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Unity and the Anointing

Unity and the Anointing


“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

Unity and harmony were non-existent in my childhood home. Neither my parents nor my siblings dwelt “together in unity.” Not until I later began to study the Word of God did I realize just how important these words are. In this Psalm, the writer paints a beautiful picture of unity in the anointing of Aaron, the high priest, brother of Moses. He pictures it being poured over Aaron’s head, flowing sweetly and smoothly, fragrantly down his face, through his beard, all the way to the hem of his priestly garments.

Why is that picture important? Unity is the glue that holds a family, a Church, a nation together. Psalm 133 extols the value of unity. The result of such harmony is a place where God’s people are refreshed and strengthened by His Spirit—just as the dew nourishes the dry ground! It is the place where God commands blessing and where His anointing flows! Vine’s Expository Dictionary records that the word together in Psalm 133:1 “emphasizes a plurality in unity. In some contexts, the connotation is on community in action.”

The Hebrew word for unity, yâchadh, in verse one means “oneness, concord;” it denotes a people drawn together for one purpose—to follow Jehovah, fulfill His plan and purpose, and to dwell together under the umbrella of His blessings.

Aaron wasn’t anointed with just any old oil…with whatever was handy. No, it was the holy anointing oil used only in Temple ceremonies. It consisted of four spices: myrrh, cinnamon, sweet cane (or sweet calamus), and cassia. They were mingled together with olive oil, which to the ancient Hebrews was enormously symbolic and useful. It was a balm, a soothing healing oil poured into wounds; it was fuel to keep lamps burning and provide light; it was a food, blended with grains and other foods to fill the hungry.

As the spices enfolded Aaron, it became a picture of yâchadh—oneness—of a group of very different people united in service to Jehovah. As the oil was infused with the spices, it became holy. None of the ingredients alone could make the anointing oil, but together they become a wonderful example of unity.  God has called us together “for such a time as this,” and I give thanks to Him for your love for His Chosen People and your singleness of purpose to stand in their defense.

 

 

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Courage & Faith in Action

Courage & Faith in Action


She was just an ordinary girl.  Esther had no famous or well-connected relatives.  In fact, she and her people were living as a minority in a foreign land where they had been taken by a conquering enemy army; yet, today her name is synonymous with faith and courage.  The short book that bears her name tells a story of divine deliverance—a message that is very much relevant to our day when once again a plot has been hatched in Persia to destroy the Jewish people.

Esther became queen of the Persian Empire without the king or anyone in authority knowing that she was Jewish.  This was on the wise advice of her guardian Mordecai, who instructed her to hide her ancestry for the sake of her future.  Not long after Esther became queen, an evil man in a high government position named Haman, motivated by his hatred of Mordecai (who refused to bow before Haman because he would only bow before God), devised a scheme to destroy the Jewish people.


Haman presented the king with a distorted picture of God’s Chosen People.  He falsely accused them of disobeying the laws of the Persian Empire and suggested that destroying them would promote order and stability throughout the realm.  To further sweeten the deal, Haman offered to pay a large sum of money to the royal treasury to cover the expenses of exterminating the Jewish people.  The king went along with the plan, setting a date for the destruction of the Jewish exiles living in the 127 provinces that made up his kingdom.

When Mordecai received this news, he began fasting in sackcloth and ashes, along with Jewish people throughout the Persian realm.  There seemed to be no hope for them, but God was at work behind the scenes.  Mordecai sent word to Esther that the time to reveal her heritage had come and that she should use her position as queen to plead for the Jewish people to be spared.

When she pointed out that entering the king’s presence without an invitation was a capital offense, Mordecai made his famous declaration that God had put Esther where she was “for such a time as this.”  Esther courageously went before the king, and God granted her favor in his eyes, and he spared her life.

Esther asked the king and Haman to come to a private meeting.  Then she asked them to return a second time, and finally revealed to the king the evil that he had unknowingly agreed to support.  The king’s wrath was kindled against Haman, and he ordered the evil plotter to be hung on the very gallows that Haman had constructed to have Mordecai executed on—and provided the Jewish people the opportunity for self defense.  The Jewish people were spared from destruction.  Even to this day, this wonderful miracle of deliverance is celebrated as the Feast of Purim.  Esther remains a wonderful example of what we can do when we fully rely on God.

As I read this story again recently, I was struck by something that doesn’t often receive a great deal of attention.  Esther did not face her moment of crisis alone.  Here was her response:  Spiritual battles are not meant to be fought alone.  Before Esther entered the king’s presence, risking her life to plead for her people, there was a massive campaign of prayer and fasting on her behalf.  The deliverance of Israel depended on the power of God, and the people of God sought His face and His help together.  That is a perfect description of the work of the Jerusalem Prayer Team.   

 

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The Passover Spirit

The Passover Spirit


Each Jewish family was instructed to keep the Passover, but because of the variation in size and resources, not every family was big enough to eat a whole lamb (nothing was allowed to be left over) and not everyone would be able to get a lamb. In those cases, God instructed Moses to tell the people to share what they had with their neighbors.
“If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat” (Exodus 12:4, NLT).


This is not just something that matters at Passover. Instead, a spirit of generosity and care for the needs of others should characterize every day of our lives. Hundreds of years after that first Passover, when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem following their captivity in Babylon, they faced many challenges. Once the walls had been rebuilt, the people met together to hear the Law of God and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Just as Moses had instructed earlier, Nehemiah commanded the people to share what they had. “And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!’” (Nehemiah 8:10, NLT).

The spirit of Passover is seen every time we reach out in love to help the needy. The spirit of Passover is seen every time we provide food, medicine, warm clothing, and even housing for poor Holocaust survivors. The spirit of Passover is seen each time we touch the lives of the survivors and the families of victims of terror attacks. Through the support of our friends and partners, the Jerusalem Prayer Team is showing the spirit of Passover day after day—not only in Israel but around the world.

 

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An Ancient Persian Plot Foiled—God Delivers His People

An Ancient Persian Plot Foiled—God Delivers His People

 

The celebration of Purim is a wonderful remembrance of God’s deliverance and provision for the Jewish people, saving them from the plot hatched to destroy them.  The story of Esther and Mordecai is a powerful reminder of the great truth that when we take a stand in courage and faith, God uses what we do to bring a great deliverance.  Let me tell you a little about this holiday.

Purim begins each year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month Adar.  This year that means that the celebration of Purim will begin at sundown on Saturday, March 13th, on our Western calendar.  Here are some of the things that make up the Purim festivities.As part of the Purim reading of Esther, whenever the name of Haman comes up, it is “blotted out” by noisemakers.  This tradition is believed to date back to the 1200s.  In those days the name of Haman would be written on stones, which would be knocked together until it was erased.  Others wrote the name of Haman on the soles of their shoes and then stomped their feet whenever his name was read as an expression of contempt.  In modern times the use of a noisy ratchet, called a gragger in Yiddish, especially by children, drowns out Haman’s name whenever it comes up in the story.

I want to call your attention to a small part of the story that is often overlooked—but one that really matters to you and me.  After a great deal of prayer, Esther courageously went to the king and begged for the lives of her people. He granted her request, and Haman and all those who attacked the Jews were killed. Then a powerful exchange took place.  “And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman” (Esther 8:2).

The signet ring that the king wore was a symbol of his power and authority.  All of the might of the Persian Empire was behind that ring.  When the king gave his own ring to Mordecai, he was giving his own authority and power to Mordecai to use as he saw fit.

This is an astonishing revelation—kingdom power and authority followed the faith and courage to stand up for the Jewish people.  You and I are Esther and Mordecai for modern Israel.  They dared to change the destiny of the world.  And today we have the opportunity to do the same thing.

Israel is under attack today just as surely as it was when Haman hatched his demonic plot to annihilate the Jewish people.  It is time for us to rise up and declare in faith that we do all that is possible to deliver Israel from destruction, just as Esther and Mordecai did centuries ago.  It is time for us to stand in the gap.  And I believe with all my heart that it is time for us to receive the signet ring of heaven’s approval and authority so that we can see God’s power on display in every part of our lives.

Just as Esther and Mordecai did, we face a choice.  Will we speak out and do our part to deliver Israel, or will we remain silent?  I know your love for God’s Chosen People, and I believe that you will speak loudly through your support of the Jerusalem Prayer Team. 

Today I am asking you the question Mordecai asked Esther: “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

 

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Generosity Grants God’s Favor

Generosity Grants God’s Favor


As work progressed on the Friends of Zion Center (FOZC) in Jerusalem a few years ago, the team involved with the project determined that more space was needed to accommodate tour groups waiting to see the museum. Where that space could be found was a challenge. Behind the five-story building that houses the Friends of Zion Museum is a coffee shop that would be perfect for such use, but the owners had no desire to sell or lease the building. We needed miraculous favor with man in order to fulfill the need.

In its former life, the museum building had been a school complete with dorm rooms for students. Once the conversion began, it was determined that the furnishings would have to be sold or donated to empty the rooms. The decision was made to donate the beds, dressers, and other items to an organization that aided elderly Holocaust survivors in Israel.

The day came when a truck backed up to the door of the building and workers began to load the furnishings. One of the owners of the coffee shop saw the activity and asked what would happen to the fixtures. When he was told that they would be donated to Holocaust survivors, he was incredulous. We assured him that this was, indeed, true. It was the key to opening the door that eventually led to us being allowed to purchase the building. The generosity of the Friends of Zion team led to the miracle of favor with man that was so urgently needed to complete the multi-million-dollar project.

The Bible teaches us that God is looking for opportunities to demonstrate His love and power in our lives. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” When we demonstrate generosity in our dealings with others, God pours our His favor on our lives—and what we receive is beyond anything we can imagine.

This is one of the most important lessons we have learned through the years, both on a ministry and a personal level. The natural tendency for most people is to hoard, but God wants His children to have open hearts and open hands, and for us to do whatever we can to meet the needs of others. I encourage you to take this important step toward God’s favor on your life—and enjoying the favor that He gives us with others—by demonstrating radical generosity.

 

 

 

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The Jerusalem Prayer Team with Dr. Michael D. Evans exists to build Friends of Zion to guard defend and protect the Jewish people and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray for peace in Jerusalem because the Scriptures tell us to in Psalm 122:6. The Jerusalem Prayer Team was inspired from the 100-year long prayer meeting for the restoration of Israel held in the ten Boom family home in Haarlem, Holland. We are committed to encouraging others to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and God's Chosen People. Jerusalem Prayer Team members are also members of Churches United with Israel, Corrie Ten Boom House, Friends of Zion Heritage Center and Jerusalem World News. The Jerusalem Prayer Team mailing address is PO BOX 30000 Phoenix, AZ 85046 or you can call us at 1-888-966-8472. The Jerusalem Prayer Team is a dba of the Corrie ten Boom Fellowship. The Corrie ten Boom Fellowship is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is registered with the IRS, Fed Tax ID# 75-2671293. All donations to CTBF (less the value of any products or services received) are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Donations made to the Jerusalem Prayer Team are put to work immediately and are not refundable.