LIGHT THE SHABBAT CANDLES

SHABBAT MEDITATIONS & THE CROWN OF PEACE AMID A WORLD OF TURMOIL

• Yeshua haMashiach is the King of Peace, destined to rule forever upon the throne of David. Allow Him to reign over your Shabbat celebration, and your life as L-rd and King!

  Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead Yeshua haMashiach, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of an everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Yeshua haMashiach; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen! (Hebrews 13:20-21, 2 Samuel 7:1,2 Chron. 29:23,2 Sam. 23:5,Isaiah 9:7, Acts 2:34-38)

  Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not be anxious." (Isaiah 28:16)

  ...And He shall be for a glorious throne to His Fathers house. And they shall hang upon Him all the glory of His Father's house; the offspring and the issue, all vessels of cups, even to the vessels of flagons.

  He is a mighty warrior. In the first prophecy referring to Yeshua, we see Him engaged in mortal conflict with Satan (Genesis 3:15). That battle was played out: 1) In the wilderness. 2) The garden, The courts of law in Jerusalem, 4) Most importantly, on the cross. The hordes of hell were lined up against Jesus, and Satan directed an all-out attack. Yet Jesus steadfastly met and overcame every sword-thrust of the enemy. And when He died that spring afternoon, it was not in the agonizing defeat of a crushed and beaten man. It was as a triumphant warrior, whose sinless death was itself a death-blow to the avowed enemy of God. And His resurrection was proof of His victory. But that was only the first battle.

  The second greatest battle will occur when Jesus returns from heaven astride a white horse. Eyes blazing, He will crush the uprising of the man of sin, defeat the hordes lined up against Israel, and establish Himself on His throne in Jerusalem as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19). There's more. Christ the warrior won the battle on the cross and will win the battle of Armageddon. And He is fighting right now on our behalf. He stands beside us in our battle with our spiritual foe. Let us daily put on each piece of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). We are not defeated, because Yeshua the Mighty Warrior stands with us.

  THE CANDLE OF THE LORD:

  "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. (Proverbs 20:27)

  The way in which God refreshes us with His peace, is by searching our human heart, and exposing any wicked way, that we might have opportunity to repent of this. Ner Hashem nishmat adam, is the Hebrew phrase meaning "The soul is the candle of the Lord." As we wait before God, repenting of anything God brings to light, our peace is restored, yet once more.

  THE ORIGINS OF SHABBAT

  The term SHABHATH in Hebrew means "to cease, to desist; or "to rest." The origins of Shabbat or Sabbath, predate the giving of the law. The first mention of Shabbat in scripture, is with regard to the creation account in Genesis 2:1-3. We are told the creation took place in six days, and on the seventh day, God rested from all of the work which He had made. He blessed and sanctified the 7th day, because in it He rested from His labor which God created and made."

  SHABBAT IN THE LAW

  Shabbot observance is the 4th, of the 10 commandments found in Exodus 20:8-11.

  "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you will labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God: in it, you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and allthat is in them; and rested the seventh day: whereof the Lord blessed the sabbath and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:8-9)

  THE HISTORY OF SHABBAT AFTER MOSES:

  Among the prophets, great promises are attached to the faithful observance of shabbat, as a holy day. These writers also make mention of the periods of Israel's unfaithfulness and profaning of this day. The Babylonian exile, which occurred following the years of non-sabbath keeping, became a valuable lesson in Israels life. During Nehemiah's life, he struggled to make the people observe the law concerning the sabbath. (Nehemiah 10:31,13:15-22)

  The Jewish historian Josephus writes, that sabbath observance flourished even after Titus the Roman general captured Jerusalem, and Jewish people were scattered over the face of the earth.

  THE BRIT CHADASA SPEAKS:

  It was Yeshua's custom to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath day. (Luke 4:16) Messiah held the Sabbath in high regard as an important observance for working mankind. The way in which He exalted the "spirit of the law" over the observing of the law, brought Him into conflict with religious leaders of His day. The rabbai's seemed to think of Shabbat as an end in itself. An institution which every pious Jew should subject himself, or risk the consequences . In other words, they believed that "Man was made for Shabbat."

  Yeshua haMashiach taught openly that if a need should arise which was in conflict with the letter of the Law; man's needs should take precedence over the Sabbath, because "the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath." (Mark 2:27) Yeshua's resurrection from the dead occurred on Shabbat.

  In the Brit Chadasa, or New Testament, we see a spiritual truth that provides insight into the fulfillment of Shabbat. Something happens in the life of the new covenant believer, when he or she believes upon Messiah Yeshua. The observance of Shabbat, taught Israel the importance of faith. It reminded God's people that every need would be supplied by the loving Heavenly Father. Prophetically it pointed to a day in which God would institute a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:6)through Messiah, and that through Messiah's atoning blood, God would have a people. God would live in and walk in them ,as they entered by faith into His "spiritual rest."

  "And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and be their God."

  (2 Corinthians 6:16, I Cor. 2:7-16)

  Paul contended for the freedom to be lead of God's Spirit, saying with respect to Shabbot or Sabbath, for believers in Messiah not to judge one another.

  "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of a new moon, or of the sabbath day, which are a shadow (TUPOS="type or symbol") of things to come, but the body is of Messiah/Christ." (Colossians 2:16)

  A man is free to observe special days such as Shabbat. (Romans 14:5) But he warns not to allow this or anything to become an occasion to cause another to stumble. (Romans 14:13)

  Believers in Messiah everywhere continue to observe "a day of rest," in which they attend their house of worship, study scripture, and rest. Those who choose to observe a traditional sabbath, should do as their own conscience dictates, and not judge their brothers in the Lord. The teachings of Yeshua haMashiach bring life to all who will receive them.

  This spiritual rest come through receiving God's promised Messiah, and walking in the spiritual light and fulfillment of SHAVUOT.

  Paul quotes in the Brit Chadasa, from the Prophet Isaiah, saying:

  In the law it is written: "With other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people; and yet for all that they will not hear me, says the Lord. Wherefore, tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:but prophesying serves not those that don't believe but those who believe." (I Corinthians 14:21-22)

  The exact quotation from Isaiah 28:9-11 reads like this:

  Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Then that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom He said: This is the rest, wherewith you may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing; yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a littlee; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

  The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews expounds on "spiritual rest," with these words:

  For if we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said: As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spoke in a certain place of the sabbath day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, ...if they shall enter my rest. Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief: Again, he limited a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." For if Messiah Yeshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4:7-11)

  THE PROPHESIED SHABBAT & SHAVUOT REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD:

  I have given you scriptures such as Isaiah 9:6-7, which show that Messiah is God, Himself. Messiah is our pattern for the way in which man should enter into "God's rest." Not because He did no work, but because He obeyed the Father at all times, perfectly and in every detail. In John 14:10, He said: The Father in Me, He does the works. (John 5:20) He said: The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself, but the Father in Me, He does the works. .

  What was this "Shabbat" which Yeshua haMashiach promised to the people of God, in speaking prophetically of a day, when "rivers of living water would flow forth from Him that believes on Yeshua? To the woman at the well, He called it a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. (John 4:14) The scriptures tell us that Yeshua, stood in that great and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles...And as the priest poured out the water, Yeshua cried:

  "If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink. He that believes on Me as the scriptures have said: Out of his belly (inermost being) shall flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given (to them) because Yeshua was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39)

  The Shabbat of which Messiah speaks is the day in which believing in Him, we enter into rest, and cease from our own works, that we might yield ourselves as God's servants to obey Him from our hearts. In the bible in Hebrews chapter 4, the word speaks to us, concerning those who having received the promise of rest, fell short and did not enter in, because of unbelief.

  We are told in Hebrews 4:2, "The word preached to them, did not profit them, because they failed to mix it with faith! Hebrews 4:7, admonishes all men and women: Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Yeshua had given them rest, He would not afterward have spoken of another day. Therefore, there remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, has also ceased from his own works, as God did from His." Isaiah the prophet said it this way:

  "If you turn away your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and will honour Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you will delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father." (Isaiah 58:13)

  What was Jacob's inheritance? It was the revelation of himself in the eyes of God, which enabled Him to be a prince with God. For Jacob who had always won "by hook or by crook" as we say; found himself crippled in his flesh, as the angel touched the hollow of his thigh and it was out of joint. Mainly, I believe that Jacob, in his wrestling with the angel, leaarned to have no confidence in the flesh. Hosea 12:3 records that Jacob wept, and made supplication to the angel. He wrestled with the angel of the Lord, yes--The angel which was a manifestation of Yahweh Himself, in a theophany. For he said:

  "I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved Genesis 32:30) (Hosea 12:3)

  But moreso, he pleaded his cause, before the One who answers prayer. And God who is rich in mercy, answered Jacob. And made him a prince and a prevailer with God.

  Through faith in the promises, God will empower each of us with His precious Holy Spirit from on High, to be His witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth! (Acts 1:8) On Sha Vu Ot, we see 3000 Jews receive this promise of the Father in Acts 2:38-41) The Samaritans were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:16. The Gentiles in Acts 10:46-48, where we learn that the visible evidence is "speaking in tongues." Lastly, we see at Ephesus, disciples of John the Baptist receive this marvellous prophetic promise of God's free gift. (Acts 19:5) There will be a work for us to do. But we do this as Zechariah the Prophet admonishes in Zechariah 4:6. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord! Who are you O great mountain? Before Zerubabbel you will become a plain. And He shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying: Grace, grace to it!" (Zech. 4:7) God will complete His great work, through the obedient "sons of oil," as Zechariah calls them in Zech. 4:14

  In Acts 2:39, Peter preaches: For this promise is for you, and for your children, and to all that afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

  SHABBAT SHALOM! IN & THROUGH HIM WHO IS OUR PEACE & HOLY REST, THAT WE MIGHT ARISE UNDER THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ALLOWING THE FATHER IN US DO THE WORKS! MESSIAH PROMISED "GREATER WORKS SHALL WE DO!"

  The Breaker is come up (gone up) before them; they have broken through and have passed the gate and go forth."

  (Micah 2:13, I Chron. 14:11)

  
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