How to Get a Double Portion

By Eitan Shishkoff

Over the span of his ministry, Elisha raised the dead, brought supernatural supply, and prophesied over kings. How did he gain entrance to the heart of God and release the supernatural?

A profound key is found in one tiny word: if. When Elijah was about to depart for heaven, Elisha, his disciple, insisted on staying with him until the end. Though the old prophet waved him off, Elisha did not give up. The master asked his star pupil, “…What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha’s answer? “Please let a double portionof your spirit be upon me” (II Kings 2:9). Then, Elijah inserted a condition. “…If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you.” (II Kings 2:10).

Why such a pre-condition? Because it shows that for Elisha to fulfill his destiny, his relationship with Elijah was essential. As a young man plowing in the field, Elisha was challenged by Elijah to leave all and follow him. He immediately slaughtered the team of oxen and came.

These giants of faith were similar. Both worked substantial miracles and functioned in the region of Mt. Carmel (near present day Haifa). Both raised the dead and multiplied olive oil. Yet they were different in character and in calling.

Elijah was a trailblazer who called down fire and drew persecution for challenging demonic powers. He suffered depression, doubt, and rejection—which he overcame. I identify with Elijah. My generation was tasked with making Yeshua’s name known in His land after nearly 2000 years. Not easy.

Elijah found Elisha engaged in Israel’s day to day life. This typifies the next generation more than ours. They are secure, confident, and not easily intimidated – more Elisha than Elijah.

In order to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, Elisha served the craggy prophet for years. He’s not even mentioned again until it’s Elijah’s time to “retire.” Following, learning, taking correction from one’s elders is not attractive or exciting. It sounds like a bummer. But it prepared Elisha within. It qualified him to receive Elijah’s mantle.

The account of these two prophets answers the question “What will it take?” It will take the older generation adopting young men and women who possess promise and the desire to be mentored. This is a serious investment of time and resources. It is quiet, hidden. It doesn’t make dramatic newsletters. On the part of the younger generation it involves humility. Neither generation can fulfill its mandate without the other. Our work as pioneers will be incomplete with the next generation. IF the next “gen” fails to keep a watch on their fore-bearers, they will have to start all over again, and miss their phenomenal role.

Older generation, my peers, it’s up to us to adopt these younger servants and nurture them, passing on what we’ve learned. Begin releasing responsibility, then leadership. They’re more capable than you think. Younger generation, it’s time to stop ignoring the old “fogies” and resisting what they want to pass along to you. Don’t resent serving faithfully. Be a patient learner. The rewards will be Elisha-like!

(Excerpted from a message at the Elav Youth Conference, July 6, 2014, Haifa)

 Tumult

By Avi & David

The week three murdered teenage Jewish bodies were found and “avenged,” the Torah reading in synagogues around the world read like a front page story. Just like the Palestinians, Balak and his people (living on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea), tried every method to prevent Israel from permanently moving into the neighborhood (Numbers 22-25). He summoned Balaam from present day northwestern Syria, to come curse Israel. But God had other plans.

“God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” (Numbers 23:19-20)

Elohim can bring good from every situation. Balaam ended up proclaiming blessing and destiny over Israel, declaring the key role that she would play in God’s plan of redemption and justice for all nations.

“…in the latter days…a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult… Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. Out of Jacob One shall have dominion…Alas! Who shall live when God does this?” (Numbers 24: 14,17-19,23)

We are living in tumultuous times. Here in Israel we again feel the precarious “tinderbox existence.” Evil seeks the smallest excuse to fan the flames. In response to the coldblooded abduction and murder of three Jewish teenagers, extremist Jewish activists took revenge and murdered an Arab teenager. News of this young man’s death was a lit match in a field of dry thorns. Rioting, Molotov cocktails, vandalism, and then whole scale rocket fire ensued. While Jews and Arabs have separate neighborhoods and towns, they still live in close proximity. Many Arabs work in Jewish towns. Many Jews shop in Arab towns. When tensions flare, the whole fabric of coexistence can fray and begin to unravel.

Terror targets have moved from being mainly soldiers to now include teens, women, and children. For 18 tense days the nation joined together hoping against hope that three boys would be found alive. Before the fate of the teens was discovered, we discussed the situation with our children (Avi speaking). Our preteen girls expressed fear, realizing the victims were close to their age. The families of the kidnapped could barely sleep or eat. How could they? We saw it in their eyes on TV interviews.

My next door neighbor (David speaking) employs two middle-aged Arab brothers to farm his fields and shepherd his sheep. Browned and creased by decades of working in the sun, their faces convey no threat. But when we started talking about the three murders and the retaliation murder, one said he wished deceased prime minister Ariel Sharon were still in power, because he was the one who had withdrawn all Jewish settlements from Gaza. In other words, even many Arabs who work daily with Jews and count them friends, believe that the main obstacle to peace is the Jewish “settlers” living in the “West Bank,” and believe the settlers should be forcibly removed. This interpretation by peaceful Arab Israeli citizens is evidence of the local and world-wide battle for public opinion on this subject. While a few extreme Jewish settlers certainly need to be weeded out, they were not the source of the conflict, nor are they its main perpetrators now. It was during the very years from 1948 to 1967 when no Jewish settlers lived in Gaza nor the West Bank, that the Palestinian terror groups were formed. So settler presence in the West Bank cannot be the cause.

Beyond the horizon of our own tumult, past the northeastern border of Israel in Balaam’s old neighborhoods of Syria and Iraq, we see even greater tumult. There it is of a Sunni Muslim vs. Shiite Muslim variety, to the tune of thousands of deaths per month! The end of this round of conflict in Israel is not yet in sight. Israel is pin-pointing Hamas targets in Gaza as salvos of Muslim rockets arc toward Jewish civilian areas. At any point tense nerves could simmer down or escalate even further.

Please stand in prayer for:

• Conviction and revelation

• Protection and intervention

• Wisdom and unity among Israel’s leaders

• Mercy

Tents of Mercy Update from

shaveitzion.org | info@shaveitzion.org | P.O.B. 46257 Haifa 3146002 Israel

Shavei Tzion hosted a three-day Shavuot Teen Camp for the Tents of Mercy Network to encourage our youth toward servanthood in their congregations.

We had seen the devotion and love of the Messianic “Isra-camp” staff, as well as the increased faith and encouragement their young campers received. So we decided to recruit their staff to run a camp tailored for our congregations:

1) To gather our youth together and train them to take responsibility in the congregations 2) To connect the youth of network congregations
3) To bring the youth closer to the Lord so they would know He is always there for them
4) To teach the youth about the feast of Shavuot

We bonded together while hiking to the Zavitan Pools in the Golan Heights, camping at Neve Karni, BBQing, and worshiping. The late-night games wrung the last drops of energy out of us all, leading to a quiet night of sleep.

The teaching theme on the second day was “God is an eternal friend.” It turned out that the games were the most effective and practical way of teaching the kids about cooperation and the necessity of supporting one another. In the heat of the afternoon, we all enjoyed a dip SHAVUOT CAMP 2014 in the Jordan River. Two young leaders even got baptized! In the evening our Shabbat meal was served outdoors accompanied by blessings and songs.

On the third day we learned that, “God is a personal friend,” through the meanings of His names. After lunch it was time to start packing…but there were still two exciting challenges ahead: paddling on the Jordan River and a game of paint ball. What a great way to end the three days! We all arrived home safe and happy. Even the massive traffic jam on the way didn’t spoil our mood.

Testimonies:

As the camp cook, I had my administrative challenges, but God was faithful and helped me through. I thank God for this opportunity to serve the youth with all my heart. I believe that some of them benefited from seeing how the leaders served one another, and understand that serving can be a fun, positive experience. We need to serve with love, because without love, all service is in vain! – Andrey

Thank you, Shavei Tzion, for the camp. I loved the company of good friends, delicious food and a variety of interesting activities. I particularly enjoyed the small groups, and learned a lot of things about life. I am looking forward to the next camp. – Esti

Baruch haBa – April 28-May 7, 2015

By EITAN SHISHKOFF

On our first trip to Israel we were looking forward to meeting Israeli believers in Yeshua. As it turned out we met very few. The tour was a blessing, no mistake. But it was designed around seeing the historic, biblical sites. Spending time with local Messianic Jews was not built into the tour itinerary. I want to invite you to a different kind of tour—one that is built around connecting with local believers and congregations, without missing the stunning sights and sounds of Bible scenery.

“Baruch haBa 2015” will take place between April 28 and May 7 next year. We receive guests from around the world once every 18 months, in order to deepen relationships by travelling through Israel together. Here are some of the many life changing aspects of this experience:

1. Gaining awareness  of what it’s like to live in modern Israel as part of Yeshua’s restored community.
2. Entering life-long friendships with Israeli believers and God’s servants from other nations.
3. Discovering the Bible in vivid new ways, through on-site, in-depth explanations of biblical settings
4. Worshiping and interceding with local believers in towns and cities that are in desperate need of God’s Spirit.

I want to extend a personal invitation. Come with us. We want to show you the Israel we know and love, the Israel we are pouring our lives into. Our ministry team members, leaders, and congregants ride the buses together with our guests. There are continual opportunities for direct interaction with Israeli believers and their families. We invite you, not to be tourist spectators, but to participate with us in fulfilling biblical prophecy. Really. Listen to the words of Isaiah regarding people from the nations coming to Israel in the latter days:

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the LORD’S house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 2:2,3)

It will be my privilege, along with Asher Intrater (Revive Israel) and Dan Juster (Restoration from Zion), my covenant partners in Tikkun Israel, to welcome you to spend precious days with us. Let’s explore what the Lord has for us between now and the soon return of Yeshua! He will respond to our cries of “Baruch haBa, baShem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

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