Category Archives: The Journey Back

Bible Study, Judeo-Christian Teachings, The Journey Back

WHY DO THE PRAYERLESS PROSPER?

“Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”  –Psalm 63:4

No matter how dedicated you are in prayer there are times when this nagging guestion reasserts itself. Who has not asked this question of GOD?

The Prophets Asked.

Even the best of us has inquired of GOD, as King David did. His son, King Solomon asked the questions also. Habukkuk, Jeremiah, Job, Malachi… throughout time, the single most question of GOD visits every soul, “Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?“

Will there ever be an answer that satisfies the soul?

Let’s take a look in one of my favorite books; Day 16 in Praying with Fire with Rabbi Heshy Kleinman.

The Rabbi begins, “If prayer is the “key” that opens Hashem’s storehouse of blessing, one might wonder why there are people who acquire wealth and success without ever having to use the key? How does one account for those who have no relationship with Hashem, yet have everything money can buy?”

An echo of the question asked by Prophets, Priest and Kings for generations. It is right that Kings (You), continue to ask this question of GOD?

Can you recall a time in creation when GOD declared over anyone, at anytime, that they shall never want for anything? Someone or something that shall be filled all the days of their life?

Who would GOD desire to satisfy more than His Own Children?

MORE IMPORTANTLY….

Why does GOD grant health and wealth to a person that does not even pray? Prayer is given to man by GOD as a means to partner with GOD and engage in the plans He has for all of mankind.

Prayer connects our lives to GOD. Prayer allows us to exist within GOD and to align ourselves with His purpose.

Yet, we still ask, “Why do I need to live such a glorious life of prayer, when the wicked reject GOD entirely, let alone live a life of prayer?

Good Question.

“And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life” — Genesis 3:14

The serpent shall be filled with dust, all the days of his life. As the Rabbi says, “dust does not appear to be a ‘tasty diet’, but it is plentiful and always accessible.

GOD ensures the serpent will never have a need to call on Him or be in His presence.

And GOD said… the snake, will never go hungry or have any lack. Some may argue, that the snake appears to be more ‘blessed’ than man. But as the Rabbi explains, this was in fact, the serpents ultimate curse.

In regards to man, GOD takes steps to ensure the complete opposite. God let’s man know that he will have to battle for his bread, daily.

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” —Genesis 3:19

Mankind, will require both bread and manna. The need for bread alone will cause us to cry out to GOD, to search for GOD, even blame GOD. At this point, we are not aware of our need for manna from heaven.

Survival, is foremost on our agenda at this moment in the garden. The battle for bread will consume our thoughts.

Our daily need for bread, has the capacity alone to cause us to “forge a bond with Hashem, by coming before Him in prayer.”

On the contrary, the serpent will never have a need for GOD. All his needs have been provided for.

No need for GOD. No need for prayer. All your material needs satisfied. The serpent’s disrespect for GOD, from the beginning has barred him from the Kingdom ever since.

When man finds himself in this condition, he has no spiritual appetite, no longing for GOD, no need to seek GOD’s face. They can easily and wrongfully assume that they hold a superior position, and their tongues begin to walk through the earth in pride.

Every benefit of prayer and relationship with GOD are lost on the satiated man. GOD is Life, and this man has no need of a life in GOD, or closeness with Hashem.

Yet, by satisfying all his needs, GOD has placed this man at a distance. Not out of His reach, but out of His sight. GOD has set them far from Him –Psalm 73:27

“His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.” – Psalm 10:5

Not only, is he out of GOD’s sight, GOD has placed him outside of His courts and His judgments. GOD’s throne is reserved for those who have need of him.

At first glance, the man who prides himself on being self sufficient, independent, morally superior and self satisfied, might self assess their situation as a blessing.

Happy with him or herself, unaware that all their reason to seek GOD has been withheld.

Famine or hunger won’t be the cause of his/her search for GOD. Without adversity of any kind, they may be relegated to live a life void of the presence of GOD.

Prayer could have been their source for their greatest blessing.

When tempted to feel as if the grass is greener on the other side, remember that GOD has chosen to fill you with His Word, and not dust.

You shake the dust from your feet. You will not be consumed. The Word of GOD in you has set you above and not beneath. Your enemies shall consume dust that perishes. You consume the bread of Heaven.

Allowing our needs to draw us closer to GOD, works together for our good. The wealthy and healthy have virtually no reminders of GOD in the earth. They must look deeper, press in harder and longer to find what is already in front of them.

The bible openly reveals that there are times, when prophets, priest and kings have lamented the seeming prosperity of the wicked, but each in his or her turn recognized they possessed the superior position.

Prayerlessness has no prosperity in GOD.

God Bless You,

Amen.

Take a quick look at the interlinear for Gen 3:14 and 3:19. The word for dust (aphar) is the same. Man is formed from the dust of the ground, the aphar. The same dust that the snake is destined to consume, all the days of his life.

NOTE: We will cover this in more detail in the future, just know for now, the dust (the aphar) of Genesis 3, is the substance of the cosmos, created from the finest particles of the universe. –Man is made from stardust. (See addl info below)

Stardust retains a record of it’s origins.

King James Version Sources Cited:

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. – Psalm 73:3

  • 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
  • 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
  • 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
  • 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
  • 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
  • 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Sources Cited Above:

The Testimony of Prophets:

“And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” -Malachi 3:15

“Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?” -Jeremiah 12:1

“The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly”. –Job 12:6

Habakkuk also asked God, “Why do You remain silent when the wicked devours one more righteous than he?” —Habakkuk 1:13

King David also lamented, “Behold, such are the wicked; they are always at ease and they increase their riches. Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocence because all day long I have been plagued and I am chastised every morning” –Psalms 73:12-14

The Testimony of The Kings:

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” –Psalm 37:7

“When you see the oppression of the poor, and the perversion of justice and righteousness in the state, do not wonder about (God’s) will…” –Proverbs 5:7

“And the Lord rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.”

Special Notation:

  • Again, per our custom, man does not agree on how much cosmic dust falls to the earth daily. Estimates vary widely. The point to focus on now is that, this is a completely different product than today’s ‘household’ dust, which is a product of dirt, skin, animal dander, waste, mites and other pollutants.
  • Man (You), were not made of this type of dust. Adam, was formed from the finest particles of the universe. Sin had not entered the earth, nor the product of sin, which is death. Therefore, dead skin, waste, dead mites, pollutants, etc were not present in the earth and man was not created from this lower substance.
  • Cosmic dust continues to fall to the earth everyday. This has been constant since the world began.
  • Consider the way in which we gaze into the stars in wonder. Our amazement with the cosmos, is deeply connected to the cosmic ‘stuff’ from which we are made. We instinctively know, we were created from the same substance that exists in the heavens.
  • When Adam was formed from the adamah (ground), GOD was forming Him from the finest particles of the heavens. Our connection to the creation of Adam is in our bones. We can almost feel that we were created from the substance of heaven.
  • We are the stuff of miracles.

Cover Photo by: Eric Nopanen, Unsplash.com

  • Prayer in the Pew: photo by Samuel Martins, Unsplash.com

  • Teachings related to this series on Prayer:
  • Benefits of Prayer:
    • Increases your sensitivity in the spirit realm and to the spirit of GOD.

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

The Journey Back, What is Torah

26 Benefits and Blessings of Unceasing Prayer…

When We Get Serious About Prayer, Prayer Will Do Serious Things For Us…

” … if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” – Matthew 5:44

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” -Matthew 6:5

torah, obedience and prayer are How We Love on GOD.

Nothing can stop prayer from connecting You to GOD. –Nothing other than you…

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:38-39

  • The Powers of Prayer are Accessible ALWAYS to the humble.
    • The prideful, arrogant, vain, entitled, angry, etc. need not apply.
    • Humility places you at the head of the line.
    • The humble have the heart and the favor of GOD.
  • Prayer is for the First Responders of Faith.
    • Prayer is our weapon of choice, never a last resort.
    • Prayer enhances all of our other natural strengths…
      • reason, intelligence, logic,
  • Prayer Makes You Mindful of the Presence of GOD.
    • You train/discipline yourself through prayer to stay mindful of the presence of GOD.
  • Daily Expectation of GOD.
    • You discipline yourself to remain in a state of anticipation, to see GOD move.
  • You will check your own spirit before you pray.
    • You will not pray in the flesh.
    • You will search your own heart and try your own reigns… first
      • Prayer strengthens your spirit to reject judgment of others.
  • You will not enter into prayer with secular activities or a secular mindset.
    • You place a premium on separating the sacred from the profane.
  • Your torah studies elevate and strengthen your prayers.
    • You notice a tangible difference in your prayers.
  • You take GOD off of a clock.
    • Your prayers become more focused on the future, eternity vs. temporal.
    • You lose track of time in prayer, to the point of your own amazement.
    • You come to realize how GOD compensates you in time, for all time spent with Him.
    • You expect to wait on GOD, rather than GOD wait on you.
    • You pray to the GOD that was, is and will be…
    • Your prayers become timeless…
    • You begin to understand that prayer can fold time.
    • You confidently place your prayers in time.
    • You pray the, “All Ready Been Done” kind of prayers.
  • Your thoughts will become prayers.
    • Your thoughts more easily and readily line up with the thoughts of GOD.
  • Your conversations will become prayers.
    • Your conversations end with yea and amen.
  • Your dreams become prayers.
    • You begin to awake from sleep with prayerful thoughts.
    • Your dreams become more prophetic.
  • Your decisions are a product of prayer.
    • You become more aware of how you are making decisions…
      • Mindful of GOD and prayerful, or not.
      • A Prayer Lifestyle prevents you from fighting banned battles.
  • You refuse to put up any unwanted barriers between yourself and GOD.
    • Your prayers focused on removing barriers between you and Heaven.
  • You guard your tongue because you won’t risk contaminating your own prayers.
    • You prefer to be silent than to risk speaking evil or spreading vain imaginations.
    • You refuse to waste valuable time pulling down your own vain imaginations/evil speech before you can regain your position of prayer.
    • Your speech/confessions are in agreement with GOD’s Word.
      • Quick to repent.
  • You guard your thoughts, so that you don’t risk losing the anointing power in prayer.
    • Discipline through prayer to control emotions, imaginations, vanities…
    • Superimpose GOD’s Word over and above your thoughts.
      • Will not hesitate to repent.
  • You know before you pray for anything, who you need to pray with.
    • You know who you are yoked with in prayer and who you are not.
  • You know that agreement in prayer is EVERYTHING.
    • Agreement is a powerful weapon.
  • Your vision will become linked to your prayers.
    • You look for the presence of GOD in your interactions and encounters.
    • I call it seeing through the lens of David… when people throw rocks or insults, instead of responding with anger you ask “What is GOD trying to tell me?”
    • Seeking revelation beyond any immediate / temporary provocation.

You give your prayers an assignment.

  • Your prayers become more strategic.
  • Your prayers have targets and you handle the Word like a marksman.
  • You pray for people and incidents that you see as you move throughout your day.
    • From car accidents, to sprained ankles, to mean faces, to harsh words…etc
  • You pray for your enemies as easily and as passionately, as you pray for your loved ones.
    • You will pray for your enemies, as if they are loved ones.
  • You will not complain about making ‘another’ consecration.
    • Your response to making another consecration will not be, “I already did one.”
    • The days of saying, “It’s not that serious”, are over.
  • You long for the closeness prayer brings you with the Spirit.
    • Your One on One time with GOD in Prayer, becomes the most treasured and priceless part of your day.
    • You will not compromise your prayer time.
    • You will make compromises with any other part of your daily schedule.
  • Prayer Brings Forth Light…
    • Effectual Prayer exposes darkness, deceit and deception.
    • Effectual Prayer binds temptation.
    • Effectual Prayer binds pride.
    • Effectual Prayer prevents the temptation to gossip.
    • Prayer binds the evil inclination and wicked speech (loshon hara).
  • Prayer becomes a Garment of protection for the humble.
    • Prayers gives our spirit power to subdue our flesh.
    • Prayer strengthens and nourishes your spirit.
    • Constant and fervent prayer eliminates doubt.
  • Prayer is Partnership with GOD.
    • Prayer keeps us from losing sight of GOD.
    • Prayer keeps us from moving ahead of GOD.
    • Prayer is our methodology that allows us to participate in the plans of GOD.
    • Prayer is how we agree with and engage with, the will of GOD.
    • Prayer gives us the ability to sync up our spirit with the Spirit of GOD.
    • Prayer gives position and power to the humble.
    • Prayer is for the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
      • How is that? Because it takes the humble to pray.

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 18:4

Everything that lives and moves and has its being is of GOD. EVERYTHING created in the earth, above the earth, beneath the earth must respond to GOD.

“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” – Jeremiah 23:23-24

There is no place that your prayers can’t reach to get to GOD!

There is no force on the earth, in the earth, above the earth, or beneath the earth that has the power to control Your prayers—Except You!

Prayer is gifted to the simple….

This teaching is Dedicated to those simple enough to pray unceasingly…

Cover Photo by: Annie Spratt, Unsplash.com

  • Archery photo: 3 archers lined up for shot, by Alex Guillaume, Unsplash.com
  • Face of Young Child: photo by Wadi Lissa, Unsplash.com
  • Timepiece: photo by Sonja Langford, Unsplash.com
  • Prayer on knees: photo by Ben White, Unsplash.com

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

Bible Study, Hebrew word studies, The Journey Back, TORAH, WORD STUDIES

AMAN, Finding The Lost Cities of Gold

HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W.B. Yeats (1865–1939)
“He Wishes For the Cloths of Heaven”
(Public Domain)

The LORD has given His Dream for us. He held nothing back.

66 Books of Testimony, all for Your Benefit and Blessing.

Every inch packed with wisdom, knowledge, instruction, and the Good Counsel of GOD. Just for You.

With the Letters of GOD, the Holy Language of GOD, and the Giving of the Torah, no good things has been withheld from us.

May we each tread softly, because GOD has laid all the riches of His Kingdom, His Holy Word, His Letters, His Torah, All His dreams for us, at our feet.

Photo: Andres Haro. Unsplash.com

The next move is ours!

Another Layer of Understanding- Another Level!

In the Undiscovered Adam…Part 2, I directed your attention to the letters of the word ‘adam‘. This time, I want to direct your attention to the base of the word adam. Notice the squaring of the letters aleph (A) and mem (M).

The dalet (D) in the center, in this font type has a slight cut at the bottom edge, However, in most block style fonts in Hebrew, the dalet (D), is more of a flat, squared off bottom. Why does that matter?

Because today, I want you to see similarity in the words adam and aman. A similarity that only appears in the shape of the letters themselves. With a story that can only be told through the letters themselves.

Photo: Paul Evans Unsplash.com

Standing between GOD (aleph) and the Masses (mem), is the dalet (symbolizing the door, and meaning ‘poor’) represents having nothing of its own, but a door. The door can be accessed to open up to new possibilities or remain closed. The choice is ours.

  • A “Webster’s Dictionary” Kind of Faith…

Adam (A-D-M) has a Gematria of 45. On a basic level, 45 can represent maintaining, preserving, protecting things that matter to you most.

The Gematria of Aman, (A-M-N), is 95. The difference between them is 50, which is the exact value of the letter nun (N).

50 is symbolic of Jubilee and Firstfruits in Hebrew, i.e., the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot, which we just celebrated.

In the letter nun, we see jubilee, a celebration of A New Level of Awareness. The fiftieth level, is one of transcendence, that can only be given by GOD. 

No wonder then, to say AMEN, is to bear witness to a new level of awareness, an acknowledgement of understanding.

God’s definition of belief and man’s definition of belief are diametrically opposed to each other.

God identifies spiritual belief with trust and confidence in Him. Trust in GOD, (aman) is our lost city of Gold.

Man defines and aligns “religious belief” with doctrine, ideas, principles…

Man speaks of belief as ‘knowing that something is true’, but aman (trust, to be firm in, secure) is more than that. More than just ‘knowing’. In the survey’s that I attached for your review, most people said they ‘knew‘ GOD exists, they just don’t find GOD relevant.

They know of Him, they just don’t trust Him.

A Closer Look is Required: A list of additional uses of ‘aman’ in scripture.

In Isaiah 22:23, aman is translated ‘firm‘. What allows the tent to become secure is the tent peg being driven firmly into the ground, i.e. “unmoveable, unshakeable...”

Judges 11:20, “but Sihon did not trust Israel to pass”

1 Sam 2:35 , “and I will raise me up a faithful [trustworthy] priest, that will do according to that which is in mine heart, and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he will walk before my anointed forever.

2 Chron 20:20, “…Believe [trust] in the LORD thy GOD, so shall you be established. Believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.”

As long as our ideas of ‘belief’ are connected with ‘doctrines‘ we are going to completely miss the Spirit of GOD. God is above doctrine, ideals and the principles of man, etc…

Defining the terms that express our faith…

Who is the most qualified to define the terms of faith? The unbeliever or the believer?

While others are speaking of ‘belief‘ in GOD, we must speak of ‘trust‘ in GOD. It has become necessary to reshape the definition based on our terms. Afterall, it is the believer that is (or should be) the expert in GOD, right?

Until we can say, “belief” while hearing ourselves confess “trust“, it would be best to retrain our thoughts, by speaking only of our trust in GOD, and giving ‘belief‘ a time out.

Trust in GOD is the SOURCE behind our “Many Infallible Proofs”

Every time another victory is achieved through prayer, I file them in my thoughts or write them in my Bible under Acts 1:3, By His Many Infallible Proofs!

The list of GOD’s proofs to us has not stopped. His proofs grow for believer’s daily and His Wisdom is poured out unto the humble…the Simple. Amen.

GOD is constantly providing Proof, even though He doesn’t have to.

I would like to see every Christian, keep their own personal record of GOD’s Many Infallible Proofs in their lives. We should write the names, dates and places of every victory, all over our Bible in the Book of Acts. Asa Constant Reminder…

From this Pentecost forward, when you read the Book of Acts, it will be more personal than ever before!

We are only 3 – 4 Days outside of Pentecost… and we have work to do.

These were the days the disciples set out to prove their ministry…They set out out build the cities of GOD.

Praying from a position of trust, undergirds the totality of my confessions, thoughts and conversations. In my experience, trust surpasses belief and I see the results in my prayer life.

Praying from a position of trust…rebuilds the lost city of Aman on every mountain top!

Years ago, I heard a prophet make an analogy between praying “sea level prayers” or and praying from the mountain top. That has always stayed with me.

From the mountain top, you can survey all the surrounding terrain, formulate a strategy, marshal your forces. From the mountain top, you can see your enemies coming from a far off. Praying “sea level” prayers, you lack the basic advantages of spiritual warfare.

Praying From A Position of Trust is Prayer from The Mountain Top.

Photo by livestudiointel at Unsplash.com

There is prime spiritual territory available, that we can regain by lining our conversation up with the Word. Since GOD spoke of our trusting Him, we should speak in the same terms.

GOD declared that He would raise up a trustworthy priest that would do according to His Heart and His Mind…Christ fulfilled the call.

Paul said…Let this Mind be in You, that was also in Christ Jesus…

Christ is calling for a trustworthy priesthood….

HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE WE TRUST GOD?

Let’s take a fresh look at some of the messages of GOD that we saw in the previous message. But this time, let’s exchange the word believe for trust.

Genesis 15:6, “and he [Abraham] trusted in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

Exodus 19:9, “that the people may hear when I speak with thee and [trust] thee forever”.

Numbers 14:11, “How long will this people provoke me? How long will it be before they [trust]me?”

Numbers 20:12, “Because you [trusted] me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel…”

GOD is Asking for Our Trust.

Photo: Swapnil Dwiyedi. Unsplash.com

If our understanding of belief had remained firm, this conversation would not be taking place today. The problem is that the idea of being ‘firm, or secure‘ in GOD no longer connects with the word ‘belief‘.

Take another look at the surveys I attached in the previous post, I think you will agree with me when I say that, modern day ‘belief‘ has become, “flimsy“.

When you trust someone, you will go the entire distance with them. You will travel through the most treacherous territories, under the most difficult of circumstances.

If you just believe someone, there is a chance that you might grow faint and jump ship, before going the entire distance.

The Apostles, didn’t frame their words on ‘belief‘, they spoke of their trust.

Every scripture example I provided you in, ‘A Webster’s Dictionary Kind of Faith’, was based on the word aman, meaning trust.

Gen 15:6, Ex 14:31, Ex 19:9, Num 14:11, Num 20:12, Jonah 3:5 – You can replace the word believe, with trust and gain a much better understanding of what GOD needed us to understand.

Do We Trust Him… (The absence of the question mark is intentional)

In antiquity, believe or belief was a legitimate word choice in translating, aman. Once upon a time, “I believe” (I know) the church didn’t use that word so friviously.

Today, “I believe” that we must go back to the beginning, applying words that possess greater strength in expressing our position about the things of GOD.

Belief should get us to where we need to be in GOD. But, if it doesn’t, we need to stretch a bit further, adapt our words, and confess our trust.

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23.

You see, the formula for us (Christians), is that we don’t just get to “think it”,

(1) We have to “SAY IT” with our mouths, (2) not doubt it in our hearts, (3) and ‘trust’ what we said.

I call this our confession of faith in action.

By the way, ‘believe‘ in the Greek is pisteuo (4100) and it means to trust in, or be entrusted with.

Have You ever thought about it like this... We are being entrusted with our own confession. Do we even trust the words coming out of our own mouths?

This is quite another matter. Our trust is connected to trusting the WORD of GOD. Mark puts the ball in our court. Trusting GOD is equivalent to trusting ourselves.

The Apostle Mark is birthing out the baby believer. Mark was placing a demand on their spirit to graduate.

A completely different level of character is required for this level.

When you see a mountain, move it!

Our failures to move the mountain, can not be blamed on GOD, as per our customs and traditions.

We have to move the mountains with our words and we have to trust that we have the power to do it, with our words.

[This requires kavanah. It’s what I call, heartfelt devotion, when we pray. Prayer, with the highest level of power, focus, and intention imparted upon our words].

What if the mountain is made of rock?

Eric Noponen, Unsplash.com

In brief…This is why Moses was supposed to graduate the children of Israel to a new level by “SPEAKING TO THE ROCK“. Instead of taking them to the next level, he allowed the people to get him in the flesh and he “struck” the rock instead.

That was 4k years ago or more. It’s not a question of Moses trusting the words GOD gave him to speak. Moses, had he not allowed the people to provoke him so badly, he would have spoken to the rock and water would have flowed forth. That’s a given.

But the people missed their own blessing because they were so busy being in the flesh, they provoked the Man of GOD to come out of the anointing–

As a result, THEY unnecessarily delayed the blessing!

And they missed their own purpose. It’s been perhaps 4k years…When do we learn to speak to the rock, instead of trying to use brute force?

Do we trust our own words to cause the waters to flow?

Look at that equation again. Our words have to get past doubt, before we can ‘believe’ in the heart.

If our words are contaminated with doubt, then there is no trust. We can not operate at the level of trust. Our words can’t be empowered by trust.

Do we trust that we have enough word in us, to even decree and declare a thing?

Do we trust, that everything GOD taught us, poured into us, has credibility?

Everything we need is in this WORD. GOD has laid out His treasures before us. 66 Books May we each tread softly, least we tread on the Word GOD has given to Us!

God Bless You,

It’s a lot to think about…. but doing so, will prepare you for your tomorrows.

This teaching is dedicated to Rebuilding the Lost Cities of Gold, Amen.

The torah teaches that one person is equivalent to a nation.

A nation contains many cities. Rebuilding a city, is rebuilding a person, ourselves, and each other.

May You Rebuild the Cities of GOD…

This teaching began with the Hebrew Letters. Additional teachings on the Hebrew Letters can be found in these Posts:

Cover photo by: Joshua Newton, Unsplash.com

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS, Holiness, The Journey Back

A CHANGE OF ADDRESS…

Gallery

Dr. Madison,

I would like for you to post my tribute to my friends Mother, who just passed recently.

Unexpectedly, I ran into a friend at an Academy Event. Someone I had not seen in a lifetime. While we were catching up with the years, he shared that his mother had a Change of Address… She had moved into the House of The LORD.

Something just stayed with me during our conversation. It was that numbing compassion that you feel, when the presence of another human being has left this earth.

A Woman of GOD and Her Son

In my opinion, the loss of a parent is one of the greatest gaping holes, that we will ever feel in life. Despite this, I took a risk, because I couldn’t get it off my mind, so I asked him to send me a picture of her. I wanted to pray for him and the family.

Everytime I pray for them, I know I have to do something to inspire them to set in motion the foundation of her legacy. I know her children, will know what that looks like. Whether it is a foundation, a shelter, a food bank, a scholarship fund, I’m not sure.

But her mantle must not fall to the ground and her voice can still be heard in the earth!

I hope you will post this tribute on her behalf!

I don’t have permission from the family to post this, so please do not include their names. I believe the most important thing, is that this be a work of the Spirit. Amen.

The cover photograph that he sent me was the first time I had ever seen his mom. This was the message that I sent to him in return.

💜”I first met your Mother in this photograph.

When I saw it,
I thought to myself, “How Lovely… How Beautiful”

I could see every bit of the life you described.
I saw the Woman of GOD, you described.

I had to risk asking you about her life…because I saw so much life in the photo. So much kindness and compassion. Continue reading A CHANGE OF ADDRESS… →

The Journey Back, Women

The 611 of torah

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Timothy 3:14-15

Why does this matter and how can this help our spiritual condition?

If we are going to learn anything from the Book of Genesis at all, one of the first things we want to understand is that:

  • The Spiritual Realm is always created 1st, even in our actions, and especially in our words. Our strategy / tactics must be patterned after the strategy / tactics of GOD.

Reasons for Why We Study From the Hebrew Perspective

  • What we miss in our English translations, we recover in our reading of the Scriptures from the Hebrew language.
  • Acquire the tools we need to pull down the man made barriers erected between us, GOD and His WORD.
  • Dismantle Falsehoods.
  • Fall in Love with the Language of GOD, the native language of mankind.
  • Insert GOD back into our understanding of HIS Language.
  • Make God’s language our 1stlanguage.
  • Identify Key Words that are common to Christian thought and relearn them from their Hebraic Roots.   
  • Look at word origins further back than our customary Christian thinking.
  • Train our minds to understand a detailed and mathematically perfect language – that exist in no other language or form.
  • Torah Teaches us the secrets of how to separate Good from evil, and the sacred from the secular.  
  • There is man’s technology (the secular), and God’s technology (the sacred). Our assignment is to separate the sacred (Holy, clean) from the secular (profane, unclean).

Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Ezekiel 44:23
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Starting from Part 5 of the Message in the Letters of torah, you were provided with an example of the application of gematria in scripture. The 611 of torah, will extend this example by providing insight into three words that connect numerically to torah; daw’ber’rath, daw’ber and dah’ber’rah.

We have leanred that, the letters of torah; tav – vav – reish – hei, equals 611. What other words equal 611 in torah, that you would have not been able to see, without looking at gematria?

For now, let’s see what information we can unlock in the scriptures by connecting the dots in the word for torah itself.

What does torah teach us about the connective fabric that exist between GOD’s Words torah; daw’ber’rath, daw’ber and dah’ber’rah, that shed more light on His Teachings?

Remember: Hebrew Letters are read from Right to Left.

The first word we will look at is ‘daw’bear’rath

dalet (4) beit (2) reish (200) tav (400) =606

dalet – beit – reish – tav; spells daw’bear’rath

daw’bear’rath (Strong’s #1705) appears in the scripture ONLY 3 times. Joshua 19:12, 21:28, and 1 chronicles 6:72.

Jos 19:12 = The demarcation points of the Territory of Zebulun are being outlined in detail.

D’bear’rath, a Levitical City

Jos 21:28, 1 Chron. 6:72, daberath, a Levitical City that bordered the City of Refuge at Kedesh, out of the Tribe of Issachar. The City of Refuge was a place the children of Israel, or the stranger that dwelt among them, could go for safe haven, in the event of causing the accidental death of another person.

In the event of causing the accidental death of someone, you would dwell in the City of Refuge until the death of the High Priest, which made atonement for your sin. This is a prefiguring of the atonement our High Priest, Yeshua has made for us.

A BRIEF INSIGHT: Kedesh means to sanctify, set apart, or to consecrate, which makes someone or something holy. kuf – dalet – shin;

kuf bears a strong resemblance to the English letter, P. Kuf is the Hebrew letter that represents Holiness of GOD and man. kuf is formed by combining 2 other Hebrew letters, the vav and the kaf; which also equate to 26, the same as the 4 letter name of GOD, YHVH [yud (10) -hei (5) -vav (6)-hei(5)].

There were a total of 6 Cities of Refuge, 3 on each side of the Jordan, 3 East and 3 West, surrounded by 42 Levitical Cities. Each City of Refuge bears a Characteristic of Christ, the Messiach. Kedesh, (holiness), Shechem (burden bearer), Hebron (to Join/Fellowship), Ramoth (to be High/Exalted, Golan (Remove, Deliver).

History tells us that the surrounding Levitical cities became cities of refuge in their own right, more so, in a supporting role.

Daberath was one of those Levitical cities.

Today, we will focus on it’s name and discover another layer of truth and purpose symbolized by the torah.

dalet (4)

dah-let = Door, path, pathway, access, The WORD,

dat (dalet/tav) in Hebrew means religion/decree. Read in it’s Hebrew Pictograph form, it reads, “door to the cross”. The Levitical city of d’ber’rath, begins with the dalet and ends with the tav, which shows us a path from, “the door to the cross”.

However, before you can arrive at the door of the cross, you have to pass through the tabernacle, (the beit) to become a Leader (the reish), only then can you access the cross/covenant.

beit (2)

Tent, Tabernacle, House, Sanctuary. The tabernacle is the dwelling place of GOD requested, the meeting place between GOD and man.

reish (200)

Headship, First, Head, Leader. The reish conquers their passions. Should reish reject their birthright, they become like the wicked who turns away from GOD and abandons the torah, an intentional non-believer. It is our faithful devotion to GOD, that makes You the rosh, i.e. the Head (Deut 28:13). However, Our disobedience to GOD’s Word, will have the devastating effect of making our enemies the rosh, instead (Deut. 28:44).

REPEAT: Our disobedience to GOD, will elevate our enemies above us. Our behavior elevates the enemy. Obedience is our most powerful weapon of choice.

tav (400)

Covenant, Cross, Truth (emet, as in Truth stands firm and prevails), Mark, Sign, Seal of GOD, is a guarantee that can never be nullified. Malachi 2:6, Torah is Truth. tav is the symbol of repentance and perfection.

Let’s put all the letters together again…

Remember: Hebrew Letters are read from Right to Left.

dalet, beit, reish, tav = d’ber’rath = 606

d’ber’rath is a Levitical City, bordering a city of Refuge, whose name is equivalent to ….torah

Let’s read Joshua 19:12 while inserting the meaning of each cities name…

12  And turned from Sarid (survivor), eastward toward the sun rise unto the border of Chislothtabor (foolishness), and then goeth out to Daberath (Word of torah), and goeth up to Japhia (to shine forth, or cause to shine).

12  And turned from being a survivor, eastward toward the sun rise unto the border of mountains of foolishness, and then goeth out to receive the Word of torah (ha d’bear’rath), and goeth up to shine forth, or to cause someone else to shine.

POINT BEING: The Names of these cities and places have meaning…

hei (5) dalet (4) beit (2) reish (200) tav (400) = 611

Remember: Hebrew Letters are read from Right to Left.

With hei, added before the word daber, you have…

The letter hei, when prefixed to a Hebrew word, means “the’. When the letter hei, “the” is added before the word, ‘d-bear-reth’ we have “The d-bear-rath” meaning, The WORD of the Covenant.

hei (5) dalet (4) beit (2) reish (200) tav (400) = 611 / torah

Read this again…

Jos 19:12  And turned from being a survivor, eastward toward the sun rise unto the border of mountains of foolishness, and then goeth out to receive the Word of torah or the WORD of the Covenant (ha d’bear’rath), and goeth up to shine forth, or to cause someone else to shine.

What message are you seeing between the lines?

There’s More…

the ROOT word in daberath, is d-b-r, daw-ber.

Remember: Hebrew Letters are read from Right to Left.

dalet (4) beit (2) reish (200)

Every word in Hebrew is formed from a 3 or 4 letter root word. The root word in d’ber’rath is d’ber; and dalet – beit – reish, which means, ‘WORD’ in Hebrew.

In order to say, ‘WORD’ in Hebrew, (d-b-r, da’ber [1696]) – it must be formed with, and begin at, the Door (Messiach), lead to – the tabernacle (the Sanctuary, Dwelling Place of GOD & His People) and produce/develop the reish (Christ our High Priest and You).

ha daw’bear or ha daw’bar means, ‘The WORD’

Remember: Hebrew Letters are read from Right to Left.

The Word

hei (5) –dalet (4) beit (2) reish (200)

ha daw’bear’rath means, ‘The WORD of The Covenant’

hei (The) dalet-beit-reish (WORD) tav (Covenant)

Remember: Hebrew Letters are read from Right to Left.

When hei, added to and precedes, d’ber’rath, it’s numerical equivalency shifts/moves from 606 to 611, torah.

ha daw’bear’rath reads, The WORD of the Covenant. It’s not just an innocuous name of a city. In Hebrew, names convey messages about the character and nature of a place, person, or a thing. Names reveal a great deal of information about the spiritual condition of the people and places identified in scripture. We have been reading over this type of information forever, almost as if we didn’t need any further revelation or information.

(The) ha

(WORD) dalet, beit, reish

(COVENANT) tav

ha d’ber’rath, is a place where the WORD of GOD Dwells.

The WORD, begins with recognition of Messiach, who stands at the Door. Anything that we say, repeat or honor in the WORD of GOD, begins with Messiach.

Look at the scripture again…

Plot out the boundaries / borders of the territory of Zebulun…

Jos 19:12  And turned from being a survivor, eastward toward the sun rise unto the border of mountains of foolishness, and then goeth out to receive the Word of torah or the WORD of the Covenant (ha d’bear’rath), and goeth up to shine forth, or to cause someone else to shine.

Between Survival and Foolishness and the Covenant and the Light.

Summary:

Every letter in torah has a corresponding numerical value. You have seen that torah is equivalent to 611.

611 is also the numerical value of ha d’ber’rath, one of the Levitical cities that lies between the borders of Zebulun and Issachar.

ha d’ber’rath is not just a physical place, it is a spiritual place. A place of torah, a place where the WORD of the Covenant resides. ha d’ber’rath is the alternative, between two destinations; survival and foolishness, a place that allows you to shine or to cause someone else to shine.

The root of d’ber’rath is da’ber, meaning WORD. ha d’ber’rath is founded upon the WORD. ha ‘ber’rath is a place where the WORD of GOD can be found. A place of Covenantal relationship.

There are no superfluous words in scripture. Every word, letter, jot, title, oilve, fish, tent, jar of wine, and piece of bread, is divinely placed into the torah. GOD was not writing a fairy tale, bedtime story, nor sprinkling words around like abstract decoupage. Every word has purpose and intention and deserves more than anyone’s literal and superficial focus and attention.

Torah teachings are not about learning a bible story. torah contains the meat of the Word of GOD.

“And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us…full of Grace and Truth.” John 1:14

“In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD.” John 1:1

(Word in Greek is Logos. Word in Hebrew is da’ber).

BRIEF TORAH INSIGHT:

Deborah, is spelled dalet-beit-reish-hei

Deborah, a Prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth (Judges 4-5), is one way to read the preface to this teaching. There is another translation from the Hebrew.

Judges 4:4 Deborah, a woman, a seer (a prophetess), a woman of fire!

ish’shah appears twice in this verse; once as woman and the second time as wife.

For consistency sake, let’s translate it with the same each time; We could read this as, Deborah was a woman, a seer, a woman of lappidoth or, Deborah was a wife, a seer, a wife of Lappidoth.

Which sounds more reasonable?

Lapidoth is from the root word, lappid meaning torches. Some versions report that Deborah was married to a man that provided torches/candles for the sanctuary and was called by the name of her husbands trade.

Alternatively, we have the option of reading the text to understand that Deborah was a woman on fire for GOD. The actual letters of her name read, ‘what comes out of the Word”, ‘What comes out of torah!’, [hei = ‘what comes out of’]. Ref: The Message In The Letters of Torah, Part 4 for information on the letter hei.

Deborah has become a common name in the English language. So when we hear, Deborah, we think of a woman. However, being that deber means WORD, and deberah means, ‘What comes out of the WORD’, the scripture might be placing greater emphasis on the fact that Deborah is a woman, more so, than her marital status.

It is my personal belief, that what comes out of torah, is Fire for the WORD of GOD!

What came out of a life spent in the WORD, was a woman, a seer, a prophetess, a woman of fire.

Deborah’s name means WORD, which she taught and judged the land and people of Israel with. She is the living embodiment of what comes out of a life of torah… Deborah is a Judge of Israel, a teacher, leader, the spiritual guide to the Children of Israel. She is what comes out of the WORD, she is a product of the WORD.

Deborah’s name is prophetically and intentionally given. On the pages of scripture, GOD is doing more than just calling her Deborah (d-b-r-h). He could have called her by any other name. Even with GOD providing such a huge distinction, to provide us with clear evidence of her importance in scripture, we still miss this crucial piece of information, because we do not know that GOD is even calling her the WORD.

In addition, notice that Barak refused to go to battle unless Deborah went with him/them. Barak, God’s General, was not like-minded with the world, i.e., as the world is about women standing in the place of authority/leadership in the Church. Barak understood the dangers inherent of going into battle without a WORD (Deborah). He took his Word with him… Barak took da’ber, and da’ber was a woman.

GOD calls her Deborah, intentionally. But, without the benefit of any knowledge of Hebrew, we will miss the message, completely and be unable to connects the dots as we should.

Deborah is one of those rare individuals on the pages of scripture, whose name prefigures Christ. The character and nature of Deborah bears a clear connection to the Messiach, by virtue of her name.

Who has ever pointed out the women in scripture who were a prefiguring of Christ? To date, ONLY GOD.

Her name clearly identifies her as personification of the WORD. (As mankind should exemplify themselves to strive to become, to this very day). She is called the WORD. More specifically, she is what comes out of a life in the WORD. Deborah is a product of the WORD of GOD.

By any other name, her role would be and has been questionable. As a spiritual leader of Israel, as a Judge, Counselor or Teacher, even warrior of GOD, her role bearing the headship and leadership of the House of GOD has been diminished.

For generations, we have taught that Deborah was just a small once in a lifetime, exception to the role of women in the Church. The entire time, being oblivious to the force, effect and import of her name, Deborah, which places her at the forefront of the list of all those whose ministry and service to GOD was a prefiguring of Christ, the Messiach.

In no uncertain terms, GOD calls her the WORD. A foreshadowing that GOD knew of the entire time, but man has yet to perceive, acknowledge, address, respond, and per his usual customs and traditions, attempt to refute.

In Hebrew, the meaning is obvious. In English, we can’t even see it.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness“ –2 Tim 3:16

All scripture, down to the shapes and forms of the letters, to the letters used to form words, phrases, including the very words and names themselves, are designed to tell us something.

If all scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, then ALL scripture is profitable… end of story. Everything in the scripture is relevant and pertinent for our teaching and instruction, reproof and correction.

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now” John 16:12

So my original question stands…When will we be able to bear the meat of the Word?

It’s very true that the women of GOD do not dominate the pages of scripture. GOD lifts up the names of the women sparingly. This has caused people for centuries to teach, preach or even feel, that women are insignificant or ignored in the totality of scripture.

But that is not the case. I hope to demonstrate this to my readers numerous times through our studies together, that Women are like a secret weapon of Heaven. Arguably, women appear to be kept on the backside of the mountain, but their entrance is decisively powerful whenever GOD calls them forth to intervene on the stage of human destiny.

GOD has never watered down the role of women in scripture. The role of women has been critical to divine history, legacy and prophecy.

The information we are accustomed to reading right past, contains manna we need. But even if we aren’t there yet, and can’t see Deborah as a WORD carrying Prophetess who judged the people of Israel, and who was a spiritual and military leader, just remember this… Understanding will come. In the meantime…

Never go to battle, without the WORD.

Notation:

Spiritual Notation: tav is the 22nd Letter in the Hebrew Alephbet, The Last and Final Letter of the Hebrew Alephbet. “Esther is the last of 22 GODLY Women in Scripture who took decisive steps to heighten the spiritual level of the Jewish People”. Talmud, Yoma 29a. The WORD of GOD is connecting One Woman, One Matriarch for every letter in the aleph-bet.

God Bless You,

This teaching is dedicated to Adrian “The Tzaddik”… who knows that GOD’s plans for us are revealed to us by the spirit…and covets earnestly the best gifts… 1 Cor 12:10, 14).

Posts Included in This Series:

In order to access more teachings of this kind on the Hebrew Letters:

NOTE: There is NO WRONG WAY TO SPELL A HEBREW WORD IN ENGLISH. By that I mean, the process of transliteration requires that we use one of our English letters to represent the sound that a letter/word makes in Hebrew. Example: The Hebrew letter tav for instance, is equivalent to the sound that the letter ‘T’ makes in English.

Because we are using the English letters to substitute for the Hebrew letters as we transition from Hebrew to English, the goal is to convey the sound that the letters make. The primary goal is to reproduce the sound corectly.

For instance, stated another way, let’s say the word pony was a Hebrew word. If I wanted the English speaking world to say, ‘pony’ properly in Hebrew, I would attempt to reproduce the sound using English letters by spelling it out, ‘poe – knee’. In this way, the English speaking community would know how to best replicate the sound of the word ‘pony’ in Hebrew.

It is understood, that ‘poe-knee’ is not an English word, so it is not possible to spell it wrong in English. The object is to convey the proper pronunication.

As you continue learning a little Hebrew, remember this important point. You will see slightly differing spellings/transliterations of the words as you read and research further in your studies.

It is OK to Spell the Hebrew word using English letters, how ever you want to, as long as your goal is to duplicate the sound, it is fine. There are nuances in how we each will transmit the spelling, and that is alright. Our primary goal, is to ensure that you can say the word properly when speaking out loud!

Cover by Rev. S. Madison

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

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The Journey Back

MAKE A WINDOW IN THE ARK…

Genesis 6:13 “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth”.

6:14  “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch”.

6:15  “And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits”.

6:16  “A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it”.

Before Noach (Noah) was finished, he had to make sure that he had placed a window in the ark. Makes perfect sense. God commanded a flood. It would be raining for quite some time.

As you can see from the chart below, the Hebrew word for ark is teivah. As with all the words in Hebrew, there is depth and height. The Word of God contains such rich luxurious texture, streaming with meaning, purpose, treasure and insight. In English, ark means ark. In the Hebrew, the LORD’s language, is a 2 edged sword.

Psalms 119:30 says, “The entrance of thy Word brings light, and gives understanding to the simple!”  King David, (Prophet, Priest & King) connected with the revelation of this message. David recognized that God was not just talking commanding Noach to make a window for the ark in some mundane, mechanical sense.  Noach is commanded to make ‘one’ window, singular. Whatever he needs to see, when he needs to see it, will be facing him head on.

Yes, Noach makes a literal window. But scripture is not just teaching us literal concepts. There are revelations to be found in the Word. Noach builds an ark, based solely on the Word of God. Noah will look out of that window when he in instructed to, at the Word of God. When the storm is over, it will be through that window that the light will come.

 King David, (Prophet, Priest & King) connected with the revelation of this message. David knew that every instruction of God has purpose. So, when he tells Noach to make a window in the ark, a detail we easily read over like we are reading a fariytale story, David is paying attention to detail.

David’s experience with GOD, tells him to ask a few questions. For instance, it makes common sense to make a window. Why is GOD giving such detailed instructions for something that I know. Of course, I’ll make a window.

However, on the heels of that same instance, instance that he ask himself the question, the next instant he has to just smile and say, OK GOD, I get it.

David, understood something we will never see without the Hebrew. He understood that ‘teivah’ also means, ‘Word’. Yes, Noah, make a literal window for the ark, but in doing so he understood the message behind the message. He knew that he had another job to do. He also was charged with bringing forth light with the Word, that is in the ark!  

Our entire spiritual survival will depend on how we utilize our power to speak the Word and bring light into the darkness. The ‘light’ from the sun will not be available for a little while. You need to tap into another level of light!

When Noah made that window, he was doing it on faith that the light would come. Making that window was equivalent to Moses saying, “I believe you Lord, and I trust You”. If GOD was not going to keep His word to Noah, and destroy him and his family in the flood, there is absolutely no need for a window. So Noah makes a window in the ark, knowing that on a completely higher level, he is making a window for the Word.

Just as Noah had to make a window for the purpose of bringing light into the ark, we have to learn how to bring forth light with the Word.  Again, our entire spiritual survival will depend on how well we can follow the instructions and make a window for the Word, despite the trials and tributions, the problem or the situation, the circumstances, or the complications… despite the 40 dark days, make a window for the Word!

Can we bring forth light with the Word of GOD? What will we create, with the Word?

As you increase your knowledge of the Hebrew, and begin to pray with the Hebrew tongue (even a few words); every utterance will take on the creative force imbued within the Word, at the dawn of creation.  When I say, you begin to pray with a Hebrew tongue, for now, I’m speaking of praying with a torah mindset, meaning you are now praying with a more intimate knowledge of the Word.

Genesis 7:1, “You and all of your household shall enter into the ark”. 

What if we dared to understand this at a higher level?  What can happen when you are no longer satisfied with a superficial knowledge and understanding of the Word?

When we study torah, we are pursuing, d’resh (investigation), remez (comparing scripture with scripture) for the purpose of a sod level of knowledge (revelation).

Let’s read this again, but this time let’s insert the revelation,  “You and all your household shall enter into the Word” – 

The Baal Shem Tov taught that this means that we must put our entire self, into the words of our prayers. The brightest light we will ever create, will be the light we create with our words. With this one, tiny bit of torah knowledge we find, that the ‘teaching’ about the making of the ark, is more than a bible story. God didn’t give us stories, He gave us teachings, instructions and directions. I hope our biblical vocabularies will eliminate the words, bible story, from our vocabulary for a while. I encourage everyone to try. We need to elevate the kedusha (Holiness) on our words, and the way in which we speak about the Word of GOD. We are the experts on spiritual matters, not the world. The world, will take their lead from us.

Our words have work to do. The Hebrew Letters are known as the Letters of Fire. When we pray, we have access to the Fire of God through his Word. When passion, compassion and love are the very foundation of our prayers; When we speak with kindness, honoring every soul, When the words we speak have only one agenda; to build up, edify and encourage, then our words are doing the work we were called to do.  We are creating, (creating is the Hebrew word, ‘asah’), a window in the Ark. 

As we go about our daily lives, and look out of our windows through the vision of all of our circumstances, speak light and look for the light to come. Call it into existence. When our words and prayers infuse the light of God into the world and into another’s soul…We are creating light, from every Word of God!

Make a Window for the Word!

© 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog

Image provided by Unsplash.com

The Journey Back, What is Torah

THE JOURNEY BACK TO A TORAH MINDSET BEGINS…. Part 1.2

Q&A Continued…
Below are a few questions that were submitted to me via email that did not come through the posts. I am going to answer a few of them here for the benefit of all participants.

Q#3: Will your articles typically take 10-15 minutes in length to read?

Yes indeed! I am really very impressed with myself that they are that short! It is my teaching style to be at length. Generally speaking, I struggle in class to contain my lectures to 50 or 110 minutes. I try to squeeze every drop, out of every minute with my students and I am not ashamed to hold them captive. Learning is a scientific process. You have to be meticulous in every detail. I demand a lot out of my students, and I have no sympathy for the amount of time it takes to study to show yourself approved.

The Hebrew letters are called the raw materials of creation. I agree. I think every student is like the raw materials of creation. In my class, every student carries a Hebrew Letter over their head, like a crown of torah. They are going to create something powerful with it. Every time they absorb new information, they have the power to create, edify, encourage. They have the power to build. Some in 7 minutes, some in 6 minutes, some in one hour, some in a year. In reading, studying, learning….they are the masters of time.

Imagine my surprise and delight to have written something in a blog that only takes a few minutes to read. I might mess around and find this enjoyable!

So, why am I writing this, if it is such a foreign concept to me?
Earlier I told you that I am going for my graduate level degree in humility. Humility 101 is a marathon. It is all day, every day, and last a lifetime. This is my primary reason.

Secondary to that… I am doing this because my students are making me do it! They have suggested, implored, cajoled, questioned, fussed and looked at me strangely. They have asked me to do this for years, and I have just smiled and said, “one day, maybe”.

This is me, surrendering and being obedient to their request. They obviously have something else to teach me. So I am taking the course.

The most excellent truth of the matter is, teachers can only excel in their particular skill set, as long as they are willing to be students at the same time that they are teaching. My students have probably taught me more than I have ever taught them. I don’t know how many teachers actually share that thought out loud, or even if we share it with each other. However, ask a teacher and find out if they agree.

Students are not learning in a vacuum. Your teacher has just as much to learn from you, as you do from them. It is a symbiotic relationship. I have come to know it as, iron sharpening iron!

Technically speaking, we are just about 20-25 minutes into our first class!

I think this is a good place to introduce you to a few of your classmates. There is Ruth. Her code name is Ruth. I call her that because she is tah-meem. That is Hebrew for blameless. She has such a pure, innocent spirit and is so genuine in prayer.

You will hear me speak of David. That is his code name. I call him David because he is so sold out to God. David is one of the tzaddikim (righteous ones). His children are aware of his spiritual identity, and they see God in him. He is a rare one. He is a man, who has honour in his own country, and his own house.

You will hear me speak of one person, as the Beloved of John. She is a master torah scholar in Christ Jesus. She is the librarian, historian, record keeper par excellance. Although she would never agree with me commending her with praise. In the area of humility, kindness and joy, she is a savant. They are truly her areas of expertise. She operates in a highly specialised skill set in the body of Christ.

Then there is Shamar. shamar in Hebrew means to guard, to protect. She is hungry for the Word. She is a soldier, fearless in spiritual battle. She detests stagnation, apathy, and confusion, and she knows how to stand her watch in the service.

David, Shamar, Ruth and the Beloved of John are like the sons of Thunder in prayer. They each have an-already-been-done kind-of-spirit in prayer, and nothing is impossible with God. They know their names and each of them will recognise their description when they have read it. One day, when their identities are revealed, their families will see that I have made no exaggeration about their spiritual character.

They will attend every class and every lecture with you. They will read what you read, and hear what you hear. They are ministers of the gospel, students, teachers and intercessors. It’s what they do.

Now we’re learning torah!

Quick Links to Previous Post:  

The Journey Back To A Torah Mindset, Part 1

The Journey Back To A Torah Mindset, Part 1.1

[When I find typo’s that I did not see before I published and/or I re-read and know that I could have stated something better for clarity, I will make corrections and place brackets around the changes, like so.  I want your final product to be as pristine as possible.  Also, you have noticed that I do not include the scripture reference when I am quoting or paraphrasing something from the New Testament.  I do that intentionally.  We know this material and I believe it is already a part of our regular dialogue.  We may have the impulse to look them up and that’s good.  I want to provoke us to do that.  It’s good for the soul 🙂  Your a good student!  God Bless You].

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog

The Journey Back, What is Torah

THE JOURNEY BACK TO A TORAH MINDSET BEGINS…. Part 1.1

Q&A:

Below are a few questions that were submitted to me via email, that did not arrive through the posts. I am going to answer a few of them here for the benefit of all participants.

Q#1: Why did your original two posts not include any scripture or torah teachings? I think you only quoted scripture once.

The first two posts referred to are: The Journey Back to a Torah Mindset Begins… April 11, 2019, and How to Reset Your Torah Mindset to Acquire Torah Concepts… April 13, 2019.

Good question. “Because I am a teacher at heart.” There are several reasons I can offer to explain why I handled the introduction in this way. The fact is, both articles were loaded with torah principles, insights and teachings. I purposefully did not identify them in the articles, for the specific benefit of allowing everyone to hear the information and gain some insight into our foundational objectives. Teachers never start teaching, until everyone in the class knows specifically, what we are there to accomplish. Students hail from vastly divergent backgrounds, knowledge in and experience with scripture. It is imperative that we are given the same road map for our journey.

That being said, The Journey Back… began with a rabbinic quote. Did you recognise the quote, or have you heard it before? Chances are if you have had no prior experience with torah, you did not. That’s OK. How did you answer the question when you read it?
Were you so curious about the right answer, that you googled the question to see if you could find it and discover the meaning?
In your opinion, What is the good path to which a human being should cling? You have been out among the world. What have you discerned? What is the proper path?

If you still remember the question in your heart and are still pondering your response, you are a Christian torah scholar in the making. If not, you may have some struggles with the upcoming material. Regardless, dependant upon how much effort you are willing to place in your study, you will be an excellent student in your own right! How much are you willing to put into it? Do you have a thirst and a hunger to understand scripture at a higher level? Are you willing to be taught? Are you teachable? What are the characteristics of a teachable spirit? Even the questions are torah centric questions. Together we shall explore the answers, as long as you feel that this blog is right for you!

As we continue on this journey together, we will identify every torah principle that was addressed in the body of these two articles mentioned above. We will proceed line by line, precept by precept.

—Torah Lesson Number 1: The Five Students of Torah

How did the five students of the Rabbi answer the above question? “Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai said to them [the five disciples]: Go out and discern which is the proper path to which man should cling. Rabbi Eliezer says: A good eye. Rabbi Yehoshua says: A good friend. Rabbi Yose says: A good neighbor. Rabbi Shimon says: One who considers the outcome [of a deed]. Rabbi Elazar says: A good heart. He said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach to your words, for your words are included in his words.” Pirkei Avos 2:13 (i.e., Sayings of the Fathers 2:13)

Do you agree with Rabban Zakkai? Did you have a completely different answer than the five students? Explain.

Q#2: It seems like you rarely ever capitalise the word, torah, even when you should. Why is that?

That’s deliberate. In Hebrew, there is no capitalisation of letters. Capitalisation is a western concept in our writing system. Not so, in Hebrew. Even though English is my first language, I work very hard at not capitalising Hebrew words. It’s adorable when I think about it. Every letter is conceptually written in lower case… this is an aspect of humility embedded into the presentation of the Hebrew Language itself.

The torah was given in humility, given with love. The torah was received with humility, and received in reverence (awe). Reverence, is how we say, “I Love You” back to God. This is the disciples short hand for, “I will do and I will hear” (Ex. 24:7). torah should be written with a lower case t, to remind us of the necessity to handle the word of God with humility and love.

Case in point, my computer is operating on the world system, with a western mindset. I have to be mindful to do the opposite of what it is programmed to do. The computer is on autopilot. I, on the other hand, am forcing myself to be mindful of a new thing, another way, a more excellent way. I am retraining my mind to think a new way. Little things like this, I find helpful. I place this simple requirement on myself. My students are not required to do them. Contrary to some beliefs, the study of torah is not about being legalistic, or ritualistic. It’s more about building a fence around the torah. (A concept that we will delve into at much length, later in this journey!)

Torah is about the little things, considerate things, that we can do to let God know that we are continually walking consciously, aware of His Presence. I am daily training my own spirit, in the art and science of graduate level humility. Every little bit helps!

Excellent question!

Quick Links to Previous Post:  The Journey Back to A Torah Mindset, Part 1

Quick Links to Next Post: The Journey Back to A Torah Mindset, Part 1.2

[When I find typo’s that I did not see before I published and/or I re-read and know that I could have stated something better for clarity, I will make corrections and place brackets around the changes, like so.  I want your final product to be as pristine as possible.  Also, you have noticed that I do not include the scripture reference when I am quoting or paraphrasing something from the New Testament.  I do that intentionally.  We know this material and I believe it is already a part of our regular dialogue.  We may have the impulse to look them up and that’s good.  I want to provoke us to do that.  It’s good for the soul 🙂  Your a good student!  God Bless You].

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog