Brian is a well known Bible teacher with a particular emphasis on Biblical end time events. Believing that these events are already underway, he believes that the Rapture of the Church to glory is imminent. Brian and Gilly (pic here with Bethan)travel throughout the UK and he also teaches in Europe and the USA. Although they are regularly in fellowships and churches who know them well, they are most happy to visit new venues to bring the message of the Gospel and the nearness of Christs return.
Friday, 11 September 2015
"CHOOSE LIFE" - A VOICE FOR ISRAEL NEWSLETTER FROM PARASHAH NITZAVIM!
Greetings from the Land of Israel - a land which is currently covered in a thick film of dust! Not sure exactly where it blew in from (Syria?) but some people have already been hospitalised with respiratory issues
Here is a photo where the Temple Mount is totally obscured by the dust.
Photo by Talia Good
The Scriptures tells us of a time that would be like this:
“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:2)
With us being in the month of Elul, a time of preparation for the Fall Feasts of the Lord (Moadim), I hope that this unnatural occurrence is not an ominous sign. I am reminded of Moses in Egypt, throwing dust into the air and fine dust covered the whole land of Egypt, becoming the plague of boils upon all of the people and animals of Egypt.
“Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land.” (Exodus 9:8-9)
The storm also hit Syrian refugee camps near the Lebanese city of Baalbek
Roads were barely visible in the Syrian city of Homes
In this week’s parashah, Nitzavim (You are Standing) Israel is standing before God, about to enter into a Covenant with Him.
“You are standing (nizavim) this day all of you before the Lord your God…that you should enter into the covenant of the Lord your God….”(Deuteronomy 29:9-11)
God set before the Jewish people two diametrically opposed choices: life and good - or death and evil (et ha'chayim v'et ha'tov; v'et hamavet v'et hara). Just as a good father might instruct his son or daughter as to what is the best decision to make, God advised His children to choose life.
“ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
What does this show us? These verses reveal that God gave us the Torah as a guide to what is good and what is evil – what is right and what is wrong - but it is up to each individual to either live according to God’s Word - or conforming to the moral standards of the world.
This coming Sunday evening (September 13th, 2015) begins Yom Zikaron Tru’ah (shout), at which time we are to hear the sound of the shofar and repent for our misdeeds.
The Hebrew word for repentance, t’shuvah, comes from the root ‘shuv’ – meaning ‘return’.
God spoke to the Jewish people who had been scattered into exile, promising that if they would return to Him, then He would gather them and return them to their own land where He would bless and prosper His people Israel.
“…and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.” (Deuteronomy 30:2-3)
We are so blessed to be living in a day when God is gathering together the exiles of Israel and bringing us home to our land.
There are those who believe that it is just too hard to obey God or keep His ways; but God promises that it will not be too difficult for us to walk in obedience to His Torah.
“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.”
(Deuteronomy 30:11)
"For this commandment . . . is not . . . beyond the sea, that you should say: ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us . . . ?’" (Deuteronomy 30:11–13.)
May you be mightily blessed at this season as you hear the sound of the ‘Truah’ (shout/blast).
“ God (Elohim) אֱלֹהִים is gone up amidst the shout תְרוּעָה (Tru’ah) , the LORD amidst the sound of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (ram’s horn).” (Psalm 47:6)
To read this week's bonus study questions click HERE
I hope and pray it will be a blessing to you and others. Please feel free to share.
Thank you so much for standing so faithfully together with us here in the Land of Israel.
We have been so blessed by your prayers and encouragement especially lately as we went through a rough transition to being back in the Land. I am very pleased to report that our last remaining suitcase has been found with all its contents intact – (including Avi’s special Bar Mitzvah gifts) halleluyah!
It seems to me that this is how the Body of Messiah is meant to love, care for, pray for and support one another. A couple of days ago, I was running some errands at the mall and was feeling quite discouraged. I walked into a shop operated by a very nice, religious Jewish man and noticed a couple of ladies speaking English to him. They were repeatedly blessing him and repenting for the actions of their American president with regards to Israel.
We struck up a conversation and I found out that they had come on an ‘I Stand With Israel’ tour to pray for and bless this land and people. They asked if they could pray for me and so, right there on the spot, they prayed for God to heal me and meet all of my needs. I was so touched by their compassion and began to weep as the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) descended right in the middle of the store. I know that this was a divine appointment; and it let me know that God cares what I am going through.
I thank God for each and every one of you – whether you pray from your own home, or here in the Land. You are so needed and very much appreciated and I know the God of Israel will bless you in return! Thank you for being faithful to your calling to ‘love one another’.
To send a special festival offering, please click on the donate button below.
P.S. Good news – Liat has downloaded a new video on our You Tube channel: THE MIKVAH (Baptism). A little while ago I sent you an article and photos of a mikvah we helped with in Canada.
Some of you have been asking for more Hebrew worship songs on You Tube so this video starts with two songs about the Holiness of God (Kadosh Atah).
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