Why does scripture say to not go out of our place on the Sabbath? Exodus 16:29See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” Some have interpreted this particular scripture to mean that one is not to leave their dwelling place on the Sabbath. The important word here in English is “place.” In Hebrew, the word for “place&rdquo...
Being part of the Hebrew Roots movement, or at least people who have some familiarity with the story of the Bible, most of us have heard of tribes, especially the 12 tribes of Israel. What is a tribe? According to marketing guru Seth Godin in his book, “Tribes”, a tribe is: “A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. … A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to...
As "great" as Paul was, as a Pharisee who felt he knew the law and lived by it, he realized that simply following the letter of the law wasn't right, and that he wasn't even living correctly! Note that in 1 Timothy 1:13 he even called himself a blasphemer! The point here is this, Paul realized that only living by the legality of the law wasn’t enough, he also needed the spirit. He was not discarding the requirement of obeying the law, but simply applying another aspect of it, the...
As more and more people come to an understanding that the Torah still applies today, friction is not uncommon, even within the same household. A bigger question sometimes comes up, one about authority, headcoverings, etc. What happens if a husband and wife have different understandings regarding this topic? Should they get divorced? The short answer is “No”, they should not get a divorce. When it comes to authority, the Word of God is the ultimate...
Does Isaiah 58:13-14 mean that we cannot have any pleasure on the Sabbath? Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you...
Hi, this is Jon from 119 Ministries. As you may or may not know, I am one of the teachers and part of the team at 119. It is normally not our practice to talk to you in such a personal way, because we always have a fear of focus being placed on us (teachers) instead of who really matters, Yah, our Creator. Well, this time is different, because this message will be all about giving glory to Yah and there is nothing but praise that can be given up to Him related to this...
It was October 25, 1964, and the Minnesota Vikings were playing against the San Francisco 49ers; the 49ers have just fumbled the ball, it’s up for grabs. Defensive End Jim Marshall scoops up the ball and takes it 66 yards into the endzone...his own. This moment is remembered in sports history as “The Wrong Way Run”, where one man took the ball into the wrong endzone, celebrated by spiking the football causing it to roll out of bounds and scored 2 points for his...
August 14, 2014 A question common to Matthew 11 is that of what Yeshua meant in verse 11. Matthew 11:11 Verily I say to you, Among those born of women, there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptizer: yet the small one in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he. On the surface it appears Yeshua is saying John the Baptist is next to nothing in the kingdom of heaven. Yet this seems to contradict the context of previous passages where Yeshua is identifying John the...
August 07, 2014 As people attempt to discredit the Bible, many apparent discrepancies come to light and we need to examine them. However, these discrepancies are not always found by those who don’t believe, but sometimes by those who are simply studying and trying to learn the best they are able to. Not too long ago I was speaking with my Dad about the Word and he brought up something he was attempting to figure out relating to creation in Genesis 1 and 2. His...
The Priestly Blessing from an Ancient Hebrew perspective. YHWH will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection, YHWH will cause his wholeness of being to shine toward you bringing order and he will provide you with love, sustenance and friendship, YHWH will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete. See more at Ancient Hebrew Research
Mark 12:1-12/(Matt. 21:33) A couple of weeks ago, in the Torah Portion we read Mark 12:1-12, also known as the Parable of the Tenants. I have read this parable dozens of times growing up in church, and even in the last several years after receiving the revelation of Torah. I had likely heard many sermons on it as well, yet for some reason I never really understood what Yeshua was speaking about. Verse 12 says the Pharisees perceived that Yeshua had spoken the parable against...
There is a recent article published by Christianity Today, written by Ed Stetzer, about the recent US Supreme Court ruling for the Hobby Lobby corporation and the mandatory coverage of all contraceptives. A link to the article is at the end of this blog. Regardless of one's personal beliefs relating to Obamacare and whether contraceptives should be covered by mandate, the article itself provides some interesting information regarding the freedom of religion and what that means...
Are you persuaded that nothing is unclean because of Romans 14? There may be something missed in our studying of Paul's writings.
Matthew 28:19-20 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”In the "Great Commission" of Matthew 28:19, Yeshua tells us to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, but what does it mean to make disciples? The operative word, or...
Last week we discussed what it means to forgive and why forgiveness is important for both the sinner and the one sinned against. We saw how sin is a burden when one forgives that burden is lifted, carried, or taken away. This week we are looking at the phrase forgive and forget or as Yeshua said for us to “turn the other cheek”. The phrase “forgive and forget” is not found the Scriptures. The closest we come is when we are told that the Father...
Many of us are familiar with the mantra “forgive and forget”, but what does this mean? In a fallen world full of people who live in the flesh, it’s easy for us to offend or take offense whenever sin is involved. Yet Yeshua tells us that we are to forgive those who sin against us. Does forgiving someone mean to forget or ignore what happened? As followers of Yeshua, how does this work? What does it mean to “turn the other cheek”? We...
Jerusalem Day 2014 ~ through diversity, tragedy and yet filled with hope the nation of Israel the home of YHWH's people....is built, destroyed and rebuilt! Learn a bit of the history of Jerusalem in this 5 minute video!
Pope Francis to visit Israel May 19, 2014 Pope Francis with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abba Reuters Palestinian Authority (PA) and Arab Christian sources are already celebrating Pope Francis's visit to Israel starting next Sunday, saying his choice to begin the trip directly in PA-held Bethlehem is meant to "recognize Palestine" and "oppose the occupation." "He is taking a helicopter directly from Jordan to Palestine - to Bethlehem. It's a kind of sign of recognizing...
How old are you? How much of that time has been wisely spent? We aren’t guaranteed a day, an hour, or even a minute of our lives, yet many of us live our lives as if we have an eternity to do what’s important. Yet how often are we spending time with God in prayer, praise, worship, and thanksgiving? How much of our time is spent searching the will of our Father and then obeying what was revealed? We are to be good stewards of what we are given; be...
It is not uncommon for us, as 119 Ministries as well as other followers of the Torah, to be labeled as “Judaizers” or for it to be said we are “Judaizing”. Yet how many know what they are saying? What does it mean to be a Judaizer? Are we Judaizers? What a Judaizer IsAccording to one article on NewAdvent.org, judaizers are/were: “A party of Jewish Christians in the Early Church, who either held...
Every Word If one believes that the Law of God has been done away with, can they really believe the words of our Savior that says, Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Because if one part of God’s word nullifies another part of God’s word how can He say that we live on EVERY word that comes from the mouth of God? Just a thought...
1 Samuel 16:7 …The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. Why does the Lord look at the heart? What should have been in the heart even here regarding King Saul? Deuteronomy 30:14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. From the very beginning, the Lord has desired obedience from the heart. This is why, in Mark 12:30, Christ quoted from Deuteronomy...
Exodus 15:11"Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Psalm 65:8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. Psalm 111:9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may...
Millions of believers today have been directly influenced by a Gnostic interpretation of the NT scriptures. Antinomianism comes from the Greek meaning lawless. Paul used the term freedom in Christ; for example, Galatians 2:4. The Gnostics understood this to mean "lawlessness" (i.e. not obeying Mosaic Law). Although the term designating this error came into use only in the sixteenth century, the doctrine itself can be traced in the teaching of the earlier heresies. Early Gnostic sects...
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Proverbs 9:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. These are not idle words, nor merely a good idea, but instead a promise. If we fear our Creator, we will begin to gain knowledge and wisdom, and then comes understanding of who He is and of His Word; but, what does it mean to “fear Yahweh”? What is the “fear of Yahweh”? Why...
Many people bring up Acts 10 and Mark 7 regarding the dietary laws of God to show they no longer apply. Do Acts 10 and Mark 7 really tell us how the dietary laws set down in Leviticus have changed?. Acts 10:1-22 is Peter’s vision where God tells Peter to kill and eat all manner of clean and unclean animals...This is often interpreted as meaning that God made all things food and clean to eat. However, this is not the case as Peter explained the vision a little...
A number of years ago Gary Chapman wrote a book with a lot of insights into men, women, and relationships. In his book, he describes 5 specific love languages of which every person functions in at least one of them. They are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. What does it mean to have these love languages? It means that either through someone speaking words of affirmation to you, spending quality time with...
A New Command? Many say that Christ was giving His disciples a new command instead of simply expounding on an existing command for the first time when He said, John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This is where Christ expounds on His...
In part 1 of “The Heart of Torah” (CLICK HERE to go back and read it) we discussed where our focus should be, and what happens when we lose that focus. This time, in part 2, we are going to discuss what the “The Heart of Torah” is and what it means to walk in it, or follow it. What Is the “Heart of Torah”?Yeshua spoke about the importance of the heart of Torah with His statements to the Pharisees regarding helping a neighbor’s donkey out of...
Exploring the Ruins of Ai: Archeological Find in Israel Confirms Historicity of Biblical Account by Garrett Haley JERUSALEM – Archaeologists working in Israel have announced the discovery of an ancient artifact in Israel that confirms a biblical account in the book of Joshua. The Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) is a ministry committed to exploring the ancient biblical world through archaeology. According to ABR’s website, archeological findings frequently...
Archaeologists say writings on an ancient tablet confirm there was a global flood and an ark that carried animals. A recently deciphered 4,000-year-old clay tablet, discovered in modern-day Iraq -- which is ancient Mesopotamia -- reveals striking similarities to the biblical account of Noah. The tablet describes a massive flood that destroys the earth and instructions that animals should be loaded onto the craft "two by two." The tablet differs from scripture in its description of...
I was once having a conversation with the pastor of a church from mainstream Christianity. In his attempt to understand where I was coming from, or my perspective, he posed several questions to me: “Where is the focus of the Torah Keepers? Is it on considering precious and personal the whole Torah, or just an emphasis on the commands that they say are being broken.” And “Isn't the point of keeping Torah, to treasure and walk after His and mankind's whole life...
Ever wonder what scriptures mention oils or anointing oils? Here you go! James 5:14 - Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: Mark 6:13 - And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed [them]. Exodus 30:31-33 - And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your...
Part 5: Grace, Faith, & ...Righteousness? We know through faith we receive grace (Ephesians 2:8). We know righteousness is available to us through our belief in Christ because of His faith (Romans 3:22). We know when we sin, we are breaking the law of God and are not righteous (1 John 3:4, Deut. 6:25/Romans 2:13). We know when we sin we deserve death, but because of belief in who and what Christ is, we are saved from the penalty of eternal death (Romans...
How Your Righteousness can exceed that of the Pharisees.
Secret Location of 'King David's Castle' to be Revealed Makor Rishon says authorities are keeping lid on what may be a royal castle from David's time. by Gil Ronen The location of a major archaeological find that was kept secret until now will be revealed to the public on Friday, next week. The find is being touted as a royal castle that could have belonged to Israel's most celebrated king – the Bible's King David. The find is a decorated carved stone known as "a...
What's wrong with the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes, how can you have a better righteousness?
What is righteousness according to the New Testament?
Israel, Lebanon rush to ease tensions following border clashes JERUSALEM – Israel and Lebanon on Monday rushed to ease tensions following a deadly border skirmish that left one Israeli soldier dead, with the enemy countries holding a face-to-face meeting with U.N. peacekeepers and pledging their commitment to a seven-year-old cease-fire.The U.N. peacekeeping force along the volatile border, UNIFIL, said it called the meeting to "establish the facts and...
What does the righteousness of the pharisees have to do with you according to Messiah in Matthew 5:20?
Have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly Christ was meaning when he told us that he was "the way" in John 14:6? For most of us it's obvious, it means he's the only way to the Father right? No one can get to the Father but through Christ. So, of course, that's what he meant....right? Right! We completely agree, but do you think it's possible that maybe there is more to it than that? Are there not many different levels to all of Scripture? Christ is the WAY! Sounds obvious right?...
The above picture is carved into the French Arch De Triumph in Paris and depicts the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD Notice that in the booty the conquering Romans carried away from the Jerusalem Temple were two long hammered silver trumpets. We suggest that the pictorial truth about these trumpets has been hidden from us for a season and for a reason. We simply have not understood what it is that they depict for the last days. Once Judah was carried away to Babylon, things...
Iran, Russia advise Assad to transfer chemical stockpile to Tehran - to avert US attack The Iranian parliamentary delegation visiting Damascus Sunday, Sept. 1, advised Bashar Assad to move his chemical stockpile out of Syria and deposit it in Tehran under Iranian and Russian military supervision, to save himself from an American military strike, DEBKAfile’s exclusive military and Iranian sources reveal. Chairman of the Majlis Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ala-Eddin...
Syria crisis: warplanes spotted in Cyprus as tensions rise in Damascus Signs of advanced readiness at likely hub of air campaign as UN inspection team comes under fire near site of alleged chemical attack Warplanes and military transporters have begun arriving at Britain's Akrotiri airbase on Cyprus, less than 100 miles from the Syrian coast, in a sign of increasing preparations for a military strike against the Assad regime in Syria. Two commercial pilots who regularly fly from...
European Union Issues Order To Redraw Israel To 1949 Borders The coming of Daniel’s 70th week? “In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Daniel 9:2 From Haaretz: The European Union has issued orders forbidding its member states from cooperating, transferring funds...
Extensive excavations on Mount Zion have uncovered the extraordinary remains of the wall of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period (second century BCE – 70 CE) and the remains of a city wall from the Byzantine period (324-640 CE), which was built on top of it. “This is one of the most beautiful and complete sections of construction in the Hasmonean building style to be found in Jerusalem,” said Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Yehiel Zelinger, who has...
FROM JERUSALEM POST Egypt presidency confirms social democrat likely to be premier following rejection of liberal candidate ElBaradei by Islamist party; ElBaradei to be appointed vice president under deal emerging among new political forces. Ziad Bahaa El-Din, a lawyer and member of Egyptian Social Democratic Party has been chosen as the new Egyptian prime minister following the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi by the military on Wednesday, according to sources cited by Egyptian...
Challah 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry yeast 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup canola oil 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups warm water (80 -90) Glaze 1 egg, beaten poppy seed (optional) or sesame seed (optional) Directions (be prepared...it's long!) 1 First measure out all your ingredients. 2 Now from the 1/2 of cup sugar take 1 tablespoon of the...
Quite often, when we read of the new or renewed covenant we quickly turn to Jeremiah 31:31-33. But have we ever read the verses before verse 31? Jeremiah 31:29-30In those days they shall no longer say:The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. What does that mean? If we were to not give the matter much thought or context, we might...