This Month's Newsletter
This Month's Torah Portion

Note: Shabbat Service & Monday Torah Study Meetings are held at 1705 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Brandon FL, 33511. Go to our home page for map & directions.
 

Dear Mishpocha (Family),

Once again we will be celebrating the Fall Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) next month as a community and we have been doing this for more than fifteen years. In Leviticus 23:2, it says, “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:” the word “convocations” is the Hebrew word “Miqra” and it means “something called out, a public meeting and a rehearsal.”

We are currently in the Season of Repentance and this will take us all the way to the Day of Atonement. This is the time when we need to get right with God and with each other. The Day of Atonement is about corporate forgiveness, and this was the only time that the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the whole house of Israel. In Hebrews 9:11-12, it says, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Yeshua is not only our Passover Lamb but our High Priest as well. Another name given to this Season of Repentance is “Teshuvah” and it means “to return”. In Hosea 14:1, it says, “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.”

Once again we get to have a Holy Convocation (Miqra) for Fall Feasts and it is a rehearsal for what’s to come. If I had to put a title on this month’s newsletter, it would be: “To be in the right place at the right time.” Now is not the time to have broken focus or a bunch of distractions. Let’s all make Yeshua our number one priority and continue to do our own self examination (Daniel 12:10). In Matthew 6:33, it says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”

This is also a time not to make accusations but intercession. We need to be praying for the hearts of the people to be turned towards God. There are so many people that do not have a personal relationship with Yeshua. In Daniel 12:3, it says, “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” The cross reference to this verse can be found in Matthew 13:43: “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” I believe that the Father has already begun to gather His elect because we are raising up the next generation at Beit Tehila. The Feast of Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Ingathering and this is the final phase in the redemptive plan of God. Meeting together on God’s calendar is not an appointment that we can afford to miss.

Many blessings to the whole house of Israel.

Shalom, Pastor Nick