Yeshua taught us that the entire Torah could be summed up in two commandments; “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37)
As we draw close to God, we are overwhelmed by His love. There is no darkness in Him and His presence in our lives is truly a flood of light and goodness in every way. As we receive his perfect love, we are enabled to love him with all our heart, soul and mind.
As we endeavor to carry out his second command to love our neighbor as ourself, we realize that it is only to the degree that we receive His love that we can walk in unity and love with others. Without His love flowing from us and being manifest between us, the local Body of Messiah can never be a real expression of His life. Here in Jerusalem, we will settle for nothing less! His love is the “cement’ that joins His Body together. As we stand together in Him, in the unity of his love, one plants, another waters and then God brings the increase!
And this love must be extended not only to our family of believers but to the lost as well. As we love the lost with His love, we are seeing fruit. Friendships are being established, hearts are being drawn to us, and through us they are experiencing Him. It is His patience and love that enables us to be true friends of the lost. In many ways, it is easier not to do this but God commanded us to heal the sick, open blind eyes and even to raise the dead. We are called to go forth and be his ambassadors in every situation. Not just “Eddie” but Eddie filled with the very life of God. So we do it! We are the light of the world and through His grace we shine ever brighter with each new day.
Good Report
As the light shines ever brighter, the battle with the powers of darkness also increases. After all we have walked through, we are keenly aware of the war we are in and we are forever grateful and empowered as you stand with us. Together, we can not lose! We are pressing on in God, believing the impossible and seeing the incredible. God is on the move and we are starting to see things explode with good fruit!
At a recent meeting at Revive Israel, I stood up at one point and gave my healing testimony. Shortly after, a woman came up to me and asked me to pray for a friend who was riddled with cancer. Together we lifted her up before God AND SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE SAME WOMAN CAME BACK TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE CANCER HAD SUDDENLY REVERSED ITS DIRECTION AND THAT HER FRIEND WAS MUCH BETTER. Praise God for her improvement. We declare together that God will finish the work and the woman in Taiwan will be completely healed.
Our good and faith filled report goes on! The Body of Messiah is growing and thriving. Many of our meetings have over 200 people attending with “standing room only”. We had an incredible Shavuot Prayer meeting at Revive Israel that overflowed with God’s presence and power. The following day over one thousand believers from all over Israel gathered together for a picnic to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that very day 2,000 years ago.
Tonight is our “Third Season” meeting. It is growing and has become inter-congregational. We expect nearly thirty people, including some non-believers and are confident that His love and grace will fill our home.
We are in the process of starting several new home meetings in our congregation, Ahavat Yeshua and we have just expanded our youth meeting to an additional midweek gathering.
And beyond all that, Jackie and I are sharing the Good News every day with Israelis whom we meet. We are bold and unashamed and God’s seeds are being planted.
Yes, so much is going on. Life in Jerusalem is challenging but very exciting. Alone, we are not up to the challenge, but with God and your prayers, we declare that we can do all things in Him who strengthens us.
This article originally appeared in Zion’s Glory newsletter, June 16, 2017, and reposted with permission.