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Judeo-Christian Teachings

STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS….Part 2

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CONTINUED FROM PART 1… STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS….Part 1

How do you strengthen the weak hands? What makes your hands weak?

17 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

16 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Working with One Hand Tied Behind Your Back…

Anyone who has ever injured their dominant arm or hand knows how difficult it is to perform even the simplest of task, like tying a shoelace, buttoning a shirt, or driving a car.

Of course, we adapt and learn how to manage. But in the meantime, we must deal with the difficulty of completing everything we need to do, in an awkward, labored and time consuming manner.

These are the times when we truly miss the ease and balance we are accustomed to, when both hands are in sync.

The smooth and seamless efficiencies, our left hand and right hand, produce together are amazing.

This is what it is like when our spirit is not in sync with the Spirit of GOD, or when as the body of Christ, we are not in sync with each other, or when we as Christians are out of sync with our Jewish heritage in the scriptures.

Spiritually Speaking…

Whenever the right hand, and the left hand are restrained or restricted from working together, we are inefficient, off balance and simply working harder than we have to, Spiritually.

Are We There Yet?

17 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

Have you ever been driving/traveling to a location that you have not been before? I’m sure that you have. You have directions in your hand and you have been following them precisely. Yet, according to the directions you are almost there, but this street that you need to find…you can not locate.

You are beginning to wonder if you past it, so you turn around. Another mile passes, and you get the feeling that you are going in the wrong direction, so you stop and ask someone and you turn around once more…back toward the direction you were initially headed.

Finally, you see the street. This is the moment when you feel a little irritated with yourself because you were almost there, if you had just continued, a few more miles forward, you would have been there already!

Anyway, you shake it off, make your right hand turn and find the address you need and arrive. Perhaps a little late, but you can’t help being a tiny bit frustrated that you just didn’t keep going forward in the first place.

You Were Almost There!

17 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

When the children of Israel stopped and pitched their camp in Rephidim, they were virtually around the corner and down the block from Mt. Sinai.

They were right around the corner from the most important Prophetic Word they would ever receive…right around the corner from their breakthrough. They were almost there.

Instead of pressing in and going forward, they allowed themselves to degenerate into a place of negativity…getting frustrated, moaning, chiding, complaining, whining, worrying..

2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?

There is no water for the people to drink. Thirsty, they lash out at Moses.

Moses, is trying to tell the people that in fighting with him, they are actually fighting with, and rebelling against GOD.

When Scripture Repeats Itself 2 and 3 Times….

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

This is the 3rd mention we hear of the lack of water (verses 1, 2, 3). The repetition of any message found in scripture means that we need to pay close attention to what is happening and ask ourselves, Why is GOD repeating this so many times? What am I supposed to slow down and hear in this message?

GOD is trying to tell us something!

Instead of asking themselves, “What is really going on?, Why are we suddenly out of water?, What has shifted?” the people lash out at Moses.

Instead of praying..they are attacking… fighting with their leaders…accusing GOD and Moses of trying to kill them.

4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Horeb is the name of the mountain range in which Mt. Sinai is located. It means dryness or desolation. Horeb comes from the Hebrew root word, hareb  חרב, a verb meaning to dry up or lay waste.

7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?

We know these places… Massah מסה (massah), means to test, or to prove.

Massah comes from the Hebrew root word nasas which is a mettalurgical term for heating up iron ore in the fire. The hotter the better. The hotter the fire gets, the purest metals surface and can be collected.

Once these metals are smelted together, the stronger the iron becomes, and the best weapons and tools are forged.

Meribah מריבה, a place of strife, or agent of strife, from the verb ריב (rib), to contend.

The understanding of meribah can range from complaining and moaning through endless dispute, contention and strife, to flat out combat.

7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?

Massah and Meribah, signs of our spiritual condition. Not just common names of cities or places, like Los Angeles or New York.

Scripture is providing us detailed information regarding the spiritual condition of the people.

Forgetting about the miracles they have witnessed, the blessings they have received, the people launch their accusations against GOD.

They are so full of flesh, that they are unable to see that the lack of water they are experiencing, is directly connected to the lack of the anointing.

Nothing in the Spirit= Nothing in the Natural

No Anointing = No Water

Whatever we loose in Heaven, is loosed on Earth. Matthew 16:19-20

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

All the fighting, whining, moaning, and complaining…lashing out and threatning Moses, blaming GOD, rebelliuosness, etc unleashes a deadly spiritual enemy…

THEN CAME AMALEK…

Amalek is the grandson of Esau (Gen 36:12), the son of Jacob who despised his birthright (Gen 25:34).

Before we go into more details about who Amalek is spiritually and physically, notice that the Egyptians no longer pursued the children of Israel.

Look at your bible maps. When the children of Israel are coming out of Egypt, traveling through the wilderness it is not as if there are no other nations around.

Find Egypt, Goshen. Find the territory of Amalek. Find Rephidim. Find Mt. Sinai.

For a quick Reference: Click on this link if you do not have any bible maps handy and locate these sites on the map.

The territory of Amalek is above (North of) and behind Rephidim, where Israel makes camp (Ex 17:1).

Enemy Ambush…

Amalek attacked the children of Israel from behind…a sneak attack (Deut 25:17-18).

If they had not been cowardly, they would have attacked Israel before they left Egypt!

Consult your map again. Egypt and Amalek are almost directly west and east of each other.

If Amalek had gone to battle with the children of Israel after they defeated the Egyptians, it would have been more of a face to face confrontation, as they came out of Egypt.

But Amalek was a cunning hunter (like Grandpa Esau), and waited until they had passed (Gen 25:24, 27).

We know this because GOD tells us that Amalek came from behind and attacked the weak, the lame and the aged. Ref: (Deut 25:17-18)

Send Judah First…

The Tribe of Judah lead Israel out of the wilderness.

You will recall in Genesis 47:6, Joseph and his brothers were given “The Best of the land” to dwell in, i.e. Goshen (draw near), with the most elite among them given such important posts as rulers.

NOTE: GOD moved Pharaoh’s heart ot give them the best of the land in Goshen, so that they have a clear demarcation point between Egypt and themselves to worship GOD, i.e. to draw near to GOD. (This was the original plan with the move).

Pharaoh asked Joseph if any of his brothers were “men of activity” (chayil). If so, “make them rulers over my cattle.”

Rulers is the Hebrew word sari (H8269, sar), meaning generals, chiefs, captains, etc. aka mighty men of valor, princes in the land.

Out of all of Joseph’s brother’s who could these “men of activity” be?

Well, we know that the sons of Jacob were all very fierce! It only took 2 of them, Simeon and Levi to take out all the men in the Kingdom of Shechem (Gen 34:25).

Reuben had already disqualified himself from the rights of firstborn (Gen 35:22), now with this act, Simeon and Levi had done the same. This is why Judah now sits in the place as 1st born, i.e. and officially the scepter fell to Judah(Gen 49:10).

Why does any of this matter? because if and when you present this teaching to others, you need to know that pointless disputes are waiting in the shadows.

It’s About Connecting The Dots...

While I don’t teach my students to enter into pointless debates and disputes. I do think it is vitally important for you to have all the facts. (Which is why there is so much detial in these posts).

Never Forget…

Every jot and title of the Word that we consume makes us stronger, untouchable, undefeated, and invincible.

It’s the lack of knowledge that makes us fragile, vulnerable and weak.

That being said, the questions that arise over which tribe led the children of Israel out of Egypt – (as points of contention)we do need to know or have an understanding of who was placed at the head of the camp and why.

Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding of the scriptures is our strength. While some prefer disputes and may advocate confusion or consider these details trivial, I remind us all that, all scripture is profitable….(2 Tim 3:16).

We are not learning for our own self gratification….It may start there.. but it’s not just about us!

When the teachers and leaders in the ministry tire of the details, we leave the people open to attack and absolutely defenseless. The people have questions, and we need to be ready to provide as many infallible proofs as possible, through scripture itself, of what the Word has revealed. So that, they can decide for themselves what they believe and why?

In order to evaluate matters like this, we can apply some biblical reasoning to our questions.

How the children of Israel marched out of Egypt, the route they took, the nations they passed along the way, who attacked, who did not, how the attack came, how they defended themselves, each piece of information is critically important to how we prevent, protect and defend ourselves spiritually to this very day.

What they lived out physically and spiritually, we live out both spiritually and physically. (Notice how I phrased that).

CONTINUED N PART 3

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Strengthening the Weak Hands is a Priority: Isaiah 35:3-5, Job 4:3-4, Zeph 3:16, Heb 12:12

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV

Photos by:

  • Olivia Snow, Praying Hands Folded on Lap
    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, Judeo-Christian Teachings

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,

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Elul, Judeo-Christian Teachings

Elul… Pray like David Prayed

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David, son of Jesse, Descendant of Abraham, Psalmist, Musician, Shepherd, Mighty Man of Valor, Builder, Master Torah Scholar, Prophetic Prayer Savant, Renaissance Man of Repentance and Obedience to GOD, Revolutionary Praise and Worship Warrior, King of Israel and Judah… Chosen of GOD…

That’s The Pedigree of David.

If we can only learn one thing from the life of David, I strongly recommend that we, “Learn How to Pray like David Prayed!”

I call David a Prophetic Prayer Savant, because he holds the title for prayer in the scripture! David knew how to marshall the forces of Heaven on his behalf, and on behalf of the Children of Israel.

David’s prayers were based on his knowledge and understanding of the Word of GOD. All of his prayers were rooted in the Word, that is what makes them so phenomenal today!

I first learned this for myself when I felt the unction to pray seven Psalms a day, and then pray what I read out loud, over myself, others, the ministry, my Pastor…over all of us.

Amazing things happened.

I will be in prayer (with agreement) that the same happens to everyone who reads and prays these Psalms in faith along with me this Elul.

I am asking GOD to show You Great and Mighty things in the coming New Year, just because of who You are to Him.

May the LORD GOD of Heaven, Greet You During this New Year with Strategies, Remedies, Opportunities and Answers. LORD, Please Adorn them in Garments of Peace and make them Whole. Present them with Miracles Beyond Measure in the Secret Things they have need of, but have yet to ask of You out loud.

Amen

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 7

1  O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute [chase, pursue] me, and deliver me:

2 Lest they [will] tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 39

39  I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  • One of the hardest things we have to do is keep silent before the wicked. However, when we restrain ourselves when provoked, we elevate and strengthen spiritually.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

  • dumb with silence [do-me-yaw] = I controlled my tongue, kept my composure
    • I did not lash out or lash back with my tongue.
  • held my peace [khaw-shaw] = I was still

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

4 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

  • David spoke to GOD about the situation instead trying to defend himself to others, or trying to explain, complain, or win.
  • David transformed the way he handled the pressures imposed upon him by Saul.
  • By today’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube standards of behavior, many who say they follow Christ, are not following Him in this. Many “believers” are lashing out, lashing back, etc.

Psalm 86 

1 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

The above are a few examples of the prayers we can offer to GOD during the month of Elul. Elul is the time to search our hearts, look into our soul, get rid of all angst, all corrosive and corrupting thoughts of the past…

Don’t touch the dead thing…Don’t dig up any dead thing and drag it into your future.

Don’t rehearse the banned battle anymore inside your mind.

No rehashing the past, Let it all go!

Forgive and Repent.

…and may All GOD’s Goodness and Mercy follow you, overtake you, prepare the way for you and yours, into the New Year!

Amen.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer for Elul:

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV

Elul, Judeo-Christian Teachings

Elul, Justice Shall You Pursue…

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“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, Hebrew Scriptures, Judeo-Christian Teachings, PREP FOR Rosh Hashanna

Elul… May GOD Find You Praying, like David Prayed…

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NOW IS THE SEASON….

ROSH CHODESH ELUL— THE MONTH OF THE SEARCH

THE 1ST OF ELUL, 5781. ~ AUGUST 20, 2020

29 DAYS TO EXAMINE YOUR HEART….

SET YOURSELF UP FOR BLESSINGS!

GOD asks in His Word, that we proclaim His Feast in their Seasons. When we are obedient to this request we set ourselves under the Biblical Calendar and the cyclical nature of Supernatiural Seasons of GOD.

The Feasts are given to us as our personal and prophetic moedim (moe-eh-deem) ; Our personal & prophetic appointments with GOD. The modem translates into English as “The Feasts.” GOD takes personal possession of these days, which are separated and consecrated by GOD, just for You!

It was ALWAYS All About You!

GOD has dedicated and consecrated time, set aside just for you!

When we are faithful to proclaim His Seasons, we declare all honor, glory, power, might and reverance for GOD, faith and trust… believing that, “What GOD did then, He will do once again.”

Observing the Feast of God, which were designed with you in mind, sends a message to GOD that you are all about Him! And that the appointment time that He has set aside for you, you are decreeing and declaring….”I will be there!”

Leviticus 23: 

GOD asks us to proclaim His Seasons, FOREVER, Throughout our Generations… (not just in the “Old Testament times”. Throughout your generations… means an eternal consecration. Every generation is invited and we should want to be there.

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

GOD’S NEW YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING!

The prayers we offer during the month of Elul (when we search our own hearts) prepares us for GOD’s New Year -Rosh Hashanah, (September 19, 2020) Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (September 28, 2020) and the Feast of Tabernacles (October 3 & 4, 2020).

As you just saw, GOD asks that we “proclaim” His Seasons. They were set aside by GOD for us, to draw closer to us as we draw closer to Him.

After GOD intiiated the Biblical Calendar with Nisan, “Let this be the beginning of months to you”, He continued…

Leviticus 23:

23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month [Rosh Hashanah], shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement [Yom Kippur]: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.

37 These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.

Again, GOD asks us to proclaim His Seasons, FOREVER, Throughout our Generations…

  • On the 1st, 10th and 15th of the 7th Month – The Hebrew Month called Tishri
    • Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles

Praying the Psalms can help you jumpstart the search into you own soul…You will be Praying like David Prayed!

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 7

1  O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute [chase, pursue] me, and deliver me:

2 Lest they [will] tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 39

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  • One of the hardest things we have to do is keep silent before the wicked. However, when we restrain ourselves when provoked, we elevate and strengthen spiritually.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

  • dumb with silence [do-me-yaw] = I controlled my tongue, kept my composure
    • I did not lash out or lash back with my tongue.
  • held my peace [khaw-shaw] = I was still

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

4 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

  • David spoke to GOD about the situation instead trying to defend himself to others, or trying to explain, complain, or win.
  • David transformed the way he handled the pressures imposed upon him by Saul.
  • By today’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube standards of behavior, many who say they follow Christ, are not following Him in this. Many “believers” are lashing out, lashing back, etc.

Psalm 86 

1 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

You can pray the above selections of Psalms everyday if you lie, or you can join in praying the Psalms daily- at least 7 a day, from Psalms 1-150 all the way to the end and back again during the month of Elul!

Praying the Psalms truly help you to obtain place of self reflection, ponder the Word of GOD and review your deeds for the year – an much more than that.

GET YOUR FRESH START FOR WHAT GOD DESIRES FOR YOU IN 2021…

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer for Elul: Post from 2019 that remain on time for this season!

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV

Elul, Hebrew studies, Judeo-Christian Teachings

Elul, The Time to Return to GOD…

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teshuvah (repentance) is a VERY BIG word in the Hebrew Language of GOD.

(H7725) shuv (shuve); to turn back or return. teshuv; you shall turn back, you shall return

  • shuv (shuve) in Hebrew means to turn back/return. teshuvah is to return to GOD. teshuvah is a return to your original state of being.

(H8666) teshuvah; a return, an answer

Teshuvah is Transformation.

The Hebrew Letter Hei (H) added to a word takes it to a higher level…

teshuv + the letter hei (H) at the end of the word teshuv; is a return to the revelation of GOD, which is what the letter hei represents (revelation).

Repentance is Returning to the Word of GOD.

By adding our understanding of the meaning of the Hebrew Letters to the words themselves, we can see that the concept of teshuvah can be understood at an even deeper level than ‘repentance‘ alone. Repentance (teshuvah), is returning to GOD’s Word.

We can ask for forgiveness, but without returning to the covenant, i.e., returning to GOD’s Word, without the desire to change, our repentance is incomplete.

Repentance then, is also about self improvement.

I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine…

Elul is spelled aleph (A) lamed (L) vav (V) lamed (L). The aleph is pronounced with an ‘eh’ sound.

The letters “aleph- lamed- vav- lamed” also form the acronym for Ani l‘dodi v‘l’dodi li, (ah-knee luh’doe-dee vuh’luh’doe-dee).  Hebrew for, “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.” Song of Songs 6:3

Solomon is writing on many levels. On one hand, he captures the very essence of the relationship we desire with GOD – unity. One the other he reminds us of how opposite we are from GOD.

Opposites Do Attract!

We are like that couple, that people point to and shake their head and ask, “How on earth did those two get together?” God is eternal, we’re not. God is love, we can be sometimes. GOD is All-Knowing, we’re not, GOD is All-Powerful, we wish we were! GOD loves the humble, we lean towards pride…

GOD sees past who we are today… and looks toward who we have the power to become!

Solomon reveals the very fabric of relationship with GOD is love and devotion, which is to be a reflection of who we are. Being with your bershart (your soulmate), should be like looking into a mirror, we should see a reflection of who we are in their eyes, in their soul.

When you look into the eyes of your beloved, what do you see?

Prayer is like looking into the eyes of GOD and seeing who you are.

Don’t look away.

Teshuvah Repairs The Father Fracture…

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, The LORD our GOD is one”. Deut 6:4

Sin breaks (fractures) our connection with GOD and creates distance that damages our relationship. Repentance restores our spiritual state and connection, making us one with GOD once more.

Repentance Can Not Be Accomplished Without Love.

If repentance is hard for you to do, or for anyone that you are ministering to, remind them that Moses’ prayers for the children of Israel came out of a place of love and compassion. He wanted to see their destiny fulfilled with his whole heart, his whole soul.

What are you prepared to do for your own soul?

Making Eye Contact With GOD.

People have a hard time looking each other in the eyes these days. We look at each other superficially, but we don’t actually see each other. Most often, we avoid the eyes altogether or take micro-glimpses at each other in passing.

In class, I give a very special homework assignment. I have assigned my students the task of looking into the eyes of their wife or husband, fiancé, special someone etc, even their children, to see just how long they can look into each other’s eyes, without looking away.

When is the last time you saw yourself in someone else eyes?

We have even performed this exercise with classmates. This part of the exercise results in students losing focus, laughing or breaking the connection abruptly. It’s a difficult process.

When Was the Last Time You Saw Your Reflection in Your Lover’s Eyes?

Lovers should be able to look into each other’s eyes and see their own reflection.

Mothers and Fathers should be able to look into their children’s eyes and see their own reflection, and their child should see theirs.

According to my students, this experiment is far more successful, parent to child.

You Can Not Wear a Mask Before GOD in Prayer…

When you love someone, you should be able to see into the window of their soul, nothing hidden, no cheating, no looking away.

Consider the low level of eye contact we actually share with one another in the natural.

I believe this difficulty carries over into the spirit/supernatural because many Christians have a very hard time spending time alone with GOD in prayer or meditation. Prayer is seeking the Face of GOD.

To Look Another Person In Their Eyes, is to Take A Look Into Their Spirit and that places us in a vulnerable position. Very few will be afforded this level of intimacy.

Raising the Level of Intimacy with GOD.

Spiritually speaking, what would the LORD see, if you allowed Him to look deeply into your eyes? Consider what that would feel like. If you allow Him to look, what would He see inside of your soul? What would you see?

Would He find His own reflection within you? His image and likeness?

Setting ourselves before GOD in prayer is allowing Him to look into the window of our soul. It’s giving Him total access to our character, our nature, our very being.

Prayer before GOD requires that we take off our masks, revealing our true self. It’s an act of self discovery and self disclosure. This is why, the type of prayer I am advocating can be so hard to press into.

It’s difficult but not impossible.

The reward? Is that you can honestly say to GOD, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” GOD becomes Elul.

GOD Does Not Pry.

Technically we know as Christians, that GOD has no problem looking into our soul. But don’t forget, GOD is a Gentleman. He is not going to get us in a headlock and force anything on us, He is not going to snoop on us, or ever force us into relationship.

Just because you give me access to your house and leave me there by myself, I assure you, I will not snoop through your closet, or search through all of your belongings, or read all of your mail, just because I have access and I could if I wanted to.

“Therefore if you, being evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him!” Luke 11:13

If I, being a sinner, know how to treat you right and respect you (give you good gifts), in front of you and behind your back, how much more will Our Father in Heaven?…

It’s a character issue.

When we were growing up, wasn’t it always better that we told on ourselves, than have our parents tell us what we did?

It’s not that they didn’t know (most of the time). They just wanted to see if we would come forth on our own. It’s a character issue.

Prayer is like a free will offering, an offering made out of love and heart felt devotion.

GOD is waiting on us to Communicate in Prayer.

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:

Since the beginning of these posts for the month of Elul, I have spoken about prayer extensively, because prayer is the source of your strength. It is the secret of your strength. Even as I write these post, I am praying for you and everyone you transmit this teaching to, to understand that if we take this opportunity during the month of Elul to build or rebuild our relationship with GOD, these 30 days can/will set the tone for the next 11 months.

You will take wisdom into 2020 (The 1st of Tishrei) like you have never seen before. These post are like a map of sorts on how to get there. This wisdom and spiritual insight that will be downloaded to you, will come directly from the Heavens. My job is to show you how to access it. The rest is up to you.

Many, many, many years ago, I came across an anecdote that went something like this… It was about a man who had a leak in his basement. He did everything he could to find and stop the leak but it was pointless. Finally, in desperation he called a plumber.

The plumber arrived, went down into the basement, took a hammer and tapped on an overhead pipe. He found the hole and plugged it and presented his bill for $2,000.

The home owner was slightly irritated. “All you did was tap on a pipe and plug a hole and you are charging me $2K. You weren’t even here 5 minutes!”

The plumber said, “I only charged you $5.00 for plugging the leak. It cost $1,995.00 to know where to tap.”

I’m showing you where to tap.

Amen

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, Judeo-Christian Teachings

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

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“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, Judeo-Christian Teachings

Keep Your Next Appointment with GOD… Part 2

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“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.