Parasha Bechukotai (By My Regulations)

From Rabbi Jack...

How grateful are you? Most of us say our prayers before a meal, giving thanks for the food God has provided, some, like Ellen and I also say a prayer of thanksgiving after we have eaten. We base this practice on the Bible verse:

Deuteronomy {8:10} "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land He has given you."

But is food the only thing we are to be grateful for? When we consider that everything we are, everything we have, our lives themselves are all a gift from God, food is only one of the many things we should be grateful for. I know this may sound silly and maybe in my effort to explain I am stretching the point, but have you ever been constipated and in distress? Are you grateful for the times you are not in distress? We have so much to be grateful for and we should not only be grateful for food without acknowledging our gratitude for all the other things in our lives. I believe in doing so we are speaking blessings into our lives because when we acknowledge God as our source for everything, even the silliest things, we are acknowledging His supremacy over our lives and our total surrender to Him. He promised:

James {4:10} "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Many of our deficiencies in life are due to us focusing too much on complaining about what we do not have and not enough time on being grateful for what we do have.

From Ellen...

Hi Ellen here…I was meditating on humility the other day and did some research on it. C.S. Lewis said: "True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." This quote opened my eyes to many things and even opened my eyes to things in my life! We can heal by humility, by acknowledging that we do not have it all together. Know the difference between self-confidence and pride; seek to value others more than ourselves; spend time listening…to others not ourselves; be grateful; ask for help!

Did you know that there is false humility? False humility is pride in disguise…you know, attempting to appear humble, we all know what the Bible says about pride. I saw a sign that said "Humble yourself or life will do it for you." For many of us humility is one of the hardest traits to develop because it has to begin with recognizing that we are not always right and we do not have all the answers…this can be very challenging and humbling. When my mother-in-law was in an assisted living facility I stayed with her many times. It was a great place and they offered many lectures, entertainment and so much more. One of my favorites was a geriatric psychologist who would come with uplifting lectures. He said some incredible things and one stuck in my head, he said "If you always need to be right then something must be wrong." I have so much more to say but this is a blurb and not a sermon so I will end with this…Pride comes before the fall, and nobody wants to fall.

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

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha Commentary

Sermon of the week "Overcoming the sin of anger"

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Parasha Bahar (On the Mount)

We are not paranoiacs, but there is so much danger out there that Ellen and I always take extra caution when going outdoors. Not because of terrorists, not because of Covid-19, although these are factors to consider, but because of the spiritual oppression that is lurking outside of the confounds of our prayed-up home. Hopefully all of us are anointing and praying over our homes so as to keep them as a sanctuary of God's shalom (peace). However, once we go outdoors, we enter into the realm of the world, the realm of Satan. I am sure King David never left his palace without an entourage of security guards, yet, from what he wrote, he knew physical security was not the only protection he needed, that is why I believe he wrote:

Psalms {16:1} Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge.

Psalm {32:7} You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Psalm {5:11} But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You.

David obviously was in the practice of asking God for His protection in all circumstances. We can take a lesson from David because this is a good habit for us all to get into.

Before leaving the house Ellen and I put on the full armor of God (Ephesians {6:11}), and if Ellen is leaving the house alone, I always pray the Aaronic Benediction over her (Numbers {6:24-26}). If we commit our ways to the Lord, no weapon formed against us by Satan or anyone of his demonic powers or principalities will prosper against us and we will be safe and secure under the shadow of His wings!

Hi Ellen here…What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the name Hannah the Prophetess? I asked someone and they said; old. When I hear her name, I think; perseverance. Hannah was married seven years then became a widow and for the remainder of her life ministered before the Lord in the Temple. In Luke {2:37} it says that she did not depart from the Temple but worshipped, fasted and prayed day and night. She was waiting and at 84 years of age she saw the Lord! When she saw Yeshua as a baby, she said in Luke {2:38} all thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel…WOW! My point is this…would you or I for that matter wait 84 years for anything? You all have had the same experiences as I, waiting for the check-out at the grocery store, waiting for your doctor's appointment, waiting for the bus, waiting, waiting, waiting! In this fast-paced world I cannot conceive of any of us being comfortable waiting even for 84 minutes let alone 84 years. But here is a widow waiting with her head to the Temple floor fasting and praying, probably over 100 years of age by the time the Messiah arrived.

Do we have a level of commitment, dedication and perseverance in our believing lives such as Hannah? I myself cannot answer an honest yes…we need to check ourselves continually. We need to anticipate the return of Messiah every moment of every day. We need to raise the banner of commitment in our lives to the Lord higher and higher. Are you with me?

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

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

💗 Please consider supporting the ministry to Kenya and Israel. In Kenya, for the poor and orphans and in Israel for the elderly poor and sick.

To Donate click this link: https://paypal.me/kenyamission

If you do not have PayPal and would prefer using another donation method, please contact me and I will send you other options.💗 

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Parasha Commentary

Sermon of the week "Man-pleaser"

Parasha Emor (Say)

From Rabbi Jack...

I do not know; maybe it is only happening with us in Kenya, but I sense a demonic spirit of the lack of commitment, lack of caring and total complacency among God's children. Is it because we have lost sight of the reality that one day every one of us is going to die and have to stand before God in judgement? It sure seems that way, so let me remind us:

1 Corinthians {3:1} Brothers, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Messiah. {3:2} I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. {3:3} You are still worldly….

1 Corinthians {3:11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Messiah Yeshua. {3:12} If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, {3:13} their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. {3:14} If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. {3:15} If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Like it or not we are all going to face death, it is inevitable, none of us are leaving this earth alive! Seeing that this is a fixed reality, is it not reasonable that we should all prepare ourselves for the inevitable, now? We buy life insurance and we buy burial plots in advance knowing that one day we will die, but how many of us prepare our spirits and souls for death?

Ellen and I have been to houses of mourning where people remark on how nice the funeral service was, how well the preacher and people who gave a word spoke of the deceased and how many friends attended ("The hall was full," they say). But the reality is, it is not how great our sendoff was here on earth, it is how we are welcomed into heaven after death that matters. The lack of commitment, lack of caring and total complacency while we were alive here on earth will not cut it with God when we stand before Him in heaven!

Hebrews {12:27} Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. {12:28} Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. {12:29} For our God is a consuming fire.

From Ellen...

Hi Ellen here…It is on my heart to deliver to you all today something we already know. Read with me in Ephesians 2.8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Sometimes as believers in Messiah Yeshua we lose sight of the glorious encounter we had at the time of salvation …we become entangled in teachings and instructions of man and not of God. God is simple, God is basic and God will never lead you astray but sometimes we all need to go back to basics. There are many cliches, sayings in the West that many of our African family may not apply as Jack and I do, but here goes anyway… "The World Owes Me A Living:" Not so, no one owes us anything. "Keeping up with the Joneses:" Do we really need all the things in our lives that others have? Are we looking at the house across the street and lusting for it while sitting warm and protected in what we already have…I am not going to go on because I think we all know what is being said here? God has a free gift for all of us, no charge, no work, no lusting…only faith in His grace which is sufficient for us. Stop thinking that; "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence" and start looking up! Rid yourself of anger, jealousy, anxiety, revenge and receive His embrace of forgiveness and most of all His unconditional love. This is the time of your salvation, hallelujah!

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

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha Commentary

Sermon of the week "Live for an audience of One"

Parasha Kedoshim (Holy People)

From Rabbi Jack...

Sometimes I wonder if as Believers we have truly grasped and understood the difference between the Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law. Legalists get so hung-up on the Letter and it so blinds them that they miss the Spirit. For instance:

When we read 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 the context is submission to the God-given order and "chain of command." Paul is using a "covering" on a woman's head as an illustration of that order, headship, and the authority required by God. The key verse of this passage is 1 Corinthians {11:3} "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Messiah, the head of woman is man, and the head of Messiah is God." The implication of this verse is found in the rest of the passage. The order is: God the Father, God the Son, the man or husband, and the woman or wife. The veil or covering on the head of a believing Corinthian wife showed that she was under the authority of her husband, and therefore under submission to God. The relationship God has with man is something the angels watch, admire and learn from (1 Peter 1:12). Therefore, a woman's submission to God's delegated authority over her is an example to the angels. The holy angels, who are in perfect and total submission to God, expect that we, as followers of the Messiah, do the same.

God's order is that the husband is the head of the wife as God is the head of the Messiah, but there is no inequality or inferiority implied. This is not a passage that teaches that a woman is inferior to a man or that she should be submissive to all men. It is teaching God's order and spiritual headship in the marriage relationship. In the Corinthian culture, a woman who covered her head during worship or when she was in public, displayed her submission to the authority of her husband.

In today's culture we no longer view a woman wearing a head covering as a sign of submission. In most modern societies, scarves and hats are fashion accessories. However, a woman has the choice to wear a head covering if she views it as a sign of her submission to the authority of her husband. It is a personal choice and not something that should be used to judge someone's spirituality or submissiveness to all men. The real issue here is the heart attitude of obedience to God's authority and submission to His established order "As to the LORD" (Ephesians 5:22). God is far more concerned with a heart attitude of submission than an outward display of submission via a head covering.

1 Timothy {2:9-10}, "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

The Spirit of meaning here is that we, men and women alike, are not to attend church to draw attention to ourselves as if we are at a fashion show, but always to conduct and dress in a way that draws attention to Yeshua. It is more of a heart issue, that reflects our relationship with Yeshua, than an appearance issue.

From Ellen...

Hi Ellen here…Did you ever wonder??? I was preparing to clean my bathroom and truly, I try my best to use natural products but I have this Israeli chemical cleanser that I like, so I clean with it. I took some time to gather what I needed like paper towels, sponges and all that and I glanced at the spray bottle and I wondered. I wondered about its boast of killing 99.9% of germs. What happens to the .1 % of germs that lingers and multiplies and becomes huge so that soon after you need to clean again with the 99.9% product. This brought to mind the Scripture in Galatians 5.9: "A little leaven leavens the whole lump…"

Wow, what a wakeup. I have always known that if there is unconfessed sin in our lives or false teaching is taking root in our spirit…it grows and grows and grows, if not taken captive quickly and given over to repentance and asking the Lord to forgive. So, it is not only about germs and bacteria in our bathroom or yeast fermenting in our dough. Take careful heed to all that I have written and take that little .1% of sin in your life and repent! God is quick to forgive so let us be quick to turn it all over to Him. Blessings, we love you!

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. In Kenya, for the poor and orphans and in Israel for the elderly poor and sick.

To Donate click this link:

https://paypal.me/kenyamission

If you do not have PayPal and would prefer using another donation method, please contact me and I will send you other options.

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

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha Commentary 

Sermon of the week "Manipulation"