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| The Feast of Dedication A time to rededicate our lives to the Lord Friday, December 11 7 P.M. Sar Shalom Bible Center |
| The Festival of Lights A time to let our light shine and remember that Yeshua is the light of the world! |
| What God had in mind was transformation of the heart. What God had in mind for man kind was change of the heart. Being rooted and grounded in the love of Messiah |
| I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives but Christ in me. I have been bought with a price. I am not my own. |
| During Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication it was only natural for national deliverance to be on the minds of the people. When we celebrate a holiday our minds are on the history of that holiday. In John 10: 22, 23, 24 Yeshua is along with other Jews, celebrating Hanukkah in the same Temple that had been cleansed and rededicated only a few generations earlier. John 10: 22-24 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Remember, they were looking for a military messiah. They were narrow minded so Yeshua tries to help them out a little bit. Verse 25-30 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one." |
But the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32 Today we have to much of "Casual Christianity" Over the generations the church has produced wishy washy Christians. Christians with no back bone. It has come a time when the body of Messiah, the people who know their God need to display strength and take action! |
| History tells us the Messiah was born during the fall festival, Tabernacles. Believers around the world can still rejoice and celebrate during the Christmas season in knowing that it was during this time, Hanukkah that the Light of the World was conceived. What greater miracle The virgin conception Christmas and Hanukkah the Season of Miracles the Season of Lights |
| Yeshua said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light." John 12:36 The light of the menorah is the symbol of the light of Yeshua! |
| God's people will overcome! Not by might, nor by power, but My Spirit saith the Lord of Host. |
| Latkes 3 large potatoes 1 small onion 2 beaten eggs 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon salt pinch of pepper 1/2 cup of vegetable oil Wash the potatoes very well, but you don't have to peel them - they're healthier and easier to prepare unpeeled. Grate them coarsely into a bowl. Grate in the onion. Add the beaten eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for ten minutes to thicken. Pour off the excess liquid. Heat the vegetable oil for one minute in a frying pan. Gently drop the potatoe mixture into the pan, making each circle two inches across. When the latkes are brown around the edges, turn and fry them until the other sides are crispy. Drain them on paper towels and eat them with sour cream and/or applesauce. Makes about 24 pancakes. |
| He is the only truth that is able to transform lives. He is the only truth that is able to save us and set us free. For generations man kind has rejected the truth, Yeshua The light of the world. They have rejected Him and have chosen to live ungodly lives. Going their own way. Doing their own thing. Moving further and further away from God. Moving further and further into darkness. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Do you know you can be a believer and still live in darkness? Yeshua is the Word! And it is the Word that sets you free. Just accepting Yeshua to be your Savior isn't going to set you free in this world. Yeshua wants every believer to live in the light. To live an abundant life! Abundant life comes by abiding in His Word. Living His Word! Being a doer of His Word! The Word is Yeshua and Yeshua is the Word! Yeshua said, "If you love Me you will obey my commandments." |
Open Door Ministries International
Hanukkah - "Light in the Darkness"
| Home The Feast of Dedication Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication. It is not the Jewish alternative to Christmas. This holiday represents a story all of its own. It is a story of incredible faithfulness to God and a story of awesome courage. We know it also as a story of re-dedication of a defiled Temple. Like Christmas it is a time to wonder at the miracles of God. Hanukkah is a time to rededicate and celebrate. Most importantly, Hanukkah is not just for Jews. Yeshua (Jesus) celebrated Hanukkah. So why shouldn't Christians? If it was important to Jesus shouldn't it be important to us? Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple, in Solomon's porch. John 10: 22~23 Although Hanukkah is not described in great detail in the scriptures it is probably the most historically documented of all the Jewish holidays. This holiday is about a dedicated people who refused to compromise. A remnant of people who refused to give in and go against God 's Word. "Light in the Darkness" is what this holiday is all about. This is one reason why every believer should choose to celebrate Hanukkah. Every believer in the Messiah should be a "Light in the Darkness." The history behind Hanukkah should be known by every Christian and we, like our Jewish brothers and sisters, should pass this extraordinary story of faith down to our children. A day will come when our children and grandchildren will need to know how to stand and not back down. Although it is certain that Yeshua took part in this festival it is not mentioned in the Old Testament. It is not mentioned because it happened during the time between the old and the new. We like to call those years the silent years but they were not very silent. True, there were no prophetic words spoken but God was still on the scene! The Hanukkah story is recorded in great detail in books called "The Maccabees." You may also find recorded information in the writings of the great historian Josepheous. The only place in the Bible that Hanukkah is mentioned by name is John 10:22. The Story of Hanukkah The events behind Hanukkah started with Alexander the Great and his conquest of the world in the 4th century B.C. Alexandra the Great had one goal, to conquer the world. His conquest introduced the world to Greek every thing. Greek language, thought, custom, and philosophy. Greek education had become a universal standard. Emerging were the Greek theaters, chariot races, gymnasiums and stadiums. The land of Israel was no exception. When Alexandra conquered he didn't just conquer the people he conquered their culture. Many Jews accepted this culture with open arms. They said, "Hey, this is modern days why do we need to stick with the book?" Why do we need to do what the Torah says? The ones that didn't want to compromise said, "That's who we are, we are people of the book." There was a split. During this time many Jews gave into Hellenism and embraced the Greek culture with open arms. Alexander was so ambitious that he conquered what was then the whole world by age twenty three. Daniel 8: 5~7, 21 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand. Verse 21 And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. What Daniel was prophesying is exactly what happened. Alexandra came in charging like a goat with a single, powerful horn; one man power; one world power. He trampled and shattered everything in his path. All that was to conquer he conquered. Alexander the Great then died in 323 B.C. He died but the Greek culture lived on. And it continued to spread and poison the minds of the people. After his death, Alexander's empire split into four parts. His four generals divided all his conquests amongst themselves. Daniel 8: 8, 22 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven. Verse 22 As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power. One of Alexander's generals took the area of what later became Syria. The ruler that came into power of that are several generations later was Antiochus. Antiochus was a nut~case. He declared himself "Epiphanes." Which means "god manifest." In other words he was stating that he was divine, he was god. What he was, was a mad man. He had statues of himself every where and he ordered the people to worship them. He even placed them in the Temple. The Greek language became mandatory and the Greek religion were also required. Hellenist Jews even brought a gymnasium to Jerusalem. What is wrong with that? Gymnasium actually means "nude men." The gym was a place were nude men played sports while the spectators worshiped the players. Sound familiar? Our sport players may not be nude today but we still have a lot of people worshiping them and worshiping the sports. There is nothing wrong with enjoying sports but anything that has our attention more than God does is idolatry. What is a Hellenist? A Hellenists is someone that totally embraces the Greek culture. Hellenist glorified themselves instead of God. They glorified the human body both in sport and in art. They were humanist worshiping man instead of God, making men into gods. During this time many Jews forsook their Jewishness for monetary gain and prestige. Some male Jews even participated in the nude Greek sporting events. Many gave into the times in which they lived, thinking they would be accepted if they where part of the crowd. In the end it not only cost them their lives but their souls. During this time in a midst of a heated rage over a loss battle, Antiochus ordered Jerusalem to be destroyed. Houses were burned, the walls of the city broken down, thousands were killed or sold into slavery. Including the ones that embraced Antiochus' ways. Then his attention was turned to the Temple on Mount Zion. Syrian soldiers destroyed the porches and gates. They stripped the Temple of its golden vessels and treasures, including the incense altar, the table and the menorah. Daniel 11:29~31 At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Antiochus erected an idol of Zeus on the holy altar On the birthday of Zeus, December 25th, Antiochus offered a pig on the altar of our Lord, Adonai. He then proceeded to sprinkle its blood in the Holy of Holies and poured its broth over the holy scrolls; which he cut to pieces and burned. The Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies had been desecrated and defiled. The Temple was converted to a shrine to Zeus and only swine were permitted for sacrifice. Antiochus' goal was to abolish every trace of the Jewish religion. He issued orders forbidding circumcision, Sabbath observance, kosher diets and the study of Torah. Those who attempted to live out the Torah (God's Word) were put to death. Women who had their children circumcised were put to death. Before being killed they were used as human crosses and their babies were hung to death from the mother's own neck. Many Jews gave in and chose to comply with the new laws. They forsook Torah (God's Word) to save their own lives. Others stood fast to the covenant and paid for their convictions dearly. Jewish history records many courageous acts of faithful devotion. Eleazar, a ninety year old man was commanded to eat swine's flesh. Not willing to deceive the young people with his example he refused to break the law of God. The soldiers beat him until he died. To him, if he could compromise on that he could compromise on any part of God's law. This isn't about pork, this is about compromise. As believers in Messiah we must set an example of the Gospel for all to see. Just as Yeshua is the light in darkness we must be the light in darkness. A women named Hannah and her seven sons were arrested for their refusal to forsake the Torah (God's Word). One by one her sons were tortured, forcing the mother to watch. When they refused to yield they were boiled alive in cauldrons. The mother encouraged the youngest and last son with the hope of resurrection and then she too was put to death. There were many more like her. Hebrews 11:35 Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Daniel 11: 33, 34 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. Hidden away in the mountains was a man named Mattathias along with his sons. This was a priestly family from the line of Aaron. As a matter of fact, Matthew from the Gospel of Matthew, whose name was really the Jewish name Mattathias, history tells us that he was named after this particular man. The Priest Mattathias that would not compromise. From this family's influence soon a small army formed. Prior to Mattathias's death he passed his leadership to his son Judah. Judah and his freedom fighters came to be called the Maccabees. Maccabee was not his last name. Maccabee means hammer. The amazing thing about these freedom fighters was that they consist of the common people. Farmers, workers and servants. Usually it is what we might call the common people what are willing to stand for what is right. Most people, not all but most who are of great prestige and wealth are not willing to loose what they have in this world so they compromise the Word of God. The greatest treasures are the ones we store in heaven The greatest kingdom we can build is God's Kingdom and not our own The Maccabees knew they were out numbered but they also knew that God was in charge. When the men feared for their lives Judah encouraged them with these words "It is easy for many to be overcome by few; in the sight of heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many or by few; for victory in war does not depend upon size of the army, but on strength that comes from heaven. With great presumption and lawlessness they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us; but we are fighting for our lives and our Torah laws. He Himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of them." Since then Israel has proven this statement to be true many times. Remember the words of Yeshua in Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." In an incredible victory Adonai our Lord overthrew the massive army before the small group of faithful fighters. It was clearly a miracle from heaven. In battle after battle a few overpowered many. The weak overturned the strong. Because they were willing to stand and not compromise God gave them the victory. When we stand up for God's Word and not compromise no matter how hard it seems at times, God will see us through. He will give us the victory! Stand on His Word no matter what! What He says will come to pass if you believe! When you have done all to stand, continue to stand. Trust Him Believe Him Serve Him and Love Him and His Word will work for you! This small army of freedom fighters trusted God and they were able to take Jerusalem back. They regained control of the Holy Temple and began to purify it. The altar was torn down and rebuilt. The Temple was restored and new vessels were crafted. The Temple courts were consecrated. The altar of incense and the table were brought back into the Temple. They burnt the incense on the altar and put the shewbread on the table, hung the curtains. They prepared the house of God for His presence. Every thing was ready except one thing They found only one small cruse of oil Just enough to light their holy lamps one day They decided to light it any ways To everyone's amazement the menorah miraculously burned for eight days until new oil could be made! Little is much when God is in it! When we decide to take one small step of faith God can do miraculous things in our lives. The congregation of Israel decreed that the rededication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness at the same season each year for eight days. Hanukkah teaches us to stand and be of good courage Do not compromise We can overcome with God If God be for you who can be against you! Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. We are able to overcome the world because Yeshua has overcome and greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world Come Celebrate Hanukkah with us! December 11, 2009 Friday 7:00 P.M. Sar Shalom Bible Center Hurricane, WV We will face Antiochus again and again. Many anti - Christ will come. 1 John 2:18 "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the anti - Christ is coming. Even now many ant-Christs have come, by which we know that it is the last hour." |
| In the day of Yeshua, Israel was looking for the deliverer. They were looking for the Messiah to come and free them from all oppression. They were looking for the Messiah to come and over throw the Roman Empire. They longed for the Shekinah Glory to return as it did in the days of Solomon. They were longing for the good old days! This is why many didn't recognize Yeshua as the Messiah. The Shekinah Glory was there, walking amongst them and many didn't recognize the true light. Many missed the move of God because they were living in the past! Be careful! If you stay in the past you just might miss out on the next move of God! Yeshua clearly showed them that He was the Messiah. Even so many rejected Him. Why? Because He failed to meet their Messianic expectations. Their desires, their wants didn't line up with God's. They were looking for a military messiah just for Israel. But God is bigger than that! God sent a Savior for the world! Not one nation and most certainly not military style but one heart at a time. |
| Yeshua could not have said it any plainer. "I and the Father are one." This statement made them furious and they sought to stone Him. Yeshua was rejected. Usually, when we really do not want to hear the truth or accept the truth we become angry. When the truth comes out and it doesn't line up with what we want to do or how we want to live we become angry and reject the truth. Regardless what we want to believe the truth is still the truth whether we believe it or not. Yeshua ia the truth! |
| Happy Hanukkah! The first candle is lit before sundown on Friday December 11, 2009 |
| The Coming Awakening! Sar Shalom Bible Center 200 Morris Court Hurricane, WV Friday, December 11 7:00 P.M. |
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