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June 23, 2006 27 Sivan, 5766 Dear Praying Friends,
We received our call in 1989 to immigrate to Israel from New York. In 1990, I (Arni) came to Israel for a month to seek the Lord about where we should live and the ministry the Lord would have for us here. The Spirit led me to the house of a Messianic leader in Tiberius and directed me to wait there until He said otherwise. Shortly after I arrived, my attention was drawn to the story of the king that had a wedding banquet for his son. When none of the invited guests could come, he had his servants go out into the highways and byways to bring in whoever was out there so that the house would be filled. With this as a background, Yeshua spoke to me, saying, ”Don’t you think I want my Land filled with people worshiping when I return? The people here (the Israelis) had better receive who I send.”
I have thought and spoken about this event numerous times and can still see where I was standing when the word came. But only recently -- since we have moved to Judea -- have I connected this with the ministry we are doing. The very first thing I heard back then was about what He had on His heart for us to do! What an encouragement this is of the Lord’s faithfulness to meet us when we seek Him. What a confirmation of our calling to prepare a place for the nations to come and worship. God is so good to have saved this till now. In the midst of the upheaval of being moved from Tel Aviv, where we thought we would be forever, the current situation of our regular monthly donations not meeting our expenses, and other violent shakings, being reminded that in 1990 He showed me this desire in His heart, which seven years later would be the foundation of our work and calling, is a much needed strengthening.
Another amazing thing has to do with the portion of Scripture I read for my Bar Mitzvah. For any of you that don’t know, when a Jewish male reaches the age of thirteen he is given his first opportunity to read from the weekly Torah portion in the regular Shabbat service of the synagogue. For a long time I was curious to know what my portion was (it was a long time ago, and I didn’t remember it). Through an Internet site I was able to find out. It begins in Exodus 30:11 with the Lord directing Moses to collect half a shekel from everyone in Israel for the service of the Tabernacle of meeting. The section speaks about things concerning the building of the Tabernacle, elements to be used in the service of worship, and the men that would oversee the work. Afterward comes the new nation’s first experience with idolatry...the golden calf followed by Moses’ plea to behold God’s glory. The section ends with Moses coming down the mountain with the Ten Commandments with his face shining. In 1960, thirteen years before I would meet Yeshua, God was already manifesting His call for my life.
Along with the weekly reading from the Torah (the five books written by Moses), there is also a designated portion from the Prophets. My section was Ezekiel 36:16-38. Almost thirty years later, the Lord would take one of those verses (Ex. 36:20), and use it to direct me to move to Israel with my family.
Whenever we wonder about what we are doing, in times of darkness when things don’t seem to be working the way they should, as we consider these things, our heart is strengthened to press on with the work of preparing the way for the return of the Lord.
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We have never shared this testimony with you before. It seems quite fitting to do so along with the announcement of the opening of the Tabernacle in the mountains around Jerusalem. Two weeks ago the carpet was laid and we began to seek the Lord there. The other day I brought a friend up to see the room. As we stood at the entrance, the Presence of the Lord came over me just like it did every time I brought someone to the door of the Tabernacle in Tel Aviv. I was so blessed and actually a bit amazed. It was an empty room about one third the size of the former. But that didn’t seem to matter to God. The other night, with my soul deeply burdened, I went in to seek the Lord. The moment...the very moment I entered, the burden lifted off and I was surrounded by the ever-abiding peace of His eternal Presence.
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As I write this, something more comes to mind from the past. Just before we moved here, friends in New York had a gathering, a party of sorts, for the people involved in the Jewish Ministry at our congregation, Times Square Church. At one point, after we had been together awhile, the hostess got up and exclaimed, “Now I know why we all have come together. It’s to pray for Arni and Yonit, because the work they are called to do is crucial to preparing the way for the return of the Lord!” Truly, in hearing that we didn’t have a clue as to what she was speaking about.
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The Spirit of God is here, on this mountaintop, calling for those who hunger for the revelation of His glory to come and help build the Tabernacle of the Lord in Israel to fill the Land with worship. Yeshua is longing for this Land, His Land, to be filled with worship. The natural branches (unsaved Israel) yet walk in darkness, and many in His body are consumed with the ongoing daily battle of living and ministering in Israel. The Spirit is calling out to the nations to come and help build the Tabernacle of the Lord in Israel. Yeshua longs to dwell here in Zion, this dry, parched and battered land, amidst the praises of His people. Of course He loves it whenever and wherever we gather and lift up His Name. But, He desires this in Israel above all else. Would you join with us in ministering to this cry in the Lord’s heart? This is just a piece of the puzzle. But it is a major piece. Many of you reading this testimony also have, and even are, a piece of this very puzzle.
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If you’d like to sow into the Tabernacle and ministry complex, a list of specific needs can be found in English at http://www.emmausway.org/Needs.htm and in German at www.emmausway.org/gerweb/EW%20German/Bedarf.htm.
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Even though all the logistics are not yet set, because of the nearness of the date, we want to announce our plan to host a group from August 27th through September 9th. The days will be a combination of worship, intercession, teaching and practical service. The subject matter will center on Ministering to the Lord, Living in the Eternal, and God’s Heart for Israel. We’ve entitled the course “Living for God.” Space is limited to between 12 and 16 participants. The teaching will be done in English. For further details and related costs please contact us at terry@emmausway.org.
We are so grateful for your standing with us. May God bless you from Zion!
Your servants… For the Glory of His Name, Arni and Yonit |