August - October 2019 Ministry Update
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Shalom Shalom (Perfect Peace),
Fall Holidays
Since our last letter we have been busy with many guests and lots of activities with the congregation preparing for the fall holidays here in the Land and outreach. The fall holidays began late this year on October 1
st
and went through October 21
st
. The day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) provided a wonderful opportunity for the Gospel. Although the Jewish people recognize these holiday’s they completely miss the person these days are pointing to. We are so glad to be here in the Land and utilize the celebration of God’s appointed days to point the Jewish people to the Messiah and tell of the good news that Salvation is found only in Him!
We had one such outreach opportunity with a Jewish man named Shaul who we have been talking to for quite some time. We finally got the chance to sit down, with our Bibles opened, the evening before Yom Kippur. This was indeed a divine appointment in that Shaul could only meet on this evening, the very night before Yom Kippur. He also brought a friend with him who is Jewish and also doesn’t know the Messiah.
As the conversation progressed, we were able to direct them to the most important problem that Rabbinic Jews have in that they have no atonement.
Leviticus 17:11
declares
“
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul
.
”
I told him that without the shedding of blood he has no atonement and without the temple he has no way to make atonement, meaning he has no way to be at peace with God. He proceeded to tell me he was going to pray, fast, sing, read, and afflict himself the next day for Yom Kippur. He said, the rabbis told them that these things replace a blood atonement and that since I didn’t do exactly what he did on Yom Kippur and didn’t have a temple I was in a worse situation then he was. I told him that I have faith in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach who provides my blood atonement by faith in the work He did on the cross at Calvary.
I proceeded to take him to
Isaiah 53
to show him who the Messiah is. I explained that by believing on what is so clearly declared in this chapter that he, like me, could by faith believe in that shed blood of the perfect lamb to have atonement – true peace with God and everlasting life. “
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed
.”
Isa. 53:3-5
After some debate on who Isaiah 53 was referring to he finally admitted it had to be the Messiah, but not Yeshua. I asked him, “If Jesus isn’t the Messiah, who could fill all of the requirements?” Shaul couldn’t answer my questions and he got angry when he couldn’t prove his points and convince me. At this point he decided the discussion was over and began to walk away.
As he was walking away, I told him he needed to repent and believe in the finished work of our long awaited for Messiah, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. I explained, he needed to follow the example of our father Abraham. I declared to him the Scripture in
Genesis 15:6
which showed it was faith alone that provided for justification and atonement in order to be at peace with God. “
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
”. I reiterated that our self-righteous works God sees as worthless as it is written in
Isaiah 64:6
“
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
” Unfortunately, he didn’t stop to ask what he must do to be saved but the seed was sown.
The amazing thing was his friend, who I assume was there to provide moral support, ended up listening intently, asked a few good questions, and spoke to me as they were walking away indicating he was listening and desired to have answers to his questions. He shook my hand and thanked me but Shaul whisked him away. The reality of our divine appointment was the perfect timing on the eve before Yom Kippur. I realized we were probably there more for Shaul’s friend rather than for Shaul. We don’t know how God is going to use the preaching of His Word but we do know what
Isaiah 55:11
declares and will rest on this “
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
” Please pray for Shaul and his friend that the seed might germinate to salvation.
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No cars are able to drive during the Day of Atonement. The normally very busy street is desolate on this one day.
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Beth & our good friend Suzie visiting from New York enjoying tea together.
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Shabbat Dinner with our Filipino Friends.
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Abigail at her new desk. Abigail is a big help with the ministry!
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Outreach / Bible Distribution
The Bible table continues to be a great means to get the Word of God in the hands of the Israelis, both to Jews & Gentiles alike. It not only gives an opportunity for those who would not otherwise take a Bible, but it also supplies a venue for those who desire to talk and ask questions. By being at the same spot on a regular basis it provides the confidence that we are genuine in our purpose and gives people more chances to come back and ask questions. One side effect of having a table in the same spot at the same time every week is it brings out the haters of the Gospel in the Jewish anti-missionary group call the Yad Laachim. They see anyone who speaks about Yeshua/Jesus as a threat to the Rabbinical System and the power they wield over the Jewish People. Some, to be sure, are very sincere in their motives but are sincerely wrong due to a lack of knowledge and faith. Our heart has always been to reach the Orthodox and the Bible table has ironically given us a great avenue to speak with them, even if they mean it for evil, God has used it for good!
I was able to speak with an orthodox women named Chaiah. She took a Hebrew Bible and verses about the Messiah. We spoke for quite a while. She had good questions but was unable to answer some of my questions concerning why she doesn’t believe in Yeshua. I sensed a genuine interest in her faith although she sees it as wrong to believe in Jesus due to what she has been taught her whole life, but the seed was planted.
One day when we had the Bible table up and an Ultra-Orthodox man named Yashi stopped and phoned the Yad Laachim who came and flipped the table causing all of the Bibles and the individual Scripture verses to fly everywhere. This caused a great commotion which attracted many people. Some people were there to help and others where there to argue. Some accused us of breaking the law regarding what is legal concerning preaching the gospel. I was able to tell them they treated God’s word, the Hebrew Scriptures, disrespectfully. The situation, which started out very bad ended up for good in that it led to many good conversations about the gospel. Two Orthodox gentlemen named Yashi & Daniel ended up speaking with me and one from our congregation about the gospel and then ended up speaking with us in a much kinder way then they began. They took Bibles along with the list of Scriptures regarding the Messiah.
I was also able to speak with an Arab man named Yonus. The Arabs many times seem more open to the gospel but they usually do not speak good English which gives me the opportunity to practice my Hebrew in the giving of the gospel. This day was a divine appointment in that Yonus was asking many good questions. The Holy Spirit gave me great clarity to speak Hebrew like never before. We exchanged numbers with the hope of getting together again to speak more about the Savior.
Many times, during our outreach, we meet what I call Jewish spiritual seekers. They come to Israel to reconnect with their Jewish heritage only to get mixed up in a combination of Jewish Kabala and Eastern Mysticism. One gentleman named Yaacob, who has been here since the 70’s, practices such a mix along with a liberal form of Islam called Sufism (Islamic Mysticism). We have been talking for a few weeks as he owns a “Spiritual” bookstore next to the spot where we put up our table. He came by to get a Bible and we got to talking. He said, he sees value in all religions except for Christianity. I was able to tell him that I am a Jew who believes in Jesus as the Messiah. He said it wasn’t possible for God to come in the form of a man. A couple of weeks later we continued our discussion. We went through many Scriptures and to my surprise he had never read
Isaiah 53
. I asked him to take the Bible which he took a couple of weeks earlier (I think he was intending to sell it) and read the chapter. He stopped and read it right then. He looked very overwhelmed and said he had to meditate on its meaning and would get back with me. Please pray the Lord will open his heart to see the Messiah in the “forbidden chapter”.
One day we were walking past the Garden Tomb and I met an Italian man named Alfonso who looked lost. I stopped and asked him if he needed directions. To which he replied, “I am lost, can you help me?” He was looking for the Garden Tomb and I was able to give him directions. He spoke good English which gave us the chance to give him directions to find eternal life. After telling him where the Tomb was, I was able to direct the conversation to the Gospel. I found out he grew up Catholic but had many doubts and was in Jerusalem seeking spiritual direction. I was able to give him the gospel and a tract on the differences of true Christianity verses Roman Catholicism. He was very grateful for the information and we exchanged numbers. Pray that Alfonso will find the truth he is seeking as found in the Word of God.
One day a Chinese man came to the Bible table and took a Hebrew & English Bible to learn about the language and the Jewish people. He told me he moved to the US many years ago and became a Christian but always wanted to come to Israel and find out about the Hebrew roots of his faith and how to reach Jewish people. He was so excited to find out I was Jewish and a believer. He asked many questions and took my email. He wrote me and continues to seek ways to reach Jewish people in New Jersey where he lives. We never know who will be blessed by the Bible table and how God will use it.
Our friend Hanna, who was visiting from Hawaii, allowed me to share her email of a couple of stories that really blessed us. It is exciting to see how God uses the Bibles we have received from many ministries.
Dear Scott and Beth,
I want to thank you for the two Hebrew Bibles and the Messianic Scriptures booklet you left for me to pick up. I'd like to share with you how the Lord is working through your gifts. Scott, when you asked me how many Bibles I'd like, I only thought I needed one, but asked you for two. I was supposed to pick them up in the morning, but my meeting at The Jewish Agency went long, and I ended up picking them up just before going over to a Messianic worship service later that evening. During the message the guest speaker mentioned that one of the waitresses at their hotel had expressed an interest in reading the Bible, and this gentleman said he would try to find her one in Hebrew. He casually mentioned if anyone at our meeting had an extra to let him know. His wife just happened to be sitting right in front of me, so I gave her one of the Bibles and a booklet. We were amazed at how the Lord knew I'd need an extra copy to share.
The copy I originally wanted was for my dear friend Zee, who I was staying with in Tel Aviv. Zee is secular but knows that I am a Messianic believer and is unusually open to discuss my faith. When I got back to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem, I put the Bible on the dining room table, and waited for the right time to give it to Zee. I wasn't sure if my friend might ask me to remove this "forbidden" book from her home. A few days before I left to return home to Maui, I shared with Zee how this book had changed my life and got up the courage to give the Bible to her. To my pleasant surprise, Zee was happy to receive this gift. We both had tears in our eyes as she thanked me for the Bible -- promising to read it (and the booklet of Messianic Scriptures) for herself.
Please keep Zee, and the young waitress from Jerusalem, in your prayers. That they would be drawn to read their Bibles and that the Lord would reveal Himself to them through His Word.
Thank you again, for spreading His Word and His Truth there in Jerusalem........
Blessings,
Hanah
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Israelis Reading Scriptures at the Bible Table
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Life in the Land and Friedman Family Happenings
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David recently finished his assignment of patrol in Bethlehem. It was a challenging but exciting time of adventure you would only hear about in movies. David learned much about the challenges of keeping the peace in a land currently reserved for battle until our Messiah returns. We are thankful he was kept safe and was able to gain valuable experience. He is now back up north in the Golan doing more tank training. His unit is on the Syrian border and is prepared to be a first responder to war should they be called upon. With all the unrest in Syria please keep him in prayer as we hope and pray for the relative peace to continue.
Beth started her 23
rd
year of homeschooling teaching Mark & Levi and they are doing well. Beth was able to watch a couple of neighbor kids who joined our little school for a month. Their mother was studying Arabic and was willing to contribute to our ministry for a little help watching and teaching her children. Beth continues to stay very busy cooking, cleaning, and helping with the ministry in so many areas, we couldn’t do what we do without Beth’s selfless contributions.
Ministry Update
Our congregation continues to keep us busy in discipleship and ministry with locals and visitors alike. The congregation feels more complete as many college students returned from summer break. We enjoy having our “regulars” interact with our visitors who stay at the Ministry/Guest House. It is a unique mix of believers from all over the world worshiping together. We have been blessed to have a fellow messenger (missionary) family join us here ministering with us in our congregation. The husband helps with the teaching & preaching and he and his wife also help with the music. They are bilingual in English and Spanish. Since there are many Spanish speaking Jews here in the land this will be a great way to reach out. We are getting ready to start a Spanish speaking Bible study on Sunday evenings in the Ministry House with the hopes those attending will become part of our congregation for further discipleship. We also had the joy of having another friend and his family from the US minister with us for three months. They have been in Jewish ministry for many years coming and going to Jerusalem. They may have an opportunity to get a pastoral visa to be here on a more permanent basis which would be a great encouragement to us all. God has been so good to bring like minded ministers our way to help and encourage us in our work.
Ministry House Update
The ministry house was very busy during the fall feast days. We had groups from all over the world stay and participate in our services. Our daughter Abigail has been such a big help with the housekeeping, shabbat meals, and touring duties along with helping with the music in the congregation. We couldn’t do it without her! The house continues to provide a venue for our congregational meetings and hosting shabbat meals with locals and visitors alike. We are also able to use the facility for conferences and special events.
Israel Elections
Many may or may not be aware that Israel has gone through two elections since April and still does not have a clear winner for the position of Prime Minister. Since Israel is split down the middle like America, our current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is fighting for his political life. Even the Lord touched on the seriousness of this situation in
Matthew 12:25
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand
:
”. We live with enemies surrounding us who are seeking any weakness to destroy us at any given time. Having no clear cut winner from the elections could provide the vulnerability our enemies can use against us. Please pray for a quick resolution to the election debacle.
Syria and the Kurds
The civil war in Syria has taken a major turn for the worse with the US pulling out its troops. Syria boarders Israel which is the boarder our son’s tank division is currently guarding. I do not like the fact the US has troops all over the world, but it is a reality we have learned to live with, especially here in Israel where the US troops are a big deterrent to our enemies. That small contingent of US troops were trying to stabilize the area between the various Muslim factions who were fighting each other. With the US forces gone it has opened the door for our avowed enemies in Turkey, Iran, and Russia to fill in the vacuum left by the US’s departure. We don’t know how this is all going to play out, especially considering the potential prophetic and eschatological significance these countries may play in God’s eternal plan with Israel and the world. We are concerned but have faith and trust in our great God; as a famous quote goes “
we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow
.” Please pray for the Kurdish Muslims who are taking a severe blow from their Turkish enemies as well pray for the overall situation that it will not escalate, especially while our son David is guarding the border area.
Again, we would like to give a special thank you to each one of you who continue to support and pray for us and our ministry. We are very grateful!
Love and Blessings in the Messiah,
Scott, Beth, Abigail, David, Mark, Levi
לוי ,מארק ,דוד ,אביגיל ,ג'יין ,סקוט
“
It is a sure mark of grace to desire more
"
Robert Murray M’Cheyne
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To make a donation to our ministry please press here:
IBJM On-Line Giving Link
or call IBJM at (423) 876-8150 or mail to IBJM PO Box 1386 Hixson,TN 37343 and mark support for Scott & Beth Friedman
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Prayer Requests
Though we have many needs and prayer requests (some of which we have already mentioned) we want to focus all of your attention and prayers to Beth’s sister Dawn who continues her fight with cancer. When you think about us and our ministry please remember to pray for Dawn.
Please see a letter from Dawn below as many have requested an update:
My sister, Grace sent me this song "All the way my Savior Leads me" on Monday morning as I went for my 4th and last chemo before a checkup and scan at MD Anderson. It’s exactly what I’m thinking, and I wanted you all to know. God is leading and caring for me. Please don’t stop praying for me. I love just the thought that people from All over care enough about me to pray for me! Getting to the details of what is Going on with the cancer. We are hoping for good news next week. It would be wonderful if the doctor would say “looks like the chemo worked “and soon I can have surgery on the tumors. We won’t know anything until the middle or the end of next week.
I really do feel terrible but I’m trying to “rise above it “and plow thru. It’s the hardest trial I’ve ever been asked to endure. God is faithful, He never changes, He keeps all of His promises. You know what? There are days when I feel like giving up. This last week I told Art that I didn’t want to do any more chemo. My hair is falling out and my skin is ruined, I feel like I have a constant bad flu that never leaves me, and I can never be away from a bathroom. I can’t drive and I can’t hold my precious grand-babies without getting out of breath. My hips and joints ache so badly that I need help going upstairs. I’m not complaining. Really, I’m not. I’m just being real with everyone and praising the Lord for each day that I’m alive! It’s been over a year since I was diagnosed, and it has felt like I’m starting all over. ... I hope you all know the Savior. You need Him as much as I do, and He never fails.
I love everyone for being there for me and for praying and sending cards and lots of love. Having a huge family has never been better!! Such a big support group we all have! I wish I could write everyone a thank you. Please remember to pray for us next week as we travel. It won’t be easy since it will be the first week after this chemo round so we covet your prayers. I have a blood clot that I forgot to mention. It’s painful but thankfully, it’s only surface right now. I’m dreading having to go back on blood thinners.
If you get nothing from this letter, I hope it will encourage you to trust in God during your darkest hours of life. I commit to the Lord that I will not give up as Long as I have my Savior who loves me and can be completely trusted. It’s hard but He never told us the road is easy. It’s not. It’s very, very hard but “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me!”
Thank you all again for everything,
Dawn
As always, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, especially now with all that is going on with the surrounding nations, the elections, and the upcoming Trump "peace plan"...
--
Sha’alu Shalom Yerushalim Psalm 122:6
Jeremiah 23:6
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness
.
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Copyright Scott Friedman | The Road to Emmaus | P | 808-280-1407 | Email | scott@rtemmaus.com
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