Over the years as a member of a United Methodist Church this is the time of the year when they begin their Stewardship campaign in order to set up their budget for the New Year, based on what has been pledged. I am sure in most Christian Churches not only do they take a weekly offering, but try to obtain pledges from there members to gain a better understand of the funds they will have available to help themselves increase how they can better get there message out to not only their members but to bring entice new people to join.
There is one interesting thing to note here for some reason Churches pay their Pastors large sums of money to either entice them to be part of their Church or to keep them there. It is all very confusing to us as to why some Churches pay their Senior Pastor up wards of $150,000.00 plus a year while others may only receive $30,000.00 a year. Let us not forget that not only do they receive such large amounts of money the church also pays for their housing, utilities for their home, travel expenses and many more perks.
So what is the big deal, whom are they doing this for? Are they in the business for God it sure doesn’t seem like it to us, it sure looks like the Levites and the Priests in the Temple? The ones who benefited financially from the requirements to bring an offering for their sins, those who would go out and collect animal that were free and brought them to the temple said a blessing over them and sold them as something that was pleasing to the Lord, like God could care less where the offering came form.
I for one would love to just have my housing, utilities and transportation costs paid with enough to just be able to take my wife out or go on a vacation once in a while. I had a discussion with a former Pastor of mine who believed he could understand what I was going though with our financial circumstances, Then I preceded to ask him how, he received a good salary, had a home he wasn’t getting evicted from or had to worry if the electric or gas would be cut off. No I think not like some Pastors they try to help you walk in your faith, yet refuse to practice what they preach. I for one feel if you are going to be preaching to me then you better be walking the walk so to speak.
Not to be one way in just condemning Christians for there actions I also contacted several Jewish friends to see what the Synagogues are asking of their members in order to help provide for there continued service to the local community. What the responses where varied on the community most required a fee for seating during the High Holy Days as well as membership dues. Some just require dues, which cover everything.
Those we would like to commend for there actions are the ones who ask for nothing. Those who rely on the Lord to provide for there needs, every so often I listen to Pastor Richard Ellis, of the Reunion Church in Dallas TX. One message that really stuck in my mind was when he is asked about building a permit building to house his Church he refuses to. See Richards Church is held at the Dallas Convention Center Theater they have no permit building. According to Pastor Ellis this enables them to provide for the needs of the community by not having any overhead costs associated with a church building. I often wonder how many people could be helped if more churches would take up Richards view.
For the Jewish community I would say that there view for a need for a Building is to House the Ark, which houses the Torah scrolls. To them it is important to have a permanent building for this purpose.
What upsets us the most is much like many of our Christian and Jewish Communities today for some unknown reason they keep building these large and wonderfully expensive Buildings. The people who are directing these measures are those that are trying to bring in the people and there money, by offering there members such amenities as a Starbucks or a McDonalds right in there buildings.
So where are we going with all of this? How did we go from a big tent (Tabernacle) in the desert and in Israel to these big Million Dollar places of Worship? Who are the buildings for?
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
What do we Sacrifice for Adonai (The Lord God Most High)?
During our preparation for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur, we spent time having discussions about the place of the Tribe of Levi during these holidays.
So what is the connection in all off this you might ask? In order to see the connection we first take a look into the book of Genesis 34 &49:5-7. In this we see Shimon and Levi go after the man who raped their sister. After the young man his Father and their followers became circumcised thus complying with the agreement with Jacob. They did this in order to share their women. Shimon and Levi then go into the city and killed every man took all their possessions, the women, children and all of there animals. Jacob becoming enraged with them sought the will of the Lord and was given directions to pack everything he owned and move to the place where he fought with the Lord. As we look into Genesis 49:5-7 we see on Jacobs death bed that he promised Shimon and Levi that there children shall be scattered throughout the people of Israel.
Ok moving forward several generations we see Adonai pulling out one of the Son’s of Levi and choosing him to lead his people out of bondage and at that time create the people of Israel. At this point God requires Moses to count all the people by family, after this count is complete God tells him that instead of taking the first born from each family he will take the Levites in their place. Thus fulfilling Jacob’s words, that the Son’s of Levi will be scattered through out the land of Israel.
This past week a good friend reminded me of the Story about the little girl who sees a string of costume Pearls in the store and she does extra chores in order to make enough money to buy those fake Pearls. Every night when she would say her prayers with her Father he would ask her if he could have those Pearls. They were the thing she most wanted to hold on to in this world. Then one night while she was praying with her Father again he asked for those Pearls. This time she gave in and handed those fake Pearls up, and to her Father, who then returned to her a real set of Pearls.
The point in using this story is this, the Son’s of Levi were never given a chance to turn over there Pearls to Adonai, he had chosen them to replace all the first born of Israel to serve Adonai, by not only caring for his Temple, but all of the People of Israel. The Levites were to be in servitude to Adonai and all the people of Israel from the age of 25-50 then sever as teachers without physical labors. So where does that leave the people of Israel? Well let us address that for a minute. According to the Torah, the Levites were not allowed to possess any Land or holdings of their own. How this worked and this is our understanding that the Levites were given land to live on and care for. These lands in each of the Tribal communities were strictly for the use of the Levities. This was in a sense payment for their servitude to that community. If a Levite went from one community to another he took only his personal possessions, at the new community he would then be given a share of the Levities possessions of that community. This was Adonai’s way of providing for this servitude for which they had been chosen, not asked or given the choice, but required.
Today Christians Theologians based on the teachings of Paul try to explain and teach that it is every persons responsibility to share to good news and to minister to those in need. Why do they continue to use the Torah and Cultural Jewish Teachings, but refuse to speak up that these are the teachings of Jewish culture and of Jesus himself? His teaching’s strictly comes from the Torah and not the New Testament. What Jesus teaches of in the New Testament is directly from the Laws as given by Moses although in some cases he makes greater restrictions on certain Laws.
The fake Pearls in this story represent the things of this physical world in which we choose to hold on to our fear, anxieties anything we refuse to turn over to Adonai. To us they also represent the way today’s Christian Theologians teach their flocks. So maybe it is time for you to give up the fake pearls and open your eyes to the true teaching of Jesus the Jewish Messiah, realizing that every single time Jesus used the term “it is written or the scriptures’ say”, he was referring strictly to the Torah.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
So what is the connection in all off this you might ask? In order to see the connection we first take a look into the book of Genesis 34 &49:5-7. In this we see Shimon and Levi go after the man who raped their sister. After the young man his Father and their followers became circumcised thus complying with the agreement with Jacob. They did this in order to share their women. Shimon and Levi then go into the city and killed every man took all their possessions, the women, children and all of there animals. Jacob becoming enraged with them sought the will of the Lord and was given directions to pack everything he owned and move to the place where he fought with the Lord. As we look into Genesis 49:5-7 we see on Jacobs death bed that he promised Shimon and Levi that there children shall be scattered throughout the people of Israel.
Ok moving forward several generations we see Adonai pulling out one of the Son’s of Levi and choosing him to lead his people out of bondage and at that time create the people of Israel. At this point God requires Moses to count all the people by family, after this count is complete God tells him that instead of taking the first born from each family he will take the Levites in their place. Thus fulfilling Jacob’s words, that the Son’s of Levi will be scattered through out the land of Israel.
This past week a good friend reminded me of the Story about the little girl who sees a string of costume Pearls in the store and she does extra chores in order to make enough money to buy those fake Pearls. Every night when she would say her prayers with her Father he would ask her if he could have those Pearls. They were the thing she most wanted to hold on to in this world. Then one night while she was praying with her Father again he asked for those Pearls. This time she gave in and handed those fake Pearls up, and to her Father, who then returned to her a real set of Pearls.
The point in using this story is this, the Son’s of Levi were never given a chance to turn over there Pearls to Adonai, he had chosen them to replace all the first born of Israel to serve Adonai, by not only caring for his Temple, but all of the People of Israel. The Levites were to be in servitude to Adonai and all the people of Israel from the age of 25-50 then sever as teachers without physical labors. So where does that leave the people of Israel? Well let us address that for a minute. According to the Torah, the Levites were not allowed to possess any Land or holdings of their own. How this worked and this is our understanding that the Levites were given land to live on and care for. These lands in each of the Tribal communities were strictly for the use of the Levities. This was in a sense payment for their servitude to that community. If a Levite went from one community to another he took only his personal possessions, at the new community he would then be given a share of the Levities possessions of that community. This was Adonai’s way of providing for this servitude for which they had been chosen, not asked or given the choice, but required.
Today Christians Theologians based on the teachings of Paul try to explain and teach that it is every persons responsibility to share to good news and to minister to those in need. Why do they continue to use the Torah and Cultural Jewish Teachings, but refuse to speak up that these are the teachings of Jewish culture and of Jesus himself? His teaching’s strictly comes from the Torah and not the New Testament. What Jesus teaches of in the New Testament is directly from the Laws as given by Moses although in some cases he makes greater restrictions on certain Laws.
The fake Pearls in this story represent the things of this physical world in which we choose to hold on to our fear, anxieties anything we refuse to turn over to Adonai. To us they also represent the way today’s Christian Theologians teach their flocks. So maybe it is time for you to give up the fake pearls and open your eyes to the true teaching of Jesus the Jewish Messiah, realizing that every single time Jesus used the term “it is written or the scriptures’ say”, he was referring strictly to the Torah.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
Sunday, September 27, 2009
To all my Christian friends
Today is the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. A day when the people of Israel give thanks to Adonai and ask for forgiveness for their sins committed the year before. A day directed in Torah that the High Priest may enter the inner chamber of the Tabernacle to perform the offering before Adonai. The day that we ask Adonai to write us in the lamb’s book of life for one more year. It is expressed that this is the day Moses returned to the people of Israel with the second set of Tablets.
For those who accept Jesus as the Messiah it is important to understand the concept that he has take the place of the High Priest as the intercessor on our behalf. He is the one who is allowed to stand in the inner chamber of the tabernacle to seek forgiveness for our sins. It is a day when we are to rest and be in prayer to Adonai the Father Almighty. This is a day Jesus would have held in strict observance.
When I saw this today I felt the desire to share this custom and see if you can fit this into your life in Christ. There is a ceremony called Kaparot performed by some sects of Jewish believers.
In the early morning hours of the day preceding Yom Kippur, the Kaparot ("Atonement") ceremony is performed. We take a live chicken (a rooster for a male and a hen for a female) and, circling it three times above our heads, we declare: "This is my replacement, this is my exchange, this is my atonement; this fowl shall go to its death, and I shall go to a long, good and peaceful life." The fowl is then slaughtered in accordance with Kosher Law, at which time we contemplate that this is a fate we ourselves would deserve, God forbid, for our failings and iniquities. The value of the fowl is given to the poor, and its meat eaten in the Yom Kippur meal; some give the fowl itself to the poor. (A alternate custom is to perform the rite only with money, reciting the prescribed verses and giving the money to charity. Kaparot can also be preformed in the preceding days, during the "Ten Days of Repentance" the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur).
What I find interesting about this is not only due they use this as a way to repent or offer this up to Adonai for their sins, but they eat the Chicken and give the value of it to the poor.
So of what value is this to us you ask? Maybe the thing we need to be looking for is how can we as Christian believers fit this Day of Atonement into our lives and be more like the Christ in following the directions of Adonai the Father Almighty no different then Jesus the Son followed and observed this Day of Atonement. One thing that is important to consider in all of this is even thought Jesus was sinless before Adonai, why would he have followed all these observances? The answer to that question is if he hadn’t followed the Laws as written in Torah, and then he would not have been sinless. So we too should consider that maybe we need to gain a greater understanding of the way Jesus lived in order to be more Christ like in our lives, our observances, and seeking repentance through his offering on our behalf.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX.
For those who accept Jesus as the Messiah it is important to understand the concept that he has take the place of the High Priest as the intercessor on our behalf. He is the one who is allowed to stand in the inner chamber of the tabernacle to seek forgiveness for our sins. It is a day when we are to rest and be in prayer to Adonai the Father Almighty. This is a day Jesus would have held in strict observance.
When I saw this today I felt the desire to share this custom and see if you can fit this into your life in Christ. There is a ceremony called Kaparot performed by some sects of Jewish believers.
In the early morning hours of the day preceding Yom Kippur, the Kaparot ("Atonement") ceremony is performed. We take a live chicken (a rooster for a male and a hen for a female) and, circling it three times above our heads, we declare: "This is my replacement, this is my exchange, this is my atonement; this fowl shall go to its death, and I shall go to a long, good and peaceful life." The fowl is then slaughtered in accordance with Kosher Law, at which time we contemplate that this is a fate we ourselves would deserve, God forbid, for our failings and iniquities. The value of the fowl is given to the poor, and its meat eaten in the Yom Kippur meal; some give the fowl itself to the poor. (A alternate custom is to perform the rite only with money, reciting the prescribed verses and giving the money to charity. Kaparot can also be preformed in the preceding days, during the "Ten Days of Repentance" the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur).
What I find interesting about this is not only due they use this as a way to repent or offer this up to Adonai for their sins, but they eat the Chicken and give the value of it to the poor.
So of what value is this to us you ask? Maybe the thing we need to be looking for is how can we as Christian believers fit this Day of Atonement into our lives and be more like the Christ in following the directions of Adonai the Father Almighty no different then Jesus the Son followed and observed this Day of Atonement. One thing that is important to consider in all of this is even thought Jesus was sinless before Adonai, why would he have followed all these observances? The answer to that question is if he hadn’t followed the Laws as written in Torah, and then he would not have been sinless. So we too should consider that maybe we need to gain a greater understanding of the way Jesus lived in order to be more Christ like in our lives, our observances, and seeking repentance through his offering on our behalf.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Preparing for Rosh Hashana (Festival of Trumpets) & Yom Kippur the (Day of Atonement)
This is the Jewish month of Elul, it is very important to the Jewish believer; the 30 days of this month are ones we are to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the one to come. This is the month of Divine Mercy and forgiveness, a time to seek repentance.
How and why did this all come about you ask? If we look at the Book of Exodus Chapter 32 & 33, we see that while Moses was getting the Ten Commandments from the Lord the stiff necked people of Israel were building a Golden Calf. Adonai chases Moses back down the Mountain to witness this sinful act being committed. At that time he broke the tables. Moses then ask whomever desires to follow Adonai should come to him. It states that the Levites surrounded him. He then tells them to put on their swords and start to kill there Brothers, Sons, and Kinsmen who were refusing to repent for there sinful actions.
The following is based on the text, and the way the text reads the only ones who came to Moses were his family, the sons of Levi. The way this text is stated it would lead you to believe that the ones whom were put to death were Brothers, Sons and Kinsmen of Levi, yet they were told to go to the gates of each camp.
The text is very vague as to whether or not there were members of other tribes who took part in joining Moses, but the fact remains Joshua was not of the tribe of Levi and he accompanied Moses, part of the way up the mountain.
It is our collective opinion that Moses would have gotten the family of Levi, to put there swords on and surround him to protect him when he gave the order to the members of the other tribes to put those to death who refused to follow Adonai. The point to make here is that there were members of each tribe who chose to follow Adonai and Moses, otherwise each could not have killed his own Brother, Son, and Kinsman.
So we have looked at what started it all, so what does this have to do with us today, our point in bringing this to your attention is that this was the first time that in the history of Israel, there became a need for an intercessor for the people, from that moment on Adonai The Lord God Most High established the covenant of Sacrifice with the people of Israel and removed the negative faction from the people. So after Moses and the group who stood for Adonai, laid sword to the 3,000 people Adonai then brought a plague upon the rest. Leaving only those who choose to server Adonai and follow his Laws as directed to the people through Moses.
So the connection to the Light of Adonai for some maybe Jesus, that still doesn’t give them a free pass to not contemplate or ask forgiveness for our transgressions towards others, during the past year. These High Holy Days that follow this month are those Jesus would have been committed to follow and comply with to the utmost of his spirit.
It is a very interesting to note that the New Testament never makes direct reference to any other High Holy Day (a time to Sacrifice) by name other than Passover, when Adonai freed the people from slavery. However there are multiple references of Jesus being at the Temple. The people of that time only went to Temple for the High Holy Days Passover and Shavuot, this evidenced by further texts of the Levities store houses where they stored there grain and meat. If they only received great quantities of offerings in the spring summer and twice in the fall, this would feed the Levities through out the winter getting them to the spring Holiday of Passover. Then it is reasonable to extrapolate that this was Jesus attending the Temple on Days other then just Passover.
Christians are lead to understand that the time of Passover was when the Sacrifice and the intercession began, but the truth is that it began at least some 130 days after Adonai removed them from Egypt. As we have expressed and are written in the text from Exodus we have quoted.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
How and why did this all come about you ask? If we look at the Book of Exodus Chapter 32 & 33, we see that while Moses was getting the Ten Commandments from the Lord the stiff necked people of Israel were building a Golden Calf. Adonai chases Moses back down the Mountain to witness this sinful act being committed. At that time he broke the tables. Moses then ask whomever desires to follow Adonai should come to him. It states that the Levites surrounded him. He then tells them to put on their swords and start to kill there Brothers, Sons, and Kinsmen who were refusing to repent for there sinful actions.
The following is based on the text, and the way the text reads the only ones who came to Moses were his family, the sons of Levi. The way this text is stated it would lead you to believe that the ones whom were put to death were Brothers, Sons and Kinsmen of Levi, yet they were told to go to the gates of each camp.
The text is very vague as to whether or not there were members of other tribes who took part in joining Moses, but the fact remains Joshua was not of the tribe of Levi and he accompanied Moses, part of the way up the mountain.
It is our collective opinion that Moses would have gotten the family of Levi, to put there swords on and surround him to protect him when he gave the order to the members of the other tribes to put those to death who refused to follow Adonai. The point to make here is that there were members of each tribe who chose to follow Adonai and Moses, otherwise each could not have killed his own Brother, Son, and Kinsman.
So we have looked at what started it all, so what does this have to do with us today, our point in bringing this to your attention is that this was the first time that in the history of Israel, there became a need for an intercessor for the people, from that moment on Adonai The Lord God Most High established the covenant of Sacrifice with the people of Israel and removed the negative faction from the people. So after Moses and the group who stood for Adonai, laid sword to the 3,000 people Adonai then brought a plague upon the rest. Leaving only those who choose to server Adonai and follow his Laws as directed to the people through Moses.
So the connection to the Light of Adonai for some maybe Jesus, that still doesn’t give them a free pass to not contemplate or ask forgiveness for our transgressions towards others, during the past year. These High Holy Days that follow this month are those Jesus would have been committed to follow and comply with to the utmost of his spirit.
It is a very interesting to note that the New Testament never makes direct reference to any other High Holy Day (a time to Sacrifice) by name other than Passover, when Adonai freed the people from slavery. However there are multiple references of Jesus being at the Temple. The people of that time only went to Temple for the High Holy Days Passover and Shavuot, this evidenced by further texts of the Levities store houses where they stored there grain and meat. If they only received great quantities of offerings in the spring summer and twice in the fall, this would feed the Levities through out the winter getting them to the spring Holiday of Passover. Then it is reasonable to extrapolate that this was Jesus attending the Temple on Days other then just Passover.
Christians are lead to understand that the time of Passover was when the Sacrifice and the intercession began, but the truth is that it began at least some 130 days after Adonai removed them from Egypt. As we have expressed and are written in the text from Exodus we have quoted.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
Stepping out of the Comfort Zone 18
Our question is much like who was benefiting from the sale of these offering in the Temple, who is truly benefiting from your financial gifts to the Church? Is it truly those in need or is it the ones who are in control of it?
We asked some tough questions at the end of last week’s article. Let’s look to the creation of the sacrifice process. Beginning at the start of the Book of Leviticus, Adonai gives Moses directions to what and how the sacrifice is to be performed and what portion is to be given to Aaron and his descendants for their keeping the Tabernacle and teaching the Torah.
It sure seems that somewhere along the way the Coheim lost sight of their duties and their job. It sure appears that they were the ones who, along the way, made these determinations that only the animals they deemed acceptable were to be used and sold to those in need of an offering. Our question and the point Jesus was making at the time was what gave these men the right to make this determination?
Even given this time that the People of Israel were no longer farmers or raising animals, why would they have created this farce in or around the Temple grounds. We would venture to say that their mind set would have been much like that of Judas, when the women anointed Jesus’ feet with the oil, Oil that could have been sold at a great price.
Although we will never know for sure if Judas was stealing from the ministry cash box, many Authors and Theologians are assuming that he was, merely because he was in charge of the funds, he was a known theft, and he made such a big deal over this event.
What concerns us with this matter is, what makes us any different today than those Jesus condemned for these actions. We build these Million Dollar Churches and Synagogues in order to praise Adonai, yet we care not for what he has directed us to do. We are more concerned with the appearances of our place of worship then we are of caring for the needy, more concerned with our own possessions and keeping up with the Jones then we are about our friends, neighbors, or the people of this world. We would rather spend hundreds of Thousands of Dollars to put in great sound systems to our places of worship than see that the members of our own Church have a roof over their heads, or are eating properly, or are able to seek necessary medical care.
If this is what your community of believers is all about then one really needs to reevaluate their place of worship and what the place of worship is really all about. The big question one really needs to be asking is What makes my place of worship any different than those that had control of the Temple when Jesus went in an cleared out the money changers and those extorting the people of Israel in Adonai’s Holy House?
The way one brings the Light of Adonai to this world is to care for the needs of other’s less fortunate than us. Adonai never once in his Torah states that it is important for you to spend Millions or Billions of Dollars for these houses of worship, yet the opposite we are supposed to shine the Light of Adonai in our giving to care for the needy. Maybe it is truly time for some to reevaluate what it truly means to spread the Light of Adonai for some and Jesus for others.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX.
We asked some tough questions at the end of last week’s article. Let’s look to the creation of the sacrifice process. Beginning at the start of the Book of Leviticus, Adonai gives Moses directions to what and how the sacrifice is to be performed and what portion is to be given to Aaron and his descendants for their keeping the Tabernacle and teaching the Torah.
It sure seems that somewhere along the way the Coheim lost sight of their duties and their job. It sure appears that they were the ones who, along the way, made these determinations that only the animals they deemed acceptable were to be used and sold to those in need of an offering. Our question and the point Jesus was making at the time was what gave these men the right to make this determination?
Even given this time that the People of Israel were no longer farmers or raising animals, why would they have created this farce in or around the Temple grounds. We would venture to say that their mind set would have been much like that of Judas, when the women anointed Jesus’ feet with the oil, Oil that could have been sold at a great price.
Although we will never know for sure if Judas was stealing from the ministry cash box, many Authors and Theologians are assuming that he was, merely because he was in charge of the funds, he was a known theft, and he made such a big deal over this event.
What concerns us with this matter is, what makes us any different today than those Jesus condemned for these actions. We build these Million Dollar Churches and Synagogues in order to praise Adonai, yet we care not for what he has directed us to do. We are more concerned with the appearances of our place of worship then we are of caring for the needy, more concerned with our own possessions and keeping up with the Jones then we are about our friends, neighbors, or the people of this world. We would rather spend hundreds of Thousands of Dollars to put in great sound systems to our places of worship than see that the members of our own Church have a roof over their heads, or are eating properly, or are able to seek necessary medical care.
If this is what your community of believers is all about then one really needs to reevaluate their place of worship and what the place of worship is really all about. The big question one really needs to be asking is What makes my place of worship any different than those that had control of the Temple when Jesus went in an cleared out the money changers and those extorting the people of Israel in Adonai’s Holy House?
The way one brings the Light of Adonai to this world is to care for the needs of other’s less fortunate than us. Adonai never once in his Torah states that it is important for you to spend Millions or Billions of Dollars for these houses of worship, yet the opposite we are supposed to shine the Light of Adonai in our giving to care for the needy. Maybe it is truly time for some to reevaluate what it truly means to spread the Light of Adonai for some and Jesus for others.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Stepping out of the Comfort Zone 17
Now it’s time to look at the Mikvah of Jesus and the events that followed. A closer look through the Gospel of John 1:29-35. According to John’s account it was the testimony of John the Baptist who was witness to the Rauch HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) upon Jesus.
There is a point that needs to be addressed here, Jesus claims John the Baptist was Elijah reborn, take a look at Second Kings Chapter 6:15-18, this is an example of the gift Elijah was gifted by the Lord. He was able to see and understand things others were not able to see. In this section of Scripture Elijah asked the Lord to remove the blinders from his young student’s eyes so he would be able to see the army of God.
The point we are trying to express here is that based on the account written in John’s Gospel, the way John the Baptist was able to determine that Jesus was the Messiah, and the one he was instructed to do the Mikvah for was that he would be surrounded by the Rauch HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) as a dove, the interruptive narratives given in the other Gospels attempt to lead the readers into the understanding that every person present at the time witnessed this, and based on John’s writings this was not the case.
One thing to keep in the back of your mind here is that all this was done far from the Temple grounds and before Jesus set one foot into the Temple. Just a thought but as the Scape Goat (Sin Offering) for the people the Mikvah of Jesus would have been performed off in the Wilderness before he had a Mikvah in order to enter the Temple grounds.
Jesus then begins his ministry and his teaching of the disciples. Unlike the other three Gospels, John’s tells the story of Jesus entering the Temple and driving out the money changes. This is a very important thing we need to address for our Society today.
We find it very interesting that in the 400 hundred years prior to Jesus, Adonai refused to have any contact with the people of Israel as they continued to go about their business of daily life. Was it that they were so wrapped up with themselves and the desires of the ones in control—the Sanhedrin?
Did the Rabbi’s and leaders of Israel have that much control over the people that they just rolled over a played dead. Who was benefiting from their controlling orders, it surely wasn’t those that Adonai had instructed it to be now was it? Adonai couldn’t have cared less where someone’s sacrifice came from, just that Adonai had provided it for that person. While those in control made it out to be that you had to purchase a Sheep or Dove or Calf from those at the Temple or your sacrifice would not have been acceptable before Adonai.
The sad part is that some churches today seem to lead people to believe in this concept. That in order to be part of their Church you must believe in their Doctrine and everything they stand for. While telling those you must give us your money, so we can continue the work of Adonai, without your support we can not continue our Ministry and get the word out.
Our question is much like who was benefiting from the sale of these offering in the Temple, who is truly benefiting from your financial gifts to the Church? Is it truly those in need or is it the ones who are in control of it?
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
There is a point that needs to be addressed here, Jesus claims John the Baptist was Elijah reborn, take a look at Second Kings Chapter 6:15-18, this is an example of the gift Elijah was gifted by the Lord. He was able to see and understand things others were not able to see. In this section of Scripture Elijah asked the Lord to remove the blinders from his young student’s eyes so he would be able to see the army of God.
The point we are trying to express here is that based on the account written in John’s Gospel, the way John the Baptist was able to determine that Jesus was the Messiah, and the one he was instructed to do the Mikvah for was that he would be surrounded by the Rauch HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) as a dove, the interruptive narratives given in the other Gospels attempt to lead the readers into the understanding that every person present at the time witnessed this, and based on John’s writings this was not the case.
One thing to keep in the back of your mind here is that all this was done far from the Temple grounds and before Jesus set one foot into the Temple. Just a thought but as the Scape Goat (Sin Offering) for the people the Mikvah of Jesus would have been performed off in the Wilderness before he had a Mikvah in order to enter the Temple grounds.
Jesus then begins his ministry and his teaching of the disciples. Unlike the other three Gospels, John’s tells the story of Jesus entering the Temple and driving out the money changes. This is a very important thing we need to address for our Society today.
We find it very interesting that in the 400 hundred years prior to Jesus, Adonai refused to have any contact with the people of Israel as they continued to go about their business of daily life. Was it that they were so wrapped up with themselves and the desires of the ones in control—the Sanhedrin?
Did the Rabbi’s and leaders of Israel have that much control over the people that they just rolled over a played dead. Who was benefiting from their controlling orders, it surely wasn’t those that Adonai had instructed it to be now was it? Adonai couldn’t have cared less where someone’s sacrifice came from, just that Adonai had provided it for that person. While those in control made it out to be that you had to purchase a Sheep or Dove or Calf from those at the Temple or your sacrifice would not have been acceptable before Adonai.
The sad part is that some churches today seem to lead people to believe in this concept. That in order to be part of their Church you must believe in their Doctrine and everything they stand for. While telling those you must give us your money, so we can continue the work of Adonai, without your support we can not continue our Ministry and get the word out.
Our question is much like who was benefiting from the sale of these offering in the Temple, who is truly benefiting from your financial gifts to the Church? Is it truly those in need or is it the ones who are in control of it?
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
Monday, August 24, 2009
Stepping out of the Comfort Zone 16
We are going to continue our discussion on Baptism and how we can relate it to the teachings of Jesus. Last week we introduced the word Mikvah it is a ritual bath designed for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism. The word "Mikvah", as used in the Hebrew Bible, literally means a "collection" generally, a collection of water as defined by Wikipedia.
As we pointed out last week this was the ritual John the Baptist would have been performing. A Mikvah pool is a specially crafted and designed pool used to perform a spiritual cleansing, although they are now performed in pools, any body of water, such as a lake stream or flowing water can be used to perform the Mikvah cleansing. Starting with the Tabernacle and following through the Temple eras it was a requirement for any Jewish person to undergo a Mikvah before he/she could enter onto the Temple grounds, and no the baths outside the Temple were not used to perform this those baths and pools were part of the cleaning process prior to going through the Mikvah process.
Baptism (from Greek baptizo: "immersing", "performing ablutions", i.e., "washing")[1] is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted to membership of the Christian Church as defined by Wikipedia. As we pointed out last week if one wants to convert to Judaism that person is required to go through the Mikvah or immersion process.
This is a quote from and article found on Chabad.org site written by Rivkah Solonim. “In many ways mikvah is the threshold separating the unholy from the holy, but it is even more. Simply put, immersion in a mikvah signals a change in status -- more correctly, an elevation in status. Its unparalleled function lies in its power of transformation, its ability to effect metamorphosis.”
Do these words look familiar to any of you? Sounds like what happened to Jesus after being Baptized by John. Elevated just prior to entering the desert for 40 days to be confronted by Satin
Ok so I’m sure by know you are wondering what is the point here, so Jewish people call it a Mikvah, Christians call it Baptism, our point is that although Christians view it differently than their Jewish counter parts, Jesus does not, for us Jesus’ view is what it was meant to the Jewish people, it was a reconnection or rededication to God the Father Almighty in a ritual cleansing of ones Soul in order to accept the Torah and the Laws as found in the 5 Books of Moses.
Again we call on these verses from Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus himself confirms that the Mitzvoth of Torah will still be in effect long after his death. In verse 20 he is expressing to those listening that a persons that expects to enter the Kingdom of Heaven better be a person who will follow the Torah with a greater zeal then that of a Scribe or a Pharisee.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
As we pointed out last week this was the ritual John the Baptist would have been performing. A Mikvah pool is a specially crafted and designed pool used to perform a spiritual cleansing, although they are now performed in pools, any body of water, such as a lake stream or flowing water can be used to perform the Mikvah cleansing. Starting with the Tabernacle and following through the Temple eras it was a requirement for any Jewish person to undergo a Mikvah before he/she could enter onto the Temple grounds, and no the baths outside the Temple were not used to perform this those baths and pools were part of the cleaning process prior to going through the Mikvah process.
Baptism (from Greek baptizo: "immersing", "performing ablutions", i.e., "washing")[1] is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted to membership of the Christian Church as defined by Wikipedia. As we pointed out last week if one wants to convert to Judaism that person is required to go through the Mikvah or immersion process.
This is a quote from and article found on Chabad.org site written by Rivkah Solonim. “In many ways mikvah is the threshold separating the unholy from the holy, but it is even more. Simply put, immersion in a mikvah signals a change in status -- more correctly, an elevation in status. Its unparalleled function lies in its power of transformation, its ability to effect metamorphosis.”
Do these words look familiar to any of you? Sounds like what happened to Jesus after being Baptized by John. Elevated just prior to entering the desert for 40 days to be confronted by Satin
Ok so I’m sure by know you are wondering what is the point here, so Jewish people call it a Mikvah, Christians call it Baptism, our point is that although Christians view it differently than their Jewish counter parts, Jesus does not, for us Jesus’ view is what it was meant to the Jewish people, it was a reconnection or rededication to God the Father Almighty in a ritual cleansing of ones Soul in order to accept the Torah and the Laws as found in the 5 Books of Moses.
Again we call on these verses from Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus himself confirms that the Mitzvoth of Torah will still be in effect long after his death. In verse 20 he is expressing to those listening that a persons that expects to enter the Kingdom of Heaven better be a person who will follow the Torah with a greater zeal then that of a Scribe or a Pharisee.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman, TX
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