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Judeo-Christian Teachings

ELUL, BECAUSE OF YOU…

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Judging oneself is an inescapable process of prayer.

Are You Praying Out of the Right Spirit?

The reason this is so very important, is that ‘being in the presence of GOD’, heals our own spirit, refines our character, delivers us, ministers to us, gives us insight into our own spirit, our own souls, our own thoughts, sanctifies us for His work.

More importantly, you need to understand this to your very core, because people have need of your prayers.

Praying over, or for another person, without being in prayer before the presence of GOD yourself, is tantamount to praying our of your own spirit, praying your own thoughts, your own will, your own ideas… and not His.

We don’t lay hands on another person to pray for them, without having first been in prayer before GOD ourselves. We don’t just walk into the sanctuary to attend a service, without first having spent time in prayer ourselves.

Prayer is our greatest responsibility as an intercessor, armour-bearer, disciple, teacher, apostle, evangelist, minister, pastor, prophet, believer.

Let the babes, (who deserve all the rights and privileges as a babe), be the bases while they can. It is time for us to cover them, the pastor, the leadership and the ministry so that their healing, revelation, breakthroughs, etc. can manifest speedily.

GOD Inhabits Our Praises… Psalm 22:3

There are enough of us to saturate the atmosphere so completely and thoroughly, that everyone present can get what they need from the anointing we draw down from Heaven by our worship alone!

It is time to get to work! No more sitting on the pew, waiting for OUR Word. We have had enough words. Let he babes get a Word!

Issue strength to our Pastors and leadership that helps them to stand in their place and position. Gird them up, so that they can flow in the anointing.

Fill the sanctuary up with praise and worship before we ever arrive on site.

I encourage you to issue strength to every area of our Church Leadership…

so that they can set aside all banned battles, all negativity, all strife, all envy, bitterness, all word curses, every vain imagination, all disunity, all evil speaking…

We are addicted to competition with each other. Secretly, (we deceive ourselves into thinking no one notices) we dislike and disrespect each other. Our mouths are forever busy, biting each other.

Have you seen this happen? We come in the church hateful and we hear a powerful message, and we leave the message as hateful as we came in. Never delivered, never healed, never set free…

Because we won’t let anything go. Long suffering is not understood in our bones.

Constantly complaining, constantly whining, constantly striving:

Exodus 17 all over again. We are still quite the handful.

We refuse to labor in prayer. We won’t wait for GOD to provide strategies, for fear He will take too long.

We are fighting banned battles on social media. We need to be right, more than we need to fall on the mercy of GOD.

We want to be justified in the sight of man, more than we need justification before GOD.

We want to explain and defend ourselves, and our reputations, not make ourselves of no reputation.

This leads to dishonoring ourselves and GOD’s Word.

This has to stop. Some of us are as evil as the day is long, and we are running to service to service, with smiling faces, pretending to be whole.

Despite our current spiritual condition, with all of the above, all is not lost.

As Leadership…We have too much knowledge about this WORD, not to come up and out of this situation.

We know how to do it!

ELUL, is our time to stop all that.

ELUL is our time to repent.

ELUL is time for us to get better, and do better.

KEY: In Hebrew, the Emphasis is on the Verb.

Watch the verb in the Biblical Hebrew language, (in which the Bible was written), the emphasis is on the action.

So the question remains, “What are we prepared to do as leadership in the church?”

We are the closest to the Pastor. We are standing next to the pastor. People connect our behavior to our Pastors mantle. How do you make your Pastor look?

Are people connecting your behavior to their reputation?

Do we delude ourselves in thinking NO ONE EVER has seen our nature or character? our flaws or faults?

Have we been perfect in all our goings and comings? All of our doings?

When we stand accused, can we make ourselves of no reputation? Can we take the hit? It does not look like it.

Even those who do at times take the hit, have to announce to someone that they took the hit. It only counts as done unto GOD, if you don’t have to clang the symbol when you do it.

WHAT’S YOUR BODY COUNT?

How many people have we hurt? Chased out of the Church? As soon as they come in the front door, we chase them out of the back door!

How many Pastors have we ruined with our spiritual immaturity?

How many have we run from the pulpit? How many have struck the rock?

How much blood is on our hands? How many saints have you slain? None? One, Two?, Three? Fifty? Hundreds? Thousands?

Perhaps we should repent for not even knowing how many we have slain?

So afraid somebody is going to take your position next to the Pastor. Why are we so territorial? Why are we so insecure?

This is not the behavior of those that are walking in the anointing, and we misrepresent GOD, the Pastor, The Church as a Community, and every innocent bystander around.

No One In The Church Should Be Slaying The Saints of GOD.

That’s the enemy’s job.

Unless we are on a counter-intelligence mission for the enemy, this is not our job.

This ELUL, I’m praying for us as leadership.

We have to get our literal and spiritual minds back!

This behavior can cause so much confusion that the body cannot pray. We completely lose our voice and our position in prayer.

GOD does not want us to descend into the pit of the world’s behavior.

Who has the courage to sit themselves down? Who has the courage to say, I’m guilty of all of the above and I will sit myself down, until I am satisfied of my own repentance and my ability to serve.

People are depending upon our prayers. We need clean hands and a pure heart to flow in effectual prayer.

What are we prepared to do for our own soul, this ELUL?

What are we prepared to do for the souls of our leadership?

How are we prepared to edify, encourage, and support the souls of GOD’s People?

That the King May Suffer No Damage…

I care about our leadership. I care about how our lack of leadership and lack of self control affects the people. I care about how we impact the people of GOD. I care about the damage that we cause the Kingdom.

This WORD has the power to edify, build up and encourage. This WORD can restore, rectify, recover, resurrect, if we handle it properly.

We have the ability, the power to flow with GOD. We have the power through prayer, repentance, and love to do great things for GOD.

Pray, Because of Us…

I am praying for myself, for you, for everyone who has been hurt by our behavior, for everyone who las left the church, for everyone clinging to their church hurts, for everyone who loved the pastor but hated us, for everyone we offended, everyone we inadvertently offended, everyone we disregarded, for everyone we failed to acknowledge, for everyone who intentionally offended us, for everyone who unintentionally offended us, for everyone that disprespected us, for everyone who made us shed tears, for everyone that has shed tears because of us, for everyone that lied for us, for everyone that lied because of us, for every leader who has abandoned their post because of us, for every child who said they did not want to be like us, for everyone who abandoned GOD because of us, for everyone who missed their destiny because of us, for every one who grew weak and weary because of us, for everyone who would not defend the helpless because of us,

To all those who left the Church because of us… I want to share something with you that the Spirit of GOD shared with me, when I wanted to walk away….NO…RUN AWAY!

I am also guilty of thinking to give up, turn my back on GOD and His People, completely and thoroughly discouraged, watching people do the same things over and over again with not even the slightest remorse or awareness of their own behavior…frustrating others, draining the pastor, pulling everyone but GOD, out of the anointing…..

YES. I have been there and back. Wishing I was more righteous, (knowing I wasn’t), wondering why GOD even puts up with it all, wanting it all to just stop.

GOD must have been sick of me…

Actually, I know He was… because that’s the only time I get full scripture verses sounding in my head.

My mind shifted to 3 verses of scripture, as if they were part of the same conversation. The WORD of GOD in me, was giving me the resolution I needed to hear. (Which is why we need to be filled with the WORD).

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

…when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

…when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

…and when thou art converted,

strengthen thy brethren.

Let nothing or no one take your crown.“

Those are my instructions,

All I can say is AMEN.

Judeo-Christian Teachings

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER… Creating Your Unbreakeable Bond in Communion with GOD

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And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

Before Jesus ministered, after he ministered, before He spoke into the lives of anyone, After He spoke into the lives of the people, Jesus spent time in the presence of GOD in prayer.

His ministry bore the sign and the signature of prayer unceasing.

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it (prayer, praise & worship) and to keep it (guard and protect the anointing).” Gen 2:15

(Ref: Adam was not in Agriculture).

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.“ Genesis 2:7

We learned earlier of the deeper prophetic meaning of this verse which reveals to us that…“Man became a Speaking Spirit”

Mankind’s utmost power is the ability to communicate, and his first communication was expressed between himself and GOD.

Mankind has an intrinsic need to communicate with his creator. If that is not the case, why do we spend an enormous amount of time, energy, conversation and thought centered around such questions: as:

  • Whether or not there is a GOD?
  • How was the universe created?
  • Is there a First Mover of the universe?
  • Are we alone in the universe?

We have an insatiable need to understand the beginnings of everything, especially ourselves.

Our spirit needs some time to talk with the Spirit of GOD.

Mankind is Created to Speak with GOD, spirit to Spirit

Communication is the substance of relationships and all of our relationships are spiritual. From the relationships that bless us, to the ones that vex us, our communication connects or divides us spiritually.

GOD breathe life into man and man became a speaking spirit, created to communicate. First to GOD and then to each other, into the world and everything in it.

Like us, relationships are also created with the breath of life. All relationships are founded upon and sustained by communication. Someone must say something.

What we say, when, why, how we say it… our speech defines us, our world and others. Life and death reside in the power of our tongues.

We edify, build up and encourage, or we tear down, damage and destroy, by the very breath of our speech.

What we speak into our own existence and into the lives of others, has power, momentum, substance, and weight.

When directed toward GOD with intention, contemplation and focus, speech is elevated to the level of prayer.

…and Prayer is more than just talk.

We have the power to change the circumstances of a situation by what we speak about it.

Prayer is a lot like gravity. It pulls everything around it towards its center, even light.

Gravity is one of the forces in the universe that is the most difficult to explain scientifically.

The Power of Prayer is a force in the universe that exist, despite any difficulty the church may have in explaining it spiritually.

Prayer is a spiritual element and can only be understood in spiritual terms.

Prayer affects space and time; past, present and future.

Prayer is our mechanism in which we speak to GOD. It has no fixed place. Prayer penetrates all realms and dimensions.

Prayer is what naturally emerges from a relationship with GOD.

The greater the communication the stronger the relationship. The weaker the communication, the weaker the relationship.

One of the most critical signs that a relationship is in trouble is when communication is compromised. Lack of communication precedes loss of communication, which is the pre-eminent sign of distress in any relationship.

Once communication ceases, the relationship suffers a death. Anyone who has ever suffered a damaged relationship, understands first hand, the spiritual death experienced from severed or severing communication.

The only way we can breathe life into the relationship again, is by finding a way back to communication.

Somewhere and at some point, we broke off communication with GOD.

Mankind was created to communicate with GOD through prayer, and prayer is how we find our way back to GOD.

Even though our spirit, created to communicate with GOD first (avodah), we have eliminated and/or substituted family, friends, loved ones, even nature itself, in place of direct communication with GOD.

Prayer and Praying are 2 Different Things.

Speak to any veteran of prayer and they will confirm that “prayer” is much more than a 5, 10, or 15 minute prayer session. There are many levels of prayer.

Christianity has formalized 3 levels of prayer.

  • Vocal Prayer (i.e., petition, intercession, thanksgiving, blessing, praise, confession)
    • Surface Level of prayer; Essential, developmental, powerful,
  • Meditation (i.e., reflection, study, practicing the presence of GOD)
    • Reflective level of prayer on teachings, scriptures, purpose, destiny, decisions…
  • Contemplation (i.e., awareness of the divine, coming to know GOD at the highest personal levels).
    • i.e., being with GOD, dwelling with the presence of GOD, heightens spiritual strength, power, spiritual beauty, insight, vision, wisdom, understanding, joy… Benefits.

Vocal prayer is what I am referring to as “praying”. Contemplation is what I am referring to as “prayer”.

Why?

Due to the vast majority of church’s which do not teach prayer as a life-style, the body of Christ is not accustomed to using the terms, “vocal prayer” or “contemplative”. In addition to this, we tend to think of all prayer as the same.

All Prayer is Not the Same

For this reason, I am distinguishing the terms by referring to vocal prayer as ‘praying‘, and contemplation as prayer.

Contemplative prayer undergirds all stages and levels of prayer and requires the highest level of focus. Technically speaking, you have to train and discipline your spirit/flesh at this level of prayer.

Contemplative prayer demands that you master the ability to shut out all distractions, every vain imagination, submit your thoughts, ideas, every conversation in your head, focus, address and deal with your own character flaws, limitations and baggage, and deliver your spirit before the throne of GOD.

This takes more than 5, 10 or 15 minutes of praying. In the beginning, it can take up to 60 minutes or more, to get past your own obstacle course—in order for prayer to begin.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High…Ps 91, Matt 6:6, Acts 17:11, Ps 119:114

Prayer requires effort, struggle. It is not a tip toe through the tulips. Contemplative prayer requires that you battle your way past self, and press toward the Presence of GOD.

Attempts at this level of prayer are met with distractions, wandering thoughts, sleepiness, worldly demands, impatience, and any other conceivable device aimed toward dismantling your prayer life.

The reward is relationship.

Think of it like this…

Praying, as I have defined it above, is like having an acquaintance with GOD based upon an introduction from a third party.

Many Christians pray without having a deeper relationship with GOD. This is where we begin, but it does not have to be where we end.

Praying, takes place on prayer lines, fulfilling prayer commitments, praying before and after service, praying on the prayer lines, praying for others, etc.

Praying for others becomes far more effective, and should take place after spending time alone with GOD. This is the model set for us by Christ and the disciples.

Who wants to be in danger of praying out of their own spirit, rather than the spirit of GOD?

Who wants to be in danger of praying their own will, rather than the will of GOD?

Many times we have asked ourselves, what to pray?

The only way to know the answers to this question, is to spend time in the Presence of GOD.

Refining the 3 levels of prayer.

  • The Outer Court Prayers
    • Vocal Prayer (i.e., petition, intercession, thanksgiving, blessing, praise, confession)
      • Surface Level of Prayer; Essential, Developmental, Powerful,
  • Prayers in The Holy Place
    • Meditation (i.e., reflection, study, practicing the Presence of GOD)
      • Reflective level of prayer on teachings, scriptures, purpose, destiny, decisions…
      • Trains your spirit for solitude with GOD.
  • Prayer in The Holy of Holies
    • Contemplation (i.e., Awareness of the Divine, coming to know GOD at the highest personal levels).
      • i.e., being with GOD, dwelling with the Presence of GOD, heightens spiritual strength, power, spiritual beauty, insight, vision, wisdom, understanding, joy… Benefits.
      • Ability to emerge from Prayer having insight into your day, a sensitivity to the will of GOD, getting yourself in sync with the Spirit.
      • A Few Examples (a.k.a. Spiritual Evidence) of acheving this level of prayer are:
        • Shifting the atmosphere in places you enter into for calm, peace, harmony…
        • Knowing the spirits you are dealing with in your encounters.
          • Seeing beyond the person and into the spirit.
          • Not being easily provoked.
          • Being slow to speak, slow to anger, increased self control.
          • Judgmentalness under submission, increased self awareness.
          • Mastering your own tongue.
        • Complete strangers coming up to you and unburdening themselves, with spiritual questions or dilemmas–and having the answer they need to know.
        • Preparation for difficult encounters that would have otherwise taken you out of the spirit.
        • Multiple Levels of Character Refinement.
        • Increase in spiritual strength, fortitude, greater insight…
        • Falling in Love with Contemplative Prayer
        • Deeper Realtionship with GOD.

Praying for and with others should come out of this place. The place of saturating yourself in prayer.

Kingdom Relationship is established through prayer.

Before and after ministry, before and after any miracles, Jesus prayed.

We cannot substitute service for prayer.

There is no such thing as faithfulness, dedication, servanthood, etc., without first being steadfast, unceasing, fervent in prayer. Without prayer there is no way to become effectual in your kingdom assignments.

Jesus demonstrated the power of a devoted prayer life.

Saturated in the garments of prayer, praise and worship (avodah), Jesus saved, healed and delivered multitudes, then and now.

This requires much more than a part-time, some-time, inconsistent prayer life..

JESUS LIVED AND TAUGHT PRAYER AS A LIFESTYLE

Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Matthew 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Mark 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

Mark 14:35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

Mark 14:39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Your Prayer Life equips The LORD’s Disciples to hit the mark.

…AND JESUS GAVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS FOLLOWERS TO PRAY

Matthew 5:44 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 6:5 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 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Matthew 9:38 pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Luke 6:28 bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 19:46 saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

The ministry of Christ is distinguished by His prayer life.

We are sanctified by prayer. Prayer purifies our soul and transforms the spirit.

Prayer is how we stay connected to GOD. Our priorities are to stay connected to GOD first, as Jesus did, and then serve.

The flesh never wants to pray, let alone observe and submit to a prayer lifestyle. Nevertheless, our spirits require prayer to thrive, and remain healthy and strong. Prayer heals our spirit, keeps our souls connected to GOD and fills us with the power of GOD.

There is no way to obtain or operate within the mind of Christ without a prayer life.

We accepted the ministry, we desire the miracles, but far too often claiming to be the body of Christ, we neglect the critical need for a Contemplative Prayer-Life.

And yet we see that the disciples remained steadfast in the example that Jesus set.

CHRIST’s DISCIPLES WERE COMMITTED AND SUBMITTED TO PRAYER.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:6 whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Acts 8:15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Acts 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

This teaching is dedicated to my students. Diligently pursue and be filled with the presence of GOD daily and may your ministries always be distinguished by your dedication and consecration to your prayer life.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Cover Photo by: Aaron Burden, Unsplash.com

  • Covered in the Light of Prayer, photo by: Mads Schmidt, Unsplash.com
  • Woman in Prayer, photo by: Olivia Snow, Unsplash.com
  • Little Child reading a book, photo by: Samantha Sophia, Unsplash.com
  • Statue in Prayer, photo by: Scott Rodgerson, Unsplash.com
  • Archers, photo by: Alex Guillaume, Unsplash.com
  • Woman in Prayer, photo by: Olivia Snow, Unsplash.com

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

NEW Disclosure Added: I am of the belief that any and all teachings on scripture, especially those on prayer should receive prayer before passing them along to others. For this reason, I encourage everyone who reviews these teachings to saturate each one in prayer before sharing, distributing or reproducing them in any fashion.

Anything that we hope to learn and accomplish through the Word of GOD must be born out of a spirit of prayer. Prayer is the root of all our spiritual training. Study without prayer is futile. Without prayer, we learn nothing and we accomplish nothing.

Prayerlessness makes a pretense of piety.

May GOD always send you a confirming word to every message I write,

GOD Bless You,

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.

Judeo-Christian Teachings

Adam’s Prayer Life…Lost in Translation

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Removing the Tradition of Mythology from Our Translations in the Book of Genesis… Part 2 of Adam was not in Agriculture…

In the last post, we saw that every indication of Adam having a relationship with GOD in prayer was translated out of the scriptures. Whether accidentally or intentionally, we may never know. However, the fact remains we just won’t see it with a literal reading of the text of scripture.

The message that I hope came across in these past teachings the most Is, that as a student of scripture we can not afford to trust /assume that we have all the information that we need in front of us via a literal meaning of the text. We have to dig out the details.

Another hurdle (i.e., habit) I hope that I am helping my students and readers to overcome, is one of taking the literal translations provided in our English Bible and Concordances completely at face value. We need to investigate further.

These are our necessary starting places, but they alone are not where we finish.

Virtually all bibles are based on the English version of the bible, so technically, we are all in the same boat.

Hopefully, I have demonstrated to each of you through the previous 30 teachings, that this type of blanket acceptance can be, not only superficial and misleading, it impairs our spiritual understanding and stunts our spiritual growth.

Consider and Evaluate the Specific Word Choices Being Made in Scripture:

Biblehub.com is a good internet source that is available to all 17 nations that view this blog to date.

As you can see from previous teachings and the attached link, translators have provided a myriad of words that are used to translate the Hebrew. The list of translations for the Hebrew word ‘ah-vode’ in Genesis 2:5, is reprinted below as an example, for your review.

become slaves (1), been slaves (1), bondage (2), burdened (2), cultivate (7), cultivated (2), cultivates (1), do (6), do the work (1), enslaved (3), given (1), holding in bondage (1), imposed (1), keep (2), labor (3), laborers* (2), make servant (1), make slaves (2), manufacturers (1), observe (1), perform (9), performed (2), plowed (1), rendered (1), serve (141), served (52), serves (2), serving (5), slave (1), slaves (1), subject (1), till (1), tiller (1), tiller* (1), tills (2), use as slaves (1), used (1), uses services (1), work (7), worked (2), workers (2), working (1), worship (7), worshipers (6).

25-44 variations of ‘ah-vode’ are presented in most concordances. So, the information you see above, is not unusual. Even if we were to accept all of these “definitions” for ah-vode at face value, without an understanding of the original Hebrew meaning behind the word, we would continue to miss the essence of the message.

Another example from scripture appears in the use of the word, ‘ah-vode’ that is translated as ‘dress’, meaning to cultivate or till’ . Deut. 28:38-41 is a good example to use because the word ‘dress’ is selected once more as a translation for the Hebrew, ‘ah-vode’.

  • 38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
  • 39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
  • 40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
  • 41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.

Deut. 28:1-14 outlines the blessings to be received for obedience to the commandments of GOD. Beginning with Deut 28:15, all of the curses are enumerated for disobedience to the commandments.

Abeying for now, any disputes of whether believers are under any curses since Jesus, our objective is to stay focused on the use of the word avode and its translation.

The overall context is found in the penalty for disobedience. Deut. 28:38-41 is conveying to us that none of the work that we put our hands to will prosper, when operating in disobedience.

There is no such thing as heart felt devotion without obedience.

39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them…

The use of avode (dress) in this context reveals that while we may delude ourselves into thinking we are walking with the spirit of GOD and service to our utmost for His Highest, the Spirit has departed from us.

The flesh wants to continue, “business as usual” confessing our love of GOD, yet the entire time we are knee deep in disobedience. GOD is not amused.

We can continue with the pretense, but the blessing will not be attached to our labors.

Genesis 28:39 is telling us that we will cultivate the vineyards to no avail.

Disobedience Frustrates the Power of Prayer

In Genesis 4:12, when GOD pronounced punishment on Adam for his disobedience, the KJV reads, “When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength…”

i.e., When you pray, the ground shall not add its strength to yours…

Once again in Gen 4:12, ah-vode is translated as “till”. And once again, GOD could have chosen another word to convey, ‘working in the field’. Instead He uses avode.

In Genesis 2:5, man’s prayer and worship will complete creation, bring down the rain, the trees and plants and herbs will spring forth and the earth will come alive and bear fruit.

In Genesis 4:12, because of disobedience, the earth will no longer add (yasaph) her strength and abilities (koach) to mankind.

The earth has new instructions.

The harmony between mankind and earth is now strained.

Disobedience has blocked the blessing and in prayer and worship, man must now contend with resistance.

Disobedience frustrates the Power of Prayer. Everybody in the Church has dealt with this truth firsthand.

As you just observed the terminology, ‘dress’, although flowery and poetic, does not fully communicate the truth and essence of the kind of work that the Word of GOD is talking about.

  • Adam had a prayer life. We need one too.
  • Before Adam (man) was created, GOD had the purpose of prayer in mind.
  • Before Adam (man) was created, GOD had the purpose of partnership in mind.
  • Before GOD’s creative plan could be considered complete, man had to o be present in prayer, praise and worship.
  • Rain was prevented from falling to the ground, as GOD awaited hearing mans voice call back to Him in prayer.
  • Prayer is our methodology given to partnership with GOD in creation.
  • Disobedience blocks are Blessings.
  • Effective with Genesis 4:12, Prayer and worship must combat and contend with resistance due to the sin of disobedience.
  • Consider This: If we would at the very least, treat prayer as a tithe, we would commit to prayer 16.8 hours per week.

If you learned a new thing from this post or simply enjoyed the presentation of this message, don’t forget to like, follow, share and/or comment!

May GOD send new instructions into the earth, into the atmosphere, and into the heavens to add their strength in response to your prayers!

This teaching is dedicated to my students. May your spiritual power in prayer multiply ten fold as your prayer life multiplies and grows. May GOD select you for every prayer request of Heaven, every burden of His Heart. May you always awake with prayer on your lips, whenever you ask God to allow your spirit to pray unceasingly while your body rest. May all your prayers be in sync with the Spirit of GOD. Amen.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Cover Photo by: Meric Dagli, Unsplash.com

  • Man on his knees, photo by: Ben White, Unsplash.com
  • Woman in Thought, photo by: Sean Kong, Unsplash.com

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

NEW Disclosure Added: I am of the belief that any and all teachings on scripture, especially those on prayer should receive prayer before passing them along to others. For this reason, I encourage everyone who reviews these teachings to saturate each one in prayer before sharing, distributing or reproducing them in any fashion.

Anything that we hope to learn and accomplish through the Word of GOD must be born out of a spirit of prayer. Prayer is the root of all our spiritual training. Study without prayer is futile. Without prayer, we learn nothing and we accomplish nothing.

Prayerlessness makes a pretense of piety.

May GOD always send you a confirming word.

GOD Bless You,

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.

Judeo-Christian Teachings

Adam was not in Agriculture…

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Removing the Tradition of Mythology from Our Translations in the Book of Genesis…

The Book of Genesis sets the tone for understanding all of scripture.

Answers exists in scripture that provide deeper understanding to our questions and resolve unanswered ambiguities that have existed for generations.

Understanding the Book of Genesis, the beginning of GODs sacred text, can promote biblical accuracy, restore spiritual insight and eliminate confusion as we study each and every book of scripture.

Case in Point: Adam was NOT a Farmer.

Despite the fact that this has been taught for generations, because of poor translations at our disposal, should we continue to misunderstand the original message? Is it possible that a blessing exists in the accuracy of a translation?

Is there something more important than ‘farming’ that I could learn and spiritually benefit from, that would cause me to advance spiritually in prayer, understanding, and my calling?

How much can one point of scripture make?

Let’s investigate Genesis 2:4-5

“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”

REFRESHER From Previous Teachings:

At the outset of our journey together one of the most important concepts I communicated, is that Biblical Hebrew is a very meticulous language.

SECOND: The knowledge that GOD placed His Word above His Own Name is paramount in all your study of scripture. Psalm 138:2, Jeremiah 1:12, Mark 16:20, Rev 19:13.

Character is Key. Do we place our word above our own name? Can a person trust our word?

David taught us just how important it was to GOD that His people be able to trust His Word when he said… “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness (chessed) and for thy truth (emet): for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

GOD’s Word is His Bond.

  • Studying the Word is more important than Reading the Word.
    • The study of scripture is a sacred duty of everyone who loves the LORD.
    • Each student of scripture must possess and practice patience in order to study scripture.
    • We don’t treat scripture like a fairy tale, a bible story, an ordinary book, or a common piece of literature.
    • We (servants of GOD) honor scripture with our time, our presence, our interest, our patience, our dedication.
    • By placing the study of scripture above our own time, and interest, etc., We are placing His Word above our own name, i.e., above our own self–interest.
  • GOD is careful and deliberate in the selection and use of each Word He uses to communicate with us.
  • Biblical Hebrew is a Rich and Meticulous Language. Levels of meaning exist.
  • In English, words also have levels of meaning. Each level of meaning in a word is revealed in context to the overall message or statement.
  • In Hebrew, context is consistent with and compliments the Word choice.
    • In Hebrew, Key Words in the verse have to be researched and studied.
    • Don’t take for granted that the given English translation of the word accurately conveys the original message of GOD in all cases.
  • The English meanings of words have transitioned through time. In most cases, the meanings that we apply today, have no connection to the original meaning of the word.
    • We will continue to revisit this point as often as it applies.

ADAM the Agrarian?

“… and there was not a man to till the ground.” Till is from a Hebrew word usually translated, “to work or service”.

  • Remember, GOD has more than one way to say anything. His Word choices are meticulous.
  • In the Language of GOD, there are 14+ ways to say, work or service.
  • This means, GOD is not limited in forms of expression, He can be very specific, very precise in communicating what He wants to say to us.
  • In English, it is common to lump our terms together. In the Biblical Language of Hebrew, GOD does not lump terms together.

GOD uses a specific word to express “occupational” forms of work (melakah, H4399), deeds of work (mah-a-say, H4639), providential work (4652, miph-la-ah), beam work (meh-qa-rey H4746), cunning or ingeniuos work (khe-shev, H2805), or work that produces an item or thing (mih-fal, H4659) etc, etc.

None of the above were chosen to express the type of Work GOD was looking for to take place in the earth. None of the above are connected with rain.

GOD is quite capable of producing rain in the earth. He does not need man in order to make it rain. The production of rain in the earth is a gift, a part of the creation process that man is given by GOD to participate in partnership.

Man’s partnership with GOD in the creation process, requires a form of ‘work or service’ that is expressed completely different than any of the above examples. Which leads us to two additional words we need to look at.

These two Hebrew words also appear in Genesis 2:5, teh-rem (before, H2962) and yitz-mah (grew, H6779) so that we can increase our understanding of the message.

teh-rem means, not yet, or before. yitz-mah means to sprout or spring up.

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”

i.e., the plants and shrubs and herbs had not yet sprouted in the earth.

Scripture already told us that GOD had spoken the plants, herbs, seeds, etc. into existence (Genesis 1:11-13), but they had not yet sprouted in the earth (Gen 2:5). Let’s go back and review Genesis 1:11-13 again…

  • 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
  • 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Gen 1:12 teaches us that herb yielding seed and the tree yielding fruit after its kind is present in the earth, and Genesis 2:5 further instructs us, that neither had sprouted, or grown up out of the ground quite yet, because… there was not a man to ’till’ the ground.

Everything is prepared, in place, but man has not yet ‘tilled’ the ground.

The command has been spoken into the earth, and the earth is awaiting the presence of man.

Now, here is the customary place where we get into our traditional mode of thinking as we were taught about scripture because we have learned that man needed to ‘cultivate’ the land.

We were not taught that man needed to till the land in order for it to rain. We are taught that man needed to till the ground in order to produce food.

But why would man need to produce his own food? Genesis 2:8-9 GOD planted a garden (eden) and He gave man what he needed for food.

…and there was not a man to till the ground.”

Why does man need to till/cultivate the ground?

lah’ ah-vode (to till, cultivate) et ha’ah’dah’mah (the ground)

Our translation, “to till or cultivate” is taken from the Hebrew word, avod (ah-vode, H5647).

avod appears 289 times in the torah.

Our leading definition in the Strong’s Concordance and the one we traditionally follow is a translation of; to work, to serve.

avod is also translated; to be slaves, held in bondage, to become slaves, laborers, or servants, to keep in bondage or compel.

It is not until we come to the end of our alphabetized list of potential translations, that we find the words; to worship (used 7x), or worshippers (used 6x).

Only 13 of 289 times, has it ever been translated meaning to worship, or be worshippers.

Exodus 10:26, the 3rd time la’ah-vode appears in scripture, the children of Israel are concerned that they take all necessary preparations, including the cattle, to serve the Lord. .

The 4th time we see the word la’avod in scripture, Numbers 3:7 it is when GOD tells Moses to bring the tribe of Levi before the tabernacle of the congregation ‘to do the service’ of the tabernacle.

and we have 27 more…Many Infallible Proofs – that ah’vode means worship.

This pattern continues in Numbers 3:8, 4:23, 4:24, 4:30, 4:47, 7:5, 8:11, 8:15, 8:19, 8:22, 16:9, 18:6, etc. etc. etc. (a total of 27 times conjugated la’avode).

In every case except the 1st two times we see la’avode in scripture (Gen 2:5, 3:23) we have taught and translated it in such a way, as to communicate to the world over, that ‘adam’ (man) was needed in order to till the ground, as if he was created to be a farmer of some sort.

That is not what this means…

aleph (A) veit (V) dalet (D) is the root of the Hebrew word, avodah (ahv-vode-dah, H5656) which appears 145 times in scripture. avodah means worship, service of the heart.

Our Strong’s translation says, avodah means labor, or service. This is marginally correct. It’s just not completely accurate.

Avodah is service of the heart, our labor of love toward GOD. To serve GOD with avodah is a spiritual labor of love. Service of the heart has nothing to do with manual labor. in a field. To translate these words in such a way is to make the meaning of our service and labor to GOD common. Plus, we miss the point.

Worse of all, we have taught the known world to read Genesis 2:5 to mean that man’s purpose was to work the land, plow the fields, harvest the crops. Noble secular work indeed. However, GOD had and has something more in mind for mankind.

Avodah is the ‘work’ of clinging to GOD through prayer and worship. Avodah is the hard work we do in service to GOD.

Our Work IS to Worship and to Pray…

Again, the narrow translation of both ‘avode and avodah’ misses the mark, which skews our understanding far too much from the actual truth.

Actually, if prayer was not such ‘work’, perhaps it would be far easier for us to comply. But the fact is, spiritual work is takes as much or more effort than physical work.

In fact, Genesis 2:15 “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” KJV.

To dress is translated from the Hebrew Word, avodah (5647). To keep, is from the Hebrew Word shamar (8104) meaning to guard and protect.

Adam (man) was charged with the responsibility to worship, pray and protect (guard) the anointing, not cultivate a field.

Man’s First Work is to Pray

The need for prayer, praise and worship did not just mysteriously appear in the “New Testament.”

GOD established the need for prayer and worship in the beginning, as early as Genesis 2:5. But we did not see it or recognize because of our translations…

Living Bible Translation: “…or the Lord God hadn’t sent any rain; nor was there anyone to farm the soil.”

Good News Translation: “…because he had not sent any rain, and there was no one to cultivate the land.”

The Voice: “…because the Eternal God had not sent the rains to nourish the soil or anyone to tend it.”

Common English Bible: “…before any wild plants appeared on the earth, and before any field crops grew, because the Lord God hadn’t yet sent rain on the earth and there was still no human being to farm the fertile land.”

The Amplified Bible: “…no shrub or plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground,”

The only way to compensate for a poor translation is study of the original Hebrew Wording.

Scripture was given to strengthen us spiritually.

We always talk about GOD desiring relationship, yet we teach that the first man was put here with farming in mind.

The 1st two times avode appears in scripture, we translate it as ‘cultivate/till’ and the next 25 times we translate it in context to what GOD is actually communicating about prayer and worship, the service of the heart.

If cultivating the land, was the primary objective, don’t you think that scripture would say more about our role as farmers, cultivators, tillers?

Instead, the entire work of scripture has always been and is, to build us up spiritually.

Instead, the entire work of scripture has always been and is, to build us up spiritually. Not to teach us how to “till” the literal soil.

Because of our neglectful translation, the majority of the world has the wrong concept embedded in their minds.

Rather than provide us with a spiritually mature teaching and translation, we have a prelude to a “bible story” which set us up for ‘lack of knowledge’.

Avode is not a common/secular form of work.

Our Work, Our Service is about Prayer and Worship. It was always about our spiritual work.

“…there was no man to worship in the earth.”

“…there was no one here to serve in prayer”

The translator’s forgot GOD was talking about the rain…

for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”

Adam did not just decree and declare the name of all the animals, identifying the essence of each creature by name. Adam understood the essence of his own nature and his role to partner with GOD in creation, fulfilling his call to nourish the earth through prayer.

“But if it seems wrong in your opinion to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods whom your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But my family and I will serve the Lord.” –Joshua 24:15

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him: This is what the Lord says: Let my people go so that they can worship me.” –Exodus 8:1

Our work is prayer.

Although it will take some time to untangle this in the minds of the world, because we learned it wrong to begin with. But the rewards are well worth it.

My concern today is to untangle it for my students in this supplement to your teaching.

There are 13+ ways to say, ‘work’ in the Greek.

There are 17+ ways to say, ‘work’ in the Hebrew. They all do not mean, Worship”

The 1st Man (adam) understood his assignment to pray.

In like manner, prayer is our first responsibility. GOD spoke 10 utterances into the earth, created man in His image and likeness and waited for man to speak back to Him.

We are His only creation with the gift of speech and prayer is our instrument of communication with GOD.

Aren’t there some cases when avode (work/service) can be understood as just plain work or service?

NO. The type of “work/service” conveyed in the Hebrew word ‘avode’ is spiritual work. Ah-vode is prayer.

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. –Exodus 1:13-14

Rigour in Hebrew is from the word perek. Which is telling us the the Egyptians were intentionally applying pressures onto the children of Israel in an attempt to break them into pieces. A diabolical form of breaking,

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: –Exodus 1:13

The world wants you to serve them like you are supposed to serve GOD. Although we are faithful to do all as unto the LORD… we know the difference.

Adam’s first prayer was for rain…

You can make it rain through the power of your prayers too!

At first the world is dark and empty of GOD’s light, but every believer occupies their share of the world right now, which they have to improve and illuminate.

The way to brighten your share of the world is through learning from GOD’s example “and G‑d said” — speaking into the earth, fulfilling the word of GOD by studying torah and keeping His Commandments. By doing this, we each accomplish our purpose in and bring light into the world— the world becomes illuminated with the light of GOD’s Word.

The entrance of thy Word bringeth light!

  • How Can This Teaching HELP Your Understanding?
    • Through the power of prayer, adam became a partner in the creation process.
    • The Earth and all that is in it, was created to respond to prayer.
    • The earth had to loose its seed, fruit, plants and hidden riches, when adam (man) prayed and called forth rain.
  • Adam did more than name the animals and give Eve her name, Adam his true essence as a man of GOD. He understood that his first assignment was prayer.
  • Adam returned the spoken Word back to GOD.
  • You now know the first prayer of Adam.
  • You now know that initially, rain was a product of prayer and still can be a product of prayer (depending upon what you believe possible in prayer).
  • Man must assist the world in it’s survival through the power of prayer.

Worship Released the Rain…

for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”

There was not a man to worship in the earth… GOD awaits our partnership. Prayer, praise and worship releases the rain over all our situations, be it droughts in marriage, relationships, our communities, etc.

Rain is the sign of blessing.

The scriptures are replete with signs of blessing when the prophets called for rain.

Oftentimes we rebuke the rain. But, rain is the sign of blessing. Why rebuke the sign of blessing?

We often don’t see it, because it’s not taught, but rain was the initial sign of partnership between GOD and main. GOD gave adam (man) power over the elements, to cause it to rain.

GOD prepared the entire earth to receive the prayers of man and to respond with a living sign… to bring forth life, to grow, sprout and flourish. Don’t we want this?

I believe that we can still pray for rain, cause the earth to sprout, to grow and to flourish. I believe that we can still speak an end to drought and famine, in everything that concerns us, our bodies, our minds, our loved ones, our enemies…

Who can you nourish in the earth through prayer?

If you learned a new thing from this post or simply enjoyed the presentation of this message, don’t forget to like, follow, share and/or comment!

I hope you pray for rain,

This teaching is dedicated to Everyone facing a famine or drought in their lives. To everyone who needs the earth to bring forth blessings, to everyone that has seed buried in the earth and needs it to come forth and bear fruit, every promise near the surface that has not yet materialized, may the LORD GOD of Heaven come for my words in prayer and send you rain… Amen.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

From Modern English to Biblical Hebrew: The Transition Phase

Keep All of the information/study techniques above in mind as you study and validate the information presented in this lesson (including past teachings).

GOD’s Biblical Language utilizes specific Word choices that differentiate the terms in such a precise manner as to be in agreement with the overall context of the verse. We do not need to infer meaning, because His Word choice is dynamic and specific and clear.

When information is translated into English we automatically apply our definitions. Which of course is a natural reaction. Without a concerted effort, we can get locked into a form of comfort and familiarity, a single-mindedness in our terms, because in this case, English is our first language.

The problem is, terms do not translate well in all cases, in any language. In Biblical Hebrew, we have to cross time, distance, grammatical, lexical and cultural, historical and social barriers between modern English and Biblical languages. Always keep this in mind.

Our challenge today and every day is to overcome these obstacles when applying ourselves to the study of scripture.

Cover Photo by: Pavel barysevich, Unsplash.com

  • Cultivated Soil, photo by: Zbysiu Rodak, Unsplash.com
  • Garden of trees photo by: Madison Nickel, Unsplash.com
  • Cherry Blossom tree photo by: Hunt Han, Unsplash.com

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

NEW Disclosure Added: I am of the belief that any and all teachings on scripture, especially those on prayer should receive prayer before passing them along to others. For this reason, I encourage everyone who reviews these teachings to saturate each one in prayer before sharing, distributing or reproducing them in any fashion.

Anything that we hope to learn and accomplish through the Word of GOD must be born out of a spirit of prayer. Prayer is the root of all our spiritual training. Study without prayer is futile. Without prayer, we learn nothing and we accomplish nothing.

May GOD always send you a confirming word.

GOD Bless You,

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.

Judeo-Christian Teachings, The Journey Back

WHY DO THE PRAYERLESS PROSPER?

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“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.

Judeo-Christian Teachings, The Journey Back, What is Torah

26 Benefits and Blessings of Unceasing Prayer…

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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.

The Journey Back

AMAN, Finding The Lost Cities of Gold

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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, The Journey Back

A CHANGE OF ADDRESS…

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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… →