A Trail to Follow
Let’s face it. We all want to see God move in miraculous ways. After all, wasn’t that Yeshua’s calling card? Wasn’t that the apostles’ validation of the gospel message? And what about the prophets of Israel? Didn’t they portend the outpouring of the Spirit with signs and wonders in the last days, leading up to the long-awaited return of our Messiah King?
I believe the answer to all these questions is YES. But other questions arise. How can it happen today? How can it happen in Eretz Yisrael, where skepticism regarding the possibility of Yeshua being the Messiah is still the norm? Is there a guide book, an instruction manual?
Reading Acts chapter five this morning I was caught off guard by the straightforward account of signs and wonders being done through the hands of the apostles (Acts 5:12). I began to search for clues that would point to the conditions leading to such a powerful and effective demonstration. Here are a few markers that I found in the account of how Yeshua’s faithful disciples lived in this land — that give us an unmistakable trail to follow.
Miracles in Acts: Some Factors
One Heart:
They were in the temple compound “in one accord” (Acts 5:12). This theme is seen often in Acts. The Author is telling us something. He releases His wonder-working power when we rise above our insecurities, offenses, and personality quirks to unite as one in His heart.
High esteem from the locals (Acts 5:13):
It’s certainly not that we are to seek popularity, but I read this as relevance. The apostles made a positive impression on the Jerusalemites, who were likely tired of religion and hungry for reality. This is a timely cue for us, especially in Israel where religiosity is ever-visible.
Compassion for those suffering (Acts 5:15-16):
The sick were brought into the streets, and people came from the surrounding cities with those who were diseased and tormented by demonic spirits. “…and they were all healed.” This knocks me out. No wonder the early believers saw such a dramatic harvest.
They freely proclaimed Yeshua as “Prince and Savior” (Acts 5:31):
This is what they were persecuted for doing, forbidden from doing, yet continued to do. Placing Yeshua front and center is not some formula. It is the holy calling we’ve been given. Teaching in His name was central throughout the Acts epoch. We cannot improve on what they did, nor uncover a superior key to releasing the acts of God’s heart. Our people must know that we are following the Rabbi from the Galilee who literally fulfilled what the prophets said about Him many centuries before.
Multitudes of believers were increasingly added to the Lord (Acts 5:14), as the outcome of God’s healing, liberating activity among the people of Israel in the first century. Now, 20 centuries later, it is time for the re-activation, the re-awakening of the same in-breaking. Recently during a Shabbat worship service a young leader began declaring what God wanted to do in the lives of people who are hurting, discouraged, sick, or finding themselves in a dark place. Instead of shifting to the next, normal portion of the service, we were invited to wait upon God and to take action. People began standing up. Some came forward for prayer. Others left their seats to pray for those nearby. The presence and love of the Lord were palpable. One Israeli first-time visitor repented and received Yeshua while all this continued. I wept, experiencing the overwhelming care and intense compassion of the Savior for His flock.
In Israel we long for the expanded, authentic activity of God’s Spirit—healing, delivering, and transforming lives in the name of Yeshua the Anointed King. In fact, knowing that the Lord’s announced intention is to manifest Himself in this land before His visible return, leaves us satisfied with nothing less. As is also clear in Acts, one of the keys to opening these gates of God’s activity on earth is prayer. So, I cannot conclude this article without asking you to actively, frequently agree with us:
“Father, you promised to graciously pour out Your Spirit so that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved ( Joel 2:28,32). We give ourselves wholly to You, opening our lives that Yeshua may live freely through us, taking us into His realm of supernatural love, touching and changing the people we encounter.”
Network Update from
Healings Blossom
We are thrilled to be able to share with you some of the answers we have recently received to prayer. We have begun to see signs and wonders in our congregation Kehilat Poriya and, of late words of knowledge have come… followed by healings.
In our small village of Poriya Illit, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, most of the residents know us as people who believe in Yeshua. We have been living in this wonderful community for over twenty-two years, and we have been welcomed and accepted by our neighbors. In fact, my husband was asked to be a part of the local governing body, and he held that office for over five years.
Recently, I received a call from Nurit, a friend I have known for a long time. She owns a home in Poriya Illit but is currently not living here. She asked if I knew of anyone who was looking for a house to rent. She wanted to rent her home, but only to a believer! We have a reputation for paying our rent on time and keeping the homes we rent in excellent condition.
I was able to refer our friends Michael and his wife as tenants. As a matter of fact, this article is largely about how God has been using Michael to bring healing to many here. He has had this blessing in his life for over 20 years and has been in our congregation and living in Israel for one year now. The match was good, and they agreed to rent the house. As they spoke, Michael asked Menashe, Nurit’s husband, if he had had an accident eight years ago, and if it had caused him extreme back problems.
Menashe nodded and said, “Yes, this is true.”
Michael then said, “God wants to heal you. Can I pray for you in the name of Yeshua?” Menashe agreed, and he was instantly healed.
This is what I have been waiting for–words of knowledge and healing evangelism! I just spoke to Nurit, and I asked if Menashe was still enjoying his healing. She said, “Yes .”
I want to share with you who are reading these wonderful accounts of the healings our God has performed. In John 10:10 Yeshua tells us: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Remember after you have been healed, there is an enemy lurking to whisper to you…as he did in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really tell you this?” Quote the word of God over yourself if symptoms return. Continue to proclaim the word of God…and pray, confessing the blood of Yeshua.
One of the most amazing healing stories that have come out of this congregation is the following: Dov, who has been attending for the past half a year, brought a tour group of 20 people to our meeting. After the service, Michael invited any who needed healing to meet Dr. Yeshua in our guest room. All of the visitors did and all were completely healed. One man in particular had a problem with his knees and was hardly able to walk. Michael was shown to tell him to jump. He did, and as he jumped, more and more healing came into his body. He jumped for joy at the complete healing he received.
Also in the last two weeks, a friend of ours who is visiting Poriya for a season showed me a kind of girdle she was wearing to help keep her back rigid. When I asked why she needed it, she explained: “Twenty years ago I was healed instantly from a spinal problem that affected my back. After the healing, I heard the Lord instructing me to go to a certain place and proclaim what He had done. I didn’t do it, and the back problem returned. This is my punishment from the Lord.” I recalled the Scripture, “For we are snared by the words of our mouth” (Proverbs 6:2). I immediately rebuked her words and asked her if she had repented of her disobedience.
She said, “Yes.” I said, “Let us pray for the Lord to restore your back now.” We prayed, and she was instantly healed! On another occasion another friend, Michelle from the local Canadian house of prayer, came up to me at the end of a service and said: “Terri, please pray for my back. I am in incredible pain, and can hardly walk to the guest room for prayer.” After 10 minutes of prayer, Michael and I saw Michelle leave the guest room with a huge smile on her face. Her back was healed.