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Shomair Yisrael, TN

Shabbat Service - livestream

every Shabbat morning
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El Shaddai, MD

Shabbat Service - livestream

every Shabbat morning
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http://escfrederick.com

Rosh Pina, Owings Mill, MD

Interactive Tabernacle Worship Service & Torah Study

every Shabbat morning
10:45am

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Brit Hadasha, TN

Shabbat Service - streamed

every Shabbat morning
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http://www.brithadasha.org/videos

OUR BLOG

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So, you’d like to see a Tikkun ministry planted in your city? Amen! The process of planting a congregation has been one of  the most rewarding experiences of my life. The relational breakthroughs were definite highlights—seeing people move  from stagnation to zeal, to develop their gifts, to receive a physical healing or be set free from a demonic torment. At the same time, planting has been the most challenging assignment. About once a year I would feel like quitting. My wife  allowed me about a 24–48-hour window to be frustrated, look for some “stress-free” career at a jobs website, and  ultimately realize that I was just wasting my time with this “searching.” The challenges were hard; they really were. But it  is the turtle who wins the race. It’s not hard; just show up. The challenges were necessary, and our city benefited greatly  when we kept plugging away. Read the full article here: Issue 31 [...]
Day 163 of the War. Anti-semitism is increasing dramatically and the world is seeing Israel as the cruel oppressor. Several countries are threatening sanctions against weapons sales to Israel if they go into Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza and where the IDF believes the hostages are being held. The international community doesn’t want Israel to fight this final battle which Israel deems essential because they are concerned, or so they say, about civilian casualties. Hamas is controlling the flow of humanitarian aid and the Gazans are suffering and Israel is being blamed for not doing enough. Interestingly, there is very little international outcry or demand for the release of the hostages in the midst of all this. The United States is putting tremendous pressure on Israel to not go into Rafah during this month of Ramadan as it can cause violent eruptions, which is just what Sinwar, the Hamas chief in Gaza, is trying to make happen. Israel is blamed for not agreeing to a ceasefire when it is Sinwar who is silent and enjoying the pressure being applied to Israel. Hamas is demanding what they know to be totally unreasonable conditions and Netanyahu is being backed into a corner of isolation as the world blames him for mishandling the war effort. Everyone seems to have forgotten why we entered the war in the first place. A ceasefire is more important than eradicating the terrorist threat while there are terrorist attacks in Israel every day with someone wounded or killed. Just recently, a terrorist knifed a soldier in the back and though fatally wounded, the soldier managed to get his gun out and kill the terrorist. He died of the knife wounds soon after. The world thinks that if only there were two states – peace would reign. The lies spread like fire while the truth is a whisper that most don’t hear. We continue to fight the war inside the country and outside against world opinion. We are doing well against Hamas militarily but we seem to be losing against the lies that the world believes. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness in high places. This is the same spiritual battle that Israel has been fighting since the beginning. From their slavery in Egypt and Pharaoh’s command to the midwives to kill all the Hebrew baby boys to the church fathers being deaf and blind to the words of their own Savior, who spoke of His undying love for those of His own family, the Jews have been the object of centuries of church persecution including expulsion from every nation where they were living to suffering through plans for their extinction that would arise in each generation, culminating in the Holocaust. Has there every been a nation of people who were hated and despised with such intensity? Although by the mighty hand of God, Israel was reborn as a result of all this suffering and returned to their own Land after thousands of years of wandering, the warfare has not abated but only intensified, finally reaching a new level on October 7th with the devastating massacre by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war and its commitment to eradicate this evil. And what is amazing is that no one seems to question why this is happening to this relatively tiny group of peace loving people who have had to fight for their right to exist without a break. Even in an obviously justified war, the forces of evil who are committed to Jewish destruction have succeeded in turning good into evil and Israel has had to defend itself against charges of genocide and occupation. Satan hates Yeshua but since he can’t touch Him, he has determined to destroy His precious and beloved family – those of His own race – the Jewish people. And though he started with the Jews, he won’t end with them. All those called by His name are His family and will ultimately be the objects of the destructive fury of satan. Islamic Jihad wants the whole world under its control, not just the Middle East. Please stand with us and pray fervently during this season of Purim. Read the book of “Esther” and recognize that we are in the same struggle now as then. Haman had a plan to kill all the Jews in the empire but through the courage of Mordecai and Esther in the mercy of God, the plan was thwarted and Haman killed. Pray and fast with us on the day that commemorates the Fast of Esther – Thursday March 21. Pray for the tearing down of the demonic strongholds and for victory on the ground. Pray against the spirit of division which is raising its destructive head once again. The hostage families are heart-breakingly desperate for a deal and there are continual demonstrations which have been joined with demonstrations against the government and calls for new elections. Once again, the demonstrators are closing the highway and police have to disperse them. Politics has taken center stage and is fueling the division. The USA is also promoting this division by its need to tell us how to run this war! May unity prevail! Pray for PM Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz that they can take their stand against the devil’s schemes and listen to heavenly counsel. May they make wise decisions and recognize their need for supernatural strength in these difficult and tumultuous times. The anti-semitism is causing Aliyah requests to rise significantly. God is calling His people home. Israel is the only place for Jews who want to live free of anti-semistism. It is not always easy to live here but always worth the challenge. Please pray that there would be wide open doors for all Jews and especially the Messianic believer who is currently denied entry. In spite of all the grief and mourning and intensity of these days, in His presence is fullness of joy! At Ahavat Yeshua, we rejoice to gather together each week and we can feel the hand of favor upon us as we join our hearts to praise and worship the King. We have at least four women pregnant and two gave birth a few weeks ago on the same day! We have many young strong couples and we feel an excitement in the spirit each week. There is a special anointing on our children and they like to sit in the front row and dance and worship with all their heart. We can see the next generation of leaders being groomed in our midst. What an encouragement and joy to witness! Please continue to pray for our congregation, Ahavat Yeshua that we would always be a place of love and a refuge in the storm, a beacon of light in these dark days and for the name of Yeshua to go forth from us and be a magnet drawing people in. Pray protection for all our soldiers and for these young ones. May they grow in love for their Messiah and may no weapon formed against them prosper. Last week there was a national woman’s conference attended by 500 women which broke all previous records. We were blessed by the turnout and the unity in the spirit and the hunger for the comfort of the Lord in these days. Pray for more of these kind of unifying events as we continue to grow as a national Body in wisdom, strength and unity and take our place in the international Body to which we are joined. I thank you deeply for your faithful support and for standing always with us as we fight the good fight of faith. We are strengthened by your love as we battle the forces of hate. You are a blessing! We continue to proclaim the promises of God. Israel will always continue to exist and will yet be a light to the nations. Great and wonderful things are on the horizon. The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this as we labor together with Him to establish His kingdom in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. With love from Zion, [...]
John 17:17 Make them holy in the truth. Your word is truth. There is a lot of mention here (in Yeshua’s prayer) of “them.” To whom is Yeshua referring? Let’s look back and see. Yeshua’s prayer begins in John 17:1, and continues for the entire chapter. Yeshua prays to the Father throughout. He starts by including Himself in the first person in the first 3 verses, then He includes Himself in the third person in verses 4 and 5. In verse 6, a transition takes place. Yeshua includes His disciples … John 17:6b the men of this world that You gave Me. Is Yeshua’s prayer limited to the 12 Apostles, or does it include all future disciples? We’re not quite there yet, however; Yeshua answers my question just a few verses later. John 17:20 I pray not on behalf of these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. Welcome to the family of God. Yeshua is praying for you, if you have believed the message. What is “the message?” Why, it’s the gospel. And the true gospel is the correct answer to this question, first asked to all the Apostles, but answered by Peter … Matthew 16:13 When Yeshua came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” … Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. The message is a correct understanding of Who Yeshua is. Matthew 16:18b “… +upon this rock I will build My community. This is the promised foundation stone. Psalm 118:22-23 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. It is from Adonai: it is marvelous in our eyes! With all this discussion about who “them” is, we might miss the main point of the verse, to “make ‘them’ holy” in the truth of the Word of God. To be made holy is to be set apart and separated. This is a reference to last time’s teaching, part 78, that we are no longer of the world. How does this happen? God’s word brings us conviction to change. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. And how do we know “what is the will of God?” We read it in His (Will and) Testament. Rabbi Trail: I hate to end on a Rabbi Trail, but today I am. Everyone who comes to Shomair has a story to tell. For many of them (perhaps you, yourself) a search for truth is part of that story. It is important to find truth, but find truth in the discernment of His will and not in our judgment. The point is to be inclusive rather than exclusive. Why should we be angry at someone who is at a different place on the Road to Jerusalem? They may even be where we used to be. Romans 14:4a Who are you to judge another’s servant? We are all many parts of one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body – though many – are one body, so also is Messiah. For in one Ruach we were all immersed into one body – whether Jewish or Greek, slave or free – and all were made to drink of one Ruach. For the body is not one part, but many. I’m not saying to love sin, but I am saying to love people. Colossians 3:14-15 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfect harmony. Let the shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts – to this shalom you were surely called in one body. Also be thankful. [...]
John 17:16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Yeshua is making a statement. His statement is in the form of a prayer. As is true of all prayer, Yeshua’s prayer is directed to God, however; we are actively listening as part of the conversation. While Yeshua is telling God that both He and we are not of this world, He is also telling us, so don’t miss it. Rabbi Trail: One other thought before we dive into the implications of living “not of this world.” Prepositions are interesting. We frequently use them interchangeably. In our routine communication, “of” easily gets mixed with “in, about, because, and from.” However; we must believe that Yeshua prayed His word choice “of this world” with intentionality. End RT. This world has expectations and those who are “of this world” live accordingly. Basically, the expectation of this world is that everyone will be out for himself/herself. The world teaches survival of the fittest. Hillel, well known Jewish sage en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_the_Elder, is quoted, “If I am not for me, who will be for me?” He is setting up a false “me first” narrative. Rabbi Trail: To Hillel’s credit, he went on to say, “If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” While Hillel includes loving others, he doesn’t put love of others ahead of love of self, as Yeshua does. John 13:34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. And I couple that with this … John 15:13 No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. End RT. When we are born from above, everything changes. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. This describes radical change for those “in Messiah.” Being “in Messiah” requires no longer being “of this world.” Bottom line, if we are no longer of this world, we should stop trying to act like it. Yeshua is speaking, are we listening? [...]

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