Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Services Info

Day of Atonement Services:

Tuesday, September 18, 7-8pm "Opening of the Gates"

Wednesday, September 19, 7-8pm "Closing of the Gates" (followed by light fast break.)

At River of Life Church - 4294 Hodgson Rd, Shoreview, MN 55126

The Fall Feasts of the Lord are coming!

This Sunday, August 12, is Elul 1 on the Jewish calendar. Elul is the 6th month of the Jewish calendar. 6 is the number of man according to the Bible, so this month is regarded as addressing mankind/humanity. Why is this important? Because the Fall Feasts happen in the 7th month, the month of Tishri.

Here are when they occur:

Yom Teruah - Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) - Tishri 1 - September 10.

Yom Kippur -  Day of Atonement - Tishri 10 - September 19.

Sukkot - Feast of Tabernacles - Tishri 15-21 - September 15-30.

Minor Feasts: Shemini Atzeret (The 8th Day Conclusion) - October 1 and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah) - October 2.

The themes of the Fall Feasts are Repent, Redeem, and Rejoice. Since the theme of returning to the Lord is so profoundly highlighted, the 6th month is regarded as a whole month of repentance to prepare people for these Feasts and actually repenting, experiencing/celebrating redemption, and rejoicing in Israel's King.

These Feasts are a brilliant blueprint of the wrap-up of God's plan of redemption:

Feasts of Trumpets - The Tribulation, Rapture
Day of Atonement - Yeshua's Return
Tabernacles - the beginning of the Messianic Kingdom

Though it probably won't happen this year, keep your eyes open to current events. The next step on the prophetic calendar is the Tribulation - a 7 year period of God dealing with humanity, calling them to repent and allowing pressure to help people see their need for forgiveness and cleansing in order to be prepared for His kingdom.

Are you ready?

To learn more about the Feasts of the Lord and how they reveal God's plan of redemption from Yeshua's first coming to His return, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWZl2ivnHZo&list=PLkdOlt7B9D2FhYu011OVPvCsHY-v_2ZHk for an indepth study by Pastor Jay Christianson.

Shavuot! (Pentecost in church lingo...)

Issachar Community will be hosting a Shavuot celebration on Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Our celebration will be held at the

Blaine Lakeside Commons Pavilion

3020 Lakes Parkway, Blaine, MN 55449

For directions/map, click HERE

Worship provided by the awesome worship team, SHABACH.

We will present the Shavuot liturgy with the waving of the bread, blowing of shofars!

Baptism will be available for those who want to brave the cold waters of a Minnesota lake in spring.

Main dish and beverages will be provided. Everyone is asked to bring a side to share.

Come and have a great time thanking the Lord for His Word

and bringing us into His Kingdom through Yeshua!

 

What is REAL Revival?

Here is an EXCELLENT piece I received via email today. It speaks for itself. May we hold the vision and goal of true revival in front of us and pursue it earnestly. (Bold - mine.)

WHAT is TRUE REVIVAL?

by Don Harkins

What is revival?  We all supposedly long for and pray for revival.  We constantly hear both preachers and even sometimes politicians make statements to the effect that what America needs is revival.  A look at Webster reveals that revival is "restoration, religious awakening, meeting, being made alive or refreshed".

What is true revival?  Is God interested in revival?  Has America gone too far down the wrong track to witness another great revival? Thank God there is revival sweeping many of the third world countries but how desperate are we for revival in America? Remember this definition of revival as given by one of the early revivalists, "nothing more than God finding a dwelling place on earth, nothing more or less than the abiding presence of Jesus Christ".

Let´s let an early revivalist, named Owen Murphy answer the question as to what is true revival. The following are quotes from his article 'This is Revival': "When men in the streets are afraid to open their mouths and utter godless words lest the judgments of God should fall; when sinners, overawed by the Presence of God tremble in the streets and cry for mercy; when, without special meetings and sensational advertising, the Holy Ghost sweeps across cities and towns in Supernatural Power and holds men in the grip of terrifying Conviction; when every shop becomes a pulpit; every heart an altar; every home a sanctuary and people walk softly before God, this is Revival".

"Today the word Revival has largely lost its real meaning. Our present generation, never having witnessed the mighty movings of God in nationwide spiritual awakening such as has taken place in past generations, has little conception of the magnitude of such a "visitation". "Heaven-sent revival is not religious entertainment, where crowds gather to hear outstanding preachers and musical programs: neither is it the result of sensational advertising - in a God-sent revival you don´t spend money on advertising; people come because Revival is there. Revival is an "awareness of God" that grips the whole community, and the roadside. The tavern, as well as the church, become the places where men find Christ.  Here is the vast difference between our modern evangelistic campaigns and true revival.  In the former, hundreds may be brought to a knowledge of Christ and churches experience seasons of blessings, but as far as the community is concerned little impact is made...  In revival, the Spirit of God, like a cleansing flame, sweeps through the community, divine conviction grips people everywhere; the strongholds of the devil tremble, and many close their doors, while multitudes turn to Christ."

This is true revival and the church must be first follow the mandates of 2 Chronicles 7:14. How disturbing are the words of some of our leaders who estimate that only 25% - 30% of church members will actually go up in the rapture and how alarming it is to see the news reports that the social ills of our society such as divorce, adultery, homosexuality, unforgiveness, strife, jealousy, disputes and factions are as prevalent inside the church as they are outside the church.  The church must have revival.  How do we get there?  In 2 Chronicles 7:14, we are told very explicitly how to experience revival and we are all familiar with these words. In this verse there are four conditions that must take place in order for revival to become a reality in our world today. "My people" must...humble themselves, must pray, must turn from their wicked way and must "seek My face" - four conditions to meet for revival. The sins of pride, unrighteousness and prayerlessness and all of the carnality within the churches must be dealt with before we see revival.  

However, the question at hand is this, "IF", are we willing to pay the price for revival or will we be content for business as usual and witness an occasional time of refreshing in our midst while our families, communities, churches and nation slide further into anarchy, apostasy and apathy.  It´s up to you and me. God will uphold His end of the challenge if we meet the conditions as outlined in His Word.   

"IF" my people will: (1) Humble themselves, (2) Pray, (3) Turn from their wicked ways, and (4) Seek my face.

Andrew Bonar explains, "revivals begin with God´s people, the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones. Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God!  If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!

We need revival so that we can once again touch this nation and world for Christ. We must have revival, one that touches every segment of our society.

If we want revival, we will cry out to God out of desperation. A place that we know that we can´t survive without His touch and His indwelling presence. Hannah was desperate, so were Ezra, Nehemiah and the other prophets of old.

Evan Roberts of Wales was desperate for revival. In fact, he prayed 11 years for revival. He was a very humble man, a man in his twenties when in 1904, he witnessed the Welsh revival that swept the world.  Will you be the one that perhaps makes the difference? Prayers of desperation and an intense desire for revival will produce groanings, travail, anguish, agony coming from the prayer closet.  Prayers of DESPERATION. 

Repentance or a turning away from the former, according to our scripture, must take place before revival. It's repentance or judgment. All of the sins of the church - pride envy, jealousy and unforgiveness must be repented-of if we want revival. Repentance is Godly sorrow and a turning away from the past.  Ezra and Nehemiah cried out in repentance on behalf of their people.  We must not only repent of our sins and failures, but also for the sinfulness of our church, families, communities and nations. Prayers of REPENTANCE.

Only then will true Revival come.

Issachar Community's Passover Seder - Come celebrate with us!

 

This year, Issachar Community will host our annual Passover Seder on Friday evening, March 30 at 6:30pm at the River of Life Church building. 

It will again be a great time of worship, tasty foods, exciting retelling of the Exodus, and a celebration of God's deliverance for His people through the Blood of the Lamb.

As we walk through the Seder we correlate the Egyptian Exodus with the Last Passover (Last Supper) that Jesus observed with His disciples prior to His death as God's Lamb, the Passover Lamb whose blood causes spiritual death to pass us by.



Our Seder has room for only 100 people so you'll have to get your reservations in quickly. Watch this space for more information or email issachar.office@gmail.com to have your name added to the reservation contact list.