Omer Devotional Day 35

May 4 at sundown - Day 35
Today is day 35 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 35 out of Egypt
Today is day 35 of Messiah Resurrected

CHAZAK (Be Strong) (Daniel 10:1-21)

1 In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The oracle was true and concerns a great war. He understood the message and gained insight through a vision.
2 “In those days, I, Daniel was mourning for three whole weeks.
3 I ate no rich food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I anoint myself with oil, until the end of three weeks.
4 “Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was beside the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
6 His body was like yellow jasper, his face like a flash of lightning, his eyes like fiery torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the roar of a multitude.
7 “Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men that were with me did not see the vision. Nevertheless, such a great terror fell upon them that they fled and hid themselves.
8 So I was left alone to see this great vision. My strength drained from me and my vigor was destroyed; I could not summon any strength.

9 Yet I heard the sound of his words. When I heard him speaking, I fell on my face in a deep sleep with my face to the ground.
10 “Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 He said to me, ‘Daniel, highly valued man, carefully consider the words I am speaking to you. Stand up! For now I have been sent to you.’ When he spoke this word to me, I stood up trembling.
12 “Then he said to me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel! For from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words.
13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days, but behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I had been detained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future days. For the vision concerns days yet to come.’
15 “While he was speaking these words to me, I bowed my face toward the ground and was speechless.
16 Then behold, one who resembled a human touched my lips. I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him that stood before me, ‘O my Lord because of the vision, anguish has overcome me and I have no strength.
17 For how can this servant of my Lord speak with my Lord since no strength remains in me and no spirit is left in me?’
18 “Again the one who looked like a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 Then he said: ‘Highly valued man, do not fear! Shalom to you. Be strong, now! Chazak!’ “Even as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’
20 “Then he said: ‘Do you understand why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia! When I go, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
21 But first, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of truth.’ (No one strengthened me against these, except Michael your prince).

Reflect:

Daniel was a Jewish exile living in a foreign land. God had shown up in his life in powerful ways, rescuing him from being thrown into a fiery furnace and keeping him safe after being thrown to the lions. He knew what God could do, and how He could work miracles in the lives of those who put their trust in Him. Daniel’s dedication to his Creator and his desire to see and understand God’s plan are examples we can follow in the here and now. Through fasting and prayer we can petition Yeshua and ask Him to help us see our sins and to repent of them. When we do this, He will be faithful to show us His plans for us personally and as a congregation. He will also show us the depth of His love for us as well as for those who need to know of His love and mercy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, be merciful to me and forgive my sins. Help me to see You for who You are. Show me Your plans and use me to reach people with the message of Your love. Help us as a community hear from You about Your heart for all people to know You and how we can be a part of it. Amen.

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.

Omer Devotional Day 34

May 3 at sundown - Day 34
Today is day 34 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 34 out of Egypt
Today is day 34 of Messiah Resurrected

Let Him Do It! (Exodus 10:1-29)

Locusts, Darkness
1 Then Adonai said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, because I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, so that I might show these My signs in their midst,
 2 and so you may tell your son and your grandchildren what I have done in Egypt, as well as My signs that I did among them, so you may know that I am Adonai.”
3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what Adonai, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long would you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so

they may serve Me.
 4 Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your borders.
 5 Then they will cover the face of the earth, so that no one will be able to see the ground. They will eat the remainder of what escaped—whatever is left from the hail— and eat every tree that grows for you out in the field.
 6 Your houses will be filled, as will the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they were on the earth until today!” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.
 7 Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Send the men, so they may serve Adonai their God. Don’t you realize yet that Egypt is being destroyed?”
 
8 So Moses and Aaron were brought to Pharaoh again. “Go, serve Adonai your God,” he said. “But who will be going?”
 9 Moses answered, “We will go with our young and our elderly, our sons and our daughters. We will go with our flocks and our herds—for we must have Adonai’s feast for Him.”
 10 But he said to them, “So may Adonai be with you, if I ever do let you go, with your little ones. See clearly now! Evil is in your face.
 11 Not so! Go now—the men—and serve Adonai! For that’s what you were seeking.” Then they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
 
12 Then Adonai said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so they may come up onto Egypt and eat every plant in the land—everything the hail has left.”
 
13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and Adonai brought an east wind over the land all that day and all night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
 
14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and rested on the entire territory of Egypt. So dense—there was nothing like it before them, nor will there ever be again.
 15 For they covered the face of the whole earth so that the land was darkened, and they ate every plant in the land and all the fruit from the trees that the hail had left. No green thing remained, not a tree or a plant of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.
16 Then Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against Adonai your God and against you.
 17 Now forgive my sin, only this once, please! So pray to Adonai your God—just so He would take this death away from me!”
18 So he went out from Pharaoh and prayed to Adonai.
 19 Then Adonai turned the wind from the west, very strong, and it carried off the locusts and drove them into the Sea of Reeds. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt.
 20 But Adonai hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let Bnei-Yisrael go.
 21 Then Adonai said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt—a darkness that may be felt.”
 
22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
 23 They could not see one another, nor could anyone rise from his place for three days. Yet all Bnei-Yisrael had light within their dwellings.
 24 Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve Adonai. Only let your flocks and your herds remain. Your little ones may also go with you.”
 25 But Moses said, “You must also put sacrifices and burnt offerings into our hand, then we will do it for Adonai our God.
 26 Our cattle must also go with us—not a hoof may be left behind. We must take from them to serve Adonai our God. We ourselves will not know how we will serve Adonai until we arrive there.”


27 But Adonai hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.
 28 So Pharaoh said to him, “Go away from me! Take heed never to see my face again, because on the day you do, you will die!”
 29 “Right!” Moses said. “You said it! May I never see your face again!”

Reflect:

Sometimes God will ask you to do hard things. In this example, God was commanding Moses to go back to Pharaoh and keep repeating what God was commanding him: Let My people go! Moses could have caved in and not gone to Pharaoh for any number of reasons; anxiety, fear of failure, or unbelief that God could or would do as He said. We all go through this - maybe it is that moment in the office where you are called upon to give a presentation but are afraid to stand up in front of a crowd, or when you are called upon to perform a task that you feel totally inadequate to do. God often puts us in situations that expose our weaknesses instead of catering to our strengths. He does this so that He can show His power through you! He’s not asking you to do it; He’s asking you to let Him do it! Similarly, all we are seeking out of this fast can’t be accomplished by our own efforts because human efforts always fall short. God wants to use us, even in our weaknesses. Let’s resolve to let Him do it!

Prayer: God, I need your help when life gets hard. Please help me not to fear and to trust that You will get me through it no matter how bad things get. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.

Omer Devotional Day 33

May 2 at sundown - Day 33
Today is day 33 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 33 out of Egypt
Today is day 33 of Messiah Resurrected

Better Than TED (1 Timothy 3:1-13)

Qualifications for Oversight and Service
1 Trustworthy is the saying: “If any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.”
2 An overseer, then, must be beyond criticism—the husband of one wife, clear-minded, self- controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money,
4 managing his own household well, keeping his children under control with all respectfulness.

5 (But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s community?)
6 He must not be a new believer, or he may become puffed up and fall into the same judgment as the devil.
7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with those outside, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
8 Servant-leaders likewise must be dignified, not double-speaking, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
9 They must keep hold of the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 Also let them first be tested—then let those who are blameless serve as servant-leaders.
11 Women likewise must be dignified, not backbiting; clear-minded, trustworthy in every respect. 12 Let servant-leaders be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
13 For those who have served well as servant-leaders gain for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Messiah Yeshua.

Reflect:

There are many, many books on leadership. Along with each of these books is a seminar you can attend, a TED talk you can watch, or some other form of media you can consume in the quest to be a good leader. While many of them may be helpful, it is important to understand that God has His own standards for leadership, and none of them involve being a CEO or some kind of big shot! This chapter reflects that a Godly leader must have a life marked by spiritual fruit and servanthood, borne out over time. At Restoration, we seek to be and to raise up leaders that are focused on serving God by serving others. God has already been faithful in providing us with leaders with hearts that seek after God and that exhibit Godly character, and we believe that He will continue to do so! While no leader is perfect, it is important to remember that anyone involved in spiritual leadership needs our support and prayers.

Prayer: Father, take care of my leaders. Keep them and their families safe. Provide for their needs and help me to remember to pray for them. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.

Omer Devotional Day 32

May 1 at sundown - Day 32
Today is day 32 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 32 out of Egypt
Today is day 32 of Messiah Resurrected

God’s Mercy at Work (Genesis 7:11-23)

11 In the six-hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on this day, all the water sources of the great deep burst open, and the windows of the sky were opened.
12 Then there was rain upon the land 40 days and 40 nights.
13 On that same day Noah, along with Noah’s sons Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s wife and the three wives of Noah’s sons with them, entered the ark,
14 they and every animal according to its kind, and all the livestock according to its kind, and every crawling creature that crawls on the land according to its kind, and every flying creature according to its kind, every bird, every winged creature.
15 So to Noah and into the ark they went by twos—all flesh in which was the spirit of life. 
16 Those that came, male and female of all flesh, came just as God commanded him. Then Adonai shut him in.

17 The flood was forty days upon the land, and the waters increased and lifted the ark, so that it rose above the land.
18 The waters overpowered and became very mighty over the land, and the ark drifted on the surface of the water.
19 The waters completely overpowered the land so that all the high mountains beneath the entire sky were covered.
20 The waters rose 15 cubits higher, as the mountains were covered.
21 All flesh perished—those that crawl on the land, the flying creatures, livestock, wild animals, all creatures that swarm upon the land, and all humankind.
22 Everything that had the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land—died. 23 So He wiped out all existence that was upon the surface of the ground, everything from people to livestock, to crawling creatures, and to flying creatures of the sky. They were wiped out off the land. Only Noah and those with him in the ark survived.

Reflect:

Traditionally the 32nd day of the Omer is the day that Noah and his family entered the ark. The days of Noah were marked by apostasy so profound that God could only judge it by destroying nearly every living thing. While this punishment may sound overly harsh we must remember that God is sovereign, and that although He hates sin His desire is to preserve life instead of taking it. He could have easily just pushed the reset button on humanity and started over with Adam 2.0. It is in this passage that we see the chesed, the mercy of God at work. God had a plan for humanity that did not start with Adam and end with Noah, but rather one that worked to redeem all humanity. From Adam to Noah and then from Noah to Yeshua, we can see God faithfully working to redeem creation and restore it to right relationship with Himself. During times of apostasy and what seems like wrath, we must remember that God is working intently to bring about restoration and deliverance to mankind.

Prayer: Lord, help us to know that even in confusing times You are in control. Help us to remember that You preserve the righteous and are willing to pour out mercy on sinners. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.

Omer Devotional Day 31

April 30 at sundown - Day 31
Today is day 31 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 31 out of Egypt
Today is day 31 of Messiah Resurrected

Increase by Decreasing (John 3:25-36)

25 Now an argument came up between John’s disciples and a Judean concerning purification. 
26 They came to John and said, “Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—look, He is immersing, and all are coming to Him!”
27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 
28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,’ but rather, ‘I am sent before Him.’ 
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the best man rejoices when he stands and hears the bridegroom’s voice. So now my joy is complete!
30 He must increase, while I must decrease.”
31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaks. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
32 And what He has seen and heard, He testifies to that; yet no one receives His testimony.
33 Whoever receives His testimony has certified that God is true.
34 The One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Ruach without limit.
35 The Father loves the Son and has given everything into His hand.

36 He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Reflect:

Times change for all of us. Sometimes we will be in the spotlight and other times we will be called upon to step aside for someone else. This was the case here: John’s ministry was coming to a close, and Yeshua’s ministry was just getting started. There was no rivalry on John’s part; he had a clear vision of what God had called him to do, and he faithfully executed his task. When he was done being the harbinger of the Messiah’s coming, John had the humility to step aside and allow God’s plan to move forward. He decreased so that Yeshua could increase. How many of us can say that we’re willing to take a back seat in God’s plan? How many of us can say we’re willing to allow others to go ahead of us and be used to glorify God instead of seeking glory for ourselves? We need to keep in mind John’s words: “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from Heaven.” Those are incredible words that encapsulate the attitude of surrender that he had cultivated in his heart. He had a sensitivity to God’s Spirit and understood that God was doing a new thing, and he had the humilty to embrace it! When we choose to follow John’s example and “decrease” when God leads us to it, in reality we are elevating God. In turn, He elevates us by giving us blessings that only come when we learn to surrender to His will.

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand that there are different seasons in our lives, and give us the humility to embrace them and seek You for and what You require of us in those seasons. When You call us to a different role, remind us that it is not a lesser role. We want to submit to Your will and surrender to Your call. We love You wholeheartedly and desire to serve You! Amen!

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.

Omer Devotional Day 30

April 29 at sundown - Day 30
Today is day 30 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 30 out of Egypt
Today is day 30 of Messiah Resurrected

Smooth Sailing (Exodus 16:1-4)

1 They journeyed on from Elim, and the entire community of Bnei-Yisrael came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving the land of Egypt.
2 But the whole congregation of Bnei-Yisrael murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

3 Bnei-Yisrael said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of Adonai in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full. But you have brought us into the wilderness, to kill this entire congregation with hunger.”
4 Then Adonai said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. The people will go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I can test them to find out whether they will walk according to My Torah or not.

Reflect:

Often when we are going through a transition that takes us from a bad situation to a better one there will be turbulence. In moments like these we may desire to go back to the bad situation because we perceive that it was better, or at least more familiar, than the unknown place where we are heading. I find that we often do this with sinful behavior. When we are confronted with the need to change and start to act on it, sometimes the desire to paint a rosy picture of the sinful behavior sets in. It’s only natural; change is not easy and the sinful behavior was pacifying the issues we did not want to deal with. When moments like these come along we need to make sure that we remember God’s faithfulness. Though we may go through trials and testing, it is important to understand that Yeshua’s “divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). There isn’t a rough patch in our lives that we can’t go through with Him; His divine power will be all we need to pass through our present troubles and onto smooth sailing.

Prayer: Lord, we want to take hold of all that You have for us. When we struggle to have faith, help us to remember Your faithfulness. Strengthen those of us who are going through trials and testing. Show us that You’re moving us to a better place! Amen!

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.

Omer Devotional Day 29

April 28 at sundown - Day 29
Today is day 29 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 29 out of Egypt
Today is day 29 of Messiah Resurrected

Everyone Belongs in the Family of God (Acts 10:1-48)

The Centurion’s Vision
1 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort.
2 He was a devout man, revering God with all his household. He gave tzedakah generously to the people and prayed to God continually.
3 About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said to him, “Your prayers and tzedakah have gone up as a memorial offering before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, also named Peter.
6 He is being entertained as a guest by Simon the tanner, whose house is beside the sea.”
7 When the angel speaking to him had left, he called two of his servants and a soldier from among those attached to his command.
8 After he explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9 The next day, as the soldiers were traveling and approaching the city, Peter went up to the rooftop to pray, at about the sixth hour.
10 Now he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance.
11 He saw the heavens opened, and something like a great sheet coming down, lowered by its four corners to the earth.
12 In it were all sorts of four-footed animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For never have I eaten anything unholy or unclean.”
15 Again a voice came to him, a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not consider unholy.”
16 This happened three times, and the sheet was immediately taken up to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was puzzling about what the vision he had seen might mean, behold, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and appeared before the gate.
18 They called out and began to ask whether Simon, also called Peter, was staying in this place as a guest.
19 Now while Peter was mulling over the vision, the Ruach said to him, “Look here, three men are looking for you.
20 But get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitating, because I Myself have sent them.”
21 Going down to the men, Peter said, “Here, I’m the one you’re looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well-spoken of by all the Jewish people, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.”
23 So Peter invited them in to be his guests. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter Goes to Cornelius
24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter pulled him up, saying, “Stand up! I too am just a man.”
27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found many people gathered.
28 He said to them, “You yourselves know that it is not permitted for a Jewish man to associate with a non-Jew or to visit him. Yet God has shown me that I should call no one unholy or unclean.
29 So I came without objection when I was sent for. I ask, then, what is the reason why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius declared, “Four days ago at this hour, I was praying minchah in my house. Suddenly, a man stood in front of me in shining clothes.
31 He says, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your tzedakah remembered before God.
32 Therefore send to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “I truly understand that God is not one to show favoritism,
35 but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.
36 You know the message He sent to Bnei-Yisrael, proclaiming shalom through Messiah Yeshua —He is Lord of all.
37 You know the message that has spread throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the immersion that John proclaimed.
38 You know how God anointed Yeshua of Natzeret with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and power—how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
39 We are witnesses to all He did, both in the Judean countryside and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
40 but God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be visible—

41 not to all the people, but to us, witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God. We ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42 And He commanded us to proclaim to the people and to testify that He is the One ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about Him—that everyone who puts his trust in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
The Ruach Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Ruach ha-Kodesh fell on all those hearing the message.
45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone refuse water for these to be immersed, who have received the Ruach ha- Kodesh just as we did?”
48 So he commanded them to be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Reflect:

Cornelius was a man who feared the God of Israel. He was considered righteous by the Jews, devout, reverent, and generous. By birthright he was a Roman, but somehow seeing the Jewish people worship their God had touched him deeply and stirred his heart. He moved towards God, and God saw what was in his heart and responded. What God did through Cornelius’ acts of faith forever changed the kingdom; the disciples realized that Yeshua wasn’t just for the Jewish people—Yeshua was for everybody! This is an important part of who we are at Restoration. Jews are Jews, Gentiles are Gentiles, and everyone belongs in the family of God. Everyone. You don’t need a birthright or special distinction. All you need is Yeshua. This is a simple message that we need to share with all who will hear it.

Prayer: Lord, I want to know more about You. Speak to me like You did to Cornelius. I want to hear from You. Teach Restoration in this season to lead people to know and follow Yeshua. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.