STEWARDSHIP by Morris E. Ruddick (SIGN)

STEWARDSHIP   (c) Morris E. Ruddick     Stewardship is the effective management of the responsibilities and resources with which we have been entrusted. Stewardship requires the wisdom to master the responsibility. It involves diligence and excellence in bringing result. The result is to bring increase, to creatively nurture the resource to advance the process.   We've been addressing the topic of Jewish business secrets. Effective stewardship is an expectation and commitment required of each member of the community, and the businesses in the community, each according to their own talents and abilities, to do their part. It is also a commitment by the community to nurture its destiny and future by preparing each generation to assume their roles in this pathway.   When stewardship is operating in community according the books of Moses, it results in disproportionate achievement. Jews have a track record as disproportionate achievers. It is written that diligence is an invaluable possession for the one who knows how to apply it. Diligence produces excellence. Diligence involves hard work. The operational word for "work" in the Hebrew language is avodah. The meaning of this word "avodah" bears on the Jewish mind-set toward work. Avodah shares the root word with three Hebrew words: purpose, passion and future. Work provides the purpose and passion setting the stage for the future. It is vital to good stewardship.   Mentorship is also an important part of stewardship and very Jewish in its practice. Moses mentored Joshua to do what he did. Joshua served Moses alone in this capacity. He didn't have several mentors. His mentor was Moses. Joshua may not have been the only one Moses mentored, but Moses was Joshua's only mentor. In the process, Joshua learned how Moses related to God, how he thought and the skills he employed to lead the Israelites.   In this process, Joshua accomplished many exploits, which included leading the defeat in the battle with the Amorites, as well as being one of the spies who reconnoitered the promised land. However, it was not until Moses died, that the baton was fully passed to Joshua. Only then did Joshua enter the fullness of his destiny. The process involved all the factors of faithful stewardship.   Roughly two-thirds of the parables of Jesus have a business context. Jesus had a lot to say about stewardship. He placed great importance on faithful stewardship. He told the story of an unfaithful steward who was slack about his responsibilities. However, when he learned that he was about to lose his position, realizing his future was in jeopardy, he immediately began shrewdly recovering from his laxness. The point was that the steward knew what to do and cleverly began putting things in order. He was commended by his master for his creative way of turning things around. A good steward prepares for every eventuality. A good steward knows how to act wisely and decisively when under pressure.   There was another steward that Jesus spoke about who also was also lax in the way he managed his responsibilities because his boss was absent for a time. When his boss returned unexpectedly and discerned the situation, this steward failed to do anything. He was held accountable. The management of one's responsibilities calls for faithfulness in the commitment.   In still another illustration of the importance of stewardship, Jesus told about three stewards whose work was evaluated by their boss. One steward brought about a lot of increase. He was not only commended by his boss, but given a promotion and entrusted with more responsibility. The story speaks of the favorable response and joy of his boss due to this steward exceeding expectations. However one of the other stewards was timid and afraid to take any risks, so he hid his boss' assets. He returned everything in-full upon his boss' return. But the boss wasn't pleased. Because the steward had failed to bring about any increase, he deemed the steward to be worthless.   The expectation of stewardship is to make a difference, to challenge the status quo and bring change and increase. The expectation is based on each person's abilities.   The Dynamics of Stewardship Good stewardship, whether in business or in building the community entails three key factors: giving or generosity, managing, and bringing increase. Each of these dimensions draws from and builds on the other. Each is vital to not only good business practices, but maintaining a fertile environment for opportunity both for current and future generations. It is the God-focused business model of Abraham which draws from community, while spawning community-builders who produce the difference seen by those in the surrounding societies.   Generosity. The spirit of generosity or tz'dakah operating within the community recognizes the responsibility and commitment of the members toward one another. It is a social system that fosters opportunity and cares for the needs of its own. It is written: "Do good to all men, but especially the household of faith." When tz'dakah prevails in the community, it ensures the maintenance of the community as a safe place that takes care of its own.   Managing. Managing change is a necessary part of any business. It incorporates the diligence of providing a service or product with greater excellence than that offered by competition. Stewardship is the mastery of this process of managing one's assets creatively so that it brings increase.   Increase. It is written: "I am the Lord who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go." God's expectation is for us to align our ways with His so that, for our benefit and destiny, we also will perform with His nature. In this process we are, like Abraham, blessed to be a blessing. It is the means by which both families and communities are fed and strengthened for the future.   Once again, this dynamic of stewardship operates both for the benefit of individuals, but also the community and future generations. Let me illustrate with the story of a Christian businessman who lived during the days of WWII. His name was Robert LeTourneau  Mr. LeTourneau owned a successful manufacturing company. One night he had an unusual dream. In his dream he saw a blueprint, a scaled drawing of a new form of machinery. He wondered about the meaning of the dream, but then a few days later, he had the same dream with the exact same blueprint with specifications for a type of machinery that didn't currently exist.   The third time he had this dream, he realized it was God who was showing him something, the specifications for a more advanced type of earth-moving equipment than was currently on the market. He realized his manufacturing company had the capability to start building this type of equipment.   He developed the prototype. Then he began manufacturing this equipment. This new earth-moving equipment was an instant success in building new roads. When the US government learned about this new technology, they came, looked it over and began making purchases in order to build runways for airfields where the US was at war in the Pacific. By some estimates, this equipment was able to build a runway ten times faster than previous equipment they had been using.   Mr. LeTourneau's company began experiencing dramatic growth. Being a committed believer whose spiritual gift was giving, he decided he wanted to test what would happen if he increased his giving from his current contributions of roughly 10 to 15 percent of his profits to 25 percent of his profits. His company expanded even more.   After a period of time, he increased his contributions to 45 percent of his company's profits. Still, there was plenty of operating capital for growth and his profits soared with the increase in the sales volume. He eventually increased the ratio of his contributions to 95 percent of his company's profits. The company flourished and Mr. LeTourneau lived very well on the 5 percent.   Mr. LeTourneau became well known for his statement: "You cannot out-give God." Of course this man had the gift of giving with the necessary faith to progressively build his generosity to that level. He likewise took tangible steps to this most unusual example of generosity. Nevertheless, he is a great model of how these three factors of stewardship blend together: giving, managing and increase.   Robert LeTourneau's generosity not only served the interests of his nation and the cause of freedom. He made possible the building and endowment of a Christian college. He supported many timely initiatives and helped a lot of people.   Faith and Stewardship It is written that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Good stewardship requires the faith to hear and obey God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, of things not seen. Abraham pleased God because he considered that which was not as though it were. Abraham believed and acted on what God had told him.   God speaks and things are created. Abraham joined in the creative process of birthing what God told Abraham when there was no evidence in the natural of God's word to him. In doing so, Abraham was bridging the seen world with the unseen world. It was a different way of responding to the reality around him.   The opposite of faith is fear. The dimension of fear that has the most subtle influence on business success is a poverty spirit. There is a Western saying: "Penny wise is dollar foolish." In other words, those with a poverty spirit are so obsessed with the pennies that they lose dollars, because they've lost their grasp of the big picture.   A poverty spirit is a fear of risk. Yet, faith and risk must be taken to bring increase. Stewardship requires confidence and is efficient. A poverty spirit tends to waste time rather than maximizing time and is very inefficient. We've mentioned the parable in which the steward who brought about no increase was considered worthless. He was the one with the poverty spirit.   Faith is working smart and applying diligence to the work being done. You have to spend money to make money. My friend Stan Bullis has developed a model for his companies, which is a reflection of the mix of the creative, of tz'dakah, and of bringing increase. Twenty percent of his companies' profits go back into company growth, another twenty percent is for charitable purposes and the remaining sixty percent is for employee bonuses according to each employee's responsibility and role in bringing about the profits.   Stewardship and Planning A Jewish proverb states that the naive believes anything, but the prudent man is cautious and considers well his steps. That caution is not being reluctant to act, but rather taking the time to adequately do your homework. In Jewish culture, this is a way of thinking and looking at things. Due diligence is required when taking a look at any type of opportunity.   Before you can get the right answers to something you need to be able to ask the right questions. This involves doing your homework, looking into a matter and doing investigative research.   An essential part of stewardship is planning. Planning in business is preparing your business for the future, for alternatives that may take place, in order to wisely be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity that may emerge.   The first step in business planning is the research required to look at every facet of the steps ahead, including trends and the expectations for the future. Planning is a process just as good stewardship is a process. Planning maps out the steps needed to accomplish a set of wisely, clearly-defined goals.   Iridium is the company that launched satellite phone technology. However, over the twelve years from its start, instead of adapting to market conditions and the demands of the market, Iridium held to their original business plan. Business is the art of managing change. The market acceptance of new technology will change over time. It involves a dynamic known as the product life cycle curve.   There are innovators and then early adopters, the consumers who are inclined to try new things. But then market acceptance tends to slow as technology faces the hurdles of increasingly greater challenges in market acceptance. Iridium operated on the basis that they had the best thing going, which they indeed did and that the market would come to them. But it didn't. They did not adapt to the needs of the market and they ran out of money before the market ever caught up with them.   Wise planning results in a different way of thinking. We're going to be discussing this type of creative thinking in another of this series. It is the type of thinking that is constantly revaluating the assumptions of each business proposition and the conditions evolving in the marketplace.   Wise planning constantly readjusts the goals and strategies to seize the opportunity needed for the momentum to achieve the optimum long-term impact. It is interesting that companies that begin with bottom-up foundations that start small versus those whose beginnings are developed through fast-track top-down accelerator strategies have a higher ratio of long-term success.   Stewardship and Mentoring We've established that stewardship is the effective management of the responsibilities for which we've been entrusted. Those responsibilities include both resources and people. Businesses utilize both. So does community. Community also not only is the means to enhance the gifts and destinies of the businesses and people within the community, but portends a future purpose of the community itself.   As such, mentoring is a vital part of community stewardship. It is the preparation made by one generation for the future role to be served by the next generation. It is the means by which the older, successful generation imparts their gifts and the wisdom of their journey of life to select, potential leaders they choose to mentor.   Within Jewish business culture, serving an apprenticeship is a form of being mentored. An apprentice is one who is learning the tools of the trade. That means not only the tools of the business, but the tradecraft of running the business. That is stewardship from a business perspective.   Mentoring entails a meaningful, proactive dialogue between the generations on the strategies and subtleties of the management of vital responsibilities, for business and for the community. It is an essential dimension in the proactive planning for the future. It is the means to enhance the wisdom of the emerging generation to lead. It is the process of revealing the ways of God and how to walk them out with an undivided heart. It is imparting the blessings of God from one generation to the next.   Moses wrote about these things. He said: Tell these things to your children and your grandchildren. He made a point that doing so should be a lifestyle: Tell them these things when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. It is an ongoing attitude of both the apprentice and the one imparting the skills and wisdom. It incorporates the blending of the perspectives of the spiritual, the economic and community with the secrets of what operationally binds them together. It triggers an unveiling of the dynamics of the destiny of the Jews as a prophetic people of God.   When I was a boy, my father was a very busy man. He was general manager of the manufacturing company that was the major employer in my hometown. He was also the mayor of my hometown. He loved the people he worked with and they loved him. Yet he made the opportunity to take me with him. We were always talking. I attended meetings and sat quietly and listened as my dad conducted his business.   As I grew up, I also heard stories about his grandfather, who had immigrated to America from Ireland by himself at the age of 16. My dad told me how of all his grandchildren my dad was the one my great-grandfather chose to take with him to the rural church meetings he held. He was a circuit preacher in a time and area when the communities didn't have churches.   My dad got involved in Little League baseball so he could help coach me in this skill and we could share in this sport. My dad was my greatest mentor. My dad always sought for me to have opportunity that he had not had.   Yet, there were many others my dad mentored. He mentored a young man who had immigrated to the US and had a talent. This man could repair anything. Eventually he became maintenance manager of the manufacturing company my dad ran.   As a father, and as a business and community leader, my dad was a mentor as he had learned from his grandfather. There were certain people in whom he invested his life and ways. As a mentor he was an example in the way he lived his life. During the days when Jesus had His earthly ministry he taught many people. However, he chose twelve to be his disciples. These are the ones he mentored. Then there came a time when he told them, I no longer call you disciples, but friends.   A mentor is an investor in people. A mentor is someone who spends time with you, who is willing to show you the ropes, who sees your potential and prepares you for the next level of opportunity enfolding before you. Then there comes a time when the process shifts. Within the Jewish community an important first step in this shift is a rite of passage called the bar mitzvah. For women it is the bat mitzvah. It is a rite of passage into adulthood recognized by the community.   Effective stewardship is the responsible administration of the secrets with which we've been entrusted spiritually, economically and leadership-wise. Stewardship prepares us for the future to creatively prosper our community, our businesses and our culture from one generation to another. Stewardship releases a powerful dynamic, an authority which we'll discuss in a future session called dominion. ___________________________________________________   Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the higher dimensions of business leadership since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic community builders to be blessed to be a blessing where God's light is dim in diverse regions around the globe.   He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;" "Leadership by Anointing;" and "Mantle of Fire," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooksand www.BarnesandNoble.com.   Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at http://strategicintercession.org/support/   Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your group's gathering on the Joseph-Daniel Calling or on anointing the creative in business.   2016 Copyright Morris Ruddick -- sign@strategicintercession.org   Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check:http://www.strategicintercession.org   Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org Global Initiatives is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 organization

Global Initiatives Foundation, PO Box 370291, Denver, CO 80237

Israel & Our Friends - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Israel & Our Friends

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“He has said, “It is not enough that you are merely my servant to raise up the tribes of Ya‘akov

and restore the offspring of Isra’el. I will also make you a light to the nations, so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6, Complete Jewish Bible)

In a few days Laurie and I will embark on another overseas trip to spend time with our friends in Israel. This will be my 12^th journey to the Land. For Laurie, her third. As part of the ministry of Love For His People, founded by us in 2010, we seek to show further tangible support for those we lift up in our prayers, with our voice, and with ongoing monthly financial blessing. We spend time with families similar to yours and ours, demonstrating our solid commitment to stand strong with them.

It is a spiritual connection, supernatural in design, bestowed by the Lord Himself. As Derek Prince once said, “You don’t choose Jerusalem; Jerusalem chooses you.” In other words, the Lord God of Israel is the One who speaks His words, choosing ones to stand in the spiritual battle realm, supporting those He has called as His chosen ones. And as a debt we owe to the Jewish people, we take our stand alongside them.

Over the centuries the Jews have been the faithful ones to receive and write down His Scriptures, carefully and dutifully passing them to the next generations, as His Holy Spirit spoke the anointed words through the Jewish prophets. And at the proper time, in fulfillment of the prophecies, the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), came as promised for the good of the nations. If it had not been for their diligence, endurance and commitment through those centuries of destruction, murder and banishment throughout the nations, believers would not have the roots of our faith today.

In the last 100 years and more, the Lord has been regathering the Jews from all over the world to this land promised to them, given in covenant specifically to them since the days of Abraham and Moses. To be a light to the nations, demonstrating the eternal love of God the Father, together with His Only Son, they are fulfilling that prophetic word. Because of His protection and faithfulness to them, this will ever be their home.

“'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.' (Jeremiah 31:10, NKJV)

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:8-12, NASU)

We delight to uphold the Lord’s plans for His people. We count it a joy to be a part of His purposes for Israel in these last days. We continue to give ourselves to strengthen, encourage and freely give to those who have stood for Him.

To the believers in Yeshua, we give thanks for their commitment to His Name. For those who are yet to know the Messiah, we say that your time will come, and we will be there for you.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

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Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 04.23.16 - #256 –“Israel & Our Friends” – Saturday at 8:00 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

3,200 Year Old Egyptian Amulet Discovered in Temple Mount “Trash” - By Ariella Mendlowitz BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

The 3,200 year old Egyptian amulet. The small amulet is in the shape of a pendant, missing its bottom part, measures 21mm wide, 4 mm thick and its preserved length is 16 mm. A loop on top allowed it to be strung and hung on the neck. (Photo: City of David / Temple Mount Sifting Project / Israel Antiquities Authority)

3,200 Year Old Egyptian Amulet Discovered in Temple Mount “Trash”

By Ariella Mendlowitz April 20, 2016   BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And it came to pass the selfsame day that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Exodus 12:51 (The Israel Bible™)

Fours years ago, eight year old Neshama Spielman discovered a rare Egyptian amulet, estimated to be more than 3,200 years old. Only in the last week have archaeologists at last deciphered the intricate inscriptions on the historical artifact.

Written in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics is the name Thutmose III, an Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh who ruled over Egypt from 1479-1425 BCE and is considered to be one of the most influential pharaohs in Egypt’s New Kingdom. Nicknamed by historians the “Napoleon of Egypt” due to his active pursuit to conquer cities and expand Egyptian land, Thutmose III is credited with having transformed Egypt into an international superpower.

12 year old Neshama Spielman at the Temple Mount Sifting Project where she discovered the 3,200 year old ancient Egyptian amulet. (Photo: City of David / Temple Mount Sifting Project / Adina Graham)

The small amulet was found among the rubble at the Temple Mount Sifting Project, an organization whose sole purpose is to sift through the debris that was illegally removed from the Temple Mount by the Islamic Waqf in 1999. Horrified by the lack of regard for the countless archaeological artifacts from all periods in Jerusalem’s past, archaeologists Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira established the Sifting Project in 2004 as a way to salvage history.

Since the project’s inception, well over 170,000 people from all over the world have taken part in the sifting, “representing an unprecedented phenomenon in the realm of archaeological research,” according to the City of David, the archaeological site of ancient Jerusalem in the pre-Babylonian exile era located today in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The amulet sits atop the sifter where Neshama Spielman found it 4 years ago. (Photo: City of David / Temple Mount Sifting Project / Israel Antiquities Authority)

Asked how the Egyptian amulet could have reached so far as Jerusalem, Dr. Barkay told the City of David, “For more than 300 years, during the Late Bronze Age, Canaan and the city state of Jerusalem were under Egyptian dominion.”

It was 12 year old Neshama Spielman who made the incredible find when she came with her family to take part in the Sifting Project. “While I was sifting, I came across a piece of pottery that was different from others I had seen, and I immediately thought that maybe I had found something special,” she said in a press release.

Indeed she did find something truly special. While Egyptian scarabs bearing the Thutmose III’s name have been discovered in Jerusalem, this marks the first time the Pharaoh’s name has been found to adorn an amulet. “Objects bearing the name of Thutmose III continued to be produced in Egypt long after the time of his reign, reflecting the significance and lasting impression of this king,” continued Dr. Barkay.

Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptologist, Baruch Brandl conducted the research project, deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

This Friday is the first night of Passover, a Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelite Exodus from Egypt, making the deciphering of the ancient Egyptian relic especially meaningful. “A discovery such as this is particularly symbolic at this time of year, with the Passover festival just a few days away, and represents greetings from the ancient past,” Assaf Avraham, archaeologist and director of the Jerusalem Walls National Park from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said to the City of David.

12 year old Neshama Spielman holds the 3,200 year old ancient Egyptian amulet. (Photo: City of David / Adina Graham)

“It’s amazing to find something thousands of years old from ancient Egypt all the way here in Jerusalem! Celebrating Passover this year is going to be extra meaningful to me,” Spielman concurred in a recent interview with the City of David after being told what the markings meant.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project is organized under the auspices of Bar-Ilan University with the support of the City of David Foundation and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The Menorah Treasure Discovered in the Heart of Jerusalem - By Ariella Mendlowitz BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar shows an ancient medallion dated to the late Byzantine period (early seventh century CE) with a shofar (ram’s horn) and a Torah scroll icon during a press conference in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, 09 September 2013. The treasure was found in Jerusalem excavations in the City of David’s summit at the Temple Mount’s southern wall by members of the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology. (Photo: Flash90)

The Menorah Treasure Discovered in the Heart of Jerusalem

By Ariella Mendlowitz April 22, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.” II Chronicles 27:3 (The Israel Bible™)

In 2013, Dr. Eilat Mazar and her team of diggers unearthed one of the most influential discoveries in the field of Biblical archaeology in the Ophel excavations.

Ophel, Hebrew for “a high place” (to climb to), is a biblical term, used since the times of the First Temple, given to part of a settlement that is elevated relative to its surroundings. The Ophel in Jerusalem refers to an area approximately 50 meters south from the Temple Mount on the border with the City of David, the site of ancient Jerusalem’s capital of the pre-Babylonian exile era.

General Sir Charles Warren initiated the first excavations in the Ophel area in 1867, but it wasn’t until 1968 under Benjamin Mazar that remains from the First Temple period (from 957 to 586 BCE), such as water cisterns, tombs and parts of Robinson’s arch, were unearthed. Carrying on her father’s legacy, Dr. Eilat Mazar first tackled the site in 1986 and returned three years ago to continue.

Dr. Mazar’s persistence was well rewarded. Just five days into the summer dig, the team of Hebrew University archaeologists was astonished to uncover a trove of archaeological goodies: 36 gold coins, as well as several pieces gold and silver jewelry. But the prize find was the now-famous Menorah Treasure, a 10-centimeter golden medallion with three sacred Jewish motifs etched into it: a menorah, a shofar (ram’s horn), and a Torah scroll.

The Menorah Treasure medallion, discovered by Dr. Eilat Mazar and her team of archaeologists in 2013 (Photo: Video screenshot – Dr. Eilat Mazar / Hebrew University / YouTube)

The gold cache was discovered in a Byzantine structure which archaeologists say was constructed in the sixth century CE. Dr. Mazar believes the trove was carefully hidden by a group of Jews during the Persian conquest of Jerusalem in 614 CE. The collection itself is only the third of its kind ever discovered in Jerusalem.

According to the Hebrew University report, the medallion was “hanging from a gold chain” and is “most likely an ornament for a Torah scroll.” If indeed it is meant to adorn a Torah scroll, “it is the earliest Torah scroll ornament found in archaeological excavations to date.”

Further, Dr. Mazar noted, “The most likely explanation is that the Ophel cache was earmarked as a contribution toward the building of a new synagogue, at a location that is near the Temple Mount.” Despite the honorable intentions, however, the mission was clearly unsuccessful. “The treasure was abandoned, and its owners could never return to collect it,” Dr. Mazar said.

The discovery of a symbol embossed with a seven-branched menorah from the seventh century was very much unexpected. Said Dr. Mazar: “We have been making significant finds from the First Temple Period in this area, a much earlier time in Jerusalem’s history, so discovering a golden menorah from the seventh century CE at the foot of the Temple Mount was a complete surprise.”

The original menorah itself was first constructed by the Israelites, at God’s instruction, for use in the Tabernacle services as they sojourned in the desert.

“And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof.” (Exodus 25:31-32)

Over time, the candelabra has become the national symbol of Israel, appearing on Israeli currency, the Presidential seal, on the tags of IDF soldiers and law enforcement personnel, and on the seal of the Mossad (the national intelligence agency). Reflecting the historical presence of Jews in the area, the menorah represents the strength and resilience of the Jewish people throughout their arduous history.

The medallion and the cache of treasures discovered with it are now housed at the famous Israel Museum in downtown Jerusalem.

The City of David, the site of dozens of exciting archaeological finds including the Ophel excavations, has recreated the menorah medallion so that everyone can share its beauty and the powerful message it carries. Explaining the reason for the replication, Avishai Shraga, City of David store manager, told Breaking Israel News, “The medallion is a symbol for the Jews never to give up, despite the hardships we have faced throughout every generation.”

Kevin Basconi: "The Restoration of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Approaching Global Revivals" - The Elijah List

Kevin Basconi: "The Restoration of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Approaching Global Revivals"

The Elijah List

Apr 22, 2016

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

Kevin Basconi has an awesome Word for the Body about what is coming on the earth.

In part of this word, Kevin talks about emerging SEERS on the earth. I remember when it was extremely rare to find someone who had the gift of a Seer. Now The SEER Gift is becoming common place. Here is what Kevin saw:

The Lord will birth and raise up seers (people who operate in the seer gifting) throughout the earth. There will be thousands of seers who will come from every socioeconomic strata. These seers will be empowered to see into the spirit and co-labor with God's angels. They will also operate in a spirit of wisdom and revelation. By the unction of the Holy Spirit they will know how to take advantage of the knowledge and revelation that they receive from the realms of Heaven. 

These will be ordinary people. Men, women, and children will be anointed to operate in the gift of discerning of spirits and the "seer" anointing. These seers will be given grace from God to discern and learn to operate in the glory of God.

Make it your goal to get to know one or two people who have this gift of a Seer. They will teach you many things about the gifts of the Spirit and even cooperating with Angels.

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"The Restoration of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Approaching Global Revivals"

Kevin Basconi, Moravian Falls, NC

This article was written by Kevin Basconi in September, 2009. We believe that this is a timely and encouraging word for today.

Sovereign Global Outpourings

In 2007, I was given a divine revelation that sovereign global outpourings of God's Spirit are headed to the earth. These global revivals will come in a most unexpected fashion and appear in the twinkle of an eye. There will be no way to stop what the Lord is about to do upon the earth. The Lord is about to release multiple outpourings of His Spirit.

There will be many revivals in many places. Many cities will experience outpourings of God's mercy, love, and sovereign power. These cities, or "pools of mercy," will be found on every continent on earth. The leaders of these revivals will not always be well-known, but rather many will be anonymous and nondescript. 

Many of the outpourings will be sparked by children and young people as they pray and seek the Lord with heartfelt repentance and fasting. Some of the greatest revivals will take place in individual hearts. 

Lone individuals will alter the future of regions and entire nations of the earth with their prayers as they experience a personal outpouring of God's love in their lives and learn to work with angels. (Photo via Pixabay)

It is important that the Body of Christ knows our recent history, because history is about to repeat itself. The Lord has been releasing a work of restoration within the Body of Christ (see Acts 3:21). We have seen the Lord restore most of the gifts of the Spirit over the last century or so. Let's look at a loose timeline for this restoration. 

In 1906, with the Azusa Street revival, the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues were restored. In 1946, William Branham received an angelic visitation in response to his prayers. This angelic visitation sparked the Voice of Healing movement which resulted in the gifts of miracles and healings being restored to the Church. This movement also activated the dormant gifts of the word of knowledge and word of wisdom.

Restoration of the "Power Gifts"

In 1947, Gordon Lindsay sought to help Branham with his ministry. Recorded history confirms that William Branham operated extremely powerfully in the gift of prophecy, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gift of miracles, and healings. However, hundreds of other ministers were impacted by the restoration of these "power gifts" through the anointing that the Lord placed upon of Branham. They were activated or received impartations and began to operate in the gifts of the Spirit with great power and authority also.

The Voice of Healing

Together, Lindsay and Branham formed the Voice of Healing movement and launched a healing revival in America and beyond from 1946 through the 1950s. Gordon Lindsay later helped to organize many of those men, including F. F. Bosworth, Kenneth E. Hagin, T.L. and Daisy Osborn, Jack Coe, Paul Cain, Ern Baxter, Jack Moore, A. A. Allen, Oral Roberts, and Billy Paul, to name of few. There were actually hundreds of men who ministered in the power of Holy Spirit in association with The Voice of Healing movement. Most of them ministered with the operation of all four of these "power gifts" evident in their lives.

In the 1950s Kenneth E. Hagin received a visitation of Jesus Christ. The Lord commissioned Hagin to "teach My people about faith." Through the ministry of Kenneth E. Hagin and a few others, the gift of faith was restored to the Body of Christ beginning in the period of the 1950s and 1960s. Kenneth E. Hagin and Gordon Lindsay both finished their lives with grace and dignity.

Beginning in 1948, the gift of prophecy began to be restored to the Body of Christ, starting with the Latter Rain movement. Prophecy continued to develop in the Pentecostal movement, the Jesus Movement, and others through the late '70s and into the 1980s. In 1982, the Vineyard Movement was birthed through the ministry of John Wimber in California. The Vineyard brought the gift of prophecy into full bloom throughout much of the Body of Christ.

The Gifts of Healings

During this period the gift of prophecy was beginning to be united again with the gift of healings. Wimber was instrumental in taking the gifts of prophecy and the gift of healings to a new level in the Church. The Vineyard Movement took these gifts of the Spirit to the nations. One of the aspects of the teachings of Wimber was that anyone could be used by the Lord in the gifts of the Spirit. From 1990 to roughly 1993, the Kansas City Prophets must also be credited for helping to restore the gift of prophecy.

1994

In 1994 John Arnott and his wife Carol were instrumental in stewarding the outpouring in Toronto, Canada, known as "The Toronto Blessing." John and Carol Arnott deserve to be commended and honored for their humility and ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. By allowing the Holy Spirit to have liberty in the midst of the outpouring, Arnott modeled a sustainable model of how to steward the approaching global outpourings. (Photo: John and Carol Arnott via Catch the Fire)

"The Toronto Blessing" continues to impact the nations by training ordinary people to work with the gifts of prophecy and the working of miracles and healings. Many people and ministries have been powerfully touched by the Lord at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (now Catch the Fire Toronto) and have gone on to have an incredible impact in other nations and regions of the earth. There are many that we could name. However, Roland and Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries in Mozambique have modeled how an anointing can be "caught" and taken to the "ends of the earth." Thousands are being saved and touched through their ministry of love and power in East Africa.

Today the gift of discerning of spirits is being released and restored to the Church. We will see the release of this spiritual gift accelerate in coming days. The gift of discerning of spirits plays a very important role in the approaching global outpourings. Many ordinary people will become supernaturally empowered by this gift and begin to see and work with angels to impact the earth for God's glory.

The "Seer" Anointing

The Lord will birth and raise up seers (people who operate in the seer gifting) throughout the earth. There will be thousands of seers who will come from every socioeconomic strata. These seers will be empowered to see into the spirit and co-labor with God's angels. They will also operate in a spirit of wisdom and revelation. By the unction of the Holy Spirit they will know how to take advantage of the knowledge and revelation that they receive from the realms of Heaven. These will be ordinary people. 

Men, women, and children will be anointed to operate in the gift of discerning of spirits and the "seer" anointing. These seers will be given grace from God to discern and learn to operate in the glory of God.

"Schools of the Spirit," or Eagles Nests

Many of the seers are still developing and many are immature, or adolescent, in their gifting. The Lord has already begun to raise up ordinary people who are maturing in the "seer anointing." They operate in the gift of discerning of spirits. Many are currently co-laboring with angels on a regular basis. Some of these forerunners will also operate in the office of a teacher (see Ephesians 4:11). They will help to train the "babes" who are just beginning to walk in the "seer anointing." The Lord will continue to raise up "Schools of the Spirit," or eagles nests, throughout the earth. (Photo by Liam Quinn via Wikipedia)

These schools will help to train and equip these seers, enabling them to grow and mature in the gift and ability to "see." They will be given opportunities to massage and mature their spiritual gifts in safe and encouraging settings. 

These training centers will be established in every region. Pastor Bill Johnson has helped to establish one such place at the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California. That school is a great example of this kind of "equipping center."

A Picture of the Cross

One of the attributes of these seers is that they will have an incredible ability to see into the spiritual realm and then interact and work with the information they obtain. These people will also have an incredible ability to hear the Lord very clearly. This will be the outworking of Luke 11 and Matthew 6. These people will be able to see and hear what is transpiring in the heavenly realms and then have the privilege and authority to release it upon earth in the same manner that Jesus modeled for us.

A Season of Grace

This is a picture of the Cross (see John 5:19): They will ascend vertically into the heavens, and then release the revelation that they see and hear horizontally into the earth. Some people call this third Heaven intercession. This type of revelation is also a type of the gift of the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom. It allows ordinary people to release on earth what is "relevant and real" in Heaven. They will discern and operate in the glory of God.

It is very important that we begin to examine our hearts at this hour. We are currently in a season of grace to check our foundations and the veiled agendas that may be hidden within the depths of our hearts. 

The Lord is currently shaking His people and preparing us for these approaching global outpourings. Everything that we have built that has not been founded upon the Rock of Jesus Christ will be shaken and it will fall. (Photo via Pixabay)

We must all take the time to inspect our foundations and the "hidden chambers" of our hearts. The heart of the Church may not be prepared to receive these outpourings or revivals yet. It is possible that some of these revivals may be "fumbled" unless we prepare and cleanse our hearts at this hour. We must all be diligent to guard and examine our hearts in this area (see Psalm 51:10-14; 1 Samuel 16:7).

One of the recurring and persistent stumbling blocks of all of the movements and revivals that we have looked at previously (with a few exceptions), is spiritual pride and idolatry. We must keep our singular focus on Jesus and Him alone. Our human nature is fallen. Our history is to exalt men within the Body and not the Head of the Body, Christ Jesus. This is true within the Church; we tend to exalt and worship man. This is idol worship. A Scriptural example of this is found in 1 Samuel 8:5-6: "Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations... Give us a king to judge us."

God's people rejected Him as their King and chose a man. It is easy to see a man with our natural eyes, but it takes diligence to "see" and "hear" the Lord. This dynamic is still true of God's people today. It is inherent in our fallen human nature. We reject God and look to man. This leads to idol worship within the Church. This is why it is imperative that we seek to become transformed into the very image of Christ.

When we begin to exalt ministers and place them upon pedestals, it can become a form of idolatry. Instead of looking upon God, we begin to look at the men or women that God has anointed with power and gifts. This has been an element of the downfall of almost every revival and outpouring in history. Men can become idols in our lives, minds, and hearts.

We begin to put more faith in what the prophet, pastor, teacher, or the evangelist says than the Holy Scriptures. We idolize them and their ministries. Their words and ministries supplant our own relationship with the Lord. It is possible for both ministers and the Body of Christ to be culpable in this matter, including myself. Perhaps we should remember what the Bible tells us inGalatians 5:20-21: "Those who practice such things (idolatry) will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

As a result, we no longer pray to receive guidance from the Lord for ourselves and we become enslaved to the words of men. It is easier to allow them to "hear from God" on our behalf. We subconsciously begin to exalt and worship the man and not the Messiah. This is a foundational flaw in the "Celebrity Gospel" or the "Celebrity Christianity" that is prevalent throughout the earth today. We idolize personalities and Jesus is no longer glorified. Many ministers are aware of this dynamic and guard their hearts against it. It is easy to slip into this satanic trap. Other ministers unwittingly embrace the glamor, glory, and idolization they receive from hurting people.

It is imperative that we each develop an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus. It is dangerous to become dependent on others to guide our spiritual life no matter "how anointed," visible, or popular they become. This was a key element in the downfall of the Voice of Healing movement and many other historical movements and revivals. The root of this "heart issue" can also be traced back to 313 AD when Constantine established the Edict of Milan which forever changed the face of Christianity and the dynamics within the Church. (Photo via Pixabay)

It is imperative that we keep our first love first and not allow our spirits to become lukewarm (see Revelation 2). God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit must remain that absolute center of our faith. We must always move from a place of compassion and love of the Savior. When we begin to exalt the gifts, or the vessels who are carriers of the gifting, we may become guilty of idolatry.

Anointing Through Ordinary People

In the approaching global revivals, the Lord will begin to pour out His power and anointing through ordinary people. Some of the most powerful and anointed people on the planet will be totally unknown. God will not share His glory with a mere man. When we begin to exalt man, we take Jesus off the throne and become guilty of idol worship. We must guard our hearts as God begins to pour out His power and anointing in the approaching global revivals.

The Lord tells us that, "I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images (idols)" (Isaiah 42:8). The Lord could use a tin can or a stick to work miracles. In fact, He did (see Exodus 7:10, 15:25).

Jesus Christ must be the absolute cornerstone and foundation of our faith in God. As such, we do have the more sure word of prophecy, the standards that are laid out in the canon of Scripture, which are to guide our faith. The Word of God clearly states that Jesus has given gifts to men. These gifts are released and orchestrated through the marvelous working of the precious Holy Spirit.

The Lord will continue to anoint ordinary people with His Spirit and use them in the gifts of the Spirit with great effectiveness and success in the approaching global revivals. The anointing of the Holy Spirit will be critical.

Scripture clearly established God's ongoing plan for the release of the gifts of the Spirit and His ministry offices. The imminent release of the gift of discerning of spirits and the resulting acceleration of angelic ministry will never supplant or replace spiritual gifts or the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The restoration of the gift of discerning of spirits will complete the re-establishment of all nine spiritual gifts to the earth (see Acts 3:21; 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-12; Ephesians 4:11-16).

As a result of the restoration of the gift of discerning of spirits, we will begin to see ordinary people learn and understand how to employ angels as they work humbly in symphony and in conjunction with the gifts of the Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the fivefold ministry. Learning to discern the realms of God's glory will play a key role in this dynamic as we move into this dispensation of grace.

Kevin Basconi
King of Glory Ministries International
Email: info@kingofgloryministries.org
Website: www.kingofgloryministries.org

Kevin and Kathy Basconi are ordinary people who love an extraordinary God. They co-founded King of Glory Ministries International and have a heart to share the Gospel with the poor and the love of the Father to widows and orphans. They have visited 36 nations preaching the Gospel and demonstrating the Kingdom of God in churches, conferences, and crusade meetings. The ministry is punctuated by many miracles, healings, and signs and wonders that confirm the Word of God. 

Kevin and Kathy recently established the new International Ministry Apostolic Equipping Center (iMAEC) and the Moravian Falls School of Higher Learning in the very heart of Moravian Falls, North Carolina, to empower, and equip the Body of Christ to do the greater works of Jesus Christ! They live in the mountains of North Carolina where they pursue a lifestyle of intimacy and communion with Jesus. Kevin is an internationally published author of the books "The Sword of the Lord" and the new Seer Trilogy "Unlocking the Hidden Mysteries of the Seer Anointing #1, #2 & #3."

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