Month of Elul

"So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God! (Nehemiah 6:15)

1. Tel Aviv: Hill of New Life-Hill of Destruction?

".the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you" (Deuteronomy 23:14 See Torah Portion below).

"In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you, yet you are not clean, you will not be cleansed from your filthiness again until I have spent My wrath on you" (Ezekiel 24:13).

A headline in the "Travel" section of this past Wednesday's ynetnews.com read, "Campaign branding Tel Aviv gay destination underway". A second subtitle reads, "Initiative launched in England, Germany aims to encourage members of gay and lesbian community to vacation in Israeli city." In relation to this, a recently built website begins, "Rising from the golden shores of the Mediterranean, stands one of the most intriguing and exciting new gay capitals of the world." The campaign reportedly will run in England and Germany, and will include ads on homosexual community websites and magazines, as well as displaying "everything the city [of Tel Aviv] has to offer by way of gay tourism."

The article quotes a source claiming that "the [Israel] Tourism Ministry and Tel Aviv municipality invested NIS 170 million (about $44 million) each in the project" (Emphasis ours). It closes with mention of the fact that the Tel Aviv Municipality recently "submitted an official application to host the International Gay Pride Parade in 2012. This is the event which presumed to come to Jerusalem three years ago. The believers in the city came together in a solemn assembly and cried out to God to avert it. We believe that He answered us by interposing in its stead a severe mercy-the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, which resulted in the event being canceled.

When we read of the Israeli government and Tel Aviv civil authorities donating over 88 million dollars in a campaign of this type, it makes us fearful for the safety of that city. God is not mocked. This is not a matter of wishing ill upon those caught up in bondage to a homosexual lifestyle. The Son of God was manifest to set us all free, whatever our bondage, by destroying the works of the devil (I John 3:8). God has set Israel to be a "light" to the nations. When her national and city government leaders for the sake of personal gain raise her up as a false light for the purpose of attracting celebrants of that which He states as being an abominable lifestyle, He will turn away from her (see Scripture above); she may find herself a picture to the nations of His severe discipline as well as His embracing love. It is noteworthy that when our enemies speak of the range of their missiles (some of which could be armed with weapons of mass destruction), they invariably speak of Tel Aviv. Although its name means "Hill of Spring" or "Hill of Grain", some respected Biblical reference sources suggest that the location in Babylon (Ezekiel 3:15) from which the name Tel Aviv was originally taken was originally called by a Babylonian name, Til Abubi-"Mound of the Flood", or "Mound of Destruction".

PLEASE PRAY:
*For the homosexual "destination" campaign focusing on Tel Aviv to fail, dry up and fall away. Pray that the International Homosexual Parade will not come to Tel Aviv in 2012.

*That in wrath Israel's God remember mercy.that Tel Aviv won't have to become a "destruction mound" like Sodom. Pray that there be angelic protection for the remnant of believers in that city who are working hard to bring many into the Light.

*The name Tel Aviv has itself become a euphemism throughout Israel for the hedonistic nightlife and lifestyle going on there; it has also become infamous for the thriving "sex trade" going on beneath its surface. Pray for a purging to come which exposes the ugliness of sin and awakens a longing for purity. Pray for purity in Messianic Believers whom God has stationed in the midst of her to shine as clean lights, exposing sin, and leading many out of the wilderness.

*Pray for godly men and women of integrity to rise into the halls of city government-displacing those who will sell the soul of their city for the mammon of the tourist trade.

2. YESHUA, THE HIGHEST STAR!

Yesterday (16 August), the widely-read Hebrew daily Yidiot Acharanot carried in its "24 Hours" magazine an article on Messianic Judaism called "Yeshua, Kochav Elyon" (Yeshua, Highest Star). This is the Israeli way of saying "Jesus Christ Superstar"-but with a difference. A "google" on the internet will reveal that in the Hebrew title of the 60's "rock opera" the name "Yeshu" was always used. "Yeshu" doesn't really mean anything as a word-almost all Israelis have been taught that it is the Hebrew name for Jesus; few are aware that in reality it is a rabbinic acrostic for "may his name be blotted out". The Hebrew name "Yeshua" (which the angel is reported in Matthew 1:21 as having given to Joseph) is a shortened form of "Joshua" and means, "YHVH SAVES". Until the past year or so, one almost never saw this name in print in Israeli newspapers; "Yeshu" was considered the proper protocol. Also, use of the Hebrew for "Messianic Jew" was frowned upon; according to the rabbis, Jews weren't Jews anymore if they believed in Yeshua as Messiah, and news services read by religious Jews didn't wish to offend that sector of their readership. Now yesterday, here was an article printed as Number 8 of a series "Who are the Jews"; and in very bold letters at the top is the name "YESHUA". In large case below the title ran a descriptive paragraph, "They fulfill circumcision, celebrate Bar Mitzvahs, get married by rabbis, but believe that Yeshua is their Messiah. 15,000 Messianic Jews live today in Israel. If you meet them in the street or in the army, probably you won't be able to identify them. This is eighth in a series [entitled, "Who are the Jews"]. Among those interviewed for the article is an evangelist and pastor of a Jerusalem Messianic congregation, and displayed in the center is a large picture of his congregation standing and receiving the Aaronic Blessing.

PLEASE PRAY:
*That those reading the article will find awakened within them a call to "Seek His Face" (Psalm 27:8), and in so doing will come face to face with their Messiah, Sin-Bearer and Saviour-Yeshua. That they will come to realize that He is not only the "Highest Star"-but the "Bright and Morning Star" (Hebrew: Ayelet haShahar) of Psalm 22 (Heading) and Revelation 22:16.

*That the editors of this newspaper will be encouraged to include more articles related to Messianic Jews and the name of the Lord they serve. That His NAME in its true spelling will rise within other media in Israel. For revelation that Yeshua is not only the "Star above all Stars" but bears the "Name above all names".

3. PHILISTINE TEMPLE DISCOVERED AT GATH

Ruins of an ancient Philistine temple have been discovered on the site of the ancient Philistine city of Gath, home of the giant Goliath. Plainly visible in the center of the ancient temple ruins are the base of two central pillars, similar in placement to those in another Philistine temple recorded in Judges 16:29-30 as having been brought down by Samson. They date to at least the 10^th century before the Common Era. The archaeological team also discovered strong evidence of a powerful 8^th century BC earthquake; perhaps the same recorded in Amos 1:1. There are certainly many important messages in Amos. Two central ones are 3:7: "Surely Adonai YHVH does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? Adonai YHVH has spoken! Who can but prophecy.".and 5:24, "But let justice run down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

PLEASE PRAY:
*For a "different" spirit of Joshua and Caleb and David to begin to move as it did also on Samson (Judges 13:25) on spiritual warriors in the Body of Messiah in Israel. That they will face the giants of Arba and Goliath, whether they be at Hebron or at Gath, and trust in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the Arraying of Israel (I Samuel 17:45).

*For prophetic ears in Israel to hear before the coming shakings. I Samuel 9:15 says that the LORD "revelated the ear" of Samuel and let none of his words fall to the ground (3:19). Believers here must hear prophetically-and the Office of Prophet must be operable if the Body (and through them, those in darkness around) is to "Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Congregations!"