Jewish tradition has assigned to each week of the Hebraic year a formal reading of a portion of the Torah (parasha) and other Hebrew Scriptures (haftorah). Evidence exists suggesting this practice could date back to biblical times. The relevance of the parasha to our circumstances each week is often striking.…...
THE OIL OF HANUKKAH
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Hanukkah recounts the miraculous victory of a tiny Maccabean army of warrior priests over the mighty Selucid-Greek Empire in 165 BC. A second, presumed event generally regarded as equally miraculous, celebrates that a minute amount of holy oil kept the fire of God’s lampstand burning for eight days.…...
The Intriguing and Inspirational First Intercessory Prayer in Scripture
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Abraham’s intriguing ministry of intercession, unlocked and unpacked, can invigorate your own intercessory prayer life. The traditionally read Torah portion for this week, Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24), shows us why. The first intercessory prayer recorded in Scripture is found in this week’s Parasha. There Abraham extends hospitality to three…...
One Critical Challenge to One New Man
ARTICLE SUMMARY: While deeply grateful for Christian support of Israel, we have watched increasing numbers, especially leaders, seek to bless the Jewish people at the cost of compromising, withholding and then denying, the Gospel. This approach was well intended. A remnant of evangelicals wanted to heal 2,000 years of Christian…...
Releasing the Joy of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
Called “the season of our joy,” the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) begins tonight and lasts through September 30. I’m grateful that each year the Holy Spirit infuses the biblical feasts with fresh, personal meaning to me. Annually I discover in them new and magnificent expressions of the living Word. I…...
The Special Meaning of Yom Kippur for Messianic Believers
Yom Kippur (occurring this year September 18-19) is a biblical feast full of deep, prophetic significance. It points magnificently to the ministry of Yeshua in both His first and second comings. Here are some basic aspects of this special, holy day and ways you can engage meaningfully with God during…...
Hoshana Rabbah: Sukkot’s Grand Finale
Hoshana Rabba (September 30, 2018) This Sunday, September 30, we will celebrate the last and greatest day of the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles). Called Hoshana Rabba (Great Salvation), it is the day on which Yeshua revealed publicly that He is Messiah. The day carries prophetic and messianic significance which the…...