January, 2001

One

Mediator...

Messiah Yeshua

Blessings to you in 2001,

The Power of One!

Those of us who live in Florida have been first hand witnesses to the "power of one." Each vote in the recent Presidential election became critical as we counted and recounted to determine who our next President would be. One of our dear friends in Israel, a Florida resident, didn't get his ballot in time. He never dreamed that his vote could really make a difference in an election. But this election proved the importance of the individual, the "power of one."

This concept is nothing new to God. Time and again He shows us in His Word that His will can be accomplished in the earth if He finds one man, one true friend, who will trust and obey Him. When He found Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Mary, the course of Israel's history was changed.

How about you? Your life can testify to the power of one! 2001 is another God-given opportunity to change the world for God and for Good! Your vote counts. Your life counts. In the hands of the living God, You can make a difference!

Rahab, the harlot: a life that made a difference!

Can one woman, especially a woman who is a prostitute, make a difference in a nation? Absolutely! God used Rahab to give the Israelites victory over Jericho, the first city to be conquered in the Promised Land. Her faith and works were so noteworthy that she is praised twice in the New Covenant Scriptures. Rahab made an impact on Israel and the Kingdom of God!

Rahab's story, an excellent example of the power of one for good, appears in Joshua chapter 2. Moses had just died and Joshua was about to take the children of Israel across the Jordan and conquer the wicked city of Jericho. He sent two spies into the city and they found shelter in Rahab's house. (It is assumed that Rahab kept her father, mother, brothers and sisters by prostitution.) When the King of Jericho found out that Israelite spies had entered his city, he sent word to her to deliver the spies to him. But Rahab made a decision to hide the spies on her roof. As she covered them with stalks of flax she said to the spies: "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you." (Joshua 2:9) Rahab, a Gentile Canaanite living in the midst of an idolatrous people, took a stand for the one true God, the God of Israel. She confessed her faith in Israel's God: "...for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." (Joshua 2:11)

When Rahab asked the spies to spare her life and the life of her family when they returned to destroy Jericho (she had faith that God would do this), she had no idea just how important her life was! Rahab lived to become the mother of Boaz, who was the father of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David, from whose line Yeshua came. One God-fearing Gentile woman who embraced the God and the people of Israel, played a major role in bringing us our Messiah.

Rahab asked the spies to assure her that she and her family would be spared. The spies, perhaps remembering the blood that had been sprinkled on the lintels and doorposts of their homes in Egypt (Ex. 12:13), said to Rahab: "...bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down...." (Joshua 2:18) The scarlet cord stood for the blood of the lambs slain in Egypt. And just as in Egypt, Rahab and her family were ordered to stay in the house to guarantee their safety and life.

Rahab believed God for the lives of her entire household. So must we! "A lamb for a household" is as true today as it was at the Exodus! (Ex. 12:3) One person taking a stand for an entire family, believing in the power of the blood of Yeshua, can mean the salvation of an entire household. Enter 2001 with the faith of Rahab. Please God as she did! "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." (Heb. 11:31)

Not only is Rahab's faith lauded in the New Covenant, so are her deeds. In James chapter 2, God tells us that by works faith is made perfect: "Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?" (James 2:25)

Attention all women, especially those not born Jewish, like Rahab, who once were slaves to sin, but now are slaves to righteousness, who once were idol worshippers, but now have embraced the Holy One of Israel: Your life can make a great difference in: 1) America, 2) Israel, 3) the World, 4) the Kingdom of God!!! Ask God for the faith of Rahab _ faith in God's word, faith in the power of the blood. Ask God for works that show your faith like Rahab. Ask God for the salvation of your entire family like Rahab. Ask God to use you to make an eternal difference.

Peter: One transformed life

There are many men in the Holy Scriptures that come to mind when contemplating the "Power of One" _ Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, Paul (Saul), to name a few. But Peter has always stood out to us as a an example of God using an ordinary life to make an extraordinary impact. Who was Peter? A simple Galilean fisherman. Uneducated. Unsophisticated. Impetuous. Rash. Brash. Yeshua encountered Peter and his brother Andrew on the sea of Galilee one day and said to them: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

The Bible tells us that they immediately left their nets and followed him. That one step of faith on Peter's part made the difference in millions of lives, until this very day. Peter had a wife, but we know virtually nothing about her, except for the fact that her mother lived in or near their home. Once Peter met the Messiah, his whole life seemed to revolve around Yeshua. Peter was good at making a fool of himself (Matt. 14:30, John 13:8, Matt. 26:33, Matt. 16:22). But, Peter was the first of Yeshua's disciples to confess: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matt. 16:16) Yeshua's response to this divine revelation by Peter, was to call him a "rock," a person that would be key in the building of Yeshua's kingdom. Peter was to make a difference in the Kingdom of God!

But before he did, Peter failed the Lord many times. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter fell asleep while the Lord was praying. Three times later that same night he denied even knowing the Lord. Although Peter failed the Lord many times, God never gave up on him. (Take note, men! This is a word for you.) Peter's life was destined to make a difference after the resurrection!

After Yeshua was raised from the dead, an angel told Mary: "He is not here, He is risen." He then told her to tell Yeshua's disciples and Peter the good news. God, always full of grace and forgiveness, mentioned Peter by name so he would know that even his denial of the Lord could be forgiven. After Peter and the other disciples saw the risen Messiah, they all decided to go fishing. They fished all night but caught nothing. Yeshua waited for them on shore, ready to provide a full catch and breakfast. Yeshua questioned Peter about his love for Him and called him one final time to follow Him.

One passionate Galilean fisherman, empowered by the Spirit that was poured out on the disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem, touched multitudes of lives in Yeshua's name. His first sermon as recorded in Acts chapter 2 is a good example of the power of one life, wholly yielded to the King of kings. Peter spoke under the anointing of the Ruach Ha Kodesh and 3,000 men received Yeshua as Lord and Messiah. (Read Peter's sermon in Acts 2; it is an inspiration!) Peter went on to heal and deliver people in Yeshua's name. It was Peter who said to a lame man who asked for alms: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Yeshua Ha Mashiach of Nazareth, rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6). Peter became so powerful in the Lord that the sick were brought into the streets and laid on beds and couches so that the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them (Acts 5:15).

One life. One Jewish man, used by God to reach his own people, and to open salvation to the Gentiles as well. (See Acts chapter 10.)

Attention all men, especially those rough, insensitive, unspiritual types who feel more comfortable with a fishing rod or hunting rifle than with a Bible: God has chosen you! His plan for 2001 and beyond includes you. In fact, He needs men like you to labor for him in the end-time harvest. He stands ready to empower you even as He empowered Peter. Say "Yes" to Yeshua, with a sincere commitment to follow Him wherever He leads. The best is yet to come!

One Body

Believers in the Messiah Yeshua, whether born of Jewish or Gentile parents, are born-again as new creations, neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, all one in the Messiah. One body. This is beautifully expressed in Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

The Bible tells us that there are many members, yet one body. "And the eye cannot say to the hand, `I have no need of you'; nor again the head to the feet, `I have no need of you'." (I Corinthians 12:21) We also read in this same chapter that when one member of the body suffers, all the members suffer with it (vs. 26). Through the trial of dealing with Neil's cancer we have experienced the truth of this verse. We have been blessed by the loving letters, cards, phone calls and e-mails that we have received concerning Neil's health. You have suffered with us! It has been so wonderful to feel the support of the Body as Neil has battled prostate cancer these past months. This has not really been a "physical" battle, but a "mental" and a "spiritual" one. Neil has stood firm from the beginning in faith, believing that God was going to get all cancer out of his body. Our battle has been a struggle to discern the will of our Father concerning how He wants to give us the victory.

While our natural, alternative efforts have resulted in each of us losing 13 pounds, dropping our cholesterol levels by 20% and feeling better than ever, we want to get back to focusing all our attention on the Lord's work! We will never go back to a diet heavy with white sugar, white flour, animal fats, or processed foods. (Our ultimate goal is a "mediterranean diet.") At some point we'll share all we've learned with you _ probably in a Jewish Jewels healthy cookbook!!!

After four months of seeking God's face, Neil has decided on surgery which is scheduled for January 23 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The surgeon is Dr. H. Ballantine Carter who has performed this operation over 900 times in the last four years and is known throughout the world. But, he still needs to be anointed by the Great Physician and we covet your prayers for this. Our friend Barry Kronman is also scheduled for surgery that day. They will be the only two operations that day. We would also appreciate your prayers for successful operations with complete removal of cancer, no complications, and a speedy recovery. The surgery and travel expenses

will be about $16,000 with insurance covering about $9,000. Anyone who would like to help with the remaining $7,000 can designate their gift for this expense by marking the enclosed card.

Neil is looking at this surgery in much the same way as he did when he had his appendix out thirty years ago. He's never missed his appendix, and he doesn't expect to miss his prostate gland. We are trying to have a balanced view concerning our bodies. They are, after all, "earthen vessels." The most important part of us is the treasure on the inside. Our goal is to keep Neil's body healthy so that he can continue to minister to our Jewish people and to all believers who love their Jewish roots.

The Power of One for Israel's Salvation

The recent presidential election made it abundantly clear that one vote can make a difference. One person. One supporter. One individual committed to an ideology or to a person.

Jewish Jewels needs the power of one operating in this ministry in 2001. We need your vote! Here is why:

1. There is no large foundation or church behind this ministry. Support has come from people who share God's vision for Israel's salvation.

2. There are almost 20,000 people who receive this newsletter.

3. There are 278 donors who support this ministry every month. That number includes 5 congregations which include us in their monthly missions giving.

4. Although many others send one or more gifts each year, we need you to stand with us as a monthly partner this year in whatever size gift God puts on your heart.

5. Ten, twenty-five, fifty, or a hundred dollars given in obedience with love, every month will help us reach the Jewish people with God's message of love and redemption through the Messiah Yeshua.

6. This is God's time to reach the Jewish people. There is an openness to hear about Yeshua that has not existed since the book of Acts was written.

7. The devil is doing all he can to destroy the "seed of Abraham." Anti-semitism is on the rise all over the world. A violent spirit of hate is loose in Israel that has been described by an experienced British news photographer as "the most savage I have ever seen anywhere in the world."

It's time for those who love God and His "chosen people" to stand together and be prepared to "take the kingdom by force." Please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly Jewish Jewels partner so that together we can make a difference for eternity.

Also please prayerfully consider talking to your Pastor, Rabbi, or Missions Committee about having your congregation be a part of sharing the Gospel "to the jew first" (Romans 1:16) through Jewish Jewels. (Call Rona 1(800)2YESHUA if you would like suggestions about how to do this.)

We do not ask for money or sell items on our TV program because God told us not to. Most traditional Jewish people think religious television is just about money. For twenty years, we have been obedient to God's instructions, and He has been faithful to supply the need. He has always supplied it through faithful obedient people.