Chanukah Sameach * Happy Chanukah Day Two

The second day of Chanukah, Kislev 26, starts with the lighting of the second candle of the Chanukiah, the special nine menorah seen below.



Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments which was fulfilled by the Messiach Y'shua, and commanded us to kindle the light of Chanukah in remembrance of the true light that shines within us. We dedicate our temples to you.

The Talmud tells that the Chanukiah was designed to recall the miracle of the eight days during which one day worth of oil burned eight days in the temple. Each candle increasingly creates an ever increasing light, symbolizing our godly resistance to both tyranny and evil.

Today, the light, that shines from within us, gives us an ever increasing resistance to the world and the evil within it. The same way our ancestors resisted assimilation, we are to use the supernatual gift of the Holy Spirit of G-d to resist becoming part of this world.

Traditional Reading: Number 7:18-23

On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, chieftain of Issachar, made his offering. He presented as his offering: one silver bowl weighing 130 shekels and one silver basin of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both filled with choice flour with oil mixed in, for a meal offering; one gold ladle of 10 shekels, filled with incense; one bull of the herd, one ram, and one lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; one goat for a sin offering; and for his sacrifice of well-being: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs. That was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

Messianic Reading: II Corinthians 6:14-17

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Beliala? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.

Shalom

Chanukah Sameach * Happy Chanukah Day One

Today at sundown, as we usher in the Chanukah festival, the Festival of Lights, please remember the historical and Messianic significance.

Historically, we are to celebrate the rededication of the 2nd temple during which the temple menorah burns miraculously for eight days when there was only enough oil for one day.

Messianic, we are to celebrate the yearly rededication the temple of God, which is the Body of Christ, the church. Seven of the candles represent the completeness of G-d's Spirit within us. The eighth light represents a new beginning through the work of the Messiah on the cross, the altar of G-d. We are told that the candles can only be lit with the ninth candle. No other source of ignition is allowed. This ninth candle represents the fact that the lighting of our souls can be lit only by the single light that is within us, that is G-d. The miraculous work that has been done in us was done by G-d alone, not by man, lest anyone should boast.

On this first night, we light the first candle with the middle candle.



Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments which was fulfilled by the Messiach Y'shua, and commanded us to kindle the light of Chanukah in remembrance of the true light that shines within us.

Recommended Readings Comes from Numbers 6:22-27, 7:1-17 and the book of John.

The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and protect you! The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you!The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!Thus they shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

On the day that Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, as well as the altar and its utensils. When he had anointed and consecrated them, the chieftains of Israel, the heads of ancestral houses, namely, the chieftains of the tribes, those who were in charge of enrollment, drew near and brought their offering before the Lord: six draught carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two chieftains and an ox for each one.
When they had brought them before the Tabernacle, the Lord said to Moses: 5 Accept these from them for use in the service of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the Levites according to their respective services.

Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two carts and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites, as required for their service, and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the Merarites, as required for their service—under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. But to the Kohathites he did not give any; since theirs was the service of the [most] sacred objects, their porterage was by shoulder.

The chieftains also brought the dedication offering for the altar upon its being anointed. As the chieftains were presenting their offerings before the altar, the Lord said to Moses: Let them present their offerings for the dedication of the altar, one chieftain each day.

The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah. His offering: one silver bowl weighing 130 shekels and one silver basin of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both filled with choice flour with oil mixed in, for a meal offering; one gold ladle of 10 shekels, filled with incense; one bull of the herd, one ram, and one lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; one goat for a sin offering; and for his sacrifice of well-being: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs. That was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

John 9:1-7

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

John 10:22-29

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication,(Chanukah) and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand.

Shalom

Language of the Kingdom

I am often asked, "Is there going to be one tongue or language used in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

Answer: Absolutely.

It is the same language that G-d uses within the scriptures and that is Hebrew.

Why? Hebrews 13:8.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

We all know what John chapter one tells us....that Y'shua is the Word of G-d. You also know me by now that I take every word literally. With that said, Can I not say, "The Word of G-d never changes." and "The language of G-d never changes." and be correct?

What about the other translations? Yes, it is good that we have many translations of the Bible. However, the KJV, NIV, ASB... are all beginner books. To know and fully understand G-ds Word, we must learn his language and dig into the Word of G-d and be totally immersed. We must become "echad" one with the Word of G-d.

Let me ask you a few questions. To settle a disagreement within these translations, where do we go????? To the original Hebrew text!!!! What about the B'rit Chadashah, the New Testament? Isn't it in Greek? Yes. However, what do the New Testament writers and Jesus reference? The original Hebrew text!!!! Y'shua did not have the Greek B'rit Chadashah on the road to Emmaus. No...he referenced the Tanakh, the original Hebrew text.

Now, getting back to the original question. Is there going to be one language in the Kingdom of Heaven? Isn't G-d's Word the same today, yesterday and forever? If you answered yes to both of these question, then what do you think it will be?

Finally, is it hard to learn a new language? Yes. However, isn't your relationship with G-d worth it?

Shalom Aleichem

Who Are The Children Of G-d?

In continuation of the last post, Who are the Children of G-d? Quite simply they are believers that:

-Believe in the one and only G-d, creator of Heaven, Earth and all that is within, whose name is Y'hoshua(Jesus), Yahhahveh, Yahweh
-Believe that our G-d provided himself as the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins.
-Attempt to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and repent when they fall short of G-ds expectations.
-Follow G-d's Law, not for salvation, but for relational purposes.

Most people have no problem with the first three, but balk at the last. However, what did Y'shua say in Matthew 5:17-18.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."

and Paul in Romans 13:8.

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another fulfills the law."

You and I fulfill the Law through the Messiah. Otherwise, let us obey the unfulfilled parts of the Law, including the Feasts.

Even Paul tells us to celebrate the feasts in II Corinthians 5:7-8.

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

We attempt to obey the unfulfilled parts of the Law in order to draw closer to G-d. We don't follow the ways of the world but the ways of G-d.

As asked in the last blog entry, Children of G-d....Are you out there?

Shalom!

Where Are All The Children of G-d?

Recently, due to changes to the "hierarchy"[sic] of our church, Karrin and I had began a search for another group of believers, with which to worship on the sabbath. As we search, one thing continually came to the forefront. Where are the true believers, the B'nai Elohim, the Chidren of G-d, the Bridegroom of the Messiah.

As you read this, please understand that I do not put myself into an elite group. No, I am just a child of G-d desparately looking for true believers with which to commune. It is harder and harder to find them. Not to say that all that is within our small little congregation are not true believers, but it amazes me how many continue to follow traditional and false teachings because of a charasmatic individual or individuals.

At this point, most people will say, "Is really possible to understand the whole Word of G-d?". The answer is yes. The real questions are, "Are we willing to submit ourselves to the leading of the Spirit?" or "Are we lazy and let others tell us what G-ds Word says?". The latter is 2nd hand knowledge of your savior, not the true relationship our G-d wants with us.

This leads me back to the original question, "Where are the children of G-d?". Are we in the midst of what the Bible calls the "Great Falling Away" in II Thessalonians 2:3?

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first..."

So then, who are the true B'nai Elohim. Are you out there? I would love to talk to you.

Love,

A brother in the Messiah.

Shana Tova

Shana Tova,

I hope the new year has found everyone in good physical and spiritual health. We are in the ten days of awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Remember, Rosh Hashanah coincides with the Feast of Trumpets. Since the spring feasts and Shavu'ot were prophetic, the hope is that the fall feasts are prophetic also. That is my hope and understanding.

If they are prophetic, will the rapture of the true body of the Meshiach be, as Paul says, at the last trump. If so, then this surely points to Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of Trumpets as the best possible future date of the rapture. My hope is that it can be any day, as we don't know the true day of his coming. However, we are told to recognize the signs of the times.

The purpose of Yom Kippur is to bring about reconciliation between us and other individuals and G-d. According to Jewish tradition, it is also the day when God decides the fate of each human being. Could this coincide with the future throne judgement. That is why I often say to my friends and family upon saying goodbye, "I'll meet you at the southern gate". Why the southern gate? Because the judgment throne of God will sit at the western gate. Those that belong to G-d will be at his right side, the southern gate.

Prophetic or not, we should use these days to recognize and become familiar with the plan of G-d and how we fit into it. Shun the ways of man and cling to the one and only G-d.

Shalom and I will see you, the b'nai Elohim, at the southern gate.

Talk With Me not To Me

Have you been with people who ramble on and on in their prayer?

Have you notice that some fill in any pauses with Father, God, Lord, Father_God. etc.?

Their ramblings are full of nice standard phrases and accepted varying tones like Robert Schuller or monotone without any nuances whatsoever. Let me stop and say that I'm not saying that these people are not saved or believers. They are just stuck in a rut.

G-d does not want you to talk at him but he wants you to talk with him. He loves to hear his Word used in your prayer but he doesn't want you preaching at him. Record yourselves sometimes, you'll be surprised.

I know. I have wrote about this before, about a year ago.

But it is a big pet peeve of G-ds. Sometimes, you can hear him say "Shut Up Already...Aren't going to let me get a word in?"

Let me finish by saying that G-d loves to listen. But he wants you to take a chill pill, relax and listen to what he has to say sometimes. You never know....you may learn something or at least hear him say, "I Love You" and "I'll be back soon."

Shalom

God, Help My Doggie Find Her Way Home

Last week, my son in law, Brandon, put one of his family dogs out in the backyard in order to stretch her legs. Her name is Bella. Yes, her name is a direct result of the "Twilight" phenomena. But don't blame Brandon, it was my daughter, Angela, who chose the name. But I digress.

Brandon went back in the house to lay down for a few minutes. And before he knew it, Bella, who is a great jumper, jumped the fence and was on her way down the creek. Knowing her, she was happily on her way to a great adventure.

Bella, running away, adversely effected the family. Brandon was down and out, Angela was in tears at the mention of Bellas name and Madison kept saying, "where's Bella?". Madison is my three year old granddaughter. OK...she's actually two until September 18th. They spent the week in this condition, while they searched the surrounding area for Bella.

As a side note, my eldest daughter, Stephanie actually helped with the search. You are going to have to take my word for it that Stephanie getting out in the heat of the summer and searching for a dog is a miracle in itself and a testimony of her love for animals.

Anyway, this is the way it continued until my beautiful granddaughter asked the one and only person that could really help, and that is God. Last night, she kneelled down at her bed like she has been lead to by her mom and dad since the early age of one. :-)

Out of the blue, Madison ends her prayer with, "...and God, help my doggie find her way home." If that doesn't bring you to tears, nothing will.

Well, I just received a phone call from my wife, Karrin, saying that Brandon just got a call from an animal shelter concerning Bella. Bella was found this morning and could be picked up at any time.

Coincidence?????? I Don't Think So.

Isn't God amazing?

Sometimes, we need the children to bring us back to the child-like faith that we need to truly see God.

Thank You God. And Thank You Madison.

Madison, God Loves You and So Do I.

BTW. Here's Madison and Bella.



Shalom My Friends

The Heavens Declare Thy Existence

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

Recent cosmic discoveries are boggling the minds of secular science. Imagine that. Not to sound flippant, but they just need to put on the glasses in order to perceive reality....their "Christ Colored" glasses that is.

Beginning approximately 30 years ago, scientists began to notice that there was far more matter in the universe than the matter we can see. As a matter of fact, :-), the matter that we see only makes up approximately 20% of the total matter, while 80% was what is now known as Dark Matter. Dark, because they see evidence of it but can not actually see it.

As we come forward in time, they now know that Dark Matter is the force responsible for holding all visible matter together. Isn't that what Colossians 1:17 says, speaking of G-d:

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

In 2008, scientists revealed evidence of another force called, "Dark Energy". This energy is actually trying to tear us apart. Imagine that. Again, that is what G-ds Word says in I Peter 5:8.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may tear apart:"

Can science now actually see the evidence of the cosmic battle between good and evil?

Or could it be just coincidence?

What do I believe? I rely on the old Jewish saying.....

"Coincidence Is Not A Kosher Word"

May the Lord keep you safe from the devouring lion.

Shalom Tov,
Keith

Pesach Part Eight

We finally come to the fourth and final cup of the ceremonial Seder meal. This cup is the same cup that is documented in Matthew: 26:29.

"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

This truly exciting because the final cup is called, "The Cup Of The Taking Out." We are to lift this cup and recite the promise G-d gives us and gave the Jewish people in Exodus 6:7.

"And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

My friends, we are to look forward to the day in which there will be a great feast in heaven after the Messiah comes and take us home as his bride and drink the fourth and final cup.

This is documented in Revelation 19:7-9.

"Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.) And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God."

Shabbat Shalom

Here Is Your King

This is one of those opportunities that I got to preach at our church. I hope you enjoy.

For the the sermon, click here:
Sermon

If you want to view the presentation click here:
Presentation

Shabbat Shalom

Pesach Part Seven

After the third cup, the three matzah are displayed. They are representative of G-ds Redemptive plan for his people otherwise known as the Tanahk, the scriptures, the Old Testament. The first matzah is the Torah, the first five books of the bible, second is the Nevi'im, the prophets and the third is the Ketuvim, the writings. It is written that the Torah, Nevi'im and the Ketuvim always point to the G-d.

We are also told to break the middle piece, Nevi’im in two. The first piece of these two matzah is the Afrikomen, which is wrapped in a cloth and hidden away. This will be search for by the children on the Shabbat following the Shabbat after Pesach, which is the Feast of First Fruits. This represents the gift of freedom and salvation for future generations and the promise of the Messiah.

The second piece is then held up and presented as the substitute for the lamb of God. The leader says, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away our sins." We normally break the matzah and pass it around for everyone to eat.

I tried my best to describe this section of the ceremony without any comment. However, you can't go through this part without getting goosebumps. It doesn't need any comment. But I will from here to the end.

During the ceremonial seder meal, Matzah, unleaven bread is used in place of the sacrificial lamb. Rabbinical law requires matzah to be without leaven, striped, bruised and pierced. Nothing in any Jewish writing tell us the reason for these requirements except for the “without leaven”. This is to show that the Passover lamb is to be perfect, without sin. However, Isaiah 53 tells us:

“…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was broken for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

We now know that this was to point to the death and resurrection of the future Messiah. The lamb of God would have a two-fold appearance, first to die for and rise in triumph over sin, the second to come in glory as King.

Also, please notice the cloth that holds the three pieces of Matzah. It is called the unity cloth. This is representative of the power of God, the fabric that holds all things together. There are three sections. Can we say the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

The breaking of the Matzah has always sent chills down my spine and tears from my eyes. Chills, because it points to one person, the one who fulfilled the Nevi'im, the prophecies, Y'shua ha Mashiach, Jesus Christ. Tears because of our Jewish brothers and sisters who remain blinded to the Messiah.

However, as Saul (Paul) said in Romans 11:25-26:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved."

Our Judaic brothers and sisters will come to know the Messiah and I rejoice in that future uncovering.

Finally, remember the piece of Nevi'im, which was wrapped up and put away? It is to represent the coming Messiah. It is to be unwrapped on the Shabbat after the Shabbat after Pesach, which is always Sunday, the Feast of First Fruits. It was the third day, Sunday, after his death on the altar of G-d, that Y'shua rose victoriously as King on the Feast of First Fruits.

Isn't G-d amazing? His Word always points to Yeshua, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Pesach Part Six

It's definitely been a busy Pesach season and I'm sorry for not posting very often.

However, with that said, we come to my favorite cup, the second cup, Kos Sheni, the Cup of Judgement. This represents G-ds second "I will" statement. I will judge the Egyptians. It is during this cup, we remember G-ds judgement on Egyptians, which is synonymous with the world and sin.

During this time, we recite the plagues, G-d used to smite the Egyptians for not following G-ds Word.

But before continuing, I would like to remind you of a few verses.

The first verse is John 5:39. This is where Y'shua is telling everyone that when you search the scriptures, you find eternal life and that is testifying of a future Messiah and that is Y'shua, the one and the same that is standing right in front of you.

"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life."

Also,

"Whom will He teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-10).

and Proverbs 25:2

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

These last two verses tell us that G-d hides things for his children to discover and that those jewels are not always on the surface, but hidden from plain view.

Now, let's look at the plagues. As we recite them, notice that the first word is the Hebrew, the second is the English and finally, what the word means.

1. DAWM
BLOOD
LIFE
2. TZ'FARDAYAH
FROGS
IS REQUIRED
3. KANE
LICE
BY WAY OF FASTENING IN A CROSSING MANNER
4. AHRAB
FLIES
GIVEN AS AN EXCHANGE
5. MIKNEH
LIVESTOCK
IN ORDER TO BUY OR PURCHASE OR REDEEM
6. SHEK'CHEEN
BOILS
RISE UP OR THRU FIRE BY WAY OF JUDGEMENT
7. BAWRAWD
HAIL
ROCK FROM HEAVEN
8. ARBEH
LOCUST
INCREASE IN US AN ABUNDANCE
9. KHOSHECK
DARKNESS
THROUGH DEATH
10. MAWVETH B'CHOROT
DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN
THE DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN

As seen in different places throughout the Tanakh, the Old Testament, here we find that we are to recite G-ds judgement upon the world and the salvation of his people. If we put the plagues in sentence form, we find:

Lifeblood is required by way of fastening in a crossing manner and given as an exchange in order to redeem. Rise up Fallen Rock. Increase in us an abundance through death, the death of the Firstborn.

Here, we have the life, death and resurrection of the Messiah as a hidden prophesy, a prophecy that points to none other then Y’shua ha Mashiach, Jesus Christ. In this, we find that the Messiahs death and resurrection is G-ds judgement upon the world and sin. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!He is risen.

Pesach Part Five

The Four Cups of Wine

The four cups of wine represent the four "I wills" of G-d found in Exodus 6:6-8.

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rescue you from your bondage, and I will redeem you with out stretched arms, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be your God: "

The first cup is Kos Rishon - The Cup of Sanctification, also called the Cup of Blessing.

This represents the promise from G-d to initially, Israel, and ultimately to all of us. I will separate you from the world as my children. Some say this is the cup of the calling out. G-d is calling out to his people. If you follow me, I will make you holy and sanctified. He is still calling you out of Egypt which represents the world.

After the Kos Rishon, we have the Urchatz, the ceremonial washing. I really love this one. During this washing, we recite Sh'mot(Exodus)30:17-21

"And the Adonai spoke unto Moshe, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aharon and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the meeting, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations."

Notice why the priests must wash....so "they die not", be able to "come near to the altar to minister" and worship.

Let's step back and look at the washing. First, the laver of brass symbolizes judgement. The laver was made of brazen mirrors to allow reflection. The water represents the Word of G-d. The laver is to be anointed with oil which represents that which is made holy by G-d. Finally, the feet represent our walk which will be judged according to the walk of Y'shua.

All together, this laver represents the need to wash daily in the Word in order to reflect that which is made holy by G-d through that which was judged by G-d. I'm sorry but there is only one that has fulfilled this laver and that is the one and only B'nai Elohim, the son of G-d, Yeshua ha Mashiach.

We must continually immerse ourselves in the Word of God and walk with G-d in order to be able to come to the alter of G-d, to minister unto others and properly worship our G-d. Only by doing this, we can see the true saved individual whose sin was judged and made holy by G-d.

Shalom

Pesach Part Four

Brechat Haner (Kindling of The Candles)

At the beginning of the Seder, the lady of the house lights the candles. The lady of the house always begins the Seder by lighting the candles. According to Rabbinical law, the woman is responsible for putting out the lights in the first place. Therefore, only a woman can turn them on again.

This is a reference to the fact that through Eve, sin was introduced into the world. I find it interesting that Rabbinical law states that only through a woman can sin be ushered out of the world.

In fact, that is exactly how it happened. Through a virgin woman, the mother of Y'shua, Mary, the Messiah was brought into this world. It was through the Messiah, sin was overcome.

I amazes me that my Jewish brothers don't see that this part of the Seder was prophetic and only one candidate has fulfilled it. That is Y'shua, the Messiah, and not only the savior of the world, but the Jewish race.

Beruch habah, Y'shua, b'shem Adonai.

Blessed is he, Y'shua, who comes in the name of the Lord.

Shabbat Shalom

Pesach Part Three

Prior to Pesach, we are to search out and clean our houses of all leaven. During the searching part, we are to use a candle as our only light. When leaven is found, a feather is used to brush it onto a wooden spoon and placed into a cloth bag. This is done three times or on three consecutive days.

On the morning of the third day, the leaven, bag, feather and wooden spoon is set on fire and consumed completely by the fire. The father is to look to heaven and says, "Heaven Father and my G-d, the purging of leaven from our home is finished. Our home is now ready for your presence."

The symbolism here is so fantastic.

The candle that shines light upon the sin in our lives is symbolic of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, G-ds Holy Spirit.

The feather represents the faithfulness of Y'shua to place himself upon the altar of G-d, the cross, which is represented by the wooden spoon.

The leaven is symbolic of our Meshiach, the Messiah, Y'shua, Jesus Christ who was made sin for us.

The bag respresents the burial cave of the Messiah.

The fire is symbolic of G-ds judgement of our sin on the cross.

Let's step back and look at the ceremony another time.

The candle, G-ds Holy Spirit, convicts us and reveals, the leaven, our sin to us. The feather, which is our faith, and the faithfulness of Y'shua that puts our sin up on the altar of G-d, the cross, the spoon. Our sin upon Y'shua was put into the grave, the bag, for three days. At that time, our sin is judged, symbolized by the fire. It is the three days that sets this apart from all other religions in the world. Because after three days, the Messiah rises from the grave, leaving our sin judged. We are now free to say to the father, "We, our tabernacles, are now ready for the presence of G-d, his Holy Spirit."

Here in the opening ceremony of Pesach, Passover, we have a model of the main elements of G-ds redemptive plan.

My prayer is that our Jewish brothers and sisters eyes will be open to the model of G-ds plan of salvation, given to us to celebrate every year.

Pesach Part Two

"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:17)

We are to celebrate this festival forever. Yes, it is the law. However, we don't do it out of obligation to the law but out of desire to do his will. By living through this celebration, we become intimate with G-d and his plan of salvation. We, as Christians, need to become one with G-d. Celebrating his feasts is instrumental in getting to know your bridegroom.

Tomorrow, we start with the Bedikat Hametz.

Ba-rukh A-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hey-nu Me-lekh ha-'o-lam a-sher kid-sha-nu B'-mi-tzvo-tav v'-tzi-va-nu l'-had-lik ner shel (shabbat) yom tov.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Festival lights. Amen.

Pesach Part One

Over the next few weeks, we will delve into one of the most important festivals that revealed G-ds plan of salvation for all mankind. That festival is none other that Pesach, known as Passover. Pesach celebrates the fact that G-d provides a way to save his people through the death of the first born and an innocent and unblemished lamb. I hope you will join me in exploring the elements of Pesach and, without any biased commentary, see how this festival points to the first born, innocent and unblemished lamb of G-d, Y'shua Ha Mashiach, Jesus, the Messiah.

Shalom Aleichem

Happy Birthday Y'shua. Part Six

It has been 27 weeks from the discourse of Abiyah, the conception of John, to Chanukah, the conception of Yeshua. That leaves 14 weeks to Johns birth, which was at Pasach, Passover, the 14th of Nisan, first month of the Hebrew religous year. That leaves six more months to Yeshua's birth which would have occured during the seventh month, the month of Tishri. If John was born on 14th of Nisan, then Yeshua would have been born the 15th of Tishri, which would have been the first day of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).

It's interesting to note that all of Israel are to build temporary dwellings called a sukkah and dwell in them [Leviticus 23:34-43]. These sukkahs were erected to house families with some bare comforts and food for the eight days. Food was placed in a stall or a crib for storage in this sukkah or tabernacle. Does that not sound like the nativity story found in the B'rit Hadashah. Yeshua was not born in a manger, but rather in a temporary tabernacle which had been built for the celebration. He was placed in a food stall or crib. This is most fitting, because this models what Yeshua is to all of us. He is the Bread of Life from heaven.

In conclusion, the date of Yeshuas birth was the 15th of Tishri, 6-7 BC, not the 25th of December. Why not celebrate the true birthdate of Y'shua this year on September 23-29, 2010? Please prayerfully consider this information and let the Holy Spirit guide you into the truth. There is a reason why G-d commands us to continually celebrate his feasts. This is because, just as the stars in the heavens revealed the glory of God, so does the feast revealed the salvation plan of G-d and points to the Messiah of all mankind, our Lord and Savior, Yeshua.

Happy Birthday Y'shua. Part Five

During the sixth month of Elisheva' s, Elizabeth, pregnancy Gavri-El, Gabriel, came to Mariam, Mary. Gavri-El told Mariam that Elizabeth was six months pregnant. This was six months after the priestly course of Abia which puts us at the end of the month Kislev. This would have been the time of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, the rededication of the Temple.

Mariam is also told that she would be a vessel for the Messiah. This is confirmed when Mariam goes to Natseret, Nazareth, to the home of Elisheva and Zachar'yah a few days after Gavri-El announcement. I find it exciting that it's a three day trip to Elisheva. Can we say, "on the third day"?

Upon her arrival, John leaps for joy within Elisheva's, Elizabeth, womb. Elizabeth also, upon hearing Mariams voice, is filled with G-ds Holy Spirit. She says, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

Therefore, on the third day, following Gabriels announcement to Mariam, Yeshua was in her womb. Yeshua was conceived at Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. It's only appropriate since He is the Light of the World, and he is responsible for the rededication of the present day temple of G-d, that is you and me.

You can read this account in Luke 1:26-55.

Happy Birthday Y'shua. Part Four

To establish the birth month of Yeshua, we have to first look at the birth of Yochanan, John, the baptist which begins with his conception.

In Luke 1:5-25, the angel, Gavri-El Gabriel, appeared to Zachar'yah, Zacharias as he was performing his duties in the Temple. This was during the priestly course of Abiyah,Abia. This course of priests ministered in the Temple the eighth week of the Hebrew year as dictated by King David in 1 Chronicles 24:10. This is also backed up and documented in both the Talmud and the Mishnah.

The eighth week runs its course during the last week of the second Hebrew month of Iyar and the first week of the third Hebrew month of Sivan, ending at Shavuot, Pentecost. This is our starting point to establish the month of our Messiahs birth.

The angel indicated that Zachar'yahs prayer had been answered, not going to be answered. This puts the conception of Yochanan, John the Baptist, very near the time of Shavuot, the Feast of Pentecost, in the second week of the month of Sivan, the third Hebrew month. Pentecost or Shavuot is approximately May-June time period.

We'll finish this up over the next few days with Yochanans and Yeshuas birth.