LIGHT OF MENORAH

Truth Nuggets -12 - Psalm 4:3 THIS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE: HE hears all our prayers

Jesus teaches a harsh fact, a standard of measure He gives us.  It is a tough thing to grasp and to apply in our lives especially in days like today in the USA of 2021.  Jesus said …

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mat 5:43-45)

 

So, good things happen to the righteous and the unrighteous.  They both experience bad things as well.  There is no difference between Godly Christians and the ungodly, the ones who are anti-God or anti-Christ.  On top of that we are to love our enemies.  No where in the entire Bible do we read such a statement except here.  Jesus does not negate the Torah, God’s instruction in the books of Moses. He does not negate the law in Lev. 19:18 that says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” but He adds to it.  Jesus is saying our neighbor is our enemy, one who persecutes us and may even be out to do us harm and even kill us.  It is Jesus’ requirement of us if we are to be true Christians, real disciples. 

 

This is harsh.  It is tough reality.  We live in a fallen world and Jesus’ does not mince words.  To be a disciple and take on His “standard of measure” is not easy; it is a matter of life and death.

 

But THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.  There is an amazing reality that separates the Godly person from the ungodly, the righteous person following the Good Shepherd from the unrighteous person who follows the false shepherd.  What is that difference?  We see it in one verse in Hebrew in Psalm 4:3 and in the historical context of Jesus’ day.  How might a disciple of Jesus understand Psalm 4:3? I suggest to you we need to grasp what they may have understood.  It truly makes all the difference.

 

I mentioned in this lesson to consider listening to a podcast I did entitled, “For Such a Time as This.”  It is a study on Phil. 4:6-7 …

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)

 

Listening to this podcast (in four parts) will add so much more to this lesson.  If you click on the link below it will take you to the series, “For Such a Time as This.”  They are in reverse order – session 4 is first and you need to “slide down” to access session 1 and begin the study. 

LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=for+such+a+time

 

To complete your study even more, I also suggest you listen to the podcast series on the Lord’s Prayer.  It is so related to Psalm 4:3 and the concepts in this verse and the concept of being a true disciple of Rabbi Yeshua, our Lord, our Savior, our God, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  See the link below to access the sessions on the Lord’s prayer.  Once again they are in reverse order.

LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=the+lord%27s+prayer 

Other Truth Nuggets on the Psalms ...

Nuggets 10 - Psalm 1 - I Am and Acacia Tree - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-10-psalm-1-a-beatitude-of-the-acacia-tree/

Nuggets 2 - Psalm 23 and 91 - God's Hidden Tents - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-2/

Nuggets 1 - Psalm 118:24 - This is the Day - But It Isn't Today - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-1/

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

Genesis - 58 - Gen. 25:7-8 EULOGY FOR ABRAHAM PART 3 - the ROCK

In Jesus' day the only Bible they had then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament).  In Matt 16:18 we read that Jesus will build His ECCLESIA G1577 upon a rock.  But, Jesus did not mean church as we know it in the 21st century.  He did not mean a building or an organization or a religion.  He meant "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly" from Thayer's Greek Lexicon.  So He meant people.  How do you relate a group of people to a ROCK?  

One thing that is possible is it may be connected to the location of where Jesus said this.  He said it at a pagan Roman city called Caesarea Philippi 25 miles north of the sea of Galilee.  This city was the location of a rock formation where pagans came to worship the god Pan in bizarre and immoral rituals.  This was a "holy" pagan religious site where of pagan gods even from Old Testament days.  Ray Vander Laan has an excellent (short) article related to this archaeological site and how it might connect to Jesus' words.  Here's the link -  https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/gates-of-hell-article

Here's a link to an awesome scholarly resource where you can study this archaeological site in detail with awesome pictures.  Link - https://www.biblewalks.com/banias

Jesus at this place talks about building His assembly of followers on a ROCK.  But, this is a place where an assembly of pagans gathered at a ROCK to worship pagan gods and goddesses.  Is there something the Lord wants us to understand?  But, in the book of Isaiah we read ...

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him." (Isa 51:1-2)

Bible commentators both Jewish and Christian say this verse suggests that Abraham is the ROCK.  And all the disciples of Jesus had then was the Hebrew Scriptures.  They very likely knew this verse.  So, did they somehow relate Jesus' words to Abraham?  Needless to say we have some interesting connections to explore.  This is what we will do in lesson 58.  We will again study the life of Abraham and use it as a EULOGY to this man who is our "father" by faith as Paul teaches us in ...

Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:28-29)

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

( Ferret - teaching in a wadi somewhere in the Negev)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background

 

 

 

Truth Nuggets 10 - Psalm 1 - A Beatitude of the Acacia Tree

Jesus is said to have taught the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  It is as if we think Jesus invented the beatitudes and a grammatical form to teach us about what a real disciple is like.  Well, he did not.  David used the format and so did other writers of the psalms.  Solomon uses it also in Proverbs.  Psalm 1 is a beatitude.  It is a picture of what a righteous man or woman is like who is one of God's people, one saved and part of the everlasting Kingdom of the Most High.  Such a one is like a tree planted by streams of water.  Once again, David gets it.  Adonai inspired David to probably associate a righteous disciple of Yeshua with a particular tree found in the wadis of the Judean wilderness.  So, you are like this tree.  So come and join us in this podcast to understand what God says we are like even in days of difficulty and distress.  We are not taken out of these difficult days but we live in them and through them to show the world what it is like to be HIS disciple, HIS righteous people.

Click here for my paper on the acacia tree - https://www.dropbox.com/s/z8p8guvg9r2lqol/The%20Acacia%20Tree%20.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Exodus - 32 part 1 - Exo. 12:1-14 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

So you think you know Passover? You think you see all the connections between Jesus the Messiah and the Passover and Egypt? You think as I did that Jesus did a Passover Seder? Wow - you won't believe what we missed.  Share my excitement as you join me on a journey to learn about the Passover like never before. You will be amazed at what is not taught to us and see, that what is taught to us, is so limited and basic.

In this lesson I mentioned that I will link you to lessons 30 and 31 in this Torah series on Exodus.  Here's the links.  I recommend HIGHLY that you study these lessons if you haven't yet before you move on.  

Link to lesson 30 - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d94p6-117e40f

Link to lesson 31 - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-pbvk7-117ff15

 

And here's a link to the special lesson entitled, "The Archaeology of the Passover: the Ram of God and the Last Supper."  This lesson goes deeper into some aspects of the Last Supper that are so awesome.  Here's the link to this podcast - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tzda7-da7d9c

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - on the lower level of a pagan temple in the ancient city of Gath)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background

 

 

””The Appointed Time of Sukkot” Lesson 5 - The 8th Day - THE BEGINNING AND THE END

Lesson 5 – HaMo’ed Sukkot Shel Adonai

The Lord’s Appointed Time of Sukkot

Lev. 23:36 “on the eighth day”

ביום השמיני BayYom HaShmee-nee

 

””The Appointed Time of Sukkot” Lesson 4 - We Do Not Live By Bread Alone

We finally come to the end of this podcast series, “The Fall Feasts of Adonai.”  In lesson 3 of Sukkot we started seeing the amazing “shadows” of the Messiah over Sukkot.  Indeed there really seems to be NO excuse for the “church” to ignore not doing the “feasts” as they testify of Jesus anymore.  The early church fathers contributed to the separation of us from our Jewish roots.  But, with archaeology and sound historical scholarship, we can reconnect to the days of Yeshua and hear as they heard and see as they saw and understand in ways that only enhance and expand our understanding of God's truth, of God's Gospel. The Lord told us in John 5:39.  He taught us when all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures that all scripture testifies of Him!  Yes, Sukkot testifies of Yeshua.

In this session we need to understand how this “appointed time” of the Lord is a time of great joy for all seasons.  The Jewish rabbis of Jesus day understood it.  But now, with Jesus who has come and will return, we now see an amazing correlation to the events that happened in the Temple in Jerusalem in Jesus’ day to His coming and that this is the Gospel, the Good News, which is for all the people of all the nations.  We will also see that there is a case to be made that Jesus was perhaps born in the season of Sukkot.  In other words it could be that we Christians are doing our shopping for gifts at the wrong time!  It could be the ancient culture gives us sound reasons to celebrate the birth of Christ at Sukkot and not on December 25^th which was a pagan holiday in ancient Rome. 

Ready?  Come and join the study.  Come and see the amazing ways the Hebrew Scriptures testify of Yeshua, witness the ONE who will come and be suspended on “the tree” to become the source of LIVING WATER for all who proclaim Yeshua is Adonai, Yeshua is Lord, Yeshua is God. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

 

”The Appointed time of Sukkot” - lesson 3 - the Bread from Heaven

We come to the awesome climax of our study on the feast, the appointed time of the Lord, Sukkot.  Our objective now is to heed the teaching of Paul when he taught …

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:16-17)

 

How is Jesus the Shadow over us of Sukkot?  How does this feast testify of Messiah?  What is amazing as we put this feast in its historical context, as we study it in the times of Yeshua, when He walked among, that we see this feast testify of His birth and His death.  It is just too awesome.  It is truly the season of our joy, (זְמַן שִׂמְחָתֵנוּ) "Z'man Simchateinu."  What a time to sing the Jewish folk song so appropriate for this appointed time, “Have Nagilah.”  See the lyrics below in Hebrew and English.

 

Hava nagila, hava nagila

Hava nagila ve-nis'mecha

Repeat

Hava neranena, hava neranena

Hava neranena venis'mecha

Uru, uru achim

Uru achim belev same'ach

Let us rejoice, let us rejoice

Let us rejoice and be glad

Repeat

Let us sing, let us sing

Let us sing and be glad

Awaken, awaken brethren

Awaken brethren with a cheerful heart.

Here's a link to a YouTube video of this song with the lyrics in Hebrew.  Here's the link - https://youtu.be/UbjmkrUDb8c

 

Indeed, it is as if this “last” feast of the agricultural year is no only about the “end” but it is about the “beginning.”  It is the end of the agricultural year, the harvest time that started as Passover is over.  But, it is the time where all the Jews in the days of Yeshua looked forward to the beginning of the new agricultural year and the start of the early rains.  So too for us disciples of our Lord Yeshua Adonai, Sukkot testifies of the day when He came to “camp out” with us, His birth, the beginning.  And it testifies of His death, and His cross, which is the way for the lord to pour upon us Living Water.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

”The Appointed Time of Sukkot” - lesson 2 - God Dwells with Us

Many Messianic groups today will build their sukkahs in their yards and enter the sukkah on after sunset on the eve of Mo'ed Sukkot - the appointed time of Sukkot or Tabernacles.  There are very many Jewish rituals and prayers that many Gentile Messianic Christians practice each evening in their sukkahs since the Jewish people do it.   You can see our sukkah that we put up to practice observance of this God ordered, commanded appointed time.  (See below) We put up a "tent" and not a wooden rabbinic "lean to" as ordered and commanded by the rabbis.   The Hebrews dwelt in "tents" not a wooden structure with a roof of branches and leaves (see two examples of "kosher" booths or sukkahs - royalty free from Wikipedia - at the end of this introduction).  For Robin and I we focus on His word, the actual Hebrew, and not made up rabbinic rules and regulations.  

Robin and I needed to recapture how the feast of Tabernacles testifies of Jesus.  How do we see Jesus in this feast?  This was not apparent when Robin and I followed our Messianic Gentile teachers who only emphasized what the orthodox rabbis taught.  Everything they taught and told us to do was not helping us relate to Yeshua, the Messiah, the Lord, our God.

In lesson 2 we try and "see" what those early believers saw when they did this feast of the Lord.  And I'm not talking about the disciples in Jesus' day but the Hebrews coming out of Egypt!  They were to remember living in tents when the Lord delivered them from the bondage of slavery from Egypt.  Those Hebrews would remember the tents they lived in, but they would also remember, Emmanoo El עִמָּנוּ אֵל - "God with us" - and that Adonai, the Lord, Yahvay יהוה‎ also dwelt in a tent (tabernacle is Latin for "tent").  He was with them 24/7.  They saw His glorious presence coming down upon the "Tabernacle" in Exodus 40, His SHH-KEE-NAH glory.  He came once to dwell in a Sukkah, a tent.  Later, He came again. This time to dwell in His permanent "house" built by Solomon. 

God came twice.  Interesting! Sounds like something Christians know - Jesus came once and will come again.  Is this somehow connected to Yeshua?  Is there Biblical truth that I did not learn from so called "expert" Messianic Gentile teachers who only were stuck on Orthodox Judaism?  It was wonderful to learn from them and to take part in applying Jewish rituals but looking back Jesus was not a priority.  So, the answer is yes. 

Once again by reconnecting to the Bible in its historical, and not rabbinic context, by reconnecting to the ancient culture and practices of Israel, we begin to "see" like they did, we begin to "hear" God's word like they did, and we begin to "understand" like they did and our walk with the Lord is enhanced and our views expanded.  God goes beyond Christian theological "midrash" and theological "midrash" of Orthodox Judaism.  Sukkot testifies of Adonai Yeshua.  Come.  Come and join us to learn how. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Pictures below accessible at Wikipedia and a public domain.

 

 

”The Appointed Time of Sukkot” Lesson 1 - Emannoo El

This is the time of our joy.  In Hebrew (זְמַן שִׂמְחָתֵנוּ) "Z'man Simchateinu" (pronounced - sim ka tay noo).  This means the "season of our JOY."  If there was an argument to convince the "church" to begin to do services on God's feasts, His mo'edem, His appointed times, these three lessons might convince you - at least for Sukkot.  And, even if your pastor doesn't agree since he/she is stuck in tradition or he might hold that the Old Testament and the feasts and Torah are null and void; or he/she is uncomfortable doing this and be considered "weird" among his fellow pastors - then do it yourself.  Find some others who want to do the feasts.  Find other fellow Christians to study together, learn how the feasts testify of Jesus as Jesus implied in John 5:39, and do your own services at your house since these are about Jesus.  Perhaps the pastor would be OK if you did them at your church building.  These are God's.   

Again, this is from THE VERY WORDS OF GOD and not my opinion.  It is time for us as real disciples of Adonai Yeshua, to do (תְשׁוּבָה) teshoovah, repentance, which actually in Hebrew means the process of "turning back."  What a joy it'd be to see 1000's of tents put up during the feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, by Christians, across the land, to praise the Lord and rejoice in the season of our JOY.  You will see this in these three lessons on Sukkot.  As a note, the angels who appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born said, "I bring you news of great JOY for all people" in Like 2:10.  Hmmm ... that's Christmas.  That's when Jesus came to dwell amongest us.  Hmmm, this sounds like Sukkot.  Could it be?

Robin and I set up our tent every year.  We do Sukkot as an appointed time to remember Jesus.  Here's some pictures of our tent below.

God commanded the Hebrews that each year forever they are to set up a    ( סוקה) sukkah, Hebrew for a tent, booth, shanty, a make shift shelter out of wood and branches.  In this way they will remember the time they lived in tents with the Lord.  He also dwelt in a tent (Latin for tent is "tabernacle").  God was with us!  In other words, עִמָּנוּ אֵל Emmanoo El which means "God with us."  This is also associated with Jesus at His birth.  We will see this in lesson 1.  Moreover, we will see that as God came twice to first, campout with Israel in His tent.  He came a 2nd time to dwell in the House (Solomon built God's HOUSE not His Temple - see 1 Kings 5-8).  Hmmm, interesting.  Does this mean that Jesus came twice to first campout?  Does this mean that Jesus came twice to dwell in His House?  What House?  The Temple, the Beit Mikdash (Holy Dwelling House) in Jerusalem is gone, it was destroyed.  But, he did come to dwell in a New House, a New Temple.  Wait till you see!  You will then realize that this is the season of our JOY, the season of our rejoicing.  Together we will sing "Hava Nagilah" together.  See the lyrics below in Hebrew and English.

Hava nagila, hava nagila
Hava nagila ve-nis'mecha
Repeat
Hava neranena, hava neranena
Hava neranena venis'mecha
Uru, uru achim
Uru achim belev same'ach

 

Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
Let us rejoice and be glad
Repeat
Let us sing, let us sing
Let us sing and be glad
Awaken, awaken brethren
Awaken brethren with a cheerful heart.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Truth Nuggets - 9 - Vine and the Branches - LIFT US UP

Jesus teaches His disciples that they are the BRANCHES and He is the TRUE VINE.  On top of that these branches are "clean" because of what they learned from their rabbi, Rabbi Jesus.  Clean?  You mean somehow Jesus' words gave them a bath?  Huh?

He was teaching Jews in Israel about 2000 years ago.  We are so disconnected from those days that much of what Jesus taught simply escapes us.  So, if you thought you understood everything in John 15:1-11 wait till you watch this vidcast!  The church has abandoned understanding the Bible in its ancient historical and cultural context.  There are so many misconceptions that we are taught mistakenly and without the knowledge of the teacher.  It is time once again to reconnect to those days and study His word in context and grasp the original intended meaning by the Lord.  Ready?  Let's go.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0