“The Acid Test of Knowing if you are Surrendered to Following God”. There are three questions to ask yourself:
Choices- Do I choose Jesus over everything? Family, food, drink, sleep, etc.
Covenant- Have I made a covenant or commitment to God? Example: I will do whatever it takes even unto death.
Permission- Do I give God permission to take my life if I turn from Him and I am not willing to come back so that I will not bring Him shame?
COME AND TAKE THE CHALLENGE WITH ME!
In Messianic Judaism God's Word is highly respected. We don't put our Bibles on the floor and when the Torah scroll is carried around the room we reach out and touch it with either our Bible, or our hand and then kiss that which touched the Torah scroll. We don't do this to worship the Bible or the Torah, but instead we do it to show respect to Yeshua who is the Word! Can you image not having a Bible in your possession? I have too many of them, I do study from all of them at different times since they are all different versions. To think of only having one Bible and getting one for the first time in my life as an adult.... What a treasure that would be to me. I have seen preachers throw their Bibles on the ground during a service which I cannot image what they are thinking. Yes, the Bible is a book but it is what is in the that book that is important. It is respect for not only Yeshua who gave His life for us, but also for our creator, God, who loved us enough to send us His Son. I'm guilty of not reading my Bible everyday and like many of you I've gone through times where I did read it everyday for a long stretch of time, but I can't think of a single reason why I would not or could not read my Bible everyday, or at least turn on a recording of the Word, but after seeing this, I will strive to be more disciplined to read my Bible everyday so that I will have more and more of the Word in my heart. Tons of reasons to read our Bibles, but what I think of more and more is that one day we may have our Bibles taken from us and I wonder how much of it will I really have hidden in my heart so that I will not sin against God when that time comes. I have several notebooks that I have just sat and copied the Bible into at different times in my life which I always think is a good plan because if my Bibles are ever taken from me, I will still have a copy of the Word in what will look like just a journal.
Have you ever thought what you would do if your Bibles were ever taken from you and if so what is your plan to keep God's Word in your heart if that were to happen?
A friend of mine sent me a wonderful article about the rapture of the body of Yeshua and how it is like a Jewish wedding ceremony. I have posted the article below and hope that you will find it informative and enjoy it as much as I have.
Jewish Wedding Ceremony
By Joy Wriston
http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/wriston1.html
I was brought up in a church that believed in the Pre-Trib Rapture but in college encountered other views. I noticed that they mostly used the same verses but interpreted them differently so wondered if my interpretation could be the one that was wrong. Then I discovered Zola Levitt and his explanation of the Jewish roots of the Rapture confirmed for me that the Pre-Trib view is the accurate one.
This is my synopsis of his teaching gleaned from his book, An Israeli Love Story ( a fictional story which explains the Jewish wedding ceremony). Anyone who wants to research this further can do so as there are many articles from different sources on the Internet.
The First Century Jewish Wedding Ceremony
In the first century, when a young man saw a young lady he liked, he consulted with his father. Sometimes the father picked the girl and no consultations were necessary. But when the father approved of the choice of a bride, the young man would go to her house and speak with her father. (p.105)
At the bride’s house three very important things would occur: The groom would make a covenant with the bride, an actual contract; he would drink a cup of wine with her which sealed the covenant and he would pay the bridal price for her to the father. The bridal price was to make sure the groom was serious about the covenant—he had to pay a price. After the covenant was made, the cup had been drunk and the price paid, the groom would make a speech to the bride telling her that he was going to leave her and return to his father’s house to prepare a bridal chamber for her, sort of a honeymoon suite.
The words he would say were “I go to prepare a place for you.” He would be gone for a long time. He would have to build and finish the bridal chamber and have it approved by his father. It would have to be stocked for enough provisions to last for the prescribed seven days for a honeymoon of that time period.He would want it to be beautiful for her.
It had to be done right to win the approval of the groom’s father. During that year or so that the groom was building the bridal chamber, if anyone asked him when the wedding would be, he would say. “I don’t know. Only my father knows.”And that was true.He couldn’t go back to get his bride until his father approved the chamber and told him to go get her.(pp.106-108)
Meanwhile, the bride was waiting with dignity. She wore her veil whenever she went out so that other young men would know that she wasn’t available. Now she was called “set apart,” “consecrate.” And “bought with a price.” She was no longer her own person but an individual contracted to another and she conducted herself in a way that respected that agreement. She didn’t seek after other young men. She prepared herself for marriage by gathering her trousseau and waiting for her groom. She was at home every night, especially as time went on and she knew he could be coming.
The tradition was for him to come at night, especially midnight, to try to take her by surprise. It was to be “an abduction.” The bride would be waiting with her “bridesmaids,” her sisters or whomever she wanted in her wedding party. They would all have oil in their lamps just in case the groom did come at night. As time went on they were sure to be ready every night. (pp.109-110)
One night the groom did finally come. It was customary for the groom’s party to shout as they neared the bride’s house.When the bride heard that shout, she knew her groom had come to get her. The groom and his friends would rush in and grab every girl in sight, being sure to get the one with the veil (the bride). He needed her veil as the party would be going through the streets and she was not yet married. The bride’s father and brothers looked the other way as long as it was the young man with the contract. (p.110)
The entire wedding party would head towards the groom’s house, traveling through the streets and laughing. People would know there was a wedding going on but couldn’t tell who the bride was because the bride was covered by the veil. The bride and groom would enter the bridal chamber while the wedding party waited outside along with the wedding guests (friends of the groom’s father). Everyone waited outside the wedding chamber until the groom told his trusted friend through the door that the marriage was consummated.
Then the guests began celebrating an accomplished marriage. The guests would spend the next seven days there celebrating until the bride emerged with her veil off. Now the couple were husband and wife. Then there would be the marriage supper where everyone would joyfully congratulate the new couple. Afterwards, the young couple would leave the father’s house and go to a permanent home the husband had prepared for them. (p.111-113)
Jesus as the Bridegroom
The New Covenant
Hebrew 8:8 quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 which states:
“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah; not like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord.‘But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquities and their sin I will remember no more.”
The New Covenant had to do with the Messiah’s coming and had to be signed in blood. Abraham had to divide animals when the Abrahamic Covenant made the Jews the chosen people (Genesis 15:10). In Moses’ day, the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorposts saved the firstborn of the Jewish believers (Exodus 12:7). Then later on Mount Sinai, the Mosaic Covenant was established. It required repeated blood (animal) sacrifices specified in the Law for the forgiveness of sins/offenses against God (Exodus 20:24).
The Davidic Covenant included burnt and peace offerings which required the shedding of animal blood (2 Samuel 6:17-18, 1 Chronicles 16:1-3). It’s the blood that makes the Covenant go into effect. When the Messiah (Jesus) came, John the Baptist called Him ,“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Isaiah 53:7 says the Messiah “would be led as a lamb to the slaughter.” When Jesus died on the cross, it was as a sacrifice for us; dying in our place with our sins placed on Him.
That the relationship of God and Israel has always been a marriage is made clear in the book of Hosea. In Jeremiah 31:32 God says He has been a “husband” to Israel.Paul compared marriage to being like the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). The church is referred to as the bride of Christ or betrothed of Christ (Revelation 17:9; Ephesians 5:25-28; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4).
Jesus said that He only came for the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” When Gentiles came to faith in the Jewish Messiah they were grafted into the Jewish tree, and were called the spiritual seed of Abraham (Matthew 15:24; Romans 11:17).
The Cup
At the Passover supper Jesus drank the cup with his disciples and stated “This is My blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28) God promises, “I will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) In the Jewish faith, the cup at the Passover supper is called the “Cup of Redemption.”
The Price
Jesus paid the bride price. He even asked His Father if it was worth it. (Luke 22:42-44) In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but yours be done. And His sweat fell like great drops of blood while He was contemplating the cross. God sent an angel to strengthen His Son. That was His answer. Jesus paid the price for us.
“I Go to Prepare a Place for You”
In John 14:2-3 Jesus tells His disciples, “ In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” His ascension into heaven is recorded in Mark 16:19-20 and Luke 24:50-51.
The Bride Awaits
Jesus is still at his Father’s house preparing a place for us. And we are awaiting His return in a consecrated way—bought with a price; set apart (1 Corinthians 6:20; John 17:14-26, Romans 12:2;1 Peter 1:15-16.) “We are to act like the covenanted bride and be waiting at all times for our Bridegroom to come.We are to have oil in our lamps and be ready to travel, even at night (Matthew 25:1-46). Our oil is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity who came to the Jews at Pentecost after the Messiah ascended. We are each to be filled with the Holy Spirit and always ready to go (Acts 2).
Jesus performed a vast Jewish courtship with His believers. “The Lord will return for His bride. There will be a bridal chamber in heaven where Jesus and the church will spend seven years - like the ancient seven days, and there will be a marriage supper like the Jews used to have. Every detail of Jesus’ great wedding will be accomplished and it will be carried out in the exact traditions of the Jewish people, because Jesus is Jewish!”
The Return of the Bridegroom
In the Jewish holy days, “Shuvuot (Pentecost) – that’s the harvest holiday. All summer following Pentecost the people plant and till the ground. But when the trumpet sounds, on what we now call Rosh Hashanah, the old Feast of Trumpets, the crops are in and the harvest is finished. Jeremiah, just to mention one prophet, could see that we wouldn’t be ready—not all of us.
“The summer is ended and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).Paul gave us a wonderful picture of that moment when the groom will return for His bride.” For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). (pp. 149-151)
That fulfills everything.You have the shout of the bridegroom to notify the bride of his coming; you have the trumpet to finish the harvest and to proclaim liberty for God’s people. We (Jews) used to blow the trumpet on each Jubilee to proclaim liberty…well, this is real liberty (Leviticus 25:10).
Just as a Jewish bridegroom called for his bride unexpectedly, and took her to his father’s house, Jesus will take His Bride (believers) away quickly, changed in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52). The Bride is to be ready and waiting with her veil on so that anyone who sees her pass will not know who she is.
People in today’s world also don’t recognize the bride of Christ. They see people going to church but don’t recognize them as the Bride. It’s as if true believers are wearing a spiritual veil making them unrecognizable to the world. After the Bride has gone on to her wedding, the world still won’t recognize who she was.
The House of the Father of the Groom
When the bride and groom arrive at the groom’s father’s house they will find a large gathering of wedding guests who are friends of the father. When the Bridegroom brings us to His Father’s house we will also find the Father’s friends there as wedding guests. These are the Old Testament saints, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the prophets, and the faithful chosen people who lived prior to the coming of the Messiah.
But first the bride and groom must go into the bridal chamber for seven days. And the groom’s friend waits outside the chamber until he hears the groom’s voice. Then he tells the guests when the marriage is consummated. In John 3:29 the Pharisees were questioning John the Baptist if he was the Messiah. John told them: “He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom who stands nearby and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” The marriage is accomplished when the bridegroom’s voice is heard.
The “honeymoon” in heaven is the judgment seat of Christ. We will go before the Messiah and He will look at our works done for Him while we were in the flesh.We (believers) are all His servants and we do both good works and bad. In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 Paul wrote:
“No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it for it is to be revealed with fire and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on remains, he will receive a reward (crowns). If any man’s work is burned up he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
This has nothing to do with sins. They were all covered at the cross. God isn’t going to charge us for what is already paid for. If you accept Jesus as Messiah (Savior) all your sins are forgiven. The “honeymoon” is where the groom removes the bride’s veil and knows her secrets. Even with our “bad” works, love is the healing factor. If you want a “good honeymoon” follow the Lord and do your good works for him. Either way, keep in mind that Jesus loves you and will be very glad to see you.
The Marriage Supper
The announcement has been made that the marriage is consummated. The Lord has examined everyone’s works and the crowns have been awarded. Now there is great rejoicing and celebration. The marriage is official and the great marriage supper (what we would call the reception) will commence. The Bride will be greatly honored:
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8).
Notice that the Bible now says “wife” instead of “bride.” The honeymoon is finished and we are now married to the Lord. After the supper is over, we’ll leave to live and reign with our Husband in His millennial kingdom.
"I have no pleasure in the death of anyone says the
Lord God." Ezekiel 18:32
I
was in New York City on 9/11 and as a matter of fact I had just moved there the
day before. It was a very hard time to be there but at the same time it was a
wonderful opportunity do to some reflecting. I want to share a journal entry
that I wrote one afternoon just a short while after 9/11 while I was waiting for
the fairy to take me into New York City from Staten Island. I think back to the
day that I wrote this and it is still fresh in my mind but I know that God is
still in control. We need to remember this even now. Please read this and pass
it on to anyone you think may reap from its message. Be
Blessed amy
“I have no pleasure in the death of anyone says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 18:32
As I sit on the shore side at the Minor League Baseball Stadium on Staten
Island listening to the lapping waves of the Hudson River and trying not to
sniff the faint fish odor I look out across the water into the foggy haze at
only an outline of the city. Without the World Trade Center buildings looming
high above the concrete jungle, from this point of view the city seems dwarfed
somehow, even more so today in the haze. Lady Liberty is tiny from here, not
that she’s all that big to begin with. What I notice about her is that her face
in some small semblance of fate is turned so that only her peripheral view can
see that remaining rubble of those destroying moments. I think that it is
fitting that she didn’t have to watch it happen and that only a glimpse of that
day was caught by her. That is how America one day will see it, as only a
glimpse, like so many other history making events that have taken place in the
course of our nation’s life. We will not spend needless hours of watching and
waiting, but we will see it as a glimpse of our past. We know that it happened
but we must remain standing, like Lady Liberty, to say that life goes on and we
stand up for great things!
The haze of this day is a reminder that the memory of 9-11-01 will, even though
it is hard to imagine, one day be a hazy memory. Don’t get me wrong, this day
for some will never weaver in brightness or rather I should say darkness but to
the countless rest of the people who were in no way connected other than being
alive, being American, and watching the news will realize that this become a
memory of “where I was on that day”. It reminds me of the way America sees the
death of President Kennedy. I was not alive then so I only have film and
stories from others about the terrible day. This too will be the way 9/11 will
be seen by generations in the future. In no way do I intend to down play this
most horrible tragedy of 9/11 but in all ways I do intend to remind everyone
that there is something bigger than all this, and that something is someone.
God! He loves you and He loved and cared about each one of those lost lives
from that day, yes, even the men who carried out the horrible task.
I don’t want to discuss the issues of if this was God’s plan or the devil’s
plan except that there are a few Scriptures that we can look at to see what
part belonged to whom. The fact of the matter is that God is in control and all
the Glory will go to Him in the end. If you see 9/11 as an act of God to wake
us up or if you see it as an act of the devil to destroy us, either way there
is only one way to turn and that is up toward God. A quote from the book
Desiring God by John Piper helped me see clearly how I should view this event.
The quote says, “How can God be happy and decree calamity? Consider that he has
the capacity to view the world through two lenses. Through the narrow one He is
grieved and angered at sin and pain. Through the wide one He sees evil in
relation to its eternal purposes. Reality is like a mosaic. The parts may be
ugly in themselves, but the whole is beautiful.” And also quoted from the same
book, “If God reigns as sovereign over the world, then the evil of the world is
not outside His design.” Amos 3:6 “Does evil befall a city, unless the Lord has
done it?” This may sound harsh and like it is an action from an unloving God
but please, I encourage you to take some time and search the Scriptures to see
that God’s plan will not cease no matter how painful it may be for us. In the
end He always follows His plan. Here are a few verses that I found:
Lamentations 2:11 “My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within, my heart
is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children
and infants faint in the streets of the city.”
Lamentations 3:37-38 “Who can speak and have
it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most
High that both calamities and good things come?”
Revelation 17:17 “For God has put it into
their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power
to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.”
I know that this may be hard to take but it is true. Even harder to take is the
fact that thousands of those lost that day was just that, lost. They will spend
an eternity in hell. I think about the pictures that I saw on the news where
the people on the floors above where the airplane hit the towers were hanging
out of the windows trying to escape the intense heat from the fire that the
airplane fuel ignited and I wondered if those people were going to be entering
into a fire much hotter of which they can never escape……. We can’t say that God
was mean for taking them this way knowing so many would go to hell, but the
fact of the matter is that none of us knows which day will be our last. Friend,
I urge you with all that is within me to ask Jesus Christ to come into your
heart and save you. We all need to be saved because we all have sinned. Romans
3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That sin has
separated us from God and when we die in our sin then we are forever separated
from Him but He has given us a gift to take instead. Romans 6:23 “For the wages
of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
How and why did God give us this gift? John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world
that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.” God loved us from the beginning and He showed us His
love by giving us His son. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us
in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What right does this
give you? John 1:12 “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His
name, He gave the right to become children of God.” You see satan intends for
us to be destroyed, he is like a thief that comes and steals from you, but God
has a better plan. John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus
is asking you now to let Him into your heart and allow Him to become the Lord
of your life to save you from an eternity in hell. Revelation 3:20 “Here I am!
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I
will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
Make the decision today to accept Christ and if you already know Jesus as your
personal Savior than please tell those around you about Him.
I love History! I also really love knowing what is happening in Biblical History!! I visit http://www.chabad.org/ everyday and it is just packed full of information about Biblical history from the Torah. This is today's history:
Today is: Tuesday, Nissan 1, 5774 · April 1, 2014 Rosh Chodesh Nissan
BLESSING ON BLOOMING TREES A special mitzvah, which can be fulfilled only once a year, is to recite the berachah ("blessing" or prayer) made upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom: Blessed are you G-d our G-d, king of the universe, who left nothing lacking in His world, and created within it good creatures and good trees with which He gives pleasure to people. Today is the first opportunity to make this blessing, but it can be done anytime during the month of Nissan (referred to by the Torah as "the month of spring" ). Many visit botanical gardens during this time, so as to avail themselves of an opportunity to observe this beautiful mitzvah.
'NASI' OF THE DAY Beginning today, and continuing through Nissan 13, we recite the verses (from Numbers ch. 7) describing the offerings made by the "princes" (nesi'im) of the 12 tribes of Israel. Today we read of the gift bought by Nachshon ben Aminadav, the nasi of the tribe of Judah, on this date. Tomorrow we read of Issachar's gift, and so on for the 12 tribes. On the 13th of Nissan we read G-d's instructions to Aaron regarding the kindling of the menorah, which represents the participation of the priestly tribe of Levi.
Following the verses of the day's "Nasi," we recite a short prayer in which we say, "...if I, Your servant, am from the tribe of ___ whose section of the Nasi I have read today in Your Torah, may all the holy sparks and holy illuminations that are included within the holiness of this tribe shine upon me, to grant me understanding and intelligence in Your Torah and my awe of You, to do Your will all the days of my life...."
The Nasi for all 13 Days:
First of Nissan And it was on the day that Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it and all its vessels, and the altar and all its vessels, and had anointed them and sanctified them—that the princes of Israel, the heads of their father’s houses, who were the princes of the tribes, those who had superintended the counting, offered: And they brought their offering before the Lord—six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the princes and an ox for each one; and they presented them before the Tabernacle. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Accept it from them that they may be used in the service of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the Levi’im, to each man according to his service. Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levi’im. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service, and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service—under the supervision of Itamar the son ofAaron the Kohen. But to the sons of Kehat he did not give any, since theirs was the service of [carrying the most] sacred objects; they shall carry them upon their shoulders. The princes brought the dedication-offering for the altar on the day that it was anointed, and the princes offered their offering before the altar. And the Lord said to Moses: They shall present their offering, each prince on [his] day, for the dedication of the altar. And he who presented his offering on the first day was Nachshon the son of Aminadav of the tribe of Judah. And his offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Nachshon the son of Aminadav.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Judah, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Second of Nissan On the second day, Netanel the son of Tzuar, the prince of Yissachar, offered. He presented his offering: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Netanel the son of Tzuar.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Yissachar, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Third of Nissan On the third day, the prince of the children of Zevulun, Eliav the son of Chelon [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty Shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Eliav the son of Chelon.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Zevulun, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Fourth of Nissan On the fourth day, the prince of the children of Reuven, Elitzur the son of Shedeur [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Elitzur the son of Shedeur.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Reuven, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Fifth of Nissan On the fifth day, the prince of the children of Shimon, Shelumiel the son of Tzurishadai [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Tzurishadai.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Shimon, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Sixth of Nissan On the sixth day, the prince of the children of Gad, Elyasaf the son of Deuel [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Elyasaf the son of Deuel.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Gad, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Seventh of Nissan On the seventh day, the prince of the children of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Amihud [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Amihud.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Ephraim, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Eighth of Nissan On the eighth day, the prince of the children of Menasheh, Gamliel the son of Pedatzur [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Gamliel the son of Pedatzur.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Menasheh, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Ninth of Nissan On the ninth day, the prince of the children of Binyamin, Avidan the son of Gidoni [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Avidan the son of Gidoni.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Binyamin, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Tenth of Nissan On the tenth day, the prince of the children of Dan, Achiezer the son of Amishaday [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Achiezer the son of Amishaday.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Dan, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Eleventh of Nissan On the eleventh day, the prince of the children of Asher, Pagiel the son of Achran [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Achran.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Asher, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
Twelfth of Nissan On the twelfth day, the prince of the children of Naftali, Achira the son of Enan [offered]. His offering was: one silver dish whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by Sanctuary weight—both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meal-offering; one golden cup of ten [shekels], filled with incense. One young bullock, one ram, one lamb in its first year, for a burnt-offering; one goat for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of peace-offering: two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Achira the son of Enan.
May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that in Your great kindness You will shine upon the holy souls that renew themselves as “birds” and sing and praise and pray on behalf of the holy people Israel. Master of the world, gather and take in those sacred “birds” to the holy place of which it is said: No eye has seen it, except You, O God. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, that if I, Your servant, am of the tribe of Naftali, the Torah section of whose prince I have recited today, then may there shine upon me all the holy “sparks” and all the holy lights which are contained in the holiness of this tribe, to understand and comprehend in Your Torah and in the fear of You, to do Your will all the days of my life—I and my children and my children’s children, from now and forever. Amen.
CREATION OF MAN (IN THOUGHT) (3761 BCE) The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 10b-11a) cites two opinions as to the date of G-d's creation of the universe: according to Rabbi Eliezer: "The world was created in Tishrei" (i.e., the sixth day of creation--the day on which Adam and Eve were created--was the 1st of Tishrei, celebrated each year as Rosh Hashanah); according to Rabbi Joshua, "The world was created in Nissan." As interpreted by the Kabbalists and the Chassidic masters, the deeper meaning of these two views is that the physical world was created in Tishrei, while the "thought" or idea of creation was created in the month of Nissan.
THE PATRIARCHS (1813-1506 BCE) According to the Talmud, the three Patriarchs of the Jewish people-- Abraham (1813-1638 BCE), Issac (1713-1533 BCE) and Jacob (1653-1506 BCE)--all were born and passed away in the month of Nissan.
JEWISH CALENDAR INAUGURATED (1313 BCE) On the first of Nissan of the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE--two weeks before the Exodus), G-d showed Moses the crescent new moon and told him, "When you see the moon like this, sanctify [the new month]." This ushered in the first Jewish month, and commenced the lunar calendar Jews have been following ever since.
MISHKAN INAUGURATED (1312 BCE) On the eight day following a 7-day training and initiation period, the portable Mishkan ("Tabernacle" or "Sanctuary") built by the Children of Israel in the Sinai desert was erected, Aaron and his sons began serving as priests, and the Divine Presence came to dwell in the Mishkan; special offerings were brought, including a series of gifts by Nachshon ben Aminadav, the Prince of the Tribe of Judah (similar offerings were brought over the next 11 days by the other tribes of Israel).
DEATH OF NADAV AND AVIHU (1312 BCE) On the day the Mishkan was inaugurated (see above), "Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange fire before G-d, which He commanded them not. A fire went out from G-d, and consumed them, and they died before G-d" (Leviticus 10:1-2).
Have you heard of or read the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young?
How about The Shack? Do you really know what you are reading, can you stand firm in your belief that these books are drawing you closer to God like everyone else says they do?
Can you for sure say that these books are a biblical account of what Christ says is a Christian walk?
Have you been to church lately to get a "Fresh Anointing"?
Has your pastor prayed for you that you will get a "Fresh Anointing" or "Something New Is Going To Happen In You"? Do you really know what that means?
What about all the commercials that encourage us to have something fresh or something new.....
Listen to this message and see if you still want a Fresh Anointing or Something New.
Are you one of the many many Christians who got excited that Mathew McConaughey thanked God in is Oscar speech?
My second question is if you are one of those people did you see the movie that he won the Oscar for and if so, why and what did it do toward bettering you walk with Christ?
My third question is if you didn’t see the movie, do you know what the movie is about? (I did not see the movie, nor did I know what it was about until I read to blog that is listed here.) Be careful my friends, as I can say from experience, about jumping on the band wagon just because others around you are doing it. The Bible tells us to be in the world but not of it. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Trust me when I say I have to remind myself of this often. I am learning more and more all the time that it is so easy to be deceived if we spend more time concerned about the world we live in and how to fit into it rather than spending time being concerned of how we as Christians are to live in this world without becoming a part of it.
Melissa Edgington posted on her blog about this issue and I 100% agree with her. What she describes here is what scares me the most of how deceived Christians already are. If Christians are this deceived now because of celebrity what will happen when the anti-christ comes who will be the biggest celebrity of them all??? I urge you to wake up and pay attention to what is going on around us and to not be a crowd follower because everyone else is doing it also but instead become a leader sure of what you believe or at least be willing to stand alone if it comes down to that. Yes, I watched the speech online and was a very confused about why Christians were so excited about Matthew's speech! I didn't see any Biblical value to what he was saying... as believers we are not chasing ourselves we are told to achieve Christ likeness, not self- likeness. There are many many verses that I would share with Matthew if I could and I have listed several of them here. The number one verse that I would share with him about being his own hero is Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
From Melissa Edgington blog
http://yourmomhasablog.com/2014/03/03/matthew-mcconaughey-is-not-my-hero/ Matthew McConaughey is Not My Hero POSTED ON MARCH 3, 2014 BY Melissa Edgington
Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar. And, boy, are Christians happy about it. I mean, Christians are jumping up and down for this Texas boy for his big win because he actually thanked God in his acceptance speech. He did, he gave God credit and he thanked his wife like he should and he gave a rambling speech that really made me wonder why they weren’t starting up the music to cut him off. They let Matthew talk for almost four minutes, and the clip of his speech is all over the internet.
Christians are so proud.
And, I can’t blame us. I mean, how often do we hear a major celebrity, an Oscar winner, no less, identifying with us? How often do we get that kind of star power in our corner? It almost makes us seem sort of cool and legitimate.
I liked his speech, although I thought it was a little heavy on the Matthew McConaughey. He’s chasing a hero, who is himself in ten years? Really? But, no matter. He mentioned God and that’s all that counts. It obviously shows that he loves the Lord and lives his life for Him and we will all be fans of his forever because of this speech.
But, there’s one tiny issue with setting Matthew McConaughey up as our next great Chris Christi Patterson Penningtonian idol. And, the problem is the movie he won the Oscar for. And pretty much every other movie he’s ever made. (Anyone remember a little film called Magic Mike?) According to pluggedin.com, Dallas Buyer’s Club opens with McConaughey’s character having sex with two girls at the same time in a rodeo stall. That’s only the beginning of the explicit sexual content in the movie. In addition to the nudity, masturbation, and pornography, the film contains over 100 f-words and God’s name is used as a curse word over 20 times.
Matthew McConaughey made this movie, which he was rewarded by Hollywood for making, which goes out into our society and poisons the hearts and minds of our men, women, and young people. And then he gets up to accept his award for making filth that turns hearts away from God, and he thanks God for the opportunity, and Christians applaud him as if he has done something incredible.
We have got to get over our obsession with celebrity and start making connections between what people say and what they actually do. It is never going to be a good thing for Christianity for us to hold these celebrities up as examples of what a Christian should be. If we want to show the world examples of Christianity that should make us cheer, it’ll be our faithful pastors, our grandmothers who have lived quiet sacrificial lives, our friends who would lay down their lives for us, the teachers who go to school every day and live out the commands to love the unlovable and to value every life.
Not Matthew McConaughey. I’m sure he’s a fun guy to hang around with, and I bet he’s a great dad and probably a really good actor. But he is not the next great champion for Christianity.
And that’s probably why I’m not a member of the Academy. Thank you, and good night.
1 John 2:6 ESV Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Peter 2:21 ESV For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Galatians 3:27 ESV For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
In this blog post you will find all things Chanukah. There are videos of how to do Chanukah, how to light the candles, how to play with the dreidel, and how to make latkes and jelly doughnuts. There also videos that are traditional songs and to some silly songs and some funny parodies. If you want to learn about Chanukah or you want to teach her kids about Chanukah or maybe you have a homeschool project that you need information on for holidays you have found the right place to be.
I hope that you enjoy all things Chanukah.
Did Jesus celebrate Chanukah? He did celebrate Chanukah, Chanukah is known as the festival of lights and in the short introductory video you will find out what that meant to Jesus and how we as believers can follow his example.
Hanukkah and Yeshua
(Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to check out links that have more in depth information including Why Christians should celebrate Chanukah.)
Have you ever wondered what Hanukkah is all about? Well, Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah and it has nothing to do with Christmas or the Christmas season. Hanukkah is also known as the Feast of Dedication and as the Feast of Lights.
Here is a wonderful article that I found by Pastor Bob Hill explaining what Hanukkah is all about along with two videos about the history of the Feast......
This is my favorite explanation of the holiday if you are just wanting a quick run down. This article will explain the history and provide instructions on how to light the candles and how to play the dreidel game along with some recipes.
HANUKKAH THE FEAST OF DEDICATION by Pastor Bob Hill http://www.ascensionministries.net/theHanukkahStory.php THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hanukkah, "The Feast Of Dedication," stands out among the celebrations of the Bible. The fact that Hanukkah is not spoken of by Moses in Lev. 23 should not cause us to assume that it is therefore non-biblical. To fully understand this holiday, we must go back to what is referred to as the silent four hundred years between the Old Testament and New Testaments. This period of time is referred to by historians as the Hellenistic period of 167 B.C.E. The New Testament reveals the celebration of Hanukkah in John 10:22. John tells us that Jesus was at the Temple walking on Solomon's Porch during the "Feast of Dedication." John also tells us that Jesus reveals an amazing spiritual truth about His divine nature on this holiday.
A few generations earlier, the Greeks had come to world power under the leadership of Alexander the Great; he seemed to have unified the ancient world into one common government and culture called Hellenism. After Alexander's death, there was a political scramble among four of his generals, resulting in the division of the Hellenistic empire. The Ptolemies took control of the South, which included Egypt. The Seleucids took charge of the northern area around Syria. This left Judea caught in the middle of a tug-of-war, wondering what the outcome would be. Eventually, the Seleucid/Syrians, under the leadership of Antiochus IV, gained power and sought control of the new provinces. Seeking to unify his holdings, Antiochus enforced a policy of assimilation into the prevailing Hellenistic culture. Irrespective of the culture and beliefs of the captured peoples, the Seleucids required submission to the Greek way of life. The Greeks thought that to be truly effective this assimilation must apply to all aspects of life, including language, the arts, and even religion. Everything was to conform to the Greek way of life and values.
Hellenism is a polytheists practice that worshipped the ancient Greek godsÑthe Olympians, nature divinities and underworld deities. Examples of these gods are; Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaistos, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter, Dionysos, Hermes, Ares, Poseidon and Aphrodite, along with Hades and Hestia. Hellenists also honored other types of divinities, including nature spirits (Pan, nymphs, river gods), chthonic or underworld deities (Persephone, Hermes Psykhopompos), and heroes (e.g., Herakles). The Jewish people were living under the oppression of this king and the above pagan practices. Many Jews in Judea had converted to the Hellenistic way and openly advocated adherence to it. However, there were a significant number of faithful Jews who were appalled by these practices and the changes in their culture.
An ultimatum was given: either the Jewish community must give up its distinctive practice (Shabbat, feasts, Torah reading, circumcision, etc.) or die. To prove his point, Antiochus marched his troops into Jerusalem and desecrated the holy Temple. The altars, the utensils, even the golden Menorah (lampstand) were all defiled or torn down. But that was just the start! Antiochus also ordered that a pig be sacrificed on the holy altar and erected an image of the Greek god Zeus as the new point of worship in the Temple! Antiochus insisted on being called "epiphanies" (God manifest). These Greek practices were in direct conflict with the Ten Commandments and Torah (first five books of the bible).
The Jewish community soon came up with an appropriate reflection of their feelings. Instead of calling him Antiochus Epiphanies they made a play on words, and called him "epimanes" (crazyman)! The murmurings for a revolt were heard in Judea and birthed in a small village called Modi'in. Living in this village was an old, godly priest named Mattathias and his five sons. When the Seleucid soldiers chose him to lead the pagan ceremony, Mattathias and his sons reacted with holy indignation. Enough was enough! They killed the soldiers and started a revolt against the oppressors. One of the sons, Judah, rose to leadership and was nicknamed "Maccabee" (the hammer). Spurred on by their firm conviction that the God of Israel was true and faithful, the Maccabees proved that the impossible could happen.
In the Hebrew month Kislev (December) they drove out the Syrians and recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem. The Maccabees and their followers quickly cleansed the altars and restored the holy furnishings. Of particular importance to them was the broken Menorah symbolizing the light of God. They restored it and lit it, but there was a problem. Jewish tradition recounts that as they searched for some specially prepared oil, they found only enough to burn for one day. The priests knew it would take at least eight days for new oil to be produced. What to do? They decided it was better to light the Menorah anyway; at least the light of God would shine forth immediately. To their amazement, the oil burned not only for one day, but for eight days until additional oil was available!
The Temple was restored and rededicated to the glory of the God of Israel and an eight-day festival was established. It is called Hanukkah (Hebrew for Dedication). Every year, starting on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the Jewish community recalls the two-fold miracle: the miracle of the oil as well as the miraculous military victory. Some people may question why include Hanukkah with the "biblical" holy days, since it is not mentioned in the feasts of Lev 23. However, the Tanakh (Old Testament) reveals that Hanukkah is clearly predicted in later prophetic writings. The vision given to the prophet Daniel is an amazingly detailed description of the events surrounding Hanukkah as he describes the coming kingdoms that would have impact on Israel. Daniel 8:21-25 also predicts a miraculous deliverance by God! The miracle of Hanukkah is mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures with such detail that some liberal scholars have suggested that Daniel was writing after the fact and not prophetically (see Walvoord's comments on this in Daniel, p.16 and following pages). THE TRADITIONAL JEWISH OBSERVANCE
Hanukkah is an enjoyable holiday with many meaningful customs. Every year, starting on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the Jewish community begins its eight-day celebration. The holiday focuses on the Hanukkiah, the nine-branched Hanukkah Menorah. The usual Menorah, like the modern symbol of the State of Israel is seven-branched. The eight branches of the Hanukkiah are to remind us of the eight-day miracle of oil. The ninth branch (in the center with four branches on either side) stands out. It is used to light the other candles and is called the shamash (Hebrew for "servant"). The Menorah is lit after dark, usually in connection with a meal.
After the blessings are said it is traditional to sing holiday songs. Then it's time to enjoy the meal with its traditional foods. Because of the miracle of the oil, it is customary to eat foods cooked in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (jelly doughnuts). Another reminder of the miracle of this holiday is the dreidel game. These wooden or plastic tops have different Hebrew letters on each of their four sides: Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin standing for the phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham ("A Great Miracle Happened There.") There is an interesting story behind the dreidel. It is said that the Jewish children of Judea during the Maccabean period wanted to study Torah, but the anti-Semitic policies of the Syrians made this difficult. They came up with a creative answer: they would study the scrolls in the streets until a foreign soldier came, then they would quickly hide the scroll, bring out the dreidel, and pretend to be engrossed in a game of tops! When the soldier left, the Torah study would begin again.
In modern celebrations, dreidels are played with for fun. Each Hebrew letter has its own value for keeping score. Children are given Hanukkah money; which is usually foil-covered chocolate coins they use to wager with and make the game more interesting. More recently, the custom of giving gifts has found its way into the celebration of this holiday. Many families give real Hanukkah money to children, perhaps 25 cents for each year of their age. There is nothing wrong with these traditions. Often people try to establish a connection between Christmas and Hanukkah simply because they occur at the same time. However, they celebrate two entirely different events and any intermingling of the two celebrations is often man-made. HANUKKAH AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
"And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of The Dedication (Hanukkah), and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch" John 10:22-23 (KJV). Most surprising to both the Jewish and the Christian communities is that the clearest mention of Hanukkah in the Bible is in the New Testament! This brings us to the first reason believers in Jesus Christ might want to understand and celebrate this holiday. The Messiah celebrated it. Not only did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah, but he observed it in the same Temple that had been cleansed and rededicated just a few generations earlier by the Maccabees. Many Jewish scholars see a deeper spiritual meaning to Hanukkah. As the editors of the popular Artscroll Mesorah Series state: Then, the light is kindled to give inspiration, for the light of Messiah must burn brightly in our hearts. (Hanukkah, Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn,1981, pg. 104).
Did Jesus Understand The Importance Of Hanukkah? Yes, while Jesus was walking in the Temple during Hanukkah, they demanded that he tell them whether He was the Messiah. The scripture records that, He told them who He was (John 10:7-23). This "Feast of Dedication", is the time when the Jewish nation was celebrating a holiday about deliverance from a false ruler who had declared he was to be their god. Think of the Godly wisdom and timing for Jesus to choose this place and celebration to reveal that He is God! Antiochus of Epiphanies' made a similar claim, the coming anti-Christ will do the same and now here is Jesus confronting the cultural, political and religious leaders with the truth that He is the Messiah; "I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him." John 10:30-31 (KJV)
He has just declared to them, He is God. He was saying that He is equal to God in all aspects and that He is "God in the flesh". To have chosen the Feast of Hanukkah to declare, "I and my Father are one," is strategic! God is one God, but He exists in a plurality of beings, God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit. The religious leaders were enraged and picked up stones to stone Him. It is no different today; there are many who prefer the religious traditions of men and stone throwing instead of truth (John 10:32-33).
The primary Jewish declaration of faith proclaims that; "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" Deut 6:4 (KJV). The multitude that heard Him was taken back. They understood exactly what Jesus meant (John 17:21). At this very moment Israel was celebrating their deliverance from such a declaration made by Antiochus the oppressive king and the pagan practices he tried to force upon the people of God. He portrayed that he was a god to them two hundred years earlier on the Temple Mount. Daniels prophecies declare that another anti-Christ will be coming in the future that will do the same. It is no mistake that Jesus chose Hanukkah to proclaim His deity (John 10:37-38). There is a weapon that every generation has against godlessness, lawlessness, and the traditions of man. Hanukkah teaches us that the weapon that combats, "assimilation" into ungodly practices and religious acceptance is unwavering obedience to The Word of God and removal of every high place. Just like the Maccabees we cannot allow one to remain in place, even if the odds are thirteen to one against you! The story of the Maccabees (the hammer people) is a reminder of the unswerving devotion of people who dedicated themselves to uncompromised obedience and faith (Rom 12:1).
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." (John 4:23-26 NKJV) Authors Personal Exhortation
Hanukkah is not an alternative to the winter solstice celebrations of man. It is the story of a people who said enough, re-dedicated and separated themselves from an anti-christ spirit and the religious practices it represented. Jesus was not born on December 25th.. His conception was near or during the period of Hanukkah and His birth came during the Fall Feast of Tabernacles (Sept. / Oct.). Because Spirit and Truth Worship are foundational to the Christian way of life, I want to encourage you to research where the Yule Tide, Winter Solstice and Christmas celebrations originated from. Then ask yourself, how did these practices and symbols became interwoven into the worship of the Messiah? How did His birth become a celebration during the Winter Solstice instead of the biblical time of Tabernacles?
The biblical "Feasts of The Lord" and other Hebrew celebrations mentioned in the bible have nothing in common with the spring Easter, fall Halloween and winter Xmas celebrations that have become part of Christianity. The feasts of the bible are recorded in Leviticus 23. God told Moses they are; "a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you," (Ex. 31:12-13). Zechariah tells us they will be celebrated during the thousand year millennial reign of Jesus Christ (Zec. 14:15-16). Isaiah tells us that they continue on in eternity after the new heaven and earth is completed (Isa. 66:22-23). If they are celebrated during the millennium and in eternity what makes us think we can change or replace them? Will you understand the relevance of Hanukkah and be a modern Maccabee (a hammer) and declare as they did? "Yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. Far be it for us to desert the law and the ordinances".
Let me conclude this overview by sharing three simple truths that I have learned during the process of teaching about the Bibles Holy Days. Sacred Cows make Gourmet hamburgers. All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second it is violently opposed. Third it is perceived as self evident. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin James 4:17.
Hanukkah is a celebration of conception and deliverance, it is a time to express hope and renew our dedication to serve Him. It is time to throw off the mentality that biblical feasts and celebrations are just Jewish! The scriptures reveal that Jesus and His original twelve apostles celebrated the feasts and other biblical holidays. They didn't quit celebrating them just because churches were planted in gentile nations. History actually reveals that the apostles and their disciples actually taught the gentiles these celebrations and practiced them together. It wasn't until the Roman Church began systematically replacing Hebrew teachings and practices with non biblical dates and pagan celebrations that they began disappearing from the linage of the original churches (in 325 A.D).
You celebrate what you want..., "but as for me and my house we will chose the biblical patterns seen in the life of Jesus Christ and His apostles, including the historical practices of the churches that originated from the twelve apostles." During the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) I renew and re-dedicate myself and my household to not practicing the pagan and religious co-opted practices of the Roman Church and the pagan traditions of men. Certainly all believers in Jesus have important reasons to remember the Feast of Dedication, Jesus did (Jn.10). THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT
As with all the biblical holy days, there are spiritual lessons to be learned from HanukkahÑlight, courage, and faith, to name a few. Perhaps the most vital one is seen in its name. This festival commemorates a time when true worship of God was restored and the pagan practices completely removed from the House of God in Jerusalem. The Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands today. The heart of each true believer in Jesus Christ the Messiah and savior is the temple where the Spirit of God dwells. Too often believers endanger the cleanliness of this Temple by allowing idolatry and pagan practices into their lives. Hence the timeless exhortation from Scripture: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." - Col 2:8 KJV A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR A NEW TESTAMENT HANUKKAH CELEBRATION Hanukkah Reading Night One: Ps 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Hanukkah Reading Night Two: Ps 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Hanukkah Reading Night Three: Matt 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Hanukkah Reading Night Four: Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me. Hanukkah Reading Night Five: John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." Hanukkah Reading Night Six: Eph 5:11-15 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, Hanukkah Reading Night Seven: 1 Pet 2:9 But you are a CHOSEN RACE, a royal PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, a PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Hanukkah Reading Night Eight: Phil 2:14-16 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (NAU) How Do You Light The Hanukkiah?
Each night, you light the Shammas (servant) candle first. Then you use the Shammas to light the others. Then every night, you light one more candle. You light from the right to left, starting with the candle for the newest night. On the last night, all 8 candles are burning brightly including the Shammas (servant) in celebration of the miracle.
Chanukah
Chanukah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration. It is bitterly ironic that this holiday, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and the suppression of Jewish religion, has become the most assimilated, secular holiday on our calendar.
The story of Chanukah begins in the reign of Alexander the Great. Alexander conquered Syria, Egypt and Palestine, but allowed the lands under his control to continue observing their own religions and retain a certain degree of autonomy. Under this relatively benevolent rule, many Jews assimilated much of Hellenistic culture, adopting the language, the customs and the dress of the Greeks, in much the same way that Jews in America today blend into the secular American society.
More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. He began to oppress the Jews severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrating the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar. Two groups opposed Antiochus: a basically nationalistic group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee, and a religious traditionalist group known as the Chasidim, the forerunners of the Pharisees (no direct connection to the modern movement known as Chasidism). They joined forces in a revolt against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and oppression by the Seleucid Greek government. The revolution succeeded and the Temple was rededicated.
According to tradition as recorded in the Talmud, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night.
Some Chanukah Traditions
Chanukah is not a very important religious holiday. The holiday's religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavu'ot. It is roughly equivalent to Purim in significance, and you won't find many non-Jews who have even heard of Purim! Chanukah is not mentioned in Jewish scripture; the story is related in the book of Maccabees, which Jews do not accept as scripture.
The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a menorah (or sometimes called a chanukiah) that holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. On the first night, one candle is placed at the far right. The shammus candle is lit and three berakhot (blessings) are recited. After reciting the blessings, the first candle is then lit using the shammus candle, and the shammus candle is placed in its holder. Candles can be lit any time after dark but before midnight. Each night, another candle is added from right to left (like the Hebrew language). Candles are lit from left to right (because you pay honor to the newer thing first). On the eighth night, all nine candles (the 8 Chanukah candles and the shammus) are lit.
This is how to like the Chanukah candles.
It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes (pronounced "lot-kuhs" or "lot-keys" depending on where your grandmother comes from.
How to Make Potato Latkes
Latkes, Shmatkes! (by Lauren Mayer)
POTATO LATKES
Ingredients: 2 eggs, 3 cups grated, drained potatoes, 4 Tbls. grated onion, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 2 Tbls. cracker or matzah meal, 1/2 cup oil or butter.
Directions: Beat the eggs and add the potatoes, onion, salt, pepper and meal. Heat half the oil or butter in a frying pan and drop the potato mixture into it by the tablespoon. Fry until browned on both sides. Keep pancakes hot until all are fried and add more oil or butter as required. Serves 8. Serve with applesauce or sour cream.
HANUKKAH BRISKET
Yield: 12 servings
1 1/2 Cups Sun-Dried Tomatoes, packed in oil 1 Cup Boiling Water 1 Beef Brisket (About 4 1/2 Pounds), trim all visible fat 1 Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Paprika 1 Teaspoon Pepper 1/2 Cup Ketchup 1/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice 8 Bunches Baby Carrots, trimmed 1/2 Pound Green Beans 3 Onions, sliced
In cup, combine sun-dried tomatoes and water: let stand 15 minutes or until softened. Meanwhile, season beef with salt, pepper and paprika. In sauce pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown beef in 1 TBS. hot oil 10 minutes, turning once. Remove to plate; keep warm. In the same pot over medium heat, cook onion in remaining 1 TBS. hot oil, stirring, 10 minutes or until tender. Add tomatoes with their liquid, ketchup, brown sugar and lemon juice; bring to a boil. Add brisket; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 hours, 40 minutes. Add carrots and beans; continue simmering 20 minutes or until tender. Remove beef; let stand 15 minutes before carving.
Sufganiyot (How to make Hanukkah Donuts)
Those Chocolate Coins at Christmas Time Are Not From Santa
Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but has been added in places where Jews have a lot of contact with Christians, as a way of dealing with our children's jealousy of their Christian friends. It is extremely unusual for Jews to give Chanukah gifts to anyone other than their own young children. The only traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts of money.
Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins. The traditional explanation of this game is that during the time of Antiochus' oppression, those who wanted to study Torah (an illegal activity) would conceal their activity by playing gambling games with a top (a common and legal activity) whenever an official or inspector was within sight. A dreidel is marked with four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Hei and Shin. These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham", a great miracle happened there, referring to the miracle of the oil. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle. Note that the holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, not the military victory: Jews do not glorify war.
When I was a kid we would always get chocolate coins at Christmas time it was one of our favorite things to get. I had no idea whatsoever that these chocolate coins actually had a purpose as a matter of fact, I can remember asking why they made chocolate cleans and no one knew the answer. Now I know that they come from Chanukah!
How to Play The Dreidel Game
The Children's Guide To Hanukkah by Susan Fischer Weis
HOW TO PLAY THE DREIDEL GAME
Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet: Nun, Gimel, Hay and Shin. Together, they form the acronym for "Nes", "Gadol", "Haya", and "Sham" which means "a great miracle happened there".
These letters also form a mnemonic for the rules for playing the dreidel game:
Nun stands for the Yiddish word "nit" which means 'nothing'
Hay stands for "halb" which means 'half'
Gimel for "gants" which means 'all'
Shin for "shteln" which means 'put in'
Game Instructions
Give each person the same amount of money, candy or nuts.
Each player puts one piece in the pot.
The first player spins the dreidel and does what the dreidel says.
After a player gets money, everyone puts one more piece into the pot.
Everyone gets a turn. When you are finished playing, you can keep the money or eat your candy or nuts.
Sesame Street - Telly plays Drediel
Here is the story of Chanukah. Okay I know this is for kids but it's a pretty simple explanation of what Chanukah is.
The Chanukah story for kids, from G-dcast
Sesame Street:
Hanukkah With Veronica Monica
Here is the story of Chanukah in some fun songs.
The Maccabeats - Candlelight - Hanukkah
StandFour - Eight Nights - Hanukkah Mashup
The Maccabeats - Miracle - Matisyahu - Hanukkah
This is my favorite Chanukah song!
Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages)
Light Up the Night - Fountainheads Hanukkah
Here are a few traditional Chanukah songs that you would hear during the eight nights of Chanukah.
I Have a Little Dreidel
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah
Oh Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the hora
Gather 'round the table
We'll give you a treat, dreidels to play with and latkes to eat
And while we are playing
The candles are burning low
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
Oh Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the hora
Gather 'round the table
We'll give you a treat, dreidels to play with and latkes to eat
And while we are playing
The candles are burning low
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
Oh Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the hora
Gather 'round the table
We'll give you a treat, dreidels to play with and latkes to eat
And while we are playing
The candles are burning low
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
One for each night, they she'd a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
In the song above it talks about dancing the hora
and this is a video of that dance.
"Hora" means "round dance", and it is considered the "King of Israeli folk dances". The hora is danced at almost any celebration, usually to the song "Hava Nagila". Here we demonstrate the 6-step Hora. This can be danced to any song--either 3/4 or 4/4 timing. Music: "Hava Nagila" by Israeli Folk Group. Teresa Cook, Rejoice in Dance
This dance is also preformed on Chanukah and at any other happy celebration
Chanukah is a very serious
because we celebrate God's faithfulness.
In modern times people celebrate Chanukah in traditional ways and non-traditional ways. Just as any other holiday or religion or political figure here are a few videos poking fun at Chanukah. Unfortunately Chanukah has become very commercialized just like Christmas and many of the Jews in America wanted their children to fit in with American kids and so some of these stories, songs, and videos are result of the commercialized holiday.
Do you believe in Chrismukkah? (Hanukkah Parody)
The Star Wars Hanukkah Special!
(Story of Chanukkah and parody of The Star Wars Movie)
Chipmunk Chanukah
How Do You Spell Channukkahh
I love love love big-band music!
Swingin' Dreidel
WERE LIGHTING THE MENORAH
I saw Harry Chanukah beat up Santa
Spinderella
The Dreidel Song: Hanukkah Rap (Happy Thanksgivukkah!)
Eight Days of Hannukah vocals
Funny Chanukah - Hanukkah Video
For a more in-depth look at Chanukah please visit the following link.
