Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
3/24/12
In our modern society we have become unfamiliar with what is necessary for the provision of meat; namely, slaughter. That may sound graphic and it is. In the Temple sacrifices, slaughter was a daily occurrence and involved the very graphic display of animal death and processing.
Leviticus 17:11, ‘For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for yourselves; for it is the blood that makes atonement because of the life.’
After the destruction of the Temple, Judaism has been redefined to replace animal and other sacrifices with prayer, repentance and good deeds as a means for atonement.
Leviticus chapters one through five delineate five types of sacrifices acceptable to the L-RD, including the voluntary offerings burnt (olah), grain (mincha) and peace (shlamin) as well as the obligatory offerings of sin (chetat) and guilt (asham).
The Cohen was the mediator between G-d and men for the sacrifices. Today our mediator is Yeshua the Messiah!
1 Timothy 2:5, ‘For God is one;a and there is but one Mediator between God and humanity, Yeshua the Messiah, himself human.’
The sin and guilt offerings can be viewed as a parallel to our salvation. At the point of our salvation we know that we are forgiven, brought near to G-d and our debt is paid and ‘it is finished’.
Hebrews 10:18, ‘Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed.’
The burnt, grain and peace offerings can be viewed as a parallel to our sanctification. As we progress in our sanctification we know that we are growing in our faith, staying close to the L-rd and not only is our debt paid but we are ‘being finished’ in him.
What evidence can we have regarding our salvation?
Ezekiel 36:25-27, ‘Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them.’
2 Corinthians 5:17, ‘Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation - the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!’
Evidence of salvation is clearly defined through the two Scriptures here. We have been cleansed of sin, we receive a new heart and also receive the Ruach HaKodesh which enables us to obey G-d. As well, all things are made new; we are a new creation in Messiah!
What evidence accompanies our sanctification?
The first evidence is a hunger for the Word of G-d.
1Peter 2:2, ‘and be like newborn babies, thirsty for the pure milk of the Word; so that by it, you may grow up into deliverance.’
Isaiah 66:2, ‘Didn't I myself make all these things? This is how they all came to be," says ADONAI. "The kind of person on whom I look with favor is one with a poor and humble spirit, who trembles at my word.’
Secondly, evidence of sanctification includes conviction regarding sin. We aren’t happy doing something displeasing to G-d.
Thirdly, we desire to please G-d. We aren’t perfect, but we desire to please Him by obeying Him; we have a real desire to please Him.
1John 2:3, ‘The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands.’
James 1:22, ‘Don't deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it!’
Additionally, one being sanctified has a desire for fellowship and has love for fellow believers.
1John 3:14, ‘We, for our part, know that we have passed from death to life because we keep loving the brothers. The person who fails to keep on loving is still under the power of death.’
Further, one being sanctified has the witness of the Ruach HaKodesh that we are a Child of G-d.
Romans 8:15-16, ‘For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!"). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God.’
Also, those being sanctified believe in Yeshua as Divine and Messiah.
1John 4:2, ‘Here is how you recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges that Yeshua the Messiah came as a human being is from God.’
Micah 5:2, ‘But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.’
Isaiah 9:6, ‘For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi-'Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace].’
Sanctification also brings a love for all people!
1John 4:7-9. ‘Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God. 8 Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love. 9 Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so that through him we might have life.’
Our salvation and sanctification are similar to the sacrifices in the Temple in that the process creates a sweet fragrance and sweet aroma pleasing to the L-rd. We press on yielding and growing in Him.
Philippians 1:9-11, ‘And this is my prayer: that your love may more and more overflow in fullness of knowledge and depth of discernment, 10 so that you will be able to determine what is best and thus be pure and without blame for the Day of the Messiah, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah - to the glory and praise of God.’
Further Reading: Ezra 6:9-10, Isaiah 53:10-11, Ezekiel 20:40-42, 2Corinthians 2:15-16, 5:9, 5:21, Ephesians 5:1-2, 4:29-30, Hebrews 6:9, Psalm 27:4, 119:11, James 1:21, 1Peter 1:22, 3:18, 1John 4:20, 4:2, 5:21, 3:20, 2Timothy 2:19, Genesis 3:15, Hosea 6:3, Amos 5:4-6a, John 8:31-32, Colossians 1:6, Ecclesiastes 7:10,
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
What is Your Gift?
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
3/17/12
Caution is recommended when evaluating the gifts the L-rd has given us so that we may not be swayed to focus on weighing value more toward spiritual gifts as compared to physical gifts. Physical gifts can be equally valuable.
Exodus 35:29-35, ‘Thus every man and woman of the people of Isra'el whose heart impelled him to contribute to any of the work ADONAI had ordered through Moshe brought it to ADONAI as a voluntary offering. 30 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. 32 He is a master of design in gold, silver, bronze, 33 cutting precious stones to be set, woodcarving and every other craft. 34 [ADONAI] has also given him and Oholi'av the son of Achisamakh, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with the skill needed for every kind of work, whether done by an artisan, a designer, an embroiderer using blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen, or a weaver - they have the skill for every kind of work and design.’
It is interesting that in this chapter of Scripture, thirteen times it is mentioned how the people’s hearts were stirred. Seven of the mentions were ‘wise heart’ or ‘chacham lev’ which can be translated as ‘divine intelligence’, three mentions were ‘nasa lev’ or ‘uplifted heart’ which can be translated as ‘divine enthusiasm’ and three additional mentions were ‘nadav lev’ or ‘willing heart’ which can be translated ‘availability to G-d’.
What constitutes a wise heart?
Proverbs 11:30, ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.’
Do we have a wise heart? Are we leading people to the L-rd?
G-d uses people and He wants to use you! We are all in a ministry of some sort and are called to serve Him.
1 Peter 4:10, ‘As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God's many-sided grace.’
As expressed in Hebrews 5, we can lead if we are willing to b taught. We should also be disciplining others in some capacity because we all have been given different gifts.
If we are willing, He will enable us to do what He has for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10, ‘For we are of God's making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.’
What is your gift?
Your gift is not from you but from G-d. Your gift is not for you but for G-d’s glory through Yeshua and for His Body to edify and build each other up. As we give ourselves to G-d, He reveals the gifts He has given us.
Nehemiah gave himself to G-d’s work and he enlisted help.
Nehemiah 2:17,18, ‘Afterwards, I said to them, "You see what a sad state we are in, how Yerushalayim lies in ruins, with it gates burned up. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Yerushalayim, so that we won't continue in disgrace." 18 I also told them of the gracious hand of my God that had been on me, also what the king had said to me. They said, "Let's start building at once," and energetically set out to do this good work.’
In the very next chapter of Nehemiah, it is recorded the men who worked together to build the wall around Jerusalem. Twelve times the Hebrew word, ‘al yad’ was used to describe how the men were aligned next to one another building the wall. ‘Al yad’ means ‘upon his hand’. They were united and joined together for the purposed G-d had placed in their hearts to build the wall together. Additionally, sixteen times the word ‘achar’ was used which means ‘behind, defer’. They were behind each other; building each other up as they built the wall.
Thirty times the word ‘chazak’ was used which means ‘repair, strengthen’. Their work was strong; but their strength was derived from the L-rd!
We are called to strengthen each other too!
1 Corinthians 3:5-7, ‘After all, what is Apollos? What is Sha'ul? Only servants through whom you came to trust. Indeed, it was the Lord who brought you to trust through one of us or through another. 6 I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 So neither the planter nor the waterer is anything, only God who makes things grow.’
Man is not the issue, but rather the agent by which G-d works His will and way.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15, ‘Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. 13 But each one's work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire - the fire will test the quality of each one's work. 14 If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; 15 if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire.’
The quality of our work will be revealed through the test of fire! What kind of work am I building and what am I putting into it? Am I giving my best to G-d or am I giving Him the leftovers?
If what we are doing it through Him and in Him, it will last and be eternal. How can we know? By giving ourselves to Him, He will show us!
Further Reading: 1 Timothy 4:8, Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 4:15,29, Matthew 18:15, Galatians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 4:15, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 8:6, Romans 14:12, Matthew 25:23
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
3/17/12
Caution is recommended when evaluating the gifts the L-rd has given us so that we may not be swayed to focus on weighing value more toward spiritual gifts as compared to physical gifts. Physical gifts can be equally valuable.
Exodus 35:29-35, ‘Thus every man and woman of the people of Isra'el whose heart impelled him to contribute to any of the work ADONAI had ordered through Moshe brought it to ADONAI as a voluntary offering. 30 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. 32 He is a master of design in gold, silver, bronze, 33 cutting precious stones to be set, woodcarving and every other craft. 34 [ADONAI] has also given him and Oholi'av the son of Achisamakh, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with the skill needed for every kind of work, whether done by an artisan, a designer, an embroiderer using blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen, or a weaver - they have the skill for every kind of work and design.’
It is interesting that in this chapter of Scripture, thirteen times it is mentioned how the people’s hearts were stirred. Seven of the mentions were ‘wise heart’ or ‘chacham lev’ which can be translated as ‘divine intelligence’, three mentions were ‘nasa lev’ or ‘uplifted heart’ which can be translated as ‘divine enthusiasm’ and three additional mentions were ‘nadav lev’ or ‘willing heart’ which can be translated ‘availability to G-d’.
What constitutes a wise heart?
Proverbs 11:30, ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.’
Do we have a wise heart? Are we leading people to the L-rd?
G-d uses people and He wants to use you! We are all in a ministry of some sort and are called to serve Him.
1 Peter 4:10, ‘As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God's many-sided grace.’
As expressed in Hebrews 5, we can lead if we are willing to b taught. We should also be disciplining others in some capacity because we all have been given different gifts.
If we are willing, He will enable us to do what He has for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10, ‘For we are of God's making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.’
What is your gift?
Your gift is not from you but from G-d. Your gift is not for you but for G-d’s glory through Yeshua and for His Body to edify and build each other up. As we give ourselves to G-d, He reveals the gifts He has given us.
Nehemiah gave himself to G-d’s work and he enlisted help.
Nehemiah 2:17,18, ‘Afterwards, I said to them, "You see what a sad state we are in, how Yerushalayim lies in ruins, with it gates burned up. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Yerushalayim, so that we won't continue in disgrace." 18 I also told them of the gracious hand of my God that had been on me, also what the king had said to me. They said, "Let's start building at once," and energetically set out to do this good work.’
In the very next chapter of Nehemiah, it is recorded the men who worked together to build the wall around Jerusalem. Twelve times the Hebrew word, ‘al yad’ was used to describe how the men were aligned next to one another building the wall. ‘Al yad’ means ‘upon his hand’. They were united and joined together for the purposed G-d had placed in their hearts to build the wall together. Additionally, sixteen times the word ‘achar’ was used which means ‘behind, defer’. They were behind each other; building each other up as they built the wall.
Thirty times the word ‘chazak’ was used which means ‘repair, strengthen’. Their work was strong; but their strength was derived from the L-rd!
We are called to strengthen each other too!
1 Corinthians 3:5-7, ‘After all, what is Apollos? What is Sha'ul? Only servants through whom you came to trust. Indeed, it was the Lord who brought you to trust through one of us or through another. 6 I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 So neither the planter nor the waterer is anything, only God who makes things grow.’
Man is not the issue, but rather the agent by which G-d works His will and way.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15, ‘Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. 13 But each one's work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire - the fire will test the quality of each one's work. 14 If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; 15 if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire.’
The quality of our work will be revealed through the test of fire! What kind of work am I building and what am I putting into it? Am I giving my best to G-d or am I giving Him the leftovers?
If what we are doing it through Him and in Him, it will last and be eternal. How can we know? By giving ourselves to Him, He will show us!
Further Reading: 1 Timothy 4:8, Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 4:15,29, Matthew 18:15, Galatians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 4:15, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 8:6, Romans 14:12, Matthew 25:23
Monday, February 27, 2012
Where Do We Meet with G-d?
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
2/25/12
The Mishkan was the portable Tabernacle or tent built by the Israelites in the desert and was a place for G-d’s presence to dwell. It was divided by curtains into an inner and outer court. The inner court held the Ark which contained the two Stone Tablets and the outer court contained the Bread of the Presence, the Menorah and the Golden Altar of Incense.
The focus of the Tabernacle was to worship and to enter into His Presence and manifest His Divine Forgiveness.
Exodus 25:22, ‘There I will meet with you. I will speak with you from above the ark-cover, from between the two k'ruvim which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Isra'el.’
Later Solomon’s Temple was built as a permanent structure but was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. and then later, Herod’s Temple was built but was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. It was at that time the centrality of Jewish life was shifted to the synagogues.
The Tabernacle was not very large; measuring approximately 30 by 15 feet in the outer court and 15 by 15 feet in the inner court. The Ark or ‘arown in Hebrew was about 45 inches wide, and 27 inches high and deep.
The primary purpose of the Mishkan was to provide a place where man might meet with G-d. It was not intended to be a place for horizontal interaction among people, but a vertical intersection with G-d Himself!
The Ark Cover or Lid above the Ark is the Kaporet; the place of atonement! This is misinterpreted as the Mercy Seat. The correct word is Kaporet or Place of Atonement.
It is where the cherubim were looking down at the blood shed and placed by the High Priest once yearly on Yom Kippur. G-d would look down and sins would be forgiven!
G-d said He would meet with us there. The word for ‘meet’ in Hebrew is ‘ya’ad’ which is the root word from which ‘moadim’ is derived and is used in Leviticus 23 when the festivals of the L-rd are described as appointed times when G-d meets with us. In meeting Him we transcend time and space and really enter in what may be conveyed as a fifth dimension.
Ya’ad reversed is Yada which the word for knowing, intimate union and knowledge as was described with Adam and Eve; we know the L-rd as He speaks to us and reveals Himself to us.
In Exodus 25:22, G-d says not only will He meet with us but He will also speak to us. The word used is ‘davar’. Davar means the real thing! He only speaks the real thing or He doesn’t speak! When G-d speaks we are changed.
The Kaporet was the supreme feature of the Mishkan; the true meeting place from where He would speak.
‘Aron represents G-d’s holiness with the Torah (tablets) or Law inside. The Kaporet or lid represents G-d’s grace, forgiveness and atonement. We don’t meet with Him in our sins or our own righteousness! We only meet with Him is in His finished work where the blood has been placed on the Kaporet.
Romans 3:25, ‘God put Yeshua forward as the kaparah for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death. This vindicated God's righteousness; because, in his forbearance, he had passed over [with neither punishment nor remission] the sins people had committed in the past.’
The Greek word for kaporah is ‘hilastērion’; the place of propitiation. Atonement provided by offering a substitute.
Numbers 7:89, ‘When Moshe went into the tent of meeting in order to speak with ADONAI, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony, from between the two k'ruvim; and he spoke to him.’
The wings of the cherubim formed a canopy approximately 30-40 inches across with the angel’s faces looking downward at the kaporet; looking at the blood having been placed there. They were looking at the forgiveness of sin!
1Peter 1:12, ‘It was revealed to them that their service when they spoke about these things was not for their own benefit, but for yours. And these same things have now been proclaimed to you by those who communicated the Good News to you through the Ruach HaKodesh sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things!’
It is as if the angels long to understand the amazing finished work of the Messiah. Have you come to the realization that your sins are truly forgiven in Him? It is almost incomprehensible how much He loves us and it is by His Mercy He has forgiven us not by our works.
1 John 4:10, ‘Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the kapparah for our sins.’
Romans 3:24-25, ‘By God's grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshua. 25 God put Yeshua forward as the kaparah for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death. This vindicated God's righteousness; because, in his forbearance, he had passed over [with neither punishment nor remission] the sins people had committed in the past.’
We meet the L-rd in His finished work!
How did Eliyahu (Elijah) meet and hear from the L-rd?
As recorded in 1 Kings 19, Eliyahu was full of self-pity. Ironically, the events recorded in 1Kings 19 were immediately after an amazing victory against the prophets of Ba’al. What happened to make Eliyahu loose confidence in the L-rd so much so that he wanted to die?
1 Kings 19:2, ‘Then Izevel sent a messenger to say to Eliyahu, "May the gods do terrible things to me and worse ones besides if by this time tomorrow I haven't taken your life, just as you took theirs!"’
The words of a powerful woman greatly affected him!
1 Kings 19:4b ‘"Enough!" he said. "Now, ADONAI, take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors."’
This passage could also be translated: ‘Too much, now, L-RD. Take my life. I’m no good.’
Twice in this chapter an angel ‘jolted’ him to get up and eat! He did eat and drink what was provided him by the angel and was able to travel for forty days and nights on that provision until he came to a cave and then the L-rd spoke to him.
1 Kings 19:9, ‘There he went into a cave and spent the night. Then the word of ADONAI came to him; he said to him, "What are you doing here, Eliyahu?"’
G-d was questioning him getting him to look at himself! He was disheartened, cynical, hard-hearted and judgmental.
The passage continues as the L-rd takes him out of the cave to see the mighty blast of wind, an earthquake, fire and then he hears a quiet subdued voice!
1 Kings 19:12-13, ‘After the earthquake, fire broke out; but ADONAI was not in the fire. And after the fire came a quiet, subdued voice. 13 When Eliyahu heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, stepped out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Eliyahu?"’
It was in the still silent sound which can also be interpreted as the voice of crushed silence that the L-rd spoke!
Even so, he laments that he is the only one left. He was self absorbed! But G-d has no part of his complaint. Gives him an assignment as well as instructions to raise up Elisha!
As with Eliyahu, G-d makes the point that it isn’t all about us and that we are not indispensable. We need to get busy serving G-d and raising up others!
Further Reading: Psalm 80:1, 99:1, John 19:30, Galatians 2:16, 1 Chronicles 28:11, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:2, 1 John 4:19, Revelation 1:5, 13:8, John 3:14-15, 17, Daniel 10:19-20, Psalm 62:11-12
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
2/25/12
The Mishkan was the portable Tabernacle or tent built by the Israelites in the desert and was a place for G-d’s presence to dwell. It was divided by curtains into an inner and outer court. The inner court held the Ark which contained the two Stone Tablets and the outer court contained the Bread of the Presence, the Menorah and the Golden Altar of Incense.
The focus of the Tabernacle was to worship and to enter into His Presence and manifest His Divine Forgiveness.
Exodus 25:22, ‘There I will meet with you. I will speak with you from above the ark-cover, from between the two k'ruvim which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Isra'el.’
Later Solomon’s Temple was built as a permanent structure but was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. and then later, Herod’s Temple was built but was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. It was at that time the centrality of Jewish life was shifted to the synagogues.
The Tabernacle was not very large; measuring approximately 30 by 15 feet in the outer court and 15 by 15 feet in the inner court. The Ark or ‘arown in Hebrew was about 45 inches wide, and 27 inches high and deep.
The primary purpose of the Mishkan was to provide a place where man might meet with G-d. It was not intended to be a place for horizontal interaction among people, but a vertical intersection with G-d Himself!
The Ark Cover or Lid above the Ark is the Kaporet; the place of atonement! This is misinterpreted as the Mercy Seat. The correct word is Kaporet or Place of Atonement.
It is where the cherubim were looking down at the blood shed and placed by the High Priest once yearly on Yom Kippur. G-d would look down and sins would be forgiven!
G-d said He would meet with us there. The word for ‘meet’ in Hebrew is ‘ya’ad’ which is the root word from which ‘moadim’ is derived and is used in Leviticus 23 when the festivals of the L-rd are described as appointed times when G-d meets with us. In meeting Him we transcend time and space and really enter in what may be conveyed as a fifth dimension.
Ya’ad reversed is Yada which the word for knowing, intimate union and knowledge as was described with Adam and Eve; we know the L-rd as He speaks to us and reveals Himself to us.
In Exodus 25:22, G-d says not only will He meet with us but He will also speak to us. The word used is ‘davar’. Davar means the real thing! He only speaks the real thing or He doesn’t speak! When G-d speaks we are changed.
The Kaporet was the supreme feature of the Mishkan; the true meeting place from where He would speak.
‘Aron represents G-d’s holiness with the Torah (tablets) or Law inside. The Kaporet or lid represents G-d’s grace, forgiveness and atonement. We don’t meet with Him in our sins or our own righteousness! We only meet with Him is in His finished work where the blood has been placed on the Kaporet.
Romans 3:25, ‘God put Yeshua forward as the kaparah for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death. This vindicated God's righteousness; because, in his forbearance, he had passed over [with neither punishment nor remission] the sins people had committed in the past.’
The Greek word for kaporah is ‘hilastērion’; the place of propitiation. Atonement provided by offering a substitute.
Numbers 7:89, ‘When Moshe went into the tent of meeting in order to speak with ADONAI, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony, from between the two k'ruvim; and he spoke to him.’
The wings of the cherubim formed a canopy approximately 30-40 inches across with the angel’s faces looking downward at the kaporet; looking at the blood having been placed there. They were looking at the forgiveness of sin!
1Peter 1:12, ‘It was revealed to them that their service when they spoke about these things was not for their own benefit, but for yours. And these same things have now been proclaimed to you by those who communicated the Good News to you through the Ruach HaKodesh sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things!’
It is as if the angels long to understand the amazing finished work of the Messiah. Have you come to the realization that your sins are truly forgiven in Him? It is almost incomprehensible how much He loves us and it is by His Mercy He has forgiven us not by our works.
1 John 4:10, ‘Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the kapparah for our sins.’
Romans 3:24-25, ‘By God's grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshua. 25 God put Yeshua forward as the kaparah for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death. This vindicated God's righteousness; because, in his forbearance, he had passed over [with neither punishment nor remission] the sins people had committed in the past.’
We meet the L-rd in His finished work!
How did Eliyahu (Elijah) meet and hear from the L-rd?
As recorded in 1 Kings 19, Eliyahu was full of self-pity. Ironically, the events recorded in 1Kings 19 were immediately after an amazing victory against the prophets of Ba’al. What happened to make Eliyahu loose confidence in the L-rd so much so that he wanted to die?
1 Kings 19:2, ‘Then Izevel sent a messenger to say to Eliyahu, "May the gods do terrible things to me and worse ones besides if by this time tomorrow I haven't taken your life, just as you took theirs!"’
The words of a powerful woman greatly affected him!
1 Kings 19:4b ‘"Enough!" he said. "Now, ADONAI, take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors."’
This passage could also be translated: ‘Too much, now, L-RD. Take my life. I’m no good.’
Twice in this chapter an angel ‘jolted’ him to get up and eat! He did eat and drink what was provided him by the angel and was able to travel for forty days and nights on that provision until he came to a cave and then the L-rd spoke to him.
1 Kings 19:9, ‘There he went into a cave and spent the night. Then the word of ADONAI came to him; he said to him, "What are you doing here, Eliyahu?"’
G-d was questioning him getting him to look at himself! He was disheartened, cynical, hard-hearted and judgmental.
The passage continues as the L-rd takes him out of the cave to see the mighty blast of wind, an earthquake, fire and then he hears a quiet subdued voice!
1 Kings 19:12-13, ‘After the earthquake, fire broke out; but ADONAI was not in the fire. And after the fire came a quiet, subdued voice. 13 When Eliyahu heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, stepped out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Eliyahu?"’
It was in the still silent sound which can also be interpreted as the voice of crushed silence that the L-rd spoke!
Even so, he laments that he is the only one left. He was self absorbed! But G-d has no part of his complaint. Gives him an assignment as well as instructions to raise up Elisha!
As with Eliyahu, G-d makes the point that it isn’t all about us and that we are not indispensable. We need to get busy serving G-d and raising up others!
Further Reading: Psalm 80:1, 99:1, John 19:30, Galatians 2:16, 1 Chronicles 28:11, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:2, 1 John 4:19, Revelation 1:5, 13:8, John 3:14-15, 17, Daniel 10:19-20, Psalm 62:11-12
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Not Good
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
2/11/12
Yitro, commonly known as Jethro, was Moses’ father in law.
Exodus 18:1, ‘Now Yitro the priest of Midyan, Moshe's father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moshe and for Isra'el his people, how ADONAI had brought Isra'el out of Egypt.’
Yitro heard what G-d had done and went to find them! He was compelled to go find Moses and the Israelites because he was a seeker of truth.
Exodus 18:5, ‘Yitro Moshe's father-in-law brought Moshe's sons and wife to him in the desert where he was encamped, at the mountain of God.’
Notice how Moses greets Yitro.
Exodus 18:7, ‘Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law, prostrated himself and kissed him. Then, after inquiring of each other's welfare, they entered the tent.’
Here is Moses right after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and witnessing all the miracles there, but he submits to Yitro out of respect, honor and gratitude.
Moses tells Yitro all G-d had done. Notice Moses was not focused on all he had done or what happened to Moses, but his focus was on the L-rd and what He had done!
Exodus 18:8, ‘Moshe told his father-in-law all that ADONAI had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Isra'el's sake, all the hardships they had suffered while traveling and how ADONAI had rescued them.’
Yitro listened to Moses’ account and then responding in praise!
Exodus 18:9-10, ‘Moshe told his father-in-law all that ADONAI had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Isra'el's sake, all the hardships they had suffered while traveling and how ADONAI had rescued them. 9 Yitro rejoiced over all the good that ADONAI had done for Isra'el by rescuing them from the Egyptians.’
It is at this point we see a remarkable confession! Yitro puts his trust in the G-d of Israel! Now he knows!
Exodus 18:11, ‘“Now I know that ADONAI is greater than all other gods, because he rescued those who were treated so arrogantly."’
He then demonstrates his faith by his works.
Exodus 18:12, ‘Yitro Moshe's father-in-law brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aharon came with all the leaders of Isra'el to share the meal before God with Moshe's father-in-law.’
The Hebrew word for burnt offering is ‘olah’; a sacrifice in which the entire offering was burnt to a crisp with nothing left. This word is related to ‘aliyah’ which means to ascend or go up.
Because Yitro was a seeker of truth, a good listener, one who responded to the L-rd’s word and work, confessed in Whom he placed his trust and was a doer of the word or acted upon it, he had discernment and was able to give Moses valuable advice.
Yitro watches at Moses judges the people.
Exodus 18:13-17, ‘The following day Moshe sat to settle disputes for the people, while the people stood around Moshe from morning till evening. 14 When Moshe's father-in-law saw all that he was doing to the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit there alone, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?" 15 Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God's laws and teachings."’
Yitro announces ‘Lo tov’ or not good! And he tells him why it isn’t good.
Exodus 18:18-19, ‘Moshe's father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good. 18 You will certainly wear yourself out - and not only yourself, but these people here with you as well. It's too much for you - you can't do it alone, by yourself.’
Why do we wear out and experience fatigue? Do we insist on doing everything ourselves? Maybe we have a ‘savior complex’ thinking we are the only ones who can do whatever it is we are doing. We will wear ourselves out!
Maybe we tend to be like Marta as recorded in Luke 10 rather than like her sister Miryam who sat at the feet of Yeshua. Maybe we are going about ‘nervous service’ trying to do it all ourselves. A good leader delegates to other people things that need to be done so the leader can better do all the things only he can do.
Another reason for burning out is that we tend not to wait on the L-rd. We attempt to do His service in our strength! However, if we wait on the L-rd He promises to renew us!
Isaiah 40:28-31, ‘Haven't you known, haven't you heard that the everlasting God, ADONAI, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary? His understanding cannot be fathomed. 29 He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. 30 Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in ADONAI will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles' wings; when they are running they won't grow weary, when they are walking they won't get tired.’
Another reason for burn out is getting discouraged as we can loose sight of the reward.
Galatians 6:9, ‘So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don't give up, we will in due time reap the harvest.’
When we obey Him and draw strength from Him, He calls us His special treasure or ‘segullah’.
Exodus 19:5-6, ‘“Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.'These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el.’"’
In order to avoid ‘lo tov’ or ‘not good’, we must learn to delegate properly. We must pray before picking as Yeshua did recorded in Luke 6. He prayed and was given wisdom and discernment and prophetic insight before choosing His talmidim.
Delegate to those who are people of competence and character; who have been given gifts and have demonstrated wisely the fruits of their gifts. Those who are fearers of G-d, mighty men who are honest and firm men who are faithful.
Moses was humble and took Yitro’s advice!
Exodus 18:24, ‘Moshe paid attention to his father-in-law's counsel and did everything he said.’
Following these examples, wise delegation was recorded in Acts 6 and the Gospel spread.
Acts 6:7, ‘So the word of God continued to spread. The number of talmidim in Yerushalayim increased rapidly, and a large crowd of cohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.’
Let us take heed to this wise counsel.
Further Reading: James 1:21-22, John 9:25, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Malachi 3:17, Revelation 22:12, Proverbs 29:25
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
2/11/12
Yitro, commonly known as Jethro, was Moses’ father in law.
Exodus 18:1, ‘Now Yitro the priest of Midyan, Moshe's father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moshe and for Isra'el his people, how ADONAI had brought Isra'el out of Egypt.’
Yitro heard what G-d had done and went to find them! He was compelled to go find Moses and the Israelites because he was a seeker of truth.
Exodus 18:5, ‘Yitro Moshe's father-in-law brought Moshe's sons and wife to him in the desert where he was encamped, at the mountain of God.’
Notice how Moses greets Yitro.
Exodus 18:7, ‘Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law, prostrated himself and kissed him. Then, after inquiring of each other's welfare, they entered the tent.’
Here is Moses right after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and witnessing all the miracles there, but he submits to Yitro out of respect, honor and gratitude.
Moses tells Yitro all G-d had done. Notice Moses was not focused on all he had done or what happened to Moses, but his focus was on the L-rd and what He had done!
Exodus 18:8, ‘Moshe told his father-in-law all that ADONAI had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Isra'el's sake, all the hardships they had suffered while traveling and how ADONAI had rescued them.’
Yitro listened to Moses’ account and then responding in praise!
Exodus 18:9-10, ‘Moshe told his father-in-law all that ADONAI had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Isra'el's sake, all the hardships they had suffered while traveling and how ADONAI had rescued them. 9 Yitro rejoiced over all the good that ADONAI had done for Isra'el by rescuing them from the Egyptians.’
It is at this point we see a remarkable confession! Yitro puts his trust in the G-d of Israel! Now he knows!
Exodus 18:11, ‘“Now I know that ADONAI is greater than all other gods, because he rescued those who were treated so arrogantly."’
He then demonstrates his faith by his works.
Exodus 18:12, ‘Yitro Moshe's father-in-law brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aharon came with all the leaders of Isra'el to share the meal before God with Moshe's father-in-law.’
The Hebrew word for burnt offering is ‘olah’; a sacrifice in which the entire offering was burnt to a crisp with nothing left. This word is related to ‘aliyah’ which means to ascend or go up.
Because Yitro was a seeker of truth, a good listener, one who responded to the L-rd’s word and work, confessed in Whom he placed his trust and was a doer of the word or acted upon it, he had discernment and was able to give Moses valuable advice.
Yitro watches at Moses judges the people.
Exodus 18:13-17, ‘The following day Moshe sat to settle disputes for the people, while the people stood around Moshe from morning till evening. 14 When Moshe's father-in-law saw all that he was doing to the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit there alone, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?" 15 Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God's laws and teachings."’
Yitro announces ‘Lo tov’ or not good! And he tells him why it isn’t good.
Exodus 18:18-19, ‘Moshe's father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good. 18 You will certainly wear yourself out - and not only yourself, but these people here with you as well. It's too much for you - you can't do it alone, by yourself.’
Why do we wear out and experience fatigue? Do we insist on doing everything ourselves? Maybe we have a ‘savior complex’ thinking we are the only ones who can do whatever it is we are doing. We will wear ourselves out!
Maybe we tend to be like Marta as recorded in Luke 10 rather than like her sister Miryam who sat at the feet of Yeshua. Maybe we are going about ‘nervous service’ trying to do it all ourselves. A good leader delegates to other people things that need to be done so the leader can better do all the things only he can do.
Another reason for burning out is that we tend not to wait on the L-rd. We attempt to do His service in our strength! However, if we wait on the L-rd He promises to renew us!
Isaiah 40:28-31, ‘Haven't you known, haven't you heard that the everlasting God, ADONAI, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary? His understanding cannot be fathomed. 29 He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. 30 Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in ADONAI will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles' wings; when they are running they won't grow weary, when they are walking they won't get tired.’
Another reason for burn out is getting discouraged as we can loose sight of the reward.
Galatians 6:9, ‘So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don't give up, we will in due time reap the harvest.’
When we obey Him and draw strength from Him, He calls us His special treasure or ‘segullah’.
Exodus 19:5-6, ‘“Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.'These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el.’"’
In order to avoid ‘lo tov’ or ‘not good’, we must learn to delegate properly. We must pray before picking as Yeshua did recorded in Luke 6. He prayed and was given wisdom and discernment and prophetic insight before choosing His talmidim.
Delegate to those who are people of competence and character; who have been given gifts and have demonstrated wisely the fruits of their gifts. Those who are fearers of G-d, mighty men who are honest and firm men who are faithful.
Moses was humble and took Yitro’s advice!
Exodus 18:24, ‘Moshe paid attention to his father-in-law's counsel and did everything he said.’
Following these examples, wise delegation was recorded in Acts 6 and the Gospel spread.
Acts 6:7, ‘So the word of God continued to spread. The number of talmidim in Yerushalayim increased rapidly, and a large crowd of cohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.’
Let us take heed to this wise counsel.
Further Reading: James 1:21-22, John 9:25, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Malachi 3:17, Revelation 22:12, Proverbs 29:25
Monday, February 6, 2012
When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
2/4/2012
Just three short days after experiencing the miracle of deliverance from the Egyptians by passing through the Sea on dry ground, the Israelites began complaining.
Exodus 15:24, ‘The people grumbled against Moshe and asked, "What are we to drink?"’
How quickly we forget what He has done for us! How can we keep from sinning? Treasuring the Word in our hearts, persevering through trials, singing the Word to Him and even dancing like Miryam did in Exodus 15 can help us keep from sinning.
Psalm 119:11, ‘I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won't sin against you.’
Revelation 3:10, ‘Because you did obey my message about persevering, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world to put the people living on earth to the test.’
Colossians 3:16, ‘let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts.’
What we celebrate in our victories we often forget in our difficulties! This was clearly demonstrated by the Israelites when they complained to Moses about the lack of water just three days after their deliverance.
Three days before, the Israelites were trapped at the Sea and were overwhelmed in fear as the Egyptians approached. They were certain they would all die. But our end is His beginning if we turn ourselves over to Him!
2 Corinthians 1:9, ‘In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead!’
When the Israelites were crying out in fear, Moses lifted up the Standard!
Exodus 14:11-13, ‘and said to Moshe, "Was it because there weren't enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? Why have you done this to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we'll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? It would be better for us to be the Egyptians' slaves than to die in the desert!" 13 Moshe answered the people, "Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how ADONAI is going to save you. He will do it today - today you have seen the Egyptians, but you will never see them again!’
When the enemy comes in like a flood, lift up Yeshua; He is the Standard!
Isaiah 59:19, (New King James Version), ‘So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.’
Philippians 1:20, ‘It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead.’
As we lift up Yeshua, G-d takes care of the enemy!
Learn from Messiah! What did He do every day?
Isaiah 50:4-5, ‘Adonai ELOHIM has given me the ability to speak as a man well taught, so that I, with my words, know how to sustain the weary. Each morning he awakens my ear to hear like those who are taught. 5 Adonai ELOHIM has opened my ear, and I neither rebelled nor turned away.’
He listened before He spoke as should we! Weigh your words because words are weighty!
Matthew 12:36, ‘“Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken.”’
The Israelites spoke out of their own flesh and fear and Moses spoke out of the L-rd’s leading and Life.
Moses said five things to the people and then the L-rd said something to Moses.
Do not fear, ‘yarah’, stand yourselves up, ‘yatsav’, see His salvation/deliverance , ‘ra’ah yeshu’ah’, the L-rd will fight for you, ‘lacham’ and you will be quiet, ‘charaysh’.
Just as the the L-rd saw to the deliverance of the people at the Sea, He did so as recorded in Genesis 22 at the provision of the Ram in place of Isaac! The Hebrew word used in this passage is also ‘yarah’.
The word ‘lacham’ is similar to ‘lechem’ or bread in Hebrew, and in this passage can be translated, ‘He will eat the enemy up’; so don’t fear!
When Moses said, ‘charaysh’, he was telling them not to speak or hear; not to communicate at all!
What did the L-rd say to Moses?
Exodus 14:15, ‘“ADONAI asked Moshe, "Why are you crying to me? Tell the people of Isra'el to go forward!”’
The Hebrew word to go forward is ‘nasa’, which means to pull out (tent pegs) and set forward.
There is a time to stand still and a time to go forward. In this case, the L-rd was directing them to go forward so they would not be stuck or paralyzed as they witnessed the great miracle.
The Israelites did go forward; their crossing may have taken the entire night. Notice how they were protected.
Exodus 14:19-20, ‘Next, the angel of God, who was going ahead of the camp of Isra'el, moved away and went behind them; and the column of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It stationed itself between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Isra'el - there was cloud and darkness here, but light by night there; so that the one did not come near the other all night long.’
Isaiah 52:12, ‘You need not leave in haste, you do not have to flee; for ADONAI will go ahead of you, and the God of Isra'el will also be behind you.’
When the enemy comes in like a flood, we know that G-d will protect us! Raise up the Standard, pray and go forward as His Body of Believers, in the calling He has for you and in service to Him and to others.
Further Reading: Psalm 27:1-3, 2 Chronicles 20:2-3, 6, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 7:5, Proverbs 21:1, Revelation 12:9-10,14,17, Isaiah 49:2, John 5:30, 6:63, 12:48-49, Proverbs 10:19, 17:27, 2 Peter 3:16
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
2/4/2012
Just three short days after experiencing the miracle of deliverance from the Egyptians by passing through the Sea on dry ground, the Israelites began complaining.
Exodus 15:24, ‘The people grumbled against Moshe and asked, "What are we to drink?"’
How quickly we forget what He has done for us! How can we keep from sinning? Treasuring the Word in our hearts, persevering through trials, singing the Word to Him and even dancing like Miryam did in Exodus 15 can help us keep from sinning.
Psalm 119:11, ‘I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won't sin against you.’
Revelation 3:10, ‘Because you did obey my message about persevering, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world to put the people living on earth to the test.’
Colossians 3:16, ‘let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts.’
What we celebrate in our victories we often forget in our difficulties! This was clearly demonstrated by the Israelites when they complained to Moses about the lack of water just three days after their deliverance.
Three days before, the Israelites were trapped at the Sea and were overwhelmed in fear as the Egyptians approached. They were certain they would all die. But our end is His beginning if we turn ourselves over to Him!
2 Corinthians 1:9, ‘In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead!’
When the Israelites were crying out in fear, Moses lifted up the Standard!
Exodus 14:11-13, ‘and said to Moshe, "Was it because there weren't enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? Why have you done this to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we'll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? It would be better for us to be the Egyptians' slaves than to die in the desert!" 13 Moshe answered the people, "Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how ADONAI is going to save you. He will do it today - today you have seen the Egyptians, but you will never see them again!’
When the enemy comes in like a flood, lift up Yeshua; He is the Standard!
Isaiah 59:19, (New King James Version), ‘So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.’
Philippians 1:20, ‘It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead.’
As we lift up Yeshua, G-d takes care of the enemy!
Learn from Messiah! What did He do every day?
Isaiah 50:4-5, ‘Adonai ELOHIM has given me the ability to speak as a man well taught, so that I, with my words, know how to sustain the weary. Each morning he awakens my ear to hear like those who are taught. 5 Adonai ELOHIM has opened my ear, and I neither rebelled nor turned away.’
He listened before He spoke as should we! Weigh your words because words are weighty!
Matthew 12:36, ‘“Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken.”’
The Israelites spoke out of their own flesh and fear and Moses spoke out of the L-rd’s leading and Life.
Moses said five things to the people and then the L-rd said something to Moses.
Do not fear, ‘yarah’, stand yourselves up, ‘yatsav’, see His salvation/deliverance , ‘ra’ah yeshu’ah’, the L-rd will fight for you, ‘lacham’ and you will be quiet, ‘charaysh’.
Just as the the L-rd saw to the deliverance of the people at the Sea, He did so as recorded in Genesis 22 at the provision of the Ram in place of Isaac! The Hebrew word used in this passage is also ‘yarah’.
The word ‘lacham’ is similar to ‘lechem’ or bread in Hebrew, and in this passage can be translated, ‘He will eat the enemy up’; so don’t fear!
When Moses said, ‘charaysh’, he was telling them not to speak or hear; not to communicate at all!
What did the L-rd say to Moses?
Exodus 14:15, ‘“ADONAI asked Moshe, "Why are you crying to me? Tell the people of Isra'el to go forward!”’
The Hebrew word to go forward is ‘nasa’, which means to pull out (tent pegs) and set forward.
There is a time to stand still and a time to go forward. In this case, the L-rd was directing them to go forward so they would not be stuck or paralyzed as they witnessed the great miracle.
The Israelites did go forward; their crossing may have taken the entire night. Notice how they were protected.
Exodus 14:19-20, ‘Next, the angel of God, who was going ahead of the camp of Isra'el, moved away and went behind them; and the column of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It stationed itself between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Isra'el - there was cloud and darkness here, but light by night there; so that the one did not come near the other all night long.’
Isaiah 52:12, ‘You need not leave in haste, you do not have to flee; for ADONAI will go ahead of you, and the God of Isra'el will also be behind you.’
When the enemy comes in like a flood, we know that G-d will protect us! Raise up the Standard, pray and go forward as His Body of Believers, in the calling He has for you and in service to Him and to others.
Further Reading: Psalm 27:1-3, 2 Chronicles 20:2-3, 6, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 7:5, Proverbs 21:1, Revelation 12:9-10,14,17, Isaiah 49:2, John 5:30, 6:63, 12:48-49, Proverbs 10:19, 17:27, 2 Peter 3:16
Monday, January 23, 2012
It’s God and Not Us
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
1/21/12
Exodus 6:6-8, ‘"Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: 'I am ADONAI. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am ADONAI your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov - I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am ADONAI.'"
Traditionally, this passage is remembered during Passover as the four statements or expressions of redemption. When looking more closely at this Scripture, we see there are really seven statements.
He will bring them out ‘yatsa’, deliver them ‘natsal’, redeem them ‘gaal’, and acquire them ‘laqach’ are the four statements and continuing, He says He will be their God ‘haya’, bring them into the land ‘bo’ and give the land as their possession ‘natan’.
Similarly, these statements of redemption signify what God does with those who have put their trust in Messiah! He brings us out of captivity, sin, death and slavery and brings us into Himself.
Colossians 1:13, ‘He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.’ See also Romans 8:15, 17, 29-30.
Before the Israelites were freed from Egypt, the plagues occurred beginning with the Nile being turned to blood and the plague of frogs.
Exodus 8:13-15, ‘ADONAI did as Moshe had asked -the frogs died in the houses, courtyards and fields; 14 they gathered them in heaps till the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that he had been given some relief, he made himself hardhearted and would not listen to them, just as ADONAI had said would happen.’
Can you imagine the smell in Egypt after the Nile had turned to blood and the frogs were gathered in heaps?
Pharaoh promised under duress to allow the Israelites to be freed, but when the plagues were relented, he didn’t follow through.
The same can be true for us. The principle is that making a promise under duress usually results in a promise broken. We need to be careful what we promise so that we do not attempt to make promises under duress or in our flesh.
Ecclesiastes 5:4, ‘If you make a vow to God, don't delay in discharging it. For God takes no pleasure in fools, so discharge your vow!’
How do we get victory over sin? By being made aware of sin or something more?
1 Corinthians 15:56, ‘The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah.’
Romans 7:8, ‘But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, worked in me all kinds of evil desires - for apart from Torah, sin is dead.’
Colossians 2:20-23, ‘If, along with the Messiah, you died to the elemental spirits of the world, then why, as if you still belonged to the world, are you letting yourselves be bothered by its rules? - 21 "Don't touch this!" "Don't eat that!" "Don't handle the other!" 22 Such prohibitions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings.b 23 They do indeed have the outward appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed religious observances, false humility and asceticism; but they have no value at all in restraining people from indulging their old nature.’
The power to say ‘no’ to the wrong thing comes from being around the right thing, including the Word of God and fellowship of believers. Doing the right thing can never be accomplished through the power of the flesh. Being told not to do something or what is wrong does not stop you from doing it.
We want to be infused by Life rather than eliciting guilt!
Victory comes through the Power of the Spirit of God and His Grace! Being around pure and holy love will give you the strength to avoid sin. The flesh is not the answer!
Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart or did Pharaoh harden his own heart?
It was mentioned that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened nineteen times. It is really not clear whether the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart outright or did God respond by hardening his heart based upon Pharaoh’s decision to harden his own heart?
The question really posed here is the question of Predestination versus Free Will. Volumes upon volumes are written on this subject.
Many Scriptures can be cited on this subject including one that should give us great comfort:
Ephesians 1:4-5, ‘In the Messiah he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence. 5 He determined in advance that through Yeshua the Messiah we would be his sons - in keeping with his pleasure and purpose.’
Both His choosing us and us choosing to obey are taught in Scripture.
Deuteronomy 30:14-15, ‘"Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil - 16 in that I am ordering you today to love ADONAI your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his mitzvot, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and ADONAI your God will bless you in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it.’
Revelation 22:17, ‘The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let anyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come - let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.’
Both Predestination and Free Will are juxtaposed in Scripture!
2 Thessalonians 2:9-14, ‘When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned. 13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.’
Free Will and Predestination can be compared to a railroad track. Where we stand now, each track is separate, but in eternity, they are together. Also, we can view this issue as passing through a door. The entrance of the door would say, ‘Whosever will may come’ and then once through the door the backside of the door would say, ‘Chosen before the foundation of the world’. It is a mystery.
In conclusion, did Israel get delivered because of their faith? No!
2 Corinthians 1:8-10, ‘For, brothers, we want you to know about the trials we have undergone in the province of Asia. The burden laid on us was so far beyond what we could bear that we even despaired of living through it. 9 In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead! 10 He rescued us from such deadly peril, and he will rescue us again! The one in whom we have placed our hope will indeed continue to rescue us.’
God had to teach the Jews that He did not need their faith in Him. God breaks our faith in Him, so that we will know what He does is not based upon our faith in Him but His power and will and Spirit.
The end of us is the beginning of God
Further Reading: Isaiah 42:9, 46:9-10, John 1:12-13, 1Peter 1:2, Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3-4, Colossians 1:13, Romans 8:29, John 15:16, Acts 4:29, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 1:20, Psalm 40:7-8, Exodus 19:4-5, Joshua 24:15, Genesis 2:17, John 1:12-13, 2 Timothy 2:13, Zechariah 4:6
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
1/21/12
Exodus 6:6-8, ‘"Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: 'I am ADONAI. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am ADONAI your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov - I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am ADONAI.'"
Traditionally, this passage is remembered during Passover as the four statements or expressions of redemption. When looking more closely at this Scripture, we see there are really seven statements.
He will bring them out ‘yatsa’, deliver them ‘natsal’, redeem them ‘gaal’, and acquire them ‘laqach’ are the four statements and continuing, He says He will be their God ‘haya’, bring them into the land ‘bo’ and give the land as their possession ‘natan’.
Similarly, these statements of redemption signify what God does with those who have put their trust in Messiah! He brings us out of captivity, sin, death and slavery and brings us into Himself.
Colossians 1:13, ‘He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.’ See also Romans 8:15, 17, 29-30.
Before the Israelites were freed from Egypt, the plagues occurred beginning with the Nile being turned to blood and the plague of frogs.
Exodus 8:13-15, ‘ADONAI did as Moshe had asked -the frogs died in the houses, courtyards and fields; 14 they gathered them in heaps till the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that he had been given some relief, he made himself hardhearted and would not listen to them, just as ADONAI had said would happen.’
Can you imagine the smell in Egypt after the Nile had turned to blood and the frogs were gathered in heaps?
Pharaoh promised under duress to allow the Israelites to be freed, but when the plagues were relented, he didn’t follow through.
The same can be true for us. The principle is that making a promise under duress usually results in a promise broken. We need to be careful what we promise so that we do not attempt to make promises under duress or in our flesh.
Ecclesiastes 5:4, ‘If you make a vow to God, don't delay in discharging it. For God takes no pleasure in fools, so discharge your vow!’
How do we get victory over sin? By being made aware of sin or something more?
1 Corinthians 15:56, ‘The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah.’
Romans 7:8, ‘But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, worked in me all kinds of evil desires - for apart from Torah, sin is dead.’
Colossians 2:20-23, ‘If, along with the Messiah, you died to the elemental spirits of the world, then why, as if you still belonged to the world, are you letting yourselves be bothered by its rules? - 21 "Don't touch this!" "Don't eat that!" "Don't handle the other!" 22 Such prohibitions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings.b 23 They do indeed have the outward appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed religious observances, false humility and asceticism; but they have no value at all in restraining people from indulging their old nature.’
The power to say ‘no’ to the wrong thing comes from being around the right thing, including the Word of God and fellowship of believers. Doing the right thing can never be accomplished through the power of the flesh. Being told not to do something or what is wrong does not stop you from doing it.
We want to be infused by Life rather than eliciting guilt!
Victory comes through the Power of the Spirit of God and His Grace! Being around pure and holy love will give you the strength to avoid sin. The flesh is not the answer!
Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart or did Pharaoh harden his own heart?
It was mentioned that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened nineteen times. It is really not clear whether the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart outright or did God respond by hardening his heart based upon Pharaoh’s decision to harden his own heart?
The question really posed here is the question of Predestination versus Free Will. Volumes upon volumes are written on this subject.
Many Scriptures can be cited on this subject including one that should give us great comfort:
Ephesians 1:4-5, ‘In the Messiah he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence. 5 He determined in advance that through Yeshua the Messiah we would be his sons - in keeping with his pleasure and purpose.’
Both His choosing us and us choosing to obey are taught in Scripture.
Deuteronomy 30:14-15, ‘"Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil - 16 in that I am ordering you today to love ADONAI your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his mitzvot, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and ADONAI your God will bless you in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it.’
Revelation 22:17, ‘The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let anyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come - let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.’
Both Predestination and Free Will are juxtaposed in Scripture!
2 Thessalonians 2:9-14, ‘When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned. 13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.’
Free Will and Predestination can be compared to a railroad track. Where we stand now, each track is separate, but in eternity, they are together. Also, we can view this issue as passing through a door. The entrance of the door would say, ‘Whosever will may come’ and then once through the door the backside of the door would say, ‘Chosen before the foundation of the world’. It is a mystery.
In conclusion, did Israel get delivered because of their faith? No!
2 Corinthians 1:8-10, ‘For, brothers, we want you to know about the trials we have undergone in the province of Asia. The burden laid on us was so far beyond what we could bear that we even despaired of living through it. 9 In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead! 10 He rescued us from such deadly peril, and he will rescue us again! The one in whom we have placed our hope will indeed continue to rescue us.’
God had to teach the Jews that He did not need their faith in Him. God breaks our faith in Him, so that we will know what He does is not based upon our faith in Him but His power and will and Spirit.
The end of us is the beginning of God
Further Reading: Isaiah 42:9, 46:9-10, John 1:12-13, 1Peter 1:2, Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3-4, Colossians 1:13, Romans 8:29, John 15:16, Acts 4:29, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 1:20, Psalm 40:7-8, Exodus 19:4-5, Joshua 24:15, Genesis 2:17, John 1:12-13, 2 Timothy 2:13, Zechariah 4:6
Monday, December 12, 2011
Two Encounters with the Divine
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
12/10/11
Ya’akov had two encounters with the Divine; one at Beit-El and another at P’ni-El. When G-d visits us He transforms us! He wants to be with us. We may be wrestling, troubled or have perpetual struggles with the L-rd, like Ya’akov. But G-d doesn’t give up on us!
Genesis 28:15, “Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Ya’akov had a dream at Beit-El.
Genesis 28:11-12, ‘He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of ADONAI were going up and down on it.’
Dreams can be prophetic but they can also be derived from fleshly or even satanic influence. We have an ‘ear gate’ and an ‘eye gate’ both of which should be guarded. If we have allowed negative influences in to our hearts and minds, we can repent and be restored and be free of those influences.
It is interesting that the only time the Hebrew word interpreted as ‘ladder’ is used in the Bible is to describe the method or instrument upon which the angels were ascending and descending Heaven. The Hebrew word is ‘sullam’. This ladder originated in Heaven and demonstrates to us G-d reaching down to us! Our remedy is G-d initiated.
2 Corinthians 5: 18-19, ‘And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.’
ADONAI appeared to Ya’akov at Beit-El and gave him a promise!
Genesis 28:13-15, ‘Then suddenly ADONAI was standing there next to him; and he said, "I am ADONAI, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz'chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 16 Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"
We need to seek G-d presence while in our congregation as well as personally.
1 Corinthians 5:4, ‘In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us.’
Five times in the vision at Beit-El, the Hebrew word “hinneh” is used impressing upon the reader the perceptive substance of the promise G-d was making to Ya’akov. When G-d was introducing His promise to Ya’akov he kept using this word as emphasis. It can be translated ‘behold’. Where else do we see this perceptive substance used?
John 1:29, ‘The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, "Look! [Behold] God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!’
Even with this dramatic experience, Ya’akov didn’t remember so well. Sometimes we are unaware of G-d’s activity and forget!
Genesis 28:16, ‘Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"’
Are we aware when G-d reveals Himself to us and even more, do we always remember?
Albert Einstein described time as the fourth dimension. But there is another dimension; the fifth dimension where G-d lives, and He reveals His activity and Himself to us in our four dimensional world!
Isaiah 57:15, ‘For thus says the High, Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy: "I live in the high and holy place but also with the broken and humble, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the hearts of the broken ones.’
We all need a revelation or encounter with G-d. Can you remember receiving an encounter with G-d and experiencing the House of G-d and Gate of Heaven?
Ya’akov seemingly forgot the promises of G-d and encounter he experienced as recorded in Genesis 28 and we see in Genesis 32, he prays to G-d. He is struggling over Esav’ and he is afraid!
Genesis 32:9-13, ‘Then Ya'akov said, "God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitz'chak, ADONAI, who told me, 'Return to your country and your kinsmen, and I will do you good': 10 I'm not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown your servant, since I crossed the Yarden with only my staff. But now I have become two camps. 11 Please! Rescue me from my brother 'Esav! I'm afraid of him, afraid he'll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. 12 You said, 'I will certainly do you good and make your descendants as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea, which are so many they can't be counted.'" 13 He stayed there that night; then he chose from among his possessions the following as a present for 'Esav his brother.’
We certainly tend not to trust or remember!
Isaiah 30:15, ‘For this is what Adonai ELOHIM, the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong - but you want none of this!’
But G-d promises, Isaiah 32:18, ‘My people will live in a peaceful place, in secure neighborhoods and tranquil dwellings.’
Ya’akov was operating between the flesh and the spirit. He was in trouble! The Hebrew word is ‘t’sara’ which means narrowed, tight, crisis. What is threatening you right now?
Our answer to t’sara is to pray. The Hebrew word is ‘t’filah’.
1 Timothy 2:1, ‘First of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all human beings.’
Our first response should be to pray, not to talk about our issue or to scheme about solving it!
As Ya’akov felt unworthy, he attempts to solve the problem with Esav’ using three strategies:
He prays, he sends gifts and he plans to either fight Esav’ or to escape him.
Based on the strategies he had, he demonstrated that he wasn’t truly trusting G-d. G-d had already appeared to him at Beit-El and given him promises. But now he was scheming in fear of Esav’s potential aggression.
What he didn’t know was that G-d had already changed Esav’s heart! It wasn’t Ya’akov’s plans that saved him but it was his prayer that worked as recorded in Genesis 33.
Before Ya’akov met Esav, it is recorded in Genesis 32:24, ‘and Ya'akov was left alone. Then some man wrestled with him until daybreak.’
Ya’akov was left to himself and look what happened!
G-d contended with Ya’akov and demonstrated that He was truly going to fulfill His promise to Him.
Genesis 32:25-32, ‘When he saw that he did not defeat Ya'akov, he struck Ya'akov's hip socket, so that his hip was dislocated while wrestling with him. 26 The man said, "Let me go, because it's daybreak." But Ya'akov replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked, "What is your name?" and he answered, "Ya'akov." 28 Then the man said, "From now on, you will no longer be called Ya'akov, but Isra'el; because you have shown your strength to both God and men and have prevailed." 29 Ya'akov asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he answered, "Why are you asking about my name?" and blessed him there. 30 Ya'akov called the place P'ni-El [face of God], "Because I have seen God face to face, yet my life is spared." 31 As the sun rose upon him he went on past P'ni-El, limping at the hip. 32 This is why, to this day, the people of Isra'el do not eat the thigh muscle that passes along the hip socket - because the man struck Ya'akov's hip at its socket.’
Looking closely we see that Ya’akov won the match! But sometimes we have to lose in order to win. Our greatest hindrance can be our own strength!
So, ‘the man’ struck Ya’akov’s hip socket. So, in winning he did not really lose because G-d prevailed in his life.
This is where he met G-d and named the place P’ni-El. He had wrestled with G-d and seen His face. Interestingly, the word for face is plural. So really he had seen the ‘faces’ of G-d. G-d doesn’t always reveal Himself the same way all the time. But praise His Name He does reveal Himself to us!
Further Reading: Hosea 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 15:46-51, Hebrews 13:5, Job 33:16, Numbers 12:6, Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 27:4-6, Psalm 84, Isaiah 14:24,27, Daniel 6:23, Psalm 91:11, Ephesians 3, Isaiah 32:18, Hosea 24:4,
Sermon Notes Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
12/10/11
Ya’akov had two encounters with the Divine; one at Beit-El and another at P’ni-El. When G-d visits us He transforms us! He wants to be with us. We may be wrestling, troubled or have perpetual struggles with the L-rd, like Ya’akov. But G-d doesn’t give up on us!
Genesis 28:15, “Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Ya’akov had a dream at Beit-El.
Genesis 28:11-12, ‘He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of ADONAI were going up and down on it.’
Dreams can be prophetic but they can also be derived from fleshly or even satanic influence. We have an ‘ear gate’ and an ‘eye gate’ both of which should be guarded. If we have allowed negative influences in to our hearts and minds, we can repent and be restored and be free of those influences.
It is interesting that the only time the Hebrew word interpreted as ‘ladder’ is used in the Bible is to describe the method or instrument upon which the angels were ascending and descending Heaven. The Hebrew word is ‘sullam’. This ladder originated in Heaven and demonstrates to us G-d reaching down to us! Our remedy is G-d initiated.
2 Corinthians 5: 18-19, ‘And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.’
ADONAI appeared to Ya’akov at Beit-El and gave him a promise!
Genesis 28:13-15, ‘Then suddenly ADONAI was standing there next to him; and he said, "I am ADONAI, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz'chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won't leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 16 Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"
We need to seek G-d presence while in our congregation as well as personally.
1 Corinthians 5:4, ‘In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us.’
Five times in the vision at Beit-El, the Hebrew word “hinneh” is used impressing upon the reader the perceptive substance of the promise G-d was making to Ya’akov. When G-d was introducing His promise to Ya’akov he kept using this word as emphasis. It can be translated ‘behold’. Where else do we see this perceptive substance used?
John 1:29, ‘The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, "Look! [Behold] God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!’
Even with this dramatic experience, Ya’akov didn’t remember so well. Sometimes we are unaware of G-d’s activity and forget!
Genesis 28:16, ‘Ya'akov awoke from his sleep and said, "Truly, ADONAI is in this place - and I didn't know it!"’
Are we aware when G-d reveals Himself to us and even more, do we always remember?
Albert Einstein described time as the fourth dimension. But there is another dimension; the fifth dimension where G-d lives, and He reveals His activity and Himself to us in our four dimensional world!
Isaiah 57:15, ‘For thus says the High, Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy: "I live in the high and holy place but also with the broken and humble, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the hearts of the broken ones.’
We all need a revelation or encounter with G-d. Can you remember receiving an encounter with G-d and experiencing the House of G-d and Gate of Heaven?
Ya’akov seemingly forgot the promises of G-d and encounter he experienced as recorded in Genesis 28 and we see in Genesis 32, he prays to G-d. He is struggling over Esav’ and he is afraid!
Genesis 32:9-13, ‘Then Ya'akov said, "God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitz'chak, ADONAI, who told me, 'Return to your country and your kinsmen, and I will do you good': 10 I'm not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown your servant, since I crossed the Yarden with only my staff. But now I have become two camps. 11 Please! Rescue me from my brother 'Esav! I'm afraid of him, afraid he'll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. 12 You said, 'I will certainly do you good and make your descendants as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea, which are so many they can't be counted.'" 13 He stayed there that night; then he chose from among his possessions the following as a present for 'Esav his brother.’
We certainly tend not to trust or remember!
Isaiah 30:15, ‘For this is what Adonai ELOHIM, the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong - but you want none of this!’
But G-d promises, Isaiah 32:18, ‘My people will live in a peaceful place, in secure neighborhoods and tranquil dwellings.’
Ya’akov was operating between the flesh and the spirit. He was in trouble! The Hebrew word is ‘t’sara’ which means narrowed, tight, crisis. What is threatening you right now?
Our answer to t’sara is to pray. The Hebrew word is ‘t’filah’.
1 Timothy 2:1, ‘First of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all human beings.’
Our first response should be to pray, not to talk about our issue or to scheme about solving it!
As Ya’akov felt unworthy, he attempts to solve the problem with Esav’ using three strategies:
He prays, he sends gifts and he plans to either fight Esav’ or to escape him.
Based on the strategies he had, he demonstrated that he wasn’t truly trusting G-d. G-d had already appeared to him at Beit-El and given him promises. But now he was scheming in fear of Esav’s potential aggression.
What he didn’t know was that G-d had already changed Esav’s heart! It wasn’t Ya’akov’s plans that saved him but it was his prayer that worked as recorded in Genesis 33.
Before Ya’akov met Esav, it is recorded in Genesis 32:24, ‘and Ya'akov was left alone. Then some man wrestled with him until daybreak.’
Ya’akov was left to himself and look what happened!
G-d contended with Ya’akov and demonstrated that He was truly going to fulfill His promise to Him.
Genesis 32:25-32, ‘When he saw that he did not defeat Ya'akov, he struck Ya'akov's hip socket, so that his hip was dislocated while wrestling with him. 26 The man said, "Let me go, because it's daybreak." But Ya'akov replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked, "What is your name?" and he answered, "Ya'akov." 28 Then the man said, "From now on, you will no longer be called Ya'akov, but Isra'el; because you have shown your strength to both God and men and have prevailed." 29 Ya'akov asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he answered, "Why are you asking about my name?" and blessed him there. 30 Ya'akov called the place P'ni-El [face of God], "Because I have seen God face to face, yet my life is spared." 31 As the sun rose upon him he went on past P'ni-El, limping at the hip. 32 This is why, to this day, the people of Isra'el do not eat the thigh muscle that passes along the hip socket - because the man struck Ya'akov's hip at its socket.’
Looking closely we see that Ya’akov won the match! But sometimes we have to lose in order to win. Our greatest hindrance can be our own strength!
So, ‘the man’ struck Ya’akov’s hip socket. So, in winning he did not really lose because G-d prevailed in his life.
This is where he met G-d and named the place P’ni-El. He had wrestled with G-d and seen His face. Interestingly, the word for face is plural. So really he had seen the ‘faces’ of G-d. G-d doesn’t always reveal Himself the same way all the time. But praise His Name He does reveal Himself to us!
Further Reading: Hosea 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 15:46-51, Hebrews 13:5, Job 33:16, Numbers 12:6, Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 27:4-6, Psalm 84, Isaiah 14:24,27, Daniel 6:23, Psalm 91:11, Ephesians 3, Isaiah 32:18, Hosea 24:4,
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