Torah Treasures

This fantastic treasure we call the Bible is a library of mystery, miracles, and life-changing principles, communicated through multiple genres and a variety of literary techniques. Forty authors wrote 66 books, over 1,500 years of writing, while expounding on 7,000 years of human history, technology, and prophecy, yet supernaturally revealing only one central focus. What is the primary revelation of the Bible? When we read the words of this fascinating and awe-inspiring library of divine literature, we discover the Creator of the Universe, who desires to have an intimate relationship with all of His creation.

We believe that the first author out of 40 that God used to begin this journey of knowing him intimately was Moses, who wrote the Torah's five books, the first five books of our Bible. God revealed Himself through the Hebrew tongue, which is dynamic versus static and focused on function over form. For 40 years, Moses would communicate these dynamic words that he heard from God in the "cleft of the rock" on Mount Sinai. He was commanded to make everything according to the "pattern" that God had shown him. Even unique patterns in the Torah can reveal prophetic events that would take place in the future. Let me give you an example of one of the most fascinating patterns that God reveals about himself in the five books of Moses.

We will begin with the meaning of the word Torah. It's often translated as "law," while "instruction" is a better translation." The Law of Moses is actually the law or instruction of God, who wants to teach His sons and daughters how to draw close to Him. Yes, He did give this revelation to the nation of Israel, which has protected it for 3500 years, with the intent that they would be a "light to the nations" and prepare the world for the Coming Messiah. It was through the Torah that Moses that gave Israel where the disciples of Jesus discovered who He really was. Philip told Nathaniel, "We have found the one who Moses in the law and also in the prophets wrote about" (John 1:45).

Torah has only four letters in Hebrew, considered consonants, written from right to left: Tav ת, Vav ו, Reish ר, Heh ה. The letter Vav ו, normally transliterated as a "v," is used as a vowel by placing a dot on top to represent the "o" vowel. So the Hebrew letters for the word "Torah" would be spelled with four letters transliterated as T-O-R-H.

Genesis - First Book of the Torah

If you start with the word "Bereshit," translated "In the beginning...", in Genesis 1:1, you will find the first of the four letters for Torah: Tav ת. Count 49 letters, and you will discover the second letter Vav ו. Again, count 49 letters to the third letter Resh ר, and finally, count 49 letters to the fourth letter, Heh ה. What does that spell? Torah, תֹּורָה.

Exodus - Second Book of the Torah

Now we will go to Exodus 1:1, and look for the letter Tav ת again, which we find as the last letter of "Sh'mot," translated as "names." Now count 49 letters to the letter Vav ו, another 49 letters to the letter Resh ר, count 49 letters to Heh ה again, and of course, we read the word Torah, תֹּורָה.

Leviticus - Third Book of the Torah

The pattern we see in these first two books of the Torah point toward Leviticus, which has its own unique message. Instead of reading the word "Torah" תֹּורָה with intervals of 49 letters, we discover the name of God with intervals of seven letters in between. What is the name of God? While God seems to have many "names" describing what He has done or who He will reveal Himself to be throughout Scripture, there is only one self-revealed name that He gives humanity that perfectly describes His divine essence and eternal nature. This sacred name for our Creator comes from a verb of existence (hayah היה - "was"), which means 'He who always was, is or exists presently, and will always be or exist in the future." This dynamic verb of action also speaks of our Creator who brings all things into existence, and is spelled with four letters in Hebrew: יְהוָה : Yud י, Heh ה, Vav ו, Heh ה [YHVH].

Numbers - Fourth Book of the Torah

Beginning in Numbers 1:1, the pattern is in a reverse order: ת,ו,ר,ה instead of ה,ר,ו,ת. So we discover the last letter of the word "Torah," Heh ה, count 49 letters to Resh ר, count 49 letters to Vav ו, and another 49 letters to the first letter Tav ת. We now read Torah תֹּורָה backward, as if it points back to Leviticus.

Deuteronomy - Fifth Book of the Torah

We discover the same phenomenon in Deuteronomy 1:5, where the pattern is in a reverse order: ת,ו,ר,ה instead of ה,ר,ו,ת. This time, instead of counting 49 letters, in this last book of the Torah, we must count 48. The starting letter Heh ה is found in front of the word Torah, or "law" (HaTorah), as a prefix for "the" in the phrase, "Moses began to explain this (or "the") law." Now we begin by counting 48 letters from Heh ה to the third letter Resh ר, then 48 letters to the second letter Vav ו, and then 48 letters to the first letter Tav ת. Again, we now read Torah תֹּורָה backwards, pointing back to Leviticus which we learned has the pattern of counting seven letters instead of 49, or 48, to spell the sacred name of God, YHWH or YHVH יְהוָה : Yud י, Heh ה, Vav ו, Heh ה.

YHWH

Tetragrammaton – The Ineffable Four-Lettered Name of God. Tetragrammaton (from Greek tetragrammaton, meaning "four letters") refers to the Hebrew theonym (transliterated to the Latin letters YHWH, or YHVH; "Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh" יְהוָה] are the letters in Hebrew. It is derived from the verb that means "to be" or "exist" and is considered in Judaism to be the proper name of the God of Israel used in the Hebrew Bible. While YHWH is the usual transliteration of the Tetragrammaton in English academic studies, the alternatives YHVH, JHVH, and JHWH are also used. The most widely accepted guesstimation of the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) is "Yahweh," though "Jehovah" is used in many Bibles but in few modern ones. Neither forms are exact. As religiously observant Jews are forbidden to say or write the Tetragrammaton in full, when reading the Torah, they use the term Adonai [Lord or Master], or HaShem [“The Name”]. Even though most Christians feel no prohibition on vocalizing the Tetragrammaton, in most Christian translations of the Bible, "LORD" is used in place of the Tetragrammaton, after the Hebrew word Adonai, and is often written with small capitals (or in all caps) to distinguish it from other words translated as "Lord."

You might be asking, "What is the significance of all of this?" This unique Bible code or equal letter distance that we discover intervals of either 50 letters or 49 all point to the middle book of sacrifice, Leviticus. This priestly Manuel of worship teaches us the importance of atonement and the blood of a sacrificial animal being used on behalf of Israel to draw them close to God. The sacrifices in the system had no power to save. Honestly, they were never intended to save the Israelites spiritually, but more importantly, to instruct them. All the "types and shadows," peculiar patterns, and detailed commandments were teaching tools to reveal the closeness of God and the intimacy we can experience as His children.

The Significance of This Discovery:

The Torah, whether reading from Genesis and Exodus or backwards from Numbers and Deuteronomy, points us toward the need for the LORD's sacrifice as an atonement of our souls (Leviticus 17:11). In fact, the middle words of the book of Leviticus, which is the middle of the Torah, also reveal a Bible code, found in Leviticus 10:16, Where Moses was searching for the sin offering. It says in Hebrew, "Darosh, Darash" דָּרֹשׁ דָּרַשׁ or "in searching, he searched." We must keep searching diligently to discover the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world. Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew), our Anointed Messiah, is the Lamb of God who took away the world's sin through His atonement. He is the Word of God, "divine Logos," or "living Torah," who became flesh and dwelt (or "tabernacled") among us, and we beheld His "Shekhinah glory," the very glory of the Father in heaven. He became our salvation because He was willing to become the LORD's [YHVH] sacrifice.

Shalom In Messiah,

Rabbi Brian Baruch Bileci

TODAY’S MEDITATION:

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who HEALS all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your YOUTH is RENEWED like the eagle's.

TODAY’S REVELATION:

I woke up this morning saying, “I can’t take another day cooped up in this house! It is beautiful weather, it is not too windy, the sun is out, it’s not raining, guess what?… It’s time to run for my life! It’s time to move this BLESSED ASSURANCE around the block a few times! Bless the Lord O my soul, and bless this body too, Lord! Since our body is the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” we must consecrate our physical life for a renewed spiritual life. We desire for God to renew our youth the way the eagles renew their strength. This current crisis in our communities and around the world should not control or cripple us. We have to create a sense of normalcy in the midst of instability. How do you create a schedule that is consistent and effective? How do you end your day with feeling accomplished? The greatest example in the Bible is from the Creator Himself. This makes the Bible God’s BLUEPRINT for us to build our lives upon its pattern. Remember that the problem is never really the “problem,” but rather the pattern!

That day was not complete until a capable ruler was given dominion over every aspect of Creation. When God created Adam, along with his helpmate, Eve, His perfect plan began to unfold. The Almighty needed someone to take charge of the world He spoke into existence. He needed someone to steward and guard the garden of His presence. Didn’t God make the world for Adam and Even to walk with Him in the cool of the day, feel the breeze of the Holy Spirit, and hear the voice of their Creator? Has God changed in His desire to have an intimate relationship with His sons and daughters that are formed by His own hands? The Bible is very clear that He has not changed, will not change, and better yet, cannot change! he is the eternal and infinite God who created the whole world for his pleasure and for us to enjoy. He wanted man to have dominion over His divine domain. He wanted to trust the earth that he created to those who would be meek in spirit, yet powerful in authority. So we can see that the domains created in days 1-3, coincide perfectly with days 4-6, establishing an appropriate ruler to reign in dominion over each domain. While six days completed the creation, only day seven, the Sabbath, established the Sovereign Ruler over all His creation, and that is the Lord of the Sabbath, God Himself. Our God wanted a day set apart for Him and His people. There’s not a day of legalism or obligation, but rather for regeneration and devotion. The Sabbath is designed to refresh us ant renew us! This day set apart for perfect union between God and man brings Him pleasure and allows us to experience perfect peace from His presence. It should be a pleasure and not a performance of ritual or religious observance.

Can you imagine what God’s garden must have been like, to experience the pleasure of being in total union with Him? Eden, which means a “pleasurable place,” was more beautiful than the Hawaiian islands, more lush with green foliage than Ireland in springtime, more sublime and divine than a day spent in the rain forest of Brazil, with its comforting moisture that balanced the summer heat of its tropical humidity. With an exotic environment like Eden, who would need a honeymoon vacation? Who were the recipients of this wonderful reward? Who did God have in mind, to run His earthly resort, and perfect paradise? Instead of thinking of our self isolation in lockdown as a curse of quarantine, let’s embrace it as a set-apart time to cocoon ourselves in the secret place of the Most High God! King David said that the Lord is our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our DELIVERER, and our STRENGTH. He is our SALVATION and STRONGHOLD, in the midst of this fear of death that surrounds us!” He has promised us that He hears our prayers, as we cry out to Him, and that He will save us from every enemy, including this viral enemy.

1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength. 2  The Lord is my ROCK and my FORTRESS and my DELIVERER; My God, my STRENGTH, in whom I will trust; My SHIELD and the horn of my SALVATION, my STRONGHOLD. 3  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 4  The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 6  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. - Psalm 18:1-3 (NKJV)

We need to focus on the Bible’s BLUEPRINT on how to have six effective workdays, so that we can enter into His perfect rest on the Sabbath. The Genesis account unfolds from that Sixth Day, after the creating of mammals and land creatures. God went back to the “drawing board,” and formed a masterpiece from a lump of clay. The Potter placed His loving hands on the lifeless substance, and squeezed its form into a vessel that met His approval. The “center of His Wheel” was like the “center of His Will,” to make a mold that He could pour Himself into. This work of art would be the masterpiece that would display His outstanding creativity, skill, and workmanship. His final paint stroke, of this amazing creation, would reveal the multifaceted character. His invisible attributes and unimaginable abilities would reveal all of His divine qualities. While the Creator of the Universe is Himself beyond comprehension, His revelation of His personhood could somehow be on display through the man that reflected His Divine image, and creative potentials. Even God, in all of His Sovereignty, stood back and watched His first created son, ingeniously name everything that the Almighty had spoken into existence. Nothing in Creation reflected His power and authority more, than the royal son that He crowned with His own glory and honor. Remember, as a part of God’s creation, and the work of his hands, we were made for moments like this! We can endure the test of time and overcome this temporary obstacle! This virus will not delay or discourage our victory! We are more than conquerors because of the invincible and unconquerable love that God has for us. we thrive in the midst of tragedy, and we excel beyond average and always strive for excellence! The first thing we will start with is overcoming this obstacle with the spirit of excellence and a great attitude in our hearts. Today we have an attitude of gratitude as we think the Lord for protecting and providing for everyone of our needs. We will use the six days strategically to finish the goals that we have set for our family and those we are connected to, so that we can experience a genuine Sabbath rest. If God can rest and so should we because we are His sons and daughters. So let’s not let this day overwhelm us, or let this virus have victory over us. Instead, we will enter into the Sabbath rest of the Lord as we work diligently to finish our daily tasks and trust God for our daily bread. So put your faith into action, go for a run today, breathe in some fresh air, and experience the breeze of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God!#NoRona #Run4YourLife #MakeitHappen #Exercise4Energy

TODAY’S APPLICATION:

1. Bless the Lord today for renewed youth as you take a prayer walk or a praise run around the block and enjoy some fresh air in the midst of this lockdown.

2. Bless the Lord for all the benefits that you have, as you live in abundance and not lack.

PASSIONATE PASSAGE:

I am the First and the Last, and the One who lives. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever! Moreover, I hold the keys of death and Sheol. - Revelation 1:17b-18 (TLV)

PASSIONATE PRINCIPLE:

Ever since God created the world in six days and then rested on the seventh, the Sabbath has been an eternal model of what it means to enter into perfect rest. Many people misunderstand the Sabbath and think it's about rules and regulations, when it is really about entering the Lord’s divine rest. In times like these, we need a sense of "shalom" in the midst of this global storm. We need to experience a real peace from God. The Sabbath, called Shabbat in Hebrew, is from a Hebrew root [shavat שבת], "to sit down" or cease from work. When the Creator masterfully designed the universe in six glorious days, He sat back and reclined in the throne of His glory and rested in His finished work. Yeshua taught that "Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man! "This is exactly why the Messiah declared, "it is finished!” from the sacrificial stake of His death, known as the cross! When He died for our sins, redeemed us from destruction, then He rested in His perfect finished work! He became the Sacrificed Lamb who came to take away the sins of the whole world. During this "passion week," also known as "holy week," we have celebrated our Savior as our Passover sacrifice with a Messianic Seder.

We discovered Wednesday night Four Passover Principles:

1. The PURPOSE of Passover is REDEMPTION

2. The PLAN of Passover is RESTORATION

3. The PROCESS of Passover is REMEMBRANCE

4. The PROVISION of Passover is the REDEEMER

Then in our Shabbat service this week, called Pesach Chol Moed פסח חול המועד, meaning an intermediate day of Passover, we learned that Messiah fulfilled the first three feasts of Leviticus 23, in His first coming. God gave Israel these three appointed times to represent the three days that our Messiah would be in the grave, like the three days that Israel walked through the "Red Sea" or in Hebrew, "Sea of Reeds," "Yam Suf" [ים סוף]. Yeshua prophesied that He would be in the "belly of the earth" for three days and three nights, like Jonah, was in the "belly of the big fish." The rabbi from Galilee, who was heralded as "The King of Israel" on His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, fulfilled being the Passover lamb, the sinless "Unleavened Bread," and the day of "Firstfruits" from the dead. He died as a spotless lamb, He was laid in a rich man's tomb as the "unleavened bread" that is pierced and striped, and rose as the firstfruits from the dead like the harvested barley.

He truly embodied every "jot and tittle" of the Torah, including being the fulfillment of the three Spring Feasts! In the First Coming of the Messiah, He would become the "Lamb of God" as the Passover Sacrifice, the breaking of unleavened bread would symbolize His broken body and the "fruit of the vine," as a symbol of His shed blood. Yeshua declared that Abraham "saw His day and rejoiced" [John 8:56], which probably was foreshadowed on Mount Moriah, as Isaac became a picture of Messiah's sacrifice. Abraham also spoke of this Passover Lamb when he prophesied that, "the LORD will provide for Himself a lamb" [Genesis 22:7]. The Apostle Peter, would later declare in his epistle that we are redeemed by "the precious blood of the Messiah, like that of a lamb without blemish or defect" [1 Peter 1:19]. In other words he would be spotless like our sinless Messiah. 

So as His body laid in the grave on that Sacred Saturday, and He also fulfilled a high holy Sabbath (John 19:31), the "gates of Hades" wanted to silence our Savior. The grave couldn't hold Him, and hell couldn't stop him! Hades ᾅδης is known as "Sheol" שאול in Hebrew and speaks of the place of the unseen dead. Peter, the chief disciple and apostle of Yeshua, revealed what the Messiah did during that time that His body was in the grave. In 1 Peter 3:18-19, the apostle declares, "For the Messiah also suffered for sins once for all, an innocent person for the guilty, so that He could bring you to God. He was put to death in a mortal body but was brought to life by the Spirit, in which He went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits." The text says that those who died in disobedience before the flood, who never heard the preaching of the Good News from the written Word of God, needed a divine confirmation and final verdict for the choices they've made. The righteous that died would have been gloriously liberated from death by the finished work of the Promised Messiah. That Sacred Saturday in the grave, He freed captive souls from bondage like Moses did for Israel in Egypt. Yeshua is the Exodus out of Egypt and our House of Bondage like Moses was for his generation. In the same way, He is foreshadowed in Joshua, Moses' apprentice, whose name in Hebrew is is also Yeshua. This is the same name of our Messiah, who brings us into our Promised Land. For all of the Promises of God, in the Messiah, are "Yes and Amen!" Yeshua is the only one who can bring you out of bondage, and also bring you into your purpose and calling. Let's look at a few of the amazing attributes of Our Messiah:

1. He is the quintessential model for all to follow.

2. He is the rabbinical teacher of all teachers and still confounds the wisest sage.

3. He is the purest and clearest WAY to the Father.

4. He is the Ultimate and Absolute embodiment of TRUTH.

5. He is the only access to real and lasting LIFE.

6. He is the Blood-Stained Door to the Sheep.

7. He is the True Vine and the His Blood is Cup of Salvation from the Fruit of the Vine.

8. He is the Sinless, Unleavened Bread of Life in His Broken Body for us.

9. He is the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sin od the whole world.

10. He is the Resurrection and the Life for all who believe in Him.

Yeshua died at Passover, went into the grave at the onset of Unleavened Bread, and resurrected on the third day as the Firstfruits from the dead. Every time someone puts their faith in Him, an ancient text that is 3500 years old, comes alive and resurrects the dead. Our Messiah is the reason that the "death angel" has PASSED-OVER all of us who trust in Him. He has become our salvation, our PASSOVER LAMB, and His blood has been sprinkled on the heavenly mercy seat to atone for our sins.

MESSIAH BECAME OUR ATONEMENT:

His blood was sprinkled or shed 7x:

1. Sweat of blood from His brow – Luke 22:44

2. Scourging of stripes on His back – Matt 27:24-26; 1 Peter 2:24

3. Crowning of thorns on His head – Matt 27:24-26

4. Piercing of a nail in His right hand – Psalm 22:16

5. Piercing of a nail in His left hand – Psalm 22:16

6. Piercing of a nail in His feet – Zechariah 12:10

7. Piercing in His side with a centurion's sword – John 19:34

So as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Messiah, let's think beyond the stories of Easter fables, bunnies and colored eggs, and other secular traditions around this season, and dive into the real and relevant story of redemption and restoration! If we go to the Garden Tomb today, in the Holy City of Jerusalem in Israel, you will see a sign that I've been privileged to see for myself many times. The words at the entrance of the tomb reads, "He is not here for He is Risen! So go and tell everyone you know this truth and reality! He's not dead, He's Alive!!! Happy Resurrection Sunday, Feliz Pascua, or as we say in the Hebrew tongue, "Chag Pascha Same'ach" חג פסחא שמח.

PASSIONATE PREPARATION:

1. We passionately proclaim the good news that Our Messiah and Sacrificed Lamb has been raised from the dead.

2. We passionately pursue the presence of the Lord, as we allow His resurrection power to flow in us and through us.

PASSIONATE PASSAGE:

13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Yeshua out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Aramaic, Gabbatha). 14 It was the Day of Preparation for Passover, about the sixth hour [12pm]. And Pilate said to the Judean leaders, “Behold, your king!” 15 They shouted back, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Execute Him!”... 31 It was the Day of Preparation, and the next day was a festival Shabbat [KJV: “high day”]. So that the bodies should not remain on the execution stake during Shabbat, the Judean leaders asked Pilate to have the legs broken and to have the bodies taken away. - John 19:13-15,31 (TLV)

PASSIONATE PRINCIPLE:

It is beautiful to see believers from all around the world gathering together this Friday to celebrate and recognize the sacrifice of our Savior. Our Messiah gave His life to the world, as the “Lamb of God,” to become the Lamb of God who takes away our sins.

Messiah Fulfills Passover

The Messiah, Is our “Passover Lamb” who delivers us from bondage, as His Blood is applied to the doorpost of our hearts.

Passover is the annual feast on the 14th day of the first month, that rehearses how the Almighty delivered Israel from Egypt by the blood of the lamb. Their freedom from Pharaoh and his cruel bondage is reenacted through a Passover Seder, where a storybook called a Haggadah is read, and four cups of wine, or the “fruit of the vine” are drunk throughout the retelling of the Exodus, to remind us of how God delivered Israel from slavery, and redeemed them with His outstretched arm, in four stages. Unleavened bread, known as “matzah” in Hebrew, is eaten with bitter herbs [usually horseradish], during the evening of the seder, or festival meal. The Hebrew month of Nisan, formerly just called Aviv, is the month for this festival, and is commanded by God to be used for the sacred calendar for counting months, in contrast to the “Jewish New Year.” The blood of the lamb was smeared on the doorpost so that the death angel would “pass-over” their homes.

Messiah Fulfills Unleavened Bread

The sinless Messiah, is our “Unleavened Bread” who defeated sin, death & the grave.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the second part of the Passover festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the first month, where the participants continue to eat unleavened bread, for a total of seven days. This is to remind us of how Israel’s bread had no time to rise, due to their swift flight out of Egypt, as the final tenth plague killed all of the firstborn. Leaven was a “type” of pride, or sin, that gets removed from the household before the annual Passover celebration is kept [Exodus 12:15; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8].

Messiah Fulfills Firstfruits

The Messiah is our “Firstfruits from the dead” who ressurected on the third day.

The Day of Firstfruits was the third element of the Passover week, as well as the third day of the festival, but was also considered the second day of eating unleavened bread. It was commanded to be kept this day to offer up the firstfruits of the Barley Harvest, once Israel was finally in the Promised Land, and they could grow their own crops. From this day forward, the Israelites would count fifty days, or seven extra weeks, for bringing in the sheaves of the barley harvest. We call this “counting the omer” [an omer was a measure of the barley], and is fulfilled through the Messiah becoming the “Firstfruits from the dead” [1 Corinthians 15:20]. This third day reveals that Yeshua would be in the grave for three days and three nights.

FRIDAY OR THURSDAY?

Tradition is a wonderful thing that keeps us celebrating year after year the things that are most important to us. As a Messianic rabbi who is also a shepherd and teacher in the Christian world, I understand how easy it is to hold on to traditions as if they were fact or historical landmarks of our faith. Once you celebrate something year after year it’s hard to separate biblical truth from tradition, that we feel helps us express our love for God. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with tradition as long as it is supportive of our faith. Although, we must be careful that our traditions don’t make void the word of God. This is like days of worship, where is some believers worship the Lord on Sunday, and others follow the typical command to keep the Sabbath as their day of worship. There are also many other days of the week that are used for worship days. Without picking one day over another for worship, what if we just accept the biblical reality that every day is a day of worship. The real issue at hand in this matter is not what day to worship, but which day is the Sabbath. For many Christians, Sunday is their Sabbath, pointing to the resurrection. For Jews, and Messianic Jews, Saturday is not only the day of the Sabbath, but it is also the primary day that we congregate and worship the Lord. The apostle Paul reminds us not to argue or judge one another About what we eat or drink, or in regards to celebrating a festival new moon or Sabbath day, in Colossians 2:16. Let’s not forget, that even though Paul said this, he was a sabbath keeper. He knew that many of the Gentiles did not feel the obligation to observe the special holidays, primarily because they were unfamiliar with them being raised in the pagan society of a Gentile world. We follow this principle in our synagogue. Wonderful Gentile believers, who desire to learn about the Jewish roots of their faith, often join us in our worship to God on the Sabbath, or as we call it, “Shabbat” in Hebrew. We don’t make them wear a prayer shawl, known as a tallit, or a head covering called a kippah or yarmulke. Instead, we make them available for those who desire to explore their significant purpose and usage without making them feel obligated or judged if they decide not to. In other words, we allow the grace of the Lord and the leading of the Holy Spirit to teach and train His people about the significance of Messianic Judaism. Ultimately our goal is to understand the mandate and mission of the Messiah, become discipled as his students, and and become trained in how we can fulfill His Great Commission. Having said all that, I do believe that it helps us in our biblical understanding when we realize the plan of God and how the details of His plan are revealed in the Scriptures. Wasn’t the Messiah supposed to lay in the grave for three days and three nights, just as Jonah was in the belly of the “big fish” that we call a “whale.” If Yeshua died late in the afternoon on Friday, but was already resurrected out of the grave before the dawn of sunlight on Sunday morning, how could that be three days and three nights on any calendar? This has always bothered me in reading the Scriptures, when things don’t seem to make sense. I know if I have these questions, and I love reading the word of God and studying it’s truth, how difficult can it be for the skeptic who says that none of this seems to add up?

HIGH HOLY DAYS:

John 19:31 Says that the Messiah’s body needed to be taken off the cross before the high day sabbath began. This reference doesn’t necessarily mean that it was the weekly Sabbath, but rather to the Sabbath-rest of unleavened bread, Where no work could be done. The connection is found in the word preparation. We see this term preparation day referenced inverse 14 and in verse 31. So in context, the preparation day they’re talking about is the Feast of Unleavened Bread and not the weekly Sabbath. All of the Jewish holidays are called high days, especially the ones that are in the fall, like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We called them the High Holy Days. Another thing to understand when it comes to the Jewish calendar, and how days are counted, a day always starts the evening before at sundown. So technically the sixth day of the week, that we call Friday, actually would start on Thursday evening at sundown. So it’s fine that we call this day that we recognize the crucifixion of the Messiah as “Good Friday,” as long as we look at it through Jewish eyes. Let’s not forget that the disciples of Yeshua were Jewish. In fact, Palm Sunday, would actually be the 10th day of the first month of spring time that we call Nissan. This is the day that the lamb was selected, and this would be the day that our Messiah how does trample entry into Jerusalem and was pronounced king by those who raised their voices to cry out, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The lamb had to be roasted over fire for the Passover on the 14th day of the month. So count four days from Palm Sunday and you come to Wednesday evening. This would mean that Yeshua would be arrested that evening, brought before the Caiaphas, the High Priest, then Pontius Pilate, and finally He was crucified between the hours of 12p.m.–3 p.m. 

JEWISH TIME VS. ROMAN TIME:

Jewish time was based upon Creation, counting the evening, then the morning, as the first day of the week, with every day proceeding in that order. This means that the same night that Yeshua had His Passover meal with His disciples, in what we call the “last supper,” is the same 24 hour period from evening to morning, in which He became the Sacrificed Lamb of God. The story of Jonah in the belly of the “big fish” would be connected to Gentile timing in Nineveh, versus Jewish timing in Israel. Three days and three nights is a completely different way of keeping time, in comparison to the Jewish way of counting the evening and the morning as one day. So if Yeshua was crucified on Thursday in the daytime, between 12pm-3pm, He would be placed in the tomb between 3pm-6pm, which is still part of a day. Thursday night would be one day under Roman rule. Friday would then be another day and night, and then the same with Saturday. Since He was an Orthodox Jew, who rested on the Sabbath (Saturday until sundown), we would expect for Him to wait until Shabbat was complete before He rose from the dead! LOL! That means that He would therefore have a window between sundown on Saturday until Sunday morning before dawn to resurrect. Let’s not forget that Saturday night is already Sunday in Jewish timing. So a Thursday crucifixion solves the supposed contradiction in the Scriptures. The most important thing is to know that our Messiah would never destroy the Torah or the Prophets, but rather He came to fulfill every “jot and tittle” found in the ancient scrolls of the Hebrew Scriptures!

PASSIONATE PREPARATION:

1. We passionately remember what our Messiah did for us when He died as a sacrificed lamb.

2. We passionately apply His blood to the doorposts of our hearts and homes.

PASSIONATE PASSAGE:

14 When the hour came, Yeshua reclined at table, and the emissaries (apostles) with Him. 15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 22:14-16 (TLV)

PASSIONATE PRINCIPLE:

What an amazing Passover we had as we stayed isolated in our homes but watched the Passover Seder digitally. It was an honor to teach as a rabbi the ancient, yet relevant teaching of the exodus from Egypt from a Messianic perspective. The miracles of our Messiah were first mirrored in the miracles of Moses. As a deliverer, Moses set the captives free, through the power of the blood of the lamb, and the outstretched arm of God to liberate Israel from their Egyptian bondage. Our Messiah, as the new Moses, became our deliverer to set the captives free by his own blood, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He became the outstretched Arm of the Lord, fulfilling Isaiah 53, and liberated us from spiritual bondage. The signs and wonders in Moses day was 3500 years ago, and the miraculous signs and wonders of our Messiah took place 2000 years ago. Here we are today looking back at both of these historic and biblical revelations of redemption, as we stay under the blood of the lamb in the midst of the plague known as the coronavirus (COVID-19). We haven’t celebrated a Passover like this since the original 10 plagues came down upon Egypt in the book of Exodus. We discovered last night Four Passover Principles:

1. The Purpose of Passover is REDEMPTION

2. The Plan of Passover is RESTORATION

3. The Process of Passover is REMEMBRANCE

4. The Provision of Passover is the REDEEMER

The commandment of keeping the Passover reminds us of where we have been, where we are, and where we’re going! We were slaves in Egypt, we are called to be servants of God, but our true destiny is to live as sons and daughters of the Most High God. We’ve been freed from SLAVERY, we have embraced SERVANTHOOD, but we must live in the revelation of SONSHIP. We are God’s people, and we refuse to live in fear or give it any power to destroy our faith. We take precaution, but we will not live in panic. This international crisis has forced true believers to rise up and be who we’ve always been called to be! So let’s not lose hope or give into the current threat of disaster, but trust in the Lord for his divine protection and provision. In Jeremiah 29:11, The Lord promises to give us a hope and a future, because He knows the thoughts He has concerning us. This encouraged us to also know his thoughts and to live out his plans and purposes the Daly application of the word of God. Let’s fulfill the “Great Commission,” go into all the world and preach the good news, as we become the hands and feet of our Messiah!

PASSIONATE PREPARATION:

1. We passionately live our lives as unleavened Matzah in celebration of the Lamb of God and the power of Messiah’s resurrection this Passion Week.

2. We passionately pray for the sufferings of Messiah to be the cure of this viral plague as we believe our God for protection and provision.

PASSIONATE PASSAGE:

Yeshua said to him, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! No one comes to the Father except through Me. - John 14:6 (TLV)

PASSIONATE PRINCIPLE:

The "Passion Week" is often called "Holy Week." It is considered one of the holiest weeks of the year for those who believe that Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew, is the Promised Messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, commonly called the "Old Testament." Today, we will call this day, "Truthful Tuesday." The TRUTH is that our God is a "God of truth," just as His Torah is known as the "Torah of truth" [Torat Emet תורת אמת] in Judaism. The Torah refers to the five books of Moses, also known as the "Law of Moses," but actually is the "Law of the Lord." What is truth, and is truth what millennials call or deem as RELEVANT today? Or more importantly, does truth change over time? One thing that we can trust for sure is that the Bible is a book of truth that is eternal and can never change. The truth that we can trust is that the Scriptures are designed to reveal truth to everyone who reads or seeks to understand its REVELATION. So even though it should never change in the revelation of it's amazing wisdom and knowledge does change over time. What I understood as a child I see quite differently and more profoundly today. What I used to teach in my early years of ministry has been more rooted and grounded as I've opened up myself to the eternal truth of the Scriptures. This is a wisdom that comes from above that is often revealed to its reader at first glance. As I'm constantly asked, "Where should I begin, and how do I interpret the Bible?," I have to ask myself, "What answer is going to help the reader in this amazing journey?

REVELATION always trumps RELEVANCE, although Spirit-revealed TRUTH must be also RELEVANT to the seeker and listener. So what made Jesus relevant to His audience and how did they receive revelation from His teachings and ministry? We define RELEVANCE as that which is closely connected or appropriate to the current time, period, or circumstances. Let's go back to something He said about Himself. In the 14th chapter of John's gospel, the disciples asked Him where He was going when He discussed that He was going to prepare a place for them? He told him that they already knew the way. Of course, Thomas, who was known for a little bit of doubt and uncertainty, responded on behalf of the other disciples with the statement, "Master, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus then questions, "How long have you been following me? The Rabbi who trained these 12 men for 3 1/2 years expected them to understand the truth! By now they should know the way to the Heavenly Father! Eternal life has been a part of the Messiah's message, which was an abundant life they experienced with Him every day! Isn't this what He came to do and reveal, as He showed the Father's heart to humanity? Now TRUTH was completely embodied in one person, as he declared, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!" The Pharisees, who were divided as a religious group, often sought to kill Jesus for this statement and sacred utterance. Many of the Pharisees believed, but some plotted His death, hoping to get rid of this "troublemaker." It is on this "Holy Monday, "that Jesus pronounces seven "woes "to the Pharisees, recorded in Matthew 23.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but once we eliminate lies, the ultimate goal of truth is to heal. The words of Jesus are still relevant today because our world still disbelieves in the truth of the Scriptures. While some seek for relative truth, a true believer should search for revealed truth. Jesus said that the Father would send the Holy Spirit as another "Comforter" or "Helper," after His death, since He was their original helper or guide during His ministry on earth. The Spirit's mission now is to reveal the truth to us as we allow Him to lead us and guide us through the study of God's word. When Jesus said that He is "The Way," He was referring to Himself as God's guide of truth! This teacher from Galilee not only taught His disciples, but He also threatened the status quo of the religious structure that the Pharisees and Sadducees established in the first century. Jesus had to confront the corruption that had infiltrated Temple worship, synagogue services, and everyday life. Don't forget that this week is also called Passion Week. The word "passion" actually refers to "pain," even though we have altered the term to express something powerful, meaningful, and filled with purpose. Remember, that truth doesn't change! So what starts in PAIN can also and in PURPOSE! As we meditate on this week before the death and resurrection of God's anointed Messiah, let's consider the purpose of our pain. We will find purpose in our passion, press through the pressure, and endure the process to discover God's ultimate plan. Let's make this "Holy Tuesday" and make it a "Truthful Tuesday, as we study the eternal truth of God's Word and apply it to our daily lives.

PASSIONATE PREPARATION:

1. We passionately receive the TRUTH of God’s Word to transform our lives as we celebrate the power of the Messiah’s resurrection this Passion Week.

2. We passionately pray for the spiritual eyes of our families and friends to be opened to the TRUTH of who Jesus (Yeshua) is, as they receive Him as their Messiah, Savior, and Lord.

PASSIONATE PASSAGE:

1 Now as they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Yeshua sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village before you. Right away, you’ll find a donkey tied up and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Master needs them.’ And right away he will send them.” 4 This happened to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King is coming to you, humble and sitting on a donkey a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” - Matthew 21:1-5 (TLV)

PASSIONATE PRINCIPLE:

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and what is called the "Triumphal Entry" into the city of Jerusalem. This was the day that the Messiah of Israel walked into the city of David and was proclaimed to be the anointed king to sit on David's throne. This was also the same day on the Jewish calendar that the Passover lambs were chosen, on the 10th day of the first month of spring, after being inspected by the priesthood at the Temple in Jerusalem, to make sure that they were spotless [Exodus 12:3]. This corresponds with "Palm Sunday" in our calendar. So here was this king riding on a donkey, as prophesied in Zechariah. "Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you, a righteous one bringing salvation. He is lowly, riding on a donkey—on a colt, the foal of a donkey [Zechariah 9:9 (TLV)]. According to one of the most famous Rabbi's and Jewish commentators of the Torah, Rashi, also known as Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac, this prophecy is concerning the King Messiah. Here is his quote: "Behold! Your king shall come to you! It is impossible to interpret this except as referring to the King Messiah, as it is stated: "and his rule shall be from sea to sea." We do not find that Israel had such a ruler during the days of the Second Temple." Many Jews around the world question the authenticity of Jesus, Yeshua in Hebrew, being the Messiah. So the question is does he fulfill this prophecy? If He is, why didn't Israel receive Him, even though they shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" We have to understand this Jewish dilemma to grasp the significance of this moment fully. The rabbis looked at all the prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures, that many call the "Old Testament," and notice two central themes. First, there was the expectation for a "Son of David" to come and restore Israel to their former glory and Davidic dynasty. This king was supposed to rule and reign forever and was believed that he would never die. Secondly, there were peculiar prophecies of a "Suffering Servant," or Messiah-like figure, who would be wounded and pierced, like David, Isaiah, Zechariah, and Daniel prophecied. Not knowing how to reconcile what seemed to be conflicting prophetic passages from the prophets of Israel, they deduced that maybe there would be two Messiahs. Israel wanted the "Son of David" to sit on his forefather's ancient throne, while the other potential candidate was called the "Son of Joseph." This individual would suffer at the hands of his brothers, like Jacob's son, Joseph did in the book of Genesis. So this monumental moment of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey was very important. Was He going to be Israel's conquering king to overthrow the Roman empire? ould He be able to establish world peace, as mentioned in Isaiah 9:6-7? Well, some rabbis believed that this prophecy would only come to pass if Israel was not ready to receive their coming king, which is why he only would come into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The prophecy of Daniel 7:13 was the preferred entry that they hoped for, where the Messiah was expected to come on "clouds of heaven," revealing his great majesty and glorious kingdom. Yeshua speaks of this rabbinical conclusion in the gospel of Matthew. "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory" [Matthew 24:30 (TLV)]. These words of the Messiah would not be fulfilled in His first coming, but reveal the focus of His second coming. So what was the "Triumphal Entry" all about? Even though He was riding on a donkey, as the king Messiah, ultimately that week would be a fulfillment of Isaiah 53 and Daniel 9, revealing that He would be a "Suffering Servant" on behalf of Israel, and ultimately, the whole world. John the Baptist states this goal, in the Apostle John's Gospel, in his own words, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Jesus would become the spotless Passover Lamb! Just as the priest would examine the lamb, we should examine our Messiah! We should be able to come to the conclusion that He was spotless! as his chief disciple and Apostle declared. "You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with precious blood like that of a lamb without defect or spot, the blood of Messiah" [1 Peter 1:18-19 (TLV)]. Paul confirmed this truth in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, "Get rid of the old "chametz" (or leaven), so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavened—for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast not with old "chametz", the "chametz" of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread—the matzah ["unleavened bread"] of sincerity and truth. (TLV). Today, this passage of Scripture should be our MOTIVATION, as we prepare for Passover, and get ready to receive the Lamb of God, and remove the leaven of pride and arrogance from our lives!

PASSIONATE PERPARATION:

1. We passionately prepare for our soon coming King to return, as we are motivate to remove spiritual leaven and pride from our lives.

2. We passionately pray for our families and households to be safe and secure under the “blood of the Lamb,” until this viral plague is defeated.

THE PERSISTENCE OF CLAPPING

PRAISE INSPIRATION:

1 Oh, CLAP your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice (or sound) of triumph! 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.- Psalm 47:8-11 ‭(ESV)

PRAISE REVELATION:

We make sounds every day. Some sounds bring joy and others bring sorrow. When we praise the Lord it’s a pleasing sound to God’s ears, unlike the noise heard from the complaining Israelites who wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. The Psalmist David encourages us to make a joyful sound as we praise the Lord. We can even make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Whether we have the gift of music or sing with a melodious voice, or you sing to God in private, because of sudden joy you feel, we all benefit from praising the Lord. How we praise the Lord shows how we value our God, and how often we worship Him reveals how much we desire and adore Him. Is there any value in CLAPPING our hands when we praise God? Why does Psalm 47:1 command us to clap our hands? If we examine the first verse more closely, we will see a connection to the sound of our clapping and the sound of triumph. When David talks about the voice of triumph, the Hebrew word for “voice” is actually “kol” כל, but can also be translated as “sound.” So when the enemy heard clapping, they were hearing the sound and proclamation of triumph and victory. Could this be what the enemy hears when we praise the Lord and clap our hands. Maybe it reminds him of the sound of a triumphant army and their horses galloping and trodding in hot pursuit to win a battle. Either way, this sound of victory confuses our opponent. The Hebrew word for clapping “taka” תקע is also is used for the sound of the shofar, called “tekiah” תקיעה, creating a long blast. When we clap our hands, we are letting the adversary of our souls know that we have already defeated him, and he is under our feet. David ends this verse with those very thoughts that God will subdue His enemies and place them under His feet. So next time you want to make the enemy flee, as you praise the Lord, start clapping your hands with consistency and persistence! Don’t stop until you sense the victory has come! Remember, there is a persistence in your clapping and power in your praise!!!

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare a triumphant victory over sickness, disease, and death, as we praise our God for the promises of healing, wholeness and health.

2. We declare that our God is awesome and He has never lost a battle, and we praise Him for the protection of our family and our friends.

THE POWER OF SHOUTING

PRAISE INSPIRATION:

47 Save us, Lord God! Bring us back from among the nations. Let us celebrate and SHOUT in praise of your holy name. 48 Lord God of Israel, you deserve to be praised forever and ever. Let everyone say, “Amen! SHOUT praises to the Lord!” - Psalm 106:47-48 ‭(CEV)

PRAISE REVELATION:

It's easy to praise God when everything's going great, and there's nothing to complain or worry about! What do you do when you feel imprisoned or in exile? Israel felt this way for 70 years when they were in Babylon, which reminded them of what their forefathers experienced in Egypt. They could not worship God freely as they had done in the past. So let's take a little journey in Israel's history to have a higher level of appreciation for what it means to praise the Lord. When Moses delivered Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt, it was his apprentice, Joshua, that had the vision and the authority to take these redeemed and liberated Hebrews into the Promised Land. Their first victory under Joshua's leadership was taking over the mighty city of Jericho. God commanded them to walk around this immense walled city seven times in total silence. Imagine the obedience and spiritual discipline they had to have to march around a city seven times without saying a word. Completely opposite to the behavior of their forefathers in the wilderness that disobeyed God and complained while they wandered for 40 years. To possess the Land of Promise, they had to "be still and know that He is God Almighty!" On the seventh day, seven trumpets, made from ram's horns, were blown, and Israel SHOUTED with a great SHOUT. Why did God use a shout to conquer the city? Why did Israel use their anointed priesthood to sound the shofars in praise to God for total victory? What was God saying about the potential of praise or the power of shouting. Their exalted voices confused their enemy and caused the people of Jericho to panic in fear. The adversary of our souls experiences total confusion every time we lift our voice in a SHOUT to praise God's name. The Hebrew word for a shout in Psalm 106:47 is "SHABACH" שבח, and means to praise God with a SHOUT, or a loud voice. David said we should shout out to God with the voice of triumph, in Psalm 47:1. You have to know that there's power in your shout! Your shout says you have the victory! Your declaration lets the enemy know that you're not afraid of him! More importantly, your spontaneous sound of praise lets the Lord know that you rejoice in Him as your Source and Sustainer! If we shout the way Joshua and Israel did around Jericho, every wall that the enemy has tried to put up before us, to try to stop us, will fall flat at our feet. In Psalm 106, Israel was in a place where they needed God's victory again after exile. The way they entered the land with Joshua, is the way they would return to the Promised Land in a shout of victory! If we want to possess all the promises of God, we must be willing to shout in total triumph, until the enemy gives back what belongs to us and our families. We must be willing to rejoice in our God knowing that we are more than conquerors! Remember, the end of the book says, "We win!"

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare total victory, as we lift up a great shout of triumph to God, in the midst of our circumstances.

2. We declare a complete return from everything that the enemy has stolen from us, our families, our businesses, and our communities.

THE PROVISION OF THANKING

PRAISE INSPIRATION:

21 THANK the Lord for His faithful love and for the amazing things He does for people. 22 Offer sacrifices of THANKS to Him. Sing with joy about all that He has done. - Psalm 107:21-22 ‭(ERV)

PRAISE REVELATION:

When we look around our world today, we notice a lack of gratefulness and appreciation among this generation. Why are we not more THANKFUL for the things we do have, in comparison to the things we lack? Is it just human nature to be critical or to have a negative attitude? Even though everyone has to take accountability for their actions and reactions, we have to admit that the information we ingest from social media and current news tends to fuel the fire of negativity. Every time you turn on the television or watch a program online, there is talk about fear, panic, and disillusionment. Negativity is all around us, and what is even worse, it's taken root inside of us! Look at the miracle of technology. We can do things that we never imagined before in generations passed. Even some of the complicated computer classes we used to take in school, we've reduced to easy finger taps on a small device that we hold in our hands, called a smartphone. We should be grateful for this technology. In fact, it seems that the potential is limitless, however, the more technology we create, the more anxious we become! We want everything fast, overnight, and shipped to our doorstep. This has definitely helped a lot of people during this uncontrollable outbreak of the Coronavirus. Consequently, fear and anxiety is attached to daily searching and scrolling on our mobile devices. What if we could get back to being thankful for what we have, instead of focusing on what we don't have? What if we could wake up every day with a grateful heart, instead of flooding our minds with an overload of global concerns? David understood the provision of thankfulness. Even as little children, we are taught by our parents to say "thank you" when food is provided for us on the table. We used to teach our children to say their prayers at night before they went to bed to say "thank you" to their Heavenly Father for all of His goodness towards us. You could say that thankfulness is a lost art, especially in our faith-based communities and congregations. If you have ever been generous to someone or have gone out of your way to show someone favor, you understand the power of a simple "thank you." If God has been our provider, then we should show Him thanks. Supernatural provision often inspires a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude, as we thank God for providing what we need, beyond measure. Thankfulness has the power to create an attitude of praise that unlocks heaven's resources and opens doors of opportunity. The Hebrew term for this powerful disposition is "todah" תודה, which is how Israelis say "thank you" in modern culture. "Todah" is actually an ancient biblical term, used by Israel's patriarchs, prophets, and native-born people, to refer to thanksgiving offerings they gave to God, in the Tabernacle of Moses, and the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. This Hebrew term actually comes from the first Hebrew word we learned this week, "yadah" ידה, which means to ״praise.״ So at the core of every "thank you" is a sincere heart of praise. It unlocks every door and opens up heaven's windows so that God can pour out His blessing upon us. Let's continue our seven days of praise with a greater appreciation of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father!

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare thankfulness in our hearts and in our homes this season.

2. We declare God‘s goodness as we remember all the things that He has done for us and for our families.

THE PLAN OF BLESSING

PRAISE INSPIRATION:

1 Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. - Psalm 103:1-5 ‭(NKJV)

PRAISE REVELATION:

There is a blessing to being a believer in the day and age we live. With so much fear and panic that's surrounding us today and alarming questions concerning life and death daily at our doorstep or mobile phones, a word of hope is what we need. Our only encouragement is found in the Word of God, as we lean in to hear God's voice, and put our trust in His perfect plan. There is no doubt that God wants to bless every one of us, despite the current pandemic spreading in our world! Sadly enough, not everyone is aware that God has a plan of BLESSING in place for all of His people, and if they do, they lack the knowledge of how to acquire or experience it. From the beginning days of creating humanity in the garden of Eden, our Heavenly Father has made His plan known. He desires to bless us so that we become fruitful and multiply in the earth. He wants to bless our lives, our families, and even our influence as His chosen people. When we realize how blessed we are, it becomes easy to praise the Lord for his many blessings. Every day that we wake up, we must recognize that we are blessed. The last Psalm of the Bible reflects this idea when it says, "let everything that has breath praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)". We have breath in our lungs, the activity of our limbs, food on our tables, and purpose running through our veins. We are blessed people, beyond the shadow of a doubt! This Psalm of David uses the Hebrew root, "barakh" ברך, which means to bend the knee, to give us a word picture of what it means to be blessed! Bowing before someone of high authority to receive a blessing from their voice, their hand, or even their royal scepter was considered a posture of blessing. The prophets and priests of Israel would also take a ram's horn in their hands, fill it with anointing oil, and pour fresh oil upon the heads of those they intended to anoint or bless. For a person to receive a blessing in the biblical days, bending their knee showed their willingness to come under divine authority. Humility and submission crowned the receiver with many rewards. True worshipers are always willing to bend their knee to God and bow before His throne. David understood the plan and purpose of blessing, which empowered him to bend his knee daily to God and His sovereign will. Think of all the benefits that your Heavenly Father has given you and how blessed you are. Doesn't His love and compassionate kindness towards you and your family prove that He has a divine plan? Jeremiah 29:11 declares that God knows the plans that He has for us, which are plans to give us a future and a hope! How can you not praise the Lord for all of His astounding miracles in your life? One day every knee will bow to Him, so let's start practicing now and bless the Lord every day as we see His plan of blessing fulfilled!

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare that the plan of God for our lives is one of blessing and not a curse, as we claim complete protection and provision this season.

2. We declare the benefits of His blessing for our homes, businesses and congregation, as we daily bless the Lord and thank Him in advance.

THE PURPOSE OF SINGING

PRAISE INSPIRATION:

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will SING and make MELODY! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will SING praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! - Psalm 57:7-11 ‭(ESV)

PRAISE REVELATION:

As believers, we often sing to praise the Lord. The question is, why do we sing, what is the purpose, and is it necessary? This may be a question that you have asked before, especially when you’ve come into a corporate expression of worship. Regular attenders of a church, synagogue, or cathedral may become familiar and accustomed to this festive style of praise, but there are many people who are unfamiliar with it, yet need to understand the reason behind it. The number one reason why we sing is because our God desires it and asks us to praise Him that way. Could it be that Almighty has a hidden blessing and benefit behind this request? Of course, the obvious answer is, “Yes He does!” The Psalmist, King David, reveals the secret in Psalm 57 and again in Psalm 108:1-4, where his whole being was brought into melody through song. According to King David, singing makes our hearts steadfast, and brings our whole being into a harmonious melody as we come into the presence of our Creator. The beginning of the song explains why David sang to the Lord. He was actually running from King Saul who wanted to kill him, as he found refuge in a cave. In the middle of a storm against him that was meant to destroy him, he declared, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His PURPOSE for me” (verse 2). God’s purpose for singing is rooted in His purpose for creating us. We were created to bring God glory. So while David was singing to God about being his refuge, to the melody of a song called, “Do not destroy,” the enemy was rendered powerless and could not destroy David’s purpose. If a bear, a lion, or a giant name Goliath couldn’t kill him, then neither could King Saul. God definitely has a purpose for us singing to Him. Our songs of praise become songs of deliverance that recognize our God as the ultimate Deliverer. Yes, when there is passion in your praise, there will be purpose in your singing. The Hebrew word in this passage for singing or making a melody is “zamar” זמר and means to sing along with string instruments. It implies plucking strings of a guitar, harp or other stringed instruments to create a beat or melody for the purpose of singing. David declared that singing had the power to awaken his glory, just as it awakened his desire to play the harp and lyre in praise to God. We can glean a lot more from this Hebrew verb than just the melody of the physical instrument. When we sing to the Lord, there is a melody created in our hearts that ascends to the Father. The Apostle Paul reveals this truth to the believers in Ephesus. “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18). The Hebrew verb and idea behind this verse is “zamar.” David understood that his musical instruments could harmonize together and create a beautiful melody, just like a unity of voices coming together creates a symphony of sound to our Sovereign King. Even science and medicine have done studies on the purpose for singing, and have learned that music ang song releases endorphins in the brain. These are the feel-good brain chemicals that make us feel uplifted and happy. In addition, scientists have identified a tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus, which responds to the frequencies created by singing. God created us to praise Him, and even formed us to be musical instruments of praise and worship. So let’s use our passion of praise to sing with a greater purpose! We declare this week will be seven days of praise! So start praising God now, with a melody that has the power to defeat depression, discouragement, and disappointment. Awaken your praise until it reaches the heavens in glorious song!

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare that our hearts are steadfast today as we sing and praise our God.

2. We declare and awaken our praise as we make a melody in our hearts that destroys depression and discouragement.

THE PLEASURE OF CELEBRATING

PRAISE INSPIRATION :

Help me escape this trap, so that I can PRAISE your name. Then good people will CELEBRATE with me, because you took care of me. - Psalm ‭142:7‬ ‭(ERV‬‬)

PRAISE REVELATION:

Today is another day to praise the Lord, as we look at another Hebrew word for praise. This word study will be the most familiar word connected to praising the Lord, which is the same root for the word "hallelujah," meaning to "Praise the Lord." The root word is "halal" הלל, embodies the idea of CELEBRATION, compared to the intense emotion of joy one would feel after being set free from prison. That's a reason for a party! The parable of the "Prodigal Son" gives us a similar picture of celebration when the father throws a massive party for his returning son in Luke 15:11-32. "Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:13 NIV). ‏This is how heaven rejoices when a soul is saved. Earth should reflect heaven's joy and excitement. So the Hebrew term, "Hallelujah" can mean "to celebrate God!" We should celebrate eternal life the way we celebrate our daily life. Praise is not only something we do when God has released us from bondage. Praise is actually what sets the captives free. We are reminded of this in the story of Paul and Silas being in prison in Acts chapter 16. They prayed and sang praises all night, starting at midnight, and God opens the prison doors. So as we praise the Lord this week, let's declare what God says He will do. The Lord will deliver those who call upon him, and especially those who praise his name for total victory and freedom. Let's expect the miraculous and supernatural power of God to break through all of the darkness that surrounds us, and free us from the fear that tries to grip us! If we fully trust in the Lord, let's celebrate what He has done, as we expect Him to do even more amazing things this season!

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare that God is bringing our soul out of bondage and prison, as He sets every captive free to praise His great name.

2. We declare the pleasure of celebrating what God has done in our lives.

THE PASSION OF PRAISING

PRAISE INSPIRATION:

7 “You are my strength and my shield from every danger. When I fully trust in you, help is on the way. I jump for joy and burst forth with ecstatic, PASSIONATE PRAISE! I will sing songs of what you mean to me! 8 You will be the inner strength of all your people, the mighty protector of all, the saving strength for all your anointed ones. - Psalm ‭28:7-8‬ ‭(TPT‬‬)

PRAISE REVELATION:

King David, in the Bible, is a perfect example of a passionate worshipper, who was also known for being an amazing songwriter, psalmist, prophet, warrior and royal king. It is obvious that he understood worship from every perspective. One of the greatest things he’s known for is being the author of Israel’s hymnal of praise, that we call the book of Psalms. The Hebrew name for this book is “Tehillim,” and it means praises. Ironically, the word passion originally meant to suffer pain or feel emotion. In modern times, we have redeemed this term that was often used negatively, and have turned it around for something positive. Now we define passion as enthusiasm, zealousness, or even a powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. We talk about having passion in our marriages and relationships, passion for businesses and careers, passion for schooling or education, but how about our passion for God? When we have a true passionate love for God it becomes the source of our praise. We praise God because we love Him and adore Him, like a man a woman should love their spouse. The level of our praise shows the depth of our intimacy with our Creator, Heavenly Father, and Compassionate King. This is why this verse uses the intimate Hebrew root, “yadah” ידה, which means to extend your hands towards the one you desire to praise. In fact, the Hebrew word for hand is “yad” יד, which is the pictograph of the 10th Hebrew letter that spells the word for praise in this verse, the letter “Yud.” The three letters of this Hebrew root for praise gives us three pictures to consider. The first letter “Yud” means a hand as we’ve already discussed. The second letter is “Dalet” which is the pictograph of a door, and finally, the third and last letter is “Heh,” which is a “window.” These three pictures together show us a hand that opens windows and doors. We can say that praise opens the windows of heaven as well as doors of opportunity, from a God who reveals that He opens doors that no man can shut, and shuts doors that no man can open. What an amazing revelation of how powerful praise is, that it can open the right doors by the power of God. Once we open our mouth to praise Him, we should expect divine doors to open up for us, as the heavens are opened up to receive our praise. So let’s praise the Lord passionately, and trust Him daily, as David did, to be our strength and shield in the midst of danger. Let’s declare the next seven days, as days of praise!

PRAISE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare that God will be our inner strength and shield from danger in the days to come, as we praise Him as our Protector.

2. We declare that divine doors of opportunity will open for us as our praise opens the windows of heaven over our lives, our families, our businesses and our congregation.

WE ARE STRONGER

POWERFUL PRINCIPLE:

5 The wise are mightier than the STRONG, and those with knowledge grow STRONGER and STRONGER. 6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers. - Proverbs 24:5-6 (AMPC)

INSPIRED INITIATIVE:

When King Solomon wrote these words for all believers to read, they were based upon the response he gave to God at the beginning of his reign as king. God asked him what he desired from Him as he stepped into his role of royalty. He could have asked for honor, riches, or even power over his enemies, but instead King Solomon asked for wisdom. In this specific verse, he explains how those who possess wisdom have a greater source of strength to those who acquire military might or strategy. Israel’s battles were not won by their human power or strength, but instead, by the power of God. This is why Zechariah declared “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” When we read this prophetic declaration in Zechariah 4:6, we are encouraged to live in total victory by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Solomon says that we shouldn’t even attempt to go to war unless we have consulted divine counsel and wisdom from spiritual advisors. It may seem like, to those who are isolated in this season, that God's people are scattered like sheep, who seem helpless and lost, but instead, it has made us stronger than ever! We have removed the blinders from our eyes, have come back to the word of God and have put on our spiritual armor to pray through this scheme of the enemy. This global breakout is really the set up for a global breakthrough! What the enemy meant for evil, God is turning around for the good!

DIVINE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare the strength of God over our lives, in the midst of weakness, sicknesses, or spiritual attacks.

2. We declare God’s knowledge and wisdom, as a source of strategy and victory, for all of our decisions during this difficult season.

WE ARE ENCOURAGED

POWERFUL PRINCIPLE:

2 I want them to be ENCOURAGED and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. 3 In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3 (NLT)

INSPIRED INITIATIVE:

Whenever there is a break out of sickness and disease, or a national or global tragedy the natural feeling that arises is discouragement. People feel bewildered and confused and lack the hope to move forward or see a way out of their situation. Throughout the Bible, we see that the people of God have always overcome any obstacle that has tried to defeat them. Obstacles are merely opportunities to overcome our opponent. When the devil tries to kill, steal and destroy, we remind ourselves that Jesus came to give us life, and that life more abundantly. We must decree and declare God‘s blessing over our lives if we’re going to defeat the devil at his own game. We must stay ENCOURAGED in the midst of discouragement, and choose not to quit, even though we feel like giving up. We know that no weapon formed against us can prosper, and the Bible gives us the only weapons that Satan has against us, before he even tries to tempt us. Satan uses the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life to divert us from our purpose. Knowing this, we can regain our courage, just like Joshua did after the death of Moses, and conquer the Promised Land that God has declared we will possess. Wake up every morning, look in the mirror, and tell yourself, “I am encouraged!”

DIVINE DECLARATIONS:

1. We declare encouragement in our life to overcome the discouragements of each and every day.

2. We declare complete confidence in the plan that God has for our lives and our church family.