for the Prophets emphasized a godly and holy lifestyle, a lifestyle where one draws close to God to hear His voice. They drew from the Scriptures and from prayer and fasting. These same things are important today, but again, prophecy and being a prophet is a gift of God and cannot be learned.

As believers we like to quote Ephesians 3:12, “Because of Messiah and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

But we forget sometimes whose presence we are entering into. We forget that God is holy and we also need to be holy, and to be holy we must have a reverence and a fear of the Lord. Even the angels cover their eyes as they stand before God Almighty. We take this Scripture out of context. Why does Paul tell us that we can now have the freedom and confidence to enter into God’s presence? Because of the previous verses. Paul, speaking about the mystery of Messiah, says this in Ephesians 3:6: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Messiah Yeshua.”

Ephesians 2:11-22 tells us, “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

So you see, as Gentiles we had no way or no right to come before God, but because we have been grafted into Israel, as Romans 11:17-18 tells us, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” And through the shed blood of Messiah that we accepted and now believe (which caused us to go from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light), we can come before God knowing that we are now His children.

So we see that now through the Messiah we (Gentiles) can come before God with confidence, an assurance that has been given to us by accepting the sacrifice of the shed blood of the Messiah on our behalf. Our boldness and confidence is in our faith in Messiah, not in ourselves.

It is our position, as Ephesians 2:1-10 tells us, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Messiah even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Messiah and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Messiah Yeshua, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Messiah Yeshua. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Messiah Yeshua to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

God is a holy God and we are to be holy also. We must come into His presence humbly and contrite and washed clean. We are to examine ourselves before we have communion; well, we have communion every time we come into God’s presence.

So be confident in the sacrifice of Messiah, but also be thankful that we can come into the presence of a holy God.

As believers, we are always talking about salvation, but what exactly is salvation? We want to take a closer look into this word and its meaning.

Salvation simply means preservation or deliverance from difficulty or evil.

Revelation 7:10 tells us, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Believers call our salvation Jesus, but Jesus has no real meaning for the name Jesus did not come about till the 17th Century, because there was no letter J up till then. His name Yeshua was given to Him by His Father, and it means, “Yahweh Saves,” or “Yahweh’s Salvation,” because salvation belongs to the Father and to the Lamb. By this Scripture we see that man has nothing to do with salvation.

We want to begin by looking at the story of Noah. In the story of Noah, God had Noah build an ark. Genesis 6:5-8 tells us why God had Noah build the ark: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’”

God saw nothing but sin, and He was going to destroy His creation, but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. God tells Noah how to build the ark and that He was going to save him and his family. Genesis 7:1-4, “The Lord then said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” The animals came two by two into the ark and Noah and His family also entered into the ark, and then the door was shut. Genesis 7:13-16 says, “On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark, they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds. So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the Lord closed it behind him.”

So what can we gather from the story of Noah? God decided that He was going to save Noah, his family and two of every kind of living creature, which He led to the ark. It took Noah 100 years to build the ark, and during that time anyone could have repented of their sins and could have been saved. God told Noah how to build the ark so that there was enough living space for them and all the animals. So the ark was used for salvation. But what we find so interesting is this: God shut the door, not Noah. John 10:1-9 says this: “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out his own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Yeshua used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Yeshua said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.’” Salvation is in God and in the Lamb.

So what about in the Apostolic Scriptures?

John the Baptist proclaimed to all in John 1:29, “The next day he saw Yeshua (salvation) coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Matthew 19:25-26 tells us,“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Yeshua looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Acts 4:12 tells us “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

So then we must ask ourselves about Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

How do we work out our salvation? In John 13:8, Peter gives us a good example of not working out our salvation when Yeshua wanted to wash his feet. “’No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Yeshua answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’”

You see, the ark was salvation for all who entered it, but God showed Noah how to build it. Yeshua tells His disciples in John 15:5-6 what is needed to work out your salvation: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

We have to start by entering into the ark (or salvation). Then we must allow Yeshua to wash us, or you could say, let God’s will be done in our lives, not ours.

In Matthew 16:24-26 Yeshua makes it very clear what it means to abide in Him: “Then Yeshua told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’”

Paul sums it up like this: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Messiah. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Messiah—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

There are so many other examples of working out your salvation like, “If you love Me then keep My commandments,” and on and on, but for now we want to say, Yeshua is the door into which we must enter into salvation, and there is no other way. So today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts, but enter in through the door and be saved.

So many times we bring our anxieties and concerns before God because we live in a time of uncertainty. In fact, I guess there has never been a time of certainty, because we do not know the future. But we see Jeremiah coming before God with a question that has been echoed all through time: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?”

We want to take a closer look at this passage in Jeremiah 12:1-4: “Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, ‘He will not see our latter end.’”

God answers Jeremiah with this answer in verse 5: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Jeremiah had a very good question for the Lord. I guess it could be a question for every generation.

We want to look at God’s response, not in Jeremiah’s day, but in our day. How does God’s response pertain to us today? The Bible speaks a lot to us about the perilous times. We have seen many wars over the years and nations who have treated their people unjustly. Since Israel became a nation and the Jewish people have returned to their homeland, along with the whole world now connected in every way, we have everything aligned for the New One World and the Anti- christ. We know with the coming of the end times that darkness is going to overcome the light.

Paul tells Timothy this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

We see here that there is coming a time of lawlessness to prepare for the man of lawlessness. Isaiah 5:20 tells us this: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Today we are seeing just that, a time when you cannot reason with anyone, because when people believe that good is evil and evil is good then we have lost all reason, lies become the norm, darkness becomes light and the foundation of all things fall apart.

Let’s look at God’s response to Jeremiah. God tells Him, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” We see that God was saying to him, and to paraphrase it, “If you can’t handle it when times are still fairly good, how will you handle it when times get really bad?”

So let’s now look at these horses that we are going to have to run with.

Revelation 6:1-2 tells us, “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.”

This is not the return of the Messiah. This is the Spirit of Antichrist. He is a deceiver and a liar trying to get God’s people to fall. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 tells us, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Messiah Yeshua and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Messiah had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

1 John 2:18 says this, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”

1 John 4:1-3 tells us, “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Yeshua Messiah has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

In the end times the one world religion will be Humanism. Humanism denies the existence of the one true God and His Messiah. It says that we are all gods. It denies the commandments of God because it is a lawless religion.

Revelation 12:17, “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.”

Today we have seen a significant drop in church attendance and as time goes on, we will see droves of people leaving behind their beliefs. Our youth have fallen away greatly. Fewer and fewer people are becoming ministers of the Word. People do not believe that the Ten Commandments are relevant in today’s society. Words like sin, judgement, and blood have been removed because our Gospel message today is a message that is seeker friendly. Our churches must not look like a church or act like a church or even sound like a church. Yes, the spirit of antichrist is riding throughout the world seeking whom he may conquer.

So the question is now to us, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

Hebrews 12:1-2 says this, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Yeshua the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

2 Peter 1:1-11 tells us this, “Peter, a servant and an apostle of Messiah Yeshua, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Messiah Yeshua. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Yeshua our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Messiah Yeshua.”

And finally 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

It’s time to draw closer to God so that you will be an overcomer.

INTRODUCTION

What you now hold in your hands is the first issue of the Judeo-Christian Clarion’s monthly newsletter, The Clarion. This isn’t the first time we’ve circulated a newsletter. Several years ago, when we were still known as the Jerusalem Christian Center, we published a similar newsletter on a monthly basis, sending out teachings and other information about our ministry. We are now going to resume this activity. Of course, you will still be able to find all of our teachings and other writings on our website, www.JudeoChristianClarion.com, as well as on our Facebook page and other social media. It is our prayer that the information provided to you in this newsletter will be a source of encouragement and will draw you ever-closer to our Messiah Yeshua.

CORONAVIRUS: “LORD, DON’T YOU CARE THAT WE PERISH?”

Today the world has become so uncertain. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Fear has gripped our souls. Well, we are not alone, for even the disciples of Yeshua felt that way. Let’s take a closer look at this story. Mark 4:35-41 tells us this story: “On that day, when evening came, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Yeshua Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?'” The fact that the Scriptures tell us a storm arose tells us that out of nowhere, without their knowledge, a wind storm came upon them. Of course, they did what they needed to do to keep the boat from sinking, but when they realized they were going to sink they thought to themselves, “Does He not feel the waves?” “Does He not hear the waves crashing against the boat?” “Does He not hear us crying out in fear?” “Doesn’t He care?” So they asked Him, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” Is this not what we do when things arise in our lives? We are filled with fear and anxiety, not knowing the future, but all we can see is the storm before us. As soon as the boat begins to rock, we ask, “God don’t you care that I am perishing? You must see me? You must know what is happening and yet You do nothing about it.” What was Yeshua’s response? “Why are you afraid?” What did Paul tell Timothy? Paul records it in 2 Timothy 1:3-7, “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Timothy was afraid for Paul, and Paul tells him that he was praying for him because of his tears. Paul knew that deep down Timothy had faith, but only needed to be reminded that being afraid was not from God. “Timothy, I tell you God has given you power and love and a sound mind” (some versions say “and discipline”). Isaiah gives Israel a message from God In Isaiah 43:1-4, “But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.'” God did not leave us defenseless in our times of trials and temptations. He loves us and cares about us too much, for He said He will never leave us or forsake us. Storms are going to arise in our lives, and most times we will not see them coming, but we should not be caught off guard. Today, we say we have an invisible enemy, a virus, but as believers in the Messiah, we already know that our enemy is invisible. We know that he can strike at any moment, but as good soldiers we must always be ready to fight the good fight. Today, everyone is putting on a mask, but as believers we must put on the armor of God. We have the shield of faith, we have the sword of the spirit, the Word of God. Our mask is the helmet of salvation. Prayer is our covering. What did our Messiah do when the disciples came in fearful and panicked? He stood up! This is the time we must stand up. We are believers. We are the light to the world. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power. Yeshua rebuked the wind and so must we. Psalm 91 tells us, “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.” We have the power to speak to that mountain called Coronavirus and it must flee. We can trample down our enemy, the devil, who brings such things our way. But we have the power of Almighty God within us, “For greater is He who is in us than he who is in this world.” We get our marching orders from our heavenly Father, the creator of heaven and earth. We are not of this world. We live in this world, but we are not of this world. Our Father, who is in us and who loves us and cares for us, has surrounded us with His angels, and our lives are in His hands. Fear not! Time and time again God’s people have been afraid, but we read in John 20:19-20 this: “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Yeshua came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” People, let us arise and stand tall, letting our light shine in this darkness with peace in our hearts. Let our faith be bold because we know who we serve, and yes, let us rejoice, because our Savior has given us the victory. He has risen and we must too.

RUNNING WITH HORSES, PART 1

So many times we bring our anxieties and concerns before God because we live in a time of uncertainty. In fact, I guess there has never been a time of certainty, because we do not know the future. But we see Jeremiah coming before God with a question that has been echoed all through time: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” We want to take a closer look at this passage in Jeremiah 12:1-4: “Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, ‘He will not see our latter end.’” God answers Jeremiah with this answer in verse 5: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Jeremiah had a very good question for the Lord. I guess it could be a question for every generation. We want to look at God’s response, not in Jeremiah’s day, but in our day. How does God’s response pertain to us today? The Bible speaks a lot to us about the perilous times. We have seen many wars over the years and nations who have treated their people unjustly. Since Israel became a nation and the Jewish people have returned to their homeland, along with the whole world now connected in every way, we have everything aligned for the New One World and the Antichrist. We know with the coming of the end times that darkness is going to overcome the light. Paul tells Timothy this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” We see here that there is coming a time of lawlessness to prepare for the man of lawlessness. Isaiah 5:20 tells us this: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Today we are seeing just that, a time when you cannot reason with anyone, because when people believe that good is evil and evil is good then we have lost all reason, lies become the norm, darkness becomes light and the foundation of all things fall apart. Let’s look at God’s response to Jeremiah. God tells Him, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” We see that God was saying to him, and to paraphrase it, “If you can’t handle it when times are still fairly good, how will you handle it when times get really bad?” So let’s now look at these horses that we are going to have to run with.Revelation 6:1-2 tells us, “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” This is not the return of the Messiah. This is the Spirit of Antichrist. He is a deceiver and a liar trying to get God’s people to fall. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 tells us, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Messiah Yeshua and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Messiah had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 1 John 2:18 says this, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” 1 John 4:1-3 tells us, “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Yeshua Messiah has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” In the end times the one world religion will be Humanism. Humanism denies the existence of the one true God and His Messiah. It says that we are all gods. It denies the commandments of God because it is a lawless religion. Revelation 12:17, “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.” Today we have seen a significant drop in church attendance and as time goes on, we will see droves of people leaving behind their beliefs. Our youth have fallen away greatly. Fewer and fewer people are becoming ministers of the Word. People do not believe that the Ten Commandments are relevant in today’s society. Words like sin, judgement, and blood have been removed because our Gospel message today is a message that is seeker friendly. Our churches must not look like a church or act like a church or even sound like a church. Yes, the spirit of antichrist is riding throughout the world seeking whom he may conquer. So the question is now to us, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Hebrews 12:1-2 says this, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Yeshua the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 2 Peter 1:1-11 tells us this, “Peter, a servant and an apostle of Messiah Yeshua, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Messiah Yeshua. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Yeshua our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Messiah Yeshua.” And finally 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” It’s time to draw closer to God so that you will be an overcomer.

COUNTRY OF THE MONTH

Every month, we pray for a specific country where Christians are experiencing persecution. This month, we are praying for the nation of Myanmar. Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a majority-Buddhist nation where religious minorities face persecution. Here are some ways you can pray:
• Pray that Christians in Myanmar will be encouraged and emboldened despite violence and hardship.
• Pray for an end to ethnic armed conflicts, drug abuse, human trafficking, and religious violence/discrimination in Myanmar.
• Pray that missionaries will be successful in providing Bibles to believers, especially in remote villages.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful., and that many Myanmarese (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

SANDIEGRAM: “THE ROBIN”

Lord, as the mother robin sits on her eggs and keeps them warm,

So do You keep me warm

With Your blanket of love.

The indwelling of Your Holy Spirit in me feeds my soul

Just as the mother robin feeds her young.

You send Your angels to protect me

Just as the mother robin watches and protects her little ones.

Like the baby robins who grow

From the nourishment the mother robin gives them,

So do I grow from the nourishment of Your Word.

As the baby robins grow and learn to fly and leave their nest,

I also am able to go out and take care of the affairs of my Father.

Thank You for Your Spirit,

Your Word, and truth

So that I can go out daily

And share what You have given me with others.

Like the robins who fly,

Let me also fly high in Your Spirit

So that one day we shall meet face to face.

In Mark 10 we find a strange request from two of Yeshua’s disciples. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, ask to be granted the right to sit on either side of Yeshua when He comes into His glory. Now that seems a bit forward, don’t you think? Verse 34 tells us, “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘We want you to do for us whatever we ask.’” This does not only sound a bit forward, but also demanding.

Yeshua tells us to be humble in heart. Yeshua tells us in Luke 14:8-9, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.”

Matthew 20:25-30 tells us, “Yeshua called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’”

So the question is, are you a servant? Do you have a servant’s heart? Well, first you must serve others. Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Yeshua shows us what a real humble servant is, and how we should put others first in John 13:3-5, 12-15. Yeshua sets the example: “Yeshua knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. . . . So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.’”

Galatians 5:13 tells us, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Being a servant is not just waiting on someone. You can serve someone by meeting their needs, as Yeshua gives us the example in this parable: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-45).

God will reward those who serve one another, those who put others first, those who serve with selfless ambition, as Romans 12:1-13 tells us, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Messiah, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

1 Peter 4:10-11 tells us, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Messiah Yeshua, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

So we see that a servant must be humble, putting others first, and that serving is a gift from God; but we must also serve the Lord, as Ephesians 6:7-9 tells us, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” We must be fervent in our Spirit in serving the Lord.

Paul shows us how we must serve the Lord in Acts 20:19, “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.”

When we serve we are not serving on our own, but we are following the Lord, as Yeshua tells us in John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

Paul called himself a servant as we see in so many of his gospels and as we see here in Titus 1:1, “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Messiah Yeshua, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.”

James called himself a servant as we see in James 1:1, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Messiah Yeshua, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.”

Peter called himself a servant in 2 Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Messiah Yeshua, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.”

Jude called himself a servant in Jude 1:1, “Jude, a bond-servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Messiah Yeshua.”

So I ask you, are you a servant of the Lord? Do you have a servant’s heart? If not, pray to the Lord to give you one, for serving one another is why Yeshua came, and He is our example. Love one another, that is what it is all about, and there is no greater love than for one to lay down his life for another. That is what serving is all about: crucifying your flesh and denying yourself to put someone else’s needs before yours. God has given us all gifts, and we must use our gifts serving Him. We must also grow and mature in our walk with God, as Ephesians 2:19-22 tells us that we are growing into the Temple of God: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” And also in Ephesians 4:11-16 it says, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Messiah; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Messiah, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

If we all come together and serve one another using our gifts that God has given us, just think what we can accomplish for the Kingdom!

In Part 1, we looked at God’s response to Jeremiah when He was discouraged about the wicked who prosper. In Jeremiah 12:5 God tells Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” We looked at Revelation 6:1-2, which is about the first horse which rides in the Seal Judgements. I suggest you read Part 1 to get a better understanding of Part 2. In Part 2 we are going to continue looking at these horses.

Revelation 6:3-4 tells us, “When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.” Going back to Cain and Abel murder has been with us in our lives. We have seen over history that people have engaged in war after war. In the last 100 years we have seen two world wars with the deaths of millions of people. Wars have broken out in almost every area of the planet. We have seen civil unrest and violent protests and even killings in our schools and in our workplaces. Our cities are like the battlefield. The local news is nothing but one shooting after another. John reveals to us that the second horse will ride and it will take away our peace. People today live in fear. They have cameras all over their property. They have their homes secured like Fort Knox. Our schools practice for active shooter situations.

In Matthew 10:34-39, Yeshua says this: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”

So Yeshua is warning us of the horse that will ride to take away our peace. You see the end times are going to be a time when people will fall away from the truth. It will be a time of chaos and confusion, wickedness will abound. People who follow God will be hated even by their own family. Romans 1:28-32 tells us, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

Yeshua, after telling His disciples that He would be leaving them, saw that they were grieved, and He told them this in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The longer the red horse rides the worse we will see murders of all sorts, but the question is, are you an overcomer? Well, John tells us how we can overcome the world in 1 John 5:3-4, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Let’s look back at what Yeshua told us in Matthew 10:38-39: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”

Paul has great advice for us in Philippians 4:4-9: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

You want to overcome the “red horse”? Trust the Lord, and as Isaiah 26:3 tells us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

GREETINGS!

We hope you enjoyed the first issue of The Clarion. Now we find ourselves already in the month of June. We hope that everyone will have an enjoyable Father’s Day, and despite the turmoil, a pleasant beginning to the summer season.

RUNNING WITH HORSES, PART 2

In Part 1, we looked at God’s response to Jeremiah when he was discouraged about the wicked who prosper. In Jeremiah 12:5 God tells Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” We looked at Revelation 6:1-2, which is about the first horse which rides in the Seal Judgements. I suggest you read Part 1 to get a better understanding of Part 2. In Part 2 we are going to continue looking at these horses. Revelation 6:3-4 tells us, “When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.” Going back to Cain and Abel murder has been with us in our lives. We have seen over history that people have engaged in war after war. In the last 100 years we have seen two world wars with the deaths of millions of people. Wars have broken out in almost every area of the planet. We have seen civil unrest and violent protests and even killings in our schools and in our workplaces. Our cities are like the battlefield. The local news is nothing but one shooting after another. John reveals to us that the second horse will ride and it will take away our peace. People today live in fear. They have cameras all over their property. They have their homes secured like Fort Knox. Our schools practice for active shooter situations. In Matthew 10:34-39, Yeshua says this: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.” So Yeshua is warning us of the horse that will ride to take away our peace. You see the end times are going to be a time when people will fall away from the truth. It will be a time of chaos and confusion, wickedness will abound. People who follow God will be hated even by their own family. Romans 1:28-32 tells us, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” Yeshua, after telling His disciples that He would be leaving them, saw that they were grieved, and He told them this in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The longer the red horse rides the worse we will see murders of all sorts, but the question is, are you an overcomer? Well, John tells us how we can overcome the world in 1 John 5:3-4, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Let’s look back at what Yeshua told us in Matthew 10:38-39: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.” Paul has great advice for us in Philippians 4:4-9: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” You want to overcome the “red horse”? Trust the Lord, and as Isaiah 26:3 tells us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

COUNTRY OF THE MONTH

Every month, we pray for a specific country where Christians are experiencing persecution. This month, we are praying for the nation of Iraq. The ancient Christian population in Iraq faces extinction as individuals have fled discrimination in everyday affairs and violent persecution from ISIL and other extremist groups. Here are some ways you can pray:
• Pray that Christians in Iraq will be encouraged and emboldened despite violence and hardship.
• Pray for an end to sectarian violence and religious violence/discrimination in Iraq.
• Pray that missionaries will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful., and that many Iraqis (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

SANDIEGRAM: “NEVER ALONE”

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

I thank You, Lord, for Your presence.

As I meditate by myself, I am not alone.

You are with me shining Your light upon me

And blessing me.

When I am troubled, You comfort me.

When I have doubt, You reassure me.

When I cry, You wipe away my tears.

No matter where I go,I am never alone,

For You live within me,

And every breath I take,

You are there.

You surround me with angels to watch over me.

In the darkness of the night,

You illuminate my mind with Your presence.

Lord, I give praise, honor, and glory to You,

For in the darkness of this world,

Your light shines bright,

And I am never alone.

IS THE CROSS POLITICALLY CORRECT?

Today, we have become so politically correct and so sensitive to words that even in our congregations and our churches we have compromised our beliefs and our words so we do not offend anyone. Tolerance is the word of the day, and yet we do not have tolerance for everything or everyone: it’s like pick and choose depending on who you are or what you believe. “Everyone must get a trophy, everyone must win, we can not have anyone left out. Watch your words! Are they degrading, or harsh, or something I just don’t want to hear? Give me a place to run to, give me a safe place from words and life!” But is this really life? The world we live in is a dangerous place. The Bible tells us that there is good and evil, there are those who will be saved and those who will not be saved, there is a heaven and there is a hell. But to so many people these statements are politically incorrect. So I ask, do we live by the Word of God or do we live to please those who cannot or will not believe in a God who would not include all? It is sad to say, but many believers will say, “I can only believe that God in His mercy and grace will save all those who are good.” Many say, “God is a God of love and He would not send anyone to hell.” Many say, “Well, I am a good person and God would not send me to hell.” Many even would say, “I go to church, God would not send me to hell.” I have even heard believers say, “There are many ways to get into heaven. They may have been baptized, they may have said a prayer, belong to a certain denomination, go to church, or even read their Bible.” Many even would say, “My pastor tells us that we can still do this or that. He even does those things himself.” So the question is, have we moved away from the cross of Calvary? Have we taken a step backwards? Is the cross even politically correct? In our society today, we do not like the thought of pain or torture. We do not like the sight of blood and death. We do not want to hear about it. We have become calloused to it, we resent it even. We want to run to our safe place, we want comfort, we want to close our ears and we do not want to listen. We close our eyes and we do not want to see. We have become weak, we have become soft. We see death and we ask, “Why? Why does a loving God allow this?” Today’s believers do not even want to see a crucifix because we say, “Yeshua has risen, He is no longer on the cross. Quick, take the sight of it away from me! We want to live in the resurrection, not the death.” Without His death, we would have no need of the resurrection. It was through that grief that He bore our sins. It was through His death on the cross that He paid our debt. “Yes, we will accept that, but not the cross.” But this same cross, this instrument of pain and suffering and death which our Messiah Yeshua carried to His death, this cross is exactly what Yeshua tells us that we need to pick up in order to follow Him. We say, “NO, NO! I do not want to die. I have my life and I want to keep it. I have my business, I have my home, my car, all those things that I love and enjoy. I will not give them up, I will not die.” When a person hears that he is going to die, that is his response.There is a process that a man goes through when he hears that he is going to die. There is anger and denial and a sorrow and a letting go of this world which has to take place, and then hopefully they reach a place were there is peace. We in our nature cling to life. This is why God gave us eternal life through Messiah Yeshua, because He is the God of life. And yet Yeshua tells us to pick up that instrument of death and follow Him. Now, I know that I have heard many people who have an illness or some misfortune that they have to live with say that this is their cross in life, so they pick up their cross and go on in life. But is this what our Messiah meant? What are we dying to? Ourselves? To sin? The world? Let’s look at all the Scriptures where the Word tells us we have to die. “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26) “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33) “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24) “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2) “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Messiah, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Romans 6:6-8) “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Messiah Yeshua.” (Romans 6:11) “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) “I have been crucified with Messiah and I no longer live, but Messiah lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) “Those who belong to Messiah Yeshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24) “May I never boast except in the cross of our LORD Yeshua Messiah, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14) “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) “I also consider all these things as loss for the majesty of the knowledge of Yeshua the Messiah, my Lord, him for whose sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all as rubbish that I may gain the Messiah.” (Philippians 3:8) “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14) “Therefore, since Messiah suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2) So we see that we are to die to the world, to ourselves, to sin. The question is, have we died to this world? Have we died to ourselves? Have we died to sin? 1 John 2:15-17 tells us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Have we looked into the mirror and then walked away and forgot who we are? Have we truly laid aside the old self and put on the new? I’m sure if we were honest with ourselves we would have to say, “No, I have not died to myself. I have not put on the new. I still watch those worldly shows. I still use language I shouldn’t. I still live like the world and sound like the world and even look like the world.” How we need the cross before us! How we need the shed blood of Yeshua to cleanse us of our sins daily, and the only place for that blood to fall on us is at the foot of the cross. We need to see the cross every day, and every day we need to crucify our flesh. Do not think that an image of our Yeshua on the cross is wrong. It was that image that paid our debt, and we need to be eternally grateful for the life that Yeshua gives us. As a disciple of Yeshua, a follower of our Messiah, we must walk in His footsteps. We must follow Him to the cross and we must deny ourselves and crucify our flesh so that we too may have life. Read 1 John 1:5-2:3. The cross may not be politically correct, and in this world we may not all win, but as for our Father, He has made the way for all of us to be winners. But to win we must first die. Do you need to come back to the cross? That is where the cleansing flow of the blood of the Lamb is. Come on bended knee and the love of Messiah will wash you clean.

JEWISH RECIPE—CHALLAH

Challah is a type of bread that is eaten on special occasions, such as the weekly Sabbath. Try out the following recipe for yourself! (Yields 4 loaves).

INGREDIENTS

2 packages dry active yeast

7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 sticks margarine

1 cup hot (not boiling) water

3 eggs and 1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 egg to coat Challah

DIRECTIONS

1. Sift yeast and flour. In a large bowl, mix margarine and water until margarine is melted. Add eggs, yolk, salt and sugar. Keep mixing. Gradually add flour mixing well (a wooden spoon works great). Cover bowl with warm damp towel and leave covered for 3 hours, more is better.

2. Smash down, divide into 12 balls. Roll into snakes. Braid snakes into 4 loaves. Put on cookie sheet. Cover with damp towel for 1 hour.

3. Brush loaves with beaten egg. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

CUSTOMS

The word challah means “portion”, and it is used in the Torah to refer to the portion of bread which was set aside as holy: “When you enter the land where I bring you, then it shall be, that when you eat of the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering to the LORD. Of the first of your dough you shall lift up a cake (challah) as an offering; as the offering of the threshing floor, so you shall lift it up” (Numbers 15:18-20). This offering portion was actually the part of the bread that was given to the priests as their portion. Today when the Jewish people make this challah bread in their homes for their own use, they take a portion of the dough and set it aside by burning it. Even though this sanctified part of the dough is technically the part that should be called challah (since it is the portion which is set apart), in popular reference the main part of the bread that anyone can eat has come to be known as challah. This is a traditional rather than a Biblical commandment. It is traditional to bake two loaves of challah, corresponding with the two offerings which were made every Sabbath in the Temple. These two loaves also represent the double portion of mannah that God gave for the people to eat on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:4-5). And, like the offerings, the two loaves are sprinkled with salt. It is believed that the tradition of eating this distinctive style of braided bread, as in the recipe above, started with the Jewish populations in Europe.

QUOTE

“God is not a deus absconditus [hidden God], living in lonely bliss in some far-off heaven, inaccessible to man; rather, he is the ever-present Shechinah in ‘exile,’ in the corrupt world of sin, undertaking the task of redeeming and regenerating creation. His supreme characteristic is his infinitely self-giving love, a love operative from the foundation of the world and revealed in diverse ways through his saints and prophets in all lands, manifested in his Shechinah in glorious fullness in ‘the light which lighteth every man coming into the world’ [John 1:9].” — Paul Philip Levertoff

HEBREW LETTER

In each newsletter, we will teach you a new Hebrew letter and give you a little information about it. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This month, you will learn the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The name of this letter is aleph, pronounced ah-lef. In Hebrew, each letter also has a numerical value. If you open up a Hebrew Bible, you will notice that the chapter numbers will be Hebrew letters. The numerical value of aleph is 1.

א

Aleph is a silent letter. It doesn’t, on its own, make a sound. Instead, it is pronounced as part of the vowel which follows it. For example, the word el , meaning “God/god”, is spelled with two letters, aleph and lamed. While aleph doesn’t have a sound on its own, in this word it takes the “e” sound of the vowel that follows it (the two dots beneath the aleph). Unlike in some languages such as English, in Hebrew you read right-to-left.

אֵל

As we continue looking at Jeremiah 12:5, God tells Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” We want to continue looking at this response of God to Jeremiah and how it relates to us. Please refer back to parts 1 and 2.

Revelation 6:5-6 continues with the third horse, and it reads, “When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’”

We have had famines all throughout time. We see this in the days of Abraham. Genesis 12:10 tells us, “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.” Issac also saw a famine as we read in Genesis 26:1, “Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar.” Jacob also saw a famine, as we see in Genesis 42:5, “So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.” This was the famine that brought Jacob to Egypt, for Joseph was sent ahead to save the people.

These are just a few of the times in the Bible (there are many more), but even today we see famines, mostly in Africa, but this is not totally what this Scripture is talking about. Today if there is a famine or natural disaster, countries from around the world send relief. But, notice the cost of the wheat and the barley? A day’s wage! You see, the longer the horses ride the greater in intensity their judgment. This is talking about global famine, a famine where other countries will not be able to send relief. How then will you be able to run with the horses? Will they bring you down?

Today food is everything. We have so much, especially in this country, that all we have to do is go to our refrigerators or open our cabinets or run to the nearest store or even the gas station. For many people, food is their god as Philippians 3:18-21 tells us, “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Messiah. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Messiah Yeshua, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Today we must put nothing before our Messiah. We must have that self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit and we must put our mind on things above. We must return to fasting and praying. We must learn to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow our Messiah.

In Revelation 6:7-8 we see the horses continue to ride, as it tells us, “When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” We see here that the fourth horse will bring such destruction and it will encompass all the other three horses.

So, maybe you may say that you are able to run with the horses, but when the fourth horse comes along it will bring an overwhelming time of trials and tribulations. It will take great faith to overcome the trials. Over the decades, we have seen different wars. Even here in America we had the Civil War and of course different attacks on our country like Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and civil unrest. We have seen so much violence in our larger cities, mass shootings almost every weekend if not daily. We have had different plaques like ebola, polio, the Spanish Flu, the bubonic plague, influenza, and the coronavirus for some examples, where thousands of people have died. We have had recessions and depressions and great poverty over the years.

But today God wants to do a work in you so that you will be an overcomer. 2 Peter 1:5-11 tells us, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua.”

Paul tells us in Romans 5:2-5, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

In John 16:33 Yeshua tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

God wants us to overcome. He wants us to have the faith that will see us through. He wants us to learn to trust Him in all things. How about you? Will you win the race? Let God prepare you today so that you will be able to cross the finish line as an overcomer.

We are going to look at the last three horses next month, but till then run the race with endurance.

GREETINGS!

It’s hard to believe that this is already the third issue of The Clarion. We hope you had an enjoyable celebration on Independence Day. Make sure you stay cool and hydrated during these dog days of summer. If you haven’t seen our newest brochure, Social Justice, you can find it on our website, along with an extended teaching on the same subject.

RUNNING WITH HORSES, PART 3

As we continue looking at Jeremiah 12:5, God tells Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” We want to continue looking at this response of God to Jeremiah and how it relates to us. Please refer back to parts 1 and 2. Revelation 6:5-6 continues with the third horse, and it reads, “When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’” We have had famines all throughout time. We see this in the days of Abraham. Genesis 12:10 tells us, “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.” Isaac also saw a famine as we read in Genesis 26:1, “Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar.” Jacob also saw a famine, as we see in Genesis 42:5, “So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.” This was the famine that brought Jacob to Egypt, for Joseph was sent ahead to save the people. These are just a few of the times in the Bible (there are many more), but even today we see famines, mostly in Africa, but this is not totally what this Scripture is talking about. Today if there is a famine or natural disaster, countries from around the world send relief. But, notice the cost of the wheat and the barley? A day’s wage! You see, the longer the horses ride the greater in intensity their judgment. This is talking about global famine, a famine where other countries will not be able to send relief. How then will you be able to run with the horses? Will they bring you down? Today food is everything. We have so much, especially in this country, that all we have to do is go to our refrigerators or open our cabinets or run to the nearest store or even the gas station. For many people, food is their god as Philippians 3:18-21 tells us, “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Messiah. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Messiah Yeshua, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Today we must put nothing before our Messiah. We must have that self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit and we must put our mind on things above. We must return to fasting and praying. We must learn to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow our Messiah. In Revelation 6:7-8 we see the horses continue to ride, as it tells us, “When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” We see here that the fourth horse will bring such destruction and it will encompass all the other three horses. So, maybe you may say that you are able to run with the horses, but when the fourth horse comes along it will bring an overwhelming time of trials and tribulations. It will take great faith to overcome the trials. Over the decades, we have seen different wars. Even here in America we had the Civil War and of course different attacks on our country like Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and civil unrest. We have seen so much violence in our larger cities, mass shootings almost every weekend if not daily. We have had different plagues like ebola, polio, the Spanish Flu, the bubonic plague, influenza, and the coronavirus for some examples, where thousands of people have died. We have had recessions and depressions and great poverty over the years. But today God wants to do a work in you so that you will be an overcomer. 2 Peter 1:5-11 tells us, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua.” Paul tells us in Romans 5:2-5, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” In John 16:33 Yeshua tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” God wants us to overcome. He wants us to have the faith that will see us through. He wants us to learn to trust Him in all things. How about you? Will you win the race? Let God prepare you today so that you will be able to cross the finish line as an overcomer. We are going to look at the last three horses next month, but till then run the race with endurance.

COUNTRY OF THE MONTH

Every month, we pray for a specific country where Christians are experiencing persecution. This month, we are praying for the nation of Algeria. The population of this country is over 98% Muslim, and people who convert to Christianity from Islam face serious backlash from their family and community. Additionally, the government has recently started closing down churches. Here are some ways you can pray:

• Pray that Christians in Algeria will be encouraged and emboldened despite violence and hardship.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail.
• Pray that missionaries will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful, and that many Algerians (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

SANDIEGRAMS—”TRUST”

By Sandie Balistreri, Copyright 2010

Time is endless when you know the Lord.

Trust the Lord, For He is good and worthy to be trusted.

When all seems lost

And you don’t know where to turn,

Trust the Lord.

Give Him your anxieties and let Him fill you with peace.

In your weakness, your brokenness, and your littleness,

Let the Lord take over for you.

Let Him strengthen you, let Him lift you up,

Let Him make you tall as you allow Him to work in your life.

Nothing is impossible for the Lord if you trust Him.

He can make all things new.

He can change your life in every situation if you trust Him.

He is ready to take your hand and lead you.

Trust the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised.

VEILED FACES

Are we today repeating what took place with Moses? Let’s look closer using this analogy. Exodus 34:29-35 says, “It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.” When the people saw Moses and the skin of his face shone, they were afraid to come near him. So Moses put a veil over his face. Isn’t this what is happening today? We are afraid to come near people if they do not have a mask. Today we say that we must listen to the scientists and the doctors. The world relies on science. That is Humanism. But as Christians, we must rely on God. If we trust man and not God, then we are not worshiping God but man. If we do not come before God and seek Him out, then we are relying on man and not God. Psalm 9:10 says, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” As believers, God does not want us to hide. We are the light of the world, and right now the world needs the light. Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Acts 13:47 says, “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” We can not hide behind a mask. We can not hide the Word of God, nor can we hide ourselves from people. We must seek God and do His will. The longer the believers hide, the quicker the world is falling into darkness. Mark 16:15 tells us, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” As believers we should be out on the front lines—not protesting, but preaching the Word of God, trusting Him in all things. As 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 tells us: “Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Messiah. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Now, you may say this is all foolish: I would not close my eyes and cross the highway thinking that God would protect me, and you would be correct to not do that. But I began by saying that we need to seek God, because God is able to protect us. There are numerous stories about God’s protection. Let us not get sidetracked about a virus or any other thing that may come along. We serve God, and we must go out and gather the fruit of His fields. We must go out and comfort those who need to be comforted. We must encourage and bring hope and light and salvation. We must be strong and courageous, walking in faith as children of a mighty God.

EXCERPTS FROM “WHERE DID THE KINGDOM GO?”

We want to look at the question, where did the Kingdom go? Now you may say, “The Kingdom is in heaven, why ask where it went?” Today, the believer lives more for the world than he does for the Kingdom. We have lost the vision of the Kingdom to come. We do not live by Kingdom principles nor do we promote the Kingdom. Yeshua talked so much about the Kingdom and what it was like and who will see it that you have to ask yourself, “Where did the Kingdom go?” Today we seldom hear anyone preach or teach about the Kingdom of God. So let’s look at what the Scriptures tell us about the Kingdom, otherwise known as the Messianic Age. But first, has there been a misconception about the Kingdom? The kingdom is not in heaven only, but right here on earth. The prophets spoke a lot about the coming Messianic Kingdom. See, for example, Isaiah 2:2-4 and Zechariah 9:9-10. The book of Revelation also talks about the Kingdom. See Revelation 20:6 and 21:1. In these passages we see that after the 1,000 years, a new heaven and a new earth will be created, for the Kingdom will continue to exist forever. Prior to Yeshua’s birth, his mother Mary was told by the angel that He would sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:30-33). Yeshua began His ministry with the message, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Yes, the Kingdom has now come down to earth and we can now live as citizens of the Kingdom, here and now. Yeshua talked a lot about the Kingdom. He said that the Kingdom will belong to the poor in spirit and the persecuted (Matthew 5:3, 10). He said that whoever keeps and teaches the commandments will be called great in the Kingdom (Matthew 5:19-20). He said we should seek the Kingdom and trust God to take care of our physical needs (Matthew 6:32-33). So how do you seek the Kingdom first? Yeshua tells us in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon this earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Could this be why we have lost our vision of the Kingdom? We are serving the wrong king. Yeshua continues to tell us in verse 24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You can not serve God and money.” (Other important parables about the Kingdom include Matthew 13:44 and Matthew 25.) Are we doing the work of the Kingdom? Is our light shining in the darkness of this world? Is the oil of the Holy Spirit burning in our hearts as we long for the Kingdom? If not, then we are not ready for Yeshua’s second coming. If we are not daily doing God’s will on earth as it is being done in heaven, then we have lost our vision. Isn’t it time to get ready for our coming King? He is coming not as a little baby, not as the suffering servant, but as the Messiah, our victorious King, the Anointed One of the Father. “Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, ‘The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or, “There it is!” For behold, the Kingdom of God is in your midst’” (Luke 17:20-21). It is here and now, and we should be living in the Kingdom today serving our King Yeshua. We do not know the day or hour, so if you need oil for your lamp don’t delay, because while you are out buying oil He may come and you will not be prepared for Him or for His Kingdom. Open your eyes and your hearts to the vision of the Kingdom, the coming Messianic Age.

JEWISH RECIPE—ISRAELI ORZO SALAD

A delicious and refreshing fruity pasta salad.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. orzo

1-1/2 cups diced dried apricots

1-1/2 cups craisins

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup (to taste) Panera Tangerine Honey dressing

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil the pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and allow the pasta to dry well.

2. Once pasta is dry, add the other ingredients and mix well. Chill and serve.

INTERESTING FACTS

There are two words for “nut” in the Hebrew Bible. One of them is used in Song of Solomon 6:11, and is traditionally believed to be the walnut. Apricots, although not native to Israel, are grown there in modern times. Israeli scientists have even developed a heat-resistant variety of apricots that have a better chance for survival in the warm climate.

QUOTE

“And how did you manage to bring so many souls to hell at that time? -Because of fear. -Ah, yes. Excellent strategy; old and always current. But what were they afraid of? Fear of being tortured? Fear of war? Fear of hunger? -No. -Fear of getting sick. -But then, no one else got sick at that time? -No. -Yes, they were sick. -I’m sorry. -Nobody else was dying? -Yes, they died. -But there was no cure for the disease? -There was. -Then I don’t understand. – Since no one else believed and taught about eternal life and eternal death, they thought they had only that life, and they clung to it with all their strength, even if it cost them their affection (they did not hug or greet each other, they had no human contact for days and days); their money (they lost their jobs, spent all their savings, and still thought themselves lucky to be prevented from earning their bread); their intelligence (one day the press said one thing and the next day it contradicted itself, and still they believed it all); their freedom (they did not leave their house, did not walk, did not visit their relatives. . . . it was a big concentration camp for voluntary prisoners! They accepted everything, everything, as long as they could overcome their miserable lives one more day. They no longer had the slightest idea that He, and only He, is the one who gives life and ends it. It was like that, as easy as it had ever been.”— C. S. Lewis, “The Devil’s Letters to His Nephew” (1942)

HEBREW LETTER

In each newsletter, we will teach you a new Hebrew letter and give you a little information about it. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This month, you will learn the second letter. The name of this letter is bet, pronounced like the English word “bait”. In Hebrew, each letter also has a numerical value. If you open up a Hebrew Bible, you will notice that the chapter numbers will be Hebrew letters. The numerical value of bet is 2.

בּ ב

Bet makes a ‘b’ sound when it has a dot inside and a ‘v’ sound when the inside is empty (see the difference between the two letters above). An example of this letter in a word is below. This word uses the two letters that you know, aleph and bet, and they are connected with a vowel. This word is pronounced “bow”, and it can mean “to go” or “to come.” Remember, in Hebrew you read right-to-left.

בּוֹא

The first word of the Torah is bereishit, “in the beginning”, which starts with the letter bet. Thus, bet is the first letter of the Torah. The rabbis wondered, why is the first letter of the Torah the second letter of the alphabet? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the first letter of the Torah be the first letter of the alphabet (aleph)? One answer was based on the shape of the letter itself: “In the same manner that the letter bet is closed on all sides and only open in front, similarly you are not permitted to inquire into what is before or what was behind, but only from the actual time of Creation.” Since Hebrew is read right-to-left, the bet looks like it is opening up toward the letters which follow it. This explanation serves as a warning not to delve too deep into speculation about what was happening before creation (or similarly about other things outside of what God has revealed). God has chosen to reveal certain things in His Word while intentionally leaving other questions unanswered. As the Torah says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in July is Algeria. Much of the information regarding persecution in Algeria that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Algeria: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

Algeria is the largest country in Africa, situated along the northern coast and extending down into the Sahara Desert. About 4/5 of the land area is consumed by the Sahara Desert, and so most of the population resides in the north, closer to the coast. Nearly 60% of the population is Algerian Arab (Arab mixed with local ethnicities) due to invasions in the 8th and 11th centuries. The second largest ethnic group is the Berber population, the people indigenous to Algeria. Over 42 million people live in this nation.

It is estimated that 98% of the Algerian population is Muslim. Within this group, there is a tension between conservative groups and those who tend more toward secularism. There are around 129,000 Christians in Algeria (.3% of the total population). This makes them the third-largest religious group, behind Muslims (98%) and Agnostics (1.4%).

Early Christianity was present in Algeria by the 2nd century. Previously, Rome had taken over the Berber kingdoms which lay along the coast. The famous church father Augustine was bishop of Hippo Regius, which is the modern city of Annaba, Algeria. The influence of Christianity in this region began to change after the invasion of Muslim fighters from the 7th century on. Algeria would in time become part of the Ottoman Empire, although certain areas were controlled by Spain.

In 1830, France began to take over Algeria. This process took 17 years, resulting in a substantial amount of damage and loss of life. The violence of the French rule and the lack of mutual understanding between the rulers and the ruled led to a hostile situation. Some estimate that 1/3 of the native population was killed through war, famine, and disease which resulted from ruling policies. After WWII, Algeria sought greater amounts of autonomy. This was not established to the satisfaction of the Algerians, and nationalist groups became more radical. The Algerian War of Independence began in 1954. Finally in 1962 negotiations resulted in Algeria’s independence.

In the wake of French rule, factionalism abounded. Different groups and figures vied for control. There were some gradual steps toward democracy under the control of Chadli Benjedid, who relaxed some of the socialist policies of the previous administration. However, this was accompanied by other problems, such as droughts, high unemployment rates, and high foreign debt. A rising sentiment of Islamic fervor began, influenced in part by the 1979 Iranian revolution, and exacerbated by the domestic problems described above. The Islamic Salvation Front formed as a political party and in 1991 looked like it had enough support to become the majority party. As a result, the army suspended elections and chose the president themselves, resulting in a civil war between the army and various Islamic and revolutionary groups. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika took important steps toward peace, but even into the 2000s a number of Islamic groups still put up armed resistance.

In 2011, Algerian citizens protested in what has been called the Arab Spring. While in Libya and Egypt the protests had significant effects, this was not the case in Algeria. The government was able to ride out the protests and agreed, at least nominally, to address unemployment, food shortages, and housing problems. Bouteflika had abolished term limits in 2008 and remained president even after he suffered a serious stroke in 2016 and thus rarely made public appearances. Many suspected that the elections had been rigged and that someone else was running the government. Nevertheless, some concessions were granted and term limits reinstated. When it was announced that Bouteflika would run for re-election once again in 2019 despite the constitutional reform instituting term limits, there were once again protests. The most recent election in December 2019 was likewise contested. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, angry that the candidates all represented the interests of the old guard and claiming that the elections were rigged. The new president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, was a close associate of Bouteflika, and many people believe that he will simply continue the old ways of governing.

As can be seen from this brief history, Islam is an important factor in the persecution of Christians today, as is government corruption.

Persecution

Most of the Christians in Algeria are converts from Islam. They face persecution from their immediate and extended family, who will try to pressure them into renouncing their conversion. They may also be pressured to conform to Muslim traditions and perform Islamic rites. WWR says, “Family members are the driving force behind most of the persecution of converts to Christianity. Persecution includes, but is not limited to, (physical) abuse, banishment, house arrest (mostly in the case of women), forced divorce, inheritance loss and loss over custody of the children.” There is a strong sense of honor in families and clans, and one person converting from Islam is seen as shameful to the entire family/community. In this regard, the danger to Christians is highest in rural areas, which tend to be aligned with a more conservative implementation of Islam.

The constitution grants religious freedom in general, but there are laws which limit non-Muslim religious activities. No religious activities can take place which might “shake the faith of a Muslim” or tempt them to convert to another religion. A Human Rights Watch report explains, “Under Ordinance 06-03, proselytizing by non-Muslims is a criminal offense and carries a maximum punishment of 1 million dinars (US$8,347) and up to five years in prison for anyone who ‘incites, constrains, or utilizes means of seduction tending to convert a Muslim to another religion; or by using to this end establishments of teaching, education, health, social, culture, training…or any financial means.’” For this reason, Christian materials are heavily monitored and restricted. Individuals, especially known Christians, are regularly monitored by the police and by the community to make sure they are not violating this and other religious rules.

Non-Muslim religious buildings need to be registered with the government, but many have complained that their requests for approval go unanswered or are rejected arbitrarily. A law passed in 2006 makes it necessary for non-Muslim places of worship to be registered with the government. Since this law was passed, no new churches have been allowed to form, and many have been shut down for operating without permission. Especially notable was the closing of the largest Protestant church in the nation, the Full Gospel Church, with police officers injuring several worshippers in the process. Christians who protested against this shutdown were arrested, but later released. The government has also refused to renew the Protestant Church of Algeria’s status as a legally recognized association, despite the necessary paperwork being submitted. Many Christians meet in house churches, but these are illegal assemblies.

Apostasy is not illegal in Algeria, but because evangelism is illegal converts may be questioned as to who led them to convert. Additionally, someone who converts to Christianity will likely be fired or discriminated against in other ways if their faith becomes public knowledge. Women who convert may be married off to a Muslim man at her family’s discretion, or if already married she may be forced into a divorce with access to her children revoked.

Slimane Bouhafs, a convert to Christianity, was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison for insulting Islam. He had made several posts on Facebook which were deemed offensive and opposed to the Islamic religion. However, he received a presidential pardon after serving 18 months of that sentence. While it is technically not illegal to declare that one is Christian, it is risky because this could very easily be interpreted as blasphemy or evangelizing, which are illegal. Even if such behavior is not prosecuted, those who are vocal about their Christian faith will likely face violence and harassment from those in their family and community. For this reason, Christian symbols are not displayed openly.

Other religious minorities also face persecution. The Ahmadiyya sect of Islam faces similar problems as Christians due to their status under the law.

Although Algeria’s recent past has been marked by violence, as of now the national security is fairly stable. The police and military are well-trained and, despite the obstacles to defending a border in the desert, have been successful in keeping Islamic militants at bay. Nevertheless, extremist preachers often spread a message which can stir up hatred against Christians and other religious minorities. As WWR says, “Violent Islamic militants do not have a wide support base among the people, but Islam holds a firm grip over the country, also due to the growth of the Salafist movement.”

Due to the history of the region and the violence which is associated with the western influence of the French, Christianity (which is seen as a western influence) is distrusted by many. Most Christians are in the Kabyle region and are ethnically Berber. This is an ethnic group that had already experienced discrimination even before some of them had begun converting to Christianity. It is the growth of Christianity among this ethnic group which has proved to be relatively fertile ground for evangelism.

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Christians in Algeria:

• Pray that Christians in Algeria will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray for an end to corruption in Algeria.
• Pray that Christians will extend the love of Messiah to each other and to their neighbors.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Algerians (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in June is Iraq. Much of the information regarding persecution in Iraq that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Iraq: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

In the past few decades, Iraq has periodically dominated headlines, and we have all had ample opportunity to read about the wars and sectarian conflicts that have raged in that region. The population of Iraq is almost 38.5 million. An overwhelming majority are Muslim at 97.5%, and the second largest religious group is agnostic, with 207,000 people. Christians come in third with 202,000, although historically they used to have a larger population, one which is historically significant as we will see.

The area which would later become Iraq has been a center of civilization from ancient times. Those who are familiar with the Bible will recognize the names Babylon, Ur, Asshur, and Nineveh. All of these ancient cities were located within what is now Iraq. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers along with their tributaries provided for the prosperity of agriculture, and this land would change hands as empires rose and fell in the area.

Christianity has strong historical roots in Iraq. The city now called Al-Mada’in is roughly the same location as the ancient Seleucia-Ctesiphon, which was the capital of the Persian Sassanid Empire. It was in this Iraqi city that the Church of the East was officially organized in AD 410 at the Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. Christianity likely first arrived in the region by means of trade contacts and evangelism by the Syriac Christians. Additionally, in the third century the Sasanian king Shapur I conquered some of the eastern Roman lands where Christianity had a stronger foothold and deported certain inhabitants back into Persian-controlled cities: “Shapur I and his army advanced far into Roman territory and finally reached Antioch in 260. Many Christians from Antioch, Cappadocia, Cilicia, and Syria were deported to Persian provinces and established as tradesmen and artisans in Babylonia, Persia, Parthia, and Susiana”, pg. 9). By the time Shapur I had done this, there was already a Christian population in his lands, including modern-day Iraq. Today, it is still the Eastern churches which predominate among Christians in Iraq: the Assyrian Church of the East, Syrian Orthodox Church, Syrian Catholic Church, Chaldean Catholic Church, and Armenian Orthodox Church. Protestant missionaries didn’t arrive until the 19th century, and they failed to gain significant ground. Today, only 5% of Christians in Iraq are Protestant. The largest group is the Chaldean Catholic Church.

The modern predominance of Islam in Iraq goes back to the early years of the religion. The first conflict between Muslim fighters and the Sassanids was in 634, and within 5 years nearly all of Iraq had been conquered and became a province in the Muslim caliphate. Throughout the centuries there were many power struggles which took place within Islam, and Iraq, with its strategic location and natural resources, proved an important territory. During the Islamic Golden Age, Baghdad even took its place as one of the most prosperous cities in the world, a center of education and culture.

Controlled by feuding caliphs, then invaded by the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, and others, Iraq was not able to return to its former glory. After World War I, Britain took control and consolidated the three formerly Ottomon provinces of Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra into the unified Iraq. In 1932, the nation gained its independence as a constitutional monarchy (which had been in place under British supervision since the early 1920s). Turbulent years followed, with internal power struggles and violence. In 1958, a group of young military leaders captured Baghdad by surprise and dissolved the monarchy, instituting a republic in its place. Strife among these military leaders led to a series of coups, the final one being in 1968, when Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr was made president. He was more of a symbolic figure, since the one really making the important decisions was the vice president Saddam Hussein, who in 1979 became the president himself.

After Saddam surrendered to American troops in 2003, a variety of insurgent groups began to exert greater influence while authorities tried to organize a provisional government. Elections were held in 2005 and Muslim sectarian violence and political instability continued. In 2013 ISIL would form as a consolidation of members of al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni militant groups. Although this group has been territorially defeated, they and other extremist groups still remain a threat to stability. Another current issue is the attempts of Kurdish minorities to establish an independent state in northern Iraq. Additionally there are concerns about Iran’s influences in the region, and especially their attempts to gain influence in the lands ceded by ISIL.

Persecution

In May of 2019, the Archbishop of Erbil said that Iraqi Christians currently face the very real threat of extinction: “Christianity in Iraq, one of the oldest Churches, if not the oldest Church in the world, is perilously close to extinction. Those of us who remain must be ready to face martyrdom. . . . In Iraq there is no redress for those who have lost properties, homes and businesses. Tens of thousands of Christians have nothing to show for their life’s work, for generations of work, in places where their families have lived, maybe, for thousands of years.” The Archbishop lamented that the Golden Age, where Muslim caliphs tolerated minorities and engaged them in respectful dialogue, seems only a distant historical memory.

After America sent troops to Iraq during the Gulf War and the Iraq War, anti-Western sentiment flared up. This meant persecution for Christians, and this persecution was obviously exacerbated with the formation of ISIL. By 2016 many areas previously controlled by ISIL were reconquered (moreso by the end of 2017) and some Christians who had to flee were able to return to their homes, or what was left of them. However, there is still the threat of Islamic extremism which exists in these regions, and ISIL fighters have not been completely eliminated. A 2018 UN report found that there were still 17,000 ISIL fighters in Iraq. This figure does not include those who may be sympathetic to their cause, and it doesn’t include other extremist groups. Additionally, many Christians have been unable to return to their homes due to other parties jostling for control of land vacated by ISIL: “Land disputes make it very difficult for the majority of them to return to their homelands in the Nineveh plains. Iran-backed Shabak militias, Kurds, Arabs and others continue to occupy or expropriate lands of minorities in the Nineveh plains in a competition to gain control of the once multi-ethnic region. Christians are in the weakest position because of their now small numbers and lack of external support. The central government does little to ameliorate the situation and ignores pleas from community representatives” (WWR).

Prior to the first Gulf War, there were over 1 million Christians in Iraq, and their relations with their Muslim neighbors were for the most part peaceful, although there had been interruptions of violence such as massacres of Assyrian Christians in 1932 as retaliation for their collaboration with the British. With the increasing modern violence in the region, many Christians were forced to flee. Now there are only 202,000 Christians, which means around 80% of the population prior to the Gulf War has fled or been killed. Many of those who remain say that they would leave if given the opportunity, citing the violence, instability, and persecution. Leaving has become an especially attractive option for young people. “The current score for violence is still high and IS influence in the local population is still evident. Christians continue to be physically or mentally harmed, threatened and sexually harassed. Acts of violence against non-convert Christians were mostly committed by Islamic militants (mostly Shabak), whereas converts from Islam especially faced violence from their (extended) families. Although some Christian families have returned to their homes, the emigration of Christians is continuing due to fear and lack of hope for a good future” (WWR).

The current constitution (drafted in 2005) establishes Islam as the official religion and forbids the passing of any law which contradicts Islam. While Muslim supremacy is encoded in the constitution, it does also provide for a limited kind of religious freedom: “This Constitution guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice such as Christians, Yazedis, and Mandi Sabeans”. This does not protect all religions, however, and Bahai in particular are not legally allowed to practice their religion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Non-Muslim men are not allowed to marry Muslim women, and each citizen’s religion is indicated on their ID. Christians face discrimination of various kinds. They are frequently passed up for employment. Officials who hold extremist views may falsify documents to disadvantage Christians or make it difficult for Christians to complete necessary paperwork. Christian women may be harassed if they do not wear a head covering. Children born of mixed marriages will automatically be registered as Muslim. “In central and southern Iraq, Christians often do not publicly display Christian symbols like a cross as this can lead to harassment or discrimination at check-points, university, work-place or government buildings. Even Christians in the IKR [Iraqi Kurdistan Region] have reportedly removed the crosses from their cars so as not to attract unwanted attention” (WWR).

Under the constitution, conversions from Islam are not legally recognized. Converts also have a high risk of being threatened or harassed by extended family or their communities. Their extended family will likely put pressure on them to renounce their conversion, and in some cases converts have been killed. WWR reports that 3 converts were killed in the 2019 reporting period. Other threats include torture, home detention, forced marriage/divorce, and loss of custody over children. Thus, converts generally try to keep their faith secret. Otherwise, they may choose to move to a larger city where they are more anonymous or leave the country.

Christians are not allowed to evangelize and may face violence or harassment if they even bring up their faith in conversation. Those who are vocal about the persecution that Christians face may be threatened, and some have been killed. The historic denominations have had to tread a fine line in order to be tolerated by their neighbors, as one report notes: “Iraq’s Christians must work constantly to navigate a complicated network of sectarian and political interests. Influential priests in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdistan Regional Government, are quick to praise their Kurdish neighbors. The KRG has an interest in protecting the religious minorities within its territories; part of the Kurds’ pitch to allies in the West is that they are more tolerant and committed to pluralism than Arabs. Cross the line into Arab-dominated parts of Iraq, however, and priests’ allegiance switches: [one priest, named] Thabet told me he thinks the country should be under Baghdad’s unified control. Privately, Christians on both sides of the border complain about abuses by Arabs and Kurds alike, from land seizures to what they see as extremist sermons at local mosques.”

In modern Iraq, it is difficult for Evangelical or other Protestant denominations to form. Each denomination must be registered with the government, and in order to start a new denomination, the other officially recognized denominations must approve their application. The Orthodox and Catholic leaders are often very strongly against this, since they are very negative toward Protestantism, especially what they view as non-traditional forms. Christians who convert to a different denomination may face strong opposition from Christian officials and their own families: “In southern and central regions of Iraq, Christians who have moved from a Historical church community to join a non-traditional Christian group can face threats and opposition from family members, tribal leaders and society around them. These threats include the risk of losing employment, inheritance or the means to marry. Bishops of Historical church communities have also been known to refuse to hold weddings for members who have been visiting Evangelical churches. Families and community often disassociate themselves from such cross-denominational converts” (WWR). Unregistered denominations are not able to perform weddings or funeral ceremonies, and some of the historic Christian denominations refuse to perform these services for them.

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Christians in Iraq:

• Pray that Christians in Iraq will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties and trauma they face.
• Pray for an end to religious and sectarian violence in Iraq.
• Pray that Christians will extend the love of Messiah to each other and to their neighbors while boldly sharing their faith.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Iraqis (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in August is Laos. Much of the information regarding persecution in Laos that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Laos: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

Laos is a country in Southeast Asia inhabited by over 7 million people. Around 65% of the population lives in rural areas and small villages.

A little over half of the country is Buddhist, and around 42 percent belong to ethnic religions. There are about 227,00 Christians, which means they make up about 3.2% of the total population. Theravada Buddhism is believed to have entered the region in the 7th or 8th century, supported by various kingdoms in the surrounding areas. By the 14th century Buddhism was firmly established among the rulership of Laos. Some kings tried to repress the local animistic religions, but these measures did not succeed. Today it is recognized that in some areas Buddhism and the local religions have formed syncretisms. Roman Catholic missionaries made attempts to evangelise from 1630 onwards. More successful attempts at evangelisation began in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and were particularly successful among the Hmong people.

It is believed that the Lao people migrated to their current location from southwest China in the 12-13th centuries. The state of Lan Xang was created, encompassing what is now Laos and northeastern Thailand. Other powers vied for control of the area. Eventually, in the early 1700s, Lan Xang would split up into three separate kingdoms which conflicted with each other. By the late 1700s, these three would be subdued by Siam. In the late 1800s French influence grew in the region, eventually organizing it into a protectorate. In 1945 the Japanese took over and granted Laos an independent status. Two movements sprang up in response to these events: one with anti-Japanese sentiments, and the other with anti-French sentiments. France regained control of the region in 1946. In response to these movements, France decided to grant Laos a greater degree of autonomy. They were made a member of the French Union in 1949, which meant that while they had some independence the real power still lay in French hands. A new Communist political group called Pathet Lao arose which sought full independence from French governance. In 1954, the Geneva Conference was held, which put the rulership of Laos back into the hands of the royal government. Struggles broke out between left-aligned and right-aligned political groups in the wake of this decision. Laos was at this time also a battlefield in the Vietnam War. After American troops pulled out of Vietnam and communists were ascendent there, so too the Pathet Lao were ascendent in Laos. In 1975, the nation became the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the country remained governed by Marxist-Leninist principles, but important changes took place. It opened up to other non-communist countries, and has entered trade alliances.

These things being considered, it is shown that important factors in the persecution of Laotian Christians are Buddhism, local animistic religions, and communist government.

Persecution

The Communist Party is opposed to religion, but in this country it has tried to reconcile itself with the Buddhists. Laotians acknowledge that they are a Buddhist country, with a long historical connection to this religion, so those who convert from Buddhism may be seen as lacking patriotism. There are also some elements of strong nationalism, meaning leaders want to keep the country pure of external influences (including Christianity). Community activities and rituals contain elements of Buddhist and ethnoreligious ritual, and Christian refusal to participate is interpreted as anti-social or unpatriotic.

“The Communists’ main goal is to preserve stability in the country and to keep the government secure. The predominant goal of many Buddhist monks is to preserve their respected role in society and to maintain their monopoly in religious matters and in political influence. This desire for preservation of power and position presents a lot of common ground for both sides.” (WWR). Although it is not as friendly toward ethnoreligious groups, they are tolerated because they are seen as an important part of the nation’s culture: “If citizens cannot let go of a religion, the officials prefer them having an indigenous one and not a ‘foreign’ one like Christianity” (WWR).

Government authorities monitor all religious activities. They regulate all newspapers, radio, and other forms of media. Local authorities regularly persecute Christians in their jurisdiction. Article 9 of the constitution nominally grants religious freedom, but this is limited to religions and organizations which are officially recognized by the government. All religious activities require permission from the government, which Christian leaders report the government is not apt to give.

A law that was created in 2017 is called the Law of Associations. As Human Rights Watch explains in a joint open letter, “The current Decree gives government authorities in Lao PDR sweeping powers that enable arbitrary restriction or denial of fundamental rights, including the power to unreasonably control and/or prohibit the formation of associations; arbitrarily broad powers to inspect, monitor and curtail the activities and finances of associations; the power to order the dissolution of associations on arbitrary grounds and without right of appeal; and powers to discipline associations and individual members on arbitrary grounds. The Decree also includes measures to criminalize unregistered associations and allow for prosecution of their members.”

WWR explains how this law has impacted Christians: “The new law requires churches to have both a registered place of worship that is owned by the church and a registered minister in order to be considered legal. However, this is almost impossible to accomplish. First, nobody is keen to sell land to a church. Secondly, the new law states that the construction of churches needs to be approved by the prime minister. Finally, land can easily be confiscated by the government.” 75% of approved Evangelical churches in Laos do not have a building to meet in, so they meet in homes. Home-meetings which are not approved are considered illegal gatherings, which may be punishable by a fine and confiscation of materials. House church meetings have been broken up either by the government authorities or by the local communities.

The largest Christian organization is the Laos Evangelical Church. They have worked with the government to collect information on other denominations trying to become recognized and in some cases have tried to prevent other Christian groups from coming into the country.

Evangelism may be reported as an attempt at forced conversion, which is illegal. Laotian Christians are therefore wary about sharing their faith or drawing attention to the way they believe. Bibles purchased outside of Laos are illegal, as are Bibles that have been translated into certain tribal languages which have not been approved by the government. Three Christian missionaries were detained and then deported in 2018 for distributing Christian materials. As VOA reports, “The missionaries, identified by the Casper, Wyoming-based group [Vision Beyond Borders] only as Wayne, Autumn and Joseph, were detained by Laotian police on April 8 while visiting villages in the northwestern province of Luang Namtha to distribute Gospel tracts and other Christian material. The website of U.S.-government funded Radio Free Asia, citing an unidentified district policeman, reported Tuesday that the three were detained for handing out religious materials without receiving official permission.”

In small villages, abandoning the traditional faiths will be interpreted as betrayal. In some cases, the Christian may be kicked out of the community for fear of angering powerful spirits/deities: “A convert’s decision not to venerate the spirits anymore affects the whole community; it is believed that the spirits may get angry with everyone in the local population. For this reason, especially in rural areas, ordinary citizens will watch Christians with suspicion and sometimes even drive them out of their villages” (WWR). Common threats directed toward converts include divorce if the convert is married and loss of inheritance rights. Village leaders act as local arbitrators of the law, and when Christians appeal to these leaders for legal assistance against their persecutors, their requests are often rejected. These leaders may themselves openly engage in persecuting Christians.

In these rural areas, households are multi-generational, with up to three generations living in a single residence. In the poorest areas, an entire family may live in a single room. This makes it very difficult for Christians to practice their faith, since if they are discovered reading the Bible or praying their family will take action against them. For the same reason it is difficult to baptize believers in secret.

In school, children are taught about Buddhism. There have even been reports that Christian children were required to participate in Buddhist rituals as part of the curriculum. In other cases, Christians may be denied access to public education or discouraged from attempting to do so. Even if a child shows promising potential in school, once they graduate they may be denied employment because of their faith.

“Violence against Christians has never been very pronounced in Laos, but has always played a role and is slowly growing (although the increase may partly be explained by an improved reporting), especially by churches being closed and Christians expelled from village communities” (WWR). Pastors and other leaders might be detained and held until a fine is paid, putting a great deal of economic pressure on Christian families and communities.

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Christians in Laos:

• Pray that Christians in Laos will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray that Christianity will no longer be seen as a political tool of the West.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that those who have been expelled from their villages will stand strong in their faith.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Laotians (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in April is the Maldives. Much of the information regarding persecution in the Maldives that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Maldives: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

Maldives is located southwest of India in the Indian Ocean. The nation is actually a chain of almost 1,200 small islands, only 200 of which are inhabited.

The 2018 population was roughly 515,000. According to 2019 data, Maldives had the 8th highest population density (population per square kilometer) in the world thanks to the island of Male, which is the capital of the Maldives. This island/city has an area of 3.58 square miles and about 130,000 people, which is over 1/3 of the total population of the country. The rest of the population is mostly located in small, rural villages on some of the other islands.

If you have heard of Maldives, it is probably because of its popularity as a resort destination. It straddles the equator and is a tropical paradise with sandy beaches, coral reefs, and mild weather during the dry season (November-April). You can swim with manta rays and other exotic sea creatures or relax at one of over 150 resorts. The numerous scenic islands provide the perfect destination for a tropical getaway, and as a result tourism is a significant sector of their economy.

Despite the appearance of paradise, as we will see there are many issues that this country continues to face.

The Maldives is currently dominated by Islam. The religion seems to have been introduced to these islands sometime between 1100-1350, and came to receive the status of official religion through royal decree. Prior to this time Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced here. Islam continued to be the dominant religion into modern history as the islands were under Danish and then British rule while retaining a sultanate system. In 1965 they achieved full independence from Britain. In 1968, they became a republic and the sultanate was abolished. Although it seems like the nation has been slowly making changes to become more democratic, the current constitution makes it clear that Islam is the official religion and no other religions are welcome.

Government corruption is a big problem. Al Jazeera produced a documentary exposing corruption in the government, entitled Stealing Paradise. It reveals details of an attempted $1.5 billion money laundering scheme as well as other cases of bribery, fraud, and other crimes. It was aired on the national cable system in Maldives despite warnings from the government not to do so. The president at the time of the documentary, Abdulla Yameen, was convicted of money laundering in 2019 after losing his re-election campaign.

Human rights groups had hoped that the situation would improve after the 2018 elections, since Ibraham Solih, who has been a vocal critic of the government’s problems with corruption, unexpectedly ousted the incumbent Abdulla Yameen. Some observers were afraid that Yameen would rig the election or refuse to leave office, so the fact that Solih took office peacefully was seen as a promising sign.

Although there has been some progress, there have also been setbacks. Human Rights Watch reports, “Although the Maldives took some steps in 2019 to address longstanding human rights concerns, in November the government shut down the most prominent human rights organization in the country in response to complaints from religious leaders that it had insulted Islam. Extremist groups continued to pose a threat to human rights defenders and activists whom they accused of being ‘too secular,’ and to exert influence over the police courts, and other government institutions.” The human rights organization mentioned in this statement is Maldives Democracy Network. This group released a report in 2016 about the manner in which Islam is taught in public schools and how certain aspects of the curriculum are detrimental to a democratic society and engender religious extremism. In the weeks leading up to their dissolution, screenshots from the report highlighting passages that were deemed offensive to Islam had been circling around on social media and inciting outrage. A regional director at Amnesty International responded to the dissolution of the MDN: “The new Maldivian government was supposed to mark a break with the island nation’s repressive past. The decision to shut down the MDN’s operations, however, show that time-worn tactics to intimidate human rights defenders and shrink space for civil society remain a threat. The MDN is being punished for exercising its legitimate right to freedom of expression. The fact that a more than four-year-old report is being cited now as grounds to shut down the NGO raises suspicions as to the true motives behind this decision. Is the new government just as intolerant of critical voices as the one it replaced?”

A popular Maldivian blogger, Yameen Rasheed, who was vocally liberal on religious issues and used his blog to publicize his dissatisfaction with the government, was stabbed to death in the stairwell of his apartment in 2017. Many have felt that authorities mishandled the investigation and perhaps were themselves involved. Previously, another popular journalist was kidnapped and killed in 2014 with a similar response from the government. There has been some resolution in this abduction case recently, with a panel announcing the results of their investigation in 2019, that Rasheed was murdered by Islamic militants.

Persecution

The official stance of the Maldivian government is that no non-Muslim can be a citizen. Their constitution officially says: “Despite the provisions of article [9](a) [which explains the normal terms of citizenship] a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.” The section of the Constitution that follows this statement establishes Islam as the official religion of the nation: “No law contrary to any tenet of Islam shall be enacted in the Maldives.” WWR says, “The leaders’ intention to protect the country from becoming less than 100% Islam is the ideological key for understanding the Maldives.” If a Maldivian Muslim apostasizes, they will lose their citizenship and may be imprisoned, fined, or deported. There is also the possibility that they may be harassed or even killed by civilian extremists.

There are non-citizens who reside on the islands, mainly expatriate workers. These are not allowed to publicly practice their religion or evangelize, although they are technically allowed to practice in private. The law states, “Non-Muslims living in or visiting the country are prohibited from openly expressing their religious beliefs, holding public congregations to conduct religious activities, or involving Maldivians in such activities.” They are not prohibited from meeting privately, but they are constantly monitored to make sure they aren’t evangelizing and they may experience harassment. WWR says of expatriates that they are “so strictly monitored and intimidated that they hardly dare to meet even behind closed doors.”

Despite the fact that Christianity is illegal, Open Doors estimates that there are “a few thousand” Christians who live in Maldives. Because of the risks associated with being Christian, they are forced to keep silent. Many individual believers are spiritually isolated because they don’t know how to find fellow Christians or can’t meet with them to avoid raising suspicions. WWR explains that there have even been cases where a Christian who is married eventually discovers that their spouse has been a Christian as well, but neither knew that the other was because they both had to keep it secret.

Christian materials are difficult to come by in the Maldives. The official language is Dhivehi, and the Bible has not yet been completely translated into this language. Even if it was, the government closely monitors materials coming into the country and does not allow materials that are deemed contrary to Islam. Expatriates may bring in Christian literature for private use, but there are strong limits on what is allowed. Those who violate this law may be jailed and deported. For example, in 2012 it was reported that a Bangledeshi and an American were both permanently banned from entering the country after trying to bring in Christian documents. In another case that does not appear to be the result of attempts at evangelism, over 100 books were confiscated from a local book fair in September of 2019: “Ahead of the seizure operation, photos of books deemed offensive were shared on social media. These included books on skepticism, Christianity and Eastern mysticism that were available at the fair.” The article which reported the seizure notes the specifics of the law: “Bringing into the country, creating, owning, selling, sharing or spreading material which is against the principles of Islam is an offence punishable with a jail sentence, banishment or house arrest between three to eight years.”

As I mentioned before, the largest population center is in Male, and it is very crowded. Due to this population density, there is very little privacy. The government monitors activities through security cameras on the streets, and communities socially enforce the status quo. On the smaller islands, native populations are not as heavily monitored by the government, but individuals still have little privacy due to the small size of the islands and the tightness of the community. One can imagine how difficult it would be to perform baptisms without anyone finding out. Open Doors notes that they could potentially be performed outside of the country or in a remote area, but this would raise suspicion among close family members and the community.

Gangs and criminal organizations run rampant. In some cases government officials are in league with these criminals. “It is common knowledge that certain gangs are in alliance with politicians, parties and security forces and are used for the violent intimidation of dissidents. Radical Islamic groups that want to ferret out Christians and atheists also have connections and influence with gangs and corrupt police networks” (WWR). Maldives has the highest number of jihadist fighters per capita in the world: approximately 200 individuals have left Maldives to fight for ISIS, and these terrorists are welcomed back home as heroes.

Due to the small number of Christians and the secrecy with which they must practice their religion, WWR was not able to publish the details of any specific persecution event. They do note that although persecution is extremely high here, violent persecution is fairly low. As WWR says, “persecution has never been very violent in the Maldives.” Nevertheless, Christianity is illegal and thus citizens cannot openly express their religion. If they do, they will face extreme pressure from their family and community to come back to Islam in addition to legal punishment or vigilante trials. Violence is not out of the question either, as I mentioned earlier about the two reporters who were killed.

Even Muslims who challenge the status quo face harassment. Ibraham Ismail, a chairman at Mandhu College, became a vocal critic of a judicial case where a woman was sentenced to death for adultery (though this verdict would later be overturned). As a result, he was threatened by Islamist groups and the college was vandalized. While police did investigate the attack, they also investigated Ismail about his comments to discover whether he did in fact insult Islam, which is illegal. If this is the potential response to a difference of opinion within Islam, one can imagine the potential for violence when someone converts to Christianity.

In 2018 the Ministry of Islamic Affairs published a policy paper where they detailed the biggest problems Maldivian society faces. They said the biggest problems were apostasy, mocking Islam, going to war in the name of Islam, and murdering in the name of Islam. Even though this report reaffirms the status quo regarding apostasy and protecting Islam, it also positioned itself against Muslim violence: “Attacking people who are known to have different views from one’s own, and harming their body, soul, property, wife and kids is now an occurrence in the Maldives, and needs to be addressed at a national level.” In 2019 a sheikh and two others were reportedly questioned when someone making an aesthetic judgment about a mosque received death threats on Twitter. So even though there seems to be some positive news here, that the government is taking more seriously its responsibility to protect its citizens from religious violence, the unfortunate news is that they also continue to criminalize anything considered contrary to the teachings of Islam.

Many tourists who come to the Maldives will not see any of the persecution discussed here, since their activities are typically isolated to uninhabited islands which are reserved for tourism. If a tourist did not research prior to their trip and wasn’t going to an inhabited island, they might not even realize that Maldives is a Muslim nation. Nevertheless, there have been isolated incidents where tourists were affected by government policies. In 2015 the government firmly reminded island officials that they are not to host or allow any public celebrations of Christmas in guesthouses. And in 2018 an art installation at a Fairmont resort was destroyed by the police because it contained sculptures representing the human form, which is considered idolatry according to some schools of Islamic thought.

Although there is not a lot of information available about Christians in the Maldives, one can see from this portrait the kinds of troubles that they face in their walk of faith.

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Maldivian Christians:

• Pray that Maldivian Christians will be able to find fellowship with other believers.
• Pray that Maldivian Christians will be encouraged despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray that translators will be successful in translating the Bible into Dhivehi.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Maldivians (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in May is Myanmar. Much of the information regarding persecution in Myanmar that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Myanmar: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is the largest mainland country in southeast Asia. The population is approximately 54.4 million people according to Worldometer. There are a few large cities, but the majority of the population is located in rural farming villages. An estimated 4.3 million people (about 8% of the total population) are Christians, making them the largest minority religious group. The majority religious group is Buddhism, with other important minority religions including Islam and animism.

Buddhism has exerted a powerful force in this region since the first century, and it was adopted as the religion of the important Pagan Kingdom by the 11th century. Hundreds of temples and monasteries from this period can still be found today. Christianity arrived in the area in 1554 via Catholic missionaries, but the progress was slow and by 1832 there were only about 3,000 Christians. That would change with the arrival of the British. Britain conquered Myanmar in 1886 and turned it into a province of India which they called Burma. Consequently, they started missions schools and programs, resulting in a growth of the Christian population but also, for many, feelings of disdain for it as a foreign disruption. In 1937 Burma was granted independence from India, and in 1947 they were given full independence. There was a coup in 1962 and a socialist government was established. Another coup in 1988 took place in response to civil unrest, quelching the civilian uprising with violent force. In 1990 the military government held elections, and the National League for Democracy won a majority of seats in the legislature. Nevertheless, the military government did not allow the legislature to convene. This continued past 2008 when a new constitution was adopted. In 2010 new elections were held, although the elections were categorized as unfair by international observers. The military party won the majority of the seats in the legislature, and they chose a former general as president in 2011. The process for new reformations had now begun. The next elections were held in 2015 and international observers noted that they were much more fair. The National League for Democracy won a majority of seats in the legislature, which they continue to hold today. The next elections will take place this year.

This brief historical overview reveals a couple important factors.

First is the influence of Buddhism. It has very deep historical roots in the region. Ever since the first attempts to regain independence from British colonialism, Buddhism has been part of the national spirit. Anyone who converts from Buddhism may be seen as a traitor.

The second factor is the power that the military has. It is only very recently that the government has started to taste the fruits of democracy, and the military still holds a substantial amount of power. For example, according to the 2008 constitution which is currently the one in use, the military party is guaranteed 25% of the total seats of the legislature, and they have a strong grip on the economy.

Ethnicity is also an important factor. The ethnic majority is Burman/Bamar, at about 56% according to data from 2000. The country is divided into states, and the borders are primarily based on where the different ethnic groups reside. For example, Kachin state is predominantly populated by those who belong to the Kachin ethnic group. Ethnic differences have resulted in a long period of internal warfare in Myanmar. In fact, one of the longest-running civil wars in the world is the war between insurgents belonging to the Karen ethnic group and the Myanmar military, ongoing since 1949. This is one conflict among many. Other ethnic groups, such as the Kachin and Rakhine likewise are fighting against the Myanmar military in an attempt to gain more autonomy or rights. Each ethnic group may have several different insurgency groups with different goals, and insurgent groups of different ethnicities have also come into conflict with each other, further complicating issues. Peace talks and ceasefire agreements have not been very successful.

It may be surprising to hear that persecution is taking place in a majority Buddhist country. When most of us think of Buddhism we probably think of peaceable monks who spend their time meditating. But in countries like Myanmar, this is not necessarily the whole story. When Buddhism was adopted as the official religion of monarchs, it needed to be adjusted to justify warfare. As one article puts it, “As soon as Buddhist-majority states came into being, the monkhood had to find ways to justify violence, including war, especially that perpetrated by their virtuous sovereign against an opponent.” Justifying war for a king is one thing, but openly calling for violence against minority religious groups during peacetime is another. The religious strictures of Buddhism forbid monks from calling for acts of violence, but in some cases they have tip-toed this line. For example, one prominent monk said that he was not calling for violence, but simply warning people about a potential danger: “I am only warning people about Muslims. Consider it like if you had a dog, that would bark at strangers coming to your house – it is to warn you. I am like that dog. I bark.” In the current situation in Myanmar, the Buddhist majority sees the presence of Muslims (and also Christians) as a threat to the existence of Buddhism and the security of the nation of Myanmar.

There are several Buddhist organizations which have increased this sentiment. The Association for the Protection of Race and Religion (also called MaBaTha) and the 969 Movement consist of radical Buddhists. These groups are perceived as being anti-Muslim, and indeed most of their activities have been directed against Muslims, but this is only part of the group’s essence. As a report by the International Crisis Groups puts it, “Far from being an organisation narrowly focused on political or anti-Muslim goals, it sees itself – and is viewed by many of its supporters – as a broad-based social and religious movement dedicated above all else to the protection and promotion of Buddhism at a time of unparalleled change and uncertainty in a country and society where historically Buddhism and the state have been inseparable. . . . Forays into party politics are controversial – even within MaBaTha – but its view that Buddhism is under threat is widely shared among Myanmar Buddhists.”

In 2015, four so-called Race and Religion Protection Laws were enacted. The first law outlawed polygamy, which is practiced by some groups of Muslims in Myanmar. The second law established that anyone who wishes to convert to a different religion must seek approval from a religious committee. The third law sets up obstacles for the marriage of Buddhist women to non-Buddhist men, including the possibility that if the community disapproves of the relationship, the issue may be taken to court. The fourth law allows the government to outlaw births less than 36 months apart in specified areas.

The most publicized aspect of radical Buddhism in Myanmar has been the ongoing Rohingya crisis. The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group. Prior to the violence of recent years, they accounted for about one-third of the population of Rakhine State. Although some groups of Rohingya have roots in the nation since the 15th century, they are not recognized as a native ethnic group and are not considered legal citizens. The Rohingya had faced discrimination in various forms for decades, and there has been periodic violence between Muslims and Buddhists, but in 2017 violence erupted after a Rohingya militant group attacked police and army bases. In response, the Myanmar military began indiscriminately burning down Rohingya villages and killing thousands of civilians. The UN has categorized it as ethnic cleansing. 900,000 Rohingya have fled their homes and escaped into the neighboring country of Bangladesh, and thousands more have fled to other nearby countries. Many Rohingya still remain in Myanmar, however, and the danger has not gone away.

Due to the ethnic warfare and Rohingya ethnic cleansing, hundreds of thousands of non-combatants have been forced to flee their homes. It is estimated that 457,000 people have been internally displaced due to violence in Myanmar just since the beginning of 2020.

This background information should give us a better idea of the situation which persecuted Christians face in Myanmar. Now we will focus on the unique struggles which they face.

Persecution

Information about persecution is not always easy to come by. Reporters are not free to publish controversial information in Myanmar and may be imprisoned for reporting on certain subjects. For example, two Reuters journalists were each imprisoned for 500 days after a Pulitzer Prize winning report exposing details regarding the massacres of Rohingya. As Reporters Without Borders notes, “The level of self-censorship is very high, especially on three subjects: the Rohingyas (a term that is banned), the Buddhist religion (Myanmar’s social glue) and Aung San Suu Kyi, seen by the vast majority as the mother of the nation. . . . Journalists are still often prosecuted under article 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Act, which criminalizes online defamation.” Another problem is that due to the ongoing ethnic warfare, it is difficult and dangerous to gather information about local communities in certain states to find information about persecution, or anything else for that matter.

WWR says that the strongest driver of persecution in Myanmar is Buddhist nationalism: “Buddhism is embedded in the nation’s culture and there are Buddhist communities which would like to remain purely Buddhist. This is commonly emphasized by radical Buddhists and tolerated – and to some extent supported – by the national government.” Although Buddhists primarily feel threatened by the presence of Muslims, the notion of Buddhist purity means Christians are also persecuted. Although the nationalist group MaBaTha was declared to be illegal by the national government, it still has a strong influence locally. Local monks may stir up sentiments of religious purity for the nation, arguing that the Buddhist majority must be defended against foreign influences like Islam and Christianity. The Constitution affirms a special status for the Buddhist religion over and against all others. Buddhism is taught in schools, and even non-Buddhists are required to recite Buddhist prayers.

Christians may face general persecution in the form of discrimination. “In one report, a teacher refused to give a Christian student a list of questions provided to others in preparation for tests. In another case, when a family sold a plot of land, the earnings were distributed to all siblings of the family except the convert” (WWR). In schools, Christian and other minority children are especially singled out for bullying and scapegoating. They may also be presented with less opportunities for advancement in society, such as higher education. Buddhists are given preference over religious minorities in hiring and promotion. Humanitarian aid and access to water may be denied to Christians.

Those who convert from Buddhism, Islam, or other religions such as animism, will face pressure from their family and community. In some villages, if someone is discovered to have converted to something other than Buddhism, they will be exiled from the village. In other less severe cases, they may still be seen as a disgrace to their family and community and the conversion will be resisted. Conversion is mediated by the state according to the Religious Conversion Law. In order to convert to a different religion, one must go through a certification process which involves interviews, a several month period of religious studies, and a publicized announcement that the individual wishes to convert. Thus, while becoming a Christian is not illegal, there is a lot of social pressure on any would-be convert. WWR notes that because of the stringency of the Conversion Law, many people do not go through this legal process but rather convert secretly. This can be very difficult since they will be expected to participate in public Buddhist ceremonies and donations to monks/temples.

There have been issues with church buildings. “While church buildings exist in various parts of Myanmar, restrictions are in place to make it difficult to obtain permission for building new churches. There are up to eight different levels of permission required to build a church, and applications must pass through various military-run departments and district and township-level administrative offices (often led by former army officers). As a result, permission for land ownership for churches almost never materializes” (WWR). Local community leaders monitor church activities. Churches need permission from village leaders to engage in any activities outside of their church building, which the village leaders are generally reluctant to allow. As a result, many Christians meet in house-churches or businesses. In some states, churches have been shut down. For example, in September 2018 one of the armies involved in the national conflict, the United Wa State Army, shut down dozens of churches in the semi-autonomous Wa State and questioned their pastors. The Baptist churches were allowed to reopen one year later under the conditions that the pastors were ethnically Wa and operated their congregations with permission from local authorities, but the Catholic churches remain closed.

Ethnic issues also impact Christians. The ethnic majority is Bamar, and if one is Bamar then they are expected to be Buddhist. Those who differ from this standard are rejected socially and suspected politically. Most Christians belong to ethnic minorities: “As many Christians belong to the ethnic minorities such as Kachin, Chin, Shan and Karen, Christianity is viewed by many with some suspicion. This suspicion could increase now that the latest figures on religious affiliation (the 2014 census) have been published, which showed a strong growth in the number of Christians” (WWR). In areas where they are the majority, Christians may freely display Christian symbols publically, but such behavior can be dangerous in other areas. Even Christians who are not converts may experience pressure to become Buddhist. Buddhist monks may evangelize or build temples in Christian villages.

Persecution also accompanies the ethnic conflicts. The army represents the majority Bamar ethnic group, and they drum up local support via appeals to a spirit of national, ethnic, or religious pride. As we have seen in regard to the Rohingya crisis, the Myanmar military is not opposed to killing civilians if they feel they can justify it. WWR states, “Despite all hopes for democracy, the army has intensified its fight against insurgent groups as well as ethnic minorities (which include Christians). The fact that the war has continued despite all Peace Conference meetings – and even intensified in 2018 – shows where the true power lies.”

An example is the Kachin conflict. The Kachin ethnic group is primarily Christian, so the conflict in this state affects Christians acutely. Christians are involved in the fighting, and they are also civilians. Those civilians who are the same ethnic group or religion as these Kachin insurgents may face retaliatory attacks from opposing armies. In their fight against insurgents, the Myanmar military has indiscriminately razed villages and churches, killing innocent civilians. “In Kachin state, which is over 90 percent Baptist and about 5 percent Catholic, the Tamadaw [the Myanmar military] has burned 406 villages and 311 churches and displaced more than 130,000 people in the past seven years.” Any action on the part of Kachin Christians to speak up could be construed as alliance with rebel groups. In 2016 two Kachin Baptist pastors were imprisoned for speaking out against violence perpetrated against civilians by the Myanmar military: “Two Kachin Baptist pastors who helped a journalist to photograph a Catholic church, apparently bombed by Myanmar’s army in 2016, have been sentenced to two years in prison, for their alleged support of the Kachin Independence Army. . . .Relationships between the Kachin and the military are strained not only by the conflict, but also by slow progress in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators of the many documented cases of sexual abuse by Myanmar troops in the region. Two Kachin Baptist women teachers were raped and murdered in February 2015, and no-one has ever been tried or convicted for their deaths.”

Additionally, if the Christians refuse to assist the insurgents of their fellow ethnicity or try to preach peace, they may be treated as traitors. WWR also notes the possibility of fighting between Christians who belong to different ethnic/insurgency groups: “Where they are in power, leaders of ethnic minority groups and insurgencies tend to do everything to stay in power. Whoever is seen as a threat to this power will be fought against, even if it is a fellow Christian.”

In areas where Christians are a minority, they may be targeted by Buddhist insurgent groups. WWR reports one case: “In January and February 2019, one pastor and one church elder disappeared in Rakhine State, allegedly abducted and then killed by the insurgent Arakan Army. The elder’s body was found but the whereabouts of the pastor remain unknown.”

Because of all of the fighting, Christians may be left homeless by attacks or forced to pre-emptively flee. Conditions in these camps are not good, with lack of clean water and sanitation. Moreover, people in these camps may be left vulnerable to attacks or assault. Human Rights Watch reported a specific problem in the Kachin camps: women are being illegally trafficked into China, sometimes lured away by the promise of making a living wage. Men are the primary breadwinners in Myanmar, and when they are killed in the fighting their families are left without many options. This is disproportionately affecting Christian women because the Kachin are mostly Christian. If the women are able to somehow return back home, they are stigmatized by their friends and family.

There is also the issue of illicit trade. Certain regions in Myanmar, such as Kachin and Shan states, are part of what is called the Golden Triangle. This region is one of the largest producers of opium in the world. Other lucrative products from this region include jade and timber. Anyone who gets in the way of those who seek to profit (such as the military, ethnic insurgency groups, or criminal organizations) takes the risk of being displaced from their homes or killed. Again, because these lucrative resources are in Kachin state these issues are especially acute for Christians. Many turn to drugs to cope with the harsh realities of life, and it is estimated that one person per household uses heroin in northern Myanmar. One Christian group, Pat Jasan, has become prominent in its fight against drug addiction. A coalition of Catholic and Protestant church leaders started rehab centers in Kachin State which have come under some criticism for harsh practices like chaining up addicts, not providing adequate medical care, and destroying opium crops.

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Christians in Myanmar:

• Pray that Christians in Myanmar will be encouraged despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray for an end to ethnic armed conflicts in Myanmar.
• Pray that violence against Rohingya will end. Pray that Christians will show kindness to other minority groups and boldly share their faith.
• Pray that people in northern Myanmar will reject drugs and turn to Yeshua.
• Pray for an end to human trafficking.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers, especially in remote villages.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Myanmarese (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them. The country we are praying for in March is Nigeria. Much of the information regarding persecution in Nigeria that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Nigeria: Country Dossier (WWR).

WWR estimates that during last year’s reporting period (November 1, 2018 – October 31, 2019), there were 1,350 Christians who were killed. During that same period, they estimate at least 150 churches and 2,500 Christian-owned shops and businesses were attacked. They stress that due to a lack of solid data these should be understood as bare minimum figures. The seriousness of the situation is widely recognized, with Nigeria ranking 3rd in the world among countries most impacted by terrorism on the 2019 Global Terrorism Index, and Christians are often the victims of these attacks.

Country Background

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and 7th most populous in the world. It is home to over 250 ethnic groups, the three most populous of which are the Hausa (30%), Yoruba (15.5%) and Igbo (15.2%). There is a roughly equal amount of Muslims and Christians in the country, and a small amount of others who practice indigenous religions or are non-religious. The World Christian Database estimates that Christians make up about 46.7% of the population, Muslims 46.1%, and ethnoreligionists 6.9%, in addition to other small groups (the most populous of which identifies as agnostic at .3%).

A brief history of Nigeria can help us understand the current situation. A series of kingdoms were established in the north starting from around AD 100. Islam, which the northern kingdoms were exposed to via trade, was introduced into the region in the 11th century and became widely practiced in these empires. The kingdoms of what is now southern Nigeria remained mostly dominated by indigenous religions during this period. The Portuguese arrived during the 15th century, and they were in turn superseded by the British in the 19th century, although neither took direct control of the government at this time. These European nations introduced Christianity into the region, but it wouldn’t really get a foothold until after the abolition of the slave trade in the 1830s. Missions were most successful in the south. A new Muslim empire known as the Sokoto Caliphate was established in 1812 in the north. The Sokoto Caliphate began to expand into the south, and eventually the southern leaders would have to cede power to the British to repel these attacks. By the early 1900s Britain had unseated the Sokoto Caliphate and turned Nigeria into a colony. Nigeria formally gained full independence from British rule in 1960 after gradual steps had been taken in this direction over the previous decades. For many years after independence, the government was unstable, marked by a series of coups and changes in government structure until 1999 when the current constitution was adopted.

With the new constitution, Nigeria is now a democracy. Presidents are elected for 4-year terms, and the president chooses their Vice President and cabinet. The country is made up of 36 states plus one Federal Capital Territory. Each state exercises a certain level of independence as long as they stay within the bounds of the national constitution. States have federal representation in the national legislature, with the citizens of each state electing 10 individuals to represent them in the House of Representatives and 3 individuals to represent them in the Senate. All citizens have the right to vote. The constitution grants that there shall be no state religion, and citizens are granted the right to practice their religion however they like.

Although the situation is more stable than before 1999, there are many problems with the government. There is a lot of corruption, and according to Reporters Without Borders, it is dangerous to report on it: “Journalists are often threatened, subjected to physical violence or denied access to information by government officials, police and sometimes the public itself.”

As would be expected based on the history of the nation, the northern states are primarily Muslim and the southern states are primarily Christian, although the exact ratio varies from state to state. It is not a complete split, however, and Christians make up about 15% of the northern states, 50% of the middle belt states, and 71% of the southern states.

With this background, we can now look at some of the ways that Christians are experiencing persecution.

Sharia States

Shortly after the adoption of the current constitution, several of the northern states began to adopt Sharia law. By 2002, 12 states had implemented Sharia in one form or another, and these 12 remain the only ones so far to implement the system: Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno and Gombe. Different states have implemented Sharia differently. For example, in Kaduna, where approximately half of the population is Christian, Sharia is not as strict as in some other states. Many have raised concerns that the state-level implementation of Sharia in any form is a violation of the Nigerian constitution which grants that no state shall adopt an official religion. Some officials in the Sharia courts have legitimized these fears by asserting that their duty to Islamic law is higher than their duty to any secular law, whether it be the Nigerian constitution or international human rights laws.

Because the Nigerian constitution grants freedom of religion, the Sharia courts in theory have no power over non-Muslims. While Muslims in the Sharia states are obligated to be under the authority of the Sharia criminal justice system, Christians and other non-Muslims are not supposed to be legally obliged to follow Islamic restrictions, and when they must interact with the justice system they are free to choose whether they want to use the secular federal court system (which they generally do choose) or the Sharia system (happens rarely).

Both the Sharia courts and the federal courts are plagued with human rights violations. A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) focuses on some of the human rights violations that have happened in the Sharia courts, such as lack of legal representation, coerced confessions, and cruel punishments (such as amputation and stoning).

They note that certain punishments are directly commanded by the Quran and are thus part of standard Sharia, although different interpretations exist and thus Sharia may be implemented differently in different places. “For example in Nigeria, apostasy is not included as an offense in the Shari’a penal codes, presumably in recognition of the diversity of faiths in the country, even in the north, and the right to freedom of religion.”

Despite the fact that Nigerian Sharia is not supposed to apply to Muslims and certain concessions have been made to conform to the Nigerian constitution, Islamic society in the north has impacted Christians outside of the courts. For example, laws have been passed barring mixed-gender public transport, which applies to Christians and Muslims alike.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) conducted research on how exactly Sharia and Muslim dominance have impacted Christians in the northern states, and they found that the system was rife with religious discrimination. Christians and other non-Muslims are often treated like second-class citizens.

Non-Muslims who would try to get a government job face extraordinary difficulty. “Several people complained of having been regularly by-passed for promotion on diverse occasions as senior posts were given to less qualified Muslim candidates” (CSW). In the state of Katsina, Christians are only allowed to be part of the legislative assembly in 2 of the 34 Local Government Areas. HRW recounts a case in 2002 where 11 Christian nurses were fired from a federal hospital after they refused to comply with mandatory Muslim dress codes implemented by the hospital director. When nurse organizations, Christian organizations, and non-governmental organizations requested that they be reinstated and not forced to comply with the dress codes, the hospital director refused and was subsequently fired; however, the nurses were not reinstated until two years later.

CSW has received reports of Christians being denied access to education. In 2004, Katsina state removed material about Christian religion from school curriculum, but continued teaching about Islam. In Kano state, in order to have access to either public or private education one must adhere to Muslim dress codes. Education may also be disrupted on a non-institutional level. Charges of blasphemy have sometimes been raised against Christian teachers and students, resulting in mob violence. A particularly egregious example took place in 2007 when teacher Christiana Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin was beaten and killed by a mob of students after being falsely accused of tearing a Quran.

Several instances are recounted where government assistance is provided to Muslims but denied to Christians. For example, in Katsina the state government offsets the cost of fertilizer for Muslim farmers but fails to provide the same service to Christian farmers. In the same state, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was accused, among other things, of providing funding for Muslims to make pilgrimage while denying the same funding for Christian pilgrimage.

Christians are often obstructed from obtaining property to build new churches, and existing churches may be arbitrarily destroyed. “Churches are regularly demolished by state governments, often on spurious grounds, and usually with little or no compensation” (CSW). For example, a church may be destroyed because the state government wants to build a road nearby or use the grounds to build a hospital, but they fail to provide adequate notice or compensation. In other cases, officials order destruction of churches after asserting that the buildings are not up to code or adequately certified, despite evidence to the contrary.

As noted above, Sharia in Nigeria does not allow execution or imprisonment of apostates (converts) from Islam. HRW notes, “In April 2002, two Muslims were brought before a Shari’a court in Mada, Zamfara State, for converting to Christianity. The judge reportedly said that according to Islam, they should be sentenced to death, but threw the case out as there was no legal basis for a conviction in the Shari’a legislation in force. Other cases where Muslims have converted to Christianity have not been pursued through the courts at all.” However, individuals who convert may experience violence or social alienation from their family or community. This includes the possibility of being killed extrajudicially. In addition, due to corruption in the judicial system CSW recounts several cases where Christians were imprisoned on sham charges after conversion.

In addition to attacks on new converts, there have also been periodic outbreaks of mob violence that have resulted in many Christians being killed. The perpetrators of these violent attacks often go completely unpunished, and the surviving victims are left uncompensated for their loss of life/property. This encourages more violence, since the aggressors know they can get away with it. Christians in certain areas live in fear that such an attack may occur with the slightest provocation, whether real or imagined. Even in communities where Muslims and Christians live in relative harmony, there have been cases where outside agitators come in and stir up trouble.

One example of such violence was in 2000 in Kaduna state. Christians organized a protest against the recent implementation of Sharia. It is unclear exactly how the violence started, but the protesters and Muslims came into a violent conflict. The official report from the Nigerian government states that 1,295 people died, but other organizations have stated that as many as 5,000 people may have died as a result of the ensuing violence.

Another bout of violence occurred two years later in Kaduna. Nigeria was supposed to be hosting the Miss World competition, which many Muslims were opposed to. An article in a Nigerian newspaper about the event making light of the Muslim outrage resulted in initially peaceful protests which turned into intense violence. Groups of Muslim youths first attacked the newspaper office. Then they turned on the Christians in Kaduna, killing them and burning down their homes and churches. This led to retaliations by some groups of Christians, and these killings in turn led to further reprisals from Muslims, and so on. The military eventually came in and began slaughtering people almost indiscriminately: Muslims and Christians alike, both those who were part of the riots and those who weren’t. In the end, the government reports that around 250 people were killed and 109 churches, 39 mosques, and a large number of other buildings were destroyed.

There have been cases where children have been abducted after their parents converted to Christianity. “Child abduction is occurring increasingly in such Shari’ah states as Katsina and Bauchi. According to sources in Bauchi, the State Shari’ah Commission is deeply implicated in these abductions. The Commission was involved at some level in a case that was brought to CSW’s attention during 2005” (CSW). The abductions are an attempt to coerce the children into becoming Muslims, and in some cases the children are forced into marriages with Muslims toward this end.

Hisbahs frequently harass Christians and Muslims alike. “Hisbah” is a doctrine in Islam where certain men in a community are appointed to enforce Muslim laws in public places. In some cases, they have taken the law into their own hands rather than notifying the necessary authorities, carrying out beatings and other punishments. HRW reports one case: “On December 31, 2000, a group of youths broke into the house of a Christian man, Livinus Obi, who had bought alcohol to celebrate the New Year. Even though Christians are not bound by Shari’a [which forbids the consumption of alcohol], the youths searched Livinus Obi’s house, and after finding some alcohol, pinned him to the ground and beat him. The youths were arrested and taken before the Shari’a court. However, Livinus Obi later dropped the case, reportedly because he felt he did not have enough support from his own community to see it through.”

Government

Although the Nigerian government is nominally secular, there are several religious concerns. WWR notes that Christians often have trouble getting government jobs despite being adequately qualified: “The Federal government has removed Christians from various positions or forced their resignation and replaced them with Muslim officials. . . . Nepotism based on ethnic, religious, or party affiliation is rife; over 85% of security sector leaders are Muslims from the core north in violation of the Federal Character principle of the amended 1999 Constitution. Due to ethnic and party fragmentation and personal interests, Christians have been unable or unwilling to muster a common front to combat systemic corruption.”

The current president is Muhammad Buhari, who belongs to the predominantly Muslim Hausa ethnic group. Hausa and Fulani groups have historically been dominant, holding military and leadership positions. The federal government has failed to adequately respond to attacks on Christians, leading some to wonder whether they are merely incompetent or are in fact complicit. Either way, their inaction has created an environment of impunity.

There are concerns that Nigeria will become increasingly Islamized and that persecution will continue to get worse for Christians. “Islamization in Nigeria has increasingly become coercive under the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. It seems that President Buhari uses his position in power to appoint Muslims to key positions in the country, and to allow (if not encourage) a culture of impunity that makes it possible for persecution against Christians to go largely unnoticed (‘persecution eclipse’)” (WWR).

Recent comments by Nigeria’s Chief Justice are particularly concerning. At the Annual Judges Conference in December 2019, he is reported to have made the comment that he would like to see the national constitution amended so as to officially implement Sharia: “As we all know, there are sections of the constitution that allow the implementation of Shari’a personal law and apart from that, we cannot do more. However, we have the numbers to amend the constitution to suit our own position as Muslims”.

Boko Haram

Boko Haram was founded in 2002, and since then they have carried out many attacks, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions more. The group was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in the Nigerian state of Borno, which is still currently their main area of operation, although they do carry out attacks in other states. Recently, they have also expanded into neighboring countries like Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

The name “Boko Haram” is the group’s title in the Hausa language, and it can be roughly interpreted as “Westernization is sacrilege.” They also have an Arabic name which is translated, “People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad.” As part of their religiously motivated campaign to eradicate Western influences, they have specifically targeted Christians and government buildings such as police stations, military barracks, and schools. In 2011, a Boko Haram member detonated a suicide bomb at the UN headquarters in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. They drew international attention when they kidnapped almost 300 girls from a school in 2014.

In 2015, the group allied themselves with ISIS and took on the name Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). There was a disagreement about leadership and tactics, and in 2016 the group split: one faction retained the name ISWAP and the other, led by Abubakr Shekau, reverted to the original Arabic title. It is believed that one of the reasons for this split is that Shekau is eager to attack Muslims who do not share his own radical beliefs. According to Shekau, any Muslims who participate in democracy, Western education, or government institutions are idolaters and should thus be targeted with violence just like Christians, Jews, and Western institutions. Both ISWAP and Shekau’s faction may be popularly referred to as Boko Haram.

The Nigerian military has been fighting Boko Haram since its inception. The number of attacks peaked in 2014, and thanks in part to extra military aid from other countries the death toll and the amount of area Boko Haram occupies have begun to decrease. President Buhari has gone so far as to claim in a 2019 statement, “The position of the Nigerian government is that the Boko Haram terrorism has been degraded and defeated. The real Boko Haram we know is defeated.” In some ways this is true. Boko Haram attacks have decreased. According to the Global Terrorism Index: “Terrorism-related deaths committed by Boko Haram dropped 42 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year, an 89 percent decline from their peak in 2014. Furthermore, the fatality rate of Boko Haram attacks has fallen from 15 deaths per attack to four in the past five years.”

On the other hand, the group continues to carry out violent attacks and abductions on a daily basis and were responsible for over 550 deaths in 2018. The military who has been fighting them is reportedly demoralized and fatigued. When the soldiers flee, they often leave behind important technology and weapons, such as drones, only for them to be picked up by Boko Haram. Many people believe that the corruption latent in the government is impacting the war effort, with officials skimming from important military funds.

Christians in particular have suffered from the violence of Boko Haram, and thousands have been killed. Several recent examples can be listed from 2020 alone.

On January 2 of this year, the chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Adamawa state was abducted by Boko Haram and executed. This event, which is the latest of many violent losses, caused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to call for a period of fasting and prayer in early February. The World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation responded by penning an open letter to President Buhari, urging him to take the relevant actions to protect his citizens, especially since Christians are the ones who are being specifically targeted in many of these attacks.

On January 8, four students of a Catholic seminary were abducted. Three of them would be released, but one of them, Michael Nnadi, was executed.

On February 25, the village of Garkida in Adamawa state was attacked by members of Boko Haram. Three churches were destroyed (other reports say five) in addition to the police station, a local health center, several houses, and a market. The staff liaison for the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (one of the churches that was burned down belonged to this denomination) is quoted, that they mainly targeted Christian and government properties.

Voice of the Martyrs notes the scope of the tragedy: “Nearly all Christians in northeastern Nigeria have lost family members in attacks by Boko Haram or Islamic Fulani militants”.

In a recent press conference, the Nigerian Minister of Information acknowledged that recently Boko Haram has increased attacks on Christians. He argued that Boko Haram has been weakened and cannot sustain a war against the Nigerian military, and thus has amped up its attacks on vulnerable Christians in an attempt to revive the embers of religious discord: “They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos. . . . Lest I am misunderstood, let me repeat: the insurgents, who delude themselves as Muslims whereas they are nothing more than blood-thirsty, rapacious killers who subscribe to no religion, have recently started targeting Christians with a view to sowing the seed of confusion between the two great religions. This did not in any way signify that they have stopped attacking Muslims. But they seem to now have a deliberate policy of attacking Christians.” He urged Christians and Muslims to not allow these attacks to cause further division and violence, and reiterated that the military continues to work tirelessly to eradicate the terrorist group.

Farmer-Herder Conflicts?

The violence done by Boko Haram has grabbed a lot of media attention, but in recent years their actions have been overshadowed by the conflict taking place in the Middle Belt region. The Middle Belt states in which this conflict is happening are Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba and Adamawa. These states form a boundary between the predominantly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.

In some popular presentations, this conflict has been flattened to a single issue: due to the encroachment of the desert and other environmental factors, herders have less land on which to graze their herds. As a result, they are brought into conflict with farmers over land use. In one sense, this analysis is correct. Desertification is a recognized problem in the region, and it has exacerbated tensions between herders and farmers; but there are additional factors as is argued in a 2015 report by Nigeria Conflict Security Analysis Network (NCSAN) funded by WWR.

The farmers are mostly Christians and belong to the Tiv ethnic group, while the herders are mostly Muslims and belong to the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups. In Benue state, NCSAN estimates 88% of the casualties have been Christian. In Taraba state, they estimate that 70% of the casualties were Christian. Due to the religious makeup of the region, “Attacks on these indigenous [farming] communities are automatically an attack against Christian communities” (NCSAN). Further, there is reason to believe that Christians are specifically being targeted by the Fulani because of their religious beliefs.

“Two residents of Gwnatu, who are now internally displaced persons, insist that Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen are using the conflict to execute an Islamic agenda of killing Christians and intimidating those that may survive to recant the Christian faith for Islam. . . . Narrating his experience, a pastor said before a raid on his village of Kurmi, he had consistently received phone calls with this message: ‘I am coming for you and your church.’” Similarly, in Nasarawa state, “One of the Christian victims is of the opinion that the conflict is targeted at Christians. He explains that Keffi, Nasarawa and Wamba towns that are traditionally Islam in outlook do not suffer conflicts as Christian enclaves do” (NCSAN). Further, it is reported that many attacks have been accompanied by shouts of “Allahu Akbar” and other Muslim slogans.

These conflicts have caused terrible violence. The 2019 Global Terrorism Index reports that in recent years more people have been killed by Fulani herdsmen than by Boko Haram during the same period: “In 2018, Fulani extremists were responsible for the majority of terror-related deaths in Nigeria at 1,158 fatalities. Terror-related deaths and incidents attributed to Fulani extremists increased by 261 and 308 percent respectively from the prior year. Of 297 attacks by Fulani extremists, over 200 were armed assaults. Over 84 percent of these armed assaults targeted civilians.” The Christian death toll is estimated to be over 7,000 since 2015.

Since so many of the attacks were armed assaults, some have questioned where the herdsmen acquired these weapons, which include AK-47s. It is possible that the herdsmen have been inspired, if not directly supported, by Boko Haram and other extremist groups and have purchased weapons from Islamic militants in the region. Other analysts point out that herders have been forced to arm themselves because of an increase in cattle rustling: groups of armed bandits enter a village, kill the herders and anyone else in their way, and steal the cattle. According to this line of reasoning, even though the light arms may have been initially purchased for defense they inevitably are used in offensives against Christians and other farming communities. Regardless, the use of small arms has made the attacks of the Fulani even deadlier.

Many have been forced to flee the violence. Camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) have been set up, but there has been a notable lack of organization and funding by the government. Displaced people have been forced to self-organize, and as a result there is overcrowding, insufficient medical care, and lack of food and water. “It is possible that the government is deliberately ignoring the need to set up camps for two reasons: first, to avoid a situation whereby the huge population of the displaced attracts the attention of the world to their plight, and second, to conveniently hide the atrocities committed by the Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen” (NCSAN).

NCSAN concludes, “Although there is no evidence to suggest that there exists a contemporary ‘grand design’, deliberately conceived to Islamize the whole of the Middle Belt Region, the level of atrocities against Christians, the choice of targets and the ideology that accompanies these atrocities shows that the Dan Fodio agenda to Islamize Nigeria even before the arrival of the British is still in play. It also indicates that this strategy, though not fulfilled by official conventional resistant groups, is carried out by informal sects, groups and proxies probably with the tacit support of influential figures in Northern Nigeria.”

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Nigerian Christians:

• Pray that in areas where literacy is low, education would be successful so that people can read the Bible.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that converts in the northern states will be comforted and encouraged despite the potential for social alienation and violence.
• Pray that victims of violence from Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, and other attacks will be healed from physical and emotional trauma.
• Pray that those who have lost loved ones to violence will be able to forgive and find healing.
• Pray that Fulani Christians would be emboldened and protected as they evangelize to their kinsmen. Likewise, pray that Christians in the north would boldly share their faith.
• Pray for the physical needs and health of displaced persons, as well as the large number of impoverished people in Nigeria as a whole.
• Pray that those who have been abducted by Boko Haram and bandits would be set free.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray for an end to the violence in the Middle Belt region.
• Pray that unbelieving Nigerians (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in September is Uzbekistan. Much of the information regarding persecution in Uzbekistan that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Uzbekistan: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia. It is one of two countries in the world which is doubly landlocked (the other being Liechtenstein): not only is Uzbekistan itself landlocked, but it is completely surrounded by landlocked countries. Over 4/5 of the country’s area is desert. The population of Uzbekistan is almost 33 million, with about half living in rural areas and half in urban centers.

There were significant communities of Christians in this area leading up to the advent of Islam in the region in the early 8th century. In the 13th century the Mongols took control, and by the 14th century there were active attempts to get rid of all the Christians in the empire, which were mostly successful. According to one theory, the current dominant ethnic group, Uzbeks, are believed to have taken their name from the Mongol leader Oz Beg (Uzbek) Khan, who converted to Islam and worked to spread it further throughout Central Asia as a way of unifying the factions under his command. In the late 1800s, the area came under Russian control, initially as a region inside Turkistan. After the formation of the USSR, the Russian Communist Party began a process of redrawing regional boundaries based on ethnic principles, and the territory of Uzbekistan was created as a result. Shortly thereafter the area was granted the status of a constituent republic. Although the boundaries were drawn along ethnic lines, ethnic Uzbekis were a minority in the capital city and the majority of Communist Party representatives for Uzbekistan were non-Uzbeki Slavs. Further demographic changes happened during World War II, when Russians, Poles, and others were relocated to Uzbekistan. It was during this period that most of the currently established populations of Christian communities were formed. When the August Coup occurred in 1991, Uzbekistan was one of the regions which supported this attempt. When the coup failed, Uzbekistan was among the Soviet republics which declared their independence from the USSR.

Despite its independence from the USSR, communism was still in the political heritage of the nation, and the former president of the Uzbekistan SSR, Islam Karimov, became the president of the new Republic of Uzbekistan. Shortly after its independence, there was a surge of ethnonationalism. Many residents of Uzbekistan who were not ethnically Uzbeki began to feel unsafe or unwelcome and decided to leave. The religion of Islam, which had been repressed under Soviet rule, quickly became a rallying point for the newly-independent nation. Islamic missionaries from Turkey and Saudi Arabia tried to influence the government to adopt theocratic ideas, but these groups were suppressed and expelled by the government. Thus, despite the resurgence of interest in Islam the state remains secular.

Karimov remained the president until his death in 2016. The Prime Minister succeeded him immediately, and won the subsequent election without any real opposition. With this change in leadership has come some improvements in human rights. For example, a notorious political prison was shut down and some internet censorship has been relaxed. Nevertheless, there are still abuses and the government is still considered authoritarian by human rights watch groups.

Persecution

Around 349,000 Christians live in Uzbekistan, which is about 1.1% of the total population. The majority religion is Sunni Islam, representing about 95.8% of the population. Despite the overwhelming prevalence of Muslims, the nation itself is not governed by Muslim principles. As a former Soviet state, the government is secular and many of the leadership are still influenced by this. Many Muslims are only culturally so. However, the situation is complex, as one article explains: “On the one hand Islam is celebrated as a national heritage and a moral guideline, and politicians are often seen in religious contexts. On the other hand there are laws against for example proselytizing, and thus restrictions on religious expressions in the public sphere.”

Freedom of religion is granted in general terms in the constitution, as well as a separation of government and religion. However, religious groups must be registered, and those who fail to register or whose registrations are not accepted will be deemed illegal and will be subject to raids and arrests by police. Evangelism is prohibited, and religious literature is subject to censorship. Bibles are only legal if they have been printed within the country, and people aren’t allowed to bring a Bible outside their home. Protestant groups are especially distrusted due to their perceived connection with the West. “All categories of Christian communities are experiencing some form of persecution. Russian Orthodox churches experience the least problems from the government as they do not usually attempt to make contact with the Uzbek population” (WWR).

The brunt of the persecution is directed against converts from a Muslim background. It is common for such converts to experience social pressure from their families or communities. At times this may escalate into physical violence, detention, or expulsion from the community. This is encouraged by local Muslim religious and ethnic leaders. Whereas the state leaders tend to be more secular, the local officials are more likely to be religious, that is, Muslim. “As a result,most converts will do their best to hide their faith—they become so-called secret believers” (WWR).

A particularly public example of such a violent response from family happened in February 2019. As Voice of the Martyrs (Canada) relates, “Problems for ‘Umida’ (not her real name) began when her husband discovered that she had asked a friend for a Bible. In addition to locking Umida in their home to prevent her from going to church, he also banned her from seeing their two-year-old son. Eventually she was able to go live with her parents, along with their daughter. While living there, Umida attended church but continued to face threats. In a final move to find safety, the threatened woman attempted to leave the country. While at the airport, she was confronted by her husband who ruthlessly slit her throat.”

Worship services have been raided by police and military units, confiscating all the songbooks and other kinds of literature the church was using. The state wants all churches to be registered, and any that aren’t are considered illegal meetings. For example, here is a report from one such raid in 2018: “On 25 November, 20 plain clothes officials rising later to 40 officials raided Baptists meeting for Sunday morning worship in Yashnobod District in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent. For the first known time in such raids, members of the military – the National Guard – took part in the raid. Other agencies participating in the raid included the State Security Service (SSS) secret police, the Justice Ministry, and Yashnobod District Police. . . . Officials confiscated about 7,800 items of literature and DVDs, including all books and songbooks the Church uses for its meetings for worship. . . . Fourteen of those at the meeting were forcibly put into a bus and taken to Yashnobod Police Station. Officials also photographed and recorded the details of each individual who had attended the meeting for worship, including names, addresses, and workplaces. On 27 November police followed this up by visiting the home of one of those present for a “passport check” and also demanded to see ownership documents of the home. Those taken to the Police Station, including a 14-year boy, were kept outside in the cold while officials tried to force them to sign statements that they had participated in “an unauthorised meeting”. When they refused to do this, they were taken into the Police Station, their personal details were recorded, and they were interrogated for nine and a half hours until 9 pm that night.”

Although there have been positive human rights changes under the new president, these changes have not significantly improved the lives of persecuted Christians. “Officially registered churches like the Russian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the registered Baptist Church indeed noted slight improvements. But for other Christians, especially for Christians with a Muslim background, the situation has not changed significantly and Christians have continued to be targets for raids, arrests and oppression” (WWR).

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Christians in Uzbekistan:

• Pray that Christians in Uzbekistan will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that unrecognized Christian denominations will be allowed to freely exercise their faith.
• Pray that evangelism will be legalized and that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Uzbekistanis (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

Every month our ministry chooses a different country where Christians are being persecuted and we commit to pray for them, as you can see in the sidebar here on our website. The country we are praying for in October is Vietnam. Much of the information regarding persecution in Vietnam that I’ve included here comes from Open Doors USA’s World Watch Research Vietnam: Country Dossier (WWR).

Country Background

Vietnam is the easternmost country in mainland Southeast Asia. There are around 95.5 million people in Vietnam. Around 8.7 million of these people are Christian, making up about 9% of the total population.

Members of the Viet ethnic group entered history via China expansions in the 3rd century BC. Within a century China reduced the formerly independent kingdom to nine military districts. They became a region independent from China in 938 AD, but they continued to pay tribute and continued to be deeply influenced by Chinese culture. In the late 19th century Vietnam was conquered by France and turned into a colony. French mismanagement led to further exacerbation of the ill-will already felt toward the French for their subjugation of the Vietnamese people. Anti-colonial sentiments arose immediately, but it would not receive any kind of hope for change until the 20th century when a new nationalistic movement arose which incorporated Western ideas, rather than seeking to revert to a pre-colonial traditionalism. Communism was introduced into these anti-colonial sentiments, most notably by Ho Chi Minh who in 1930 founded the Vietnamese Communist Party. After France was subjugated in World War II, Vietnam became an important military location for the Japanese. In 1941, Ho Chi Minh reinvigorated efforts to form an independence group. The group he founded took advantage of the power vacuum created by the surrender of Japan in 1945 to take control of the nation. However, the French were able to take control of the southern part of the country by 1946, and they sought to take control of the north as well. This led to the First Indo-China War, which ended with an agreement (the 1954 Geneva Accords) to designate a border between North Vietnam (controlled by the Vietnamese Communists) and South Vietnam (controlled by the French and the Vietnamese allies who they supported). The North did not give up attempts at a unified Vietnam, and they supported insurgency groups in the south, namely the Viet Cong. There were additional internal tensions in the South which made the situation precarious. The United States began sending troops into South Vietnam and bombing North Vietnam in 1965, what would become known as the Second Indo-China War (or the Vietnam War). The US involvement in the conflict ended in 1973 with a peace agreement between the US and the three Vietnamese factions (North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong). Conflict still continued, however, and in 1975 North Vietnam had taken over the South’s capital, Saigon. The unification of North and South was made official in 1976 with the creation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The country struggled to recover from the war and integrate the south into its socialist economic system. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Vietnam has increasingly opened up to its non-Communist neighbors and Western nations regarding diplomatic relations and trade.

Because of the influences from China and other surrounding countries, a kind of syncretistic Buddhism has been prevalent in Vietnam for centuries. This exists side by side with traditional beliefs and practices, and there is frequent mixing of aspects of different religions. Christianity was introduced into Vietnam by Dutch and Portugese traders in the 16th and 17th centuries. Protestant representatives didn’t arrive in the region until the early 20th century. Thus most Christians in Vietnam are Catholic, although Protestantism has been particularly successful among religious minorities. Christianity has likewise been syncretized in some cases, such as the formation of the Caodai religion, which incorporates religious elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism, and Islam.

Persecution

Because the nation is governed by communism, its fundamental tenets are opposed to religion in general. Christians are allowed to practice their religion, but they are closely monitored by the government and their activities are restricted. “It is very common that pastors and church leaders are called in by the police and interrogated. In northern Vietnam, the police threatened church members with cancelling their health benefits if they continued to meet as a church. In villages, Christians are normally summoned by the village elders to report on their activities. Local community members also question them. If they notice anything suspicious they report it to the police or village leaders” (WWR).

The government has a high degree of distrust for Catholicism, since it sees it as a foreign political influence. Not only does it resist current intrusions by the Vatican and local Catholics involved in social activism, but it also remembers the relationship between Catholicism and the French from back in the days of colonialism. Additionally, Protestantism is associated with American values. This suspicion means that Christian activities are highly monitored and limited. Although evangelism isn’t illegal, those who are outspoken about their faith may be questioned by authorities. Conversion is not illegal, but there are social pressures, and getting one’s religious status officially changed can be a tortuous process. Those who advocate for social reforms or religious freedom (including Christians) are in danger of being arrested or deported for violation of vaguely worded laws such as, “undermining the national unity policy,” or “disturbing public order.” Prison conditions are unsanitary and unsafe, and there are reports of police mistreating prisoners.

“There have been reports that Christians from minority tribes were denied birth certificates and that in other cases government officials forced them to change their surnames into “Ho” (after Revolutionary Communist leader Ho Chi Minh). There were many reports of Christians asking local officials to certify their documents for education, school and employment. But when the local authorities discovered they were Christian, they refused to certify the documents – especially if in the past the Christians had not obeyed warnings to stop attending Christian Meetings” (WWR).

Prior to any religious meetings, the proper authorities need to be notified. Christians might be accused of not meeting proper meeting requirements and legally punished.

There are issues where the government has appropriated land from Christians without sufficient compensation or warning. For example, there was an incident in 2019: “The demolition of about 100 homes near Ho Chi Minh City, including one owned by the Catholic Church, has pitted the church against authorities in the latest such dispute over land in the Communist Party-ruled country. . . . Disputes over property between Catholics and authorities are common, and have posed one of the key obstacles to a normalization of relations with the Vatican.”

There have also been incidents where house churches were raided.

“Christians are tolerated as long as they do not challenge the existing order. As many of the Protestant Christians belong to ethnic minorities, which historically fought on the American side in the Vietnam War, they are quick to be seen as being troublemakers. To a lesser extent, this is true for the far larger group of Catholic Christians as well, since they have a colonial background and are seen as being connected to a foreign power, the Vatican. Thus Christians are always on the radar of the local or national authorities” (WWR).

A new religious law was implemented in 2018, called the “Law on Belief and Religion.” As a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom says, “As noted in USCIRF’s 2019 Annual Report and confirmed on the trip, the law requires religious communities to register their organizations and their places of worship with the government, via complicated and burdensome procedures, as a prerequisite for religious activity. . . . During the trip, multiple evangelical pastors told USCIRF that provincial and local officials regularly exceeded their authority by demanding that applicants submit information—such as the names of their congregants—not explicitly required by the law. . . . The law also requires religious organizations to have a formal structure with a charter. This requirement places less formalized groups in a dilemma: they must register in order to engage in religious activities, but are not eligible for registration.” They note that the law has led to some improvements for churches that are already registered, but there are also these and other major concerns.

Christians also face discrimination in education and the workplace. Ethnic minorities and Christians may be denied scholarships or access to education. If their religion becomes known to a prospective employer, they probably will not get the job.

In local communities, converts to Christianity will be expected to continue observing certain traditions and rites. If they refuse, there is a good chance they will be socially excluded or even banished from the community. They may be refused inheritance rights. Non-Christian spouses of converts may force a divorce, and loss of child custody is a possibility. In places where local authorities are willing to turn a blind eye, Christians may also be beaten or their houses of worship disrupted/vandalized. Persecution of Christians is thus strongest in the central and northwestern highlands of Vietnam.

Due to the nature of the Communist government, this is the religious atmosphere in general. There isn’t any religion which is given particular favor, although those religions which are unregistered are under a greater degree of pressure than those that are unregistered. For example, Buddhist monks have also been arrested and deported for protesting the government’s religious policies.

How to Pray

Here are some specific ways you can pray for Christians in Vietnam:

• Pray that Christians in Vietnam will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray that Christianity will no longer be seen as a political tool of the West.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers in rural areas.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail in the nation.
• Pray that Vietnamese (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

We have been doing a series on running with the horses. Jeremiah is asking God a question: why do the wicked prosper? We have been looking at God’s response to his question. In Jeremiah 12:5 God tells Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?”

We will continue in Revelation 6:9-11, which tells us, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.”

All over the world Christians are being persecuted and martyred. On the average, about eleven Christians are martyred every day, and tens of thousands every year. Yet for decades, pastors (especially here in America) have been preaching that this would not happen, that we would all be raptured. The verse that they quote is 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Messiah Yeshua.” Now this is true, God does not want us to suffer wrath. But the wrath that He is speaking of is eternal damnation, because salvation is in Yeshua.

We must, as Christians, always be ready to lay down our lives for a friend. Yeshua gives new meaning to being a friend. He tells us this in John 15:13-15, “No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from My Father.”

If we are Yeshua’s friend, then He is our friend; and if Yeshua is our friend, then we must gladly lay down our lives for Him. Like Yeshua, we too must pick up our cross and follow Him. Where? In losing our lives so that we may live, and this at times may mean literally losing our lives. God never asks us to do anything that He Himself has not done. We are His children, and we too must walk in His footsteps.

John 13:37-38 gives us some insight into this: “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Yeshua answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.’”

Peter in His head wanted to follow Yeshua, even to death, but we see that it really was not in his heart. We must be ready to lay down our lives if we must, and to do that we must draw close to God, praying without ceasing, meditating on His Word day and night. We must let go of this world. We must literally go through a dying process of letting go and denying ourselves, and most of all, growing our faith.

Philippians 3:7-11 tells us, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Messiah. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Messiah—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

Paul also tells us in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2 Timothy 2:3-7 tells us, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Messiah Yeshua. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.”

If we endure till the end, Revelation 3:21 tells us our reward: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Yeshua picked up His cross and He was crucified, and so we too must deny ourselves and pick up our cross and crucify our flesh, and if the time comes, we may lose our lives for the gospel.

Yeshua warns us in Matthew 25:13, “So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of My return.” Can you honestly say, “Well, it most likely won’t be in my lifetime”? Yeshua tells us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

How about you? Are you ready to run the race to the end? If not, this is the time to prepare. Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Lord, make us ready so that in all situations we will be overcomers.

GREETINGS!

Welcome to the August edition of The Clarion. Hopefully you have been keeping cool and staying safe. We hope that these newsletters have been, and will continue to be, a source of encouragement for you. Later this month we will start counting down the days to the Biblical Appointed Times which are called the Fall Feasts.

RUNNING WITH HORSES, PART 4

We have been doing a series on running with the horses. Jeremiah is asking God a question: why do the wicked prosper? We have been looking at God’s response to his question. In Jeremiah 12:5 God tells Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” We will continue in Revelation 6:9-11, which tells us, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” All over the world Christians are being persecuted and martyred. On the average, about eleven Christians are martyred every day, and tens of thousands every year. Yet for decades, pastors (especially here in America) have been preaching that this would not happen, that we would all be raptured. The verse that they quote is 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Messiah Yeshua.” Now this is true, God does not want us to suffer wrath. But the wrath that He is speaking of is eternal damnation, because salvation is in Yeshua. We must, as Christians, always be ready to lay down our lives for a friend. Yeshua gives new meaning to being a friend. He tells us this in John 15:13-15, “No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from My Father.” If we are Yeshua’s friend, then He is our friend; and if Yeshua is our friend, then we must gladly lay down our lives for Him. Like Yeshua, we too must pick up our cross and follow Him. Where? In losing our lives so that we may live, and this at times may mean literally losing our lives. God never asks us to do anything that He Himself has not done. We are His children, and we too must walk in His footsteps. John 13:37-38 gives us some insight into this: “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Yeshua answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.’” Peter in his head wanted to follow Yeshua, even to death, but we see that it really was not in his heart. We must be ready to lay down our lives if we must, and to do that we must draw close to God, praying without ceasing, meditating on His Word day and night. We must let go of this world. We must literally go through a dying process of letting go and denying ourselves, and most of all, growing our faith. Philippians 3:7-11 tells us, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Messiah. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Messiah—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul also tells us in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” 2 Timothy 2:3-7 tells us, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Messiah Yeshua. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” If we endure till the end, Revelation 3:21 tells us our reward: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Yeshua picked up His cross and He was crucified, and so we too must deny ourselves and pick up our cross and crucify our flesh, and if the time comes, we may lose our lives for the gospel. Yeshua warns us in Matthew 25:13, “So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of My return.” Can you honestly say, “Well, it most likely won’t be in my lifetime”? Yeshua tells us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” How about you? Are you ready to run the race to the end? If not, this is the time to prepare. Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Lord, make us ready so that in all situations we will be overcomers.

COUNTRY OF THE MONTH

Every month, we pray for a specific country where Christians are experiencing persecution. This month, we are praying for the nation of Laos. Buddhism and ethnic religions exert a great influence on this nation, and the communist government is restrictive of Christianity. Converts face the potential prospect of social alienation from their families and villages. Here are some ways you can pray:

• Pray that Christians in Laos will be encouraged and emboldened despite violence and hardship.
• Pray that religious freedom will prevail.
• Pray that missionaries will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that Christianity will no longer be perceived as a political tool of the West.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful, and that many Laotians (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

SANDIEGRAMS—”Shining Light”

By Sandie Balistreri, Copyright 2010

I saw a light shining in the dark

And I walked towards the light.

I felt a glow of love.

As I got closer to the light, I saw Jesus

Beckoning me to come to Him.

I put my hand in His,

And He took me down a beautiful path.

The springs of water were dancing

As the birds flew gracefully over the water.

The trees swayed as the wind kissed each branch.

The flowers gave out a heavenly fragrance,

And the sun warmed my heart.

My heart jumped with joy,

For I saw the lion playing with the lamb.

We walked on a holy highway

Which seemed to have no end.

On this highway,

My Lord told me I was redeemed.

EXCERPTS ON PERSECUTION

Today we want to take a look into the lives of those who have been persecuted. First, we want to look at Richard Wurmbrand’s book Tortured for Christ: “I worked in both an official and underground manner until February 29, 1948. On that beautiful Sunday, on my way to church, I was kidnapped from the street by secret police. I had often wondered what was meant by ‘man-stealing,’ which is mentioned several times in the Bible. Communism has taught us. Many at that time were kidnapped like this. A van of the secret police stopped in front of me. Two men jumped out and pushed me into the vehicle. . . . I was taken to a prison were I was kept secretly for over eight years. During that time, no one knew whether I was alive or dead. My wife was visited by the secret police who posed as released fellow prisoners. They told her that they had attended my burial. She was brokenhearted. Thousands of believers from churches of all denominations were sent to prison at that time. Not only were clergymen put in jail, but also simple peasants, young boys and girls who witnessed for their faith.” Next we want to look at a book by the Voice of the Martyrs called Hearts of Fire: “A simple bamboo pole formed a gate in the road where police would stop travelers to ask for documentation. If everything wasn’t in order, they arrested the person, or at least put pressure on the individual to pay a bribe before continuing on. With no travel permissions, and carrying illegal bibles, Mai skirted the gates, sneaking off the road and hiking through the thick forest when necessary to avoid the checkpoints. She knew the government was aware of her Christian activities and that her name had been put on a wanted list. The risks were great: those sneaking around the checkpoints could be shot on sight. Sometimes Mai was caught and held overnight. Sometimes they confiscated the Bibles she carried. Other times the Lord miraculously hid the Bibles from their sight. Mai silently rejoiced each time they handed her bag back with the precious cargo intact. The young evangelist saw a rapidly growing church among the tribal peoples, and she was blessed by their courage in the face of intense persecution. The tribes are like scattered sheep, she thought. No one defends them but the Lord Himself.” Last we want to look at the apostle Andrew from the Acts of Andrew. Christian scholars do not know how much of the Acts of Andrew is true, but they know that he traveled the Black Sea into Thrace, Macedonia, and Achaia. One account speaks of Andrew being arrested and put on trial. He was found guilty of blasphemy against the Roman gods, because he taught that there is only one true God and it is Him only that you worship. He was sent to the arena to die. Fierce boars and wild bulls and leopards were sent out to devour him, but they did not, they could not, and Andrew walked away unharmed. The believers in Macedonia thanked God for Andrew’s salvation. When Andrew was released he continued his work and did many miracles. I want to end with this Scripture in Mark 13:11: “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”

NO LONGER A LUMP OF CLAY

God wants us to draw close to Him, but what does that actually mean? Does it mean that we must pray more? The Bible does tell us to pray without ceasing, as we see in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua for you.” Does it mean worshiping Him more? We are to worship God, for it is the fruit of our lips. Hebrews 13:15 tells us, “Through Him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Maybe we are to do more good works, as Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Maybe it is all of these and more. Let’s take a closer look at this. Isaiah 64:8 tells us, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.” So how does God want to change us? Let’s look closer. We know that God is fire, as Ezekiel 8:2 tells us, “His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal.” God is the fire that we must go through to become a vessel in God’s own hand, for it is the fire that makes a lump of clay into pottery. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 tells us, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” But going through the fire can be painful. God wants us to know Him, like a wife knows her husband. It is a covenant relationship. But the closer we get to God, the more pain and suffering we go through because we must die to ourselves by crucifying the flesh, leaving the world behind us. We must put on the yoke of the Kingdom and pick up our cross and follow Him. When we do, we will no longer be a lump of clay, but a vessel that God can use. Philippians 3:7-11 sums it up: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Messiah. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Messiah—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Today, tell God that you want to go through the fire so that you can become His vessel to advance the Kingdom, even if it means that you too may participate in the suffering of Messiah, even to death, so that you may know Him in His glory.

JEWISH RECIPE—SHABBAT SALAD

A salad that can be prepared the day before and served on the Sabbath (or any day) after marinading in the dressing. (Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

SALAD

1 red pepper (diced)

1 green pepper (diced)

1 orange pepper (diced)

8 oz. fresh mushrooms (sliced)

1 can artichoke hearts (drained, rinsed, quartered)

3 scallions (chopped)

DRESSING

1/4 cup vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons dill weed

Salt + pepper to taste

Hot pepper sauce to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Place all chopped vegetables in a medium salad bowl.

2. Mix dressing ingredients together and pour over vegetables. Stir well. Let marinade for 4 hours or overnight before serving.

INTERESTING FACTS

In Judaism, cooking is forbidden on the Sabbath. There is no direct commandment in the Torah which forbids cooking on the Sabbath. However, it is very heavily implied since, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, God sent a double portion of manna on Friday, and no manna was sent on the Sabbath—thus they were not allowed to procure food for themselves on Shabbat. Additionally, the Torah forbids one from kindling a fire on the Sabbath. The rabbis found further justification for this prohibition by their ruling that the 39 categories of labor involved in the construction of the Tabernacle were prohibited on the Sabbath. Since herbs were cooked to create some of the dyes used, cooking is forbidden on the Sabbath. Specifically relating to our salad, certain kinds of chopping and selecting of foods are prohibited on the Sabbath by the rabbinic rules. These rules say that it is not forbidden to make a salad on the Sabbath, as long as it is eaten immediately after preparation. However, the rules governing how this must be done are tricky, and the time limitation creates a situation where it is simply easier for observant Jews to have the salad prepared ahead of time, before the Sabbath begins.

QUOTE

The ideal prayer is not asking God for this or for that, but the desire that He may, so to speak, concentrate His whole mind upon us.— Paul Philip Levertoff

HEBREW LETTER

In each newsletter, we will teach you a new Hebrew letter and give you a little information about it. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This month, you will learn the third letter. The name of this letter is gimel. In Hebrew, each letter also has a numerical value. If you open up a Hebrew Bible, you will notice that the chapter numbers will be Hebrew letters. The numerical value of gimel is 3.

ג

Gimel makes a “g” sound, as in “God.” An example of this letter in a word is below. The first two letters in this word (remember, in Hebrew you read right-to-left) are gimel and aleph, which you know. You will learn about the third letter later, and the symbols beneath the letters are vowels. This word is pronounced “gah-all”, and it is a verb which means “to redeem.” Note that in this word, there is a dot inside gimel. Last month you learned that when this dot is present inside the letter bet, it is pronounced differently. However, when this dot is present inside gimel, it does not change the sound: it is still pronounced “g” as in “God.”

גָּאַל

We want to continue looking at our series, “Running with Horses.”

Jeremiah asks God this question in Jeremiah 12:1-4, “You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before You. Yet I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet You know me, Lord; You see me and test my thoughts about You. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, ‘He will not see what happens to us.’” In Jeremiah 12:5 God asks Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?”

Over the last several months we have been looking at each of the seven seals as we look at God’s response to Jeremiah.

Revelation 6:12-17 tells us, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”

We have seen the intensity of these seals as they have been opened. The last line of this passage is what we want to zero in on, and it has to do with God’s response to Jeremiah: “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” That question is for us today. Will we be able to stand? If we find ourselves having a difficult time dealing with what has been happening over the course of the last several months, what will we do when things only get worse? God wants us to be overcomers. It’s the overcomer that He will bless.

I think we can find the answer in the last seal. Revelation 8:1-5 says, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”

Yeshua told His disciples all they needed to know on how to overcome in chapter 24 of Matthew. Briefly, He told His apostles that many would come in His name, but they should not be deceived. He also told them that when they see the abomination that causes desolation (referring to the book of Daniel), if they were in Judea then they were to flee to the mountains. Well, this happened in the third Jewish revolt. One did come saying he was the Messiah, and people followed him. The abomination did come, and those who heard Yeshua’s warning knew that they must flee to the mountains. Everyone else followed the false messiah in the revolt against Rome and were all killed.

We must know the Word of God, but we must also know His voice. He will lead us, for He is the Good Shepherd and He will show His sheep the way (John 10:27-28).

Matthew 24:42 tells us, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Luke 12:35-37 says, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.”

Proverbs 12:7 says, “The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.”

So, how do we stand? We see that the angel has a censor full of prayers. We must be praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua for you.”

This is God’s will, that we never stop praying. Ephesians 6:18 tells us that after putting on the full armor, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

We will go into all of this in more detail, and more, in part 6. But for now, remember this: “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son” (Revelation 2:17).

We want to look at what the Bible tells us about judging. You hear it all the time, that you should not judge, but what does that really mean?

Let’s start with Matthew 7:1-5. “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Leviticus 19:15 tells us this: “You must not deal unjustly in judgment: You must neither show partiality to the poor nor honor the rich. You must judge your fellow citizen fairly.”

We see here that one passage is telling us not to judge or else we will be judged, and then in Leviticus that we must judge our brother fairly. So which way is it? Well, maybe it is both ways.

So let’s look at a few examples in the Bible to see what this all means.

Exodus 2:11-14 tells us, “One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, ‘Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?’ The man said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Then Moses was afraid and thought, ‘What I did must have become known.’”

So was Moses judging his fellow man, or was he just looking for justice?

Romans 14:4 tell us this: “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Yeshua said that He did not come to judge the world but to save it, for there would come a time for judgment; and yet Leviticus tells us to judge one fairly.

So are we talking about the same thing here? One kind of judging may be for justice and another kind of judging may be for wrong motives.

Let’s look at Luke’s version of not judging. Luke tells us this in Luke 6:37-45: “‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.’ He also told them a parable: ‘Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,” while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.’”

We see here a whole different picture. When we judge someone, that same measure that we used to judge them will also judge us. So we must be sure that we have our facts straight.

Yeshua, after healing a man on the Sabbath, had this to say to His judges: “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:23-24).

And again, John 8:14-17 records this: “Yeshua answered and said to them, ‘Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.’”

We see that Yeshua was being judged by wrong motives. They did not have their facts straight when they accused Him. They were judging Him by appearance and according to the flesh. They were not judging Him fairly. I guess that saying, “walk a mile in my shoes” (which means to spend time trying to consider or understand another person’s perspectives, experiences, or motivations before making a judgment about them) is right on.

We are supposed to look at the tree to see what kind of fruit is being grown. How else can we tell a false prophet from one that is true, or even a teacher or preacher? How else can we determine if a situation is right or wrong? This is called discernment.

But when you judge for the sake of gossip or to ruin a person’s reputation, beware, for you will also be judged by that same standard. Moses judged for the sake of justice, good over evil, but even in these situations we can look at things only through our own eyes and we can be wrong. We are all different people with different backgrounds and experiences.

Paul tells us the best way is to not judge and then you will not be judged, for we will all give an account, as Romans 14:10-19 tells us: “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Yeshua that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Messiah died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Messiah is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

Paul is not condoning sin or an ungodly lifestyle, but he is saying to accept people for who they are or where they are in their walk with God. The bottom line is just a matter of loving one another.

2 Peter 1:4-11 tells us, “Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua.”

So, who made you judge? No one except yourself.

Now, there are times when we must judge or analyse a situation that will require us to judge, like sitting on a jury. Then we must pass on a verdict based on clear evidence and without partiality, and of course, everything must be established by two or three witnesses.

Most of all we must pray that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, will lead us in all truth. But every day we encounter situations and circumstances that require us to cast a verdict or render a decision. Maybe it has to do with a neighbor or a co-worker, a family member, or a friend. We must first be impartial, give the person the benefit of the doubt, without casting judgement before we have all the facts. Then we must go and reason together.

John 7:51 says “Does our law judge a man before investigating to know what he has done?”

You have to hear both sides of the story, because there are always two sides to every story. You must ask yourself, “From what I know of this person, does this sound like what I know about them?” (The fruit never lies.) If we rush to judgment, it may only be gossip, hearsay, or someone’s opinion, and that kind of fire spreads fast and hot and has very serious consequences, and most times the damage can not be reconciled.

Let love prevail. Being quick to listen and slow to anger is the wise move. Do not render a judgment quickly, for time always bears out the truth. Most of all, pray about such things, and you will find that wisdom is your best friend (and may also keep your friend).

We live in a fast moving world with social media and the telephone—a tweet here, a tweet there, instagram and the like—but we cannot be like the world. We follow a much higher ethical standard. Remember, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Measure for measure, love for love, gossip for gossip, peace for peace. Love never fails, love heals—and maybe that is just what is needed in the situation, healing love.

“Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling” (1 John 2:10).

GREETINGS!

This month we begin the Fall Feasts. This is the name given to the Biblical Appointed Times which take place in the autumn, as opposed to the others which take place during the spring. Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on September 18 and lasts until sundown on the 19th. Ten days later, at sundown on September 28, the holiest day of the year begins: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. You can find more information about these holidays on our website.

RUNNING WITH HORSES, PART 5

We want to continue looking at our series, “Running with Horses.” Jeremiah asks God this question in Jeremiah 12:1-4, “You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before You. Yet I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet You know me, Lord; You see me and test my thoughts about You. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, ‘He will not see what happens to us.’” In Jeremiah 12:5 God asks Jeremiah this: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” Over the last several months we have been looking at each of the seven seals as we look at God’s response to Jeremiah. Revelation 6:12-17 tells us, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” We have seen the intensity of these seals as they have been opened. The last line of this passage is what we want to zero in on, and it has to do with God’s response to Jeremiah: “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” That question is for us today. Will we be able to stand? If we find ourselves having a difficult time dealing with what has been happening over the course of the last several months, what will we do when things only get worse? God wants us to be overcomers. It’s the overcomer that He will bless. I think we can find the answer in the last seal. Revelation 8:1-5 says, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” Yeshua told His disciples all they needed to know on how to overcome in chapter 24 of Matthew. Briefly, He told His apostles that many would come in His name, but they should not be deceived. He also told them that when they see the abomination that causes desolation (referring to the book of Daniel), if they were in Judea then they were to flee to the mountains. Well, this happened in the third Jewish revolt. One did come saying he was the Messiah, and people followed him. The abomination did come, and those who heard Yeshua’s warning knew that they must flee to the mountains. Everyone else followed the false messiah in the revolt against Rome and were all killed. We must know the Word of God, but we must also know His voice. He will lead us, for He is the Good Shepherd and He will show His sheep the way (John 10:27-28). Matthew 24:42 tells us, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Luke 12:35-37 says, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.” Proverbs 12:7 says, “The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.” So, how do we stand? We see that the angel has a censor full of prayers. We must be praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua for you.” This is God’s will, that we never stop praying. Ephesians 6:18 tells us that after putting on the full armor, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” We will go into all of this in more detail, and more, in part 6. But for now, remember this: “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son” (Revelation 2:17).

COUNTRY OF THE MONTH

Every month our ministry prays for a specific nation in which Christians are experiencing persecution. This month, we are praying for Uzbekistan. The secular government of Uzbekistan keeps a tight lid on religious groups, and those who do not register are considered illegal, subject to fines, confiscation of property, and imprisonment. There is also strong social pressure for those who would convert from the dominant religion, Islam.

• Pray that Christians in Uzbekistan will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers.
• Pray that those who are sharing their faith will be protected and successful.
• Pray that Uzbekistanis (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

SANDIEGRAMS—”I Can’t Escape My Lord”

By Sandie Balistreri, Copyright 2010

Lord, if I climb the highest mountain,

I would find You there.

If I went to the bottom of the sea,

You would still be there.

In the brightness of the day,

You walk beside me.

I can feel Your presence in the stillness of the night.

In time of joy, You smile down upon me.

In time of sorrow, You comfort me.

Sweet Jesus, I see You always in the faces of people I meet

Along the path of my life.

I can never escape Your love.

Your love is vast like the universe.

Your love is gentle and soft like a beautiful flower.

Your love is sweet like pure honey.

Because of Your great love, I am able to love in return.

My love for You is like a circle: never ending.

My heart sings with joy, for I am tied to You forevermore.

EXCERPTS ON DISCIPLESHIP AND PRAYER

We want to look at a few excerpts from a book called Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor. He felt strongly that he had a religious responsibility to do all that he could to stop Adolf Hitler. Here we do not want to go into that part of his life which brought him to prison and a concentration camp (and eventually he was hanged along with others who believed like him), but we want to look at some excerpts from his teaching on discipleship. Bonhoeffer believed that there were two kinds of grace. One was cheap and the other was costly. “[In cheap grace] the world finds a cheap covering for its sins—no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin. Cheap grace therefore amounts to a denial of the living Word of God, in fact a denial of the Incarnation of the Word of God. Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. . . . Costly grace is the sanctuary of God; it has to be protected from the world, and not thrown to the dogs. It is therefore the living word, the Word of God, which He speaks as it pleases Him. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow Him; it is grace because Jesus says: ‘My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’ To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all that self-denial can say is, ‘He leads the way, keep close to Him.’” “‘….and take up His cross.’ Jesus has graciously prepared the way for this word by speaking self-denial. Only when we have become completely oblivious of self are we ready to bear the cross for His sake. If in the end we know only Him, if we have ceased to notice the pain of our cross, we are indeed looking only unto Him. If Jesus has not so graciously prepared us for this word, we should have found it unbearable. But preparing us for it He has enabled us to receive even a word as hard as this as a word of grace. It comes to us in the joy of discipleship and confirms us in it. To endure the cross is not tragedy: it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When it comes, it is not an accident, but a necessity. It is not the sort of suffering which is inseparable from this mortal life, but the suffering which is an essential part of the specifically Christian life. It is not suffering per se but suffering and rejection, and not rejection for any cause or conviction of our own, but rejection for the sake of Christ. If our Chrisitanity has ceased to be serious about discipleship, if we have watered down the gospel into emotional uplift which makes no costly demands and which fails to distinguish between natural and Christian existence, then we cannot help regarding the cross as an ordinary everyday calamity, as one of the trials and tribulations of life. We have then forgotten that the cross means rejection and shame as well as suffering.” “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the calling to abandon the attachment of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with His death—we give over our lives to death.” Next we want to look at an excerpt from the book Destined for the Throne by Paul E. Billheimer. We want to say that God has partnered with His people in prayer. His people are His representatives here on earth. We have been commissioned to do God’s bidding. He has given us His authority. For it is God who has sent us out into the world. So why prayer? “By delegating His authority to her (the church) for administering His decisions and enforcing His will upon the earth, God placed the church in apprenticeship for eternal sovereignty with Christ. By practicing in her prayer closet the enforcement of heaven’s decisions in mundane affairs, the church is in ‘on the job’ training for co-sovereignty with Christ over His universal empire. She must learn the art of spiritual warfare, of overcoming evil forces in preparation for her assumption of the throne following the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. To enable her to learn the technique of overcoming, God devised the scheme of prayer. To give her ‘on the job’ training, God delegated to her the authority to enforce His will right here on earth. In order to enable her to acquire the character and the ‘know how’ she will need as co-sovereign, He has placed upon her the responsibility and authority to enforce God’s will and administer His decisions in the affair of earth.” This is what John Wesley said: “God will do nothing but in answer to prayer.” S.D. Gordon said that, “The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray.” This is why he also said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed.” This also explains his statement, “Prayer is striking the winning blow . . . service is gathering up results.” It likewise explains the statement of E.M. Bounds about prayer: “God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil. . . . The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock of heaven by which God carries on His great work upon earth. God conditions the very life and prosperity of His cause on prayer.” So then, “the entire responsibility for prayerlessness or ineffective prayer falls entirely upon us.” Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” God is calling us, His people, as Ezekiel 22:30-31 tells us, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out My wrath on them and consume them with My fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

JEWISH RECIPE—JEWISH APPLE CAKE

A tasty dessert that can be enjoyed to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana.

INGREDIENTS

5 cooking apples (Rome or Jonathan)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2-1/3 cups sugar (divided)

1 cup margarine

4 eggs

3 cups sifted flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup orange juice

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. In a mixer, combine margarine and 1-2/3 cups of sugar. Cream at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

3. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to batter. Add juice and extracts. Combine until batter is smooth.

4. Peel, core, quarter, and slice the apples. Combine apple slices, cinnamon, and 1/3 cup of sugar in a bowl. Mix well.

5. Place a small amount of batter in the bottom of a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Arrange a layer of apple slices over batter. Continue layering, ending with batter.

6. Bake for 1-1/2 hours or until cake is done. Cool on a wire rack.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Biblical feast day of Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) starts on the evening of September 18 this year. It is traditional to eat apples and honey on this day, as well as other sweet foods. It would be possible to simply enjoy this as a tasty treat, but to do so would ignore the deeper symbolic meaning. The reason for eating the apples and dipping them in honey is to evoke the idea of sweetness and connect it to the celebration of the new year. Just as eating this food is pleasant to the senses, so too it is the hope and prayer of those who celebrate this festival that the new year will be a sweet one. In a way keeping this tradition is a means of immediately obtaining this desire. The inaugural moments of the new year are spent in prayer and the enjoyment of sweet foods, effectively starting the year off on a high note.

QUOTE

The motive for repentance should not be fear of the pangs of hell, but ‘the sorrow for our own soul which has fallen from its highest state to the depths of sin, from God’s palace to the lower places of impurity.’— Paul Philip Levertoff

HEBREW LETTER

In each newsletter, we will teach you a new Hebrew letter and give you a little information about it. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This month, you will learn the fourth letter. The name of this letter is dalet, pronounced “dah-let.” In Hebrew, each letter also has a numerical value. If you open up a Hebrew Bible, you will notice that the chapter numbers will be Hebrew letters. The numerical value of dalet is 4.

ד

Dalet makes a “d” sound, as in “dog.” An example of this letter in a word is below. This word consists of only two letters. The first (remember, in Hebrew you read right-to-left) is dalet. You’ll notice there is a dot inside of the dalet, but just like last month’s letter this dot does not affect the pronunciation. The second letter is gimel, which you learned last week. This word is pronounced “dahg”, and it means “fish.” It was a דָּג which swallowed Jonah in Jonah 1:17

דָּג

We have been looking at God’s response to Jeremiah after he questions why the wicked prosper in Jeremiah 12:5, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?”

In part 5, we saw that God tells us to be dressed ready for service and to keep our lamps burning. We must be watching for His coming, as Luke 12:37 says, “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.” But to be overcomers and finishers of the race before us, we must live a winning life.

To do this, we must pray without ceasing, always in His Word, fighting the good fight—for our fight is a spiritual fight, as Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” God did not leave us defenseless. He gave us His armor. The armor of God is a picture of Yeshua. It is a life in the Messiah. God tells us to be dressed and ready. So how do we do this? We dress ourselves in the armor of God.

Romans 13:14 tells us how to begin: “But put on the Lord Messiah Yeshua and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

Ephesians 6:13-17 goes on to say, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Let’s look at how a lifestyle in Messiah is all about the armor.

First we’ll look at the belt of truth. Yeshua said in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He also said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” Truth is life, life in Messiah, life His way. We wear truth around us like a belt, around our waist, at our middle, as a stabilizer, keeping us steady and balanced. Without truth we are left with only lies.

Next we wear the breastplate of righteousness. Jeremiah 23:5-6 speaks of Messiah as our righteousness: “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, “The Lord our righteousness.”’”

The breastplate of righteousness guards our hearts. Righteousness tells us who we are in the Messiah. Paul tells us in Phillipians 3:7-12 that we too must follow in Messiah’s footsteps, and by doing so we will know Him—not know about Him, but know Him as when two enter into a covenant, like a bride and groom. “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Messiah. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Messiah and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own (salvation) derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Messiah Yeshua.”

We see that we must start by laying down our lives and becoming like our Messiah, even in His sufferings and death. Having this faith brings about our righteousness, or as you could say, our faith in Him gives us “right standing” in the Father.

Next, we must fit our feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Isaiah cried out in Isaiah 52:7, “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

And Paul echoed back to this in Romans 10:15, “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

Today people are quick to run here and there, quick to action but slow to think. Isaiah 59:7-8 says, “Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.” But James 3:17-18 tells us, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Are you totally dressed and ready? We will continue in part 7.

GREETINGS!

The changing of the seasons is upon us. We have completed the first two Fall Feasts, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. This month we will be celebrating the last of the Fall Feasts, Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. We encourage you to learn about this day on our website, JudeoChristianClarion.com. This is a seven-day holiday, with an extra eighth day added on at the end, which represents God dwelling with man for eternity. This year, the first day begins at sundown on October 2.

RUNNING WITH HORSES, PART 6

We have been looking at God’s response to Jeremiah after he questions why the wicked prosper in Jeremiah 12:5, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” In part 5, we saw that God tells us to be dressed ready for service and to keep our lamps burning. We must be watching for His coming, as Luke 12:37 says, “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.” But to be overcomers and finishers of the race before us, we must live a winning life. To do this, we must pray without ceasing, always in His Word, fighting the good fight—for our fight is a spiritual fight, as Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” God did not leave us defenseless. He gave us His armor. The armor of God is a picture of Yeshua. It is a life in the Messiah. God tells us to be dressed and ready. So how do we do this? We dress ourselves in the armor of God. Romans 13:14 tells us how to begin: “But put on the Lord Messiah Yeshua and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Ephesians 6:13-17 goes on to say, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Let’s look at how a lifestyle in Messiah is all about the armor. First we’ll look at the belt of truth. Yeshua said in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He also said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” Truth is life, life in Messiah, life His way. We wear truth around us like a belt, around our waist, at our middle, as a stabilizer, keeping us steady and balanced. Without truth we are left with only lies. Next we wear the breastplate of righteousness. Jeremiah 23:5-6 speaks of Messiah as our righteousness: “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, “The Lord our righteousness.”’” The breastplate of righteousness guards our hearts. Righteousness tells us who we are in the Messiah. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:7-12 that we too must follow in Messiah’s footsteps, and by doing so we will know Him—not know about Him, but know Him as when two enter into a covenant, like a bride and groom. “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Messiah. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Messiah and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own (salvation) derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Messiah Yeshua.” We see that we must start by laying down our lives and becoming like our Messiah, even in His sufferings and death. Having this faith brings about our righteousness, or as you could say, our faith in Him gives us “right standing” in the Father. Next, we must fit our feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Isaiah cried out in Isaiah 52:7, “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” And Paul echoed back to this in Romans 10:15, “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Today people are quick to run here and there, quick to action but slow to think. Isaiah 59:7-8 says, “Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.” But James 3:17-18 tells us, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Are you totally dressed and ready? We will continue in part 7.

COUNTRY OF THE MONTH

Every month our ministry prays for a specific nation in which Christians are experiencing persecution. This month, we are praying for Vietnam. As a communist country, the foundational doctrines of the Vietnamese government are opposed to religion. While the government tolerates registered religions, they are still heavily monitored and their activities are restricted. Those who speak out against the government’s policies have a good chance of being imprisoned or deported.

• Pray that Christians in Vietnam will be encouraged and protected despite the harsh difficulties they face.
• Pray that Christianity will no longer be seen as a political tool of the West.
• Pray that ministries such as Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs will be successful in providing Bibles to believers in rural areas.
• Pray that Vietnamese (including the persecutors) will come to know the truth and receive salvation through Yeshua.

SANDIEGRAMS—”Autumn”

By Sandie Balistreri, Copyright 2010

Autumn is a time of beauty.

It is a time when our Lord touches the earth

And changes it into a wonderland.

The leaves on the trees change

Into elegant colors

As they reach the height of their beauty.

Weeds become beautiful

As the Lord’s hand gently touches them.

Many of us have lived lives like weeds—

Growing wild, not really caring about others.

But once we found our Lord,

We have become beautiful

Like the weeds in autumn.

EXCERPTS ABOUT JOHN BUNYAN

We want to look at John Bunyan as written about in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. If you have not read John Bunyan’s book, Pilgrim’s Progress, I highly recommend you read it or see the movie version. John was born into a Puritan family around the same time that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. John lived in Bedford, England. His father was a tinker, and he was brought up to be the same. When he got older he became a Baptist preacher. Persecution broke out, and he was arrested for preaching without a license. “Before I went down to the justice, I begged of God that His will be done; for I was not without hopes that my imprisonment might be an awakening to the saints in the country. Only in this matter did I commit the thing to God. And verily at my return I did meet my God sweetly in prison.” His hardships were genuine on account of the wretched condition of the prisons of those days. While John was in prison, he wrote some of his early books. But it was during his second imprisonment three years later that he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. Pilgrim’s Progress is truly the rehearsal of Bunyan’s own spiritual experiences. He believed that life was a pilgrimage. He used England as his rural scenery and London as his Vanity Fair. He himself had been the “man clothed in Rags, with his Face from his own House, a Book in hand, and great Burden upon his Back.” After he had realized that Christ was his Righteousness, and that this did not depend on “the good frame of his Heart” or, as we would say, on his feelings, “now did the Chains fall off my legs indeed.” His had been the Doubting Castle and Sloughs of Despond, with much of the Valley of Humiliation and Shadow of Death. But, above all, it is a book of Victory. Once when leaving the doors of the courthouse where he himself had been defeated, he wrote: “As I was going forth of the doors, I had much ado to bear saying to them, that I carried the peace of God along with me.” In his vision was ever the Celestial City, with all its bells ringing. He had fought Apollyon constantly, and often wounded, shamed, and fallen, yet in the end “more than conqueror through Him that loved us.” An allegory indeed. But how can we forget the travels of the Apostle Paul? He had to fight many battles himself, but for sure he was an overcomer. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Yeshua, that the life of Yeshua also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Yeshua’s sake, that the life of Yeshua also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) “For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Messiah?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:19-27) “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Messiah Yeshua who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

“PLEASANT SOUNDS” by John Clare

The rustling of leaves under the feet in woods and under hedges;

The crumpling of cat-ice and snow down wood-rides, narrow lanes and every street causeway;

Rustling through a wood or rather rushing, while the wind halloos in the oak-toop like thunder;

The rustle of birds’ wings startled from their nests or flying unseen into the bushes;

The whizzing of larger birds overhead in a wood, such as crows, puddocks, buzzards;

The trample of robins and woodlarks on the brown leaves. and the patter of squirrels on the green moss;

The fall of an acorn on the ground, the pattering of nuts on the hazel branches as they fall from ripeness;

The flirt of the groundlark’s wing from the stubbles –

how sweet such pictures on dewy mornings, when the dew flashes from its brown feathers.

JEWISH RECIPE—STUFFED CABBAGE

You can make this traditional dish to celebrate the Biblical holiday of Sukkot! It is traditional to eat it on the eighth day of this festival, which this year is on October 10.

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey

1/4 cup uncooked rice1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

10-12 cabbage leaves (2 small cabbages)

2 onions

1/4 cup lemon juice (add more or less to adjust sourness)

1/2 cup brown sugar (add more or less to adjust sweetness)

2 large (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

6 gingersnaps

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine beef, rice, and egg in a bowl. Add salt. With this mixture, form balls of meat (small enough to be placed inside the cabbage leaves later) and set them on a sheet pan. Place it in the fridge.

2. Core the cabbages and place in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Take the leaves off one at a time. Cut the remaining core away and place it in a deep roaster with the sliced onions. Place onions, extra cores, and extra cabbage in the roaster to make a bed for the balls. Tip: Instead of boiling the cabbage leaves, simply core the head of cabbage and place it in the freezer overnight. As it thaws (takes about 8 hours), the leaves will be soft and will peel right off, ready to be used. To thaw quickly, place the frozen cabbage in the microwave for a few minutes.

3. To assemble rolls, take a cabbage leaf and place a ball of meat on the side where the core was cut. Fold it over and “diaper” it. Combine the tomatoes, lemon juice, and sugar to taste, and pour over the balls. Cook and cover for 2 hours at 325 degrees.

4. Crunch up the gingersnaps and add some gravy from the roaster to soften them. Pour this over the bed of balls. Cook for another hour and a half.

INTERESTING FACTS

In some Jewish communities, it is traditional to eat cabbage rolls on the last day of Sukkot. This has its origin in the Jewish communities of Germany. At the climax of the Sukkot prayers, the Hebrew phrase kol mevasser is repeated, which means “the voice of the herald.” This sounds like the German phrase kohl mit wasser, which means “cabbage with water.” Thus it became traditional to eat these cabbage rolls. Additionally, two cabbage rolls placed next to each other in parallel look a lot like a Torah scroll!

QUOTE

The proof of God’s love lies less in the fact that He raises creatures to Himself, than in that He stoops to have His tabernacle among men and thus reveal Himself to them.— Paul Philip Levertoff

HEBREW LETTER

In each newsletter, we will teach you a new Hebrew letter and give you a little information about it. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This month, you will learn the fifth letter. The name of this letter is he, pronounced “hay.” In Hebrew, each letter also has a numerical value. If you open up a Hebrew Bible, you will notice that the chapter numbers will be Hebrew letters. The numerical value of he is 5.

ה

The letter he makes an “h” sound, as in “happy.” When it comes at the end of a word, it is silent, as is familiar from the pronunciation of the last syllable in the English word “Messiah.” An example of the letter he is found in the word below. In this word, he is found both at the beginning and the end, and all the other letters should be familiar from past lessons. The word is pronounced haggadah. It means “a telling.” “Haggadah” is the name of the prayer book used during the Passover seder.

הַגָּדָה

Meditational writings for those experiencing a need to know God.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Who is God?

God is love.
He is my friend,
my redeemer, and protector.
He is my eternal guiding light;
without Him I’d be in darkness.
God is my strength, for I am weak;
without Him I could not bear
pain, despair, or sorrow.
He is there when I arise.
He goes with me through the day.
He watches over me when I sleep.
I see Him in the beauty of a flower,
a tree, a star, and the changes of seasons.
He is as close to me as the wind that blows
across my face,
or as near as my heartbeat.
He is as soft as a snowflake
falling gently on the ground.
God is all things to me.
My heart lives in His,
and His heart lives in mine;
without Him there is no life.

The Power of God

Lord, You are power and might.
You created the earth by Your Word.
You hear the cry of Your people,
and You know of our sufferings.
Deliver us from our enemies.
Feed us with Your Word so that we can
stand up against evil forces.
Show us the path
to Your Holy Mountain
that we may come to give
You praise and glory.
As we lift up our arms in praise
let us commune with You,
and let our hearts become one.
Lord, cleanse the areas of our lives
which are sinful.
Make us pure as snow
so that one day we can meet You
face to face.
Amen

You’re Number One

Lord, You’re number one,
for no one can love me as You love me.
You laid down Your life for me
so that I could live.
You accept me as I am,
and I live because of Your grace.
Your Spirit lives within me
and testifies to Your truths.
Walk into my heart, Lord,
and live with me forever.

God is All

God is love.
He is Yahweh, El Shaddai,
and the Great I Am.
His strength is like
the mountains.
His power is like
a powerful waterfall.
His love is like
a fragrant flower.
His gentleness is like
the water of a brook.
He is the Creator, the Potter,
the Vine, and the Shepherd.
He is the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is our Savior, our Redeemer,
and the Prince of Peace.
He is our peace and joy.
His Word is truth
and truth lives on forever.

His Light is Truth

Jesus is Light.
He lights up the pathway
for you and me.
He opens up our eyes
so that we can see the Light.
Through His Light, we are able to see
what we had not seen before.

His Light is Truth.
He opens up our ears that we might hear
and understand His truth.

His Truth is the Word.
He uses our mouths to preach and
proclaim His Word to all nations.

God is Light.
Let us walk towards the Light
so that we can come to know
His Word as Truth.

Meditational writings of the season for those experiencing the birth of the Savior.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Christmas

Christmas is a gift from God to all of us.
The Word became flesh and God sent us
His Son to be born of a woman on a
quiet, silent, holy night.
Emmanuel is His name.
Christmas is not the glitter of the world
but the love and joy of Jesus.
Christmas is sharing that love and joy
of Jesus with others.
Just as Jesus was born humbly in a manger,
so should we keep our lives humble.
The worldly hustle and bustle of Christmas
takes our eyes off of
the true meaning of Christmas.
Christmas is rejoicing over the birth of Jesus
who came to save us by dying on the cross
and redeeming us.
Let Christmas be a time of joy,
praising, and singing.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Praise the Lord, our King!

Jesus, My Everything

Jesus, my Lord.
Jesus, my Savior.
Jesus, my Redeemer.
Jesus, my King.
Jesus, my everything.

Jesus, the Light.
Jesus, the Vine.
Jesus, the Shepherd.
Jesus, the Gate.
Jesus, the Life Eternal.
Jesus, my everything.

A Savior is Born

The angels are all around.
The shepherds are in the field.
This night a Savior is born.
Emmanuel is His name.
Glory, glory in excelsis Deo,
for this night the world has a King!

Your Birth

Jesus, my Lord,
You were born so that one day
we would be redeemed.
Your birthplace was in a stable
on a silent night.
A star was shining bright
and angels proclaimed
Your birth.
You grew up with love
and obedience to the Father.
The Father sent the Holy Spirit
in the form of a dove to rest upon You
and proclaim You His Son.
Glory Hallelujah!

Jesus

Jesus,
Word made flesh.
Jesus, Son of God.
Jesus, the Messiah.
Jesus, our Redeemer.
Jesus, born to teach us.
Jesus, born to guide us.
Jesus, born to show us the way.
Jesus, born to be our Savior.
Jesus, destined to be betrayed.
Jesus, destined to be scourged.
Jesus, destined to be spat upon.
Jesus, destined to hang on a cross.
Jesus, ascended to heaven.
Jesus lives in glory.
Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father.
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Meditational writings of the season for those experiencing the death and resurrection of the King.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Hail the King

Hail the King—our Lord, our God!
Hallelujah, Lord, praised be your Holy Name!
You bore our grief,
and You carried our sorrows.
You were beaten and spat upon.
Nails they put through
Your hands and feet,
and a lance was thrust in Your side.
Your blood You shed that we might live.
Your life You gave for our redemption.
Your resurrection is new life for us.
Praise shall come from our mouths
as we proclaim,
“You, King, are our Lord, our God!”

You Died on a Cross For Me

You died on a cross for me.
You redeemed me
and saved me from damnation.

You died on a cross for me.
You stretched Your arms
that I might live in peace and harmony
with my brothers and sisters.

You died on a cross for me
so that one day I’d come to You
to be with You through eternity.

Glory, Hallelujah!
Joy has taken over my sorrow,
for I have been redeemed!

You died on a cross for me.

Hold Our Hands

Father in heaven, You sent us Your Son
to redeem us.
You loved us so much,
You sent Your Son to be crucified.
He drank of the cup.
Oh! What a black cup,
that our sins would be forgiven.
We thank You for our brother Jesus
who laid down His life for us.
Show us the way to Your Kingdom,
and help us to walk the road to You.
Hold our hands and calm us.
Shine Your light and guide us.
Father, as children we come to You.
Caress us with love.
Shower us with peace.
Fill us with joy.
Father in heaven, we love You
now and forever.
Amen

You Redeemed Us

On the cross they nailed You, Lord.
On the cross, You died for us.
On the cross, You saved us.

On the cross, You proved Your love.
On the cross, You forgave us our sins.
On the cross, You justified us.

On the cross, a crown of thorns You wore.
On the cross, You gave us hope.
On the cross, You redeemed us.

Two-Thousand Years Ago

On a cross I hung
two thousand years ago.
I died for everyone’s sins.
I died that you might live—
live in eternity with Me.
My heart was broken because of sin.
Thirty-nine stripes I bore.
Because I love you so much,
I did not say a word.
You spat at Me and hit Me,
but even then I loved you.
From the dead I rose,
and now I sit at the right hand of the Father.
On a cross I hung
two thousand years ago,
and now you are redeemed.

Meditational writings for those experiencing God’s call to “Come.”

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

He Beckons Me

My Beloved is gazing in the window
of my heart and He beckons me
to come to Him.
The voice of my Beloved is strong,
but He is gentle.
My beloved has come
to take me with Him,
for the Spirit has come upon me,
and all that was dead is gone.
I am a new creation.

Come With Me

Come away with Me, My love.
Let Me heal your wounds
and mend your broken heart.
Let Me wipe away your tears.
Let the love in My heart
take away your pain.
Let Me fill your heart
with peace and joy.
Come away with Me, My love,
live with Me forever!

Fountain of Life

Come to the fountain of life.
Come and drink My water.

Come to the fountain of life,
and never thirst again.

Come to the fountain of life.
Come and receive My love.

Come to the fountain of life,
and never hunger again.

Come to the fountain of life.
Come and feel My peace.

Come to the fountain of life,
and never be sad again.

Come to the fountain of life.
Come and seek My Kingdom.

Come to the fountain of life,
and be with Me forever.

Come Along With Me

Come along with Me.
Walk with Me awhile
as we walk along the path of life.

Let Me show you beauty
you have never seen before
as we stroll along the path of life.

See the flowers blooming all around!
The water is dancing with joy
as we stroll along the path of life.

Time stands still
for those who come with Me,
for there is peace and joy
as we stroll along the path of life.

Come Hither

Come hither, My son.
Come hither, My daughter.
Let Me walk this road with you.
Let Me hold your hand,
for this road was never meant
for you to walk alone.

Meditational writings of praise for those experiencing the presence of God.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Holy Ground

You are standing on Holy Ground.
Lift your arms up high
and praise the Lord,
for our Lord God is in our midst.
Praise Him with trumpets and tambourines,
and give glory to our God,
the Most High.
Let His peace and joy fill you
as you stand on His Holy Ground.

Praise the Lord!

I give praise to the Lord
with all my heart.
I lift up my soul to Him.
Praise and thanksgiving
flow from my mouth.
The Lord has taken me from darkness
and brought me into the Light.
He has saved me from the pit.
Death no longer can touch me,
for the Lord has given me life.
I praise His Holy Name,
and I enter His gates with Thanksgiving.
The Lord is my life—whom shall I fear?
The sight of the Lord is precious to me.
I am the servant of the Lord,
for He has set me free
from all of my iniquities.
His love for me is everlasting.

Praise and Glory

There is LOVE in my heart for You, Lord—
love You have given to me.
There is PRAISE and JOY in my soul, Lord—
peace and joy You gave to me.
There is LIFE EVERLASTING for me, Lord—
life everlasting given to me by Your grace.
There is PRAISE and GLORY
in my mouth, Lord—
praise and glory for my Lord,
Jesus Christ, the King.

Great is the Lord

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and I give praise to His Holy Name.
The Lord is highly exalted
and worthy to be praised.
Great is the Lord.
His heart overflows with love for Me.
The Lord is gracious
and shines His face upon me.
Blessed be the Lord who watches over me
and protects me from harm.
His faithfulness is my shield
and I lift up my arms
in praise and thanksgiving.
I praise His name with singing and dancing.
The Lord is my life and my salvation,
and I give praise to His Holy Name.

I’m Going to the Mountain

I’m going to the mountain.
I’m going to rendezvous with my Beloved.
I’m going to praise the Lord.
The Lord is calling me to the mountain.
He beckons me to be with Him.
I can feel His strength in the mountain.
I can feel His love for me.
There is beauty in the mountain.
There is peace and joy for me.
I will lift up my arms and praise the Lord,
and I will thank him for His blessings.
The Lord will commune there with me, and
I will be filled with joy.
I am on my way to the mountain.
I am going to the Lord.

Meditational writings for those experiencing the Great I Am.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

I Am

I Am
the mountain, the sky,
the sea, the waterfall.

I Am
the wind, the air, the flower,
and the brook.

All creation is Mine, for
I Am.

I Am the Life

I Am the Bread;
I Am the Life.
They who eat of Me
will have life eternal.

I Am the River of Life.
They who drink of Me
will thirst no more.

I Am the Shepherd.
They who hear My voice
will follow Me.

I Am the Gate.
They who follow Me
will see My Father.

My Father’s Love

One day I left my Father.
I don’t know why or how I could.
I thought, “My Father, He is the Great I Am,
the Creator of all things.
My Father has always loved me.”
So I turned back
because I was His child.
As I turned, I looked.
I was amazed.
See how He runs towards me?
See His tears?
Look! Look! Look on the hill!
See my Father?
Look! Look! Look on the hill!
See, He runs towards me.
See my Father?
See how He loves me?

Live In Truth

I am the Father.
He who believes in Me
will have eternal life.

I am the Son.
He who believes in Me
I will take to the Father.

I am the Holy Spirit.
He who believes in Me
will receive My gifts
and will live in truth.

Child of God

I am a child of God—
a flower among weeds.
I sit in the presence of God,
and I delight in Him.
He takes me as His own
and showers me with His love.
He sustains me with His Word.
I long for Him and look for His embrace,
for He has stirred the depths of my soul
and awakened my whole being.

Meditational writings of love for those who are experiencing a love for God.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

I Love You, Lord

I love You, Lord.
I praise Your holy name.
Walk with me.
Hold my hand.
Tell me of love.
I love You, Lord.
Show me Your ways;
teach me, Lord.
I give You my heart.
I love You, Lord.
Hold me close;
be with me forever.
Shine Your light
and guide me, Lord.
I love You, Lord.
I praise Your holy name.

Beloved of My Soul

Beloved of my soul, I love you so.
Beloved of my soul, I need you so.
The depth of my love is endless for You.
Now that I have found You,
I can never let You go.
You are with me always wherever I go.
No matter what the season, my love,
I will follow You.
In the spring, my heart will burst forth like
the buds on the trees.
In the summer, my heart will dance for joy
as the birds sing their melodious songs.

In the fall, my heart will reach new
heights of love as the trees and shrubs
reach their peak of beauty
as they change colors.
In the winter, my heart will die so that I
can be born again to eternal glory.
Beloved of my soul, I am on my way up
the glorious road to You.

I Can’t Escape My Lord

Lord, if I climb the highest mountain,
I would find You there.
If I went to the bottom of the sea,
You would still be there.
In the brightness of the day,
You walk beside me.
I can feel Your presence
in the stillness of the night.
In time of joy, You smile down upon me.
In time of sorrow, You comfort me.
Sweet Jesus, I see You always in the faces
of people I meet along the path
of my life.
I can never escape Your love.
Your love is vast like the universe.
Your love is gentle and soft like a
beautiful flower.
Your love is sweet like pure honey.
Because of Your great love,
I am able to love in return.
My love for You is like a circle: never ending.
My heart sings with joy,
for I am tied to You forevermore.

Love For All Seasons

Lord, I searched and searched for
someone to love, and then I found You.
Out of the depth of my heart
I pour out my love to You.
What can I compare my love to?
Does it matter what season it is?
For my love for You is for all seasons.
Who can I compare You to?
For there is none greater than You.
Just as the sand on the sea shore is
endless, my love for You is never ending.
My love for You shines bright like the
stars in the universe.
My heart is on fire for You, and I am
hopelessly in love with You.
Lord, what greater love story can there
be than my love for You and Your great
love for me for all of time?

Enter My Kingdom

I will love you forever
with an everlasting heart.
You shall be My people,
and I will be your God.
I will take you out of darkness
and bring you into the light.
Come walk, dance,
and skip along the way.
I will let you enter My Kingdom.
I will give you a white robe to wear
and a crown of glory.
I will love you forever
with an everlasting heart.

Meditational writings of comfort for those who are experiencing their journey to heaven.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Journey to Heaven

I am on a journey to heaven to see my Lord.
He waits for me with open arms.

The angels are singing;
the fragrance is heavenly.
The road is paved with gold.

The trees are swaying,
the flowers are blooming,
the birds are singing,
and all those I meet along the way
are dancing.
All are singing,
“Hallelujah!”

On the Holy Highway

On the holy highway,
I am coming to You, my Lord.
On the holy highway,
You will greet me, Lord.
Shine Your light to guide me
as I walk to You.
On this holy highway,
my life will start anew.
I will tell You how much I love You
as we walk arm in arm, my Lord.
I will see the beauty all around me
as the desert rejoices
and the roses bloom.
No more will I feel pain,
for there will only be joy.
I will feel Your peace
and see the glory of the Lord.
On this holy highway,
I am coming to You, my Lord.
On this holy highway,
Your light will guide me, Lord.

Stairway to Heaven

There is a stairway to heaven,
and there are angels all around.
I’m on my way to heaven
to become Jesus’ bride.
The angels play their harps,
and trumpets fill the air
with a melodious sound.
The clouds are soft and white like cotton
as I climb into the sky.
The sun is bright
and shines its light
as the angels guide me,
for I’m on my way to heaven,
nevermore to leave Jesus’ side.
What a banquet there will be—
an endless table set for you and me.
There will be no need for the sun, moon, and stars,
for Jesus will be our light.
The road of gold will shine like glass
as the glory of Jesus illuminates our path.
The River of Life will flow down the streets,
for the redeemed shall thirst no more.
Our foreheads will bear
the name of the Lamb,
and we shall reign with Him forever.

What is Paradise Like?

Paradise is green valleys,
blue skies, flowers, and beautiful colors.
Nothing dried out and dead,
but everything alive.
No darkness—only light.
Peace, love, and joy.
No worries and no pain.
Seeing God’s face.
Refreshing water;
singing and dancing
and praising God.

Do Not Weep

Do not weep for me.
Miss me and remember me with love.
Do not weep for me,
for I have gone to the Father.
My brother Jesus came to greet me.
He took me by the hand
and has taken me home.
I am washed in the blood of the Lamb
and have been given a garment of white.
Do not weep for me,
for I no longer know strife or pain.
My Lord has prepared a room for me
in one of His many mansions.
Do not weep for me,
but rejoice with me,
for I was called to be with the Light,
my Lord Jesus,
throughout eternity.

Meditational writings of joy for those experiencing the Joy of the Lord.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Joyful Noise

Make a joyful noise to the Lord!
Clap your hands!
Lift your voices!
Sing with joy!
Dance before the Lord!
Praise be to God on high!
Praised be His Holy Name!
Give glory to the Lord!
Let all the heavens and the earth
proclaim, “The Lord
is King!”

Wisdom

The joy of the Lord is upon me
as I lift my soul to Him.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
for He has done great things for me.
He has given me wisdom,
which is greater than gold.
I thank the Lord
from the depths of my heart.
I give praise and glory
to His Holy Name.
My soul rejoices, for
He has blessed me this day.

Sing a New Song

Sing a new song unto the Lord!
Hail your Lord—the King,
the Most High!
Dance for joy!
Lift up your arms and praise
the Lord, the King!
He is worthy of praise.
Give glory to our Lord!
Bow before the Lord,
and lift your voices in joy.
Sing a new song unto the Lord,
for Jesus Christ is King!

The Lord Has Ascended

Shout for joy!
Let the horns blast; let the cymbals clash!
Make a joyful noise; clap your hands!
Let everyone dance and
let there be laughter!
The angels cry, “Holy, Holy is Your Name!”
The Lamb once slain is crowned with glory.
This day the Lord has ascended to heaven.
Glory Hallelujah!

I Brought Back A Sheep

Let there be rejoicing in heaven
and in my heart, for I brought back a
sheep to You, Lord.
Let the angels play their harps and lyres,
let us all dance for joy, for I brought back
a sheep to You, Lord.
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, what joy,
Oh Lord, for I brought back a
sheep to You, Lord!
Let there be rejoicing;
let the trumpets blare!
Let there be peace and joy as Your voices
sing joyfully, for I brought back a
sheep to You, Lord!
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, what joy,
Oh Lord, for I brought back a
sheep to You, Lord!

Meditational writings of peace for those who are experiencing loneliness in their lives.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Never Alone

I thank You, Lord, for Your presence.
As I meditate by myself,
I am not alone.
You are with me shining Your light upon me
and blessing me.
When I am troubled, You comfort me.
When I have doubt, You reassure me.
When I cry, You wipe away my tears.
No matter where I go,
I am never alone,
for You live within me,
and every breath I take,
You are there.
You surround me with angels
to watch over me.
In the darkness of the night,
You illuminate my mind with Your presence.
Lord, I give praise, honor, and glory to You,
for in the darkness of this world,
Your light shines bright,
and I am never alone.

I Will Never Forget You

Beloved, know that I am with you
in good times and bad times.
I have engraved you in the palm of My hand.
I will never forget you.
I have created you so that one day,
you will spend eternity with Me.
Rejoice in knowing that I am near.
In your time of brokenness,
I will lift you up and I will place a blanket of love around you.
In your time of joy, the saints will rejoice with you.
Walk toward the light,
and My Son will greet you.
Rejoice and be glad,
for I am with you always.
Give praise to Me, and know that I am God!

Hello Lord

Hello Lord. It’s me again.
Hello Lord, see, I need a friend.
Hello Lord. I’m lonely.
Hello Lord, won’t You be my friend?

Have I told You how much I love you?
Have I told You how much I care?
Won’t You stay at my side?
Hello Lord, it’s me again.

Hello Lord, how I need You.
Hello Lord, I’m hurting.
Hello Lord, time seems to have no end.
Hello Lord, it’s me again.

Have I told You my heart yearns for You?
Have I told You I adore You?
Won’t you come and live in my heart?
Hello Lord, it’s me again.

Lord, You’re With Me

Lord, You’re with me
as we walk on the water
and I learn TRUST.

Lord, You’re with me
as we walk on the sand
holding hands
speaking of LOVE.

Lord, You’re with me
as we walk on a path
alongside of a mountain
and our voices are filled with LAUGHTER.

Lord, You’re with me
as we walk on a rainbow
filled with PEACE and JOY.

Lord, You’re with me to take me to the Father
and to be with me throughout ETERNITY.

Beside the Quiet Brook

Beside the quiet brook we sat.
You held my hand, Lord.
I told You of my joys and my sorrows.
You kissed my cheek, Lord,
and You told me how much You loved me.
In an instant, You let me see all the beauty around me.
I saw the water dancing
as the trees swayed and clapped their hands.
I heard the birds sing melodious songs.
I saw angels playing their harps and lyres.
Trumpets were blaring.
Beside the quiet brook
I praised You, Lord,
for there I found peace.

Meditational writings of hope for those who are experiencing a storm in their lives.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Storms

Like the constant moving sea,
so our lives move.
Sometimes our lives move smoothly and very serenely,
but like the sea,
storms can build up very quickly.
When we are caught up in a storm,
we are tossed about.
Fear can grip our hearts.
We wonder, “How can we survive the storm?
How can we save ourselves?”
Oh, we of little faith!
Can we not see
that only our Lord can help us?
Can we not see
that He is always with us
and will gather us in His arms
if we call upon Him?
It is the enemy of our soul
who puts fear in our hearts.
Our Lord is faithful.
He gives us His hand to cling to.
He alone can calm the storms
and put peace in our hearts again.
Sometimes we ride the waves
from one storm to another,
but if we trust God and look up to Him,
He will pick us up
and put us back on the ground.
Storms can be treacherous,
but if we abide in God,
He will abide in us and we can be assured
that He is always with us.

You Gave Me A Rainbow

Lord, I awoke this morning and saw the
blue sky and the sun shining.
Thank You for the joy of the blue sky and
the warmth of the sun.
The blue sky in my life is so peaceful.
The warmth of the sun is like
the blanket of love You place around me.
Your love, Your embrace,
is my security blanket.
As the sun touches me, so do You touch me
and You awaken my whole being, Lord.
You made the green trees and green grass.
Thank You for the softness and the
gentleness of the color green.
You are a mighty God,
yet like the color green,
You are soft and gentle.
Lord, You made the mountains, rivers,
and streams for me to enjoy.
How I thank You for all the beauty of nature!
You provide for me.
You are great like the mountains,
powerful like the waterfall,
and sometimes rough like the rivers
as You polish me like gold in a fire.
But then, You are so gentle like a stream
with Your love and compassion for me.
Lord, life can never be just blue skies
and sunshine.
There are times when there are
gray skies, rain, and storms.
The gray skies are there to remind me
that I am a sinner.
The rain that falls upon me reminds me
of You, Lord, as you forgave me
and washed away my sins.
There are times when there are storms
in my life.
The terrible storms, how they hurt.
There are times when I come before you
so broken with my heart opened wide.
You’re always there to take my heart
in Your loving hands
and kiss it and tell me of Your great love.
You’re always there
to calm the storm in my life
and to give me a blue sky
and sunshine again.
Lord, after the storm, You give me a rainbow—
a bridge for me to walk on
to be with You for all time.

Trust

Time is endless when you know the Lord.
Trust the Lord, for He is good
and worthy to be trusted.
When all seems lost
and you don’t know where to turn,
trust the Lord.
Give Him your anxieties
and let Him fill you with peace.
In your weakness, your brokenness,
and your littleness,
let the Lord take over for you.
Let Him strengthen you,
let Him lift you up,
let Him make you tall
as you allow Him to work in your life.
Nothing is impossible for the Lord
if you trust Him.
He can make all things new.
He can change your life in every situation
if you trust Him.
He is ready to take your hand
and lead you.
Trust the Lord
for He is worthy to be praised.

In My Dark Hour

Lord, in my dark hour,
You lifted me out of my despair.
In my dark hour,
You shined Your light upon me.
In my dark hour,
You comforted me.
In my dark hour,
You wiped away my tears.
In my dark hour,
You gave me hope.
In my dark hour,
You filled me with peace and joy.

A Thread

Our life is but a thread—
a thread held together by
FAITH:
faith in the Lord that He will see us through our
strife and pain.
Our life is but a thread—
a thread held together by
TRUST:
trust in the Lord that He will
take care of our needs.
Our life is but a thread—
a thread held together by
HOPE:
hope in the Lord that He will
always be with us.

Meditational writings of thanksgiving for those experiencing God’s blessings in their lives.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Thank You, Lord

I opened my eyes this morning
to another day—
thank You, Lord.
You watched over me while I slept—
thank You, Lord
Thank You for my eyes
so that I can see the beauty of the day.
Thank You for my ears
so I can hear all the sounds around me.
Thank You for my nose
so I can have the sense of smell.
Thank You for my mouth
so that I can receive the bread of life.
Thank You for my hands and arms
so that I can work
and be able to embrace all I meet
along the way this day.
Thank You for my legs and feet
so that I am able to kneel
humbly before You.
Lord, although the world is not perfect,
thank You for letting me
be able to be a part of it.
For all these blessings, Lord,
I thank You.

Creator of All

Father, Creator of all the universe,
I love You.
Thank You
for calling me by name.
Thank You
for sending Your Son Jesus to redeem me.
Thank You
for all the beauty of the earth,
for who but You could give us
a beautiful sunrise and sunset?
Who but You could create
a tree or beautiful flower?
Father, let Jesus, my brother,
one day bring me before Your throne,
for I long to see You face to face.

Praise, Honor, and Glory

Praise, honor, and glory, my Lord.
Praise to You, Oh Lord.
Praise Father, Son, and Spirit—
Holy Trinity One.

Thank You for Your nearness, my Lord.
Thank You for Your love, Oh Lord.
Thank You for this gift of life.
Thank You, my Lord.

Blessed are You now and forever, my Lord.
Blessed is Your Holy Name, Oh Lord.
Blessed am I because of Your Spirit.
Blessings, my Lord.
Blessings, my Lord.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your love and
for teaching me how to love.
Thank you for giving me Your grace
even though I did nothing to earn it.
Thank You for opening
my eyes and ears
so that I can see Jesus in the people
around me and that I can
hear and understand Your Word.
Thank You for blessing me and
for calling me out of darkness
into the Light.
Thank You for abiding in me and
for letting me abide in You.
Thank You for caring about me and
for not leaving my side despite the
trials I go through.
Thank you for being the good Father
and for admonishing me when I need it.
Lord, this is a world where there is
an evil force all around me.
But You send Your angels to form a
hedge around me and protect me.
Thank You.
Thank You for putting the love of nature
in my heart
and for letting me see You
in all this beauty.

Meditational writings for those experiencing the voice of God calling them into the harvest fields.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

The Harvest

My children, the harvest is
white and ready, yes, ready,
but where are all the laborers?
There are so few of you.
My children, there are souls
who hunger and thirst.
There are souls
who are doomed for the pit
because there are not enough laborers.
Come, My children, come to My fields.
I will rain upon My people
and soak them with My love.
My children, I need you to preach, to teach, and to spread the Good News.
How will these lost souls know Me
if you do not go out
and tell them about Me?
As you proclaim the Good News,
I will melt the hearts of My people.
I will let them turn from their ways.
I will shine My light upon them and
I will love them with an everlasting love.
My children, the harvest is ready.
Will you give up your earthly pleasures
to serve Me?
As you serve Me, I will pour My blessings upon you and when you call Me,
I will hear you.

Lord, How Can I Serve You?

Lord, how can I serve You?
Lord, what can I do?
Lord, light my pathway.
Lord, what can I do?
Open the door
that I should walk through.
Show me which way to go.
Guide me so that I won’t stumble.
Lord, may I always be humble.
Send me those souls which are lost
so that I may be a witness for You.
Shower me with Your blessings and
fill me with Your peace and joy.

Let Me Be a Shepherd

There are many who do not know You, Lord.
There are many who search.
There are many who do not know Your love.
There are many lost sheep.

There are many who do not know You, Lord.
There are many who have false desires.
There are many who do not know Your joy.
There are many lost lambs.

There are many who do not know You, Lord.
There are many who hunger and thirst.
There are many who do not know
Your peace.
There are many lost sheep.

Let me bring them back.
Let me bring them back.
Let me be a shepherd.

Let me bring them back.
Let me bring back a sheep.
Let me bring back the lambs.

Let me be a shepherd.
Let me bring them back.

My Little One

My little one, I have loved you
from the beginning of time.
I called you so that you would serve Me.
The harvest is ready, My little one,
but the laborers are few.
Go forth and bring back more laborers
to work in My vineyards.
I have charged you to take care of My people
like a shepherd who watches over his flock.
Preach the Good News to My people so that
they may know that I am their God.
I am El Shaddai.
I am the beginning and the end.
No other god shall they worship.
Teach them the way of truth. I will shine My
light upon you and I will guide you.
Lift up your heart to Me and praise Me
for I am your Lord, your God.
I will lead you down a path
you have never walked before.
Trust Me and do My will.
I will bless you and you will have
a closer walk with Me.
I will cleanse you with rivers of everlasting
water and I will make you a new creation.
My little one, serve Me
with joy in your heart for
I love you!

Your Instrument

Jesus Lord, Lord of my life,
let me be the instrument of Your peace.
Let me embrace all I meet along the way.
Let me tell my brothers and sisters
of Your love.
Let me show them the way
to truth, love, and joy.
Let me tell them of Your faithfulness
and how You will never leave them.
Let me guide them
on their journey to You.
Jesus Lord, Lord of my life,
You are the rainbow in the sky.
You are the gate to the Father’s throne.
You are the Light that illuminates
the path we are to walk on.
Jesus Lord, Lord of my life,
bless us
and fill us
with Your peace.

Meditational writings pointing to the seasons.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

The Robin

Lord, as the mother robin sits on her eggs
and keeps them warm,
so do You keep me warm
with Your blanket of love.
The indwelling of Your Holy Spirit in me
feeds my soul
just as the mother robin feeds her young.
You send Your angels to protect me
just as the mother robin watches
and protects her little ones.
Like the baby robins who grow
from the nourishment
the mother robin gives them,
so do I grow from the nourishment
of Your Word.
As the baby robins grow and learn to fly
and leave their nest,
I also am able to go out and take care of the affairs of my Father.
Thank You for Your Spirit,
Your Word, and truth
so that I can go out daily
and share what You have given me
with others.
Like the robins who fly,
let me also fly high in Your Spirit
so that one day we shall meet face to face.

The Wings of the Wind

Lord, let me ride on the wings of the wind
as I soar to Thee.
Along the way,
let me sit on a cloud
as I look in wonderment
at the beauty of the sky.
Look down upon me
and bless me
as I lift up my praises to Thee.
As I ride on the wings of the wind,
fill my heart with joy
as the excitement swells within my soul
as I reach Thee.

The Butterfly

Like the butterfly
who emerges from the cocoon,
so it is with us when we leave the cocoon
of our old ways
and become a new creation in God.

Like the butterfly
who soars to new heights,
so shall we soar to new heights
in the Lord.

Like the butterfly
who is free,
so are we free when we leave our sinful past
and abide in God.

Like the butterfly
who has new life,
so it is with us when we accept
Jesus as the Lord of our lives.

Majestic Tree

Oh majestic tree, how tall you stand
as you lift your branches toward the sky.
Even you praise the Lord
as you lift your branches toward heaven.
Oh majestic tree, how beautiful you are
with your leaves of green.
As the wind blows softly
and kisses each branch,
how gently your branches sway.
In the fall, you reach a new height of beauty
as your leaves turn colors
before they fall to the ground.
In the winter, your branches are bare
as you sleep,
but again how beautiful you are
when the snow becomes
a blanket upon you.
In the spring, how beautiful you are
when you awake from your sleep and buds form on your branches.
As spring lets go to summer
and the buds have burst into
beautiful leaves,
how majestic you are.
Oh majestic tree, you are a miracle,
for who but God could have made you?

The Garden of My Life

Jesus, walk in the garden of my life.
Plant the seeds of love, joy, kindness,
and a gentle spirit in me.
Take out the weeds of anger and pride
and resentfulness.
Water this garden of my life with love.
Let Your love germinate in me
and help me to be a willing bondslave
of my Lord.
Let Your light be the sun shining in my life
which will let me grow into
a beautiful flower
in Your eyes.

Meditational writings of the seasons.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

What Season is Best of All?

Winter, spring, summer, or fall—
Lord, what season is best of all?
How can I compare the beauty
of a silent night
as the flakes of snow fall gently
on the ground
to the beauty of spring as the trees
become alive
and buds form on the branches?
Lord, how can I compare the beauty of Your blanket of snow
that covers the trees as they sleep
to the beauty of spring
as the earth renews itself
and gives life to nature?
How can I compare
the wonderment of spring
to summer as the flowers bloom and the warmth of the sun returns?
How can I compare
the excitement of summer
and its time of relaxing
to the beauty of fall
when the trees and shrubs
turn from green into lovely fall colors
and reach a new height of beauty?
Lord, just as You created
the seasons of nature,
You also created the seasons of our lives.
All seasons have their beauty
just as all seasons in our lives are beautiful
and should be lived to the fullest
in Your love, peace, and joy.

Spring is Here

Lord, as the earth renews itself in the spring,
let me be renewed as I accept You in my life.

As winter lets go to spring,
let me shed my old ways
and allow Your Spirit to live within me
that I may have life again.

Like the buds on the trees that burst
so that leaves may grow,
let Your love burst within me.

Fill me with Your living water
that I may grow.

As the flowers give forth
a beautiful fragrance,
let my praises to You give out
a beautiful fragrance
that will rise to reach You.

Cut out the evil in my life, Lord,
just as the weeds are cut down
that I may come to You with a pure heart.

Let this spring in my life
be the beginning of new life
that will one day lead me home to You.

Amen

The Sunshine of Your Love

Lord, fill me with the sunshine of Your love.
Lead me into pastures of peace and joy.
Sit on the throne in my heart,
and reign over my life.
Let there be a quietness in my soul
that I have never known before.
Fence me in, Lord,
that I may not see the world around me.
Help me to keep my eyes lifted up to You.
Let the sunshine of Your love
shine through me
and let me bring glory to You.

Shining Light

I saw a light shining in the dark
and I walked towards the light.
I felt a glow of love.
As I got closer to the light, I saw Jesus
beckoning me to come to Him.
I put my hand in His,
and He took me down a beautiful path.
The springs of water were dancing
as the birds flew gracefully over the water.
The trees swayed as the wind
kissed each branch.
The flowers gave out a heavenly fragrance,
and the sun warmed my heart.
My heart jumped with joy, for I saw
the lion playing with the lamb.
We walked on a holy highway
which seemed to have no end.
On this highway,
my Lord told me
I was redeemed.

Autumn

Autumn is a time of beauty.
It is a time when our Lord touches the earth
and changes it into a wonderland.

The leaves on the trees change
into elegant colors
as they reach the height of their beauty.

Weeds become beautiful
as the Lord’s hand gently touches them.

Many of us have lived lives like weeds—
growing wild, not really caring about others.
But once we found our Lord,
we have become beautiful
like the weeds in autumn.

Meditational writings for those who are experiencing a new life in the Holy Spirit.

Written by Sandie Balistreri — Copyright 2010

Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill my heart with Your love.
Let Your Spirit flow through me so that I may
show love and compassion to all people.
Let me be Your guiding light to bring my
brothers and sisters to kneel before You.
Let me be Your shepherd
in search of lost sheep.
Let me bring peace into troubled hearts.
Holy Spirit, let me be Your finger to point
to the road to Your eternal glory.
Let me be Your hands to embrace the
sick and the dying so that they can
come to You without fear.
Holy Spirit, let me be Your instrument
to help the poor of spirit find nourishment
in the Bread of Life.
Holy Spirit, let those who are lost
find the path once again to You.
Let Your love shine upon us all.

Your Spirit Touched Me

On a mountain,
I met You, Lord.

On a mountain,
we communioned, Lord.

On a mountain,
the heavens opened up.

On a mountain,
Your Spirit touched me, Lord.

Spirit of God

Spirit of God,
I love You.
Spirit of God,
descend upon me.
Spirit of God,
breathe upon me.
Spirit of God,
fill me.
Spirit of God,
bless me.
Spirit of God,
guide me.
Spirit of God,
show me Your truth.

Dry Bones

Dry bones, wake up, for the Lord is here.
Do you not feel the water flowing
over you as the Spirit of the Lord
floods the land?
You have been dead for so long,
but now there is life again.
The Spirit of the Lord
is sending the winds from the
north, south, east, and west
to breathe upon you.
Let the new flesh upon your bones
be like the new wine in new wineskins.
Repent of your sins.
Come alive.
Feel the glory of the Lord.
Let His presence in you
make you jump and cry,
“Hallelujah!
The King is Here!”

Hallelujah!

The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me
and gave me new life.
He made me a new creation
so that I can spend life eternal with Him.
Glory and praise
I lift up to the Lord,
and I sing,
“Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!”