Category Archives: Scripture

Scripture Studies

“Eat my flesh and drink my blood…” Say what??

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John 6:54, Flesh…blood.  “Eats flesh and drinks my blood”  is not some ribald admonition on the part of Yeshua to involve themselves in cannibalism, as I have heard some biblically naive and ignorant people claim. What did Yeshua really mean when he made this statement?

This phrase, in fact, is merely a Hebrew idiom or metaphor meaning “the whole person” (see Matt 16:17; 1 Cor 15:50; Gal 1:6; Eph 6:12; Heb 2:14). This relates to Moses’ instructions that “man shall not live by bread alone…but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of YHVH” (Deut 8:3). This applies to Yeshua who was that Word of Elohim who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1 and 14).

When one puts their faith in Yeshua (John 6:29 and 5:24), then one must also believe him—that is, not only accept him as the Son of Elohim and one’s Savior, but also follow and Continue reading →

 

Did Yeshua break the Sabbath? Some Christian Bible teachers claim he did…

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John 5:18, [Yeshua]…broke the Sabbath. Allow me to share an interesting and sad, but true story from my life about a false Christian teacher that I went head-to-head with.

Many years ago, I was in a meeting where a Christian Bible teacher was giving a message on the end times. In the middle of his teaching and totally out of context, he quoted this passage from John and claimed that Yeshua broke the Sabbath. There was a rustle in the audience of about 300 people. A little later, he made the same statement again and began to deride the Sabbath. This time there was an audible moan from some in the audience—many of whom were Sabbath keepers. A feeling of being hit in the gut went through me. A little later, he made the same statement again, and continued to bash Sabbath observance. This time, I could hold my peace no longer, and I stood up and challenged him in the middle of the meeting. I told him that to say that Yeshua had broken the Sabbath was to call Yeshua a sinner, and that Yeshua had not broken the Sabbath, but some Jewish legal traditions (or halakhah) pertaining to the Sabbath. The speaker was flustered and had no response, and the host of the meeting decided to take an intermission.

A year later, it was announced that this Bible teacher had suddenly and unexpectedly dropped dead in the pulpit while preaching. One can’t help but wonder if he had come Continue reading →

 

The Tabernacle—A Picture of Man’s Spiritual Transformation

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The Tabernacle and the Deification or Theosis of Man

The Tabernacle of Moses from its front to back represents one’s progression in their spiritual journey starting with their initial salvation leading to the glorification of the physical body and eternal life in YHVH’s eternal spiritual kingdom. This view is from man’s perspective looking into the tabernacle through the front gate.

From YHVH’s view inside the holy of holies above the ark of the covenant in the glory cloud looking outward, the perspective is different. We’ll discus this in a moment.

In the outer court of the tabernacle, all the rituals and furnishings pointed to death, judgment, to washing or cleansing. These prophetically foreshadowed salvation through Yeshua’s atoning death on the cross, with Yeshua being the door to salvation, acceptance of his death on the cross for one’s sins followed by baptism for the remission of sins. In the set-apart (kadosh or holy) place inside the tabernacle, everything pointed to life, light, food, fragrant incense, the fruits and gifts of the Set-Apart Spirit—or life in a spiritual relationship with Elohim subsequent to one’s taking the beginning steps in the salvation process. The outer court speaks of basic salvation for the redeemed believer in Yeshua, while the holy place speaks of spiritual growth and maturity, of moving from spiritual babyhood and growing into spiritual adulthood or maturity. 

To understand this process of growing in spiritual maturity, it is necessary to comprehend the tripartite composition of man. Paul speaks of man being subdivided into three parts—body, soul and spirit (1 Thess 5:23). The tabernacle’s outer court seems to relate more to the physical or bodily realm of the person, while the holy place speaks more of the soul or intellectual, volitional and emotional aspects of man’s inner or psychological makeup. Finally, the holy of holies portrays man approaching YHVH through the realm of a person’s inner personal spirit. 

As one progresses into the tabernacle, it is as if YHVH is drawing a person into an ever deeper relational walk with him starting at the most basic level progressing upward until one is finally communing with YHVH on a Spirit-to-(human personal)-spirit level (in the most holy place). It is the Father’s desire that his children progressively grow until we are communing with him at the highest spiritual level (see John 4:23–24). 

As noted earlier, this forward progression from the tabernacle’s entrance to its innermost room is but one way to view a person’s spiritual progression into the realm of the Spirit of Elohim. From YHVH’s perspective looking from the inside of the tabernacle outward, the view changes. Although one has to enter the tabernacle through the outer gate and then go through various rites and rituals relating to a cleansing process before being allowed into the tabernacle itself, at the same time, we see YHVH starting to work with the person Continue reading →

 

More Instructions on How to Have a Blessed Sabbath

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Exodus 35:2, The seventh day … shall be … a set-apart day. In our journey through the Torah, the subject of the seventh day Sabbath keeps popping up. Why is this? It must be an important subject to YHVH. 

When YHVH said in Exodus 20:8 to “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it set-apart (Heb. kadosh),” he is reminding the Israelites of it so that they won’t forget it! He reminds us again in the verse above to keep the Sabbath set-apart. 

But there’s more. 

With each reminder to keep the Sabbath, he gives additional instructions about how to keep the Sabbath set-part (see Gen 2:2–3; Exod 16:23–30; 20:8–11). 

In this passage, he adds not kindling a fire to the list of requirement for properly keeping the Shabbat. This was not just any kind of fire, but a certain type of fire, as we discuss below. Additionally, keeping the Sabbath was so important to the spiritual welfare of Continue reading →

 

Prayer Points by Dr. Darlene

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The eyes of YHVH are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. (Psalm 34:15)

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

If you have suggestions for additions to this prayer list, please post them in the comments section. Thank you for praying!

  1. Fake News.  It is real.  The most recent and blatant was the accusation made by the actor who claimed to have been beaten up by two conservatives when in fact, he paid people to beat him up to cause division.   A news report this week revealed more than a dozen of these type things that have occurred in just the last month.  This is pure propaganda and is designed to cause discord and to deceive people so that they make decisions based on lies.  We must pray for the TRUTH to be revealed in all situations and for people’s eyes to be opened and for them to have discernment.
  2. Many people have already thrown their hats into the US presidential campaign for 2020.  President Trump has already had campaign rallies.  It is time to REALLY pray about this next election which truly will determine whether the US remains free or goes socialist.
  3. Pray for all widows and orphans and especially those of our fallen military and law enforcement public servants.
  4. Pray for Father to reveal to us what He would have us to do to aid someone who needs help.
  5. I am hearing rumblings of ISIS gaining strength again…..pray against this enemy of our Father’s people.
  6. Pray that President Trump will not be halted by members of the US congress in trying to protect our borders.
  7. Pray for those who for some reason feel they cannot go on…that they would reach for help and FIND it so that they do not chose to take their lives in despair.
  8. Pray for unity among the denominations.  Yeshua said that those not against them were for them!   There were and are differences and some are significant, but the heart of the Father would, I believe, wish for us to find SOME common ground…and love each other.
  9. Pray that history would be taught thoroughly and properly to our youth so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
  10. Although some depend on pharmaceuticals for their existence for some reason or another, and while lowering the prices of prescription meds is a GOOD thing, pray that people would be healed and not NEED these meds and that they would not be dependent on them.  The whole pharmaceutical industry has become a giant entity that could control everyone who depends on it.
  11. Pray for the homeless, and pray that Father would reveal to each of us, someone who genuinely needs a hand out to help them back up.
  12. Pray for President Trump…for protection and good health for him and his family, for wisdom, knowledge, discernment, self control, courage, strength to lead our nation in spite of the opposition against truth and righteousness.
  13. Pray for the spiritual and political opposition…that their eyes would be open to Truth that they might turn to Father and follow His ways.
  14. Pray for the general population… that Father would pour His conviction out upon all and that we would all turn to Him in confession of sin, repentance, and obedience to Elohim.
  15. Pray that the conservatives of America would have the courage and strength to stand up and be active to the goal of protecting our southern border.
  16. Pray for the people who have so far been unable or unwilling to understand the sanctity of life from conception, so that they would reverse their thinking and remove unrighteous laws from the books that allow the murder of innocent babies.
  17. Pray for the people who honestly NEED asylum in America…that they would be shown proper channels, so that our nation could be a help to those truly in need.
  18. Pray for those in charge of voter registration to accomplish a purge of illegal voters, so that our elections would be AMERICAN elections.
  19. Pray for victims of human trafficking…that they would be found and returned and that this practice would be stopped.
  20. Pray for the leaders of “the church” who are whitewashing the Truth and deceiving their congregants.
  21. Pray that our Father’s will be accomplished in all things and that Yeshua would come soon.
  22. Prayer for Israel/Jerusalem, the land and the people.
  23. Our military and law enforcement for safety, and for strength for them and their families  and especially for families of those lost in the line of duty.
  24. Those suffering with unseasonable cold weather conditions, especially the homeless and the poor.
  25. For those addicted…whether alcohol, drugs (prescription AND street), pornography.
 

Blog Scripture Readings for 2-24 Through 3-2-19

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THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Vayakhel — Exodus 35:1 – 38:20
Haftarah — 1 Kings 7:40-50 | 2 Kings 12:1-17; Exodus 30:11-16**
Prophets — 2 Kings 24:1 – 25:30; Isaiah 1:1 – 5:30
Writings — Psalms 131:1 – 137:9
Testimony — John 5:1 – 7:24

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day: one each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

** A different Haftarah is read when it is a special sabbath in Jewish tradition. This week it is Shabbat Shekalim on the traditional calendar. This week’s Haftarah is 2 Kings 12:1-17 with a special reading of Exodus 30:11-16. Otherwise, 1 Kings 7:40-50 would be read.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 2/24/19 through 3/2/19.

 

Moses and Yeshua and the Saints—Prophetic Antetype and Type

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Exodus 34:1–35, Prophetic pictures of Moses’ second ascension of Mount Sinai. Moses’ second ascension of Mount Sinai is a prophetic picture of the saints’ resurrection and glorification at the second coming of Yeshua the Messiah.

According to Jewish tradition, Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the second set of stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments on the first day of the sixth month or 30 days before Yom Teruah, which occurs on the first day of the seventh month. Forty days later on Yom Kippur he descended from the mountain carrying with him the second set of tablets as a sign of YHVH’s forgiveness of the children of Israel after the golden calf incident. This signaled YHVH’s renewed relationship with Israel after they had repented of golden calf worship. 

We know that a biblical Israelite bride, while waiting for her betrothed to arrive from his father’s house, would hear a shout and the sound of the shofar in the distance as her Continue reading →