Dear Mishpacha (family),
As I am writing this newsletter for the month of August, we only have two days left to finish out the reflection of the Three Weeks of Affliction. It started on Tammuz 17 (July 1st Eve) to the Ninth of Av (July 23rd Eve). From the Golden Calf incident to the destruction of both temples these were tragic events for Israel. There is a lot more to be said that took place during this time, I encourage you to study the history on these Three Weeks. The Color-Coded Biblical Calendar allows us to be ready for future events as we spiritually prepare for them. We just had the honor to have Pastor David Jones from Ruach Ministry share at our Men’s Meeting about the Three Weeks of Affliction and it was so informative and inspiring that I asked him to teach our community on Monday night. You can watch this amazing teaching on our YouTube channel. We must learn from history so we don’t repeat it. On July 18th we had our dear brother Eddie Chumney share his message “The Ministry of Reconciliation”. It is available to watch on our YouTube Channel so please check it out. I believe the church is going to be getting a big wake up call in this new season that we are currently in. We are truly witnessing the regathering and the restoration of the whole House of Israel.
We have finished the Gospel of John in our Small Groups Bible Study and after the Fall Feasts we will be studying the Book of Hosea. Until then we will still have small groups as we discuss the Season of Teshuvah, The Daniel Fast and The Fall Feasts. On August 13th/Elul 1 at eve begins the Daniel Fast and The Season of Teshuvah. The Daniel Fast will be for 21 days and the Season of Teshuvah will be for 40 days. We are doing the Daniel Fast for Israel and the Holy City of Jerusalem. We are grafted into the olive tree which represents Israel and we are the wild branches. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I find it interesting that there are Babylonians just like there are Israelites. The Babylonians also have a city called Babylon. As Israel, our holy city is Jerusalem, and this is the war that is raging in the earth. It’s literally Babylon-vs-Jerusalem in front of our very eyes.
The Season of Teshuvah is a serious time to do a spiritual audit on ourselves and be preparing for the Fall Feasts. Teshuvah literally means to return and is the word used to describe the concept of repentance. The Season of Teshuvah will run from August 13th Eve/ Elul 1 to September 21st Eve/Tishrei 10. “The Season of Teshuvah is a time for each man to annually examine his own life”. “It is a time to restore relationships between men as well as God”. “Your success in life will not be determined by monetary value but by your relationship with God and with each other”. Don’t forget that our dear brother Hanoch Young will be with us on August 15th, 16th, and 17th. I love the torah portion “Judah approaches Joseph” because we are witnessing this taking place right now. Beit Tehila is moving in the prophetic as we receive a word from our Heavenly Father and have divine appointments. I can’t thank you enough for going on this journey with me.
~Shalom Pastor Nick