PRAYER UPDATE - CHRIST MAS 2007 FROM BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL

Dear believers in the Messiah Yeshua (=Jesus),

  I am privileged to write this Christmas meditation from Beit Shemesh, Israel.  Beit Shemesh is of the tribe of Dan.  When pilgrims came to Israel from Jaffa they were in Dan and to go to Jerusalem they naturally passed through Dan traveling eastward.  That route brought them to and through the shefaelah (=the lowlands, translated ‘vale’ in KJV of Deut 1:7) on their way to Jerusalem.  Then the pilgrims came unto the Mountains of Judah.  The modern day pilgrims who arrive at Ben Gurion airport near Lydda (Acts 9:32, probably a Greek form of Lod) will come the same route if their first stop in Israel is in Jerusalem.  I am reminded of Jn 4:3-4.  This speaks of Jesus.   ‘3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.  4 And he must needs go through Samaria.’  For the soul of a person to get to Heaven the person must pass through Yeshua The Messiah.  There is not another way.  John 14:6  'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’  Here lies one aspect of the uniqueness and importance of Yeshua Hamashiac (=The Messiah).  In the light of the greatness of Him as the only Savoir it is not surprising that there is opposition to remembering Him.  Even observing Messiah’s birthday is opposed.  It is a fact that the Messiah became incarnate.  The Incarnation is God coming to earth in human form. (Collins)  When He was born I do not know.  But I know where He was born.  He was born in Bethlehem of Judah.  It was so prophesied about 700 years before He came by Micah.  Micah 5:2

‘But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’  I was blessed this CHRISTmas season to be able to quote this verse to several Jews.  Among them is my neighbor David who recently lost his brother.  It is not possible to prove today that you are from the family of David.  In Daniel 9 the time of the coming of the Messiah is given.  The time for the coming of the Messiah of Israel has passed.  Yeshua is the Messiah.  Is He your God & Savoir?  Luke 2:10-11  ‘And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’

  On Dec 22, 07 I had the unique privilege to walk in Bethlehem.  I gave out Arabic literature and 3 Arabic daily devotional calendars.  I visited the Beracah Church property.  I visited the graves of some I had known as Miss May Ladah who led the House of Hope then a mission to the blind and John Ellis who was run over while riding his bicycle in Jerusalem.  I was impressed with the Christian testimonies of these two and was glad to be reminded of them.  I saw also the grave of Thomas Alexander Lambie.  He founded 8 hospitals in his Christian ministry, the last being Beit el Beracah south of Bethlehem.  I visited Adnan who is living on the church property.  He remembered me.  We had good fellowship finishing in prayer.  I then went to the CHRISTmas dinner of the Baptist Church of Bethlehem pastored by Naim Khoury.  I have known Naim since his high school days.  His son Stephen was helping at the dinner and he is a pastor in Beit Sahour a suburb of Bethlehem.  There was Christmas music and two sermons.  I was with Joan Davenport and a blind believing Arab friend Subha.  Jesus Christ was exalted.  There were about 600 there!  I gave some booklets in Arabic to the waiters.

  The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all.  May God the Holy Spirit enable each of us to proclaim this message of salvation to many in the New Year of 2008.

Is 7:14, 9:6-7

A FRUIIFUL AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!

Michael David Bentley