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August 20, 2007 6 Elul, 5767
Dear Praying Friends,
In this letter:
- An amazing archeological find - An update about exemptions and taxes - Worship in the streets - Open doors to open hearts - An important development at Nes Harim
An archeological wonder
The other day David was out strolling amidst the trees and bushes adjacent to our property. About 50 meters from our house he came across a large flat stone area several meters across. Upon closer examination he noticed several rivulets carved into the rock running down into two carved-out basins. He brought his wife Katya to see it, who is very knowledgeable in matters of antiquity, and she positively identified it as a Canaanite altar of sacrifice. At the head of this stone area, somewhat hidden behind a tree, sat a large stone just where the sacrifice would have been laid.
It was a spiritual high place where blood was shed…and very likely some of it was human. We thank the Lord for uncovering this demonic doorway right in our back yard. We and all the people who were here with us at the time went out to the place to repent for the abominations committed there. We poured oil and water on the ground and proclaimed the lordship of Yeshua, cleansing and sanctifying the ground unto the one true God. Please pray with us for the uncovering of any other sites in our immediate vicinity that need to be so dealt with.
Exemptions and taxes
Our lawyer’s office contacted us the other day with an interesting piece of information. It seems that there is yet another designation that seems to apply to us concerning exemptions from city taxes on property used by religious organizations for religious purposes. In our case, because we are Messianic, we fall into a category in which approval is by determination of a Catholic minister that works along with the Ministry of the Interior. If he confirms that we are indeed a center for worship and prayer, then according to our understanding we should be due a very large refund from the Tel Aviv municipality. We have sensed that sooner or later the enemy is going to be required to pay back what he has stolen from us. If it would please the Lord, we think that this is a good time to start. Please continue to pray with us for God’s righteousness to prevail over the world, the flesh and the kingdom of darkness.
Worship in the Streets
Last week we went to Independence Park, which is not far from Zion Square (where we were the week before). There was so much traffic in the city that we didn’t get there till well after dark. It was the first time we set up with a fabric enclosure on three sides and six flaming torches to light the space. It was really cool. There we sat in the middle of Jerusalem in this set-apart space, worshiping the Lord. It took awhile to forget where we were and be as though we were up in our Tabernacle in the mountains, but we did eventually break through. A few people came over and two young Arab men sat down with us for quite a while. Having this defined space created an atmosphere in which there was great freedom to speak to whoever ventured in, even though it was out in the open. We told one of the Arab men that this place was the House of God, and he smiled and said he felt that in the spirit while we were worshiping! Both of them took arni’s testimony book and contact phone number.
This past Wednesday we went to the promenade that overlooks the Old City and the Temple Mount. It is one of the most dramatic views in the world. We had a very strong sense that we were releasing things into the city. Our expression was the most focused of the three times we have gone out. I (arni) saw a river of liquid light going into the streets to search out those with a pure heart. We later found out that the night before, as a sister in Michael’s home group was praying for our time in the streets, she saw a beam of light going out from us into the city!
As we were ministering to the Lord, a young family with two little children came right in and sat down. The children reminded us of our grandchildren, so there was an immediate “knowing” and love. We began to converse very comfortably, and the mother shared with Yonit how they were raised Orthodox but couldn’t continue to walk on that path. She said they wanted a heart connection with God, and not just to deal with outer things like clothing and food. She told us that earlier that day she said to her husband that they really needed to find out what God wanted from them. She was very interested to hear what Yonit had to share about Yeshua and the Scriptures about Him. They were lovely people. We left them with our book and phone number. Please pray for O. and Y. and their children. We know this was a Divine appointment, as they live in the north and were in Jerusalem for only a few days’ holiday.
This week we took pictures. Click here to see our mobile Tabernacle with the lights of the Old City in the background.
The message Arni shared at Succat Hallel – “Worship in the Streets” -- is now on our website. You can click here to access it. The volume of the recording is a little low but it can be heard with the help of speakers.
Open Doors and Open Hearts
Worship is the response to the Presence of the Lord, and evangelism is the natural outgrowth of a life of worship. This is a word we received from the Lord in 1986 that has been foundational in the ministry of Emmaus Way. From the outset, we understood that there was a connection between worship and evangelism. As the Lord impressed us to go to the streets and prepare a place for Him there, we sensed that the fruit of our actions would not necessarily be realized right then on the spot. We need to tell you that since we have begun, especially for Yonit, unexpected opportunities to share about Yeshua with open hungry people have been coming our way. I (arni) am in conversation with a young man for whom I was a wrong number! This is a most encouraging testimony. He had been in a yeshiva (an Orthodox religious school) in America but could not connect with that lifestyle. Among other things, they are very sheltered. I told him we are Messianic Jews and he said, “What’s that?” I said we believe that Yeshua is our Messiah, and he said, ”Who’s that?”. I told him that some call Him Jesus. He said, “ Oh, I’ve heard about Him.” I suggested he read a few Scriptures. So he got his Bible and we read them together. He asked, ”If God was going to make a new covenant, why didn’t He tell us? And if a virgin was going to have a child, why didn’t He tell us?” As I turned him to the Scriptures in answer to his questions, I didn’t have to make one comment. He simply read the words and received what they said. He called a second time. He was confused. Not by what he read, but that what he had been taught had been so different. He asked me to pray for him. By the end of the prayer he was weeping. Please pray with us for C. to have an encounter with the God of our fathers.
Developments at Nes Harim
Last week the owner of our ministry center told us that he is getting ready to build another house on the lot we are on and wanted to know if we are interested in purchasing. According to local regulations his permit to build runs out in about nine months. He needs to have a shell up by then or risk losing his right to build at all…which he is committed to not let happen. He said that there is a family ready to sign a ten-year lease if he will build the house for them. Our contract gives us first rights to anything and the option to purchase. We have asked him to wait as long as he can before beginning the project.
Here are the possibilities as we see them:
1- We make an agreement to commit to a ten-year lease and he builds something to our specifications (which would rent for about $3000). Theoretically this could work. But we have no peace about increasing our monthly expenses by that much; 2- He builds a regular house, rents it to this family, and according to a clause in the lease, if we want to buy it at a later date, they would have to vacate. This is a little “messy” and the structure wouldn’t really be suited for our needs anyway; 3- We don’t buy it and just work with what we have; 4- We set our hearts and focus our prayers to be able to buy the Center and begin to build before the permit expires.
From what we see developing, and the many prophetic words we have received, we believe that the Lord desires this property as a permanent resting place for His Presence and a refuge for His people. Also, to do all that the Lord has set before us requires additional facilities.
For any newcomers to our letter, here is a short explanation of our work and vision:
- Since 2001 we have hosted worshippers and intercessors from Israel and the nations to minister to the Lord in the Center and in the streets (from 2001-2005 in Tel Aviv, and from 2005 till now in the Judean hills); - We present intensive courses for believers from Israel and the nations and are in conversation with a local ministry about their using the facility to train young Israeli believers; - We are uniquely equipped and positioned to host individuals and groups coming to intercede, as well as groups wanting to serve the local residents in practical ways. Our location in the center of the country makes this an ideal base from which to go into the rest of the Land; - We are preparing to receive regular groups of German youth as part of a larger plan to bring German believers together with Israel believers and unbelievers. (If you’ve read our last letters you know that this vision of 3-4 years is now taking off); - We are building a state-of-the-art recording studio in cooperation with the ministry Succat Hallel in Jerusalem, to serve the many young believers in Israel who are receiving new songs and sounds from Heaven; - We believe that it would greatly bless the Lord to once again have a space totally dedicated to ministering to Him and accommodations to serve that aspect of the work.
As always, we greatly value your prayers, as well as any thoughts and feedback you might want to share with us.
May God bless you from Zion!
Your servants…
For the Glory of His Name,
Arni and Yonit
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