June Letter

“And when the day of Pentecost was FULLY come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”  Acts 2:1,2,4a

Hello Dear Hearts,

In the Feast of Passover we see the death of Christ.  In the Feast of Firstfruits, we see the resurrection of Christ as the Firstfruits.  In the Feast of Pentecost we see the descent of the Holy Spirit, the New Covenant entered into with God and the Birth of the Church.

Fifty days from the day the firstfruits offering was waved before the Lord, the children of Israel celebrated the Feast of Pentecost.  Devout Jews from all parts of Israel and the Mediterranean world traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate these feasts.  According to the well-known Jewish historian, Josephus, there were as many as three million Jews gathered together in Jerusalem during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

After His death and resurrection Christ appeared and showed Himself “through many infallible proofs.”  Forty days, He met with His disciples giving them final instructions concerning the Kingdom of God, before He ascended into heaven.

I had the joy and privilege of celebrating Pentecost in two different churches with a missionary couple that have spent the last twenty years in Israel. The first church was PSM in Kahalui and Grace Church (up Country).  They brought with them a scroll made out of goat’s leather, of the Book of Esther.  I held it in my hands.  It is older than America.  The wife sang the Israeli songs in Hebrew so beautifully then we were given songbooks in Hebrew and English that we might join with her in song.  I fumbled my way through the Hebrew and then I joyfully particapated in the Israeli dancing.

I was reminded of the film we shot in the Holy Land, “The Crescent And The Cross.”  It was a comparative religion film on Islam and Christianity.  We were the guests of the Islamic government and because of that we were escorted to the holy places of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

When we were staying in a hotel in Jerusalem we made many friends including a young Islamic man and his male relatives and friends who did an absolutely unheard of thing; they invited me, a woman, to their bachelor party the night before the wedding.  I was unbelievably  honored and Ralph and I enthusiastically entered into their celebration and dancing.

It ‘s been a wonderfully diverse month of ministry, which leads me to one of the stories I shared with you in my last letter about a very pretty young woman I had led to the Lord.   I invited her and her husband to come with me to a Monday night ministry called Alpha,at Hope Chapel.  It’s a dinner in the courtyard around circular tables, where,after dinner and a Christian video, we encourage discussion about what they’ve seen. It is designed for unbelievers, newcomers and young Christians.   Her husband has come regularly and at the Memorial Day Baptisms on the beach, I shared God’s personal love for him. And as the musicians played and hula dancers worshipped God and people were being baptized in the ocean, he held my hands and prayed to receive Christ.

Jesus said, “But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”  We need His power that came upon the believers on Pentecost.  He enables us to walk in His Spirit, to communicate His love for HE is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in us.”  Eph 3:20

I’m so grateful you give me the freedom to serve Christ whereever the Holy Spirit leads me.  Thank you so much.  May God bless you!

Georgia Lee