jay dockins’ October 2014 rock of israel newsletter

 

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!)

 

Jay and Kim Dockins

I usually use this newsletter to keep you informed of our ministry activities and give a short teaching. This month I feel like I should leave the normal template and share a teaching on “The Three Trumpets of the Festivals of the Lord” from a message which I have been preaching as of late. I hope that you will enjoy, be edified and learn something from this teaching!

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand:” Joel 2:1 (NKJV)

The blowing of the trumpet is seen several times in Scripture. Whenever a trumpet is blown it is usually for one of three reasons.
1. To call God’s people together for worship and service.
2. To call God’s people together in holy convocation with the Lord.
3. To call God’s people to battle.

In Leviticus 23, the Lord list seven festivals which are to be celebrated by His people. These are known as the Feasts of the Lord. Three of these always include the blowing of the trumpet!

The first is connected with the Day of Pentecost and is called “The First Trump.”
The second is connected to the Feast of Trumpets is called “The Last Trump.”
The third is connected to the Day of Atonement and is called “The Great Trump.”

Each of these trumpets indicates something about God’s plan and what He desires for our lives as the day of the Lord approaches.

I. The first trumpet sounded is called the First Trump! It is blown to call God’s people to worship and service before Him. It is connected with and sounded at Shavuot or Pentecost.

The Children of Israel had left Egyptian bondage and had come to Mt. Sinai where God gave them the Law (Torah). Exodus 19:18-20

This giving of the Law was an awesome experience:
1. The mountain was covered with smoke.
2. The whole mountain shook violently.
3. God’s trumpet (some say it was His voice) sounded so loudly that the people all trembled.

On this first Shavuot/Pentecost, God instructed His people through the Law as to how they were to live by giving them the Torah (literally “instruction” or “teaching”). The Torah was not a list of “do’s and don’ts” but a set of instructions on how to live to please Him and live a blessed life! It was given for their benefit, not as restriction or punishment! These were the instructions of the Father for His children which were designed to lead them to a blessed life, and to the Messiah!

Galatians 3:24 (CJB) “Accordingly, the Torah functioned as a custodian until the Messiah came, so that we might be declared righteous on the ground of trusting and being faithful.”

On the day of Pentecost described in Acts chapter 2, God gave the fullness of His Spirit to his people so that they might be able to live according to the Torah or the Law.

Before this day of Pentecost, God had lived WITH his people. But the things which happened on this day of Pentecost indicated that God was now living IN His people.
1. The sound of the rushing mighty wind which filled the house where the 120 were gathered, indicating that God was present.
2. The cloven tongues of fire that sat upon each of them, indicated that God was dwelling within each individual, just as He had inhabited the fiery burning bush from which He spoke to Moses and just as fire was manifested in both the Tabernacle and the Temple when He inhabited each of them!
God had now taken up residence in His people and had given them power so that they can both obey and fulfill the purpose of the law or teaching which you given them!

Together, these two days of Pentecost show the plan and purpose of God for each believer The first Pentecost showed how man was to serve God completely in every area of life. The Pentecost of Acts two gave man of power to serve God completely in every area of his life, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
John 4: 23, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

So, the first trumpet tells us how God desires for us to worship and serve him. It tells us that we are to serve him according to his word and live by the power of his Spirit!.

II. The second trumpet sounded is called the Last Trump! It is connected with and sounded at Rosh HaShana or the Feast of Trumpets and calls/will call the Lord’s people to Holy Convocation with Him!

Some things to note about Rosh HaShana:
1. It was the beginning of the Civil New Year. Rosh HaShana literally means “Head of the Year.”
2. Jewish tradition states that the world was created on this day.
3. Jewish tradition also implies that this will be the day of the Messiah’s coronation and the day on which He will take His bride.

There are other interesting implications:
1. It is called Teshuva or “repentance.”
2. It is called Yom Ha Din or “a day of judgment.”
3. It is known as the time of Jacob’s trouble when Israel begins to experience tribulation.

In short, the day has both joyous and foreboding implications.

Here is what Rosh HaShana/Feast of Trumpets should mean to believers.
1. It is known as Yom Teruah or the Day of the Awakening Blast of the trumpet! On this day it is believed that a great blast from the trumpet will cause the righteous dead to arise!
2. This feast is also known as the Opening of the Gates which speaks of the gates of heaven being open to receive the resurrected righteous ones!
3. This feast is also known as the Catching Away of the Righteous, both the quick and the dead, or the Rapture! (The Rapture is not a new doctrine, did not originate in the 1800s and is not a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of Scripture. It clearly has its roots in the feast of the Lord which are given in Leviticus chapter 23!)

4. The trumpet that is blown at the Feast of Trumpets is known as the Last Trump!
1 Corinthians 15:51–54 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.””
(The Last Trump is not the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11, but it is the trumpet which is sounded at the Rapture!)
The Bible tells us of the following things will happen at the Rapture, according to 1 Thessalonians 4: 16–17.
1. The Lord Himself will with descend with a shout!
2. His shout will be like the voice of the archangel!
3. His shout will sound like a trumpet! What will he say? Perhaps John gives us a clue in Revelation 4:1.  “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.””
4. His call for us to come to Him will be forever! “And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

The day when the feast of trumpets will be fulfilled is fast approaching!  It is the next thing on God’s prophetic calendar! Only those who are watching for it will be ready for it!

III. The Great Trump! The Great Trump is the third trumpet of the feasts, is associated with Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement and is blown to call God’s people to battle!

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement was the day when the high priest made sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel.
1. The high priest could offer the blood of the sacrifice and the Holy of Holies to atone for the sins of the people.
2. The high priest would confess to sins of the people upon the head of the scapegoat which was then led out of the camp and abandoned in the Wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sin.
3. Through the ceremonies of this day the sins of the people were rolled forward so that they would not have to bear them. The nation was forgiven for another year.
(When Jesus came as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, forgiveness was provided for the sins of all men, not just Israel. But the symbolism of Yom Kippur was the salvation of Israel and the forgiveness of their sin.)

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement had several names by which it was known:
1. It was known as “Face to Face” for on this day the high priest went into the Presence of the Lord to represent the people and to offer sacrifice.
2. It was known as “The Fast” for the fast was to be observed by all the people until they were sure that the sense of the nation had been forgiven.
3. It was known as “The Neilah” or the closing of the gates for it was believed that those who had not repented and have their name written in the book of life would have the gates of heaven closed before them and would not be permitted to enter in.

Yom Kippur is also known by two other names which help us to understand the Great Trump.
1. It is called “The Day,” “The Great Day” or “The Day of the Lord.”  All of these titles indicate that this is a great and notable day. It is the day when the Lord returns to take vengeance upon His enemies. It is a date on which a great battle is fought and Israel is saved from her enemies! John describes this day in Revelation 19:11-16 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
2. This day is also called “Shofar HaGadol” or “The Great Shofar” because of the trumpet that is sounded which calls God’s people to battle!
a. In Revelation 19:14, the Lord is followed by “the armies in heaven which are clothed in fine linen, white and clean”…”which is the righteousness of the saints.” Revelation 19:8
b. Zechariah 14:1a, 5b tells us, “Behold, the day of the Lord is coming… Thus the Lord my God will come. And all the saints with You.”
c. . Jude also confirms this by adding, “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Jude 14, 15
It is clear that at the Great Trump Jesus will come with the armies of heaven, the ten thousands of His saints, ALL of the saints. The purpose of the battle will be to execute judgment, to convict the ungodly of their deeds and all of the harsh things which they have spoken against him!

I trust that this short lesson has helped you to understand the three trumpets of the Festivals of the Lord. But more than that, I trust that this study will help you to be listening for the Trumpet of the Lord as the Day of the Lord approaches!

 

A Couple of Reminders!

We can always use your prayers as we endeavor to spread the Good News!
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and receive honor, just as it did with you;” 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Pray for Israel and the situation in the Middle East!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6 (KJV)

Thanks for taking time to read my newsletter! I publish it each month to keep you informed on the ministry and our lives. If you like to have our ministry come to your church just let me know! We go wherever the Lord opens the door! Just contact me through one of the ways listed below! If you wonder what we do, it is very simple.
Rock of Israel is dedicated to:
Sharing Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people,
Providing opportunity for believers in Jesus to share their faith with Jewish people,
Teaching the Jewish Jesus in Churches,
Providing books, Judaica, and other resources to the public.
If we can be of service to you in any way we would be honored!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/
You can reach me:
-by phone: 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), ext. 106!
-on Facebook:  Jay Dockins
-on Twitter: @JayDockins
-or by email:  jdockins@rockofisrael.org

 

jay dockins’ september 2014 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!)

August was certainly a busy month with the majority of it taken up by two events which I attended. On August 6, I traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to attend the Assemblies of God Centennial Celebration. Delegates from around the world gathered in Springfield to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the Assemblies of God. It was a blessed time of fellowship, services and cultural exchange. I met pastors from many different countries and was blessed by their fellowship. Even though language was sometimes a barrier the kinship which we felt in spirit more than made up for that shortcoming!

 

ROI President, Robert Specter, our new Chinese Pastor friend and Jay!

I had the privilege of meeting three pastors who stand out distinctly in my memory. One pastor was from China and he came to our table to buy gifts for the people of his congregation. It was refreshing to watch him as he carefully and lovingly picked out gifts for those back home. I’m not sure how much money that he spent at our booth but I know that he purchased many gifts.

 

Pastor Gift and Jay at the A/G Centennial. He wanted his picture taken in front of the flag of Israel!

A pastor from the African country of Lesotho came to our booth and took an interest in the Tallits which we had for sale. He knew little about the Tallit but asked me to explain what it was, where it came from and what significance and had in Scripture. As I gave him a brief explanation of the garment and its use in Scripture, I came to a place where I explained to him that Peter knew that Jesus was alive because of the “napkin” which he saw folded in the empty tomb. I explained to this brother that what he saw was not a napkin as we know it, but was Jesus’ prayer shawl or Tallit. Before I could finish my explanation the Holy Spirit revealed to him that the neatly folded “napkin” had been left by Jesus to show that He was alive! As I was sharing, this brother began to grown and cry as understanding came to his spirit! We both stood there for a few moments crying and rejoicing over the precious and powerful fact that Jesus is alive! As this dear brother departed I was blessed to read his name tag. His name was Gift! He was God’s gift to me that day!

Jay with the precious and humble Mongolian pastor whose congregation loves and prays for Israel!

 

The third pastor who is fresh in my memory was from Mongolia. He spoke very little English. But the one thing that he could say in his broken English was, “My church love and pray for Israel!” As we attempted to communicate, we could both sense of kinship the spirit. We struggled through a language barrier to communicate and managed to do so on a limited level. As he was about to leave the booth, this pastor reached into his pocket and handed me a gift from Mongolia. It was a keychain with an unusual shape to it. As he handed it to me tears began to well up in my eyes. After I looked at it I reached over and picked up a key chain with “Jerusalem” engraved on it and handed it to him. He had looked at the keychain several times and I could tell that he wanted it, so I bought it and gave it to him. If it means as much to him as the key chain which he gave means to me that he will have it for a long time!

There were many more memorable encounters that I had during this time but these are the ones which stood out the most to me!

On Sunday, August 10th, I drove to Springfield, Illinois, to take my place in our booth at the Illinois State Fair. I replaced Doug who had so graciously driven all of the contents of the booth to the fair and had gotten everything set up to start the fair. Doug had done a great job and left on Monday so that he could get home and get prepared for his next assignment, driving to Toronto to set up our booth for our outreach at the CNE.

Our booth at the Illinois State fair was well received, I feel, even though many people were a little unsure about why we were there. They knew that we had products from Israel and that we were handing out literature about Jesus but were not as familiar with our ministry as those in other places where we have been. When they got to know us and found out what we were doing there, they were very welcoming. Many asked us if it was our first year at the fair. When we told them that it was they told us that they were glad that we were there and hope that we would make this an annual event. Most of the people who came by the booth expressed a love for Israel and told us that they were praying for Israel and daily basis. Even though our ministry is based in the United States and our mission is to reach Jewish people in America, we were very glad to hear of all the support which people expressed for Israel! The week went well, most people were supportive and only a few people were rude or said that they did not want us there. The Lord blessed us with what I think was good success in the area of sales, especially in light of the comments which I was hearing from other vendors who were complaining about attendance and sales being low. Attendance was somewhat hurt by the weather as it rained on all but two days of the fair. But the Lord was good and I was not displeased with our results.

At the Illinois State Fair I was blessed with a good number of volunteers who were competent, faithful and willing to handle things by themselves so that I could take an occasional break and get away for a time of refreshing. It was such a blessing to have several volunteers, some of whom would come by even on days when they were not scheduled to work to see if I needed a break for a few minutes. They were such a wonderful blessing! On the last weekend, I was blessed with two married couples who wanted to volunteer for shifts at the booth.

Judy and Theotis Lewis, Volunteers at the Illinois State Fair!

Theotis and Judy Lewis, who lived a couple of towns away from Springfield, came on Saturday and were a great help to me! These folks were kind and gracious and did a great job in the booth! In visiting with Theotis, I found out that he and I are from the same hometown! He was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. Were a few years apart in age and did not share any mutual friends, but we had a great time sharing stories.

Alice and Lee Gates sharing with a man at the Rock of Israel Booth at the Illinois State Fair! They drove from Evansville, Indiana to volunteer at the fair!

Lee and Alice Gates were another couple who help them last weekend. This precious couple drove four hours from Evansville, Indiana, just to be a part of this outreach! They work along shift on Saturday afternoon and a long shift Sunday morning! I could not have made it on Sunday without them as the previous 11 days had taken its toll on me physically. As they left, they tell me that they wish they could stay longer but needed to get back to Evansville. I so appreciate this couple and hope that we can work together again sometime! I have the same feeling for all of our volunteers! They were excellent! Thank you all!

Pastor Don Hutchings of Exciting ET! in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Jay!

Our August wrapped up with a wonderful weekend in Fort Smith, Arkansas. We drove over to Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon and visited with former parishioners of ours from when we pastored a church in that city. On Sunday we were the guest of Pastor Don Hutchings and the congregation of Exciting ET! Evangel toTemple is a unique church with a unique pastor! The service was fabulous, the fellowship was tremendous and the people were very receptive to the message which the Lord had laid on my heart! Pastor Hutchings had been preaching on Israel for several weeks. He invited me to come in to conclude the series of messages. I was honored to do so. I preached in Joel chapter 2 about blowing the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in the holy mountain as the day of the Lord approaches. I taught about the three trumpets of the festivals of the Lord: the first Trump, the last Trump and the great Trump. I believe that a lot of eyes were opened in the hearts were challenged by the message!

A Couple of Reminders!

We can always use your prayers as we endeavor to spread the Good News!
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and receive honor, just as it did with you;” 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Pray for Israel and the situation in the Middle East!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6 (KJV)

Thanks for taking time to read my newsletter! I publish it each month to keep you informed on the ministry and our lives. If you like to have our ministry come to your church just let me know! We go wherever the Lord opens the door! Just contact me through one of the ways listed below! If you wonder what we do, it is very simple.
Rock of Israel is dedicated to:
Sharing Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people,
Providing opportunity for believers in Jesus to share their faith with Jewish people,
Teaching the Jewish Jesus in Churches,
Providing books, Judaica, and other resources to the public.
If we can be of service to you in any way we would be honored!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/
You can reach me:
-by phone: 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), ext. 106!
-on Facebook:  Jay Dockins
-on Twitter: @JayDockins
-or by email:  jdockins@rockofisrael.org

 

 

 

jay dockins’ august 2014 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends)

Jay and Kim Dockins

August has arrived and I like it, so far! The weather here in the South has been unseasonably pleasant and, to my knowledge, we have not hit or surpassed the century mark temperature-wise! That is truly unusual but I will take it!

August brings a flurry of ministry activity for me. I will be traveling to Springfield, Missouri, for the Assemblies of God Centennial Celebration which will be held August 7-10. Rock of Israel Ministries will have a booth in the exhibit area during this event! We will be there to share about the ministry and to provide resources for ministry to Jewish people and items which visitors to the booth might wish to purchase. All proceeds from our sales go to funding our outreaches and evangelism among the Jewish people of America!

 

On August 10 I will be slipping out of Springfield and traveling to Springfield, Illinois, where I will take up my position at the Rock of Israel booth at the State Fair. This is the first time that Rock of Israel will have a booth at this fair and I am excited about the opportunity! The responsibility for arranging our participation at this fair was assigned to me late last year and is my first such assignment! From application process to the final logistics, the responsibility has been mine. I trust that everything will go well but, if it does, I cannot take all of the credit. Doug Carmel, a fellow Rock of Israel Staff Member, will deserve much of the credit for a successful event. Doug will set up the booth and get our participation off to a good start by manning the booth for the first three days while I am in Missouri! He has been an invaluable asset and help to me in every area, as have our office staff, Debbie Hicks and Monica Bishop! Thank you all for your help!

The ministry of Rock of Israel and our missionaries could not go on without those who support us financially on a regular basis. We are very mindful of that and appreciate every church and individual that supports us! On the last weekend of July, Kim and I were privileged to speak at one of our supporting churches in South Arkansas and to visit with some of long time individual Parkers Chapel Assembly of God in El Dorado, Arkansas allowed us the privilege of ministering the Word while their pastor, Steve Moss and his family, were on vacation! We, as always, enjoyed our visit with this dear congregation and the Lord met with us there! Thank you for the privilege of ministering to your congregation, Brother Steve!

Long time friends and supporters, James and Betty Berry and Jay!

Between services we had the opportunity to have lunch and visit with James and Betty Berry, former parishioners and faithful supporters of the work of Rock of Israel Ministries! These dear friends took us to lunch and then to their house for a relaxing afternoon visit! Thank you, James and Betty, for your hospitality!

In our evangelism efforts, we are beginning to get a lot of questions about the events occurring in the Middle East. It seems that everyone wants to know about and/or discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas and their battles centered in the Gaza Strip. While these are important issues and are certainly relevant to the days in which we live, I try to not get too involved discussing them. It is not that I think them unimportant, but that I have much more important things to share than my opinion or view on the turbulence in the Middle East. Our focus is on the Good News! That is what we endeavor to spend our time sharing! And that is the reason that Rock of Israel exists!

Rock of Israel exists to share Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. We share with Jewish people that their Messiah has come and will soon return! What more important message could we share? Jesus is the Messiah! That is the Heart of our Message and Ministry! He came to save sinners, forgive them of their sin and give them eternal life! And He is Coming Back! He came the first time to suffer, die and take away sin! He will come the second time to rule and reign! The Messiah will soon return! Everyone needs to hear the message, repent of their sin and be ready for His return! I am too busy sharing this message to spend a lot of time talking about what is going on now!

We believe that Jesus will return soon! (You can check last month’s post if you want more specifics about what I believe.) We must not be sidetracked by side issues from sharing the Good News with those who need to hear it! We must be sharing the Good News! Time is running out!

A Couple of Reminders!
We can always use your prayers as we endeavor to spread the Good News!
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and receive honor, just as it did with you;” 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Pray for Israel and the situation in the Middle East!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6 (KJV)

Thanks for taking time to read my newsletter! I publish it each month to keep you informed on the ministry and our lives. If you like to have our ministry come to your church just let me know! We go wherever the Lord opens the door! Just contact me through one of the ways listed below! If you wonder what we do, it is very simple.
Rock of Israel is dedicated to:
Sharing Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people,
Providing opportunity for believers in Jesus to share their faith with Jewish people,
Teaching the Jewish Jesus in Churches,
Providing books, Judaica, and other resources to the public.
If we can be of service to you in any way we would be honored!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/
You can reach me:
-by phone: 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), ext. 106!
-on Facebook:  Jay Dockins
-on Twitter: @JayDockins
-or by email:  jdockins@rockofisrael.org

See you in September!

jay dockins’ july 2014 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!)

The calendar page has been turned and it is now July, one of my favorite months! July always meant that summer vacation from school was in full swing, that “it’s summertime and the livin’s easy” (as the old song says) and that I would have at least one very special day- my birthday! Our son, Jonathan, learned a life lesson about birthdays this year. For his birthday in May he received quite a blessing in a birthday card from a family member! For several other days he asked if he had received any more birthday cards. I told him, “Son, let me tell you a little something about birthdays. The more of them that you have the fewer cards you get!” I don’t expect or desire monetary blessings for being born, but I do look forward to hearing from close friends and family when the anniversary of that day occurs.

Me with my lovely bride!

June saw some enjoyable ministry activity and quite a few miles of travel! In the early part of the month I journeyed to Killeen, Texas, to minister at First Assembly of God, where Cecil Adams is Pastor. I really enjoy ministering for this dear brother and his congregation! He is a lover of Israel and the Jewish people and a supporter of the work of Rock of Israel Ministries. His congregation is always open and receptive to the Word of God. They are always very interested in the message which I have to bring. It was Pentecost Sunday when I spoke there and we went from the establishment of the feast of Pentecost in the Wilderness to the present day manifestation! I truly enjoyed myself that weekend! While I was in the great state of Texas, I also attended and represented Rock of Israel Ministries at the North Texas District Council which was held at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie! I have a booth there every year and enjoy the fellowship with those who I have become acquainted with over the years and the new friends which I meet each June. A true highlight of the Council this year was the ordination service of two minister friends: Russ Farhoud and Jason Mays! Russ is the Associate Pastor for Cecil Adams at First Assembly of God in Killeen and Jason is the Lead Pastor at Living Truth Fellowship in Mount Pleasant. These two young men are a blessing to my life and I was proud to be there as they were recognized for their study, efforts and the calling which the Lord has placed on their lives!

Pastor Matthew and Stephanie Hodges and family!

I also had the privilege of ministering in Perryville, Arkansas, for Pastor Matthew Hodges and his congregation at Perryville Assembly of God! Kim and I had held a service in this church seven years ago, on our 25^th wedding anniversary, and were thrilled to get to come back and minister there once again! Once again, I had the privilege of ministering to a congregation which was interested in what I had to present and that seemed to love Israel and the Jewish people. It was especially heartening to have the Pastor’s wife, Stephanie, at the table after service, looking at the books which we carry and inquiring about one which would be good to study to increase her knowledge of the Jewish people! Many people stop by and look at the Judaica and jewelry, but her main interest seemed to be the books! I found out that she is vitally interested in the Jewish people and that blessed my heart!

As we head into the last half of the year, our minds should naturally turn to the Fall Feasts of the Lord. I know that I have addressed these feasts in previous issues of this newsletter but I can’t help but to bring them up again. I believe that the Feasts of the LORD are more than just the days which the Jewish people were to keep before the LORD. They are, I believe, a picture of His timetable of the major events of history! A brief outline of the feasts and the events which they indicate or represent is given below:

1. Passover- Jesus, the Lamb of God who died for us.

2. Unleavened Bread- Jesus, our sinless example in living.

3. First Fruits-  Jesus, our Resurrected Savior.

4. Pentecost- Jesus, our Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.

5. Feast of Trumpets- Jesus appears to catch away His own (Rapture) at the Last Trump, the righteous dead are resurrected, Messiah takes His Bride!

6. Day of Atonement- Jesus returns to the earth (Second Coming) to redeem national Israel and set up His Kingdom!

7. Feast of Tabernacles- Jesus lives among man and rules on earth for a thousand years (Millennial Reign).

The first four have obviously been fulfilled by Jesus! The last three have yet to be fulfilled and the next festival to be fulfilled is the Feast of Trumpets which represents the catching away of the people of God at the Rapture! I sincerely believe that this event will occur very soon and that it is incumbent upon each of us who possess a belief in the Blessed Hope to be watching and waiting for this event to take place!

Why do I believe that the Rapture is the next event?  Here are three reasons:
1. The festivals are listed in order of occurrence. The first four occurred in order and there is no reason to believe that the next three will not do the same!
2. Each of the feasts (mo’ed) is literally “an appointment, a fixed time or season, a cycle or year, an assembly, an appointed time, a set time or exact time” given so that we could understand what God intends to do. The Rapture is an appointment which the LORD has set and will fulfill!
3. The pictures presented in the Feast of Trumpets give an undeniable picture of what this festival is about. I will not reiterate this teaching but you can reference the “Special Fall Feasts Edition” of this newsletter from September of last year to view a teaching on this subject!

I said all of that to say this. We need to be sharing the Gospel like never before and be living to please God like with an intensity which we have never had before! Jesus is coming soon and we must be ready! Rock of Israel’s Mission statement is: “Proclaiming the Good News to the Jewish People that the Messiah has come and will soon return!” Let’s all be about that task!

Jewish Vocabulary:
The vocabulary word for this month is “mo’ed” which means “an appointment, a fixed time or season, a cycle or year, an assembly, an appointed time, a set time or exact time”. The Seven Feasts of the LORD which are found and outlined in Leviticus 23 are appointments which the LORD commanded His people to keep. He will fulfill each of these mo’ed fully when the proper time comes!

If you would like to hear more about the ministry of Rock of Israel, I would be honored to come and share about Jewish evangelism, culture and the Jewish Messiah with your congregation! I share a little about the ministry and then share a message from God’s Word! I look forward to hearing from you! Shalom!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/

You can reach me:

-by phone: 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), ext. 106!

-on Facebook:  Jay Dockins

-on Twitter: @JayDockins

-or by email:  jdockins@rockofisrael.org

See you in August!

jay dockins’ june 2014 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!)

Jay Dockins

Well, as you may have noticed, it has been a few months since I have published a new edition of this newsletter! Why have I taken this hiatus from publication? There are several reasons why, but I am not here to make excuse! I am here to share a lesson that I learned during this time of not publishing!

Let me start by telling you that it was my intention when I began this newsletter back on July 8, 2012, to publish it every month. I had done pretty well until recently, but my recent lack of publication has been due to a busy schedule, projects which I have been considering and beginning, continued recovery from surgery last December and numerous other things. I think that you could chalk it up to weariness, among other things! Therein is the lesson which I am in the process of learning! I need to press on, even when I am weary!

Rav Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul) twice commands believers to “be not weary in well doing” (KJV)! I like the way that the Complete Jewish Bible translates that phrase in 2 Thessalonians 3:13! “And you brothers who are doing what is good, don’t slack off!” He admonishes those who believe, including you and I, to not slack off in the work which we are doing for the Lord! Whatever it is, be diligent about getting it done! It is so easy to get overloaded and take on too much! It is also easy to surrender to weariness and “slack off” on what we have committed to do for Him! But we must not do so! We must keep on and not slack off!

So I am back, still learning this lesson, but determined to keep up with the commitments which are mine and to fulfill them, even when I get weary! Will you join me? The Lord’s coming is near and I can think of no better time to renew with determination and not slack off! Let’s finish strong for Him!

Passover Seders

Joy at the Passover Table!

The most requested service during the Spring of each year is the Messianic Passover Seder. So many people ask about these services that I often wonder if people think that is all that we do! It isn’t (we also teach, preach and share about our ministry) but so many are interested in these services. One of these services was recorded this Spring and is available for you to view on Youtube if you would like to see what they are all about. You can view the whole service by going clicking on this link: http://youtu.be/jACZSUFmvEY

I am privileged to work with some great people through Rock of Israel Ministries! One of these is my fellow Staff Member, Doug Carmel. Doug publishes a newsletter every month and I occasionally borrow something from him to add to this page. This month is one such occasion! Here is a portion of what Doug put in his newsletter this month about Pentecost!

“It is probably very true that most Christians around the world have no idea that the “Christian” Feast they call “Pentecost” actually comes from the Torah and is one of the seven Feasts from Leviticus chapter 23. (Leviticus 23: 15-17)… It is Jewish tradition that 50 days after the Israelites left Egypt, God gave them the law (The 10 commandments) on Mt. Sinai… 50 days after Messiah died and rose again, God gave the Holy Spirit in abundance to the Jewish Apostles in Jerusalem.  And it is through that same Holy Spirit that we are given power to follow those laws and live a holy life.”

“Many Christians fail to realize how painstakingly accurate your “Old Testament” was copied for hundreds and hundreds of years to make sure you could hold an accurate copy of God’s Word in your hands today.
Some facts about copying the Torah…

* The Torah scroll is the holiest object in the entire Jewish world.
* It is copied by hand by a trained scribe called a “Sofer.”
* It will take a “Sofer” (a scribe) about one year to make an exact copy.
* There are 304,805 letters in a Torah Scroll.
* The entire Torah is written by hand; each letter is inscribed and individually formed with a quill and specially prepared ink.
* There are many sheets of parchment that are all sewn together to make a scroll.
* The parchment is made from a kosher animal (cow, goat, or deer.)
* The skin is first soaked in lime water for just over a week to remove hairs.
* The skin is then stretched over a wooden frame to dry.
* The skin is then cut into rectangles.
* It takes about 80 of these “rectangle” parchments to be sewn together to make an entire scroll to hold the entire 5 Books of Moses.
* The scribe will make 42 faint horizontal lines on each rectangle parchment.  This becomes like the “lined paper” that we used in school to learn how to write the alphabet on as children.
* There must be a margin of three inches on the top, four inches at the bottom, and two inches between columns on each “rectangle” parchment.
* The Quill (feather) used for writing will come from a kosher bird.  (Usually the goose or turkey.)  Several quills may be needed to finish the entire scroll.
* A different Quill (a special one) is used to write God’s Name only.
* Ink is prepared by hand combining a blend of powdered gall nuts, copper sulfate crystals, gum arabic, and water.  Black is the only color ever used.
* The “Sofer” will visit the mikvah (ritual bath) before he starts the project.
* The “Sofer” will sing each word, each letter, out loud.
* No letter can touch another letter.
* There are 22 letters and 5 final letters used in Hebrew.
* If a wrong letter is written, it can be scraped off with a knife while still wet.
* If a wrong letter is written in God’s Name – it cannot be scraped off and that entire “rectangle” parchment is now buried.
*If even one letter is missing from the Torah – the entire scroll is no good!
* When all the parchments are complete, the “Sofer” (scribe) will sew them together using special thread.  It is made from the leg sinews of a kosher animal.  Usually the cow, ox or sheep.
* When all is stitched up – the scroll is rolled onto wooden rollers.
* When completed – the Scroll weighs about 20 – 25 pounds.
* The Scroll is then “dressed up” with an ornate covering.
* No one ever touches the Scroll when it is read.  A metal pointer named a ‘yad’ is used.
Now, are you convinced that you have an exact copy of God’s word in your hand today? It is no wonder that Yeshua (Jesus) said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18”

This information is what I call “good stuff” that reminds us that God has carefully guarded the transmission of His Word throughout history and that what we have is a faithful copy of what God has said! Remember, at the first Pentecost, God gave His people the Torah (teaching)! At the Pentecost of Acts 2, He gave His people the fullness of His Spirit so that we can live according to how His Word teaches us how to live!

Jewish Vocabulary
Sofer- a scribe who painstakingly makes an exact copy of the Torah, often taking a year or more to make a perfect copy!

Personal Update
As many of you know, Kim and I both had gastric bypass surgery in December of last year to improve our health! I am glad to report that the Lord has blessed us and that we are doing well! Kim has lost over 70 pounds so far and is looking absolutely marvelous! I have lost right at 90 pounds (men tend to lose faster) and am feeling much better than I have in years! God has been so good and we have been cooperating with He and the doctors in this process (eating correctly, taking our vitamins, exercising and ingesting lots of protein)! We thank God for all that He has done for us and in us!

Jay and Kim THEN…

Jay and Kim NOW…
Hallelujah!

If you would like to hear more about the ministry of Rock of Israel, I would be honored to come and share about Jewish evangelism, culture and the Jewish Messiah with your congregation! I share a little about the ministry and then share a message from God’s Word! I look forward to hearing from you! Shalom!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/

You can reach me:

-by phone @ 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), ext. 106!

-on Facebook  Jay Dockins

-on Twitter @JayDockins

-or by email @ jdockins@rockofisrael.org

See you in July!

jay dockins’ february 2014 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!)

The month of January featured a return to ministry for us! After our surgeries in late December, Kim and I recuperated for the first few weeks of the month before resuming services toward the end of the month. After that, I traveled to West Palm Beach, Florida, to man the Rock of Israel booth at the South Florida Fair.

Our two services for January were both in Monticello, Arkansas. We spoke at Monticello Christian Church during a Sunday morning service. Pastor Jerry Ebert has been kind enough to host us several times for both Passover Seders and for the ministry of the Word! This congregation, though small, always seems vitally interested in the ministry to the Jewish people and what they can learn about their own faith through the teaching which is presented!

The evening service was at Oak Grove Assembly of God in Monticello! It was the church’s annual “Night to Honor Israel” service. It is always an honor to be invited by Pastor Bobby Spencer to be a part of this service annually! Pastor Spencer and his congregation always organize such a powerful and meaningful event for this service! My friend, Pastor Sam Austin, was the speaker this year and did a tremendous job! We enjoyed the weekend in Monticello and I departed from there for the South Florida Fair the next day!

The ministry of Rock of Israel at the booth at the South Florida Fair is centered in evangelism of the Jewish people! Our ministry there involves handing out tracts which all center on the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah! It also involves conversation with those who are curious about our beliefs and testimony of Jesus as the Messiah! Although our emphasis is evangelism of the Jewish people, we share the Good News with all who will listen!

It would be impossible to carry out the ministry at this fair without the help of local volunteers! Many of these believers work with us each year and are faithful to come and work so that we do not have to spend 10-12 hours per day in the booth! I was blessed with a very dear Messianic rabbi and three couples who helped during my week at the fair this year!

Rabbi Ben Alpert called me before I left Arkansas and volunteered for my first two nights at the fair! Rabbi Ben is a warm, wonderful and jovial man who can talk to anyone! He was a great help and encourager!

Rabbi Ben Alpert and Jay Dockins

Juan and Frances Mercado were a great help! Juan asked me when I needed for him to work and told me to just tell him when to be there! He also came by a time or two when he wasn’t on duty to just visit! Frances joined us when she got off of work!

Juan and Frances Mercado and Jay Dockins

Richard and Hannah Greenfield are volunteers who have helped us for at least the last three years! Richard is an accountant and is well capable of handling things at the booth! He and Hannah are quite the team and they took care of things on the Saturday evening and Sunday morning  so that I could go to the service which I had on Sunday morning!

Richard and Hannah Greenfield and Jay Dockins

The other couple who assisted us in the booth were Jim and Rebecca Fox, missionaries with Chosen People Ministries, who helped the Greenfields on the Sunday morning shift. I did not have the pleasure of meeting them but deeply appreciate their willingness to help!

One of the highlights for me occurred on Saturday when a nine-year old boy man came by the booth. His name is Rafael and he seemed to have an intense interest in what we had at the booth and what we were doing there! As I conversed with him, I learned that he was a very bright young man who knew more than most adults who came by the booth. I also learned that he first began reading the Bible when he was three years old and had read it through several times! He was kind enough to speak with me for several minutes and allowed me to take his picture. I will remember Rafael for some time to come!

My new friend, Rafael!

If you would like to experience an evangelism trip with Rock of Israel, let me tell you about an exciting upcoming opportunity! I will be leading a team of volunteers at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois, from August 7-17! Volunteers will help us to man the booth, hand out tracts, share the Good News of the Messiah and assist those who would like to purchase some of the items which we have for sale. It is a life changing experience and an opportunity for you to witness for the Lord! Don’t worry about what you will say or do. We will train you! For further details, give me a call at the number listed at the bottom of this page or call the Rock of Israel offices and speak with Debbie!

As I close this edition of the newsletter, allow me share my heart for a moment. I believe that the coming of the Lord is imminent. James 5:8 exhorts us to be patient and establish our hearts because the coming of the Lord is drawing nigh! Jesus is coming soon and we must patiently continue living and working for the Lord! What would I recommend and what am I doing myself? I feel that it is time for us to re-intensify our efforts in all that we do for Him! Study His Word more, pray more, serve more, witness more, give more, etc.! Let us patiently continue with what we know that we are supposed to be doing! Jesus is coming soon and we won’t be sorry when He comes and finds us doing what we should be doing! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Jewish Vocabulary
Yom HaDin- The Day of Judgment. When the Lord returns, He will come with judgment! When He returns to receive His own at the Rapture, those who have lived righteously and are looking for His returning will be judged as righteous and will join Him for eternity! He will then have a final judgment for everyone else at the Great White Throne judgment! Revelation 20:11 Be ready!

Pastors, I still have a few dates open for Passover Seders between now and Passover/Resurrection Day! If you would be interested in having a Seder at your church during this time, please contact me through one of the ways listed below! I even have the weekend of Easter open (it was originally scheduled but just came open in the last day or so)!

If you are not interested in hosting a Seder but would like to hear more about the ministry of Rock of Israel, I would be honored to come and share about Jewish evangelism, culture and the Jewish Messiah with your congregation! I share a little about the ministry and then share a message from God’s Word! I look forward to hearing from you! Shalom!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/

You can reach me:

-by phone @ 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), the dial ext. 106!

-on Facebook  Jay Dockins

-on Twitter @JayDockins

-or by email @ jdockins@rockofisrael.org

jay dockins’ January 2014 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim (Hello Friends),

2014 has arrived and is in full swing! I trust that, so far, it has been a good beginning for your year! I believe that the Lord wants to make this a good year for all those who will trust Him and follow what He lays out before us!

2014 has already shown to be a time of change for the Dockins family! Kim and I both had bariatric surgery in December and are seeing tremendous results! It was recommended by our doctor and we are already seeing health benefits and the resolution of issues which had plagued us for some time! We are enjoying improving health, leaner physiques and shopping for new clothes! What a change and a blessing which the Lord allowed us to experience! It has been tough, but will be well worth it in the months and years to come!

We haven’t had any services the first three weeks of January because of our surgeries and a 10 pound lifting limit which our surgeon imposed upon us! We have just spent the time resting and recuperating and getting ready for upcoming services! We begin our 2014 schedule with two services on January 26^th in Monticello, Arkansas!

January also brought quite a surprise for Kim! I was able to pull off a surprise which was several months in the making! On the 18^th we renewed our wedding vows in a ceremony which was a shocker for my lovely wife! We quietly celebrated our 32^nd anniversary on Thursday, the 16^th! I told Kim that we would go out for a special day on Saturday. What she did not know about or expect was a vow renewal ceremony, complete with her matron of honor, a slideshow of pictures of us throughout the years, video greetings from some of our friends from around the country and a reception! To say the least, she was pleased! And I was a hero for arranging the whole thing! But most of all, we stood before God and witnesses and vowed to continue to love one another! It was an awesome and memorable experience!

The Fredericks and the Dockins

December was a delightful month for us with two services. The first was with Pastor Tammy Frederick in Paris, Arkansas. This service was on a wintry day which featured clear highways until we got within two or so miles of the church where we ran into hills which our van was not designed to negotiate! The pastor’s husband was kind enough to come and give us a ride to the church in his four-wheel drive truck! The service and the dinner which followed were delightful as we celebrated God sending His Son to us so that we might be saved!

Pastor Steve Moss and Jay Dockins

Our other service was with Pastor Steve Moss and his congregation on the outskirts of El Dorado, Arkansas! The service was wonderful and the people were warm, receiving the message so kindly, as they always have in previous services! We enjoyed the fellowship with the Moss family! The only drawback for me was that I was on a liquid diet in preparation for my upcoming surgery and could only have soup as everyone else ate Chinese food, one of my favorite types of food! (I will have to remind myself to not pray so hard for His grace in my life!)

I want to close this edition by reminding us to be diligent in our living as we expectantly await the coming of the Lord! I believe that Jesus is coming back in the very near future! I believe that His Word proclaims clearly that we should be alertly watching and waiting for His return! But there is an alarming trend, at least to me, regarding Jesus’ soon return. For the past several months I have heard of and seen a video about the “Four Blood Moons Prophecy.” I have seen it and was thrilled, enthralled and moved by its possible implications! But is does not form my basis of belief in the soon coming of the Lord, His Word does! As thrilling as the video and other things which I have heard shared through the years are, only his Word must be the basis for my belief! His Word is eternal, His Word is settled in Heaven and His Word is inspired! So, if you hear something which lines up with His Word, rejoice! But do not let anything but His Word become the basis of what you believe!

Jewish Vocabulary
As I was reading recently, I was reminded of the Hebrew word “akedah.”
Akedah is the term for the binding of Isaac by Abraham on Mount Moriah. It was Abraham’s obedience to the command of the LORD to take his son, his only son, Isaac and offer him unto the LORD! This beautiful picture shows what God was going to do in offering His Only Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for the sins of the world!

If you are a pastor or church leader and would like to have the ministry of Rock of Israel come to your church, please contact me in one of the ways listed below! I always enjoy the opportunity to share about Jewish evangelism, culture and the Jewish Messiah with congregations in this area of the country! I share a little about the ministry and then share a message from God’s Word! I look forward to hearing from you! Shalom!

To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/

You can reach me:

-by phone @ 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), the dial ext. 106!

-on Facebook  Jay Dockins

-on Twitter @JayDockins

-or by email @ jdockins@rockofisrael.org

jay dockins’ november/december 2013 rock of israel newsletter

_{Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!),}

_{Did you miss my November newsletter? Well, if you did, there is a good reason why. I didn’t publish one! My life has been full of so much activity and unexpected interruptions over the past few weeks that I decided to publish a combination November/December newsletter! That is my reason, (not excuse) for this combo newsletter! (As a former parishioner once told me, “An excuse is the skin of a reason that is stuffed with a lie!”)}

(Hope you had a) Happy Thanksgivukkah!

We have just experienced a very unique occurrence! Hanukkah and Thanksgiving coincided this year! It was a little odd to say “Happy Hanukkah” and “Happy Thanksgiving” in the same breath, so someone came very cleverly came up with the phrase “Happy Thanksgivukkah!” These two holidays have not occurred at the same time in well over 100 years and will not occur at the same time again for some 70,000 years, so I hope that you enjoyed their conjunction this year!

If you do not know that story of Hanukkah, permit me to offer the following which I borrowed from fellow Rock of Israel Staff Minister, Doug Carmel.

“In the year 165 BC, the Jewish people who lived in Israel where living under the rule of the foreign King Antiochus Epiphanes, who took control of the Temple in Jerusalem.  He forced the Jewish people to abandon their worship of God, made them bow down to the Greek gods and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

_{As a result of the severe persecution, a group of four Jewish brothers, led by Judah Maccabee, decided to raise up an army of fighters. These men became known as the Maccabees.  They fought for three years until achieving deliverance from the Syrian control.}

_{The rededication of the Temple to the Lord took place in the year 165 BC, on the 25th day of the Hebrew month called Kislev.  So Hanukkah received its name, the Feast of Dedication, because it celebrates the Maccabees’ victory over Greek oppression and the “rededication” (The Hanukkah-ing) of the temple.}

_{But Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, and this is because immediately following the miraculous deliverance, Jewish tradition states that God provided another miracle of provision.}

_{According to tradition, when the Temple was rededicated, there was only enough oil left in the temple to burn the oil lamp for one day. But at the rededication, the Maccabees went ahead and lit the flame with the remaining supply of oil, and God caused it to burn miraculously for eight days, until the new sacred oil was ready.}

_{This is why the feast is also called the Festival of Lights, and why the Hanukkah Menorah is lit for eight consecutive nights of celebration. Jewish people also commemorate this miracle of oil provision by making oil-rich foods, such as “Latkies”, (potato pancakes fried in oil).”}

Gabriel Appears to Mary

_{Many people believe (and I happen to be one of them) that on one particular Hanukkah that Gabriel appeared  to a young Jewish virgin, named Miriam (Mary), telling her that she would bear a child who would be called “the Son of God.” This is the true miracle of Hanukkah! It is when God sent His Light into the world as Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary!}

Dreidels with Hebrew Letters (from r to l)- Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin standing for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham “A Great Miracle Happened There”

 

_{One of the great things about Hanukkah is the game played with a little spinning top called “dreidel.” The dreidel has four Hebrew letters on it which represent the phrase, “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” which means “a great miracle happened there!” Truly, the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary, a virgin, is a great miracle! The conception of Jesus is the miracle of His coming to live among us in the flesh! His birth was a normal human birth, but His conception was supernatural!}

 

_{Hanukkah usually occurs sometime in December, causing some to identify it with the Christmas season. However, if Jesus was conceived at Hanukkah and was born of woman (Galatians 4:4), He could not have been born on December 25, unless He had the longest gestation period of any child in the history of the world! Obviously, Jesus would have had to be born at some other time of year, which brings me to the point which I would like to make as we speak of the Christmas season.
What do we celebrate at Christmas? Do we celebrate a day? a date? reindeer? a fat man dressed in a red suit that brings gifts to good little boys and girls? No! We celebrate God sending His Son who is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world! We celebrate God with us! We celebrate the Messiah who is “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) My point is that we commemorate the Savior coming, even more than His birth! Billions of children have been born but only one was our Savior!}

_{With that being said, I want to do what I usually do each December in this newsletter, post the words to some of the Christmas carols which bless my soul with some of the profound truths which the coming of the Messiah reveal!}

_{“Wexford Carol”}

_{Good people all, this Christmas time, Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done, In sending His beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray to God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon the morn, there was a blessed Messiah born!} 

_{“Oh Come, All Ye Faithful”}

_{God of God, Light of Light, Lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten not created: O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.}

_{Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be the glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, Now in the flesh appearing, O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.}

_{May the Blessings of the LORD overtake you this Holiday Season!}
Happy Hanukkah and Merry Messiahmas from the Dockins!
_{We’ll see you back on our regular schedule in January!}

Our 2014 Spring schedule is filling up fast! If you would like for me to come to your church to present a Messianic Passover Seder, a message on the Jewish people and how to reach them or just preach from a Jewish perspective, now is the time to contact me! To learn more about our ministry go to http://jdockinsrockofisrael.wordpress.com/

You can reach me:
-by phone @ 479-453-0203 or 800-722-ROCK (7625), the dial ext. 106!
-on Facebook @ Jay Dockins
-on Twitter @JayDockins
-or by email @ jdockins@rockofisrael.org

jay dockins’ october 2013 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends!),

Time is moving right along and the year will soon be drawing to a close! It seems like just yesterday that it was January and we were starting our ministry year! Time marches on!

Next month Kim and I will be celebrating the beginning of our eighth year with Rock of Israel Ministries! The past seven years have seemingly flown by and the multitudes of services that we have held seem like only a few! Our lives have been enriched by the many people that we have met and ministered to. We have been blessed, refreshed and encouraged by so many of friends that we have made through this ministry. From those who have volunteered in various capacities to those whose lives we have been allowed to touch in some small way, our lives have been added to in so many ways!

Ministry this past month was less hectic than in the previous few months. We spent three weekends in ministry, all in the state of Arkansas. The first two weekends were at churches within 20 miles of our house, a welcomed change from the usual for a travel-weary itinerate preacher! Our third weekend was at First Assembly of God in Pleasant Plains, just a little over two hours away. The evening service there was highlighted for me by the attendance of one of my high school classmates! It was good to have her and three of her grandchildren with her! All of these services were enjoyable and the Lord blessed in each one of them!

Although September was an enjoyable month of ministry, it was unusual in the fact that I forgot to take pictures at any of the churches that we went to! It was our intention to take pictures but we just forgot! Sorry, no pictures this month!

Please be in prayer for our Rock of Israel Staff and volunteers who are ministering at the Arizona State Fair through November 3^rd! We will have a booth full of product set up and will be giving out evangelistic materials and sharing the Good News with those who come by! Pray that the Lord will bless the efforts and expand the Kingdom!

Jewish Vocabulary
Tanakh– it is the acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim (Law, Prophets, Writings). These make up the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures. They are arranged in a different order and number of books (several books are combined) from the gentile arrangement of the Old Testament. The contents, however, are the same.

Attention Pastors! We still have space on a couple of Sundays in November for services! If you would be interested in having us in service to share about the ministry of Rock of Israel and/or minister to your congregation, please contact me by one of the methods below! You will be glad that you did! (And so will I!)

–

1-479-453-0203 or 1-800-722-ROCK, (ext. 106)

jdockins@rockofisrael.org

@JayDockins (on Twitter)

Jay Dockins (on Facebook)

jay dockins’ september 2013 rock of israel newsletter

Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends)

My busiest  summer of ministry continued through August! During August I had the privilege of attending a conference in Orlando and participating in evangelism in Toronto, Canada! Those two events had me out of town for 16 of August’s 31 days. The total count for my 91 day summer break from work was 46 days away from home and 45 at home. But I am finally home and off of the road for a while, Kim and Jonathan both recognize me, and my two dogs still allow me to pet them! I pray that the Lord will make all of the efforts which we have extended fruitful for His Kingdom!

The first Monday of the month I flew to Orlando to join Robert and Carrie Specter, along with Scott Roberts, to help man the Rock of Israel booth at the General Council of the Assemblies of God! It was an enjoyable four day meeting where I met new friends, saw old friends, and fellowshipped with pastors whose congregations I have ministered to in the past. Our booth was well received and frequented by many who are interested in the ministry of Rock of Israel and the product which we had for sale!

I was working at the Rock of Israel booth when a lady and her two daughters came to the booth. Rachel, the older of the two daughters, seemed especially interested in having a rubber wrist bracelet which we had for sale on our table. She inquired as to how much it cost. I told her $5.00 and she looked disappointed. Robert Specter, president of Rock of Israel Ministries, told me that she could have it for $3.00. I told the little girl, whose name was Rachel, what I had been told and she was still disappointed. She said, “I don’t have three dollars.” I looked at her and said, “But I have three dollars!” She looked at me excitedly as I added, “And if your sister would like to have one, I have another three dollars for her to have one!” Rachel and her sister Rebecca, both selected bracelets as I put six dollars into the cash register. A few seconds later, Rachel turned from telling her mom what had happened and said to me, “That deserves a hug and a picture!” Rachel and Rebecca came and stood on either side of me, put their arms around me and had their mom take a picture! It was then when that little girl destroyed what little dignity and composure that I had. She looked up at me and said with the boldness of 100 missionaries, “Thank you! We are missionaries to Paris, and we are going there because only 1% of the people there are evangelical believers! We are going there to tell them about Jesus!” I was speechless! I thought that I had done something nice for her, but she had actually done something awesome for me! She allowed me to bless a missionary family in a very small way and reminded me once again about what is most important in life, telling people about Jesus! Thank you, Rachel! You blessed this old man’s soul!

If you would like to learn more about Rachel and Rebecca’s family and their call to France, check out their website:  www.helpusgo.com!

The middle of the month saw me journey to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for evangelism at the Canadian National Exhibition. Rock of Israel had a booth in one of the exhibition buildings. Many people came by the booth, saw the product which we had on display, and asked questions. The questions ranged from “Who are you?” to “Are you serious?” It is difficult for me to understand how anyone cannot comprehend that we actually share the Good News with Jewish people in public venues. Others don’t realize that Jesus is Jewish and the Prophesied Messiah which the Scriptures teach about. Still others who claim to be believers ask us why we are bothering Jewish people with Jesus! Obviously, they have not been taught or have not realized that Jewish people (along with everyone else) need Jesus! We patiently explained why we were there and endeavored to answer their questions patiently. Help us to pray that the efforts put forth in Toronto will bring forth fruit in the coming days!

While in Toronto, we were also observed by anti-missionaries. They came to the booth incognito, but we recognized who they were! Some would browse; others took dozens of pictures, while others asked questions. One young fellow came by and looked the booth over. He then looked at us and said, “You can talk to non-Jewish people about Jesus, but don’t try to convince any Jewish people that he is Messiah!” I told him that we were here to share the Good News with everyone. He then said, “For your own good, don’t share with Jewish people!” As he walked away I felt a little righteous indignation rise up inside of me and a boldness to share the Good News all the more with those who came by!

This issue of my monthly newsletter will not contain the Jewish Vocabulary section. It will return next month!

Please allow me to close this edition with an appeal to every person who loves missions! I firmly believe that we are living in the Last Days! I believe that the return of Jesus to receive His own unto Himself is in the very near future! Now is the time when we need to intensify our efforts to spread the Good News!

Many missions organizations are facing difficult financial times. We at Rock of Israel are not exempt from the pressures of poor economic times. We need your financial help in continuing to spread the Good News to the Jew especially, but equally to the Gentile! Please consider adding Rock of Israel to your personal or church missions budget! You will never make a greater investment than giving to spread in the Kingdom of God!

If you would like to give to help us to spread the Good News, send your tax-deductible gift to:
Rock of Israel Ministries * P.O. Box 18038 * Fairfield, OH 45018 (Be sure that you mention my name when you send in your gift!)

Attention Pastors! Due to a few services which had to be rescheduled, I have some open dates between now and the end of the year. If you would be interested in having us in service to share about the ministry of Rock of Israel and/or minister to your congregation, please contact me by one of the methods below to see if a date that you desire is available! You will be glad that you did!

1-800-207-7780 or 1-800-544-0829
jdockins@rockofisrael.org
@JayDockins (on Twitter)
Jay Dockins (on Facebook)