Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
February 26, 2011
Proceeding the work of the Tabernacle, G-d emphasized the importance of the Shabbat.
Exodus 35:2-3, “On six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is to be a holy day for you, a Shabbat of complete rest in honor of ADONAI. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. 3 You are not to kindle a fire in any of your homes on Shabbat."
Acknowledgement of G-d must always be before service. There is always more to do, but G-d says there is a time to stop. He promises that if we honor Him, He will honor us. Our spiritual life depends upon honoring Him before anything else.
G-d called B’tzal’el specifically by name and filled him with the Spirit of G-d!
Exodus 35:30-31, Moshe said to the people of Isra'el, "See, ADONAI has singled out B'tzal'el the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Y'hudah. 31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God -with wisdom, understanding and knowledge concerning every kind of artisanry.
Interestingly, if we look at the Hebrew words used in the the very next verse, it is revealed how B’tzal’el would receive from G-d the knowledge and skill to do the work G-d called him to do.
Exodus 35:32, He is a master of design in gold, silver, bronze.
The Hebrew word ‘chashab’ is used twice in this verse and literally means ‘to think’. So this verse can be translated, “in thinking thoughts in order to do”. The Spirit of G-d fills us and anoints us to think thoughts and think with G-d in order to do something. Thinking is then followed with action.
G-d also put wisdom in Oholi’av heart as B’tzal’el’s assistant as well as the other gifted artisans who they trained. G-d stirred their hearts to work together to build everything for the Tabernacle.
G-d singles out people He calls into His service.
Jeremiah 5:1, "Roam the streets of Yerushalayim look around, observe and ask in its open spaces: if you can find anyone (if there is anyone!) who acts with justice and seeks the truth, I will pardon her.”
Ezekiel 22:30, "'I sought for a man among them who could build a barricade or stand in the break to oppose me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.
Isaiah 59:16, He saw that there was no one, was amazed that no one interceded. Therefore his own arm brought him salvation, and his own righteousness sustained him.
Isaiah 63:5, I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was appalled that no one upheld me. Therefore my own arm brought me salvation, and my own fury upheld me.
G-d wants to use us! He wants to use an individual. And He wants the individual to train others.
Moses was a stutterer, as was probably Paul, Rahab a prostitute, Peter a coward, David an adulterer and murderer, Samson was lustful and wayward, Gideon insecure, Solomon was idolatrous and promiscuous; these were individuals with great weaknesses that G-d made strong in Him through His Grace!
G-d makes us into what He sees us as and made us to be!
As individuals called and saved by Grace, we are then powerful and strong in our prayers.
James 5:16b, The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Prayer works! There is nothing too hard for Him! G-d heard the prayers of the prophets and saints and they were a mess. He will hear our prayers too. Really pray with earnestness and passion.
Cry to Our Father; we can pray intimately and personally especially because we pray through Yeshua the Messiah.
Galatians 4:6, Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").
Isaiah 64:8, But now, ADONAI, you are our father; we are the clay, you are our potter; and we are all the work of your hands.
G-d wants to use individuals, and we are also part of a family. Each member functions to serve the Body of Messiah.
Romans 12:4-5, For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don't all have the same function; 5 so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others.
What is your gift? Our gifts are from Him, He has filled us with His Spirit; but our gifts are not for us but for His Glory through Him and edification of the Body of Messiah! We are not placed here for ourselves, we are not born again for ourselves, and if we are married, we are placed here for our spouse.
We are not here to be served but to serve as He gave Himself to us.
Further Reading: Exodus 35:4-5, 21, 29-31, 34, 36:1-3, Judges 6:11-16, Isaiah 63:5, Ezekiel 22:30, 1Corinthians 12:4-7, 11-13, Ephesians 2:1-5, 10, 1 Peter 4:10-11, 2Corinthians 10:10, 1Thess 5:24, Jeremiah 15:1, Ezekiel 14:14, Romans 8:15, Romans 12:6-8
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Oil and Incense
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
February 19, 2001
Exodus 30:21-33, and make them into a holy anointing oil; blend it and perfume it as would an expert perfume-maker; it will be a holy anointing oil. 26 Use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark for the testimony, 27 the table and all its utensils, the menorah and all its utensils, the incense altar, 28 the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils, and the basin with its base. 29 You are to consecrate them - they will be especially holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. 30 Then you are to anoint Aharon and his sons - you are to consecrate them to serve me in the office of cohen. 31 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'This is to be a holy anointing oil for me through all your generations. 32 It is not to be used for anointing a person's body; and you are not to make any like it, with the same composition of ingredients - it is holy, and you are to treat it as holy. 33 Whoever makes any like it or uses it on any unauthorized person is to be cut off from his people.”
There was not to be anything else made like the Holy Anointing Oil. It was compounded with oil and spices. Holy means not only separation from sin and culture but separation to something; to G-d and a higher purpose. In verse 31 He said it was for Him and it was not to be poured on man’s flesh. Duplication or replication of the Holy Anointing Oil would necessitate being cut off from the people.
The only people to be anointed were the High Priest and the Kings of the House of David were anointed. By application, our High Priest and the King of the House of David; King Yeshua is the Anointed One!
What does it mean for us to live in G-d’s anointing?
Exodus 30:30, Then you are to anoint Aharon and his sons - you are to consecrate them to serve me in the office of cohen.
We have been anointed and called priests as well through Messiah.
1 John 2:20, But you have received the Messiah's anointing from HaKadosh, and you know all this.
1 John 2:27, As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him.
G-d in the New Covenant has confirmed us and given us discernment of error and deception as we abide in Him. We need appointed teachers to speak to us and through the Spirit via the Word of G-d. Only as we abide in Him do we have His anointing, we have G-d’s authority, love, joy, healing and empowerment working in and through us.
In addition to the Holy Anointing Oil, Scripture describes the Incense.
Exodus 30:35, and make incense, blended and perfumed as would an expert perfume-maker, salted, pure and holy.
Incense is pictured like prayers and was offered twice daily. See Revelation 5:8 and 8:3. The Altar of Incense wasn’t very large; only about three feet high and eighteen inches square but the holiest item other than the Ark.
Exodus 30:35-38, and make incense, blended and perfumed as would an expert perfume-maker, salted, pure and holy. 36 You are to grind up some of it very finely and put it in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; you are to regard it as especially holy. 37 You are not to make for your own use any incense like it, with the same composition of ingredients - you are to treat it as holy, for ADONAI. 38 Whoever makes up any like it to use as perfume is to be cut off from his people."
The Incense was ground and beaten finely. Aspects of Incense can be applied to prayer as we are humbled in prayer. As we pray, Satan’s power is defeated. Prayer also purifies our thoughts.
G-d reiterated that neither the Holy Anointing Oil nor the Incense should have anything else made like it.
2 Corinthians 11:3,4,and I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness. 4 For if someone comes and tells you about some other Yeshua than the one we told you about, or if you receive a spirit different from the one you received or accept some so-called "good news" different from the Good News you already accepted, you bear with him well enough!
Is there another gospel going around today? A fraudulent or counterfeit anointing?
2 Corinthians 11:14,15, There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary himself masquerades as an angel of light; 15 so it's no great thing if his workers masquerade as servants of righteousness. They will meet the end their deeds deserve.
There is a movement that illustrates this trend by church leaders to get people in and out of the church building in one hour, to make the services seeker friendly with no mention of sin, to be technically clever and over organized without being Spirit led or desire to spend time in G-d presence in prayer. They twist the Word of G-d to get what they want.
2 Peter 3:16, Indeed, he speaks about these things in all his letters. They contain some things that are hard to understand, things which the uninstructed and unstable distort, to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Don’t make anything like it and don’t make if for yourself. It will be holy to you but it is for the L-rd! Accept no counterfeit.
Further Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2, 1 Samuel16:1-13, Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 2: 15-17, 27-28, 2 Corinthians 1:21, Galatians 1:6,7, 1 John 3:16, Isaiah 45:11, 2 Timothy 4:8
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
February 19, 2001
Exodus 30:21-33, and make them into a holy anointing oil; blend it and perfume it as would an expert perfume-maker; it will be a holy anointing oil. 26 Use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark for the testimony, 27 the table and all its utensils, the menorah and all its utensils, the incense altar, 28 the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils, and the basin with its base. 29 You are to consecrate them - they will be especially holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. 30 Then you are to anoint Aharon and his sons - you are to consecrate them to serve me in the office of cohen. 31 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'This is to be a holy anointing oil for me through all your generations. 32 It is not to be used for anointing a person's body; and you are not to make any like it, with the same composition of ingredients - it is holy, and you are to treat it as holy. 33 Whoever makes any like it or uses it on any unauthorized person is to be cut off from his people.”
There was not to be anything else made like the Holy Anointing Oil. It was compounded with oil and spices. Holy means not only separation from sin and culture but separation to something; to G-d and a higher purpose. In verse 31 He said it was for Him and it was not to be poured on man’s flesh. Duplication or replication of the Holy Anointing Oil would necessitate being cut off from the people.
The only people to be anointed were the High Priest and the Kings of the House of David were anointed. By application, our High Priest and the King of the House of David; King Yeshua is the Anointed One!
What does it mean for us to live in G-d’s anointing?
Exodus 30:30, Then you are to anoint Aharon and his sons - you are to consecrate them to serve me in the office of cohen.
We have been anointed and called priests as well through Messiah.
1 John 2:20, But you have received the Messiah's anointing from HaKadosh, and you know all this.
1 John 2:27, As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him.
G-d in the New Covenant has confirmed us and given us discernment of error and deception as we abide in Him. We need appointed teachers to speak to us and through the Spirit via the Word of G-d. Only as we abide in Him do we have His anointing, we have G-d’s authority, love, joy, healing and empowerment working in and through us.
In addition to the Holy Anointing Oil, Scripture describes the Incense.
Exodus 30:35, and make incense, blended and perfumed as would an expert perfume-maker, salted, pure and holy.
Incense is pictured like prayers and was offered twice daily. See Revelation 5:8 and 8:3. The Altar of Incense wasn’t very large; only about three feet high and eighteen inches square but the holiest item other than the Ark.
Exodus 30:35-38, and make incense, blended and perfumed as would an expert perfume-maker, salted, pure and holy. 36 You are to grind up some of it very finely and put it in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; you are to regard it as especially holy. 37 You are not to make for your own use any incense like it, with the same composition of ingredients - you are to treat it as holy, for ADONAI. 38 Whoever makes up any like it to use as perfume is to be cut off from his people."
The Incense was ground and beaten finely. Aspects of Incense can be applied to prayer as we are humbled in prayer. As we pray, Satan’s power is defeated. Prayer also purifies our thoughts.
G-d reiterated that neither the Holy Anointing Oil nor the Incense should have anything else made like it.
2 Corinthians 11:3,4,and I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness. 4 For if someone comes and tells you about some other Yeshua than the one we told you about, or if you receive a spirit different from the one you received or accept some so-called "good news" different from the Good News you already accepted, you bear with him well enough!
Is there another gospel going around today? A fraudulent or counterfeit anointing?
2 Corinthians 11:14,15, There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary himself masquerades as an angel of light; 15 so it's no great thing if his workers masquerade as servants of righteousness. They will meet the end their deeds deserve.
There is a movement that illustrates this trend by church leaders to get people in and out of the church building in one hour, to make the services seeker friendly with no mention of sin, to be technically clever and over organized without being Spirit led or desire to spend time in G-d presence in prayer. They twist the Word of G-d to get what they want.
2 Peter 3:16, Indeed, he speaks about these things in all his letters. They contain some things that are hard to understand, things which the uninstructed and unstable distort, to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Don’t make anything like it and don’t make if for yourself. It will be holy to you but it is for the L-rd! Accept no counterfeit.
Further Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2, 1 Samuel16:1-13, Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 2: 15-17, 27-28, 2 Corinthians 1:21, Galatians 1:6,7, 1 John 3:16, Isaiah 45:11, 2 Timothy 4:8
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Power and Love
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
February 12, 2011
Exodus 28: 9-12, Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Isra'el - six of their names on one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Isra'el on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings, and put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Isra'el. Aharon is to carry their names before ADONAI on his two shoulders as a reminder.
Exodus 28:15-21 "Make a breastplate for judging. Have it crafted by a skilled artisan; make it like the work of the ritual vest - make it of gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen. 16 When folded double it is to be square - a hand-span by a hand-span. 17 Put on it settings of stones, four rows of stones: the first row is to be a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald; 18 the second row a green feldspar, a sapphire and a diamond; 19 the third row an orange zircon, an agate and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They are to be mounted in their gold settings. 21 The stones will correspond to the names of the twelve sons of Isra'el; they are to be engraved with their names as a seal would be engraved, to represent the twelve tribes.
Exodus 28: 28-29, Then bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the vest with a blue cord, so that it can be on the vest's decorated belt, and so that the breastplate won't swing loose from the vest. 29 Aharon will carry the names of the sons of Isra'el on the breastplate for judging, over his heart, when he enters the Holy Place, as a continual reminder before ADONAI.
The priestly garments contained two especially important items. The first is the ephod commonly known in Hebrew as a vest or ritual vest and the second item is the breastplate or the choshen. This High Priestly Breastplate is known as the Coshen Mishpat or Breastplate of Judgement. The ephod had two straps that went over each shoulder each containing a stone engraved with six of the twelve names of the Sons of Israel. They are Remembrance Stones.
1 Peter 2:4, As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him.
We are chosen; male, female, Jew or Gentile, like one of those stones, engraved and placed in the setting of the High Priest’s garment. We belong to the L-rd. Yeshua is the living stone and we are in Him; like “little Yeshua’s” because we are part of Him. We are sons, and part of His Body.
Hebrews 7:24-25, But because he lives forever, his position as cohen does not pass on to someone else; 25 and consequently, he is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him; since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
Yeshua is our High Priest representing us and ever lives to make intercession for us. We are on His shoulders which speaks of His strength and power. We are engraved, not just written, sealed by the Holy Spirit to the Day of Redemption. If we were just written we could be erased, but we are engraved and belong to Him forever. We are fixed and settled. Our names are engraved on the Messiah!
John 10:27-30, “My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father's hands. 30 I and the Father are one."
The Strength of the L-rd; He carries us on His shoulders. He completely able to save us and represents us before the Father now. G-d remembers us as His sons and daughters! Yeshua represents us in Heaven and we are here now on earth in His stead!
2 Corinthians 5:20, Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, "Be reconciled to God.”
While the stones on the shoulder speak of His Strength, the Breastplate of Judgement was upon His heart and speaks of His love!
Isn’t it wonderful to know that He bears us on His heart? Now the judgement is without condemnation for those in Messiah Yeshua! Judgements have to be thrown out of court because we are made whole, righteous, and justified by His blood. See Romans 8:33,34, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53 and Romans 8:3,4.
Power and love!
Psalm 62:11-12, God has spoken once, I have heard it twice: strength belongs to God. 12 Also to you, Adonai, belongs grace (can also be translated as love); for you reward all as their deeds deserve.
Carried on His shoulders but borne on His heart!
Further Reading: Isaiah 41:8-9, Psalm 139:16, Song of Songs 8:6, Nehemiah 13:14, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:3-7, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, Hebrews 9:24, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30, Numbers 7:9, 1 Chronicles 15:15, Genesis 9:15,16, Hebrews 8:12, Hebrews 10:17, Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 6:10
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
February 12, 2011
Exodus 28: 9-12, Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Isra'el - six of their names on one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Isra'el on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings, and put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Isra'el. Aharon is to carry their names before ADONAI on his two shoulders as a reminder.
Exodus 28:15-21 "Make a breastplate for judging. Have it crafted by a skilled artisan; make it like the work of the ritual vest - make it of gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen. 16 When folded double it is to be square - a hand-span by a hand-span. 17 Put on it settings of stones, four rows of stones: the first row is to be a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald; 18 the second row a green feldspar, a sapphire and a diamond; 19 the third row an orange zircon, an agate and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They are to be mounted in their gold settings. 21 The stones will correspond to the names of the twelve sons of Isra'el; they are to be engraved with their names as a seal would be engraved, to represent the twelve tribes.
Exodus 28: 28-29, Then bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the vest with a blue cord, so that it can be on the vest's decorated belt, and so that the breastplate won't swing loose from the vest. 29 Aharon will carry the names of the sons of Isra'el on the breastplate for judging, over his heart, when he enters the Holy Place, as a continual reminder before ADONAI.
The priestly garments contained two especially important items. The first is the ephod commonly known in Hebrew as a vest or ritual vest and the second item is the breastplate or the choshen. This High Priestly Breastplate is known as the Coshen Mishpat or Breastplate of Judgement. The ephod had two straps that went over each shoulder each containing a stone engraved with six of the twelve names of the Sons of Israel. They are Remembrance Stones.
1 Peter 2:4, As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him.
We are chosen; male, female, Jew or Gentile, like one of those stones, engraved and placed in the setting of the High Priest’s garment. We belong to the L-rd. Yeshua is the living stone and we are in Him; like “little Yeshua’s” because we are part of Him. We are sons, and part of His Body.
Hebrews 7:24-25, But because he lives forever, his position as cohen does not pass on to someone else; 25 and consequently, he is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him; since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
Yeshua is our High Priest representing us and ever lives to make intercession for us. We are on His shoulders which speaks of His strength and power. We are engraved, not just written, sealed by the Holy Spirit to the Day of Redemption. If we were just written we could be erased, but we are engraved and belong to Him forever. We are fixed and settled. Our names are engraved on the Messiah!
John 10:27-30, “My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father's hands. 30 I and the Father are one."
The Strength of the L-rd; He carries us on His shoulders. He completely able to save us and represents us before the Father now. G-d remembers us as His sons and daughters! Yeshua represents us in Heaven and we are here now on earth in His stead!
2 Corinthians 5:20, Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, "Be reconciled to God.”
While the stones on the shoulder speak of His Strength, the Breastplate of Judgement was upon His heart and speaks of His love!
Isn’t it wonderful to know that He bears us on His heart? Now the judgement is without condemnation for those in Messiah Yeshua! Judgements have to be thrown out of court because we are made whole, righteous, and justified by His blood. See Romans 8:33,34, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53 and Romans 8:3,4.
Power and love!
Psalm 62:11-12, God has spoken once, I have heard it twice: strength belongs to God. 12 Also to you, Adonai, belongs grace (can also be translated as love); for you reward all as their deeds deserve.
Carried on His shoulders but borne on His heart!
Further Reading: Isaiah 41:8-9, Psalm 139:16, Song of Songs 8:6, Nehemiah 13:14, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:3-7, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, Hebrews 9:24, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30, Numbers 7:9, 1 Chronicles 15:15, Genesis 9:15,16, Hebrews 8:12, Hebrews 10:17, Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 6:10
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