Parasha Yitro (Jethro)

From Rabbi...

Psalm {63:1} "A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."

Ellen and I can certainly attest that during the long hot summer months Israel is a dry and thirsty land. There is no rain from Passover (April-May), until Sukkot (October-November) Even in the winter when it normally rains, the Negev (wilderness of Judah), where David hid out much of the time when King Saul was pursuing to kill him, gets very little rain.

What is so beautiful about this Psalm is how David is comparing the longing of the land for rain to water it, to his longing for the Lord to water his soul. It is not unusual for us with all the struggles life brings our way for us to experience dry and thirsty souls that long for God to pour His rain into. At dry times in our lives it is not unusual to feel like God is not there, that He does not hear us or see what we are going through; we are spiritually parched and we are longing for refreshing.

Isaiah {55:1} "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

There is a refreshing well of salvation just waiting for us to drink from and that well will not only revive our thirsty souls it will save them; we just need to come to it. That well is Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua said:

John {4:14} "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

From Ellen...

When Jack and I pray we of course wait on the Holy Spirit to guide and instruct us how to pray BUT…there are many things we include almost in every prayer time. One very important statement is, "Lord we command in the mighty name of Yeshua that no fear, no intimidation and no deception fall upon us!" I have a warning because the devil considers all of us his dinner and we continually need to fight him. He is a toothless lion roaming around ready to devour anyone that would leave a door open in their lives. 2 John says plainly in this short but wonderfully profound book. Verses 4 through 11 is necessary reading right now…don't procrastinate on this one because you too could be a meal for the evil one in an instant…

2 John {1:4} "I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Messiah Yeshua as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Messiah. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Messiah does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Messiah has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."

Hallelujah! However, my favorite verse is (12) "Having many things to write to you, we did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but we hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full." AMEN!

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Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha Mishpatim (Judgements)

From Rabbi...

Once when Ellen and I were at one of the largest hospitals in Israel for an appointment at one of the departments, we did not know where to go, so we asked for directions at the information desk. The man behind the counter got up from his chair and called another man who was also associated with the information desk and when he was told where we wanted to go he said, "Follow me, I will take you there." He then proceeded to navigate through the hallways, going up this hall and down the other, turning left here and right there with Ellen and I following close behind. You can imagine that we were both impressed and grateful for his kindness, on our own we would have been lost.

Life is that way, it can be a confusing maze with so many directional options but yet only one direction leads us out of the maze while all the others are just dead ends. So, it is not uncommon for us to question which way to go? It is then that we need a guide, someone we can follow close behind who will show us the way and bring us to where we have to go.

Psalm {63:7} "Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. {63:8} My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me."

David knew that in the midst of all his troubles, if he stuck close to God he would see the way out. Yeshua told us:

Matthew {16:24} "Then Yeshua said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.""

If we stick close to and follow Yeshua He will get us through the maze of life and bring us safely to Himself in the end.

From Ellen...

Do you have a lot of friends? If you are a believer, I hope that most of them are as well. It is great having friends, you can text them during the day, meet for coffee, have them over for a meal or go out to a restaurant together. If you are a female, shopping trips are fun and maybe having a pedicure at your local nail spa together. The possibilities are endless. It is friends that you want to make happy and have them be pleased with the way you conduct your friendship. Do you know who the best friend you can have is? This may be a trick question because if you are married the first thought is; 'my husband is my best friend,' or my neighbor or my sister or the cousin I grew up with…if you are a male probably your golf buddy or brother or business partner may be your best friend. Do you know who the best friend you can have is? As friends go, are you kind, gentle, respectful and considerate? Are you the friend everyone leans on for compassion and mercy? Do you know who the best friend you can have is? Your best friend as I'm sure you have already guessed is the Ruach, the Holy Spirit. So why do we lie to Him, ignore Him, stop listening to Him, stop calling on Him for guidance and instruction. Acts {5.3-4} says "But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God."…OUCH!

Visit our blog for more teaching and to view previous Torah commentaries:

https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com/

Please consider supporting the ministry to Kenya and Israel:

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Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha Beshalach (When He Let Go)

From Rabbi...

Many reading this now are facing difficult circumstances in their lives. I remember the time when I was faced with having to leave my wife and travel to another city where I would receive radiation and chemotherapy treatment; the hospital in our town did not treat the type of cancer I had. I would be spending five days a week for seven weeks in a hostel and then home for Shabbat. The thought of having to go through the treatment was daunting enough and having to leave my wife only added to it. I was already weakened, tired and in pain because of the cancer and I did not know if I would have the strength to see the seven weeks through. With the little strength I had, not only did I have to hold myself together but I also had to battle Satan who was playing with my mind.

2 Timothy {9:17} "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. {9:18} The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

In and of ourselves when difficulties arise and we are in a weakened state where we feel deserted or are deserted by friends and family or when we have to leave loved ones, we can take solace in the fact that if we call upon the Lord, He will rescue us.

Isaiah {41:10} "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Such was the case with me. In my distress God sent me encouraging and uplifting scriptures which I was able to listen to every night and draw strength from. It was a difficult seven weeks but God saw me through and what he did for the Apostle Paul and for me, He can do for you. In God there is hope!

From Ellen...

There are so many things to tell you from God's Word, through my eyes. Sometimes I do not know where to start but here goes. Jack and I watched a film depicting the life of Yeshua…it was over 6 hours so we broke it up over many viewings. Although not Messianic it still contained the Word! What we saw was not new but it brought to our minds the basic principles of our instruction book, the Bible. It was filmed in Israel and Italy by an Italian director and chock full of famous actors, some of whom are not with us any longer. We watched as the man "Jesus" walked the dusty earth and blessed, healed and delivered numerous afflicted people, some who received Him and some who just went on their way back into the world.

Here is what struck me from the film, brief but profound. We are to be like Yeshua on this earth. We are to possess His values and know His precepts. What moved me most was His gratitude toward His Father. He fed the 4000 and the 5000 by just thanking, by just believing that He, as God in Heaven, will provide for all the followers.

If you ever have been hungry, help to feed the hungry. If you have ever been thirsty, give a cup of cool water to those that thirst. If you ever have been naked, help to clothe those who are cold. "We are because He Is!"

Visit our blog for more teaching and to view previous Torah commentaries:

https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com/

Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha Commentary

Sermon "God's Will Be Done"

Parasha Bo (Go)

From Rabbi...

There is a spiritual stronghold of poverty hanging over Africa. I am not so much acquainted with what is going on in all African nations but I do know the desperate situation many are experiencing in Kenya. I can possibly understand why this stronghold of poverty would be plaguing unbelievers, but it saddens me to see that even Believers are living in desperate need and experiencing the crippling effects of poverty.

If there is anything we can say about our God, it is that He is a God of abundance. The Bible is filled with Scriptures confirming God's abundance, so much so that if I were to quote them all I would need pages and pages, so I'll just quote two:

Ephesians {3:20} "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"

John {10:10} "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

This is not a prosperity message; it is a wake-up call to those who are suffering lack in their personal lives or their businesses. Yeshua did not die on the cross so that we should lack. He gave His life in exchange for ours so that we could have abundance in every area of our lives including finances.

2 Corinthians {8:9} "For you know the grace of our Lord Messiah Yeshua, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

2 Corinthians {9:8} "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Now, abundance does not mean wealth or prosperity, abundance is having enough for our needs plus a little extra to help and bless others. We only get this kind of abundance at the foot of the Cross. Yeshua has already assured us of abundance but we must claim that abundance by coming to the Cross and applying God's promises to our lives. God's abundance comes through His Word and His Spirit by the revelation of His promises. So, this brings us right back to where we started! God's abundance can only be found at the foot of the Cross. I have also often said; "How can we claim the promises if we do not know what they are?" Even if we do know what they are, promises come with conditions and we need to be prepared to fulfill all of God's conditions in order to claim them; for example, let us read again:

2 Corinthians {9:8} "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

God gives us abundance, not for our pleasure but for our needs, and the requirement is that we do good works. Therefore, if we are lacking in abundance maybe it is because we are lacking in good works!

From Ellen...

Jack and I have daily, weekly, monthly and yearly decisions to make as I am sure you all do. We go before the Lord for each and everything as one in Messiah and pray and hope the Almighty will speak with us concerning all our needs and desires. Here's the thing…The Almighty rarely speaks to us the way we would like to hear Him and He does not always answer us in the frame of time we would like Him to…with all that said we continue to wait on Him because the only true answer is the one that comes from heaven! Everything is in His Word…strategies, provisions, protection, promises and so much more. What we learn from His Word is that our Father is a lot easier on us than we perceive. Here is one example where He says; "If a man does not work, he does not eat." Well, we know that He is a miraculous provider and does not want his children begging bread but He also says that; "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." The Almighty wants us free!

So, if you are caught up in an addiction, drugs, alcohol, even food and money, He gives us prescriptions and tells us in the Word…The unfolding of Your Words gives light; imparts understanding to the simple…He tells us not to be sad…"My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word!"

I know this is quite abstract but the point is this…EVERYTHING we need and desire from provision to peace is right in the Word…free of charge, do not just read but eat of it EVERYDAY!

Visit our blog for more teaching and to view previous Torah commentaries:

https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com/

Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

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Parasha Commentary

Sermon "An Incredible Journey"