I’m looking forward to watching the CBN show celebrating Rosh Hashanah this evening. The Shofar came from Mt. Zion when God delivered the 10 commandments to Moses. Following Rosh Hoshana are the 10 days of Awe. info from Judaism 101
This morning I read Acts 18. This is my daughter’s 17th birthday and these verses are the ones I read – good refrigerator verses:
Acts 18:10 “For I am with you, and no man shall assault you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.”
Isaiah 43:5 “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east [where they are dispersed] and gather you from the west.”
Jeremiah 1:8 “Be not afraid of them [their faces], for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”
Paul was a tentmaker and he did this for his livlihood, but on the Sabbeths he would go into the synagogues and teach about Jesus. Many accepted and believed, but many were jealous and caused problems for Paul and the other believers.
I found this picture from when we were in Israel. It is the Pool of Bethesda, only recently discovered sometime in the 19th century.
John 15
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
A counterfeit is an imitation of the true or real thing. Counterfeits make crooked the straight paths of the LORD. When God moves, the devil brings a counterfeit to bring confusion. See Acts 13. Paul’s words to the sorcerer: vs. 10 “…O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
In John 8, Jesus said, (vs. 44) “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
A drinking, carousing, party life is a counterfeit to the Holy Spirit filled life. See Acts 2. Counterfeits look real, but they lack the power of the real thing. 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Acts 9 is the story of Saul. After his conversion he was waiting at the street Straight. God had told Ananias to go to him there. vs. 11 “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,”
Counterfeit Christianity makes the straight path of God look crooked. The answer to counterfeit Christianity is the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” First they were set apart, then they were sent out. “Why” is more important than “what.” Does our ego get in the way? Ego could mean “edging God out.”
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I would like to learn more Hebrew. As in most languages the alphabet comes first. The Hebrew alphabet is quite interesting and meaningful. According to “The Symbolism of the True Hebrew Alphabet,” by Walter Kenaston, “The Hebrew alphabet comprise symbols which stand for and honor IAUE and His works, symbols for man in his modes, and other concepts. The letters with a straight up and down stroke symbolize the Creator and His uprightness; there are exceptions. Man is symbolized by a bent up and down line to make note that man, though made in the image of IAUE, has a bent for sin.”
The first letter is Aleph. Looks like a battle ax. The Upright of Israel speaks. Position is 1, the value is 1 and also 1000. The meaning of aleph is “ox.” See Genesis 1 – Aleim speaks into existence the creation.
Psalm 119
1 ALEPH. Happy are they that are upright in the way, who walk in the law of HaShem.
2 Happy are they that keep His testimonies, that seek Him with the whole heart.
3 Yea, they do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.
4 Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, that we should observe them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were directed to observe Thy statutes!
6 Then should I not be ashamed, when I have regard unto all Thy commandments.
7 I will give thanks unto Thee with uprightness of heart, when I learn Thy righteous ordinances.
8 I will observe Thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly.
I don’t so much like to eat olives, but I love to keep olive oil for cooking; it’s great for popcorn, and I use it for face moisturizer – it’s great. I could write more about olives, but the link below has all the information anyone could ever want or need.
In the Old Testament, Zechariah prophesied the coming day of the Lord.
`On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east: and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward” (14:3-4).
Psalms Chapter 91
1 O thou that dwellest in the covert of the Most High, and abidest in the shadow of the Almighty;
2 I will say of HaShem, who is my refuge and my fortress, my G-d, in whom I trust,
3 That He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He will cover thee with His pinions, and under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth is a shield and a buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at Thy side, and ten thousand at Thy right hand; it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For thou hast made HaShem who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.
11 For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee upon their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and asp; the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet.
14 ‘Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and bring him to honour.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and make Him to behold My salvation.’
“Search the Scriptures” Bible study:
The theme of Psalm 91 is security and blessedness of living under God’s protection.
The rich promises of this chapter depend on meeting the conditions of the first 2 verses. Same idea in Exodus 15:26 – “If you will diligently harken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.
There are seven gracious promises in verses 14-16. Because he sets his love on God, God will:
1. deliver him
2. set him on high
3. answer him
4. be with him in trouble
5. deliver and honor him
6. satisfy him with a long life
7. show him His salvation
II Peter 1:2-4: vs. 3 – His power is given us for all things we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). vs. 4 – God has given us His great promises and by them we can escape moral decay which are in the world because of lust and greed. We become sharers of His divine nature.
Verses 3, 5, 10, 13 mention all kinds of adversity, insidious and hidden, or open and visible, explicable or inexplicable.
Verse 13 doesn’t mean deliverance like Tarzan, but deliverance from dangers, natural and supernatural, not by magic (as in Egypt) but by by faith. Verse 14 – God will literally protect – “I will set him inaccessibly high.”
Finishing up this Bible study, the song, “I was made to love You,” came to mind. Here is Toby Mac singing it – a blessing – simply, we are made to love God. That is first and foremost what He wants from us. Servolution is good, but loving God is way ahead of whatever is 2nd.
Lately I’ve enjoyed smiling babies. This morning at the stores I went to, there were several babies smiling at their mothers as they smiled and talked back to their babies. I smiled at one and got a beautiful smiley face in return. What makes a baby respond so readily with a smile to perfect strangers? This article explains that a baby is able to smile at about 2 months and from 2-5 months will smile at anyone who smiles at them; after that, they become more aware of their social surroundings. Why do people like to smile at babies? They are trusting and loving. Does God smile on His children? Why would He?
God smiles when we love him supremely.
God smiles when we trust him completely.
God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly.
God smiles when we thank him continually.
God smiles when we receive his gifts joyfully.
Posted by pray4israel 
Posted by pray4israel 
Posted by pray4israel 
