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Elul

STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS….Part 1

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Exodus chapter 17 offers us, what I consider to be one of the best teachings I have ever had on the need for every believer to strengthen their hands.

Strengthening the weak hands, is about becoming strong in faith, and knowing where the weak link lies in getting us there.

There are so many teachings in the scripture that reinforce the principles we have the opportunity to learn in the Book of Exodus, and the Book of Mark is one of those teachings.

This teaching seeks to connect the dots from a completely different angle that normal.

I trust you will see things all come together when we cover Exodus 17 at a later date. For now, let’s begin with the messages both Job and Isaiah wrote admonishing us to keep our hands strong. Then we will look at a applicable of these principles in the Book of Mark, chapter 5.

Isaiah 35:3-5

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Amen.

Job 4:3-4

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many,
and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling,
and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

Some topics are uncomfortable. This one is uncomfortable for me.

This message bothers me a little bit. What bothers me is that I want to add a little honey or sugar to the message, but I have none to offer. So, here are the hard cold facts.

Everybody can’t go with you into the battle to fight for the lives of the saints. You have to know who can go and who can not.

I didn’t want to say it that way, but I’m pressed for time and I need to deliver this message. So, please forgive me if I stated that in an indelicate manner.

Nevertheless, please allow me to repeat that again in another way.

There are times in ministry when you have to discern and separate yourself from those in the ministry, that are not “qualified” to follow with you into certain aspects of your ministry assignments.

So, GOD in His Wisdom, left us this very important message through Paul…

1 Thessalonians 5:12 “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the LORD, and admonish you”

That being said, everyone in the ministry is valuable and serves in their unique purpose and capacity, and we love that about them. However, we need to know who we are working with, in order to make good choices that benefit the souls we are responsible to care for.

In the Book of Mark chapter 5, the teaching we received regarding Jairus’s daughter is an excellent way to illustrate this point, along with many other valuable lessons that we can benefit from in the caring of souls.

I have highlighted in bold, a few key words we can look at that will allow us to pull a little honey out of the rock!

That being said, let’s dive right in!

The Book of Mark 5:21-43

21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus (One Giving Light, He Enlightens) by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

  • Jairus is taken from the Hebrew Word, ‘or’ meaning to be or become light, to give light, to shine. It has the same pronunciation as the English word, ‘or’.
    • ‘or’ is written with three letters; aleph( א ) – vav ( ו ) – resh ( ר )
  • “one of the rulers of the synagogue”, tells us that he worked in the Temple as an administrator. Jairus is an official appointed to manage the building, it’s contents and/or to make arrangements for the services (Luke 4:20), and were responsible for supervising the worship (Acts 13:15).
  • ruler of the synagogue; ‘ar-khee-soon-ag’-o-gos’ (G752) is used only 9x in scripture.

Which of the “rulers of the synagogue” do you think Jairus was?

  • Jairus could have been “one of the rulers of the synagogue” who became angry with Jesus in Luke 13:14 because He healed the crippled woman on the Sabbath, or he could have been, just one among the rulers of the synagogue, who believed Jesus and sought his help. You decide.

23 and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

  • healed = sozo pronounced: sode-zo (G4982) to heal, save, rescue,
    • to rescue from destruction and bring into divine safety
    • sozo is the root word for savior, deliverer (G4990)
    • appears 108x in scripture
  • live = zao pronounced: dzah-o (G2198) I live, am alive, to live , to experience the gift of life
    • spoken in connection to living waters, living bread, living in Christ, living GOD, Son of the living GOD, man shall not live by bread alone, those who hear shall live… etc
    • appears 141x in scripture
      • 1st appearance is in Matt 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone”
      • 2nd appearance is Matt 9:18, (Mark 5:23)
      • 3rd appearance is in Matt 16:16, “Son of the Living GOD”
      • 12th appearance is in Luke 10:28, “Do this and thou shalt live” (Parable of the Good Samaritan)

However, before they can reach his home…

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

The words above that are being translated as garment/clothes is the Greek word haimoni, which is defined in the concordance as outer garment, mantle.

Being that Jesus is a Jewish Rabbi, we must be mindful that he did not wear Roman clothing. The outer garment/mantle referred to as ‘clothes’, is a prayer shawl.

The prayer shawl of the Rabbi is their hiding place, a prayer closet of sorts that is solely dedicated to prayer and contemplation.

The prayer shawl is worn as an outer garment. It has tzit-tzit (fringes/tassels) around the borders/edges that hang below the thigh level. There are 613 tassels on the prayer shawl, one as a reminder for every commandment.

Once we stop reading and processing clothes, we can begin processing the knowledge and significance of tzit-tzit, and the prayer shawl, which contains the WORD, the Commandments and the Name of GOD, weaved in to the very cloth He was wearing.

When the certain woman touched the hem (fringes) of His prayer shawl, she had the faith to believe that she would connect with the anointing in His garments… she would be saturated in every prayer, every ounce of worship, and every Word of GOD.

She could connect with the power of GOD, like touching a piece of Heaven.

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Imagine the level of sensitivity that Jesus had, to notice a touch to that degree. Haptomai (G680), means a touch that has the power to influence.

Haptomai is used 36x in scripture. It is specific to what happens when one touches, or is touched by GOD, by any means, i.e., hand, cloth or spittle, and the anointing is transferred.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

Jairus arrives with Jesus and the disciples, but instead of giving GOD the praise and being in high expectation of a miracle, “there came certain ones of them” that behave like “those” that spied out the land and brought a reproach upon the land by their unbelief.

If we see GOD coming, shouldn’t our first thought be, “Thank You Jesus!”, knowing that help has arrived and I don’t have to wait on one more thing!

I honestly believe that I would be so ecstatic, knowing that everything is going to be alright!

But that is not the response some of the people had.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

In addition, before we can conclude with this verse, we need to see something else. There are 7 different words for ‘dead’ in the Greek New Testament. They do not have the same level of meaning.

  • Your daughter is a-poth-nace-ko (G599) is like saying that her spirit is separating from her body; I am dying, I am about to die. I AM NOT DEAD YET!
  • A few things are happening here. Jesus says she is sleeping (verse 39). Yet, here in verse 35, we have someone(s) eager to pronounce her dead.
    • Have you met that person? Always ready to pronounce doom and destruction? In some cases they say they are walking with Christ, but at the same time, they agree with every evil report? That’s Not Good.

So, here is the hard thing that we all have to know, understand and live with…

Note to Self: When it is time for serious intercession by which we intervene on a high spiritual level, there are some people that do not have the faith to believe. They are expecting death, when you are praying for life, and life abundantly.

When the crisis comes, you need people standing with you that are full of faith, not the ones waiting to run and tell you more bad news, or worse, misinformation.

  • These are not the people qualified to go into the room to pray for Talitha.

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

  • pisteuo = pist-yoo-o (G4100) faith in the Word, that is grounded in trust,
    • There are 2 different words for ‘faith’ in the New Testament. pisteuo (faith) and oligopistos (little faith, or of no confidence).
  • As soon as Jesus heard his ‘faithless’ words…
    • Jesus reassures the ruler of the synagogue...so that his faith does not fail. Jesus wants him to listen to Him, not to the ones that have no faith.
    • Keep your eyes and your ears, on the Word of GOD.

Faith… You either have it or you don’t. There is no middle way here.

  • pisteuo: to believe, entrust. some people have a form of faith, but do not completely trust GOD. With pisteuo, faith and trust are two sides of the same coin. There is not one without the other. We can’t just believe GOD, we have to trust Him.

Heb 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

  • Some teach that this level of faith is a gift, that has to be given by GOD. I don’t disagree, because I know it to be very unique. But, I also believe that this is a level faith that you can elevate to by placing a demand on Heaven, as well as yourself.
  • The WORD has to be mixed with faith…the emet kind of faith.

Who Can You Take Into The Battle?

In the natural, some of us know what it is to have a friend that would go with you into the gates of hell, no questions asked. The friend who will fight your battle likes it’s theirs. Some of us have never known that kind of friend. That type of friend is a ‘gift‘.

GOD operates with His servants in ‘pisteou’, this higher level of faith. He believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. He will not only go out to war for us, He will go out ahead of us.

I am speaking of going beyond what I call, The Webster’s Dictionary Kind of Faith, and into pisteuo, is a supernatural kind of faith. Let’s call it the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew, emet (ee-met), which is faith and trust interwoven.

I hope that each of you can relate to the kind of friend I spoke of earlier. The one who is, “closer than a brother?” The friend that has your back, even when you don’t have your own back.

They are extremely rare… God Bless them all.

Pisteuo, is what GOD offers us.

It’s also what He is looking for… in us.

Pisteuo, is greater than what our friends can even offer us. I know our friends are great, but as awesome as they are, there is a supernatural level of faith, that exist between the believer and GOD.

Do you remember when a great storm cam up when Jesus and the disciples were aboard the ship? Reference: Matthew 8:23-27.

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

The phrase, “O ye of little faith”… in Greek is said, “o-lee-go- peice-stoes.”

The first time we hear words of this nature is in the Hebrew Scriptures, Deut 32:20

“And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.” (low ay-moon)

Faith must be in our mouth (Psalms 5:9, 40:10, Habukkuk 2:4, Matt 8:9-10 )

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say… Matt 17:20 

You Cannot take the Faithless in to the Fight, or even into the next room where you need the miracle to happen.

I’m introducing the Greek word ‘pisteuo’ to you as the kind of faith equivalent to ‘aman’ Certain people (verse 35) are not operating with pisteuo. They are focused on the natural. Even though they are praying (verse 38-39) they have not broken through to the supernatural level of faith.

Jesus had to look Jairus straight in the eye, and refocus his attention on faith.

It’s the kind of faith that knows understanding will come. Pisteuo says, “I don’t have to have all the facts before I can stand with you in complete agreement.” It’s the kind of believer that says, “I have GOD’s back”

Who is Able to Stand with GOD for the Miracle…

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

When the crisis comes... only those operating with“pisteuo” can come with you, and you need to know who that is beforehand.

CAN YOU FLOW WITH THE ANOINTING?

Peter, James and John were equally yoked, in the sense that they could flow in the anointing with Jesus… they could fight the wars of GOD and not miss one beat. They could flow with the anointing!

Everybody is not qualified for the Mission Field.

  • When you have a work to do for GOD, leave the weak in faith behind…Do Not
    Take Them With You    , leave them in the outer court… for now
    • Do you remember when Paul and Barnabas had a slight little ‘falling out’. Paul did not want to take John Mark with him on the mission field, because John Mark could not take the pressure. (a lesson for another day, Acts 15:22-41).
    • They could mess up the miracle… He took only the 3 disciples and her parents; those that have the strength to believe, invested in the outcome.
  • Don’t mess up the miracle…
    • Jesus did not call them out on their weak faith, He did not make a spectacle or make anyone feel bad, (The Holy Spirit is a Gentleman) He just knew who to take with Him for the miracle. The Spirit of GOD operates with love at all times.
      • pride, unkindness, ego, a haughty spirit… they can mess up the miracle. Because GOD rejects the proud (James 4:6).

Everybody is not qualified for the Mission Field.

There is a great deal of opinions about the reasons why Paul refused to take John Mark onto another mission field. You have to decide what you think about the matter.

Is it possible that some people are just not ready for the kind of mission you are assigned to?

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

How did they switch up so fast from weaping and wailing to laughter? Were they really praying in the fist place? Are they there, just curious to see what happens?

The Crisis Will Come… Who Can Stand with You in Prayer?

Jesus is showing us something very important here. Do Not Take That Kind of Spirit with you into pray for someone, when the crisis comes.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

  • hand(s) are very important in scripture. In this verse we tend to think about how precious it was that Jesus took her hand into his. There is more that we need to understand from this verse than, “Jesus held her hand, how sweet!”
  • Hand (G5495) in scripture means, the instrument a person uses to accomplish their purpose (intention, plan).
  • Could it be that Jesus is strengthening the weak hands? (Ref: Exodus 17)
  • Talitha cumi; Young girl or Little girl, arise
    • kum in Hebrew means to ‘arise’, to come up to a higher level.
    • talitha has more of a connotation of little lamb, a term of endearment. (taleh in Hebrew means lamb).
      • the priest wore fringes around their ends of their garments (prayer shawl), called tallith. a cloth/covering of light.

Strengthening the Weak Hands…

Jesus was calling her into her purpose! The hands are a symbol of strength in the torah. Look at the 1st appearance of ‘hand’ in the Book of Matthew (3:2,12).

  • 2 and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • 12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
    • the 1st appearance is a signal of time
    • the 2nd appearance is for purpose, to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Genesis 3: 22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.

In Hebrew ‘yad’ means hand. spelled yod ( י ) dalet ( ד )

  • Humanity ‘took’ what they ‘saw’ once before. It wasn’t theirs to ‘take’. What they took was set aside for GOD, meaning that it belonged to GOD. GOD only asked that 1 thing remained His, out of all of creation.
  • Not being satisfied with the abundance of everything else, they took what they saw, knowing it was not theirs for the taking.
  • This is a completely different lesson, and we will come back around to it…for now understand that the 1st use of hand in the scripture is revealing to us, that “In the beginning” man put forth his hand to take from GOD.

However, When Messiach came, He put forth His hand to restore.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

  • The Supernatural Significance of 12 in the Scripture:
    • Note the connection to the 12 years infirmity of the woman with the issue of blood.
    • Talitha is 12 years old, 1 year before being at the age of maturity. Technically, to die before the age of 13 is to die, free of sin. It is at 13+ that one is now accountable for their sins.
      • Both their lives are being perfected in this moment, they shall live and not die.
    • 12 is the number of governmental perfection/governmental foundation, governmental rule. 12 Patriarchs, 12 Sons of Jacob, 12 Tribes, 12 Judges,
    • 12 Anointings; 5 Priests and 7 Kings
    • 12 disciples, 12 Gates of the New Jerusalem, 12 Months in the Year, Jesus is 12 when he taught in the Temple during Passover, 12 spies sent to spy out the land, etc.
    • 12 symbolizes GOD’s power and authority.
  • 12 has to do with the Rule and Authority of GOD in all of its uses in scripture.

GOD’s Power, Rule and Authority over life and death is being demonstrated here. In Matt 4:17, He announces that, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” We are seeing just that in Mark’s message. !

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Who Will Hazard their Lives with You for the Anointing?

When You’re on assignment for GOD, is everyone on the same page? Are their those who are troubling the Pastor with words?, troubling the mission with words? contentious, argumentative, laughing when they should be praying? unfocused, worried? operating in fear and doubt?

Are they all over the place?

When it’s time to fight the Wars of GOD, who can you walk into that hospital room with, that has the same supernatural form of faith that you have?

Who can you call and say, a tornado is down the block and around the corner, and the next sound you hear out of their mouth is prayer?

When you need immediate help in a situation that you can not control, all you have to do is send a text saying, “pray” and they will not waste time trying to call you back, or five other people, to see what’s going on…they just stop, drop and pray?

Connecting the Dots:

Notice that Jairus name is symbolic of Light, He Enlightens. His name identifies him as a man of faith.

He has a daughter whose name is synonymous with the tallith, the prayer shawl. Our hands are our weapons of war. Lack of Prayer = Weak Hands.

The LORD has a tendancy to identify people in scripture, by their destiny and not by their difficulty. Could it be Jesus is telling us more than her name here? Couldn’t it be that He is identifying her spiritual condition?

Is He simply saying, “Little One Arise?” or is He saying, “Arise, Little One, like the lamb of GOD you are!, “Arise, and put your prayer shawl on!”

Kum, (arise) does not merely mean, stand up. It means to arise into a higher place, spiritually. Talitha is tallith with a hei at the end. You will recall I taught you earlier that the letter hei (h) at the end of a Hebrew word communicates arising into a higher level.

Before Jesus even arrives at her house, a woman touches the hem of his garment…His tallith, His prayer shawl.

We have always heard that the virtue ran through Him and healed the woman who was plagued with the issue of blood, for 12 years. Now He comes to the house of Light (Jairus’ house), whose 12 year old daughter is near death.

Jesus covers he with all of the virtue in His tallith.

Jesus is covering her in prayer and calling her to arise, by the power of His tallith.

Jesus is calling her into her purpose, not just holding her hand through the crisis. Talitha Arise!

She does not get to die today, she has a purpose and a destiny connected to the power of prophetic prayer.

STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS…

Let’s be Strong in Faith! We can hold someone’s hand in a crisis, or… we can take their hand and call them into their destiny!

Not only can you not take the wrong person with you on your spiritual assignment, but ask yourself, “Am I up to the task?”

“How strong is my faith?” “Where does my faith end, and GOD begin?”

At the end of our faith, we should find the salvation of souls, especially our own!

“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:9

AGREEMENT is one of the most powerful weapons you could eve have in prayer. Jesus took 3 proven disciples and the parents only, because these were all of the same spirit.

Who are you equally yoked with in prayer?

If no one, Ask GOD to send you someone, whose faith is even greater than yours!

Who will get up and pray with you at 3AM, because you need prayer? If you can’t think of anyone, ask GOD for a prayer partner.

Is there a higher level than this? YES. This is when you learn that you can ask GOD to wake someone up to pray, and He does.

If we operate as Kings and Priests in the earth, then we will call those things that be not as though they were!

We do not need the scorners and the mockers to agree, or those standing around faking like they are in prayer, while they pronounce death over the entire situation, as if there is no hope for us in GOD.

We leave every John Mark behind us, and go forth and speak life.

Arise Talitha, put on your prayer shawl and arise….we have work to do!

SUMMARY

I am introducing a lot of concepts in this message. Please re-read it numerous times, until you can read the verses under study and consider all of this material as you read this portion of scripture.

There is a great deal of cultural, historical, and contextual language information that I am giving you, and I hope you go over it, search out each verse and embrace what the Word is teaching us here in this segment of scripture.

It is vital that we learn to discern who we are laboring with, and what to do in such critical situations as the one that Jairus was facing.

Jairus was fighting for the life of his daughter. I believe that this teaching applies to the way in which we have to learn to fight for our dreams as well. There are times when our dreams are near unto death as well.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Strengthening the Weak Hands is a Priority: Zeph 3:16, Heb 12:12

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV

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  • Open Door with Fire burning by Pavan Trikutam
  • Open Door in Mountain – Cover photo by Joshua Sortino
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Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Disclosure: 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. GOD ask that we meditate on His Word day and night, because without a dedicated personal prayer life, we can do very little for GOD and Man.

May GOD always send you a confirming word so that you will know that these words are true.

GOD Bless You Always,

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.

Elul

Do This in Remembrance of Me…

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“Blow up the trumpet in the new moon (Rosh Chodesh),
in the time appointed (mo’ed, my appointment with You),

on our solemn feast day (Rosh Hashannah).
4 For this was a statute for Israel (All the Children of GOD),
and a law of the GOD of Jacob.” Psalm 81:3-4

Do you remember when Jesus said to the world..

“…because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29

I know Jesus said this to Thomas, but we also know He was speaking to the world… Us!

I want to dedicate this message today to the people in the 50 countries that have viewed this blog. Because of time constraints, while I love to provide multiple scriptural proofs for what I am teaching and saying, there are several scriptural proofs that I have not included.

In many ways, “You have not seen, and yet have believed!” That puts you in a completely different category. Amen!

However, I want to show you a few things that GOD said, that some of you already took by faith. ‘Cause I just cannot resist showing you how awesome You are!

The Prophets, Solomon, Haggai and David Prepared Us For Elul…

Lamentations 3:40

“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!”

Haggai 1:5

5 “Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”

Psalm 119:59

59  “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies..”

The Apostles Prepared Us For Elul…

The Many Infallible Proofs of the Purpose in Elul from the Apostles…Matthew, Paul, James and John. (The Apostles taught us to search our own hearts)

Matthew 7:3-5

  • 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
  • 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
  • 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Galatians 6:3-4

  • 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
  • 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

1 Corinthians 11:28

28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

2 Corinthians 13:5

5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

James 5:16

16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

1 John 1:8-9

8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

A while ago, I told you a little story that I always tend to share with my classes during the Supernatural Seasons of GOD. Do you Remember it?

It was the story about a person who meets their soul mate and knows it. But their soul mate is from another country.

I told you about the effort the person will spend to get to know them. How we stay up all night on the phone talking… How we go to places we would have never gone before, because they are interesting to them… or special to them… I reminded you of how we put in the effort to learn every little thing, how important it is to know their favorite color, their favorite foods, their birthday, their favorite holidays, etc., etc., etc.

Do you remember that special love affair, in learning everything about them?

If you have ever shared in this experience, then we each have attended some special event, even if we never heard of it before, or would have never attended before… We do this because of our love for our own special someone… Someone of Value…

Shed A Little More Light…

GOD, the Lover of our Soul, is Our Someone of Value today, and everyday. But especially on His Holy Days, that He devoted to us, and set aside for us, to bless us.

SO With the Doors Open and the Fire Lit, We Proclaim His Holy Days!

Because I Am…

It’s our way of saying, I heard, and I obeyed because I Love You! Even though I’m not Jewish, that’s not the point. Your Word is “An All-Inclusive Testament” that covers me, because I am the Seed of Abraham.

So, we have prepared all month, cleaning out our mental, emotional and spiritual closets… desiring to have everything in our hearts and souls all fresh and clean.

We’ve prepared every chamber of our heart for Him to inhabit. There is no place in our hearts that He can’t go.

You know that room that we close off to company, so that they can’t go in?

Well, during Elul, we made sure that GOD had an all access pass into our heart and soul.

Now, we can’t wait for GOD to inhabit our praises, right?

We Have Been Expecting You!

The House is immaculate and we are just plain giddy awaiting His arrival on Rosh Hashanna, just a few hours away!

Below is a link to the Candle lighting Times for anywhere you are in the world today!. Set your alarm on your phone…Light a cancel to Welcome in the Presence of GOD in faith, for Your Divine ‘moed’…

It’s time for Your Divine Appointment with GOD. You are declaring with the rest of the believing world, in unity, (with one heart, one mind, and one body) that GOD is Our One GOD!

We have been expecting you.

I think we all understand that we have atonement through the death and resurrection of Christ, I believe that the beauty in this is that we never forget the time He prepared in advance for us..

Special time just for You and Him…his and we acknowledge His gifts of His Life, Sacrifice, Atonement and Resurrection by living out GOD’s Commandment to Forever, throughout our generations acknowledge His Feast.

So we keep our Divine Appointment for His New Year, and shed a Little More Light

We’ve prepared every chamber of our heart for Him to inhabit. There is no place in our hearts that He can’t go.

What If I Did Not Spend The Time in Elul As I should Have?

God is Good! and Nothing is Impossible with GOD!

One Day, I will write a post about all the second chances I can think of that GOD has given His People. As His Child, just go boldly before the Throne and ask for another 29 days to search out your own heart. I have absolutely no doubt that the time is yours if you ask for it.

God is Good and His Mercy Endureth Forever!

Besides, can you even imagine GOD saying…Don’t spend more time with Me?

Amen.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer for Elul:

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV

Photos by:

  • Candied Hearts photo by Laura Ockell-Zaobpee
    Restricted Area photo by Kelli McClintock
  • Open Door photo, single chair in room by Alessandra Onisor
  • Open Door with Fire burning by Pavan Trikutam
  • Open Door in Mountain – Cover photo by Joshua Sortino
    • All of the above photo’s compliments of UNSPLASH.COM

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

Disclosure: 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. GOD ask that we meditate on His Word day and night, because without a dedicated personal prayer life, we can do very little for GOD and Man.

May GOD always send you a confirming word so that you will know that these words are true.

GOD Bless You Always,

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.

Elul

ELUL, Something of Value

You Are Worth the Fight…

Especially the fight that is waged internally… the internal struggles and spiritual battles that each one of us has to fight for our destiny. 💜

Everything that I want to show you about the WORD of GOD is extremely difficult to teach in the times of trouble… because the stress and pain that comes against us during difficult times, makes it even harder than normal for us to hear the WORD of GOD.

The pain is too loud in our ears and the strong teachings in the Word of GOD may sound like a rebuke, or even worse, they can sound like baseless and empty platitudes to a person facing a crisis.

So I pray constantly, that I am reaching you in a time of peace, so that your hearing is not emotionally compromised.

So, if by chance, I shake you with the WORD, please know that everything in me is writing to you with love.

WE HAVE TO STUDY IN TIMES OF PEACE…

We study in times of peace to ensure that we have enough WORD in us to withstand [and fight] “in the evil day” (Eph 6:13).

We have to be able to withstand attack and stand against our impulse to run, (mostly from ourselves).

In the Book of Revelation 2:18-29, the Church of Thyratira is mentioned as one of the 7 Churches that Jesus specifically spoke to. The Churches represent “a type” of believer.

To obtain a deeper understanding of the scripture and the message we have to look a little deeper to understand that Jesus was not just talking about a place. When the audience of the 1st century heard mention of Thyratira they connected a few facts, just like we would today if I just called out a location today, for instance, “New York”.

Simply by saying ‘New York’, you would immediately have a sense of context. In the first century, saying “Thyratira” would provide context for the rest of the message.

SO LET’S PLACE THYRATIRA INTO IT’S PROPER Cultural CONTEXT

Thyratira was such a city. A city without walls. Thyratira was considered one of the unimportant cities. It was not connected to any major Greek trade routes. History tells us that it was a commercial center, filled with many trade guilds, but never rose to the level of a sprawling metropolis.

Christians were prohibited from participating in any of the trade guilds (comprised of coppersmiths and dyers), by the early church. The guilds at that time, were known to be comprised of people that belonged to various cults.

Thyratira is filled with commerce, cults corruption and christians. It is a unprotected city, already open to “every wind of doctrine”, with a fledgling church trying to take root at it’s center. (This sounds very similar to the situation some of us can find ourselves in today).

For all intents and purposes, Thyratira has no rule over it’s own spirit, as a city. No borders, no protection, it’s completely vulnerable. This is the atmosphere that the early church is trying to grow up in.

But scripture warned us about this type of spiritual condition and situation in advance.

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down,   and without walls.” Prov. 25:28

In ancient days, a city without walls was one open to anyone and everyone, at anytime.

While that MIGHT sound great on the surface, it’s extremely dangerous as well.

Normally, cities were constructed with walls in order to defend against enemy attack, providing borders and boundaries as a means of protection.

Cities without walls were vulnerable to invasion by raiders from any and every province that desired what the city held to offer.

The Church in Thyratira was so easily invaded by Jezebel, because it was like a city without walls. Spiritually, they were open to everything, entertaining everything, surrounded by everything, trying to operate in the things of GOD, but tolerating evil in their midst.

Not just tolerating evil, but succumbing to it.

It is possible, that because of their surrounding culture, they felt they could have one foot in and one foot out. As if, a little double-mindedness was alright.

Thyratira had a lot going for it. They were doing a lot of things right (verse 19).

But, they took their eyes off of GOD and lost their focus. As a result, they were headed into a storm and not out of one.

THEY NEEDED TO REBUILD THE WALLS…

As a Church, in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation they had no control over building the physical walls of the city.

But they had total and absolute control over building up and maintaining the Spiritual walls we need to strengthen our spirit, so that we can resist Jezebel and her tactics to seduce us mentally, spiritually and physically.

2 Chronicles 14:6-7, not only confirms this point, but we should notice that King Solomon (author of the Book of Chronicles) points out that King Asa takes advantage of their time at rest, in order to rebuild the walls, during a time of peace.

“And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.”

The ultimate objective of torah, in my experience, is to get us to the point that we are able to filter all of our problems, complications and situations, through GOD’s WORD, so that we do not react impulsively, with anger or out of frustration.

In times of peace, like Elul, we take the time to build ourselves up spiritually through setting ourselves before GOD at an intensified level, together as a community of faith.

In this way, our strength is multiplied.

Instead of emotionally reacting we ask ourselves a few questions first, like…

” Where am I, right now, on the pages of Scripture?” or

“Where is this situation on the pages of Scripture?, WHO FOUGHT THIS KIND OF BATTLE” or

” Who, in scripture, got the victory over this ridiculous situation that I am in?”

…and “What do I need to do to fix it, and What do I need to speak to this mountain, in order to move it?”

We speak retroactively saying, “I’m under attack” or “I’m being attacked”, but the question that I am posing to you today is three fold.

  • How are you responding during the attack?
  • Do you have enough scripture in you to see where you are on the pages of scripture?
  • Are you applying the biblical example/response that GOD provided on the pages of scripture to your situation?
  • Are you disciplined enough in the spirit to control your own tongue?
    • to control you own actions?
    • to control your own thoughts?
    • to be still and wait on the LORD to move on your behalf?

The Goal is to Control Ourselves, Not Others

If you take the time to ask yourself any of those questions during the “attack”, you will diffuse the situation ‘within yourself‘ enough, to see the situation for what it truly is…a way to pull you out of the spirit and into the flesh.

Don’t Be Pulled Out Of the Spirit…

If we are pulled out of the spirit, then our flesh responds to the situation, instead of our spirit, and we get a flesh bound result.

More importantly, the prophetic anointing is unable to flow freely, when we are in the flesh.

(Our Spirit has more wisdom than our flesh. The difficulty we face, is in over-ruling our flesh, and allowing our Spirit to have a seat and a voice at the table).

If we subdue our flesh, and allow our spirit to respond to the situation, instead of our flesh, then we operate within the anointing, and obtain an anointed result.

Here’s the issue: Do you know when you are in the flesh vs. when you are walking in the anointing? Can you tell the difference?

If not, then you have to practice knowing/learning the difference in the little things, before you can move forward with the bigger issues. Self discipline, is the only way I know that you can learn to distinquish between the two.

REMINDER: Being impulsive, stubborn, easily provoked, easily manipulated, rebellious, willful, arrogant, etc. etc. unteachable… will never allow your spirit to rule over your flesh.

Studying the WORD of GOD is the best way I know, to learn how to master your own spirit.

We need wisdom… GOD in His Word is our best assurance against being manipulated by another, for their own personal agenda. It is through study of the WORD that you build up a resistance to the “wiles of the enemy”.

While there are plenty of enemies to go around, there are times when we can be our own worst enemy. We need to know the difference.

Since the inception of this blog, all paths of study have been leading to encouraging you to obtain a consecrated, dedicated prayer life. Prayer is your strongest weapon. You may have heard that all of your natural born life… “cause it’s true.”

What Feeds Your Flesh?

Prayer doesn’t. Meditating on the Word of GOD doesn’t. Operating in Love doesn’t. Kindness doesn’t. Obedience to GOD doesn’t…

Prayer, and doing what doesn’t feed your flesh, puts you spiritually in control.

Be Spiritually in Control of the Situation…

While the world desires to be Physically in Control of every situation, the People of GOD are being trained up by the WORD of GOD, to be SPIRITUALLY in Control.

Application of the WORD of GOD will put us in a position to have SPIRITUAL Control, which is far more powerful than physical control.

Physical control has its earth bound limitations. The only limitations that stand to interfere with your Spiritual Control, is your own level of faith, and resisting the temptations that come against your own flesh.

THE PART WE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR…

Unlimited Faith equals Unlimited Spiritual Control.

Many of us believe that we are operating with unlimited faith. That’s a GOOD THING.

What we need now, is for our unlimited faith to elevate us into a state of unlimited spiritual control.

ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS…

But, what if I do have faith, and things are not working in my favor? That’s a GOOD Question.

“I have a consecrated, dedicated, full strength prayer life, and I am not seeing anything change for the better, are you saying I’m the problem?”

“It’s never GOD’s fault, it’s always me?

Here are the tough answers that are hard to hear…

Sometimes, no is no. But, I do not get a lot of “No’s”, and that is what I want to impart to you in these teachings, about the Word of GOD.

The past 42 posts have been primarily about prayer. They have also been about character correction and character formation, the staples of a consecrated lifestyle.

These entire posts for the Month of Elul, have been about encouraging you to conduct the search of your own heart, to judge yourself, that you not be judged… How did you do?


Did you clean out your closets? Are you still having arguments in your head with someone, about something, that you just can’t let go? Are there people that you just have not forgiven? Forgiveness is just too good for them?

I have had to negotiate a few peace treaties in my own mind. So many issues have built up over this year alone, that I am sure we each had to wrestle with, spirit, mind, soul and body.

Suffice it to say, there have been some hard places.

What I can share with you is that, unforgiveness will keep every one of those hard places bound to you, for another year, minimum.

It all depends on you, whether or not you will forgive and repent.

GOD instructed the Priesthood, not to touch any dead thing… so it would be wise not to carry the dead thing around with you for another year, right?

If you just read that statement…

…I wrote above and the thought crossed your mind, “I am not a part of the Priesthood”, then that is a serious part of the problem right there.

Everyone, who loves GOD, says that they want to follow GOD, or desires to follow GOD, becomes a part of the Priesthood.

GOD is not raising you up to be a lifelong disciple. He is raising you up so that you can be sent, out!

Your purpose is not to sit in the pew for 120 years.

You are being raised up to take your Holy positions as Prophet, Priest and King.

The Priestly anointing is the glue that binds the Prophetic and Kingship together. If we are going to covet something good, covet the power of a priestly anointing.

The priestly anointing doesn’t appear to be as highly pursued as the others. It requires a great deal of self discipline, dying to self, obedience, dedication, faithfulness, sacrifice, patience, listening, kindness, submittedness, yieldedness, etc. etc.

The priestly anointing is a lot of work and absolutely no glamour. But it is your priestly anointing that carries the potential to elevate you beyond measure.

It is the priestly anointing that will help you rise to the full measure and stature of Christ Jesus.

Esau refused the garments of priesthood. He lusted after Kingship, but not to do GOD’s Work, he just wanted to rule the world. He had no prophetic anointing of his own, he depended upon the power of his father’s prophetic prayers in order to thrive..

David accepted the garments of the priesthood, because he excelled in humility. He never lusted after kingship, becasue he was humble. He accepted kingship in order to do the will of GOD. David did not need to depend on the prophetic prayers of others in order to survive. He had his own relationship with GOD in prayer. Evidenced by his prayers rooted and grounded in humility.

David is anointed, Prophet, Priest and King.

Jesus is anointed Prophet, Priest and King.

We are His fruit. His perfect will, is for you to do, “greater works than these…”

Are You Willing to Do The Greater Works?

Do you really want the greater works? Do you want to speak into the earth in His Name, as a king? Do you want to flow in the gifts of the prophetic as He desired that you do?

Will You Accept the Priestly Anointing?

I would see you reign in the prophetic, wield authority in the heavenly’s as king, and possess power and authority in the priestly anointing.

People will disappoint you, that’s a given. Actually, it can’t even be helped, because we are all fragile and vulnerable.

But people, can also surprise and delight you! That’s a given, which also can’t be helped.

You never really know which will happen first or what sequence of events will occur.

But they are both to our benefit because they both have the ability to make us stronger.

I hope you spent Elul in prayer. I hope that the anointing over this season transforms your life, because you humbled yourself to pray, and seek GOD’s Face. I pray that you fought for your place and position in the anointing!

The fight this month has been about you and only you. GOD is fighting for you!

Your soul matters, it is something of value. Your soul is the most precious possession that you share with GOD.

Notice, that I specifically stated that, ” it is the most precious possession that you share with GOD”, not that you own it. Because it does not belong to you.

That particular soul, that you are carrying around, The Lover of Your Soul, GOD, wants it to return to Him, as his personal possession.

Your soul contains evidence of your existence, evidence of who you are, and who you became in Honor of GOD’s Name. Your soul is evidence of GOD, evidence of Love, evidence of Truth, evidence of the Spirit of GOD, evidence of the Messiah, evidence of who you are to HIM.

Everyone wants proof that GOD exist…

You Are The Evidence GOD Sent into the world. You bear witness to His Word, by the Word of your testimony.

You Are Something of Value.

This post was revised after publication to clearly address my reference to the Book of Revelation, and my reference to a city without walls, Thyratira.

If you read this post earlier today, please accept my apologies for reposting…I just had to make certain to the best of my ability to be as clear and accurate as possible for you.

GOD Bless You,

May you leave this Month of Elul, refreshed, energized and ready to embrace your calling as Prophet, Priest and King! this New Year, Rosh Hashanna 5780.

Amen.

Elul

ELUL, Preparation for Elevation

2 Comments

 “Speak Life Into Your Situation”

Scriptures are replete with principles that support the power of the tongue. This Scripture refers to Your Royal Anointing—this consist of the favor God that is poured over you because you belong to Him.

This reminds me of the story when Samuel went to David and poured anointing oil over his head to signify he would be the next king of Israel. Samuel didn’t bring him a crown, but anointed him with oil—a symbol of the Holy Spirit and God’s blessings and approval.

It was many years later before David actually wore that crown. Nevertheless, from the moment he was anointed, he was already a king in God’s eyes.

Good things began to happen to him almost immediately because he started looking at his world through eyes of blessing rather than eyes of failure.

Even as he overcame the lion and the bear, he knew he could overcome giants. And just as he took authority and overcame everything that threatened his ascent to the throne, you must take authority and overcome everything that threatens your ascent into the realm of success and prosperity.

A King does not beg and cry for anything. He does not have to.

A King declares something, and that thing is established. A king has the legal power to decree, which is an old English word for “legislate.” He institutes, he confirms, he settles, he summons, he authorizes—that’s what a King does.

Assimilation into our Western Mindset…

When GOD called the Children of Israel to be, Priest and Kings of a Holy Nation, it is important that we as westerners understand, that GOD was not speaking to a mean’s only club.

In the West, our minds tend to go there, because that is the lens with which we have become accustomed in viewing the world, by our cultural customs and mindset. Resist the temptation to listen to that cultural side of our voice.

GOD is not shallow like man, and when He spoke of the Children of Israel He speaks of male and female. We have to shift our thinking in this regard, so that we can hear what GOD is saying and agree with Him, and not our traditional mode of thinking.

Peter tells us we belong to “a Royal Priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).

The word royal speaks of our kingly attributes as Believers. Remember, Jesus is King of kings—He is the capital “K” King, and we are the lowercase “k” kings.

You must manifest your royal anointing to decree blessings over your marriage, family, business, ministry, and every other realm of your life.

The whole universe is waiting for us to give it instruction.

As the Bible says, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). The whole universe waits in anticipation for the sons and daughters of God to manifest themselves and bring it back into alignment with God’s original intent for them.

Every word you speak is pregnant with regal, creative power.

The first to illustrate this was God Himself. According to Hebrews 11:3 (ESV): “the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

In the book of Genesis, chapter one, at the beginning of each day of the creation story, we see: “And God said, ‘Let there be…'” God spoke out what He had seen in His mind as He had envisioned in His creation of the universe, and when He spoke, the earth, all the planets, the sun, moon, and stars, as well as every plant, animal, and humanity itself appeared just as He had seen us all in His mind’s eye.

God spoke, and from “nothingness” came everything that exists in the physical universe.

James, the brother of Jesus, told a parable of how this is to work in our lives:

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.—James 3:2-5 ESV

When a ship sets sail to cross the sea, the pilot plots out the course. Then he determines the times he will need to adjust the direction of the ship to follow the course he has set. He checks his calculations from time to time to ensure he is always headed in the right direction, and then he keeps the steering as steady as possible heading towards his predetermined destination.

Certainly along the way, he may have to adjust the helm to go around storms, navigate currents, or avoid obstacles in the water, but he always steers with his focus more on where he is going than what he is going through.

If he constantly changes the steering from one minute to the next fixated on his present circumstances, the ship is more likely to go in circles than it is to arrive at the desired port of call.

For the pilot, the course is created first in his thoughts, communicated through the rudder, and then realized as the rest of the plane lines up with his intent.

For us, our lives only arrive at our desired goals if we line up our thoughts, words, habits, and actions in a similar way.

FOCUS ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING… Not On What You Are Going Through…

You must take the time to carefully consider your course. Where are you heading? What will it look like when you get there? Let your imagination take over. Spend time ‘seeing‘ yourself bringing your vision to life.

Rehearse your vision out loud. Read about it. Study it out. Write about it in your journal. Draw it. Paint it. Let your mind run free with the possibilities of what you could attain.

Don’t Let Your Vision Die. Take Action toward building the vision everyday.

What will it take to get there? Are there skills you will need to acquire? Are there people who live in that place that you can learn from? How did they get there? What paths did they take? Are there habits that you should form that will keep you on course?

Now talk about it. Line up your mouth—the rudder of your life—with where you are going. Then keep it steady and on course.

What happens to a ship if you head it in one direction at one moment, and then turn it in the opposite direction in the next—and keep doing that over and over?

Pretty simple—it goes nowhere. This is what happens when people start speaking about the good things they are expecting to happen one minute, and then spend the next half hour talking about all the negative things happening to them that are keeping them from getting there. They are turning their lives in circles.

They line up their spoken words with where they want to go for a little while, then when they meet a storm along the way, all they do is talk about the bad weather and lose track of where they were headed in the first place. They forget that they have the power to turn their lives around the storm or press on through it to the sunshine on the other side.

They forget that the “Son” has never stopped shining on their lives, no matter how dark the clouds in the sky are.

Even in the midst of what looks like catastrophe, keep speaking the blessing, keep the ship of your life on a steady course, and before you know it, the storm clouds will clear and you will have broken through your difficulty and left it far behind you.

Tell Your Troubles Where to Go…

Your every decree is pregnant with the power and potential to revolutionize your life. Psalm 2:7-8 indicates that God utilizes this prerogative, and grants the same to His earthly Ambassadors:

I will declare the decree:”The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You…'”

David used his right to decree and declare to turn the tides of Israel’s unfavorable fate and to defeat their enemy Goliath. In the Book of 1 Samuel 17:46-51, David addresses his enemy with conviction and authority:

“This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him…David ran and stood over the Philistine, took the Phillistine’s sword…out of it’s sheath…and cut off his head with it.

And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

NOTE: David did the hard work ‘physically‘ that we have to do ‘Spiritually!‘

May the sword (words) of your enemies be pulled down by your confessions of faith, causing them to lose their heads–lose their focus, their thought, their strategy, their plans, or any possibility or capacity to out maneuver you.

Since the spirit realm is the causal realm, Goliath was dead long before he was struck by the stone and beheaded by the sword.

Remember, according to Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Choose to use your tongue to bring life and not death, to bless and not to curse—even when it comes to your “enemies.”

Learn the art of Blessing, for in blessing a thing or a person, that thing or person must bless you.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14).

When you bless, blessings will be drawn to you, or as Deuteronomy 28:2 says, “blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.”

Conversely, in cursing a thing or a person, you draw curses upon yourself.

Again, as James said: “A double-minded man (is) unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

What did he mean? A double-minded person is a person with conflicting thoughts—someone who holds two different opinions at the same time. That person is the pilot who steers his ship towards one port for a while, then reverses to steer it towards another in the opposite direction.

“He…is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).

At one point your life is headed towards blessings, because that is what you have spoken, and the next it is headed towards cursing, because that is now what your mouth is proclaiming.

James again describes this pilot’s plight later in his letter:

“With it (the tongue) we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”—James 3:9-10

I am convinced that Believers tend to live beneath the standard God has ordained for His children because of lack of knowledge first, and then lack of application second, i.e., those who do believe don’t apply what they said they believe.

We do not know that our daily declarations and decrees have the power to alter our destiny and change the quality of our lives.

Proverbs 13:3 states that “He who guards his mouth (watches what he says) preserves his life.” Or again as James said, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect (mature) man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2).

If guarding your words causes you to keep your life and grow in maturity, imagine what happens when you do not guard your words?

Note to Self:

  • Speak Life Into Every Aspect of Your Situation or Circumstances.
  • Conduct yourself as if the next Word you speak is positively going to manifest…Now what are you prepared to say?
  • Focus on where you are going, not on what you are going through!
  • Always dictate the terms to the storm…the storm does not dictate the terms to you!
    • It does not matter how many people around you are calling the storm into existence, You decree and declare the storm is OVER! Defunct, Dead and Powerless
    • Nobody has to agree with you, GOD ALREADY agreed in His Word.
  • Man learned to navigate the plane above the storm by watching eagles. Eagles know by instinct to elevate above the storm systems… be like the eagle, elevate in prayer, praise and worship…get some height above the storm.
  • Know the spirit you are dealing with…if you don’t know, ask GOD to show you.
    • Don’t be so easily provoked…find out what spirit you are dealing with…be slow to speak…
    • No jumping to conclusions and reacting…pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding in every situation.
    • Remember: The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. 1 Cor. 14:32
      • You are in control

All of your spiritual preparation for Elul, is taking you somewhere in the Biblical New Year. Are you ready to elevate?

Sun Zsu said, “Know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.  Know yourself and know not the enemy, and for every victory you will suffer a defeat. Know neither the enemy nor yourself, and you will be defeated in every battle.” 

I grew up with this wisdom saying, but I learned something else, so I amended it…

“Know the spirit your dealing with and know your own spirit, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.  Know your spirit and know not the enemy’s spirit, and for every victory, you will most certainly be defeated.  Know neither your own spirit nor the enemy’s spirit, and in every battle you will be constantly defeated…you will never stand a chance! “

Beloved, I pray that in every situation you encounter, you know your own spirit, and know the spirit you are dealing with…and in one thousand battles, you will never be defeated!

Amen.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer for Elul:

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV

Cover Photo by: Rev. S. Madison

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

Disclosure: 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. GOD ask that we meditate on His Word day and night, because without a dedicated personal prayer life, we can do very little for GOD and Man.

May GOD always send you a confirming word so that you will know that these words are true.

GOD Bless You Always,

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.

Elul

Elul, Justice Shall You Pursue…

“Justice, Justice shall you pursue, so that you may live and take possession of the land…”

(Updated 8:40AM)

During the 1st Week of Elul, the torah portion under study is called Re’eh, which means ‘See‘.

I spent our 1st week presenting the Month of Elul to you as 1st time Students. Traditionally, we enter the Month of Elul focused on “Seeing”, so I thought it fitting to utilize the time “to see” what Elul is all about.

The usual course of progression is to study the torsh portion before the Sabbath comes.

In some ways, we are a week behind. Nevertheless, This week of September 7-13th, Justice will be our primary focus.

(I will post a teaching on Ki Tetze soon so that you can flow and pray with both teachings as you choose).

Below is the Torah Portion Schedule:

Re’eh (See) Aug 31, [Av 30] Deut. 11:26 – 16:17

Shoftim (Judges) Sept. 7, [Elul 7] Deut. 16:18 thru 21:19

Ki Tetze (When You Go Out) Sept. 14th, [Elul 14] Deut. 21:10 thru 25:19

Ki Tavo (When You Enter In) Sept. 21, [Elul 21] Deut. 26:1 thru 29:8 (9)

Nitzavim (You Are Standing) Sept. 28th, [Elul 28] Deut. 29:9 (10) thru 30:20

NOTE: Have you noticed how the dates are perfectly aligned with each other this year in the Month of Elul? This doesn’t happen this very often. (I just thought we should make note of it).

Torah portion is taken from Deut 16:18 through 21:9.

For anyone unfamiliar with this term (torah portions), it just means that each week a specific portion of the scriptures, are studied.

I will attach a Torah Portion Calendar so that you can take a look at it if you like. I think this is a beautiful custom. I like the idea of reading through the scriptures yearly, as a community of believers.

Spiritually, you always know how to sync up. In the Christian tradition I grew up in, this was not our custom. Our Pastors just went with the spirit on what to teach next.

What I found fascinating is that over time, as I increased in my knowledge of Christianity and my Jewish Heritage, I began to notice that some Pastors messages were synced up with the Biblical Calendar, — and they were completely unaware. I find that fascinating.

Pastors who flow with the Spirit of GOD, will always be on the same page!

In Parshat Shoftim: (Shoftim is the Hebrew word for ‘Judges’); Moses reminds the children of Israel of the rules for the Justice System, the Rules of Kingship and their relationship as a nation to their idolatrous neighbors, including the rules of warfare.

The key focus in this portion of scripture is his message, “Justice, justice shall you pursue, so that you may live and take possession of the land which God, your God, is giving you.”

Teachings Outlined in Parashat Shoftim:

  • The Judges must deal with issues that come before them unbiased…
    • Judges are required to interpret and apply the torah.
    • Consider/Process your decisions through the filter of torah.
    • Judges must be fair and meticulous in their investigations, i.e., never distort judgement.
    • Don’t take bribery.
  • A minimum of 2 witnesses to any crime are required for conviction and punishment.
    • Witnesses do not give testimony in front of each other.
  • Prohibitions outlined against idolatry and sorcery.
  • Guidelines are given to establish Cities of Refuge.
  • For those guilty of accidental murder.
  • Rules of Warfare are established
    • Offer terms for peace before attacking a city.
    • Zero tolerance policy against unscrupulous, wanton, gratuitous destruction.
    • Those Exempt From Battle:
      • The recently married, anyone who just built a home, or just planted a vineyard.
      • Anyone lacking courage are not required to serve in the military.
  • Procedures outlined for handling murders by an unknown assailant.
    • The Community is responsible for what they do, and also what they could have prevented.

God tells them that they will one day desire a King to rule over them, and that He will choose their King. The King will be held to the task of writing out in his own hand a duplicate of this teaching that GOD is giving now, and read it as long as he lives, so that he will not get prideful and lift himself up over his brethren.

God continues saying, that he will raise up a prophet from among them and put His Words in their mouth.

Shoftim begins by speaking to those who will be judges.

On the surface, we could content ourselves thinking that the torah is only speaking to the “official” judges of the nation. But, torah is speaking to the judge in all of us.

We learn the Word, to do the Word.

  • Justice is a purpose and responsibility to be shared by EVERYONE.
  • How we treat the weak, the broken, the down trodden, the widows, the orphans, etc. is a reflection of our core, as human beings.

There is an irreplaceable, undeniable joy that we each experience when we work along side GOD by lifting the burden and/or destroying the yoke off of another human being.

Helping another person because it is in our power to do so in honor of GOD’s Name is Phenomenal.

Some cry, “Where was GOD.” Others cry out, “Where are We?”

The qualities of “divinity” are in us, and as Jesus said, “greater works than these shall you do in My Name…” then we will exercise our authority in the spirit and speak from a Heavenly position and not from sea level.

Judges were appointed to protect the weak, the poor, the despised- through their words, prayers and actions.

Justice and compassion are paramount. We must cry out loud for justice with a passion.

Your words are spirit and life. Cry out against injustice with expectation that justice shall occur.

This week when we hear reports of injustice, say a prayer.

Take all reports of injustice into your prayer closet.

1 Samuel 15:22
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Note: In the above verse the word “obey” in Hebrew is “shama” which means to hear.

To hear (shama) in Hebrew, means more than just “hearing” what was said. It is not an, “in one ear and out the other” kind of hearing!

Shama means to hear AND obey, together. “I will do AND I will hear”, there is not one without the other.

In GOD’s Language (Hebrew), doing is more important than knowing. Hebrew is verb oriented, rather than Noun oriented Language.

The emphasis is on Action.

Proverbs 21:3
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Hosea 6:6
“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

Proverbs 15:8
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”

A Few Amazing Prayers For Justice:

Read these Psalms out loud, over someones situation, then pray them out loud.

Psalm 17, Psalm 28, and Psalm 109.

Psalm 28 provided below:

Psalm 28

1Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

5 Because they regard not the works of theLord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall overthrow them, and not build them up.

6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

AMEN

Elul

Keeping Your Appointments with GOD… Summary of Part 1 and 2

“The LORD is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness… not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Summary of Part 1 and Part 2 of this Teaching:

Below is an itemized list of what I hope I demonstrated to you in Part 1 and 2, of this teaching so far!

  • The Calendar of Heaven is Filled with Promise.
    • Elul prepares us for the Biblical New Year of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles.
    • Elul is when we draw closer to GOD as a Community of Believers, The Faithful of GOD.
    • Elul is about looking into your own heart to see what you have locked inside, to cleanse the clutter out of our closets.
    • During Elul, you open yourself up to examination, to Yourself and GOD.

  • Unlike our secular calendar, the Biblical Calendar captures moments in time that GOD poured out very specific / special blessings over His People.
  • Elul is devoted to repentance and acknowledging GOD as sovereign to us.
    • Elul consist of 30 days in the year when the People of GOD, no matter what country they live in, or where they are located presently in the world, purpose in their heart to come together ‘spiritually’; one heart, one mind, and one spirit.
    • Whenever human beings come together for a singular purpose, as a community concerned about ‘a signular cause of any kind’, our history changes. The historical evidence is overwhleming for the truth in this.
    • Whenever human beings come together for a singular purpose, as a community filled with the intension of recognizing GOD, Honoring His Name, Acknowledging His Presence, being real before Him in prayer, repenting, judging ourselves and not others, etc., we change our worlds and the extended world around us.
    • During Elul, it is our strength as a nation of the people of GOD, that ushers in the blessing over all our lives!

  • It was in the Month of Elul that GOD renewed His Love for His People. Not only had they been forgiven, but GOD gave them the Second Set of Tablets, renewing His Covenant.
    • The 1st 40 days of Moses’ Prayer saved the lives of the Children of Israel (Gen 32)
    • The 2nd 40 days of Moses’ Prayer restored the love relationship between God and His People (Gen 34).
  • During Elul, we have an opportunity to reconnect with our Hebrew Heritage, with this same level of love and with the same level of forgiveness. We stir our hearts once more to return to GOD, remembering the incredible amount of times that GOD has returned to us, forgiven us, loved us – especially the times when we did not deserve it.

THE POWER THAT CREATED THIS PORTAL FOR FORGIVENESS, AND MERCY, AND FAVOR came from the Insight, the Courage, the love and compassion that Moses had for GODs People to Stand in the Gap.

Jesus Prayed For Us!

“Satan Desired to have you, to sift you like wheat! But, I Jesus prayed for You, that Your Faith Not Fail, and when you are converted (when you truly believe) GO AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BRETHREN.” Luke 22:31-32

  • Moses taught us many powerful lessons…
  • Like…Standing in the Gap and Strenthening Your Brethren Through the Power of Prayer.
  • Not settling for an ‘incomplete‘ salvation. Moses wanted to save the lives of Israel AND restore them back to GOD.
    • GOD respects and honors our intervention on behalf of mankind. Ezekiel may have done the best job in scripture of making this abundantly clear. ref. Ezek 22: 30

“And I sought for a man among them… that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.”

  • Noah didn’t intervene on behalf of mankind… as obedient as he was, he just built the boat as instructed, and prepared for the destruction. (He did not stand in the gap for mankind).
    • The false prophets noted in (Ezekiel 13:5) did absolutely nothing to repair the breach in the wall. Instead of standing in the gap, they simply denied that judgement was going to come.
    • Only one of Joseph’s brothers stood in the gap for him which saved his life, but Judah stopped short of delivering his brother ‘completely’. As a consequence, Joseph was sent into captivity. Note: Judah could have ‘completely‘ saved Joseph…but he didn’t. GODs Mercy gave Judah a second chance to redeem his self through saving the life of Tamar. Judah recognized the signs of divine providence (I call this recognizing that the Ark is passing by…).
      • There was a moment when he could have saved one brothers life and restored his other brothers back to GOD, that they not commit this evil, but he didn’t.
      • It wasn’t until he was faced with the issues surrounding Tamar, that he realized what GOD was doing in his life, and he jumped at the chance for redemption; Judah elevated spiritually that day.

The Prophets of GOD Shoud Make Up the Hedge...

Moses Perceived the Importance of Standing in the Gap

  • Moses went into prayer and fasting for the lives of the people! (Ex 34, Deut 5:5).
    • David confirms that GOD is just looking for someone to stand in the gap... ref. Psalm 106:23. Timothy reminds us of this again, beginning in 1 Timothy 2:1.

Elul presents a perpetual opportunity for us to stand in the gap, as a nation, and as an individual.

Elul also offers us the opportunity to activate our Spiritual Gifts.

  • We pray becasue we desire a spiritual relationship with GOD. However, I would be remiss if I did not tell you that Elul positions us, through our dedication in prayer, to activate the prophectic anointing that lies dormant due to a constant lack of prayer.
  • Honoring the Calendar of GOD Places Us in Position for Increase and Abundant Blessing! (I’m speaking of spiritual increase not financial).
  • Honoring the Month of Elul in prayer, sets you in Prophetic Position with GOD.
    • Anyone who has ever said to themselves, “I know there is more to this Word of GOD”, or anyone that has wanted to rise up into a higher spiritual level, yet has not seen the tangible increase, You can attain the spiritual increase by setting yourself before GOD daily in prayer. (Breaking Beyond Your Own Personal Barrier in Prayer, i.e What ever level of time you spend in personal prayer time with GOD, increase it!).

(In the near future I intend to write a teaching series ‘Prayer Makes You Prophetic’).

We have to have a ongoing, prayer life, if we ever want to become anointed with the gift of prophecy, which we should desire.

  • Without a relationship with GOD, grounded in prayer, you can never be “a Prophet of GOD, or Prophetic.” Prophets have a prayer life.
  • This is why this is such an important point to make. GOD’s perfect will that He made clear through Paul, is when He asked that we “follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1

It is through the righteous, those with clean hands, clean heart, clean lips, sold out, obedient, steadfast, faithful, dedicated, submitted, people of GOD that His People can be saved, healed and delivered.

Remember What GOD told Abimelech in Gen 20:7…“Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die–you and all who belong to you.”

Moses did not have to be told by GOD to pray, or asked to pray. You don’t have to ask a prophet to pray for you. The prophet is in prayer while you are still talking, telling them all the reasons you need help, or prayer, or what ever it is you need.

The Prayer of a Prophet…

The Church should be in the business of raising up the prophets in every area of prophetic giftings.

Many of us are alive today, because the prophet prayed

God Works with Mankind by means of Prophetic Partnership.

“GOD, He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanest of your hands.” Job 22:30

“You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand int he battle in the day of the LORD” Ezekiel 13:5

“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon Jerusalem” Jeremiah 5:1

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

The righteous set themselves before GOD constantly, they keep their heart right through prayer, sacrifice and servanthood, they pray at all times, and their prayers availeth much!

Spend Time with The One You Love!

Dedicate as much time as you can to GOD in the Month of Elul. Go Overboard!

In the last post, I told you the story I recite to all my new students when I teach on the Supernatural Seasons of GOD.

I hope I reminded you of how we each behave when we meet “a person of interest.” We will stay up all night talking on the phone or in person, holding every moment precious, and they are!

GOD the Lover of Your Soul…

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus asks that we remember our first love (Rev 2:4). That is what I’m asking you to do, Remember when you fell in love with GOD and those all night prayer sessions?

If you can’t say that you completely did fall in love with Him, I hope these teachings encourage you to do just that.

GOD wants to spend time with you till the breaking of the dawn… at least some time.

We spend hours on the phone with friends, how much of that time could we give to GOD?

I’m trying to provoke you in this thought because, I really want you to find time for GOD during this Month of Elul. We have all desired at some point to get into a higher place in GOD. This is how you do it

This is NOT About becoming Jewish.… (Just in case there are any thoughts creeping in from anyone of that kind).

This is about abiding in a Love Relationship with GOD. .

Arranging Some Time with GOD.

If you met someone who was from another country and spoke another language, you would spend a considerable amount of time, making the effort to learn something about their language. It wouldn’t matter to you that they are from another culture, another time and space, or celebrated unfamiliar traditions.

For Christians, the Feast of the LORD are not a familiar tradition, to most of us. Spending time with GOD is like spending time on a date with someone from another culture.

God does things differently, His thoughts are different, His ways are different, His language is different. That’s the beauty of spending time with Him, we become different!

In the Presence fo GOD, we become “different”, peculiar, better people.

Abraham was different!

Abraham was from a nation of idolatrous people, with an idolatrous Father and an idolatrous family. But that did not stop him from looking for or finding, the One True God. And Abraham became the Father of Many Nations.

Job was not a Hebrew, but that did not keep him from seeking and finding GOD and serving only Him, and GOD gave him a legacy, and made his name great.

Ruth was a Moabites, and that did not stop her from turning toward GOD in saying to Ruth, “…Your GOD will be my GOD”. Ruth 1:16. GOD blessed her for it and memorialized her memory, gave her a legacy and memorialized her name.

Rahab was not a Hebrew, but she recognized the people of GOD and gave them shelter and GOD blessed her for it, and memorialized her memory, gave her a legacy and memorialized her name.

The 12 Apostles were going about their daily activities, and one day caught a glimpse of the Ark, passing by.

They perceived that the Word of GOD was right before them… and they did not let the Ark Pass them by.

My point is, it does not matter where you start, or from what perspective you hail from, GOD is not a respecter of persons, and we all become better under His Presence!

This Month GOD can be found. He is not a man that He should lie. Dedicate yourself to prayer this Elul, and once you capture sight of GOD, never let Him go!

The Ark is Passing By During the Month of Elul.

DO NOT LET THE ARK PASS YOU BY!

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Cover Photo by: Rev. S. Madison

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

Disclosure: 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,

(Revised September 7, 2019 2:49AM /typo’s removed)

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.

Elul

Keep Your Next Appointment with GOD… Part 2

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

I Know The Plans I Have For You!

So many times we have thought of that verse in scripture, quoted it, taught on it, etc.

The Hebrew word for “thoughts” is ‘makh-ash-aw-baw’ which can be understood as, “plans, intentions, designs or purpose”.

“peace” in Hebrew is the word ‘shalom’ which is better understood as, ‘to make one whole’, or rather, ‘to be made whole’.

These plans and intentions GOD has for You are calendared.

Think of it in terms of GOD’s Perfect Will. He has placed us on His Calendar, is anticipating our arrival and participation. However, You have to show up.

In His Permissive Will, we can choose to show up or not. We can, like GOD, anticipate the appointment, keep the appointment and plan our next visit… or not!

Where the Word of A King is, There is Power. Ecclesiastes 8:4

The Word of GOD is embedded in His Biblical Calendar with the power to release such an anointing, that it will supernaturally saturate your days and your years “far more abundantly” than you can ask or think!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

The Biblical Calendar Holds the Keys to the Plan!

Eve of Elul
Sat, Aug 31st

MONTH OF ELUL. – The Month of Divine Favor and Mercy!
(30 days of Prayer, spiritually setting yourself before GOD in prayer which allows you to see what’s in Your Own Heart, dealing with your character flaws and strengthening your virtues).

  • Search my heart and try my reins, and know my thoughts… See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (paraphrase Psalm 139:23)

MONTH OF ELUL
Sun, SEP 1 thru Sun, SEP 29

EVE OF ROSH HASHANNA (GOD’s New Year’s Eve)
SUN, SEPT 29. (a.k.a. 29th of Elul)

ROSH HASHANAH. (GOD’s NEW YEAR)
(The 1st of Tishrei)
Mon, Sept 30th

YOM KIPPUR
Day of Atonement
(10th of Tishrei)
TUE, OCT 8TH

Eve of Sukkot
(14th of Tishrei)
Sun, OCT 13TH

SUKKOT
Feast of Tabernacles
(15th of Tishrei)
Mon, OCT 14TH

Why is the Month of Elul so Important?

To understand the importance of the Biblical Calendar, we have to step our of our comfort zone a bit and place our Gregorian Calendar aside for a few minutes.

The significance of the Biblical Calendar is that it captures dates and timelines that are significant to GOD, including spiritual properties of the anointing that remain open and available that continue to provide us access today and throughout the generations.

That’s a very powerful statement, so allow me to support it with scripture.

Part 1 of this Post began with a teaching from the Prophet Isaiah. “Seek Hashem when He can be found, call upon Him when He is near” (Isaiah 55:6), and the question became, “When is Hashem near?”

The Rabbi’s tell us that Isaiah was directing our attention towards the Ten Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah (Sept 30th), and end with Yom Kippur (Oct 8th).

The Month of Elul marks the end of the year on the Biblical Calendar preceding the month of Tishrei, which is the start of a brand New year. In simple terms, Elul is to Tishrei, as December is to January.

GOD gives His People a jumpstart on the New Year!

In comparison to the Gregorian (secular) calendar, The New Year on the Biblical Calendar begins 3 months ahead of the rest of the world, a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah.

In spiritual preparation of the upcoming New Year, The children of GOD take the last month on the Biblical Calendar (Elul) to spiritually prepare themselves for their journey through the next 365 days of the year!

Elul is known as the Month of Favor and Mercy. It is a 29-30 day time frame in which we all have the opportunity to cleanse our selves spiritually, repent for our sins, ask forgiveness, judge our own souls, search our own hearts and look deep inside ourselves to investigate what it is we need to do better as a human being.

In Elul we re-orient ourselves back toward GOD. After all, teshuvah means repentance. It’s about returning to our place in GOD’s Presence.

How Did This Come To Be?

When the children of Israel committed the sin of the golden calf, GOD told Moses that He was going to consume them (Gen 32:10). Moses descended the mount and found what the people had done.

The sin of the golden calf occurred on the 17th of Tammuz. We know this because Moses had ascended the mountain for 40 days, after the day of Shavuot (Pentecost).

40 days after Shavuot puts us at the 17th of Tammuz when Moses came back down from the mountain and found the people in complete disobedience.

Moses did not want the people to be destroyed, so He ascended the mountain and prayed for GOD to forgive them.

  • 40 days after the sin of the golden calf puts us at the end of the month of Av and the beginning of Elul.

GOD forgave the people but Moses was not satisfied.

  • The people will live, but living without the Presence of GOD was pointless. Going backward into a chronologically unprofitable existence, i.e., living their lives under the sun. This was unacceptable to Moses. He wanted the people to live under the heavens.

Moses knew that without atonement, GOD would no longer dwell in the presence of the people.

  • Without spiritual atonement, the children of Israel could not return to a love relationship with GOD.

So, Moses returns to the mountain for another 40 days to pray for their complete atonement. (Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur)

  • Israel repents as a nation.
  • GOD accepts the prayers and repentance (teshuvah) of the people and renews His bond of love between them.
  • GOD continues to dwell among among the children of Israel!

Elul is considered the most auspicious time of the year to offer repentance to GOD, because He accepted the prayers and repentance of the nation in this month.

The prayers of Moses created a penitent heart inside the people of GOD that has never been forgotten, or taken for granted or held in light esteem.

For thousands of years, a memorial has been set over the Month of Elul for prayer and repentance. It is a time of getting ourselves right with GOD. A time when our prayers carry the strength of our unity and love.

Let’s face it…

When we act in unity and love, our prayers become irresistible to GOD. Elul signifies acceptance of our prayers, we are blessed by GOD’s forgiveness and more importantly, GOD dwells among His people, restoring us with His Love!

The cycle of forgiveness and coming back into right relationship as one people, with one heart, one mind and one spirit, cycles back every year at Elul.

Because the Months on the Biblical Calendar have been kept alive through faithfulness, dedication and the remembrance of the people for what GOD and His Prophet Moses did for them, when they did not deserve it most, GOD’s anointing rest upon this month for favor and mercy!

Whenever we take the initiative to set aside our traditional worldly calendar and embrace the Calendar of GOD…(that He spoke of repeatedly all throughout the Hebrew Scriptures), then we step into miraculous moments of destiny.

We have just spent Labor Day, September 2, 2019 recognizing and celebrating the social and economic achievements of our labors as a nation.  Labor Day is our everlasting memorial and tribute to the contribution American workers have made to the prosperity, well being and strength of our country.

We have spent a lot of time, years, recognizing every event on the secular calendar. For the most part, recognizing only 2 major, yet questionably “Biblical” Holidays on the same calendar.

GOD has a Calendar filled with Days of Destiny, designated to celebrate our relationship with Him.

GOD’s Calendar is accessbile to everyone!  It has been right there on the pages of scripture the whole time!

We have always been invited by GOD, but most of us never knew it.

Step into Your Month of Favor and Mercy.

As we repent as a community of the Faithful, we have access to housands of years, anointed with the prayers of the saints, that have been tread out each year on the threshing floor.

A place for the Seed of Abraham has been prepared for us to partake of the blessings of GOD.

Show Up This Season For Your Appointment!

Part 3 of this Post will include the following topics of discussion:

  • Shifting Your Days from Chronos to Kairos
  • EMBRACING The Supernatural Seasons of GOD.
  • Show Up For Your Appointment!
  • How to Proclaim the Month of Elul
  • How do you want to start off this New Year?

Wisdom Is Better than Strength

Ecclesiastes 9

  • 9:13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 
  • 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 
  • 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 
  • 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 
  • 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 
  • 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.


Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

All Photos, Including Cover Photo by: Rev. S. Madison

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

Disclosure: 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.

Elul

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER… Creating Your Unbreakeable Bond in Communion with GOD

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.