Isaiah 62
6I
have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which
shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make
Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.
The alliance between Beit Yeshua, Highway To Zion and Love
For His People continues strong into 2012 with a quarterly
meeting in Mooresville, NC, in January. We're all looking
forward to what the Lord has in store for 2012.
The Machol Dancers resumed their Israeli Folk Dance classes in
February 2012 after a two month break during November and
December of 2011. The first class was small as we started
making plans for three performance pieces for 2012 and worked on
some dances we've not practiced in a while.
During 2012 Beit Yeshua continued it's Erev Shabbat Home-Group
meetings in Lincolnton, NC - rotating between Doug & Lynda's
home and Chuck & Janice's home.
Chuck & Janice moved
into their new home in February 2012
Toward the end of 2011 the decision was made to incorporate a
conversational Hebrew class at the beginning of the home-group
meeting. To accomplish this we decided to push back the start of
the meeting to 7:30 pm in order to add the 30-minute Hebrew
class at the beginning of the evening. Those with an
interest in learning more of the language arrived prior to 7:00
pm and the rest of the group arriving prior to 7:30. We
started off with about 20 in the class with Carolyn serving as
facilitator and instructor.
The conversational Hebrew Class
To learn some basic conversational Hebrew
CLICK HERE
A time of prayer for Israel
followed by a time of praise, worship and dance
The focus for the Midrash during 2012 will be the weekly
Haftarah portions
Doug led the group in a Torah (1st 5-Books of the Bible),
Haftarah (Prophets)
& Brit Chadasha (New Testament) discussion
Professor Ahashuerus (Gideon), Gilligan (Will), Haman Howell III
(Bill)
& Zeresh Howell (Janice), Vashti Grant (Susan), Esther-Ann
Mordechai (Myrl)
and Skipper Mordechai (Andy)
Esther-Ann Mordechai
is Skipper's cousins,
but he raised her as a daughter after the death of her parents
[Left to Right - Skipper Mordechai, Ester-Ann and Gilligan]
Vashti Grant is a famous theater performer - and she descends
from King Nebuchadnezzer
Haman Howell III (and Zeresh Howell) is a millionaire - an
Agagite - and he hates Jews
[Left to Right - Professor Ahashuerus, Haman Howell III & Zeresh
Howell]
Professor Ahashuerus is elected ruler on Shushan Isle after the
unfortunate ship wreck
Haman's evil deeds
are revealed and he pleads for mercy
Highway To Zion hosted Chuck Cohen, Director of INTERCESSORS FOR
Israel, Jerusalem, Israel, on Friday, March 16, 2012, at
Raintree Country Club, 8600 Raintree Lane, Charlotte, NC 28277.
Chuck Cohen is Director and Board Member of INTERCESSORS FOR
ISRAEL based in Jerusalem. He travels extensively around the
world in prayer ministry, leading prayer teams to strategic
places to defend Israel among the nations, open doors for
evangelism and aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel). He
imparts the message to the "watchmen on the walls" to take their
positions in this day of battle to prepare the way for the
Lord’s return. Chuck preaches, teaches and writes about the
God-given commission of Believers in Yeshua ha Mashiach to stand
with Israel and the Jewish people. He is involved with several
international conferences in Jerusalem and has been featured on
Christian television and radio programs. He and his wife,
Karen, have written Roots of Our Faith, a study of the
Old Testament (Tanach) foundations of New Testament doctrine.
Chuck shared a wonderful message for the evening
To Hear CHUCK COHEN's Teaching from
the Evening,
Click on the YouTube Video links below
Highway To Zion hosted journalist David Dolan on Friday, March
30, 2012, at Raintree Country Club, 8600 Raintree Lane, Charlotte, NC 28277.
David
Dolan is a Jerusalem-based author and journalist who travels and
speaks extensively about current events in Israel as they
pertain to God’s plans for the Jewish people and the unfolding
of Biblical prophecy. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest
United States, he has lived in Israel since 1980. After serving
as News Director at the Voice of Hope Christian radio station in
south Lebanon from 1982 until 1984, he reported from Jerusalem
for CBN television and radio news, the Chicago-based Moody
Broadcasting Network, and for 12 years with the American CBS
radio network. He also writes regularly for many Christian and
secular publications, including the Jerusalem Post. He is
the author of several books, including, HOLY WAR FOR THE
PROMISED LAND, ISRAEL IN CRISIS: WHAT LIES AHEAD?, THE END OF
DAYS, and the recently released, MILLENNIUM: THE LORD REIGNS.
David shared part of his personal story - about the 3 books he
has written - and gave an update about things concerning Israel.
Steve & Laurie
Martin of Love For His People led praise and worship,
accompanied by
Patty (of Highway To Zion on keyboard), Gideon & Wane (of Beit
Yeshua on guitar & bass),
and Ron (on drums)
Curtis led dancers
from Beit Yeshua and Highway To Zion in Israeli Folk Dance
Cathy introduced
David Dolan
David Dolan shared the message for the evening
To Hear DAVID DOLAN's Teaching from
the Evening,
Click on the YouTube Video links below
Beit Yeshua joined with family and friends at they hosted their
1tenth annual Pesach Seder on Friday, April 6, 2012. Using a
combination of low tables (to give a sense of Pesach during the
time of Yeshua) and high/regular tables, seating for 200+
registered guest was provided in the Family Life Center at
Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton, NC. The 2012 Seder
included 5 Pastors as well as other church, Jewish-Roots
and Messianic leaders from the Piedmont area of North Carolina -
with guests from Denmark, Australia, Mexico and Peru.
Low tables and
Israel backdrop mural
A combination of low
and regular seating
Shofarot are sounded
Beit Yeshua was blessed to have Pastors from 5
different churches with us for the 2012 Pesach Seder
Pastor Bill Carrier
and family from Christ Commissioned Church, Conover, NC
The ladies danced
the Israeli Folk Dance "O Give Thanks" to the song "Be Unto Your
Name"
Curtis leads men,
women and children in 3 simple Israeli Folk Dances - including
Zemer Atik...
... Od Lo Ahavti Dai
...
... and "Im Hu Pal
Nu"
We
were blessed to have so many men willing to get out and worship
God through dance
Susan leads the ladies as festival
candles are lit
Curtis &
Doug lead the Beit Yeshua Pesach Seder
The first cup of wine/juice is
drunk - The Cup of Sanctification
Jude asked the 4 questions
Three matzot are wrapped together for Passover. There are
various explanations for this ceremony. The rabbis call these
three a “Unity”. Some consider it a unity of the patriarchs -
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Others explain it as a unity of
worship - the priests, the Levites, and the people of Israel.
We who know Messiah can also see in this the unique tri-unity of
Yahweh – the Father, Yeshua – the Son, and Ruach Ha Kodesh – the
Holy Spirit. Three in one.
A finger is dipped into the
wine/juice and dripped onto a napkin as the plagues are recited:
Blood, Frogs, Lice, Beast, Cattle Disease, Boils, Hail, Locusts,
Darkness,
Death of the Firstborn
As the evening ends, we say the
traditional Jewish blessing, "Next Year in Jerusalem" -
a hope that we'll be able to observe Pesach in Jerusalem next
year during this season
Beit Yeshua, Highway To Zion and Love For His People met
on Friday, April 27th, 2012, 7 pm, in the Family Life Center of
Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton, NC, to celebrate An Evening
Honoring Israel. The meeting celebrated Israel's 64th Birthday
since Israel's rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948.
As everyone begins
to arrive, Susan and Carolyn SKYPE with some other "very
special" friends
at Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem
The shofarot (ram's horns) are sounded as the evening begins
Cathy Hargett, Director of Highway To Zion,
welcomed guests at the evening began
- shared scripture - and prayed over the group.
Cathy shares with the group
To see the YouTube video of Cathy sharing,
CLICK HERE
Paul holds the Israeli flag as everyone sings "Hatikvah"
Beit Yeshua's Machol Dancers performed the Israeli Folk Dance "Ashreinu"
to the song by Avraham Fried
We were blessed to have Gid Anthony lead us during
the first part of our congregational
praise, worship and dance
Gid on electric guitar, Tim on drums and David on bass
We took a 20-minute break to let everyone
visit the numerous displays we had set up for the evening
Doug hosts one of
the thirteen displays that were exhibited for the evening
Guest ministries
displays
Wane Daroux, originally from Dominica, is a gifted musician and
song writer. He is in the process of
putting together his first CD of original Messianic music.
Wane shared two of his songs at the
2012 Evening Honoring Israel
Wane performs two of his original Messianic songs from his
upcoming CD
To see the YouTube video of Wane singing
"Baruch Atah Adonai",
CLICK HERE
To see the YouTube video of Wane singing
"When Yeshua Comes Again",
CLICK HERE
Dr. Bill & Cindi Duerfeldt of Christian Friends of Israel,
Jerusalem,
were two of our guest speakers for the evening
Steve Martin of Love For His People introduces Bill & Cindi
To see the YouTube video of Steve
introducing Bill & Cindi,
CLICK HERE
Bill & Cindi share
about Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem
where they volunteer each year from January to March
Warren Marcus of Sid Roth Ministries and Messianic Pastor of
Steel Creek Church in Charlotte, NC,
was our second speaker for the evening.
Cathy Hargett
introduces Warren
To see the YouTube video of Cathy introducing Warren,
CLICK HERE
Warren shares his
message
To see the YouTube video of Warren's message,
CLICK HERE,
Part 1
To see the YouTube video of Warren's message,
CLICK HERE,
Part 2
To see the YouTube video of Warren's message,
CLICK HERE,
Part 3
To see the YouTube video of Warren's message,
CLICK HERE,
Part 4
To see the YouTube video of Warren's message,
CLICK HERE,
Part 5
To close the
evening, Doug leads the group in a prayer for Israel
then some of the ladies from the Machol Dancers and the Highway
To Zion Dancers
danced to the song "Peace of Jerusalem" by Kirk Dearman
50 days after Pesach/Passover is the feast of
Shavuot/Weeks/Pentecost. This year Beit Yeshua chose to
observe Shavuot as a home-group meeting instead of their usual
"larger" meeting in the Family Life Center at Covenant Bible
Church in Lincolnton, NC. - observing and celebrating the
festival on Friday, May 25th.
Meeting in Chuck and
Janice's home,
Many arrive early to work on our 30-minute Hebrew Lesson
Shofarot are sounded
at 7:30 to announce the nearing of Shabbat
Susan lights Shabbat
candles and then says the blessing over the candles
and Paul says blessings over the bread and wine
As always, we
pray for the Peace of Jerusalem (Sha'a'lu Shalom Yerushalayim)
[Large 3-pannel photo print of Jerusalem on
Chuck & Janice's wall]
We love to praise,
worship and dance before the Lord
Doug leads the group
in a Shavuot Midrash (Spirited Discussion)
Even though many of you only visit with us at Beit Yeshua when
we have our larger festival meetings or assemblies, we also
enjoy our smaller home-group-style fellowship meetings for Erev
Shabbat, too. On Friday, July 27th, Beit Yeshua hosted
Indira Persad of Indira Persad Ministries. Indira has a
wonderful testimony and ministers prophetically. We first
met Indira when she worked at Vision For Israel and a friendship
quickly grew.
Shofarot are sounded
at we welcome Erev Shabbat at Chuck & Janice's home in
Lincolnton
Janice lights
Shabbat candles and blesses the L-RD for Shabbat and Chuck says the
blessings over the bread and wine
As the sun begins to
set,
Indira (standing with her husband, Edgar) shared her testimony
an shared how the Lord moved her into the prophetic
Highway to Zion Ministries in Charlotte, NC,
hosted Richard & Carolyn Hyde on Friday, August 10th, 2012, at
Raintree Country Club. Some of us met the Hyde family in
October 2011 when we toured with Highway To Zion Ministries on a
Sukkot 2012 Tour of Israel - where we visited their home and
shared a Sukkot meal together.
Carolyn and Richard Hyde, Founders of Heart
of G-d Ministries, are Messianic Jewish Believers who made
aliyah to Israel from the United States and now live in the
Galilee area. Richard & Carolyn, and Heart of G-d
Ministries, actively engages in promoting Aliyah (the Biblical
return of the Jewish people to Israel) as well as encouraging
and equipping Christians to fulfill their Biblical calling
toward Israel and the Jewish people.
Shofarot are sounded as the evening begins
Cathy Hargett,
Director of HIGHWAY TO ZION, welcomes everyone
and opens the evening with prayer
Steve & Laurie
Martin of LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE lead the band during praise and
worship
accompanied by musicians from HIGHWAY TO ZION and BEIT YESHUA
(Left to Right) Bill, Laurie, Ron, Steve,
Gideon, Wane and Patti
Curtis leads dancers
from HIGHWAY TO ZION and BEIT YESHUA
Beit Yeshua gathered on Friday, September 14, 2012, at Doug &
Lynda's home in Lincolnton, NC, to celebrate the Biblical
Festival of Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets.
The evening begins with the sounding of the Shofarot
Susan light festival candles and Paul says blessings over the
bread & wine
Adonai said to Moshe, "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'In the
seventh month,
the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest
for remembering,
a holy convocation announced with blasts of the shofar.
Chuck teaches about the Shofar
To see the video of Chuck teaching about the Shofar,
Click Below (Part 1)
To see the video of Chuck teaching about the Shofar,
Click Below (Part 2)
Doug led the group in a Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) Midrash
To watch the Video of the Yom Teruah Midrash, Part 1,
Click Here
To watch the Video of the Yom Teruah Midrash, Part 2,
Click
Here
To watch the Video of the Yom Teruah Midrash, Part 3,
Click
Here
To watch the Video of the Yom Teruah Midrash, Part 4,
Click
Here
To watch the Video of the Yom Teruah Midrash, Part 5,
Click
Here
Beit Yeshua met on Friday September 21st to observe the Biblical
Festival of Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). There was a
very small group in attendance, but it was an awesome evening.
Doug did one of the best, most thorough, teachings on Yom Kippur
that I've ever heard. A large portion of the evening was
devoted to repentance and prayer - as well as a wonderful time
of praise and worship.
Beit Yeshua gathered on Friday, October 5th, 2012, to
celebrate the Festival of Sukkot (Booths) in the Family Life
Center of Covenant Bible Church. Thirteen from Beit Yeshua
celebrated Sukkot in Israel in 2011 so we didn't have a large
celebration last year. We decided to share "The Ancient
Jewish Wedding" drama as part of our 2012 celebration.
Thanks to the small core
group of Beit Yeshua who give of
their time the evening before
our Sukkot Celebration
so that we can share the festivals in a larger venue
Leviticus 23: 34, 39
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the
fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of
Tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. Also in the
fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the
fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven
days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day
shall be a Sabbath.
Shofarot are sounded
as the evening begins
Susan lights
Festival Shabbat candles in our sukkah
and Paul says blessings over the bread and wind
The Bible itself is a marriage covenant. Both the Tanach
(the Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah (the New
Testament) describe how God through Messiah Yeshua, the
Bridegroom, is in the process of marrying His Bride.
Yeshua’s first miracle - turning water into wine - took place at
a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
There are many parallels between the ancient Jewish Wedding and
the marriage between Messiah Yeshua and his Bride. Yeshua
even called Himself the Bridegroom.
The Bride is busy with their daily
responsibilities
1. The Betrothal and
Bride Price
Hosea 2:19-20 I will betroth you to
me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
In
love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you
will acknowledge the LORD.
1
Corinthians 6:19-20
You
are not your own; You were bought at a price. Therefore honor
God with your body.
2. The Marriage
Contract
Hebrews 8:10
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in
their minds and write them on their hearts.
3. The Bride's
Acceptance of the Marriage Proposal
Romans 10:9-10…If thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.
4. The First Cup of
Wine
Matthew 26:27-29(At the
Pesach Meal with His disciples Yeshua …) … took the cup, gave
thanks and
offered it to them, saying,“Drink from it, all of you.
This is My blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not
drink of
this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink
it anew with you in
My Father’s kingdom.”
5. Betrothal Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, 8-10
Now about
spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
There are different kinds of
gifts, but the same Spirit.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by
the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same
Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy;
to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of
tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
6. The Bridegroom's
Departure - The Chadar/Chuppa
John 14:1-3
Yeshua
said: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
In my Father’s
house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would
have told you. I am going there to prepare a place
for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take
you to be with me that
you also may be where I am.
7. The Mikvah
Mark 16:16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved.
8.The Bride is
Consecrated and Set Apart
Mark 13:32 But of that day
and hour knoweth no man, no,
not the angels which are in heaven,
neither the Son, but the Father.
9. And at Midnight -
the Shofar is Sounded
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel,
and with the trump
of G-d: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: Then
we which are alive and
remain shall be
caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever
be with the Lord.
10. The Bridegroom
Cometh
Joel 2: 16 Gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather
the children, &
those that suck the breasts: let the
bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her
closet.
11. The Catching
Away
Matthew 25
6And
at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh;
go ye out to meet him.
12. Under the Chuppa
Jeremiah 31:22...A
woman shall compass a man.
13. The Marriage
Contract (Ketubah) is signed
14. Seven Days alone
Isaiah 62: 5
… as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God
rejoice over you.
15. The Second Cup
of Wine
16. The Bridegroom &
Bride Rejoice together
Revelation 19:7-9
Let
us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage
of the Lamb is come, and his
wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the
saints. And he saith unto me, Write,
Blessed are they
which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And
he saith unto me,
These are the true sayings of God.
17. The Coronation
Revelation 5:11-14
Then I looked and
heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon
thousands, and
ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled
the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and
wealth and
wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Then I heard every
creature in heaven and on
earth and under the earth and on the
sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits
on the
throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and
power, for ever and ever!” The
four living
creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and
worshiped.
Ancient Jewish Wedding Video, Part 1,
CLICK BELOW
(9:07)
Ancient Jewish Wedding Video, Part 2,
CLICK BELOW
(10:05)
Ancient Jewish Wedding Video, Part 3,
CLICK BELOW
(8:01)
Ancient Jewish Wedding Video, Part 4,
CLICK BELOW
(9:06)
Our Narrators (Andy
& Carolyn) not seen during the drama
They tell the story of Messiah's love for His Bride
Beit Yeshua hosted
Frank and Carol LaPorta of Father's Heart Ministry in Haifa,
ISRAEL on Friday, November 9, 2012, 7PM, in the Family Life
Center of Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton, NC. Frank &
Carol shared stories about their ministry in Israel and how God
is opening doors to serve and be a witness to the Jewish people.
Frank and Carol minister to those in need in Israel
and are associated with David & Karen Davis' congregation in Mt.
Carmel.
Their areas of ministry include drug addicts, physically
handicapped children, the elderly,
and working in a soup kitchen. Frank & Carol shared about
The Father's Heart Ministry
through testimony, photos and even a short video.
To watch & hear the last part of what they had to share,
check out the following YouTube video:
Click Here
(7:48)
A merchandise table provided the opportunity to further support
their ministry through
the sale of t-shirts, scarves, and other Jewish-Roots/Messianic
memorabilia
To learn more about Frank & Carol, as well as "The Father's
Heart Ministry",
check out their website at:
The feast of Hanukkah/Channukah (also called
the "Feast of Lights" or the "Feast of Dedication") is one of
the minor festivals on the Jewish calendar occurring from Kislev
25 to Tevet 3 (in November/December) each year. The feast
is observed for 8 day commemorating the rededication of the
Temple in Jerusalem after the defeat of the Syrians under
Antiochus IV (also called Antiochus Epiphanes).
Beit Yeshua gathered on Friday, December 14,
2012, to corporately observe Hanukkah at Doug & Lynda's home in
Lincolnton, NC.
Eli, Doug & Lynda's youngest grandson, lights the candles for
the 6th night of Hanukkah
Beit Yeshua families share their Hanukkah
photos
Johnathan, Andi & Cayla get creative as they celebrate their
first Hanukkah
Curtis & Carolyn light Hanukkah candles
at their home
Jim & Linda shared Hanukkah photos and greetings with us from
Jerusalem
"As we get ready to kindle the
Chanukah lights on day 2, outside our window,
God gave us a beautiful picture of His Chanukiah as He set the
clouds afire with this evening's sunset.
Chanukah Sameach! (Happy Chanukah!),
Jim & Linda"