Parsha Ki Tavo (When You Enter In)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Galatians {2:20} "I have been crucified with Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." 2 Corinthians {4:16} "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we may see a new wrinkle or a new blemish and we judge ourselves by our outward appearance. Often, we also think of ourselves as failures, nobodies, just dust and insignificant in the universal scheme of things. We judge who we are inside by what we think about ourselves on the outside. But do you know that the Bible says we are more than conquerors and that we can do all things through Messiah Yeshua who strengthens us? When we doubt our abilities, it is because we are looking at our flesh and are judging ourselves by what we see. But what we see is not who we are! When we accepted Yeshua as our Savior and the Lord of our lives, the Holy Spirit took up residence in us. Do you understand the implication of this? The power that raised Yeshua from the dead now lives inside of us. God is Spirit and those who come to Him must come in spirit and in truth. If we come before God and express how unworthy we are and how we do not deserve anything, we are insulting the Holy Spirit. It is our flesh that is unworthy not our spirit because the Bible says, speaking about Yeshua; “As He is so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17). Also, if we are united with Messiah, we are one Spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17). Do you realize the implication of this? It means that what He did, we can do, what knows we can know. There is nothing beyond our ability and nothing beyond our knowing. We limit ourselves by giving our flesh too much credit. What is the solution? The apostle Paul gives it to us: 1 Corinthians {14:15} "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the Spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." Unlock the power inside of you by ignoring what you see or believe about yourself on the outside and releasing who you have on the inside through both praying in understanding and praying in tongues, God’s heavenly prayer language. Do not have tongues yet? Ask and you will receive!

Parsha Ki Tetze (When You Go Out)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link
Song of Solomon {2:15} "Her Brothers Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes." We are now in month of Elul, the month of introspection in preparation for the repentance involved in Rosh Hashanah. Each day of our lives presents more challenges and yes, we continue to have those foxes in our vineyards that spoil our peace. Personal conflicts, outside attacks, self-inflicted woes and worries pull us down as if we are drowning. “Drowning? But we are new creations!” Yes, we are new creations, but we are also still flesh and therefore, are affected by negative things going on around us. It is bad enough having to deal with stuff during the years but it seems like during the month of Elul the Lord stirs up the things in our lives that He desires for us to release and be delivered from. Please do not let your flesh and the evil one get the better of you during this month of self-revelation, do not give in but continue praising the Lord, giving Him thanks for His mercy and compassion in allowing us to know that we are not perfect, and that we desperately need Him. Often, I have heard someone pray, “Lord, hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” I have wondered if the motive of their prayer was spiritual or if they were really meaning, “Lord, hide me so I cannot see myself or so that others cannot see who I really am.” If we take the time to truly examine ourselves, Elul can be a magnificent time in our believing walk with the Lord. It can be a time of cleansing, purifying and reaching new and higher levels in the understanding of God in our lives. Remember, however, higher levels mean bigger devils. When we get closer to God evil forces attempt to get closer to us. So, it is good during the month of Elul to step up our devotional and prayer life. Particularly, not to put off saying “I am sorry” or immediately repenting of the sin we just committed. Ask God for deliverance from the sins of rolling our eyes, mockery and rebuking and embarrassing others in public. This month of Elul be refreshed and renewed in the victory God has promised us!
from Ellen… Bible link
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4-NIV) Judas Iscariot was not from God and Yeshua knew this from the beginning of time. You ask how I know this? I know this by the Spirit of God and knowing the Word. God choreographed everything from the beginning of time to set up the death and resurrection of our Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua allowed Judas Iscariot to have a very prominent position among the twelve apostles; as treasurer for the mission. Yeshua knew He would be “turned in” by Judas with a kiss on the cheek. When Mary Magdalene poured the costly ointment on Yeshua this apostle was angered because of the waste of money. Judas Iscariot was the only one of the twelve that was from Judea. Judas appeared to be a sincere and committed worker. Who would have guessed that this man would sell out our Messiah for just 30 pieces of silver. I am sure you have all read the account of what I have written but it came into my mind that a woman, a sinner at that, spared no expense in honoring her Messiah yet a disciple and so-called follower of Yeshua plotted His death for the price of a potter’s field. Now, to go back to the beginning where I quoted 1 John 4…We need to be careful at all times as Believers. You know the old saying, “All that glitters is not gold”. When things look too good to be true but there is no fruit, we need to test the spirit! We need to ask and not be ashamed if Yeshua is truly their Lord and Savior! I know that some of you are thinking that they look so good. They attend services, pick people up and take people home, help the needy and do all sorts of good works! But I say to you today, that having one Mary Magdalene is better than 30 Judas Iscariots. Now ask this question of yourself…Is there the spirit of Judas in your life or congregation or family? Test the spirits!!
Yours in Messiah Yeshua, "…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua." (Titus 2:13) Rabbi Jack & Ellen
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Parsha Shoftim (Judges)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Habakkuk {3:17} Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, {though} the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls. {3:18} Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. Notice that Habakkuk does not say “THEN” will I rejoice in the Lord; he says “YET”, I will rejoice. Can we say, “Yet I will still rejoice in the Lord” when we see disaster looming in our lives? Celebrations are times of great rejoicing and gladness. But no one ever, at least no one I have ever known, rejoices and celebrates defeat and destruction. We celebrate weddings, anniversaries, graduations and job promotions, but we never celebrate defeat and destruction. Yet Habakkuk had the courage to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord even though he knew defeat and destruction were on their way. He may have had every reason to fold up his tent and cry, but he decided to rejoice instead. Sometimes, as Believers we have to look around us and find a reason for a celebration. It should be easy. We just have to think back to the goodness of Yeshua and all that He has done for us. Sometimes, we need to stop and count our blessings and realize that there are so many people that are in worse situations than we. We have to look beyond the temporary setbacks in our lives and see the permanent fellowship we have with our almighty God. It is easy to see the evidence of our faith as a Believer when everything is going our way, when positive things are happening to us. However, “talking faith” and “having faith” are two different things. Talking faith is when we boast about having faith but inside we are falling apart and instead of celebrating we complain about how hard our life is and how God has shut His ear to us. Not every day will be wonderful for us but as Believers our faith in God should see us through the sorrows, sickness and tragedies which happen and are a normal part of life. As Believers in Messiah Yeshua, we can still celebrate by rejoicing in our salvation and keep on rejoicing in our salvation, knowing that God is in control. Not every day will be wonderful for us but as Believers our faith in God should see us through the sorrows, sickness and tragedies which happen and are a normal part of life. As Believers in Messiah Yeshua, we can still celebrate by rejoicing in our salvation and keep on rejoicing in our salvation, knowing that God is in control.

from Ellen… Bible link

I am sorry to remind us time and time again, BUT ARE YOU READING THE DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN? I wrote this sentence in capitals because I am shouting it! Since the beginning of the Book of Isaiah Jack and I have questioned, marveled and been astonished at the words we have read. We must keep in mind that these are not just words but the voice of the Almighty God Himself speaking through them! Chapter 45 just blew me away. God is telling us that He forms light and creates darkness and that He makes peace and creates calamity and that He, the Lord does ALL things. These are sobering words. Are you walking in light or living in darkness? Are you at peace in your life or is everyday filled with calamity? Have you made your job, your children for that matter an idol in your life? Are you truly walking in obedience or just getting by? I do not know about you but I fall so short of the glory of God and have to work it out moment by moment. Sorry to dump all this on you but if you are not reading the Word and coming to God for everything then I am afraid for you. The month of Elul is this week. This is a very profound time in a Messianic Believer’s life, a time of repentance, a time of introspection to know who we really are! I pray for those who live from excuse to excuse. I pray for those who literally live in a revolving door and cannot get out. We need to strive to walk straight on that narrow path God Himself has set before us. I pray for the wives that worship on their own and do not join with their spouses and for the husbands who do the same – Remember those of you who are in rebellion will be humiliated and possibly be cut off from the family of God by God Himself! Are you reading the headlines? Time is short, this world is a mess. Are you sure that when you stand before God on that final day and He asks you why He should let you into Heaven that He will let you in! Let’s pray!!!

Parsha Re'eh (See)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Matthew {5:37} "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." When Yeshua tells us that our YES should be YES and our NO, NO He is explaining that we are not to commit ourselves and then not do what we have committed to do. At a job interview, the interviewer tells the prospective employee the job description and requirements. They would include, besides other things, the salary, work hours and what the company expects from the prospective employee. If the prospect says YES to the job description, the company requirements and expectations and is hired, they have made a vow to do what they said YES to. They have obligated themselves to the employer and must fulfill all that they agree to. The prospective employee could have just as easily said NO if they did not agree with the terms and conditions of the job and walked away under good terms and with no obligation. However, with a YES, Yeshua tells us a Believer must mean YES! So, if the employee does not fulfil the job requirements to which they said YES to, they would be fired. Worse yet, from what we read in Matthew 5:37, they will come under condemnation from God because their YES was not Yes and they made a vow which they did not keep. This 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and 'No, No’ does not only apply to the workplace, it applies to every area of our lives, even volunteer work, especially when we say YES to doing something for the Lord. As Believers we live by a different standard than the world. Unbelievers make commitments that most of the time they do not keep. Their YES often turns out to be NO, MAYBE or an EXCUSE. If God holds a Believer accountable for a YES they said at a job interview, how much more will He hold them accountable for a YES when it concerns doing something in His service. God holds us accountable for every word that proceeds from our mouth. Therefore, we need to think twice before saying YES to anything. That way, we will save ourselves a whole lot of consequences if we end up not doing what we said YES to. Matthew {12:36} "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment."

Parsha Ekev (Because)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Matthew {21:21} "Yeshua replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done." So many of us face huge mountains of difficulty in our lives; illness, stress, conflict, financial pressure and so much more. We have prayed about them, prayed against them and begged God to remove them but for most of us they still remain. So, we conclude that we do not have enough faith. However, Yeshua said that if we had the faith of a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, we can move mountains! Matthew {17:20} "He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I believe that Yeshua was speaking figuratively here. I do not think He was being literal when speaking about moving rock formation mountains like Mt. Kenya, for instance. I also do not think He is talking about OUR faith, because in and of ourselves we have no faith. However, when we are Born Again, we receive the Holy Spirit which takes up residence in us. The faith I believe Yeshua is talking about, is faith in the awesome power of the Holy Spirit in us. After all, He is the same power that raised Yeshua from the dead. Notice that Yeshua also said “…and do not doubt.” Doubt is unbelief! Therefore, in order for us as a Believer to overcome all the mountains in our life, we need only to believe that the Holy Spirit lives in us. This for a Believer requires only mustard seed faith. We are also not to doubt that the awesome power of God that raised Yeshua from the dead can operate through us to uproot and cast every mountain of difficulty, illness, stress, conflict, financial pressure etc., into the sea."