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- The First Month - Aviv/Nisan
L'shana tova!! That's Hebrew for Happy New Year!! According to Scripture, today is the first day of the year on God’s calendar - the Biblical Calendar. (Exodus 12:2) This is the month of Aviv (Abib) which means “tender ear.” Since Israel's exile in Babylon, this month has also been called Nisan which means “their flight.” This is a month of great and miraculous deliverance into new creation life. It is the month of Passover, when God first redeemed His people out of slavery in Egypt with great plagues and acts of judgment. During these plagues, God distinguished between the people who were His and the people who were not. Israel became a nation in a day when they were delivered by the mighty hand of God through the parted waters of the Red Sea. Passover is celebrated throughout Scripture and is still celebrated every year to remember how God saved His people with great and powerful signs and miracles. After one year in the wilderness, on the first day of the first month, the Tabernacle was erected and consecrated to the Lord according to the pattern God gave to Moses. The shekinah glory of God filled the Tabernacle for all to see but Moses was not allowed to enter until the rules were given for the sacrifices required for entering God's presence. Forty years after the first Passover, it was in this month that Joshua led the Israelites to cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They renewed their covenant commitment to God, circumcised the new generation, celebrated the Passover, and began to eat the fruit of the Promised Land. Most significantly, it was on the eve of Passover that Jesus was betrayed and crucified. Knowing in advance that this must happen, Jesus led His disciples in the Last Supper communion with broken bread and poured out wine. They sang the Hallel Psalms to rejoice in God's great salvation of His people. That night, Jesus was betrayed and events were set in motion. The world judged and killed the Son of God but He shed His blood as the eternal Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. His sacrifice made the way for all who believe in Him to have direct access to God and enter into God's presence without limitation. Jesus' resurrection from death is God's greatest sign and evidence of God's love and redemption made available to all mankind. Jesus brings deliverance and salvation for all who put our trust in Him. It is Jewish tradition to read the Song of Songs on the Shabbat of the week of the Passover celebration. The story of the lover and His beloved reminds us of God's love for His people, the journey of the Bride to maturity, and points us to the wedding feast of the Lamb that is yet to come. Other significant Biblical events this month include the first day that the waters of Noah's flood were dried up to show the ground; Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel had a powerful vision of the Lord and end-times battles; Ezra and a group of exiles began their journey back to the Promised Land; Nehemiah stood sad-faced before the King before being granted permission to return to the Promised Land; and in Esther's time, Haman cast lots to select the date of the destruction of the Jewish people...the date which became the day of their very great deliverance. This is a month of new beginnings, fulfillment of long-awaited promises, renewed consecration, and new life. Therefore, in Jesus' name, may you be blessed this month with supernatural deliverance into new life, increased resurrection power, and the fulfillment of God’s promises according to His plans for you. Optional Reading: Hallel Psalms 113-118 Traditional Jewish Reading: Song of Songs Scripture References from the First Month: Genesis 8:13 Exodus 12-14, 40:1-38 Leviticus 23:5-14 Numbers 9:1, 20:1, 28:16, 33:3 Deuteronomy 16:1-8 Joshua 4:19-24 1 Chronicles 12:15, 27:2-3 2 Chronicles 29, 35 Ezra 6:19, 7:9, 8:31, 10:17 Nehemiah 2:1 Ezekiel 29:17, 30:20, 45:18 Esther 3:7 Daniel 10:4 Matthew 21-28 Mark 11-16 Luke 2:41-50, 19-24 John 2:13-23, 6:4, 11:55, 12:1, 13:1, 18:28-39, 19:14 Acts 20:6 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Originally published as: "The Blessing of Abib/Nisan" - Reprinted from Blessings of the Biblical Calendar - Copyright © 2015 Wendy Bowen – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
- Lamb Selection Day & the Triumphal Entry
Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. -Exodus 12:3 Today is the 10th day of Nisan, the day on which the Passover Lamb was to be set apart from the flock in order to be offered as an unblemished sacrifice to the Lord. Special care was to be taken of this lamb until the 14th of the month, the Passover, when the lamb would be slaughtered at twilight. On the original Passover, the blood of the lamb was smeared on the doorposts of every Hebrew home to distinguish them from the Egyptians and to protect them from the destroyer. The whole community of Israel professed their allegiance to God, but it would be this purposeful and individual act of obedience to God’s instructions which would set true believers apart to be delivered from bondage and spared from death. And when they were delivered, they would truly be God’s people, and God would be their God. On this exact day in history, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in the Triumphal Entry*, presenting Himself as the unblemished eternal Passover Lamb of God. In the days that followed, He taught in the Temple, challenging and infuriating the religious leaders of His day with questions that they could not answer, until the 14th of the month when He would be betrayed and handed over to be killed. On this day as He entered the gates of Jerusalem, the people shouted for joy, declaring the fulfillment of the Psalms and the words of the Prophets Isaiah and Zechariah, affirming their faith in Jesus as the Son of David, the Son of God, their Messiah, and the King of Israel. Their words declared their faith that Jesus would deliver them from their oppression and that they would be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He wept. He knew that, despite their professions of faith, in only a few days the people would all abandon and reject Him. He, too, remembered the words of the Prophet Isaiah, who said, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” Although the people professed their faith with their lips, it turned out that it was all talk and no action. They had abandoned true faith in God’s Word and trusted instead in their own traditions, rules, and regulations. These same people, only a few days later, would be the ones who stood in agreement with His crucifixion. He did not weep over His coming suffering and death, for this was His God-given purpose on earth. He wept over the hypocrisy of their proclamations of faith. During His ministry on earth, Jesus taught about the difference between those who would profess faith and those who would put their faith into action through obedience to His teachings. He taught that everyone who hears His words and puts them into practice will be blessed. To them, He will be Savior and Messiah, their Prince of Peace, their Teacher, Counselor, and even their friend. But, anyone who professes their faith but does not put His teachings into practice, or places more faith in the tradition or philosophy of man, will be unstable in all their ways and cut off from God. These hypocrites, whose deeds do not match their words, will meet Jesus one day, and He will weep and say to them, “I never knew you.” God still weeps over hypocrisy. What was true about genuine faith back then is still true for us today. If we genuinely believe the things that we say in faith, then we will put them into practice. Our purposeful acts of obedience are the distinguishing mark of what we truly believe. It is these acts of obedience, our putting into practice the teachings of our Lord Jesus which mark us for redemption, deliverance, and salvation and which smear the blood of the eternal Passover Lamb on the doorposts of our hearts. Put another way, faith without works is dead. We are saved by grace through faith, but our actions of obedience prove our faith to be genuine. If the Hebrews had not marked their doorposts in the original Passover, they should not have expected to be delivered from Egypt or spared from the destroyer. In the same way if we do not demonstrate our faith through our acts of obedience, then we should not expect to be delivered from our oppressors or spared from death by the blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus. Talk is cheap. Obedience is costly. If you truly believe that Jesus is your Savior, then you will walk in the obedience of faith. Today, with renewed commitment, willingness, and passion, declare again your faith in Jesus as your Savior and King, and your eternal Passover Lamb. Smear your heart with the blood of Jesus by putting into practice the things that He teaches. Then, you will be free from oppression, and you will be marked for salvation and redemption. God will be your God, and you will be His child. Scripture References: Exodus 12, Psalm 118:25-26; Isaiah 29:13, 62:11-12; Zecharaiah 9:9; Mark 7:8; Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 7:21-23 The Triumphal Entry: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 Note: This is the day commemorated as Palm Sunday in some churches around the world. Originally published as: "Faith Without Obedience" - Reprinted from The Obedience of Faith Blog - Copyright © 2013 Wendy Bowen – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
- Passover (Pesach) The Last Supper
Tonight at twilight is the Passover, the night which recalls when God protected His people from death and delivered them from bondage. Tonight, as Jews all over the world enjoy the Passover Feast of roasted lamb and bitter herbs, the youngest child will pose the question, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The answer will be told in the recollection of the Passover story. Life of Egyptian slavery had become very bitter for the Hebrews, and they groaned and cried out to their God for deliverance. God sent Moses, a Prophet or representative who speaks for God, to speak to Pharaoh and demand the release of His people so that they could worship Him freely. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he refused to release the Israelites; and in fact, he increased their workload of back-breaking toil. God sent plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, hail, locusts, and darkness. When Pharaoh still would not release the Hebrew slaves, God gave instructions for the first Passover. Moses and his brother Aaron, who became the High Priest of Israel, the one who mediated between God and the people, relayed God’s order to all the Hebrews in the land of Egypt. “The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects. Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this firstmonth. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs— must be roasted over afire. Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.” “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son andfirstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. when I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” The Hebrews did as God instructed through Moses and Aaron and when God passed through the land of Egypt with the angel of death, not a hair on any Hebrew head was touched. In fact, it was so peaceful in the Jewish section of Egypt that not even a dog barked. But as the destroyer destroyed all the firstborn Egyptians and even their firstborn livestock, the Hebrews were ejected out of Egypt and made their way into the wilderness. They had been released from their chains of slavery and redeemed out of their hard labor, sweat, and toil. They were free to worship God, and they looked forward to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, which God had promised to them through their patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What does all of this have to do with us, especially if we are not Jewish? Well, perhaps your life has become very bitter. Perhaps you have been wounded, oppressed, or you toil like a slave but never seem to get ahead. If this is the case, then groan and cry out to God Almighty through the name of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is our eternal Prophet, our eternal High Priest, and the one who, on this very night*, offered Himself as our eternal unblemished Passover Lamb to take away our sins and deliver us from bitterness and oppression. By God’s grace through faith in Jesus, we pass over from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, from the sting of death to eternal life. Jesus was sent by God as His representative and to relay God’s instructions to God’s chosen people from all nations of the earth. The blood of Christ releases us from our chains of slavery to sin through God’s forgiveness, and by His grace, redeems us from the burden of working for our salvation. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever would mark the doorpost of their heart with the blood of the Lamb of God would not be destroyed but have eternal life. Through Jesus Christ, who mediates between His followers and His Father, we are now free to worship God, and we look forward to heaven, a place where there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, which God has promised as an eternal inheritance to all of us who believe in Him. Yes, tonight is different from all other nights! Praise the Lord for His work of redemption and for His mighty hand and outstretched arm which He uses to deliver salvation to His people! Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered–to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Glory to God in the highest! Amen! Scripture References: Exodus 11-15, John 3:16, Romans 8, Hebrews 4, Revelation 21:4, Luke 21:28, Revelation 5:12 The Crucifixion: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 Note: This is the day commemorated as Maundy Thursday in some churches around the world. Originally published as: "The Night Different from All Other Nights" - Reprinted from The Obedience of Faith Blog - Copyright © 2013 Wendy Bowen – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
Other Pages (129)
- Impact | Manifest International | Charlotte
Global Impact The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few... - Matthew 9:37 Outreach is everywhere. God sends us to all kinds of people in all kinds of places: the Jew and the Gentile, the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, believers and unbelievers - everyone needs more of Jesus. We make disciples of all nations through teaching the Word of God and training everyone to live by the obedience of faith. Disciples from Every Nation, Tribe, and Tongue Images from sensitive nations or areas not included. Zion Children's Home God's power in meetings Sunday Church Gatherings Proclaiming the Gospel A brand new believer Clean water through a new well in an Indian jungle village Children receive Bibles for Christmas Jesus is the Same in Northern Uganda Dedicating an Evangelism Center in Lagos, Nigeria Elders and Deacons Consecrated for Service Pastor's Equipping Conference Theologically Trained Pastor's Conference Orphans in India hear about Jesus Jungle village hears the Gospel Youth Conference in France Children learn the rain song - God sent rain! God heals a woman's knee! Healing service Praying for the Blind Children Japanese believers gathering Making Disciples We proclaim Jesus and the simple Gospel of His Kingdom according to the Scriptures. But it doesn't stop there. True disciples are followers of Jesus who learn of Him and put His teachings into practice in their daily lives. We make disciples of all nations through resources and trainings that educate with sound doctrine, challenge and spur new levels of devotion and obedience, and develop genuine engagement with God for daily life with the Lord. Core Curriculum Laying a solid foundation and challenging to spiritual maturity through readings and practical application and spiritual exercises. Podcast & School of Ministry In-depth courses with extensive focus in specific areas of Bible Study, faith, ministry service, and life with God. Publications & Bookstore Producing resources and publishing other authors who share our objective of spreading the word and making disciples. Prayer Guiding prayer into the heart of God and His purposes in the earth. Training Exercises Exercises to aid believers in practical application and genuine engagement with God in their daily lives. First to the Jew Proclaiming the Good News in a manner true to the Jewish Scriptures and God's redemptive plan for Israel. Activated Church Activating believers to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit like the early church of the Book of Acts. Recovering Type A Reaching out to those enslaved by the pressures of this world to bring them into a transformed life with God. Good Works in His Name Our Focus Areas of Support God sends us all over the world and we have the privilege of pouring ourselves out into many different impact initiatives. We do this through our own direct outreaches and through investing in fellow boots-on-the-ground laborers inGod's harvest field who proclaim a pure Gospel of Jesus Christ and do good works in His name with a mission and values that are aligned with Manifest International. Humanitarian aid that is not done in the name of Jesus is eternally meaningless. Below are some of the categories we enjoy investing in for the Kingdom and the glory of God. Israel & the Jewish People Reaching the Jewish people with a Biblical presentation of Yeshua the Messiah. Helping them return to the land of their ancestors. Water: Bibles & Wells Delivering the Bible to people in their native language. Plus, literal wells to bring clean drinking water even as we bring the living water of Jesus. Children of God Feeding, clothing, and raising up orphaned children to know their Father, God, through Jesus. Outreach to the Unreached Reaching deep into the places that no one else wants to go to spread the Gospel to those who have never heard. Prisons & Rehab Centers Reaching those who have come to the end of themselves and are ready for change. The Undiscovered & Persecuted The faithful servants of God we meet in our travels whom the world does not know but who are shining light in the darkest places. Please note: We receive solicitations regularly from ministries and churches all over the world asking for financial support. We live by faith and trust God for our own financial provision. We give based on relationship, as guided by the Holy Spirit. Please understand that we do not give to churches or ministries that we have not visited in person. Thank you. Invite Us to Share with Your Congregation or Group We welcome the opportunity to share with your church, congregation, or group about: The Jewishness of Jesus & the Christian Faith God's Redemptive Plan for Israel The Biblical Calendar & Feasts of the Lord Romans 9-11: Cut Off & Ingrafted Reaching Your Jewish Neighbors General speaking on the subject, as led by the Lord Invite Us to Speak
- FTJ | Manifest Intl
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed -a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." - Romans 1:16-17 Beloved on Account of the Patriarchs God brought salvation to Israel and the world through the Jewish people in the person of Yeshua (which is Jesus' Hebrew name.) We believe the salvation of the Jewish people through faith in Yeshua the Messiah is still the heartbeat and purpose of God. In spite of the fact that Jews have historically, for the most part, hardened their hearts to the good news of Yeshua, they are still beloved of God on account of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their hardened hearts are softening like never before, as the fullness of the Gentiles comes to faith in the God of Israel. Even so, until Jerusalem calls out, "Baruch haba b'shem Adonai," (blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord) to Yeshua as their Lord and King, He will not return to usher any of us into eternal life in the world to come. Therefore, wherever we go, in every nation God sends us to all over the world, we seek out, find, and reach out to the Jewish people living there. We share with them the way of salvation through faith in Yeshua their Messiah and encourage them to return home to the land of Israel, as promised to their ancestors. We create and distribute various resources to synagogues, rabbis, and Jewish individuals so that even if they reject the message in person or publically, they can study in private and come to know the truth. We also raise awareness and train the local Church about the Jewishness of Jesus, God's love for His people, and His redemptive plan for their salvation. Out of gratitude for our salvation and earnest desire to see all Jewish people come to faith in Yeshua, we do our best to remove every unnecessary hindrance to their faith in Yeshua. This includes aligning ourselves to observe the Biblical Calendar and God's appointed times and feasts rather than the Church's substitutions and the traditions of men which have caused much confusion through their departure from Biblical truth. Romans 9-11: Cut Off & Ingrafted: Jews & Gentiles Are ONE in Messiah To get a free printout of this graphic, click here . To purchase a 5x7 Card of this graphic, click here . Aside from a faithful remnant including the earliest followers of Yeshua, the Jewish people were cut off because of their failture to believe Yeshua as their Messiah. Gen tiles who believe in Messiah have been ingrafted into Israel through faith in the Son of God - the God of Israel, the only Creator of Heaven and Earth. Jewish people are also ingrafted back into the Israel of God when they turn and believe that Yeshua is their Messiah. Now, there is neither Jew nor Gentile but we are all one - a new humanity - through faith in Yeshua. This Year's Biblical Calendar - Significant Dates & Events To get a free printout of these dates, click here . To purchase a 5x7 Card of these dates, click here . More on the Biblical Calendar Useful Resources & Free Downloads Partner With Us in This Work We welcome you to partner with us in our outreach to the Jewish people. Their acceptance and full inclusion in Messiah is great riches and life from the dead! (Romans 11:12-15) Contribute to Our Jewish Outreach Outreach Resources Through Our Bookstore Quick View DOWNLOAD: First to the Jew E-Bundle Price $12.00 Quick View Messiah's Healing Booklet Price $2.50 Quick View Messiah's Healing, EBook Price $0.00 Quick View Messiah's Healing, 5 Pack Price $10.00 Quick View Restoring the Kingdom to Israel Booklet Price $2.50 Quick View Restoring the Kingdom to Israel, E-Book Price $0.00 Quick View Restoring the Kingdom to Israel, 5 Pack Price $10.00 Quick View The 2 End-Times Wars for the Jewish People, Paperback Price $9.00 Quick View The 2 End-Times Wars for the Jewish People-E-Book Price $5.00 Quick View BUNDLE: First to the Jew Price $27.00 Quick View BUNDLE Jewish Outreach Price $73.00 Quick View Prayer Guide: For Israel & The Jewish People & God Loves the Jewish People Price $2.00 Quick View Prayer Guide: God Loves the Jewish People PDF Price $0.00 Quick View Prayer Guide: God Loves the Jewish People Price $0.00 Quick View Prayer Guide: For Israel & the Jewish People PDF Price $0.00 Quick View Ingrafted Card: Jew & Gentile in Messiah Price $2.00 Quick View Ingrafted: Jew & Gentile in Messiah: PDF Price $0.00 Quick View 2023-2024 Feast & Months (5x7 Card) Price $2.00
- Truly Walking with God Book | Manifest Intl
ABOUT THE BOOK George Vitetta always longed for a deep and personal relationship with God but struggled with religion and disappointments with the church. Through God’s gracious hand on his life, George finally discovered how to walk with God and what the Christian life is really all about. He became a pastor and served God all the way to his last breath. Now, in this book prepared by him before his passing and completed by his wife, Cathy, you can learn from George’s favorite Bible teachings about Jesus and the Christian life. If you feel like you have been wandering in a wilderness of confusion about God and religion, this book will help you understand biblical truths and realize that you can truly walk with God! Paperback Purchase a paperback from our bookstore. Click Here E-Book Purchase an e-book from our bookstore. Click Here Amazon Prefer buying through Amazon? Click here. Click Here Free Sample Download a free sample of the book. Download Now " What I can honestly tell you is that in the midst of the storms of life, you can have a peace and joy that surpasses all understanding. You can have a relationship with the living God through His Holy Spirit! You can truly walk with God!" ABOUT the Authors George D. Vitetta’s life was radically changed when he discovered that truly walking with God was so different from what he had experienced in today’s church. As a Pastor, George’s passion was to teach the Bible to inspire everyone towards their own personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. George passed on to be with the Lord in July of 2022. Catherine M. Vitetta co-pastored their home church and community outreaches. Her first book, Ready for the King, was released in 2023. She is co-author of her husband’s book, completing it in loving memory of him after his passing to see God’s purpose for the book fulfilled. Contact Click here to reach out to the author directly via email. Email now Giving Click here to contribute to the author's minsitry. Contribute Speaking To invite the author to speak to your group, click here. Invite For bulk ordering, please visit contact bookstore@manifestinternational.com . Manifest Publications is the publishing division of Manifest International, LLC. Our objective is to help like-minded writers and ministries produce and distribute materials that proclaim Jesus Christ to all the world and equip the global Church for unity and maturity.