Thoughts For The Sabbath

Sitting here this morning I cannot help but think about that first Passover in Egypt. Depending on what you believe, Passover is either tonight just before the sun goes down or tomorrow just before the sun goes down. Some people keep it both days. It is likely important for us to spend time trying to figure out what is right, not to get it right, but to spend the time. Anyway, I think about what happened back then, and I am very impacted in thinking what that must have been like. Slaves that were not given enough to do their jobs, and then treated badly for not doing them. But they had seen the miracles of the nine previous plagues. Now Moses was telling them to kill a lamb an wipe the blood around the door of their homes. They had been caring for this lamb for a few days. What must have been in their minds about everything that was to die that evening?

Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

They were obedient because they had seen it, so they believed. But they had to wonder what was about to happen.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come here in the hearts and minds of men. Let Your will be done here, perfectly, just like the sun rise and set. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all the evil from our hearts and minds. Send in quickly the $424,523,962.53 that we might help the needs of many. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all that has been eaten, destroyed, carried away, or stolen by the enemy of that which is good, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these things of You in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Improving The Day

As I began here this morning, it was obvious to me that there was something of substance to say. The words are just spilling out of me. Perhaps the important point here is that we can be inspired to do what might seem like great things to some or all. If so, it is important to not restrain the Spirit that is guiding us. And I believe that is the message on this Sabbath day (Yom Shabbat). Praise and pray to our Father YAH and He will do what He only can do, and that without fail. He will change our lives.

Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Thank you Father, for making this day and every day batter.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come to the hearts of men. Let Your will be done here perfectly, as it is done without fail in the heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away the thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us. In their place let there be only thoughts and memories of You and the love You have toward us. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all the good that has been eaten by the enemy, or taken away, or stolen. Send in quickly the $424,523,962.53 that we might use it to advance the kingdom of God in the hearts and minds of people here. We love You, YAH! Help us to remember You on this Sabbath day. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these things of You, Father, in the name YAH Yeahush. Amen.

Resting With Friends

Today my family and I go to hear a guest speaker at fellowship. This is a new experience for us, having an out of town speaker on the Sabbath. Very interesting. To that end, I just want everyone to be encouraged today to do good and be excited about resting on the Sabbath with friend and family, learning about our Father, YAH.

Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King! Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come here into the hearts and minds of mankind that we might love you and one another. Let Your will be done here without fail and perfectly, more perfectly than the most exquisite time piece. Send to us now Your provision, such that it might overflow to those around us. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us. In their pllace let there be only thoughts and memories of You. Restore unto Your people seventy times sevenfold all the good that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. Send in quickly the $424,523,962.53 that we might use it to restore the kingdom in this earth through the hearts and minds of men, care for the widows and orphans, feed the hungry, cloth the naked, house the homeless, and love the unlovely. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We assk all these things of You in the name YAH Yeshauh. Amen.

A Certain Peace

There is a certain peace that comes when we are following our Father, doing His will. Somehow we are, at times, persuaded otherwise. It is this fear, this deception, that can keep us from what we truly seek – spending time in peace with our Father.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

He cares for us and He loves us.

On this Sabbath, let us remember that if we will jump past that fear, He is waiting there with open arms.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come to the hearts of mankind. Let Your perfect will be done here, without reservation, as it is in heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision, that we might overflow to others. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away the pain and the suffering of the darkness of the evil done to us or by us, and replace these thoughts and memories with thoughts and memories of only you. Deliver us from the evil here. Send in quickly the $424,523,962.53 that we might use it to feed the poor, care for the widow and the orphan, the homeless, and all who need you. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all the good that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides. We ask all these things of You, our King. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father King, in Your name, YAH. We ask all these things in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Resting Well

With the uncertainty of life in front of us, we are encouraged to press “Pause” once every seven days. This taking a day off to rest does several things for us. It is of course, rest.

Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

And in this effort by our Father to stop doing other things, we have an example to follow. Afterall, He made us like Him.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And then, there is an opportunity for obedience. This is an important because how important our Father considers obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

So we see, there is much benefit in the keeping of the Sabbath.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven, and let Your kingdom be in this earth. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all that has been taken or held back that was good, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We assk all these things in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Psalms 92

A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.
1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:
8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.
9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. Prais ethe name YAH! Let Your kingdome come to the hearts of men. Let Your will be done here, as it is in heaven. Send us now Your provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that trespass or transgress against us. Wipe away all thoughts and memories of evil done to us or by us, and in their place let there be only thoughts and memories of You. Deliver us from the evil here. Come quickly. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these things in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Magicians

In my childhood it was an exciting event to see a magician on a TV show, and somewhat rare. One of the big tricks was making an elephant disappear. There is another big trick I read about in scripture. While the things that happened between Moses and the Pharaoh’s magicians are impressive, that is not what I refer to here. I am referring to the trick that Yeshuah (Jesus) spoke about to the leaders of the day.

Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

A person that can swallow a camel… well now, that is quite a trick. And yet, when we fall into great judgments of others and gossip about them, when we forget to show mercy, and have not trust in our Father unto faith, but pay our tithes and sing sweet songs at church dressed in our “Sunday-go-to-meeting” best, we become a magician. We swallow the camel.

Today, as we rest, let us show mercy, stop the gossip, and trust our Father. These are the weightier matters. If we will love others, we fulfill the Law. The things we do speak much louder than the things we say.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King! Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come to the hearts of men. Let Your will be done here as it is in heaven. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us. In their place let there be only thoughts and memories of You and Your love toward us. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides. Send in quickly the $424,523,962.53 that we might promote Your kingdom, and care for the widows and the orphans. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these things in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Our Actions Matter

It is true that those around us are impacted by the actions we take. Recently a friend of mine was trying to be more a part of the”Men’s Group” at his place of fellowship. The group planned a meeting where they would see a movie and then have a manly meal of “eating steak” where they could discuss the movie. The movie is not a faith based movie, but it shows heroes in true life. My friend, being a man in his 60’s and a person that is only eating vegetables at this time, thought he would go to be a part of the group, and he could just eat salad. Then a meeting was held the weekend before the event where it was discovered that someone could not make it on the 1st day (Sunday) afternoon. The alternative discussed was at the end of the Sabbath. The tentative location decided upon was two hours one way from my friends house, with a tentative start time for the movie at 7PM. This means their meal would be fairly late and end even later, followed by a two hour drive home even later for my friend. Later in the week when he brought it up to one of the leaders of the group that this was really late for him to be driving home, he was told that this was the preferred time and date.

My question is this to you my readers, as I have pondered this myself – How should my friend feel about this situation?

The question is put forth as a talking point, a matter for both philosophical and ecumenical discussion. It is not a judgment. Like my friend, I too have used this event to think about how the things I say and do impact those around me. Our actions matter. David wrote a song to our Father that they sung as a group on the way to worship in Jerusalem three times a year.

Psalms 133 A Song of degrees of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Today on this Sabbath, I pray for my friend, and those that attend the movie, that YAH ministers to them all.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come in the hearts of men. Let Your will be done here as automatically it is in heaven – the sun rises and sets, the moon rules the dark, and the heavens declare Your glory. Send us today Your provision such that it miraculously can overflow to those around us. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away the memories and the thoughts of the evil done to us or by us. In their place let there be only thoughts and memories of You, Father, and the love You show toward us all. We are but human, Father, and we need to have Your ways in our hearts and minds that we might act as You act and say what You say. Let us be more like You, more than just human, but ambassadors for love and mercy and truth. Let us heal and not wound, provide and not take away, build up and not tear down, that all men might know YAH is still King! Send in quickly the $424.523.962.53 that we might promote your kingdom here in the hearts and minds of mankind. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all the good that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these things in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Imposing Rest

When we are set out to rest on the Sabbath, the mind may still want to run with the business of the week. As a matter of our will we may have to impose the rest on our thought machine in our brain. We are called upon by our Father to follow Him and His ways, which include the rest of the Sabbath. And we can control it, most often, if we will but try. Our mind does not run rampant.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We can make these things happen if we will try. We can love people. We do have the power to make it. We do have the ability to control our own minds. And our Father loves us and is on our side.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

We can trust in our Father.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. Praise the name YAH. Let Your kingdom come here into the hearts of men, and let Your will be done here. Send us now Your provision. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away the thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us. In their place let there be only thoughts and memories of You and Your love toward us. Deliver us from the evil here. Restore Your people Father. Send in quickly the balance of the $424,523,962.53 that we might promote Your kingdom. Thank You, Father, for showing Yourself strong on our behalf. Let the words we speak that are from You not go void. Be heard, Father, and let creation align with these words. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these thinigs in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.

Rest Into The Kingdom

What is our plan for the kingdom to come here on this earth? There is clearly stated in scripture a kingdom in heaven.

Psalms 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

We can see that our Father clearly has a kingdom in heaven. It is the kingdom of heaven. We long to see our Father come to earth and set up shop! It is different from the kingdom of God.

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We also see that our Messiah taught us to pray a certain way.

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We are to pray for His kingdom to come by His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Clearly the heaven is where God rides now, and has established since creation the heavens and the earth. Humans are here in the earth. That same will needs to be completed, fulfilled, kept within us. We are the ones that are the vessels of light.

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

It is interesting how our Father works. He uses very specific words. For example, the word translated “fulfil” at the end of verse 17 is the Greek word pleroo, which is used in Romans.

Romans 13:6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

The word fulfilled here in verse 8 is the same word recorded that the Messiah used. What is being described here is how a person that loves another is keeping the law. This is actually a correct translation of the Greek word pleroo. The word translated “fulfilled” at the end of Matthew 5:18 is the Greek word ginomai. It refers to the concept of existence, and means to complete as in once and for all. Let’s replace these words in what the Messiah said with these words and see what we can see.

Matthew 5:Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to keep.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be existing and completed.

With these words in place, and considering both what the Messiah is about to teach about praying and what is stated in the scriptures repeatedly about the hevean and earth not passing away till the end, one thing becomes clear. The Messiah says it plainly.

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to keep.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be be existing and completed.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

By resting on the Sabbath, as our Father commands, we usher in the kingdom of God within us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come here and Your will be done here as it is in the heaven. Send us today Your overwhelming provision that it might overflow to those around us. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Wipe away all thoughts and memories of the evil done to us or by us. Wash us whiter than snow. Deliver us from the evil here. Send in quickly the $424,523,962.53 that we might promoted the kingdom. Let a significant portion of that appear even today. Restore unto Your people one thousandfold all that is good that has been taken or held back in any way, and the more besides. We ask all these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). We ask all these things of You, Father, in Your name YAH. We ask all these things in the name YAH Yeshuah. Amen.