Parsha Chukat (Statutes)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link
John {18:37-38} “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Yeshua answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” 38) “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.” With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.” Truth is not subjective! We cannot rely on our own interpretation of Scripture to determine truth. Many Believers fail in their lives and in their relationship with God because they neglect truth and worse yet, neglect to apply truth to their lives. Satan is the father of lies and he likes nothing more than for a Believer to lie to themselves. Yes, most of the time Satan does not have to lie to us because we do a good job of doing that to ourselves! How do we do it? By not believing the truth so the truth has not set us free and we are still bound up in our selfish selves. Some of the truths we do not believe are: When Yeshua died on the cross, we died with Him and that now the life I live I live in Him. (Galatians 2:20). So many acknowledge that Yeshua died for their sin but they have no understanding that when He died, they died along with Him so they can no longer live their old lives. That is truth! I do not have to defeat Satan; he is already defeated. Yeshua did it for us on the cross. (1 John 3:8). Satan is a defeated foe. That does not mean he has given up on attacking us. It means that he cannot defeat us so long as use the weapons of war Yeshua has given us. That is truth! Yeshua died on the cross so that I will have eternal life and I have it now. It is not something I will get in the future. (John 5:24). Many believe that they get eternal life when they die and go to heaven, The fact is we receive eternal life at salvation. That is truth! Yeshua shed His blood on the cross. I am forgiven, of all past, present and future sin. (1 John 1:19). Some Believers relive past sins over and over again, when the fact is, they are forgiven and God said “I will remember their sin no more.” So, neither should they. That is truth! By Yeshua’s stripes I was healed. (Isaiah 53:5). Most Believers carry their diseases like they are still theirs. They constantly affirm their sickness by their words. But how can they have the disease if Yeshua bore it? I will tell you how, by not releasing it. That is truth! The battle is the Lord's, the victory is mine. (Deuteronomy 20:4). So many Believers have a negative defeatist attitude and countenance because they feel there is no end to the battles they are facing. When in actuality they do not have a battle, because it has already been fought and won by the Lord. They just need to claim their victory. That is truth!
from Ellen… Bible link
We had all had a really busy week, so I will not ask if you remember last week’s blurb. Then I asked only one of the two questions I was presenting before you. Well, all that said here comes the second question… How is your “kesher” with God? I like that word kesher so much, it is a Hebrew word meaning connection. So how is your connection with God? You think; “Well, I read the Word every day and pray and I am kind and compassionate and even generous to those in need.” Ok, so how is your kesher with God? “I do not commit adultery; in fact, I love my spouse and children and would do whatever I had to do to shield and protect them from harm.” Ok, so how is your kesher with God? “I do not steal from others and I have never killed anyone!” Ok, so how is your kesher with God? Sin is a huge umbrella of so many heinous things; like pride, perversion, persecution of others and the list is endless. I believe and have read that God Almighty is NOT going to ask us what heinous act we have done, He knows everything about each one of us…but He will ask; “How is your kesher with Me.” I ask you today wherever you are in this tough and tiresome world to ponder what I have written, because you know my next question…So how is your kesher with God?"
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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Parasha Korach

BAMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 16:1-18:32 from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" It is a very common practice among preachers to give an ‘altar call’ after their sermon encouraging people to come and receive Yeshua as their Lord and Savior through the reciting of a prayer of salvation. I recall when I accepted Yeshua into my heart, I cried for days afterward and lamented over my sins. Before my salvation sin did not affect me at all. My attitude then was everyone is doing it. Also I immediately developed a hunger to read the Bible and proceeded to contact as many people as I could remember, and had contact information for, to apologize for my past offences towards them. To this very day my life as a Believer is in a constant upward progression as I grow into becoming more and more like Messiah Yeshua. I am telling you this because many people who say a prayer of salvation and who claim to be saved show no evidence of lamenting over their sin. Any evidence they do display is totally of their flesh as they learn to talk the talk and even walk the walk, in their flesh. They never really had a Holy Spirit conviction of sin experience and therefore, they never were really saved. They only attached themselves to the assembly as someone would join any benevolent organization or club. The prayer of salvation they recited was their initiation mantra! Acts 16:31 "So they said, "Believe on the Lord Messiah Yeshua, and you will be saved…." Herein, I believe lies the problem. Sometimes people turn to the Lord because of a personal need such as; loneliness, depression, mental torment, personal problems, sickness, or the need to belong and be appreciated. Most of all, these people turn to Yeshua because they have tried everything else and failed, so Yeshua has become their last resort. They never truly “Believed on the Lord Messiah Yeshua.” Although a preacher preached to them, they never really heard, so they never truly “called on Him in whom they have not believed.”

Parasha Shelach (Send For Yourself)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Psalm (139:23-24) Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; 24) And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Man is a very unique being. Unlike all the other creatures on earth, man is the culmination of God's creation. In fact, we are the sum total of all creation. We are physical (clay from the earth), we are spiritual (the image of God), and we are functional (the breath of God). God breathed life into us and we became a living soul. These three factors make up our triune nature; body, soul and spirit. The body we know to be our flesh, our physical make up. The soul is our minds and our consciousness, it contains our free will. Our spirit is our God like nature. It is our spirit that connects us to God and is our bridge between heaven and earth. Psychics, spiritualists and palm readers are filled with the spirit of the world. The spirit they have is their bridge between hell and earth. That is why they are able to communicate with demons and get information from them about us. Stay away from them, stay away from anything that has to do with the occult and that includes reading horoscopes. The stars are not in control of our life, God is. When God said that He created man in His image, He was not necessarily speaking about His physical image, even though we know that God can manifest Himself in the physical, as He did in Yeshua. But the image referred to by God, I believe, is His spiritual image, for we know that God is Spirit. Unlike all the other creatures created by God on the earth, a born again believer has the moral essence of God living inside of them. This is reflected in the way God instructs us to behave towards one another and the way He instructs us to behave towards Him. Mark 12:30-31 'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31) " And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Parasha Beha'alotcha (When You Set Up)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link
We all desire to have and do many things. But there is usually a special desire we have above all others and this desire will affect our lives and how we live them. If our special desire is centered around our family, then that is what we will work hard for, hope in and expect satisfaction from. If financial security is our special desire, then that will be what we will work for, hope in and look to for satisfaction. What I am saying is that whatever is our one special desire, that will be our god. That is what we will work for, hope in and expect satisfaction from and that is what we will end up worshipping and living for. We become slaves to our special desires, many times without being aware of it. As Believers in Yeshua, our special desire is supposed to be to know God and to worship Him. As humans that is what we were created for and as Believers that is what we were redeemed for. Unregenerate mans' desire is not to worship God. They choose their desires foolishly and slide into decisions that draw them away from God. The sad part is they do not even realize it is happening. A new car, bigger house, career, job and such are all desires that suck them into a downward spiral, unawares. So, the most important question we could ever ask ourselves is: "What is my one special desire? What is it that I work for, hope in and expect satisfaction from?" This question is just another way of asking, "Who is my god?" Who is your God? Who and what are you working for, hoping in, and expecting satisfaction from?" Mark {10:16} And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. {10:17} As Yeshua started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {10:18} "Why do you call me good?" Yeshua answered. "No one is good—except God alone. {10:19} You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " {10:20}"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Here is a young man who knows the importance of keeping Torah. He knows the importance of eternal life and is aware of his own shortcomings. He came to Yeshua as the Teacher sent from God. Mark {10:20} Yeshua looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." Why did Yeshua talk to the man about money? Because it was his hidden special desire. Yeshua saw the need in this man's life to deal with our question. "Who is my god?" With divine insight Yeshua reveals, not just to the young man but us as well, who his real god was!
from Ellen… Bible link
Hi Ellen here…It is a very honorable thing to have creative ideas and put them into action. As a congregational leader we are so blessed when one steps forward and says "I want to serve!" Now comes the reality of the whole thing. First, we pray and ask the Lord if it is of Him. We then ask Him how to implement it and if the creator is mature and responsible to lead. Sounds easy but it is not, because we have to be very careful to be sure we are hearing from the Lord. This sometimes offends the not so ready party to lead, and their pride steps in and if they are not mature enough, they usually blame it on leadership and before leaving enjoy putting down those in authority. Then there are those who begin a ministry on their own without consulting leadership and come out like a bull but soon enough they cannot live up to their or anyone else's expectations. Isaiah {8:20} says: "…for teaching and instruction? For they will indeed give you this unenlightened suggestion." They draw in those who are equally immature with their charismatic manner, only to shut down the ministry they started on their own, because they just cannot live up to their own unenlightened suggestion. To sum up this quirky situation I would like to state the following… "All that glitters is not gold and let your yes be yes and your no be no!" I can recommend a very good book for all your questions and instructions and it is called The Bible! It is a best seller and you will be blessed as you read it!
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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If you are being blessed by the teachings and commentaries we share, please consider supporting the ministry to Kenya and Israel. We support the needy, the hungry, the elderly and new immigrants (Olim). Most of all we teach and preach the Word of God in both countries and throughout the world. Contact us for more information: daatbina@gmail.com To Donate using PayPal 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 donation options.
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Parasha Naso (Take)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Genesis {3:16} To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." {3:17} And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; {3:18} thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. There are many misunderstood verses in the English translations of the Bible and this passage is one of them. What we have here is God placing a curse on Eve and Adam for their disobedience in eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, one part of the curse placed upon the woman, as it is translated in English, is not a curse at all. “Your desire shall be for your husband…” The English version took the Hebrew word “T’SUQA” and translated it as “DESIRE” which is a valid translation. However, readers of the Bible have taken it to mean, “The desire of a woman for a man.” For a woman to desire a man and for a man to desire a woman is something natural and cannot be taken as a curse. It is not uncommon for Hebrew words to have multiple meanings and such is the case with “T’SUQA.” Of the three possible meanings of this word only one fits the category of being a curse and that is “The desire of a beast to devour its prey.” In fact, the root word of ‘t’suqa’ is ‘shuq’ with means “stretch out against.” God cursed woman with a jezebel spirit (the desire to devour her husband), and He cursed man with having to earn his living with hard work. You might say, “Yeshua redeemed us from the curse.” Yes, Yeshua redeemed us from the curse of sin and death but not from the curses mentioned in our scripture passage. Prior to my salvation I had to work hard, long hours to support myself, it was a drudgery having to wake up early and work late so as to make ends meet. The morning after I was saved, Born Again, I was not redeemed from having to work hard for a living. I still had to wake up early and work late. The difference came in my attitude towards my work. I now viewed my work as a ministry for the Lord and viewed God as my boss, this made all the difference. Forty-five years later although I still work long and hard it is now a blessing and I have overcome the curse. I was not redeemed from the curse through salvation but my whole outlook toward having to work was redeemed. The same principle applies to women. Yeshua did not redeem them from the jezebel curse. They are redeemed when saved, Born-Again, because their attitude towards men takes on a different meaning and expression, which defeats and overcomes the jezebel spirit in them. The same principle applies to child birth. It becomes something beautiful instead of painful. In other words, through the Holy Spirit believing men and women are able to rise above and overcome the curses of hard work, weeds, thistles, painful childbirth and desire to devour. Sadly, however, many Believers resist the Spirit and are still stuck with the curses.

Parasha Bamidbar (In the Wilderness)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

Matthew {5:33} "Again, you have heard that our fathers were told, `Do not break your oath,' and `Keep your vows to God’ {5:34} But I tell you not to swear at all -- not `by heaven,' because it is God's throne; {5:35} not `by the earth,' because it is his footstool; and not `by Jerusalem,' because it is the city of the Great King. {5:36} And don't swear by your head, because you can't make a single hair white or black. {5:37} Just let your `Yes' be a simple `Yes,' and your `No' a simple `No'; anything more than this has its origin in evil." What Yeshua is saying here is linked to honesty. This is why Yeshua said that we are not to vow at all. If we do not vow, we cannot be dishonest and vow falsely. “Keep it simple” He says; the less said the better. We live during a time where we have more legal documents and contracts which mean less than at any other time in history. It used to be that agreements were sealed with a handshake, and they were far more binding than the reams of paper generated by legal experts today. We used to say, “A person’s word is his bond.” But now we have prenuptial agreements, sales agreements, employee contracts and all kinds of other legal documents which are only as good as the character of the people who sign them, which in most cases makes them worthless. Do you really think that a prenuptial agreement will help a couple keep their vow to, ‘love honour and cherish each other untill death do them part?’ Of course not! Marriage is the highest commitment that we make outside of our commitment to God. It is the place where honesty is more important than at any other time in our lives. Honesty is a characteristic of God; therefore, it should be one of our characteristics as well. It would be sad if at the end of our life we end up like the man in Michelangelo’s painting of the “Last Judgment.” He painted a man being dragged down to hell by demons, one hand over one eye and in the other a look of horrible anguish. At that moment it was too late for him. I pray that before it’s too late for you, you will recognize honesty, believe in honesty and live honestly by living with simplicity, transparency and integrity. Proverbs {5:2} Don't speak impulsively – do not be in a hurry to give voice to your words before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few. {5:3} For nightmares come from worrying too much; and a fool, when he speaks, chatters too much.

Parasha Bahar - Bechukotai (On Mount - My Statutes)

from Rabbi Jack… Bible link

I think we all need to understand how God works things out in our lives; this should explain it! 1 Samuel {9:3} Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, "Please, take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." {9:4} So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. {9:5} When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us." {9:6} And he said to him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So, let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go." {9:7} Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" {9:8} And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Look, I have here at hand one fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way." All of Israel asked Samuel for a king. God told Samuel to heed their voice. Samuel had no idea who God wanted him to choose, but God did, and look how He brought His choice to Samuel. Saul’s father’s donkeys happened to get lost, so Kish send his son and servant to find them. They travel around from place to place looking, with no success. Finally, the pair arrive near a city where Samuel was evidently staying. Saul was reluctant to go and consult Samuel about the whereabouts of the donkeys, he did not have a gift to bring Samuel, but as it happened, his servant did. The day before Samuel was told by God to expect Saul. Upon seeing him God said, “There he is,,,” Moral of this story. Nothing in our lives happens by accident. In relation to God, the means always brings us to His desired end!

Parsha Emor (Speak)

 

From Rabbi Jack… Bible link
In Deuteronomy chapter 28 we read God’s list of blessings and curses. I would like to focus this teaching on the blessings and curses that relate to our finances. Many of us are experiencing financial hardship, can it be related back to a curse? First, I want to encourage us, that as Believers in Messiah Yeshua we have been redeemed from all curses; Yeshua became a curse for us. Galatians 3:13 “Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree),” The poverty curses Deuteronomy 28 lists are; hunger, thirst, nakedness and lack of all things. However, Scripture assures us that Yeshua became poor so that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). Is there still a possibility then that as Believers our difficult financial situation can be the cause of a curse? 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Grace is received by faith and we are told that; “Without faith it’s impossible to please God.” We are also told that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him by faith. Faith and righteousness go hand in hand and only righteousness based on faith is acceptable to God. Sadly, my experience is that many Believers do not exercise faith in the area of finances. Consequently, they do not demonstrate a righteousness based on faith. It does not matter how we earn our living, as an employer or employee, we must still exercise faith when it comes to our finances otherwise, we limit God. However, faith is demonstrated not only in receiving but also in giving. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Notice that this verse starts with GIVE and then ends with, IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU. So, we are not to wait until we receive before we give! We are to give first and then we will receive. Nor are we ever to think that we are too poor to give and thus hold back from giving. God’s condition for receiving is giving, whether we are poor or rich. It is the sow and reaping principle given to us by Paul in: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Yes, Yeshua redeemed us from the curse of poverty but He also requires us to demonstrate righteousness by faith. Romans 14:23b … “for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
From Ellen… Bible link
We have shared this before but I will reiterate.  Jack and I over the years have taken various kinds of medicines and supplements, as I am sure we all have.  On the bottle or box of pills it indicates that the medication should be taken 3x a day, for the most part.  We trust in God as our healer so we have since the beginning of shutdowns due to covid, started to take the GOSPILL after every meal.  What a joy and illumination it has been to take a chapter in and ingest it just as we would a pill or spoonful of medicine, but better!   Jack and I have just started the Book of Revelation as our GOSPILL and this is what I would like to share…Chapter 2 and 3 talk about the “churches.”  John states their spirituality or lack of and I noticed one thing written in each account.  It ends with, “he who overcomes or to him that overcomes.”  We who are born again of God are overcomers!    The kehillah the Lord has given Jack, myself and the elders in Kenya has but One Leader and His Name is Yeshua.  Let us read in John 16.33 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”    Will you not join Jack and me in following the only One and True Leader, Healer and Father by not forgetting to take our GOSPILL!
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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Read parasha	Commentary	Sermon of the week “Controlled By The Spirit"
If you are being blessed by the teachings and commentaries we share, please consider supporting the ministry to Kenya and Israel. We support the needy, the hungry, the elderly and new immigrants (Olim). Most of all we teach and preach the Word of God in both countries and throughout the world. Contact us for more information: daatbina@gmail.com To Donate using PayPal 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 donation options.
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