Dear Readers:
The number forty often symbolizes testing or judgment in the Bible. The Hebrews wondered forty years in the dessert.[i] Rain fell for the first time for forty days and nights during the great flood.[ii] After Moses killed the Egyptian, he fled to Midian, where he spent forty years in the desert tending flocks.[iii] Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights.[iv] The Israelite spies took forty days to spy out the land of Canaan.[v]
The number forty also holds spiritual significance as Yeshua ascended to the heavens forty days after He was resurrected.[vi] Ever since His departure from our earthly midst, countless generations have believed the biblical prophecy that Yeshua will soon return in their lifetime. “…so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for him.”[vii]
Generations of believers have eagerly awaited His return.
Our focus in this month’s issue of Kaleidoscope is new beginnings, conception, birth, and Heaven on Earth.
It appears to me that in our modern culture of believers, this promise of the Lord’s return isn’t taken seriously—at least not with the reverence it once was. Shouldn’t we take the possibility seriously that Yeshua might return in our lifetime—especially since there are more signs now of His return than ever before in history?
Although it’s impossible to accurately predict when that time will be, I think it’s safe to say as believers we need to be physically, mentally, and especially spiritually prepared for the Lord’s return as Judge and King.
The prophetic Word declares when Messiah returns to Jerusalem, He will do so through the east gate of the city.
“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory” (Ezekiel 43:1-2 NIV).
In Jerusalem, the golden gate or east gate is a prophetic place. With that in mind, when my husband and I built a retreat center on a beautiful mountain property in Arkansas we called it Eastgate, in honor and anticipation of His coming—whenever that might be.
It’s been many years, but I can still recall when the home was being constructed, we wrote the promises of God’s Word on the two-by-fours, sheet rock and concrete floors. We placed paperback Bibles inside the walls. At every stage, we prayed over the home, anointed it with oil and spoke words of peace, restoration, protection and blessing in every room. We prayed every person who ever walked through the doors would immediately experience God’s shalom envelop them. We wanted this retreat center used to bless others. God was calling us to be His servants, to care for His anointed and to bless His workers of the Kingdom.
Jerusalem’s East Gate is connected to many stories of miracles and divine manifestations. My Precious Gem article that is included in this newsletter goes into much more detail about, what I believe, is the most Holy Place on planet Earth. And so, it is our prayer that our Eastgate Retreat Center, as well as our home and office will somehow be another gateway portal to the divine Presence of God. God has definitely moved in great ways through our ministry and for our family. I believe as we consecrate the places where we dwell and frequent, we actually create an invitation to His Holy Presence. We, as his servants, become spiritual butlers to our friends and family allowing blessing and joy to come down from His throne room of Grace.
The word baruch means bless. All Jewish prayers start with baruch, as in “Baruch atah Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha olam” which means “Blessed, are you O Lord, our God, King of the universe.”
Baruch is related to the Hebrew word berech, which means “to kneel.” When one blesses the Lord or another person, they are, in essence, kneeling in humility in order to serve. When Yeshua washed the feet of His disciples, He knelt and blessed them, becoming a servant to them. If you bless another, you are offering yourself as a servant. I dare not ask the Lord to bless me, as that would be literally asking Him to humble Himself to serve me. Rather, I will bless the Lord because He has provided. I will bless the Lord because of His great favor. I will bless the Lord for all He has done for me. In essence, I am saying I humble myself before You, Lord, as your servant in response to the great things You have done for me.
In order for the Lord to bless (serve) us, we first need to humble ourselves and bless (serve) Him. As we bow down to Him and others, the Lord will exalt us.
As we prepare for a New Year, let us stop to ponder all the blessings we have received this year, and strive to be that conduit by which His Presence can be realized.
On behalf of our Kaleidoscope team, I wish you a very happy holiday season and may the Spirit of the Most High be manifested in your home and everywhere you go.
Until next year…
Victoria
[i] Joshua 5:6
[ii] Genesis 7:12
[iii] Acts 7:30
[iv] Exodus 24:18
[v] Numbers 13:25
[vi] Acts 1:2,3
[vii] Hebrews 9:28
