Constancy-Persistence-Ceaselessness in Prayer

Constancy-Persistence--Ceaselessness in Prayer

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

The 8 Principles of Constancy in Prayer

1. Ask yourself this question: What are things you do each day that are habitual? And what benefit do we derive from doing these things?

  • Eat/snack
  • Social media
  • Watch television
  • Talk on the phone/gossip
  • Worry
  • Smoke
  • Arguing
  1. Then ask yourself, if you’re engaging in these activities more than you’re praying each day, what does that say about the priority you place on prayer?
  2. What if we were to replace those habits with prayer in the Spirit each time? How would that improve our prayer effectiveness?
  3. Consistancy over Consistency. In other words, habitual prayer compared to regularity in prayer.

What is Constancy in Prayer?

  • Luk. 18:1-7--“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not faint (ie., not grow weary).
  • Luk. 21:36–Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
  • Act. 1:14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.
  • Act. 6:4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
  • Rom. 12:12–Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant (devoted/steadfast) in prayer
  • 1 The. 5:17Pray without ceasing.

    1.Define constancy/without ceasing.

    2.When persons or situations pop-up in your mind, pray.

    3.Use every opportunity.

#1. Constancy in Prayer is Key to Winning All Spiritual Battles

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12, 13

1.1. This passage is the Armor of God passage and serves as a vivid reminder that we are in the midst of warfare. And this warfare–war–has been waging since before the fall of man. It’s not only being waged in the heavenlies and the sky, but it’s being waged right in front of our very noses. We are not called to be casualties or prisoners of war. So we must participate in the war, having been drafted in God’s army as a soldier.

2.2. Everything that we are led to pray about has origins in the spirit realm.

2. Don’t think Spiritual Warfare is real, check out this passage in the Book of Daniel:

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of PersiaDaniel 10:12-13

1. I tell you, the church has failed her members by turning a blind eye to the realities of spiritual warfare–by ignoring Ephesians 6. Instead of equipping us for the battle, they’ve given us in place of the armor of God the doctrine of suffering. Yes, Master told us we would have tribulation (John 16:33), but He also informed us that He has overcome the world. And because Master overcame the world, armed with the Holy Spirit and the effective tool of prayer, we are overcomers as well (1 Joh. 4:4). Master declared that “He came that we might have life, and that we might have life more abundantly” (Joh. 10:10). (Abundantly is “perissos” in the Greek which means that which exceeds necessity; exceedingly; greatly; pertaining to a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.)

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…“   Ephesians 6:17-18

1.1. Thus we are called to employ strategy and tactics that are designed overcome and defeat the enemy who has come but to steal, kill and destroy. Thus we must be constantly on guard–as Paul wrote: “keep alert with all perseverance.” Then be ready to be on the defensive and even at times on the offensive. This is all done through constant, never ceasing prayer.

#2. Constant Prayer Will Move the Father to Act on our Behalf

The Parable of the Persistent Woman–And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  (Luk 18:1-8 KJV)

1. Father responds to persistent, Spirit-led prayer.

#3. Constancy in Prayer Helps Us Rely Upon the One Who Provides

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:2

We go about doing things our way without tuning into God for the things we seek.

When things look like God won’t give us what we seek, we turn to questionable ways of getting those things.

When we lack, our demeanor changes for the worse and we get into contentions and fights and quarrels and such, which we shouldn’t be in because our God can and will provide.

We often turn to ways that are illegal or ungodly to get the things we feel we need.

#4. Recognize the Importance of Constant-Untiring Prayer in our Lives Through Example—Imitate!

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  Acts 6:2-4

1. Learn to pull ourselves away from the distractions of this life so that we may devote ourselves to prayer and the work of the Gospel.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mar 1:35 ESV)

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Luk 6:12 ESV)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25 ESV)

1. Prayer must be a #1 priority for us as well.

#5. Consistent Prayer is THE means by which God has chosen for us to receive mercy and grace

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

1.1. The amount of grace and favor we receive is based upon the extent of our prayers.

2.2. If we were to take the one or two times we pray in a week or so and multiply it 100-times, how much more successful will our prayers be—how impactful?

#6. We are to Pray in the Name of Yeshua Messiah/Jesus Christ

 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16

#7. Our Prayers Must Include Thanksgiving

Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.  Philippians 4:6

1. What makes us think we can keep coming to the Father asking for things, but never thanking Him for the things He has, is and will do for us?

#8. Constancy in Prayer Builds Strong Spiritual Muscles

1.1. Instead of worrying, looking for ways to buck the system, hating on others, focusing on self, we pray constantly in the Spirit. Over time our prayers flow much smoother and we eventually find ourselves in alignment with the Father and our prayers are much more effective. 

2.2. I don’t want the line between me and Father severed at any time during the day. I want to stay connected to Him. When I stay connected to Him, I stay within the confines of His perfect will. And when I stay within the confines of His Will, I do that which I’m supposed to do; my prayers are focused and effective; I receive understanding; I receive insight; my thoughts are kept in check; my actions and heart are pure. My prayers are effective.

3.3. Constancy in prayer may start off as simple as reaching out to Father and thanking and praising Him. It may be remembering someone who you know needs God’s assistance.

Let us all take an honest assessment…

1.1. Let us honestly assess why we don’t engage in constant, persistent prayer. Is it because we don’t believe we have the time? Is it because we don’t believe God hears our prayers? Is it because we’re too lazy? If we say we don’t have time to pray, then take an honest assessment of your days and I guarantee that you’ll find a great many places throughout our day that would afford time to pray: the drive or commute to work; cooking meals; watching television; social media and cell phone use; taking care of ourselves showering and bathing and such. 

1. Let us go forth this week building on a firm foundation of constant Spirit-led prayer so that we may further the Work of the Kingdom.

By Grace are you Saved–Grace and the Law Part 2

  By Grace are You Saved   Part 2 of the series: Grace and the Law In part one (1) of this series entitle Grace and the Law, we critically looked at some of the key bible passages that our cousins in fundamental and charismatic churchianity (or Christianity...

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Cooking on the Sabbath-Is It Allowed ?

Cooking on the Sabbath-Is It Allowed ?

Cooking on the Sabbath--Is It Allowed?

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Was God’s commandment that the Hebrews not go out to gather manna on the Sabbath a prohibition against cooking on the Sabbath?
I had not intended to do a post on this past Sabbath’s Torah Portion Reading as I had already determined to post on the subject: “Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God And…” But given that I frequently receive questions from listeners and readers on the topic of cooking on the Sabbath, and seeing that the Torah Reading under the “Triennial Reading Cycle” this past Sabbath touched upon a passage that is used by some to support their understanding on the subject of cooking on the Sabbath, I felt it important to use this opportunity to discuss it before the next Sabbath hits. So I hope, trust and pray that this discussion will help those of you who are unclear about cooking on the Sabbath make informed, and spiritually sound and healthy choices.
 

Exo. 16:25-17:16 

This reading entails the gathering of manna against the Sabbath. Father set out to teach us about the holiness and sanctity of the Sabbath. He also set out to test and try our faith and our obedience. (16:25-28). 
 
25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
 27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
 28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (Exo 16:25-28 KJV)

 We Learn the Principles of Trust, Obedience and Preparation

 
Thus, Father provided us twice as much manna on the 6th-day so that we could gather two-times the daily allotment of manna in preparation of the coming Sabbath. Now I ask you: was this commandment to gather twice-the amount of manna in anticipation of the weekly Sabbath an indication that we are not to cook on the Sabbath? Or rather  was this commandment a prohibition against work on the Sabbath? If this were indeed the case, then it would stand to reason that gathering manna on the Sabbath was seen by Abba as work. 
I will give you my answers to these questions once we’ve concluded our reading of this passage.
But continuing: in verse 29 we see Moshe takes note of the disobedience by many of us to YHVH’s commandment to gather the double-portion of manna on the sixth-day in anticipation of the coming Sabbath. Thus, Moshe seems not to rebuke the people as much as to educate them about the Sabbath. He says to them:
“See! YHVH has given you (“natan) the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day He gives you bread for two days” (16:29a). 

The Sabbath Reintroduced as a Gift

Moshe in other words was saying to us here that YHVH has given–natan–has in effect “gifted” us the Sabbath; that the Sabbath is a special day for us which He–YHVH–set-apart for us to focus on His goodness and to afford us a time of much needed rest and reflection. Thus the Sabbath is a good thing for you. Nevertheless, YHVH requires that you obey his commandment not to go out and gather manna on the Sabbath (specifically), nor participate in any activity that would detract from that rest and reflection.

Forced Compliance To YHVH’s Commandment

 
So, what Father did to enforce his prohibition against gathering manna on the Sabbath was the following: 
“Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day” (Exo. 16:29b; KJV). 
In other words, if you’re not going to do as I’ve instructed you to do regarding my prohibition against gathering manna on the Sabbath, I’m going to put in place a provision that will inhibit you from gathering on the Sabbath altogether. You are hereby prohibited from leaving your dwelling place on the Sabbath. This will force you–in fact, this will by default condition and train you to make provisions for your food needs on the 6th-day each week as I shall provide.

Not a Prohibition Against Cooking on the Sabbath, But…

Let me just say  now that I reject the thinking put forth by some in our Faith community that this verse is a proof-positive for a perceived prohibition against cooking on the Sabbath. Contextually speaking, there’s nothing mentioned here, whatsoever, about cooking on the Sabbath. 
 
Now, I know this presents for many of you a rather trite understanding of the Sabbath from the standpoint of whether one is permitted to cook or not on the day. But it is what it is. And my point is, should one draw from this passage an understanding that one is emphatically prohibited from cooking on the Sabbath when cooking is not at all mentioned? I would say no. But then, is it reasonable to conclude that this passage somewhat implies that one is prohibited from cooking on the Sabbath? I would have to say possibly.
 
So with this nebulous understanding on the issue of cooking on the Sabbath, what then about the Sabbath can we draw from this passage? Maybe if we can dissect the relevance of the Sabbath as described in this passage, then maybe we can arrive at a more accurate answer to our question on cooking. 

Sabbath a Set-Apart Day

 
It is clear from this Torah passage that the Sabbath is one of the most important provisions–even gifts–given by YHVH to His people to not only keep, but also to enjoy. And when He re-introduced the Sabbath to us while we were in the wilderness of Raphidim, He required that we recognize that this day was to be viewed and treated unlike any other day of the week; that it was to be a day when we would not do the things we ordinarily did the other six-days; that our focus was to be that of the Creator on that day; and that this particular mitzvah–commandment–would test our willingness to obey and trust in Father’s provision of providing us sustenance each and every Sabbath.
 
I personally see in this passage, Father attempting to teach us that the Sabbath is in reality a special gift that He has given to His elect–His people. And contrary to Rabbinic understanding of Sabbath-keeping, the Sabbath was, and never was intended to be a burden to the people of God. And although the Sabbath was a special gift, with tremendous spiritual and prophetic applications (beyond the scope of this posting I might add), it was not up to us to determine whether we would keep it or not; nor determine how we would keep the day if we decided to keep the day. In other words, it was never up to man to determine how we are to keep the Sabbath. And this principle plays out perfectly in this week’s haftarah reading:
 
Isaiah 58:13, 14“If you turn away your foot from the Shabbat from doing your pleasure on My holy day; and call the Shabbat a delight, the holy of Yahuah, honourable; and shall honour Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: Then shall you delight yourself in Yahuah; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Ya’aqov your father: for the mouth of Yahuah has spoken it” (Cepher).

 The Sabbath Is Supposed to be a Joy, But Keeping it is Not an Option

In other words, what we see described here in Isaiah, Father trying to get across to us that our keeping of Sabbath is not optional. Yes, the Sabbath is a gift which is intended to bring rest and joy to God’s people, but it is not a day in which God’s people do that which pleases or works best for them. It is supposed to be a day in which we set-apart from all the other days–keep it holy; honor it; honor the Almighty; delight exclusively in YHVH on that day and for this one day, do that which YHVH would have us do. 
 
And when we get to a place in our walking out of Torah that we freely hand over our free-will to YHVH, then we find (along with all the other elements of Torah-living) that the Sabbath is really a delight and we benefit physically and spiritually from keeping it.

The Context and Spirit of Sabbath in this Passage

 
So back to our original question about cooking on the Sabbath? Well, taking into account the context and spirit of these key passages of Scripture, I would venture to say, if one finds that they must cook on the Sabbath for whatever reason (young children; a sick or elderly loved one; or let’s just say circumstances out of one’s control, then I say cook on the Sabbath. Do what you need to do to feed you and your family. But I would honestly ask yourself–why can’t you use the example given to us in this Torah Reading to prepare whatever meals we need for the Sabbath the day before? Why do you feel you need to cook on the Sabbath? Cooking is something that we do every other day of the week. Yet Abba is asking us to set aside those things we do those other six-days of the week and give Him our full-undivided attention. So can we do that? Can we instead of focusing on what we’re going to eat on the Sabbath, have food set out for us to eat on the Sabbath already prepared and keep Sabbath in Spirit, unencumbered by the otherwise daily concern that comes with having to cook meals.? And if you find that you absolutely must cook on the Sabbath, maybe use this particular event as a reminder to next week, prepare your meals ahead of time so you won’t have to cook.
 
In our home, we don’t cook on the Sabbath because we’ve made provisions ahead of time to remove the need for cooking on the Sabbath. We see cooking as personal preference–“doing our pleasure on the day.” So we eliminate that worry by preparing our meals on the sixth-day so that we may fully engage the Sabbath, find joy and honor Abba by focusing our attention on Him that day.

Is Cooking on the Sabbath Really Necessary?

 
Let me ask you this: if, heaven forbid, some natural or manmade event temporarily made our stoves, ovens, grills, etc. inoperable–and let’s be honest, this has happened to countless individuals over the years–we’d have to figure out pretty quick how to subsist without cooking now, wouldn’t we? Just saying. 

The Sabbath From a Spirit and Truth Perspective

 
Let’s reference for a brief moment the proclamation that our Master made to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well on that fateful day:
 
 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (Joh 4:23-24 KJV)
 
This essential principle of the True Faith once delivered by our Master Yahoshua applies to every aspect of our walk in Messiah. Indeed, it applies even to our keeping of Shabbat. Understanding and Truth are essential to Torah-living and Torah-keeping. Yet, far too many of us keep and live Torah only from a mechanical–rote–perspective; a religious perspective if you will. And frankly, we’ve inherited much of that mechanical, rote keeping of Torah, which we know to be horrendously skewed by rabbinic laws and traditions from orthodox Judaism. Indeed, orthodox Jewish teaching prohibits cooking on the Sabbath–along with a laundry-list of other prohibitions against the day as well.

Judaism’s Perspective on Sabbath

 
But here we can clearly see that Judaism has taken interpretation of Torah into her own hands and has led millions of ignorant would be Torah-keepers away from the true intent and purpose of the Sabbath. Thus, it fell upon Yahoshua to make the following statement in response to certain religious leaders’ staunch criticism of Him and His disciples on something they witnessed them doing on the Sabbath:
 
Mark 2: 27, 28–“For the Shabbat was created for man, and not man made for the Shabbat. Thus, the Son of man is also the master of the Shabbat” (AENT).
 
Context: Here we find Yeshua and His disciples harvesting, winnowing and grinding grain on the 2nd Sabbath after the first of the month (ie., after the Rosh Chodesh). Their actions came to the attention of the Pharisees and of course incurred their wrath:
 
So what prompted this bold but brilliant statement from our Master? Mark recorded the following incident that took place on a Shabbat in the fall of 27 CE:
 
Yeshua walked through the wheat fields on the Sabbath day, and His disciples began to pluck the ears of grain as they went. The Prushim said to Him, “Look, why do they do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” Yeshua said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when they had need and were hungry? He went into the house of YHVH in the days of Abiathar the Cohen Gadol and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and he gave also to those who were with him.” Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is likewise the master of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-28; Rood). 
 
(And for your reference, the King David and the shewbread incident can be found in 1 Samuel 21:1-6.)

Yeshua Master (Lord) of the Shabbat

 
So what then is the point behind Yeshua’s remarks that the Son of Man is the master (ie., Lord) of the Sabbbath? Yeshua and His entourage were traversing a wheat field on the 2nd Shabbat of the Chodesh. In their transit, the disciples indulged themselves by picking the heads of wheat grain, rubbing the chaff from the grain, and eating the grain. This, according to the so-called oral law/tradition, was prohibited because it constituted “work” on the Sabbath. According to Rood’s Chronology, the plucking of grain heads was tantamount to harvesting; the rubbing of the chaff from the grain was considered threshing; and eating the grain, well, was equivalent to grinding–if you can believe that. 
 
So the pharisees, upon seeing this or being made aware of this situation, confronted Yeshua and berated Him for allowing His disciples to violate their laws of the Sabbath.
 
Yeshua responded with a simple Tanakh reference that would serve to illustrate the principle that the Sabbath was not made by YHVH for men to regulate and control; that the Sabbath was holy unto itself and not under subjection or control by any man other than Mashiyach who is the Master of the Sabbath. And the tanakhian reference Master gave the Pharisees was that of David and his men, while fleeing King Saul’s persecution, were in dire need of sustenance. David and his entourage happened upon a Levite priest serving in the Tabernacle. David asked the priest for food for he and his men. The priest indicated that he had no other food than the shewbread that had recently been removed from the holy place of the tabernacle. The priest, seeing the need, gave David and his men the shewbread which according to Torah was to be consumed only by the attending Levitical Priests in the course of their duties serving the tabernacle (Lev. 24:5-9).
 
I love the ESV Commentary on “the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath”: 
 
Jesus does not challenge the Sabbath law itself but rather the Pharisees’ interpretation of it. As Messiah, Jesus authoritatively interprets every aspect of the law (cf. 5:17-48) and here points out the Pharisees’ blindness to the actual intent of the Sabbath–to bring rest and well-being. This final argument in response to the Pharisees’ challenge (12:2) is the decisive argument–that because of who Jesus is, he has the authority to interpret the law. (ESV Commentary)

 Man is not Permitted to Determine How We Keep Sabbaath

So whether it’s cooking or traveling to a fellowship gathering on the Sabbath, or whatever, we are compelled to look to Yeshua and the Holy Spirit for direction when determining whether this or that other is permissible on the Sabbath. Obviously, it’s not for us to blow-off Sabbaths to do what we want to do on the day, but at the same time, religion cannot dictate to us how we are to keep the day either. In our home, as I mentioned earlier, we neither cook nor patronize restaurants on the Sabbath. And if we are blessed to attend fellowship on the day, we do so with joy. This we’ve come to understand, taking into account the Spirit and Truth of the Sabbath, that we honor YHVH and His Sabbath by removing the daily practice of cooking on that day; focus on Him; fellowship with other like-minded brethren; and learn of Him and His ways.

Yeshua is the Eternal Connection and Reason for Shabbat

 
Yeshua is the eternal connection and reason for Shabbat. Any good host for an event will have a purpose and reason for that event he or she is hosting and generally that purpose and or reason is put forth to their guests. The Shabbat is the weekly event of Mashiyach. “For Mashiyach was, is and forever will be the reason for Shabbat…” It is on the seventh-day of the week that we “rest and rejuvenate” our spirit, soul and body in Mashiyach. We rest from our labors and enjoy the fruits of our labors in Him. Yah’s elect connect with Yeshua on the Sabbath on a spiritual level. Unfortunately, that spiritual rest and communion and unity in Mashiyach has been “reduced into a ritual effort of the flesh, an intellectual theological idea and a socio-political factor that has taken on humanist and Gnostic interpretations, making it a ‘burden’ rather than a blessing” (Roth; AENT) And of course, the bulk of the world who profess Jesus as Messiah take this to the other extreme and completely reject the seventh-day Sabbath for it either being inconsequential or pagan-based day of worship.

Rest in Yeshua Messiah

 
It was Master who invited any who would to become His disciple to pick up their stakes and follow Him–ie., leave all they’ve known behind–friends, families, business, wealth, social status, fun, etc. And in so doing, they would be relieved of life’s heavy burden (eg., secular and religious) and find rest (Mat. 11:28). He further mentioned that any who chose to follow Him, take up His burden (ie., His yoke) and learn of Him, they would find rest for their weary souls (Mat. 11:28, 29). 

Eternal Rest Through Yeshua Messiah

 
There is coming a time when God’s people will find eternal rest from the world’s ways, difficulties, trials and persecutions. It will be a time when peace will reign supreme over all the earth and the Word of the Almighty will flow forth from Mount Zion, out to all the nations of the world: 
 
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.  2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Mic 4:1-3 KJV).
 

Conclusion

 
Are we prohibited from cooking on the Sabbath and does Exodus 16:25-28 support this belief? No to both questions. However, we must consider the issue of cooking on the Sabbath very carefully and determine the following: 
 
Is it right to cook on the Sabbath when cooking takes time away from worship, fellowship, learning and prayer on the Sabbath? 
 
Is it right to cook on the Sabbath when we know good and well that we can do better simply by preparing the meals we would have on Sabbath the day(s) prior to sundown on the 6th day?
 
Is it right to cook on the Sabbath when we see that we can better utilize the limited time we have on Sabbath for worshiping YHVH, learning of Yah’s ways and producing good fruit (ie., praying, healing, teaching, preaching, discipling, etc.)?
 
I say, if the answer to any of these questions is no, then cooking is definitely something that we can put off till sundown on the 7th-day. 
 
Faithfully

 

By Grace are you Saved–Grace and the Law Part 2

  By Grace are You Saved   Part 2 of the series: Grace and the Law In part one (1) of this series entitle Grace and the Law, we critically looked at some of the key bible passages that our cousins in fundamental and charismatic churchianity (or Christianity...

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Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God And…

Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God And…

Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God And...

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Seeking First the Kingdom of God, And….

 

Yeshua instructed us to pursue those things that qualifies one to receive and enter the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of YHVH our Elohim. In fact, He said to His disciples on that hill somewhat distant from the masses that had gathered below that day, that they were to seek first before anything else the Kingdom of God and the Creator’s righteousness; and in so doing, ever care of life would be attended to by Father.  Well, if that is indeed the case, how does Torah-keeping fit in with Yeshua’s instruction?

There Are Legal Prerequisites for Entering the Kingdom

The Kingdom of God

There are legal prerequisites for entering the Kingdom of God.

There are legal prerequisites for entering the kingdom of heaven. And in order for us to enter the Kingdom of God we must meet those legal prerequisites. And those legal prerequisites are found in the Gospel of the Kingdom

 
Those legal prerequisites are specific and difficult to meet
Pertaining to those specific and difficult to meet requirements, Master taught in Matthew 7:13, 14:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mat. 7:13, 14; KJV). 

The Church Does Not Acknowledge the Difficulty 

But many believe that all one needs to do to make it into the Kingdom is to keep the Feasts–primarily the Feast of Tabernacles; don’t work on the weekly Sabbath; don’t eat pork and shell fish; get baptized and receive the laying on of hands; and then you’re good to go for the Kingdom. Yet it’s recorded only once or maybe twice where Master focused on keeping the commandments in relation to entering Kingdom:
Matthew 19:17–in speaking to the Rich Young Ruler, Master says to him: “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but, if thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS” (KJV).

Commandment-Keeping and the Kingdom 

Why did Master place so little emphasis on keeping the commandments in relation to entering the Kingdom? Because commandment keeping was a given; it essentially went without saying that if one wanted to enter the Kingdom of God he or she must keep the commandments. So what more needed to be said? Why belabor the issue? 
What Master did focus on, however, was not commandment-keeping, but those prerequisites for making it into the Kingdom.
 

The Narrow Way and the Strait Gate Focus of Yeshua

The “Narrow Way” and the “Strait Gate” were Master’s focus and the whole point behind the Gospel of the Kingdom. We return to the story of the Rich Young Ruler and we find the Ruler, just like Job, was blameless in his keeping of the Commandments. BUT, Yeshua brilliantly pointed out to him that which disqualified Him from the Kingdom:
Matthew 19:21–If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me” (KJV).
 
Not everyone who says Lord Lord to our Master will enter the Kingdom according to our Master (Mat. 7:21). And it is not so much those who are “bad” people who will not enter the Kingdom of God as much as it will be those who fail to meet those legal prerequisites for entering the Kingdom. 

Failure to Meet the Requirements For the Kingdom 

These did what the Church said do (in certain cases), but they failed to do what Yeshua said needed to be done in order to make it into the Kingdom. 
 
So important is it for us to meet those prerequisites that Master told His disciples to:
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… and all these things will be added unto you (Mat. 6:33)

It was during the famous Sermon on the Mount that Yeshua provided us the rules to the Kingdom of God and admonished us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

This famous instruction given by our Master is part of the “Sermon on the Mount” where He declared to His disciples the “rules of the Kingdom” (Matthew 5:1-7:29).

 
Matthew spent three-whole chapters on the Sermon on the Mount. (Out of 28 chapters, Matthew devoted 10% of his gospel record to this teaching!)

An Important Message For Those Who Climbed the Hill to Hear It

Important you think? Only to those disciples who would climb the mountain to hear the rules of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:1, 2).
 
Consider that the Sermon on the Mount was given by Yeshua in plain speak–no parables–direct talk (which meant no code was used by our Master). Yeshua did not give this sermon to the multitude as we may erroneously be led to believe:
Matthew 5:1–“And seeing the multitudes, He (ie., Yeshua) went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him and He opened His mouth and taught them…” (KJV). 

 Each of us Must Make the Climb Up the Hill

We must go directly to where the Master is and learn from Him face-to-face. For the fullness of His Truths are gained by us in those secluded places–those places that are not frequented by the crowds–away from the multitudes. Because contained within those lessons and teachings is the rules and requirements for entering the Kingdom–the elements to life eternal. And when one takes the time to climb that solitary mountain and sit at Jesus’ feet to learn and then obey that which He teaches about the Kingdom, one will see that there’s much more required to enter the Kingdom than keeping simple Torah commandments such as keeping the Feasts; eating clean and not working during the weekly Sabbaths. 

The Rules of the Kingdom Oppose Religion 

Turns out that the rules of the Kingdom were in direct opposition to the rules of the Pharisees–that is, their oral traditions and laws in many cases (Mat. 5:1-7:29).
It goes without saying that the rules of the Pharisees parallel that of our world system’s rules today. These are the ways of the world that we are indoctrinated to follow and embrace.
 
Over and over throughout His sermon, Master tells His disciples:
“You’ve heard it said…but I say to you…..”
Thus it was Master pointing out the rules of the Pharisees–equivalent to the rules of the world–to His disciples which were really twists and even alterations to the rules and commandments of Torah.
 

Yeshua Clarified Torah For Us

As Yeshua laid out each worldly rule, He refuted their twisted laws by clarifying God’s laws from the standpoint of God’s laws being the rules of the KingdomThis is one of the reasons Master was sent to us–to bring Torah to its fullest expression; to clarify Torah for us:
Matthew  5:17–“Think not that I am come to destroy the Law (Torah), or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (KJV); Isaiah 42:21–YHVH is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the Law (ie., Torah) and make it glorious” (KJV). Romans 10:4–For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (KJV). 

The Rules of the Kingdom Equal Torah Instruction 

It turns out that the rules of the Kingdom are and have been contained in Torah all along. But those rules were watered down and made of no effect by the traditions and laws of the Jewish religious leaders:
Matthew 15:6–“…ye (ie., you Pharisees and Scribes) made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (KJV). 

 The Rules of the Kingdom Constitute Proper Godly Behavior

So what then are the rules of the Kingdom of God that Master taught the disciples on the mount that day?  Well, they constitute in great part proper, Godly behavior:
    • Humility–the humbleness–the pious poor–of whom God especially cares (Psm. 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69-29). These are seen as being in a state of spiritual bankruptcy (Mat. 5:3).
    • Mourn–those that are spiritually, emotionally or financially lost because of sin resulting in a longing for Father’s forgiveness and healing. These lament the sinful lives they’ve lived; the wasted years they pursued other gods and rejected or ignored the One True God. These followed after their own desires. (2 Cor. 7:10). (Mat. 5:4).
    • Teachable–Those who don’t assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will ultimately be in positions of rulership in the world tomorrow (Mat. 5:5). 
    • Desirous of righteousness–those who long for the righteous character Yehovah and these will be satisfied to overflowing through the invitation to be in intimate relationship with the Almighty (Mat. 5:6).
    • Merciful–those that show mercy unto others–these will be shown mercy from the Creator of the Universe (Mat. 5:7).
    • Purity of heart which succeeds that of external ritual purity. Master taught that purity of heart was one of the most important aspects of His disciples’ live–Mat. 5:28). (Mat. 5:8). Jer. 17:10–I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (KJV). Jer. 29:13–And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (KJV).
    • Peacemakers–that advocate shalom in the Body of Messiah–will be called Sons of God, for they reflect the true character of their heavenly Father (Mat. 5:9). 
    • All the martyrs and those who are and were tribulated by the world for the sake of Messiah, for they will enter the Kingdom of God (Mat. 5:10-12). Great will be their reward. Martyrdom and persecution are the natural birthrights of true disciples of Yeshua Messiah. 
    • Salt and light of the earth (Mat. 5:13-16)–those that do good works and glorify Abba who is in heaven.
    • Those that do not diminish nor augment Torah–God’s word. Whoever shall break break one of these least commandments of Torah and teaches others to do also shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those that teach and obey Torah shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mat. 5:17-19).

 Our Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Religious Leaders of Yeshua’s Day

Yeshua asserted that a disciple’s righteousness MUST exceed the righteousness of the sages and Prushim (ie., Pharisees) if they are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Mat. 5:20).
NOTE: YESHUA NEVER SAYS THAT THE SAGES AND PRUSHIM WEREN’T RIGHTEOUS–INSTEAD HE INSISTS THAT OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED THEIRS. 
Consequently, the scribes and pharisees taught that one may be forgiven by God if they break a Torah commandment. However, one who willfully breaks the “takanot” (ie., the oral law) of the Pharisees will not see the world tomorrow. But here in verse 20 we see where Master turns the table on the Jewish religious leaders by asserting that the true standard of righteousness in the kingdom will not permit even the scribes and pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven.  

The Level of Righteousness to Enter God’s Kingdom is High

Thus the level of righteousness to enter the kingdom is so high that man is required to keep even the highest spiritual application of Torah:
  • Murder versus hating someone without right cause (vss 21-26) Thus we must do everything we possibly can to ensure we are in right standing with others in this life if we expect to enter the kingdom of heaven. We cannot hold grudges nor hate for no reason.
  • Adultery versus lusting after another (vss. 27-30). If we have such a problem, in order for us to make it into the kingdom, we must get it fixed.
  • Improper marrying versus adultery = legalized adultery  (vss. 31-32). Far too many people use divorce as a means to easily get out a marriage, only to afford them an opportunity to marry someone else. God’s prescription for marriage allowed for divorce/dissolution of marriage in cases of adultery. Remarriage is permitted only in the case of the death of one of the partners. 
  • Making improper oaths unto Yehovah–oaths that you don’t intend to keep. Yet religion in Yeshua’s day facilitated the breaking of oaths through manmade loopholes in Torah (Deu. 6:13; 10:20; Num. 30:2). We must keep our vows to YHVH. If you don’t intend to keep a vow, you must not make it and certainly do not look for ways to circumvent fulfilling vows made unto God (vss. 33-37).

       Treatment of One Another Under the Rules of the Kingdom

      Then Master goes into how we treat one another in the Kingdom way of livin, in such we do not demand recompense from those who do evil against us. We don’t seek retribution against others. When we’re sued for our property for whatever reason, we don’t fight against the suit but give willing. If someone demands our assistance, we go out of our way to assist them. We give to whoever asks of us that which we have (vss. 38-42).
      This of course is contrary to the world’s treatment of others. Under the world’s treatment of others we fight, hoard, and seek revenge at every opportunity. These are not the means by which we inherit the Kingdom of God. These are the ways of the Oral Traditions of the Jews–not Torah as so many have erroneously proposed. 

      The Oral Tradition Contrary to the Eternal Principles of Torah 

      Oral traditions tells the Jew to love their neighbor but hate their enemies. But under the Kingdom way of treating one’s neighbor and enemies, we love our enemies and do good to those who hate us (ie., those who are our enemies). We pray for those who use us and or persecute us out of spite. Master downplays the love we may have for those who would love us in return. The problem with this secular mindset is that even the UnGodly love those that love them. What’s the difference when a disciple of Messiah loves someone who loves them (vss. 43-48)?
       
      Jewish leaders were renowned for flamboyantly giving to the poor. They often made a big production of their giving so that others would see and admire them for their supposed generosity. Those that do such things to draw attention and admiration unto themselves, according to our Master, receive their reward in the form of that attention and admiration. For the Kingdom dweller, he or she is to give discretely; never letting the left hand know what one’s right hand is doing. This discrete way of giving is seen by our Father in heaven who will in the world tomorrow reward that discrete giving publicly. 
       
      Likewise, our prayers must be carried out appropriately: maybe in a prayer closet; out of sight and hearing of those who have no business seeing and hearing about it in the first place. Our prayers must be substantive and pure and purposeful. And then Master gives us the template of the famous Lord’s Prayer to help us formulate our prayers (6:1-13). 

      Forgiveness Is Essential For Entering the Kingdom

      We must learn to forgive unconditionally (6:14-15).
       

      Our Focus Must Be on Things Eternal–Not on Things of this Life

      Therefore, Messiah requires that we not worry or be anxious over the things of this life:
            • What we’re going to eat.
            • What we’re going to drink.
            • What we’re going to have to wear.
            • In fact, Master requires that we not be distracted by continually chasing after food, drink, and clothing–nails–hair–stuff as the gentiles endlessly pursue such insignificant things. 
      We are instead to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (FOR MANY OF US IT’S A FULL TIME JOB). And in so doing, all the cares of life will be taken care of. We are not to be distracted about the concerns of tomorrow; tomorrow will have its own concerns. Each day has it own problems (6:34).
       
      Instead of investing our moneys and time into these temporal things, why not spend that time and money on things eternal–those things that will help us prepare ourselves for receiving and entering the Kingdom. Are we willing to invest in our eternal security and wellbeing? And if we invest in our eternal security, Father will invest in our earthly–temporal security by providing that which we need to get by on this earth in this life.  

      Seeking Out the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

      The seeking out of the Kingdom of God and YHVH’s righteousness is all laid out in the two chapters we’ve just looked at. Contained within these 2-chapters is the standards of the Kingdom that every disciple of Messiah must meet. And Master is simply saying to us, spend your time working on meeting the standards of the Kingdom and living Godly and righteous and holy lives. And while you’re focusing on doing this, YHVH will provide for our natural needs. Just as He did in the Israelite’s sojourn in the wilderness for 40-years. 
       
      And that which Father provides may not always be what we desire, but it will meet our needs in the here and now. (It may not be the nice car we want or need–it may be a bus pass or a workable car–it may not be a trip to the hair and nail salon, but instead a bottle of nail polish from CVS and maybe a box of hair color–it may not be New York steak but instead a bowl of soup and bread or rice and beans. I can confidently say that the manna the Israelites consumed for 40-years sojourning in the wilderness wasn’t their first choice as it related to meals. But it met their needs–it fully nourished them and kept them healthy so that the people could focus on living right and not worry about them trying to sort out where their next meal was coming from.

      Faithfully

       

      By Grace are you Saved–Grace and the Law Part 2

        By Grace are You Saved   Part 2 of the series: Grace and the Law In part one (1) of this series entitle Grace and the Law, we critically looked at some of the key bible passages that our cousins in fundamental and charismatic churchianity (or Christianity...

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      Torah Portions-The Many Types and Patterns of Torah

      Torah Portions-The Many Types and Patterns of Torah

      Torah Portions-The Types and Patterns of Torah--Looking Ahead--My Sukkot 2019 Thoughts and Reflections

      by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

      The Types and Patterns of Torah

      Torah Readings

      Torah Portions should be viewed as an opportunity for worship and to apply the spirit of its observance to our day-to-day walk with Messiah.

      As part of our looking forward and plans for the coming months,I want to continue our study of Torah along the lines of the weekly Torah Readings (aka, Torah Portions). But instead of looking at the Torah Readings from a mechanical, duty-driven, historic, commandment rendering perspective, I will be treating the readings from the perspective of Types and Patterns.

      I have referenced Romans 10:4 on numerous occasions on this platform and this passage, along with its supporting passages, are the driving forces behind my weekly reading and study of Torah. Paul wrote:

      “For the goal of which the Torah aims is the Messiah, who offers righteousness to everyone who trusts” (CJB).

      If we’re not reading and studying Torah from this perspective—from the perspective of Messiah—every bit of it—then I will boldly assert here that we’re wasting our time reading, studying and keeping Torah. We are no better than our cousins in orthodox Judaism who blindly follow their version of Torah underscored by their oral laws. And sadly, this is the direction that I fear so many in our Faith Community have taken. Many of us are ignoring Yeshua’s centrality to Torah in our study, reading and keeping of Torah. And in so doing, we are placing ourselves, not under our Master’s and High Priest’s oversight, but instead under the covering and teaching of the rabbis.

      The New Testament writers put Torah into proper perspective for us and it is our responsibility to adhere to their perspective of the purpose and efficacy of Torah. Master appointed them to expound upon the Truth that they received directly from Yahoshua. And we know that Yahoshua is that prophet that we must shama—must hearken—that is listen and obey.

      Yah revealed:

      “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in His mouth, and He will tell them everything I order Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which He shall speak in My Name, I will require it of him” (Deu. 18:18, 19; KJV).

      All Scripture is Yah-Breathed

      In expounding upon the relevance of Scripture to his young protege Timothy:

      2 Timothy 3:16—All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

      Thus, Torah is God-breathed and the means by which we are to live our lives; the means by which we conform our behavior; the Truth that must be taught to the Body; the basis upon which improper behavior is to be judged and handled; how we interact and worship our heavenly Father; and the means by which we are to interact with the world around us.

      Torah was Given to Teach Us About Mashiyach and YHVH’s Way of Life

      Rom. 15:4—Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

      1 Cor. 10:6, 11—All these things happened unto them for ensamples (ie., types) and they were written for admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

      The thing that we don’t want to see happen with our keeping of Torah as Netzarim is to fall into a trap of focusing on the how’s. One of the biggest concerns most Rooters have, especially those new to Faith, is how to keep this mitzvah (aka commandment) and or what must I do when I keep that mitzvah. Often there isn’t the slightest concern over why we do what we do and what we are to LEARN from the commandments. Paul brilliantly points out in these two verses that Torah was given for our learning and ensample.

      Torah is all About Yeshua

      Luk. 24:26, 27, 44-46—All things must be fulfilled concerning me.

      Joh. 5:45, 46; Act. 3:22, 23—Moses wrote of Me (prophetically and typically).

      Gal. 3:24—The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

      Mat. 11:13—The prophets and the Law prophesied.

      Psm. 29:9—All speak to His glory.

      1 Pet. 1:11—All were prophetical of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.

      The Law/Torah was and is a shadow (ie., an outline) of good things to come through Mashiyach’s holy office. Thus it becomes the purpose of the shadow to bring us to the substance—the core thing that Father is desiring to teach us. The shadow of the thing has no reality in and of itself—the Levitical Priesthood; the Mishkin; the purity laws; etc., all of which have passed away. These things can only point to that which casts the shadow.

      One must trace the shadow with light before you come to the actual substance. If one, let’s say, were to ignore the light, then that individual would get lost in the shadow and begin to move further away from the realities. This is what we see happening in many parts of our Faith Community. Many people are moving from center to extreme, taking on Rabbinic Judaism, focusing only on the shadow and completely missing the substance.

      Thus, the only true purpose in looking at the “Shadow of the Law” is to follow the shadow through until we come to Him—the shadow–whose shadow the Torah element pointed to.

      Elements of Torah like the Tabernacle: its measurements, furnishings and curtains were all “separate revelations, each of which sets forth a portion of Truth” (Heb. 1:1,2) leading us to Mashiyach in one or more aspects of His Being, mission and purpose.

      The Natural First Then the Spiritual

      The way Abba set this whole thing up to work is to establish His Truths leading up to Mashiyach through physical things and actions and such.

      1 Cor. 15:46, 47—First the natural, afterward that which is spiritual. Thus we consider the natural, the material, which is temporal; ie., that which is seen; in order to discover, by means of the Spirit, the Truth, which is Spiritual, and the eternal; things not seen by the natural mind of man (2 Cor. 4:18).

      So we see examples of this understanding in the following:

      1. The smitten rock from which the Children of Israel drank pointed to Mashiyach as the source of living water for the nations of the world (1 Cor. 10:1-4).

      2. The manna which came from heaven pointed to Mashiyach as the living bread that came down from heaven (Joh. 6:45-67).

      3. The sacrificial Passover lamb typified the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world (Joh. 1:29).

      4. The High Priestly ministry of Aharon demonstrated Mashiyach’s priestly ministrations in the heavenly Mishkan and Mashiyach’s role as mediator and intercessor (Heb. 4:14; 5:1-5; 6:19-20).

      5. The Tabernacle and its furnishings, metals, curtains, coverings and operations typified Yeshua HaMashiyach in His ministry in the Church.

      Rom. 1:20—For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and G-dhead.

      In other words, Yah gave us the visible things of creation to aid us in understanding spiritual things (ie., the invisible). Thus, the things we see are temporal, while the things that they point to are eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). Even the things from creation must be looked at as symbols, hiding or revealing Truths and different facets of revelation concerning Mashiyach and His ministries.

      We know that Yeshua taught the Gospel by employing parables. It was a means by which finite man could understand some of the things of God through natural symbolic elements. God is omniscient and infinite. In all the parables that Yeshua spoke there was veiled Truth which the Ruach is still unfolding to us today. Today, Yehovah speaks to us in the parable of the Tabernacle of Moshe, taking the natural elements of creation and transforming them into symbolic language to reveal eternal truths. The whole of Torah becomes God’s story-telling board to teach divine Truth to the people of God.

      Paul informed the Corinthian Assemblies that everything that happened to Natural Israel happened to them for types and ensamples and were written for OUR admonition (1 Cor. 10:11).

      Understanding Types and Patterns in our Walk With Mashiyach

      Why is it important for anyone to understand types and patterns of Torah as it relates to a believer’s journey and walk with Mashiyach? Because we are forgetful creatures. And we tend to ignore things related to our Faith as found in Torah and those things are vitally important to our walk with Mashiyach and our relationship with the Creator.

      When we clearly understand why we’re doing that we’ve been commanded to do; or we see the significance or spiritual relevance in the stories and events and commandments recorded in Torah, we are better able to live according to the Ways Father always intended for us to live. Paul tells us that the things contained in Torah serve as ensamples for us—so that we don’t make the same mistakes that our forefathers did; so that we know how we are to do whatever we’re commanded to do; so we understand our Creator better—what He loves and hates; how He sees things; and what He expects of each of us in this life. The types and patterns contained in Torah provide us a sense of what’s ahead for us—they foreshadow or are shadows of good things to come. Those same types and patterns illustrate and teach us about holiness and righteousness and Faith and truth and above all they teach us about the Person and Office of Mashiyach—the Prophet who we must shama—that is, hear and obey.

      Thus, it is vitally important that we keep our heads and noses buried in our bibles and that we seek the guidance and revelation of the Ruach haQodesh as to those all too important types and patterns so that we may walk out a powerful and effective life in Mashiyach that is based on Spirit and Truth.

      Case in point, let’s look at the types and patterns contained in:

      This Week’s Torah Portion Readings:

      Exodus 15:19-16:24 and John 6:31-51

      The Red Sea Crossing (15:19).

      The Song of Miriam (15:20, 21).

      The bitter waters of Marah in the wilderness of Shur made drinkable (15:22).

      The Waters of Marah

      The Bitter Waters of Marah in our Torah Portion reading were made drinkable by Moses’ intercession on behalf of the Hebrews. Many Spiritual applications may be drawn from this story.

      In this section of the reading we find the waters of Marah described as being bitter or undrinkable (vs. 23). Thus the people began to murmur against Moshe and Aharon because they lacked drinkable water. Moshe described this situation as a testing of the people’s trust in YHVH’s ability to provide for their needs despite the wonders that YHVH wrought in the sight of the people. Moshe went along with Abba’s instructions, but He himself was unaware of YHVH’s plans to sustain His people (vs. 24).

      Moshe intercedes on behalf the people for water. And we can clearly see in this story that Moshe is a type of Mashiyach (vs. 25). Why? Because we see from Hebrew 7:25 that one of the roles of Messiah in the heavenly Mishkan is to make intercession on our behalf.

      In response to the people’s murmuring and Moshe’s petition for water, Abba shows Moshe a piece of wood which when casted into the waters of Marah, made the water drinkable.

      We can see that the piece of wood that was casted into the bitter waters of Marah is clearly a precursor of the cross/the execution stake of our Master Yahoshua. The cross—made of wood of course—serves as the vehicle by which life (specifically eternal life) was wrought unto the world, the world being illustrated in the waters of Marah. The cross or stake makes right the deadliness that is realized in the world today because of the scourge of sin.

      The 12 Springs and 70-Palm Trees of Elim

      12 Springs and 70 Palm Trees of Elim

      The story of Elim’s 12 springs and 70 palm trees in this week’s Torah Portion reading also has significant spiritual applications attached to it.

      Then we encamped in the wilderness of Elim where there were 12 springs of water and 70-palm trees. The 12-springs and 70-palm trees are of course types and foreshadows of things to come. The 12-springs refer to the 12-tribes of Israel from which eternal life will flow through the work of Mashiyach. Master told the Samaritan Woman that “salvation comes through the Jews” (Joh. 4:22; NLT).

      The 70-palm trees refer to the 70-original nation peoples of the world that were placed under the oversight of 70-angels (ie., sons of God). (cf. Rev. 7:17; 22:2).

      We find in Genesis 10 a listing of the 70-original nations that descended from Noach that were ultimately scattered to the 4-corners of the world at the tower of Babel incident. The indication that the 70-nations were placed under the oversight of 70-sons of God is mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 with similar referencing in Sirach 17:17; 1 Enoch 89:59-64; 90:20-23.

      (Note: Most English translations that are based upon the Masoretic Text us children of Israel as opposed to sons of God. But it appears that Jewish scribes changed their text from sons of God to sons of Israel, most likely sometime during the leadership of Rabbi Akiba. But the Septuagint—the Greek version of the Old Testament which out-dates the Masoretic text by a millennia—retains sons of God in the verse.)

      Murmuring in the Wilderness of Sin

      From Elim we journeyed to the wilderness of Sin, arriving on the 15th day of the 2nd month (16:1).

      There at Sin we once again murmured/grumbled/complained against Moshe and Aharon. This time our grumbling and murmuring was because of lack of food—no bread nor meat which we referenced having in abundance back in our days as slaves in Egypt (16:2,3).

      This is clearly a reminder to us all as it relates to our personal, present-day wilderness journeys of Faith—in our heading for the promised land—which foreshadows the Kingdom of God. Along our day-to-day journey we face testings and hardships and during those difficult times we have the natural tendency to hearken back to what we perceive were good times when we were in the world or in another Faith living life seemingly better than we may have at the moment. And we end up complaining about our present lot in life. Some of us lose faith; some of us doubt Father; some of us even blaspheme the work of the Father in our lives. But we lose sight and memory of those wonderful things Abba has done for us and continues to do for us. In such situation, Father tests our hearts and our resolve to remain obedient and trusting of Him. This same thing was happening to us in our wilderness journey.

      Father then provides us sustenance in the form of Manna along with instructions on its consumption (16:4-10). And in the process Moshe reminds us that our murmuring or complaining was not against him and or Aharon, but really against YHVH who put us in our present situation.

      Father informs Moshe that He’d heard our murmurs and complaints about not having any food to eat. So Father reveals to us that He will provide us bread each morning (in the form of manna) and meat each evening (in the form of quail (16:11-19). We were to take as much as would satisfy each member of our respective families. Yet, we were to leave nothing of these meals for the next day as these meals would become inedible.

      God Giving Manna was a Teaching Moment—The Principles of Trust and Faith Still Applies Even Today

      The manna which YHVH provided the children of Israel during their wilderness sojourn foreshadowed the Yeshua–the Bread of Life come down from heaven.

      The principle Father was attempting to teach us during our sojourn in the wilderness of Elim and Sin was that same principle Yahoshua taught His disciples during the sermon on the mount.

      Master taught that we are to give no thought for the morrow as the morrow takes care of itself (Mat. 6:34). For each day has enough troubles of its own (NET).

      We of course did not obey Moshe’s instructions as many of us chose to squirrel away excess manna (and no doubt quail) in anticipation of the following day’s food needs (16:20).

      Another principle that translates over to our Master’s ministry is found in the same sermon on the mount teaching where Master taught us to not store up for ourselves treasures in this life as such treasures are only temporal (Mat. 6:19; Luk. 12:33).

      Thus, the manna represents for us many amazing Truths: the fact that Father will provide for us our daily bread and that we should not concern ourselves about where we’re going to get our next meal from; the “bread of life/from heaven” which is Yeshua Mashiyach; and the illegally stored manna represents riches that we hoard unto ourselves in anticipation of perceived needs for future times ahead.

      Master instructed us further that when we seek first the Kingdom of Yah and His righteousness, all our physical needs would be taken care of (Mat. 6:33). In so making such a bold statement, Master was declaring to us that Father seeks our full, undivided attention and uncompromising trust in Him. Father does not appreciate us putting our focus on fulfilling our daily needs. For He will provide for His children’s material needs.

      He thus provides for us when we place our trust in Him and give Him our full attention. As we render unto Him our focus and trust—He feeds us in the here and now the bread of life—and in so doing, Father adds to us the things we need to survive abundantly in this present life.

      Just as Father Provided the Lamb (ala Abraham and Isaac), thus Father provided us Bread

      The Brit haDashah reading for this week’s Torah Reading is found in John 6:31-51.

      In this reading we find the story of Yeshua teaching in the synagogue at Kfar Nahum on Yom Teruah 27 CE. The whole issue surrounding Yeshua linking bread to His body is based upon the crowds following Him looking for their next meal (Joh. 6:25).

      In our reading here we find the Jewish religious leaders brought up the story of the manna—this week’s Torah reading–to Yeshua (vs. 31; cf. Neh. 9:15-20; Psm. 78:24, 25; 105:40).

      Yeshua reminded the Jewish synagogue leaders that YHVH provided their forefathers manna which sustained their lives. And the same Person who provided their ancestors this bread from heaven—ie., this manna–during their fathers’ 40-year sojourn in the wilderness, “gives true bread to you from heaven” (vs. 32). (Ref. Exo. 16:4-15; Deu. 8:3)

      Then Yeshua describes the true bread of Elohim that comes down from heaven that gives life to the world (vs. 33). And Master reveals that He is that true bread from heaven. The manna was a type or foreshadowing of Mashiyach. However, the manna that fell from heaven, which was of course given by Yehovah, sustained their Father’s physical life. Mashiyach, the bread that came down from heaven, also given by Yehovah, provides us eternal life (6:33). For it was Yeshua’s broken body and shed blood that would bring mankind the opportunity for life eternal. Yet no one hearing Master’s words here in that Kfar Nahum synagogue that day before Yom Teruah in 27 CE understood a word of what Master was saying. The people hearing Master’s teaching, focusing on their next meal no doubt, interpreted Yeshua’s teaching from the standpoint of physical sustenance. Thus they begged Master for this bread—this erroneously perceived physical bread—food–that would keep them full and satiated forever (6:34).

      Yeshua is the Bread of Life Come Down From the Father

      In response to the people’s request for the bread that Yeshua spoke of–although the people obviously thought Yeshua was speaking about physical food–Yeshua informs them that He is that bread from heaven–He is the bread of life that He was speaking about (6:35) and any who would be His disciple and trust Him (i.e., have Faith in Him), they would receive eternal life.

      Yeshua then vociferously touches on that fact that the people knew of Him and saw the things He’d done, yet they did not believe He was THE Prophet–the Mashiyach–that they were to shama (6:36). Yet anyone who would come and be His disciple–follow Him–He would in no wise reject (6:37). In fact, Yeshua made it clear in at least two places during his teaching in this passage that it was the will of His Father that every single person who Father draws unto Him (6:44, 65) will receive eternal life and be raised up to that life eternal on the Last Day (6:38, 39). Furthermore, this is the whole point behind Yeshua being sent as the Bread of Life that comes down to us from heaven–the giving of eternal life to those who take up a life that is modeled after Yeshua and those disciples trust Yeshua’s work as the means by which they will receive eternal life–as the means of their salvation (6:40).

      So the Jews in response to this teaching murmured against the Bread of Life that came down from heaven (6:41)—just as their forefathers did throughout their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness. And why did they murmur against Master? Because familiarity has the natural tendency to breed contempt. The synagogue leaders and members, as well as the residents of Yeshua’s hometown of Kfar Nahum, believed because they knew Yeshua’s family personally–who they were and what they were all about–that Yeshua was a simple country boy who could not be anything other than a man from Kfar Nahum (6:42). Thus they pegged Yeshua for a fool or impostor.

      Comparing and Contrasting Yeshua and Manna

      Yet Yeshua responded that they should not murmur. Recall from the manna story back in Exodus, we know that Father does not appreciate murmuring. For the people’s murmuring for food was not against Moshe and Aharon, but against Yehovah Himself. In like manner, the synagogue leaders’ murmuring was not against Yeshua, but against His Father who sent Him. Yeshua was only doing what He was sent to do. And all their petty concerns and doubts and biases amounted to nothing, because none of what Yeshua said of Himself being the Bread of Life was entirely of YHVH’s doing. All that He taught and did was the message and mastermind of His Father (6:43, 44).

      Yeshua reiterates that He is the bread which came down from heaven and that bread equals His flesh which He would give willingly for the sins of the world so that every man, woman and child may have a chance for life eternal (6:46-51). And once again, Master compares and contrasts the manna that fell from heaven back in Moshe’s day which sustained our physical lives until we died out in the wilderness over the 40-years of sojourning. But that manna only kept us alive until such time we were appointed by the will of YHVH to die. But the bread that Master analogized was that of His body which He would offer in exchange for our receiving pardon from the penalty of eternal death and receiving life eternal.

      In Conclusion

      So what I’ve tried to do here in my first attempt at examining a weekly Torah Reading is to illustrate the relevance of identifying types and patterns in the readings. And being able to readily identify and discuss types and patterns found in Torah is vital in our ability to evangelize and disciple others in the Faith. The natural question most people outside our Faith ask more than anything is why should we keep Torah when the Law was done away with by Christ’s crucifixion.

      Peter told us to be ever-so ready to give every man an answer for the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15).

      As well as it is important that we understand within ourselves why we do what we do in our Faith simply because when we understand why we do what we do, we are more prone to keep Torah in Spirit and in Truth and not simply practice Torah mechanically without meaning.

      Bottom line: when we know better, we’re expected to do better.

      We’ve been at this Torah Living thing now for a few years. We’ve grown past the nuts and bolts of Torah-keeping. It’s time we move past the rote, mechanical keeping of Torah, to now realize the Spirit and Truth of Torah so that we become effective disciples for our Master and for preparing us to become a Son of YHVH (Rev. 21:7).

       

      By Grace are you Saved–Grace and the Law Part 2

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      Preparing for the Feasts of God-2019–The Connection Between Grace and the Fall Feasts

      Preparing for the Feasts of God-2019--The Connection Between Grace and the Fall Feasts

      by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

      Preparing for the Fall Feasts of God 2019–The Connection Between Grace and the Fall Feasts

      This, my friend, is a special re-posting of a portion of last year’s post I did on Preparing for the Fall Feasts. Bear in mind, this is just a brief, edited portion of that post. It’s a short, succinct message relating to the role grace plays in our keeping of the Fall Feasts. And my aim in publishing this abbreviated is to remind us of the importance of being spiritually prepared for the coming Fall Feasts. You know, it’s one thing to simply keep Yom Teruah–Trumpets–Yom Kippur–Atonement–and Tabernacles–Sukkot, each year as they come. But it’s an entirely different thing to keep the Feasts in Spirit and in Truth and to fully understand, embrace and walk out the important aspects of the Feasts. 
       

      The Fall Feasts are celebratory manifestations of God’s grace shown to mankind.

      As it relates to teachings/discussions on the individual Fall Feasts, what follows is the links to my discussions for each of the three-Feast days. If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you will no doubt recognize that my posts tend to be rather long. Those 3 posts are consistent with the lengthy posts I typically publish that resonate most with those who wish to consider the many facets/many colors of the topic on which I’m addressing: thus time for them is generally not an issue. But for those who recall the content of those posts last year and are not inclined to do a repeat listen this year, I’ve provided what I believe is a substantive discussion on the link between grace and the Fall Feasts that I believe will bless you and enhance your walk with Messiah. 
       
      Nevertheless, if you are inclined to listen to any or all of the posts I did on the Fall Feasts last year, I will put the direct links to those posts here in the show notes/show script for your convenience.
       
      In any event, my sincerest hope, trust and prayer is that you, your families and fellowships will have a meaningful Day of the Blowing of Trumpets–a meaningful and revealing Day of Atonement–and a joyous and blessed 8-day celebration of Tabernacles. 
       
      We plan on returning in November with a new season of posts.
       
      So without further ado, here’s “Preparing for the Fall Feasts of YHVH.”
       
      Blessings and Shalom to you. 

      Scriptural References:

      Matthew 4:3-11

      Mark 1:13

      Luke 4:3-13

      John 8:44; 12:31

      2 Corinthians 11:14

      Ephesians 2:2

      1 John 5:19

      Revelation 12:1

       

      Fall Feasts specific posts:

       

      The Fall Feasts of Yah–Feast of Trumpets–Yom Teruah

      The Fall Feasts of Yah–Day of Atonement–Yom Kippur

      The Fall Feasts of Yah–Feast of Tabernacles–Sukkot

       

       

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      By Grace are you Saved–Grace and the Law Part 2

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