Parasha Vayelech (He went)

From Rabbi Jack...

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shuva, in English it means the Shabbat of Repentance so I would like to share reasons we should repent.

Matthew {24:21} "for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall."

What Matthew wrote is an amazingly scary statement when we think of all the wars, holocausts, famines, diseases, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions that have occurred this past year. It is even more amazingly scary when we think of all the atrocities that have taken place all over this earth from the time of Adam and Eve until now. Think about it, because what Yeshua is saying here is, add all the horrors I have just mentioned together, and the sum of them will not compare to what the world is about to experience during the Great Tribulation.

The world is on the threshold of a terrible tribulation which will bring widespread violence. Magog, as prophesied, will attack Israel and they will bring 'many others' with them to invade God's Land; probably all the Arab nations that hate Israel but definitely Libya and Ethiopia, which are named by Ezekiel. Throughout the world the Great Tribulation will be a time of tremendous hatred in the hearts of men. In fact, the hatred will be so severe that a man will slit his own mother's throat without blinking an eye. Brother will stab brother in the back, without hesitation. Parents will turn against their children and children against their parents! Can you imagine the confusion, the chaos that will rule over the world at that time? We think we live in a violent society now, well it is nothing compared to the malicious slaughter which will take place during the Tribulation. Dead bodies will be lying in the streets with no one to bury them. Groaning and suffering will be everywhere, and the stench of death will reek in the air.

The bottom line; if you have not repented and are not saved (have not invited Messiah Yeshua into your life), you best repent and get saved now.

Let me tell you something about salvation and forgiveness of sins. It is so precious and valuable, that God refuses to allow you to buy it, earn it or work for it. But if you are willing to receive it as a free gift, God will give it to you!

Fear of the future is not a bad reason to want to get saved, but there are so many other positive benefits to salvation, that I have to confess from experience; even if there was no tribulation or no hell, I would still want to be saved!

Hi Ellen here…

Are you addicted to anything? I am and I am working it all out with my Heavenly Father. In fact, it is a gradual process with me but I am sure with others it may be instant! Did you know, that it does not have to be an addiction to drugs, sex or alcohol? There are so many other addictions that are sinful and need healing and deliverance from! I am not going to name mine as I would not ask you yours but Abba knows…He knows all and He knows the perfect timing in our lives for the deliverance, healing and redemption from these addictions…and yes evil desires. So, you do not look at pornography but food in your life rules you and not you ruling the food. Ok you do not wake up in the morning and have a whiskey but you cannot wait to go shopping for some new shoes to add to the 10's and 50's of those already in your closet. You do not even think about sex all day but you do need to manipulate the situations in your life that have not worked out the way you would like them to. And let us not talk about analyzing all the above!

Yes, when we became Born Again and embraced our Lord and Savior Yeshua, we were set free but now we need to walk in freedom, His freedom not ours. Let us pray; "…Heavenly Abba, I now lay all that needs to be fixed in me to you! I release the strongholds in my life and await your perfect peace in my life. I pray and believe for all things in Your name Yeshua! Amen…"

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 commentary

Sermon of the week "God waits patiently"

Yom Teruah Day 1 Teaching

Yom Teruah Day 2 Teaching

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Parasha Nitzavim (Standing)

From Rabbi Jack...

When God made Solomon king over His people Israel, Solomon asked the Lord:
1 Kings {3:9} "So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil."

We pray that this would be our prayer as well, that we will truly desire a heart of wisdom so that we will have the discernment needed to live in the world but yet not be part of the world. The Devil wants us to fail in our walk with God and he will do everything he can to make us fail. So we must keep praying like King Solomon to be assured that God will answer us the same way He answered King Solomon:

1 Kings {3:12} "Behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, …"

Our success and happiness in life all depend on the choices we make. Our walk with God and the path we choose for our lives now will affect who we will become in the future.

Genesis {12:1} "The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." Genesis {12:4} "So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran." Genesis {12:5} He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there."

When Abraham and Sarah set out toward the unknown, they were willing to learn and grow along the way. They had the confidence that there was a divine purpose and a plan leading them. King Solomon, Abraham and Sarah are role models for us today. When we are faced with challenges that compel us to change, what we face in life is meant to force us to grow for our benefit and for God's glory.

Hi Ellen here…

I am so excited for you! You have received Yeshua into your heart and are born-again, hallelujah! Now what? Well, I have some additional good news for you. The Word of God is not complex but our interpretations and analytical minds are. So put away your ideas and let us look at three easy ways to walk like Yeshua. Ephesians 5.1-2 says: "Walk in love…Therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love, as Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." Ephesians 5.8-10 says this: "…Walk in Light, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Ephesians 5.15-17 says: "…Walk in Wisdom, see that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Wow, pretty basic Scriptures, right? If you have read some of my other brief dissertations, they usually carry a rebuke and challenge to do good rather than evil. Today I would just like to bless you with this good news. If you so desire to read on in these addresses in Ephesians you can do so at your leisure…but be warned!

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 commentary

Sermon of the week "Satanic spiritual deception"

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Parasha Shoftim (Judges)

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."

From Rabbi Jack...

Habakkuk lived during turbulent and uncertain times in Judah; times of spiritual bankruptcy, injustice, oppression, violence, and wickedness. They were times of political instability and of national crisis and the war machine of Babylon was grounding nation after nation into the dust all around Israel. Sounds a lot like the world we are living in now. It was because of all this that Habakkuk is thrown into doubts, confusion, and even into lodging accusations against God. He was caught-up in frustration caught up and felt that God did not care about what was going on. However, notice that Habakkuk does not say in our verse; "THEN" will I rejoice in God; he says; "YET, I will rejoice in God." Despite what was going on in his life or in Judah, Habakkuk could still rejoice in the Lord! Maybe all your friends have rejected you, maybe you lost your job or have no job, maybe you are sick or your health is failing, maybe everything is going wrong in your life; can you still say, like Habakkuk said; "Yet, I will rejoice in God".

As Believers, we have to look around us and find a reason to rejoice and as Believers that should be easy. If nothing else, we can just think back to the goodness of Yeshua and all that He has done for us. Sometimes we just need to stop and count our blessings and realize that there are so many people who do not know Yeshua as their Lord and Savior, who are in much worse situations than us with no hope, no Yeshua in their lives. We have to look beyond our temporary setbacks 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 things do not go our way, and instead of rejoicing we have a pity party. Having faith is when things are not going our way and we can still rejoice in the Lord.

 

Hi Ellen here…

In 1970 a film came out that everyone, I mean everyone, went to see.  Maybe some of you remember it and maybe some will Google it after reading this.  It was called "Love Story".  A married couple so desperately in love, it was palatable.  The saying in this movie which made it so memorable was…love means never having to say you're sorry.  This saying is so contrary to us as Believers in Messiah Yeshua.  A great part of our walk with God is saying sorry and meaning it.  We are to forgive and forget!  Did you know that when we are angry at someone it does not affect them but totally stresses us out! Anger and unforgiveness cause all sorts of negative effects in our lives!  First of all, it causes stress.  Stress causes disease which leads to a total lack of peace.  Unforgiveness is also a cause of sin and it is a sin all in itself.  I am not saying forgiveness is easy but I am saying it is a requirement within our walk with God.  Unforgiveness can be a barrier for the Holy Spirit to work in us; unforgiveness can invite demonic activity in our lives; unforgiveness can even kill us!  So now it is up to us…forgive and forget today.  God has forgiven you and thrown your sins into the deepest part of the sea never to be fished for again by Him. So, stop peeking into that little box you have hidden from others, that is full of your unforgiveness and forgive yourself and those who have hurt you and start anew!

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 "

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Parasha Ki Tavo (When you are come)

From Rabbi Jack...

There are too many Messianic teachers out there today who are drawing Believers back to Judaism, quoting Jewish writings and the Jewish sages; the very people who rejected Yeshua and persecuted Messianic Believers. Scripture says:

1 John 2:23 Everyone who denies the Son is also without the Father, but the person who acknowledges the Son has the Father as well.

It is clear! If the Jewish writers and sages, denied the Son, they denied the Father. So, who were these men worshiping and why therefore, should we now listen to what they had to say? Yet the unsuspecting eat it up because it sounds intelligent and feeds their enamor for Judaism and their hunger for knowledge, for knowledge's sake. I know that if Believers continue to listen to these teachings, it will ultimately lead them to denying Yeshua as God because behind the words of these false teachers is an anti-Christ spirit.

Thank God for the Messianic teachers who are truly following Yeshua. They have a truth message to share with people who really desire to learn, grow and be transformed into the image of Messiah Yeshua. When the truth is taught and God's message is given, expect the going to get tough in our lives because we will find ourselves face to face with the reality that we are not where we ought to be in our walk with God. The truth convicts, the truth transforms, the truth draws us closer to God; lies tickle ears, knowledge puffs up! Anything that is going to draw us closer to where God wants us to be must cause us to change and become more Messiah-like. Be forewarned, as soon as what we are listening to draws us closer to religious practices and traditions of men, we are heading in a direction that is leading us further from God, not closer to Him. We need then to stop listening to those who are teaching an anti-Christ religion and start listening to those who are teaching a Messiah relationship.

Hi Ellen here...
Although you will receive this on Thursday, the 19th day of Elul, I decided to write this short note to "us" all on Wednesday, the 18th of Elul. Now I don't want to come across religious but the number 18 in Hebrew represents CHAI! Chai means life and for this Shabbat I pray that you all have LIFE more abundantly! Here are a few suggestions for LIFE! Stop cleaning the outside of your life and start cleaning your heart and thoughts; Start putting God first and your spouse and children second; Turn off the electronics in your life and start reading Scripture every day; Stop looking for man's approval and seek the Lord; Stop leaning on your own understanding and start depending on the Holy Spirit…There are countless more suggestions for all of us so let us start today and not delay!

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

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Parasha commentary (coming soon)

Sermon of the week "What can we expect"

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Parasha Re'eh (See)

From Rabbi Jack...

In this fast paced, fun loving age we now find ourselves living in, we are often caught off guard when the worst comes; when despair, dismay, and discouragement hit our lives; when calamity comes our way. We are shocked because we never believed stuff like that would happen to us. But the worst does come and in life, things do not always go according to plan, not our plan anyway. Catastrophic circumstances, tumultuous times, and perilous predicaments, strike us and affect our lives, whether they be personal, national or international calamities, events or problems.

Not every day will be wonderful for us. So, we need a "Hard Times" faith in God to see us through the unexpected sorrows, sicknesses and tragedies which happen in life. "Hard Times" faith caused Daniel to pray three times a day during the Babylonian captivity. It caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to believe that God would deliver them out of the "fiery furnace."

Therefore, despite the unanticipated events of life we need to rejoice in our salvation and we need to keep on rejoicing in our salvation believing that God is in control. "Hard Times" faith believes that God is going to work things out in our home, at our job, in our community, in our nation, in the world and in every possible situation we may have to face.

Matthew {28:20}: "….and be sure of this-- that I am with you always, even to the end of the world."

Hi Ellen here…

I'm going to divulge some personal information to reach my point. When Jack and I were courting, the lease on my apartment was almost over. Jack owned a home but being born again believers I could not move in with him, even if I stayed in another part of the house. As blessings would have it Jack's parents did not live far away, we were all in pretty much the same neighborhood, so he moved back in with his parents and I moved into his house! Here's a man set in his ways, a bachelor for quite some time, not only once again coming under the roof but also the authority of his parents at the age of 45! His dad was very clear about Jack living there and coming under the guidelines set by him. In other words, at that age Jack had to be obedient to his parent's house rules.

So here it is…if you have children living under your roof there are ways to express your witness of the living God, the Messiah Yeshua to those under YOUR roof! Mishpocha/family, if you are born again then that is who you have to be for your children, whether 5 years of age or 45 years…they may not agree with your values but living under YOUR roof they must come under your authority.

Shabbat should be a blessing and not a burden to any in your household as it is to you. Setting times or curfews should be at your discretion also knowing who their friends are…Listen to me, this is not being strict…this is being born again!!! If you are allowing or even encouraging any of your children to do other activities on Shabbat, shame on you. Do you know that the most hateful thing you can do to a family member or anyone for that matter is not share Messiah's truth with them.

We have shared with our families; some listen and some do not but we leave it to the Lord. However, if they are living under our roof, they sit with us at the Shabbat dinner table and spend Shabbat afternoon as we do. Jack and I want to populate heaven and plunder hell! So, if you are being nice and allowing your children, no matter what age, to do whatever they want when they are under your roof, especially on this one super blessed day of Shabbat…well you may be facilitating them going to hell.

Blessings, we love you and one day we want to see all of you in heaven with Yeshua!

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

Rabbi Jack & Ellen

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Sermon of the week "Discipleship"

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Parasha Ekev (Because)

From Rabbi Jack...

Galatians {6:7} "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

I have shared this Scripture passage many times in my messages and teachings. Anyone who has ever planted a seed knows that if you plant cucumber seeds in your garden you are not going to reap pumpkins at harvest time. This principle of sowing and reaping has its roots in Torah.

Deuteronomy {7:9} "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments."

Simply said; if we sow obedience and righteousness, we will reap blessings. Equally if we sow rebellion and stubbornness, we will reap curses. Every idle thought we think, every negative word we speak, whether against others or against ourselves will affect our tomorrows. Curses and blessings are in the power of our thoughts and our tongues. We do not need people to bless us or curse us because we can do both to ourselves by the seeds we sow. Every thought, word and deed sown today either negative or positive will bear its corresponding fruit tomorrow. Sow seeds of obedience and righteousness because it is not so much that others bless or curse us, we bless and curse ourselves.

 

Hi Ellen here…

We continue to pray and seek out a place for Etz Chaim Kenya, Nairobi, so we can gather together as a family on Shabbat…it has been very difficult finding a place because Jack and I are here and not there and most have become comfortable watching services on Zoom!  We know God's timing is perfect so we wait on Him for instruction.  Please pray for us as frustration sets in at times and as we know that can open the door for the evil one to attack!  I believe God desires His children to worship together in spirit and truth, together.  Looking at Zoom on Shabbat has sometimes been discouraging because sitting in our living room's is very conducive to falling asleep, surfing on our phones or anything we might be doing at home; but do not forget we all can see each other!  So, we have been praying as of late the following… "Lord we want to see what you see.  Lord, we want to hear what you hear.  Lord, we do not want to do anything by our own power. Lord, Help!!!"

 

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Sermon of the week "Joy never changes"

Parasha Va'etchanan (And I Pleaded)

From Rabbi Jack...

Luke {5:1} "One day, as Yeshua was standing on the shore of Lake Kinneret, with the people pressing in around him in order to hear the word of God, {5:2} he noticed two boats pulled up on the beach, left there by the fishermen, who were cleaning their nets. {5:3} He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat."

There are times when we sense that Yeshua is telling us to do something. We can feel it in our spirit but we have some unwillingness to do it. We ask: "Why do I have to do this; why do I have to give this up; why can I not do it my way and why can I not do it in my own time." These are very common struggles that most Believers have, common complaints that have been around since man was created. Let us face it, many times our free will gets the best of us. It is the things that we hold dearest, like our personal time, that usually come into conflict with our relationship with God. Sometimes it is our ego that drives a wedge between us and the Lord. We also take offence when the Holy Spirit convicts us that making money should not be our driving force in life; we are put-off when we are made to feel guilty about things we say or do and we get offended when someone confronts us with the reality of who we really are. But these things have to happen because they are a natural part of drawing us closer to the Lord. Without these experiences we cannot be molded into Yeshua's image. Just as an X-ray probes deep into our bodies, exposing the defects and disease, the Holy Spirit probes deep into our being exposing everything that we are either intentionally or unintentionally concealing. Without the diagnostics there can be no progression to treatment or cure.

So how should we react when we feel the influence of our Lord's will telling us to do something we do not feel like doing? There's only one word that should describe the way we need to react to Yeshua's will for our lives when it is revealed to us through His Word or by the Holy Spirit, and that is "immediate." Once we know the will of God there is no time to waste, only action to take. There is no time for discussion, disagreement or compromise; there needs to be quick, total, immediate and complete surrender to His will.

Hi Ellen here…

A friend sent me an image some time ago that I liked very much. I liked it so much that I posted it on my WhatsApp status more than once. It says…"Joseph waited 15 years; Abraham waited 25 years; Moses waited 40 years; Yeshua waited 30 years. If God is making you wait, you are in very good company." Just typing it makes me smile! If you truly believe that God has promised you something, may it be ministry, traveling, a spouse, a child or a divine and miraculous opportunity then wait patiently. If it is of God, He will bring it to pass. We all need to know that His timing is not like ours…the world offers us instantaneous gratification in so many areas. These areas are most probably not from God so wait patiently. Isaiah 62.6-7 urges the people of God to pray fervently, not to allow God to rest, but to awaken Him with relentless cries so that He should keep His promises to the end, (paraphrased). Waiting patiently does not mean sitting back or second-guessing God or making things happen by your own power! Waiting patiently on God means praying, listening, reading and at times sitting quietly at His feet and asking Him to speak to you. So today I would like to leave you with this, God wants us to press into His presence and wait patiently before His Holy Throne of Grace. Blessings, we love you!

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 "Mistaken Priorities"

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Parashot Devarim (Words)

From Rabbi Jack...

Matthew {6:25,34} "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. {6:34} Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Due to the external influences the world's secular humanism exerts on people, Believers lose touch with the inward leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. God does not tell us in advance what tomorrow will bring, He leads us day by day working in our lives and directing our path as the Holy Spirit sees fit. If we are in touch with the Holy Spirit within us and have released our lives to Him, we do not have to plan tomorrow but can trust that God has our tomorrows in hand and under control. More lives have been derailed because Believers left the leading of the Holy Spirit and ventured into planning and directing their own lives.

Proverbs {29:18} "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he."

This Scripture is perhaps one of the most misinterpreted and abused passages in the Bible. From it, people think they need a vision for their lives. Pastors and Messianic Rabbis think they need a vision for their congregation's direction, business people think they need a vision for where their companies will be in the next years, and so on. However, the word for vision used in the Hebrew is, "hazon" which properly translated into English means divine communication. I think the New Living Translation grasped how the scripture is to be understood.

Proverbs 29:18 "When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful."

So, what is the conclusion of this matter?

Matthew {6: 34} "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Hi Ellen here…

Everyone Ok out there in the cyber world? I was thinking today that Zoom is a great vehicle to hide in. We have many people logging on Shabbat to our services but many "squares "are black with just a name or number. There are some who do show themselves and that's great! I think of those we cannot see a lot. Are you not dressed for Shabbat? Is there not enough power or internet in your homes? Are you cooking? Are you painting the hallway? Maybe you don't know how to turn on the video? Are you even there? There are many reasons or should I say excuses for not joining the visual virtual cyber family on the Zoom screen but guess what? We may not see you but God sees everything.

In the Bible we know that Adam and Eve tried to hide from God, we also know how that turned out. We know that Jonah tried to hide from God and yes, we also know how that turned out as well. Are you busy? Are you feeling shameful or unrepentant? Come out, come out wherever you are…so we may have a more intimate time of fellowship with you and you with us. You can hide from us but remember you cannot hide from God (Psalm 139) …Looking forward to seeing you on Shabbat.

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 "Perfect love drives out fear"

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Parashot Matot-Masei (Tribes - Journeys)

From Rabbi Jack...

Matthew {5:37} "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."

Basically, what Yeshua is saying here is; Keep It Simple. Why did He say this? Because He was speaking to a group of hypocritical religious leaders. However, we too have a tendency to be hypocritical, so Yeshua is also instructing us to keep it simple by letting our 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and our 'No' mean 'No'. In other words, we are not to exaggerate and we are not to lie because anything beyond being truthful, Yeshua says, comes from the devil.

John {8:44} "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

So, when we lie, we are speaking the Satan's language and becoming like him.

Do you remember when we were kids and we wanted to be sure someone was telling us the truth? We would ask them, "Do you swear to God?" or we would ask them say "Honest to God." Of course, they would say it and would still be lying.

We do the same thing as adults. We say, "As God is my witness" or "honest to God" yet we may still be lying or exaggerating. In court we are asked to place our hand on the Bible and swear that we will "Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." But the reality is, taking that kind of oath will not make a dishonest person any more likely to tell the truth, and the lack of an oath on the Bible will not make an honest person any less likely to tell a lie.

This passage of Scripture as given to us by Yeshua is not an injunction against taking an oath in court. Rather it is a commandment to keep our lives free from elaborate oaths and schemes to assure others that we are indeed telling the truth. Yeshua is telling us to live simple, speak simply and to tell the simple truth. If we are people who have an honest character then we will not need to swear or promise to make others believe us, our character will be our oath and it will speak for itself.

Hi Ellen here...

It's a tough world out there and sometimes it is easier to be tough than to be Messiah like! As believers in Yeshua, we are to be like Him. God wants to give us the power to talk like him, live like Him and think like Him but we have to be willing to allow Him to do so. God would like His Word to come out of our mouths into a sin sickened world and our responses to it be His and not ours…mmm, sounds like self-control. This is one fruit that I deal with every day. Please pray for me in this area. We should strive to love everyone as God loves us! This world desperately needs healing and we can be a doctor of sorts. When we respond to a family member in anger; because remember not all our family members may be saved, we radiate the world and not the Messiah. When our children or spouse looks at us do they see wickedness, rage, even hatred or do they see love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, patience and yes self-control? Let's feast together on good fruit and throw out the rotten fruit today!

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 "Precious in His sight"

Mini teaching "Nothing but the Blood"

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Parasha Pinchas (Phineas)

From Rabbi Jack...

Exodus {15:22} "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. {15:23}  Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Marah. {15:24} And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" {15:25} So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, …."

It is obvious that God brought the children of Israel to Marah to test them. God is always going to test His children. The Children of Israel had already seen the miracle of the ten plagues, the miracle of the gifts bestowed on them by the Egyptians, the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh's army in the sea. Now, after wandering about for a while in the wilderness their water was running low, they were thirsting, their cattle were thirsting and, in the distance, they saw a pool of water only to arrive and find that the water was undrinkable. From the Scripture passages we can see two opposite end results of testing. The children of Israel complained and received no revelation from God and Moses prayed and the Lord gave Him the solution to the problem. There is not a problem or a test that God does not have the solution for, however, if all we do is complain He will never reveal it to us; try praying instead!

Hi Ellen here…

I was reading and thinking on the Scripture in Matthew concerning coming to Yeshua like a little child.  Kids, we love them and their innocence and we are a little envious of it!  Children have such freedom in the spirit and in the physical. What I am trying to express is that children are humble, forgiving, not seeking a position higher than who they just are.  They are trusting that their parents and siblings will protect them and instruct them in the way they should go and not lead them astray.  I remember as a child my oldest sister would take care of me as if I were her child.  My middle sister and I played and shared together and our parents did not put stumbling blocks in our paths that we should fall.  This is how we should come to Yeshua. 

What I would like to say to you today is this…stop analyzing and contriving everything, stop seeking to be someone else because God made you as you are and He loves you so much!  Shed the skin of the world.  Don't worry about what you should eat or what you should wear.  Stop and give it to God and come to Him as His little child.

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 "Under the Sun"

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Parasha Balak

From Rabbi Jack...

Proverbs {3:5} "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; {3:6} In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

This Scripture passage recently came alive in our lives. The other week I reported that I had lost my wallet. It was a daunting experience, not because of the loss but because I would have to replace everything I lost. Ellen and I retraced the most likely place it may have fallen out of my tote bag – Assuta Hospital in Ashdod. We checked with the receptionist, we checked with the doctor, with no results. Despite the loss, however, we were at total peace. Yes, though I may not have known where my wallet was, God did. Therefore, I needed not to set my mind on the loss but on the good that God was going to accomplish through its loss.

Wednesday July the 6th a God incident happened. Our Israeli daughter (she adopted us), had a friend that was going to Assuta for a test. She had someone who was going to accompany her but at the last minute that person was unable to go. So, our daughter, who had no reason to go to Assuta and who was available only because it was her day off, offered to join her. While at the hospital, knowing that was the place I most likely lost my wallet, she took a shot and went to the security office to inquire. Sure enough, my wallet was there. Security had my wallet for days and could have very easily contacted me, but did not. It is so encouraging how God worked out all the circumstances in getting our daughter to Assuta, she was the last person we expected to find my wallet.

What good came from this loss? First, both our daughter and we experienced firsthand God's leading and intervention in our lives; our daughter was able to help a friend in need and whoever found my wallet, most likely a cleaning maintenance person, was blessed with the money they found.

We may never get to meet the person who found and turned in my wallet to security, but I believe that God wanted this perfect stranger, someone I would have never met or otherwise helped, to have the money which perhaps they desperately needed. We give God all the Glory!

Hi Ellen here…

I have spoken to you all before concerning what the world has to offer and I reiterate, "All that glitters is not gold"!

Well, today let us talk about hearing and reading. We all know that rock music, especially heavy metal, contains satanic messages. As I was growing up everyone would say of that super talented group, The Beatles, that one of their albums carried subliminal messages, if you played it backwards! Just to make sure, I will give the definition of subliminal; "Perceived by or affecting someone's mind without them being aware of it"…Oh my goodness that is scary. It is not the music that is bad but the spirit behind the music. For example, heavy metal music, if you can call it music, has a satanic spirit!

Now, I will share something that maybe you have not thought of. Hearing or reading messages or teachings from unbelieving religious scholars, although they may seem insightful and harmless, carry an anti-Messiah spirit and really have no place in a Believer's life. Even the most dedicated Believer cannot, at times, discern between spirits when reading or listening to Jewish teaching, insights and commentaries. I have received unbeliever's TED podcasts from friends saying; "Oh you have to hear this amazing message," no I do not! Now, do not be fooled because even some Pastors and Messianic Rabbis are not always spot on with lining up with the Word and Spirit of God.

Brothers and sisters, now is the time to grow up and sharpen the gifts we've already been given…wisdom, knowledge and discerning of spirits. If you want to receive deeper insight into the Word then ask HIM, for our God is a generous and loving God.

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Sermon of the week "Gift of eternal life"

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