The Wrestling Season

Shalom, my dear friends and family.  Some of you are aware that we, as a congregation, have been through a season of warfare prayer.  Suffice it to say, it has been a transformable season.  We have experienced massive breakthroughs and sensational battles, sometimes from one day to the next.  It is with this that we come to the significance of the Aliyah that we just studied on this last Shabbat.

Jacob is in great anxiety as he is about to face whom he believes to be his arch nemesis, mainly his brother, Esau, whom he stole the blessing of the first born by deceiving their father, Isaac.  He stumbles upon a place in which he seems to be exasperated at the trial that he thinks he’s about to face.  In the midst of this, he is confronted by a most peculiar situation.  He finds himself in a wrestling match with Elohim himself.  I don’t have time to go into why some of your translations say an angel, but with some study you will see that he is wrestling with Elohim.  You know the story, on and on they wrestled throughout the night, trading advantages as wrestlers do on the mat; one grapples and the other struggles to get out, then he makes a move, and submits the other into some type of hold.  The other escapes that hold and gains an advantage from another position.  The night goes on like this until finally Elohim said, “The new day is about to dawn.  Let me go. (I’m paraphrasing).”  The famous words of Jacob are now uttered, “I will not let you go until you bless me!” 

Question, do you recognize your season of wrestling?  Do you understand that it has been a test the whole time – of your endurance, of your strength, of your tenacity, of your full-doggedness if you will?  This test of wills is for our example, to let us know that the Lord watches to see if we will persist, if we will press on, if we will simply not give up until we receive His promise.  Will you be one who gives in this wrestling season that you are in right now? 

If you will look closely at the scriptures, you will see that when Elohim leaves him, Jacob recognizes that he has just seen God face to face.  In the previous Aliyah, Elohim changes Jacob’s name to Israel.  And, in so doing, makes him a candidate for the blessings that he was promised.  Jacob names that place “Peniel” in verse 31 of the Humash, which means “Panin,” (face) of El (God), or literally face to face with God.  What is most interesting about the next verse is that it now reads, “Penuel.”  In your King James Version it reads in verse 31, "And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh."  How profound that they used the word “pass” and “over.”  Your “pass over” season is upon you now.  You are about to “pass over” from the promise you received from Elohim, face to face, into the receiving of that promise as you “pass over” that wrestling season. 

The two Hebrew letters that change in the Torah are these: the Yod is written in the middle of “Peniel” and the Vav is used in the middle of “Penuel.”   Why the difference?  The Yod, in ancient Hebrew, is a picture of an arm, almost as if it is extended, offering you something, “your promise perhaps?”  Then comes the wrestling, “…after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you in your promise (1 Peter 5:10). 

You must understand that the Vav is very significant in the sense that its meaning is exemplified in that its purpose is to connect heaven and earth through liquid light.  It also connects your future and your past.  The Vav is a tangible, revelatory entity, in that its ancient pictograph is a tent peg or a stake.   All that you have been promised in your future and all that you have wrestled with in your past shall be staked together in that you will be able to receive your future because of your past.  

Stay the course, my brothers and sisters.  Do whatever it takes to make it in life as you gain advantages, as you move and turn, and navigate the turns and mazes of this life.  I promise you, a new day is dawning, and with it comes the fulfillment of the very promise that you have been struggling over for years and even decades!  Hallelujah!

On Assignment

Shalom to all. 

It has been a restful couple weeks and I so enjoyed the pastor’s appreciation lunch.  It was good to see several of our people that I hadn’t seen in a while come fellowship with us.  It was very encouraging as others I’d hoped to see were not there. 

Now to a little nugget on our Torah, verse #15 says that Abraham’s servant had not yet finished speaking or praying before the answer to his prayer was right before his eyes.  What an encouraging verse of scripture.  May I submit to you, that our prayers, while very important, are symbolic in nature as opposed to the central reason for our answer?  Let me explain; here was the servant sent on an assignment by his master.  To be sure, he desperately wanted to fulfill the wishes of his master.  His entire life was predicated on fulfilling every desire to please his master.  How much more this profound task of finding a wife for his master’s son?

Can you imagine his anxiousness and possibly even his distress in the hopes of completing his master’s desire?  We find him languishing in prayer for some kind of sign, a signal, a hope, even, that may be given him for the completion of his task.  Yet, unbeknownst to him, even before he uttered his first word in prayer, the answer was nigh him.  Hallelujah!

What can we say to this?  Are our prayers in vain?  Can it be that just the desire of our heart is necessary?  The answer is twofold.  No, our prayers are not in vain and yes, the desire of our heart is necessary. 

In the call of our lives we must be aware of the fact that our call and purpose was ordained before the foundation of the earth.  And so while we languish in prayer over circumstances and situations in the tasks of our lives, we must continue to be cognizant of the fact that the purpose of our lives is concrete.  The Ruach Hakodesh had set things in motion that are timeless; as I have said before, time is the launching and the landing pad for eternal purposes. 

It was foreordained for Rebecca to be at that place at that time in eternity.  All that was necessary was for a willing heart of obedience to manifest at that place and at that time.  Be encouraged in your walk with the Almighty, knowing, again, that nothing has or ever will take your master by surprise.  Be fervent in your prayers.  Be steadfast in your walk.  Be diligent in your service and watch the manifested promises of the Lord coincide with His purpose for the Kingdom.  You see, Rebecca was on a task.  Abraham’s servant was on an assignment.  Never underestimate the significance of the task you are on.  For the task could very well be an assignment.  And, eternal purposes are at stake in everything that you say and do.  Hallelujah!

Now read the rest of this Aliyah and see the servant giving honor to God in thanksgiving for a prayer answered even before it was finished.  Amen!

Our sincerest condolences from David Salinas Ministries & The Lord’s Table go out to the multitudes of friends and family of Dr Myles Munroe.  The lives that he touched, including my own, will only be known in heaven.  While we have said farewell to a general in the Kingdom, still his impact will reverberate throughout the generations.

Parashat: Chayei Sarah ("The Life Of Sarah")

Genesis 23:1-25:18

3rd Aliyah: Genesis 24:10-26

Chapter 24

10. And the servant took ten camels of his master's camels, and he went, and all the best of his master was in his hand; and he arose, and he went to Aram naharaim, to the city of Nahor.		י. וַיִּקַּח הָעֶבֶד עֲשָׂרָה גְמַלִּים מִגְּמַלֵּי אֲדֹנָיו וַיֵּלֶךְ וְכָל טוּב אֲדֹנָיו בְּיָדוֹ וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם אֶל עִיר נָחוֹר:
11. And he made the camels kneel outside the city beside the well of water, at eventide, at the time the maidens go out to draw water.		יא. וַיַּבְרֵךְ הַגְּמַלִּים מִחוּץ לָעִיר אֶל בְּאֵר הַמָּיִם לְעֵת עֶרֶב לְעֵת צֵאת הַשֹּׁאֲבֹת:
12. And he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please cause to happen to me today, and perform loving kindness with my master, Abraham.		יב. וַיֹּאמַר | יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲדֹנִי אַבְרָהָם הַקְרֵה נָא לְפָנַי הַיּוֹם וַעֲשֵׂה חֶסֶד עִם אֲדֹנִי אַבְרָהָם:
13. Behold, I am standing by the water fountain, and the daughters of the people of the city are coming out to draw water.		יג. הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נִצָּב עַל עֵין הַמָּיִם וּבְנוֹת אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר יֹצְאֹת לִשְׁאֹב מָיִם:
14. And it will be, [that] the maiden to whom I will say, 'Lower your pitcher and I will drink,' and she will say, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels,' her have You designated for Your servant, for Isaac, and through her may I know that You have performed loving kindness with my master."		יד. וְהָיָה הַנַּעֲרָה אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיהָ הַטִּי נָא כַדֵּךְ וְאֶשְׁתֶּה וְאָמְרָה שְׁתֵה וְגַם גְּמַלֶּיךָ אַשְׁקֶה אֹתָהּ הֹכַחְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ לְיִצְחָק וּבָהּ אֵדַע כִּי עָשִׂיתָ חֶסֶד עִם אֲדֹנִי:
15. Now he had not yet finished speaking, and behold, Rebecca came out, who had been born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and her pitcher was on her shoulder.		טו. וַיְהִי הוּא טֶרֶם כִּלָּה לְדַבֵּר וְהִנֵּה רִבְקָה יֹצֵאת אֲשֶׁר יֻלְּדָה לִבְתוּאֵל בֶּן מִלְכָּה אֵשֶׁת נָחוֹר אֲחִי אַבְרָהָם וְכַדָּהּ עַל שִׁכְמָהּ:
16. Now the maiden was of very comely appearance, a virgin, and no man had been intimate with her, and she went down to the fountain, and she filled her pitcher and went up.		טז. וְהַנַּעֲרָה טֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד בְּתוּלָה וְאִישׁ לֹא יְדָעָהּ וַתֵּרֶד הָעַיְנָה וַתְּמַלֵּא כַדָּהּ וַתָּעַל:
17. And the servant ran toward her, and he said, "Please let me sip a little water from your pitcher."		יז. וַיָּרָץ הָעֶבֶד לִקְרָאתָהּ וַיֹּאמֶר הַגְמִיאִינִי נָא מְעַט מַיִם מִכַּדֵּךְ:
18. And she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hastened and lowered her pitcher to her hand, and she gave him to drink.		יח. וַתֹּאמֶר שְׁתֵה אֲדֹנִי וַתְּמַהֵר וַתֹּרֶד כַּדָּהּ עַל יָדָהּ וַתַּשְׁקֵהוּ:
19. And she finished giving him to drink, and she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they will have finished drinking."		יט. וַתְּכַל לְהַשְׁקֹתוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר גַּם לִגְמַלֶּיךָ אֶשְׁאָב עַד אִם כִּלּוּ לִשְׁתֹּת:
20. And she hastened, and she emptied her pitcher into the trough, and she ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.		כ. וַתְּמַהֵר וַתְּעַר כַּדָּהּ אֶל הַשֹּׁקֶת וַתָּרָץ עוֹד אֶל הַבְּאֵר לִשְׁאֹב וַתִּשְׁאַב לְכָל גְּמַלָּיו:
21. And the man was astonished at her, standing silent, [waiting] to know whether the Lord had caused his way to prosper or not.		כא. וְהָאִישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵה לָהּ מַחֲרִישׁ לָדַעַת הַהִצְלִיחַ יְהֹוָה דַּרְכּוֹ אִם לֹא:
22. Now it came about, when the camels had finished drinking, [that] the man took a golden nose ring, weighing half [a shekel], and two bracelets for her hands, weighing ten gold [shekels].		כב. וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ הַגְּמַלִּים לִשְׁתּוֹת וַיִּקַּח הָאִישׁ נֶזֶם זָהָב בֶּקַע מִשְׁקָלוֹ וּשְׁנֵי צְמִידִים עַל יָדֶיהָ עֲשָׂרָה זָהָב מִשְׁקָלָם:
23. And he said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there place for us for lodging in your father's house?"		כג. וַיֹּאמֶר בַּת מִי אַתְּ הַגִּידִי נָא לִי הֲיֵשׁ בֵּית אָבִיךְ מָקוֹם לָנוּ לָלִין:
24. And she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."		כד. וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו בַּת בְּתוּאֵל אָנֹכִי בֶּן מִלְכָּה אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה לְנָחוֹר:
25. And she said to him, "Both straw and fodder are plentiful with us; [there is] also a place to lodge."		כה. וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו גַּם תֶּבֶן גַּם מִסְפּוֹא רַב עִמָּנוּ גַּם מָקוֹם לָלוּן:
26. And the man kneeled and prostrated himself to the Lord.		כו. וַיִּקֹּד הָאִישׁ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַיהֹוָה:

Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31

“The Best Of All Is…”

Shalom in the name of Yeshua. 

As many of you know, I am on a road trip that will take me from Texas to Chicago to California, Las Vegas, back to Chicago, and then home to Texas.  I am making this entire trip in my truck.  It is also noteworthy that I am traveling during the Feast of Sukkot just as the Israelites did when they wondered through the wilderness, dwelling in their tents or tabernacles or Sukkahs.  As I am dictating this, I am traveling through Colorado, about 140 miles away from Denver.  The sun is brightly shining and the plains are absolutely beautiful.  I am literally wandering through a desert, it seems. 

I was able to minister a short message on the Feast of Tabernacles during the first leg of this tour in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago.  We were at the Historic Methodist Campground, where the revivalist, John Wesley, established a profound work, one in which signs, wonders and miracles were manifested.  Just perform a web search and you will see the different historic houses that were preserved to this day to catch a glimpse of just how significant this time was. 

So, I found myself there a few nights ago teaching the significance of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and how the Feast of Tabernacles is one of the most profound revelations of this age.  It is a wonderful “coincidence” that I was teaching this in the building called the “Wesley Tabernacle.”  There is no way to comprehend all of the history that has been handed down through the years in this wonderful place. 

My message was one of self discovery, if you will.  And, understanding the significance of tabernacles as Paul said, “What, know ye not that ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost?”  Temple…tabernacle…tent… Sukkah, DWELLING PLACE, hallelujah!  The Holy Spirit has chosen to reside within our “dwelling place,” to reside within the tabernacle of our heart.  Do you realize the immense power and authority that you have?  Can you even begin to comprehend the unfathomable spiritual awakening that can take place when you come to the realization that all of the power of the Godhead dwells within you.  Wow!  We should settle for nothing less than the fullness of His indwelling.  The blood of Yeshua made it possible for us to house the Shekinah glory of the living God.  Hold your head up high.  Know that you are a child of the living God and nothing will be withheld from a child of the creator of heaven and earth. 

How can this be?  There are no words or explanations that would suffice in attempting to understand or grasp exactly what you hold in your hands.  So, it is left for us to simply come into agreement with that reality.  Every place that the sole of your foot treads becomes holy because your foot has been placed there.  Do not cheapen the price that was paid with any doubt or disbelief of your rights and privilege and honor to become the Sukkah for the Ruach Hakodesh. 

As I gathered my thoughts for the message that I taught in the Wesley Tabernacle, I came across a most interesting story about the Reverend John Wesley.  It was documented that on his death bed John Wesley grasped the hands of those closest to him and gripped them tightly, each one, while saying, “Farewell.  Farewell.  Farewell.“  With his last breath, he encouraged those around him with these words, “The best of all is, God is with us.”    Then, he said it again, "The best of all is, God is with us.”

How profound is it that here I am centuries later standing in his place during the Feast of “In-dwelling” repeating his words that God is with us.  For you see, the explicit point of the Feast of Tabernacles is the beautiful realization that God is with us.  The same God that stood with David on the battlefield as he faced Goliath is within you, the same God that was with Moses as he lifted up his staff and parted the red sea is within you, the same God that was with Yeshua as he miraculously fed the multitude, healed the sick, and raised the dead, is within you.  Truly, the best thing of all is that God is with us.  Hallelujah! 

It is my joy and my desire that each of you have a wonderful Sukkot celebration.  Amen!

What Is Your Objective?

Shalom my friends.  This blog entry is somewhat personal to me.  I hope you receive it with the same respect as I have taken to personalize it.  I was out with two of my leaders having lunch, discussing our plans for our new home groups and the implications of such an endeavor. 

I readily admit I was somewhat excited at the prospect of supernatural growth as I had been studying about the ramifications of such a ministry.  Towards the end of our conversation, one of my leaders asked a profound question, “David, what is your objective in all this?”  I looked puzzled and he asked again, “What do you want to get out of this?”  I attempted to answer his question to the best of my ability.  I forget what I said exactly, but was more intrigued by the fact that I could not answer him succinctly.  We went on with our conversation, but his question haunted me the rest of the day.  What exactly did I want from this?  What was my objective?  I thought I knew, but had never been asked directly in such a manner. 

I had to go back to the beginning to ascertain why I even started a congregation, especially, knowing that it is something that I have never really looked forward to.  That is when I realized that this was not my idea.  The inception of The Lord’s Table actually began when the pastor I was under at the time asked me to lead a Messianic congregation within his church.  After much prayer and seeking the Lord, I knew that it was God’s will for me to pastor.  I am still doing what God has instructed me to do to this very day.

When Yeshua was 12 years old, He was separated from his parents for three days (interesting, huh).  The Sages and Rabbis marveled and were amazed at His wisdom, as well as His questions, as He spent those three days with them in the temple.  What was Yeshua doing?  What we do know is that He had questions that needed to be answered and answers to questions that left all who heard amazed.  But, what exactly was Yeshua doing?  Well, He said as much to his mother and father when they found Him.  “Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business?”  I submit to you all that this should be our answer whenever we are asked such a question as was posed to me on that day.  If your answer is anything else, then you must question your own motives.  Yeshua is our example.  He received His instruction even before He was placed in Mary’s womb.  His task, according to Luke 19:10, was to seek and to save that which was lost.  Like a good son handling His father’s affairs, He was gathering deeper understanding of what He had to do to accomplish the task that He was sent to complete. 

I cannot articulate all of the points that came forth on that last Sabbath message.  But, one thing stands sure, I now know what my objective is, and that is to be about my Father’s affairs, nothing more, nothing less.  Yeshua understood what we all must come to understand.  We have a job to do.  We are commissioned to carry out the plan that our Lord and Savior set in motion.  By His blood, we have the authority to seek and to save that which was lost, and, thereby, attending to the affairs of our Father.

I issue you a mandate in whatever capacity that you find yourself in today, whatever you think your motive might be, to arrest that motive and yield it over to the plan of your Father.  I earnestly beseech you to repent of any false motive that has led you to this message and in so doing from this day forward be about His business and not your own.  As I taught on that Shabbat, my dear brother and leader had tears rolling down his face as I was able to answer his question once and for all. What is my objective in this?  I am to be about my Father’s business.  And if this is your objective as well, then we are united in this endeavor and are joined in the hopes that we will hear those beautiful words, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”  Amen.

 

Fire Works

Shalom to you all,

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. I had a bitter sweet one. I was watching a magnificent fireworks display and was overcome by the pride I had for my country and the sorrow I had for its likely demise. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in miracles as beautiful as fireworks in the night sky, but, like fireworks, there is an explosion that causes the beauty to shine forth.

It is somewhat like our lives. It seems that the beauty of our faith is most evident when our faith is tried. I feel as if this country is being pushed to its breaking point and I am not sure of the outcome. Do we need an explosion to understand just how beautiful we are or are we in a season of misfire?

I am sure we can all remember the fateful day of 9/11. The world stood still as the greatest country in the world was literally brought to its knees, as even the most casual of believers shed tears of anger and sorrow as we collectively looked to the sky and asked our Lord for comfort and grace. It took that kind of tragedy to to bring out the best in us. As I recall, crime in those few days following the attack was almost nil. Parents took their children home early from school that day (I included) to reveal the most breathtaking event in our country's history.

Churches were flooded, families united, we, as a country turned to God on a massive scale. Again, as I looked up in the sky at the breathtaking fireworks display, it seems my faith was challenged. Where are we? Who are we? Will we make it through these dark times when the only thing that can see us through is the bright shining light of our Lord"s glory!? I heard Dinesh D'Souza make a statement that shook me. He brought back to my memory the last line of our national anthem. He brought attention to the fact that the greatest country on the face of the earth has, as its anthem, a verse that ends with a question! Wow. what a revelation!

"Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, over the land of the free and the home of the brave?" 

Well, does it? We have been trusted with an awesome responsibility and it is left for us to defend it... even against our own selves. The word is clear; our faith will be tried, by fire, if need be. We are works of fire- we are fireworks. If it takes me coming to the breaking point to be free, then light the fuse and watch me soar and all of the splendor of the faith that I adhere to, will light the night sky and all the darkness that surrounds will see the beauty of my faith! I am committed to the ways of my Lord and savior Yeshua, Jesus the Christ! We must continue to ask ourselves that question. Does Old Glory still wave over a land that is free and a home to those whom are brave? Let Old Glory shine in your smile and in your faith, let the New Glory of the Lord's countenance shine upon your face!

During the display, one of the fireworks actually exploded on the ground. If you were watching from a distance, you did not see it go off. All we saw was emptiness in the sky and we were left to wonder if that was the end of the show... no finale... no breathtaking splendor... no nothing. Are we headed for a misfire? I pray not. I must continue to believe that we will see the best days of our country ahead. And if that means we are pushed to the breaking point, then let it come and let it be swift for all the world to see the display of absolute beauty of a country that is still the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I love you all and I hope you enjoy the one thing that we must hold dearly to through every test and trial of our faith, the living Word of our Lord!

... again I say, rejoice!

Shalom,

Praise the Lord, my brothers and sisters. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) I have not blogged in awhile, but as I was sending out the weekly Torah portion to our congregation and friends, this sentiment bubbled up from within. I felt it apropos to encourage those whom may be struggling with the issues of life. Take comfort in the realization that the devil did not create this day. Your Father in Heaven is the creator and no matter what comes your way, realize that He created today and because of that, we will rejoice.

You must understand that our Father is not sitting up there nervous about about your situation. He is not wringing His hands wondering what's going to happen to you. He is not mulling over all of the different scenarios that could happen as a result of your dilemma. NO! He is as calm as the day He rested from His work on that glorious first Sabbath. He saw this day because He created it and knew you would be in the predicament you are in before you got in it.

If He is not distressed, then you have no reason to be distressed. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying you have to act as if you are not going through whatever it is you are going through; like on Ostrich sticking his head in the sand. What I mean is this; do not let your situation rob you of the Shalom that has been provided for you by our Lord and Saviour Yeshua!

The difficulties of life are inevitable. Still, we must rejoice IN all things. Notice that I said, "IN" and not "FOR" all things; there is a profound difference. Our Lord does not take pleasure in the things that disparage us, no, He, too, is not pleased when His child is hurt or offended by the wiles of the enemy. But, as a child of royalty, you have access to immense spiritual authority and power!

No matter what the enemy brought your way, know that our reaction should be to rejoice in any circumstance you find yourself in. You need money? Rejoice because He is the supplier of all our needs! You need healing? Rejoice because He is the Great Physician! You need a companion? Rejoice because He is the Lover of your soul! You need faith? Again, I say rejoice because He is the author and finisher of YOUR faith!!! Again and again and again I say REJOICE!

How do you rejoice in the midst of anything you face? A good place to start is to rejoice in His word. Read it, study it, let it rise up within you and bring peace to your very soul. That is what we are about to do right now. (If you desire the weekly Torah portion, respond to this blog with your email. I will include you on our weekly Torah list to study along with us.) 

Lastly, remember, He has a name  that will cover anything you are facing- pick one. The Wonderful counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace- pick a name, any name! What do you need? In any of those names you can find the name above all names; that is Yeshua!!! He says this in His everlasting Word, "...call upon Me in the DAY of trouble and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:15. Hallelujah, again, I say, rejoice! 

...Now Boarding

Shalom my dear brothers and sisters. It has been a few weeks since my last blog and weather, sickness and busyness are just some of the factors to blame.  Still, the Lord has been gracious in that I have not had to miss any Sabbath teachings. 

This past Sabbath was a continuation of a theme that we have been studying for the last few Torah Portions; namely, the sacrifices and how they were prescribed.  The message this past Sabbath echoed the same theme.  In the midst of my message, it was evident that the protocol in which a sacrifice was ordered was very detailed in the Torah.  It’s as if the Torah was a divine instruction manual with detailed information concerning how the sacrifice was to be implemented.  Indeed, Torah does mean “instruction”.

I looked at one of our members who is an aircraft mechanic and said that the Torah is like nuts and bolts.  My dear brother knows how to tighten those nuts and bolts on that aircraft he is working on.  But, all of the nuts and bolts and steel and prescribed manners of putting those things together serve one purpose - to defy gravity. 

So, as we search out these prescriptions, we plainly see Yeshua throughout the instruction.  Why?  It is because the goal of Torah is Yeshua.  Ephesians 4:13: “Till we all come in the unity of faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, onto a perfect man, onto the measure of the stature (attaining) of the fullness of Christ”.  Roman 10:1-4: “For Christ is the end of the law (is the goal of Torah) for righteousness to everyone that believeth (or the goal)”.  Attaining Yeshua is the aim of Torah. 

So, all of the nuts and bolts of Torah are what gives us the ability to defy spiritual gravity and attain righteousness beyond ourselves.  Hallelujah!  The sacrifices made in Torah were to cover up unrighteousness, but with the sacrifice of Yeshua we have been cleansed from all unrighteousness.  No longer is our sin simply covered up, our sin, because of Yeshua, has been washed away.  Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Lastly, one of the verses we focused on proclaims or foreshadows this very verse.  Leviticus 6:27 said this, "…and when there are sprinkles of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place."  Praise God that the blood of our Yeshua was sprinkled upon our garments that were soiled with sin and now we have been washed and made clean by that very blood that He shed. 

As with an airplane, we are seeking to arrive at a destination.  Spiritually we have already attained Torah by being - in Him.  Naturally we are seeking to attain Christ or Christ-likeness in this world by living in this world – through Him.  When we land this plane at our final destination, it will be in the world to come - with Him.   

The Standard

Our Sabbath service this weekend was absolutely fulfilling.  It seems that the last few Sabbaths have been executed with such an atmosphere of the Ruach HaKodesh that we have all left the sanctuary awestruck.  After some prayer and fasting and waiting on the Lord, it is becoming more and more evident that The Lord’s Table is, in no doubt, a mandate of the Lord.  Believe me, I have had some doubts over the last few weeks, but what just happened this last Sabbath has all but erased any doubts whatsoever.  Our Sabbath message simply confirms the beauty of what God is doing in our midst at this very hour. 

In Exodus 32:15, it says “And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hands: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written”.  The Midrash explains that the tablets were made of blue sapphire to represent the heavenlies and God’s throne.  It also states at the beginning of the Aliyah (31; 18) that these tablets were written with “the finger of God”.  What an awe-inspiring passage! 

The thing that stands out is that the commandments were written on both sides, a fact that one of our Garland group members took notice of.  What is even more miraculous is that the letters were bore through the entire tablet, yet somehow you could read both sides as if you were reading normally!  I can’t go into the implication fully in this short blog, but I can speak to what this means for us today. 

If, like Paul said, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, then we have a type of Arc of the Covenant resting within side our temple.  And, if that is the case, then we also have the tablets within the Arc inside of us.  I can’t even begin to go into the fact that they were broken and our Lord and Savior, our covenant maker, was broken.  Also, we come to the Lord broken, and so many other things could be said, but let’s focus on the fact that commandments were written on both sides.

What does this speak to us?  If the commandments are the standard we should keep, then our lives should reflect those standards from every angle.

As I mentioned in my message yesterday, if you’re in the grocery aisle and someone in front of you drops a $20 bill, and someone behind you sees that person drop that $20 bill, because of the standard you carry within your heart; your temple, you pick that $20 bill up and hand it back to its owner, because your standard goes before you.  The person behind you was hoping you would not see it so that he could pick it up, but then he sees you do the right thing.  That is why the commandments were written on both sides.  It shouldn’t matter whether you are coming or going, the standard should be well visible to anyone watching you.  As the scripture says in Deuteronomy 28:6, “Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out”, we are blessed because of the standard that we bear in our lives. 

My brothers and sisters, always remember that the world is watching you.  We will be judged more severely by the world because of who we claim to represent.  Let us endeavor to not bring shame to the name that is written across our hearts; Yeshua, Jesus, Jesu, our Rock, our Fortress, our Redeemer, our Friend, our Savior, and our Lord.  Selah!    

Deep Within

We had a wonderful Sabbath service this morning and the only reason that I am doing my blog tonight instead of tomorrow is because of a conference that I am going to be involved in. The details are on my website, www.davidsalinasministries.com.  So, I hope you can make it.

The depth of our message was profound.  The implications of the message reverberate deep within our spirit man.  I say deep because the Holy of Holies was the deepest spiritual place on the face of the earth in the Temple time.

 

Our Torah portion landed on the elements that were on top of the Arc of the Covenant.  Two Cherubim facing each other and the mercy seat were placed on top of the Arc.  The Word says that the manifest presence of the living God would appear in between the two angels, just above the mercy seat.   Verse #17 of our Torah portion instructed us to make a mercy seat. 

I find it such a beautiful thing that the Lord instructed us to fashion a mercy seat  and that He would appear above the mercy seat, not judgment seat, not throne, not even a casual seat, but a mercy seat.  It says to us that God will meet us at the place of mercy.  I am so thankful that He would meet us at a place of mercy, as opposed to meeting us at the seat of judgment.  I am one who is in need of His mercy daily.  And the Apostle Paul made it very clear that we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit.  So if the Spirit of God is within us, just like He was in the temple, then there must be a place of mercy where we can go to whenever we are in need of His grace. 

 

It should cause you to rejoice at the realization that His mercy endures forever and no matter how many times we mess up we can trust that His mercy shall endure. 

The Word says that God would instruct Moses concerning the commandments at that place.  As we seek the Lord at the mercy seat, we can rest assured that He will guide us, instruct us, and comfort us regarding every circumstance or situation in our lives. 

 

Still, like everything else, we must endeavor to enter into that place where the Shekinah glory of the Lord is ever present.  We have within our inner man access to the Spirit of the Living God and some of us fail to utilize the great mercy and grace that has been afforded to us by our precious Lord and Savior. 

I close with this thought.  Take time today and everyday to meet with your Father, whom in His unconditional love, provided a place for you to have communion with Him, to know Him, to love Him, to break bread with Him.  And that secret place just so happens to be deep within side of you.  Amen!

 

 

From Help To Sacrifice

 

Shalom to you all.  Once again, I find myself in somewhat of a quandary.  Some of the main points of the message of Shabbat are difficult to expound upon without going into great detail.  So, regretfully I must leave the deeper points alone.  But, I can bring to light a very peculiar point that I’m sure will bless you all. 

In last week’s Parasha, Moses was faced with some very helpful advice from his father-in-law, Jethro.  Moses’ task was to bring about understanding of the Torah to the entire population of the children of Israel, a monumental task, to be sure, and warranted the advice of Jethro. 

In verse #17 of Exodus 18, Jethro says, “The thing that you are doing is not good”.  We should all take a moment to pause at this point and reflect on the call, the business, the ministry, the very life that we lead today.  How much of your effort could be better served with some help?  Who do you have around you that is waiting in the shadows that could help you in the thing that you are trying to accomplish?  It is from this perspective that Moses yields to the advice of his wise old father-in-law, and from that yielding, has set in motion judicial concepts that we see even in our own government today.  Now, let us look at our Lord and Savior as an example.

With the salvation of the world at stake; your salvation and mine to be exact, Yeshua carried the weight of the world on His shoulders.  The Roman soldiers placed the beam upon His shoulders, to carry His cross, the very thing that He was to be sacrificed upon.  The Lord endured the torture, the ridicule, and the shame of all the demonic hoards, yet He pressed on. 

It was on His way to Golgotha that He stumbled and fell.  Our Lord and Savior needed help.  Think about it.  The creator of heaven and earth, himself, needed help.  One of the soldiers called upon Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross for Him. 

My brothers and sisters, I am so grateful that our Lord and Savior did not call upon supernatural strength to accomplish the work for us.  No, He allowed someone to help Him so that we could realize that we too need help at times.  Let us never forget that the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior was accomplished with the help from one who needed salvation.  Selah…

We should be careful how we deal with and judge those whom God has placed in a position to be our helpers.  For even our Father, God, saw fit that one in need of salvation would help accomplish the plan of salvation. 

Lastly, my friends, let us take Jethro’s words to heart in verse #23, “If thou shalt do this thing, and God commands thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all His people shall also go to their place in peace.”  So, I say to you, do this thing and go to your place in peace.  Amen.

A Seat At The Table

Well, it’s the first day of the week and once again I find myself trying to decide what I will blog about from yesterday’s message. Like some of my other blogs, there were too many points in my message to be able to touch them all.  So, I will attempt, once again, to take one of the points and expound on it alone.

In our Torah portion from last week, verse #10 of Exodus 14, it says that the children of Israel were sore afraid.  It never ceases to amaze me when I read this story that after all of the marvelous signs that the Lord showed them, they would continue to be in fear.  It wasn’t that they cried out unto the Lord, it was how they cried out to the Lord.  They cried out in fear, not in faith. 

In my message yesterday, I looked at a Psalm of David, chapter 18, verses 1 through 3.  It says in verse 1, “I will love thee, o Lord, my strength; verse 2, “the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower”.  What a way to start off a prayer to the Lord, rehearsing who He is in your heart.  Then, verse 3 says, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies”.  This is the way to cry out to the Lord, my brothers and sisters.  Not in fear, but knowing who He is, in that there is no enemy that can come against you.  For if God be for you, who can be against you.

I went to see a movie last week at one of my favorite theaters.  I’ve been there many, many times before, but this was the first time that they had assigned seats.  I usually get to the theater very early so that I can get a good seat.  But, this time was different.  For when I bought my ticket, I had the opportunity to choose probably the best seat in the house.  I went to the concession stand and realized the person behind the counter was new.  She was a little slow, and I started to get a little anxious, because people were going into the theater.  I still had to put butter on my popcorn and was waiting for my chicken nuggets to come out.  I realized then that I didn’t need to be anxious, because I had an assigned seat.  This was different for me, because there was still a little fear that I was not going to get a good seat, but the fear was false, because my seat was already reserved for me!!

My dear brothers and sisters, this is what the children of Israel were doing.  They were so afraid of what Pharaoh could do to them from past experience, that they did not realize what God said was more true than what Pharaoh could do.

God said that He was going to lead them to the promised land and He had already shown Himself mighty and able to save.  There was a place waiting for them.  There was a seat reserved for them.  Think about that!  Rejoice about that!  Rest in that!  You have a seat reserved at the table of the Lord.  Whatever God has said to you SHALL come to pass.  No matter what the enemy has declared that he is going to do to you, he is a liar.  The truth is spoken by God, your father, your strength, your fortress, who is able to deliver you. 

So, dear friends, the next time you are cornered or caught between a rock and a hard place, don’t cry out in fear, but shout out in faith.  For just like Moses said, “See that the Lord will fight for you” (Exodus 14:14). 

I hope to see you all this coming Sabbath, so that we can partake together of the Bread of Life at the Lord’s Table.  It’s not just the name of our congregation (The Lord’s Table), but it is the essence of where we long to be at The Lord’s Table.  And, at The Lord’s Table, there is a seat reserved for you.  Don’t ever forget that no matter how hard it might be, the Lord has reserved a seat for you at His table.  Amen!     

Light In Your Dwelling

Greetings in the name of Yeshua and a very happy New Year to all who celebrate the New Year.   The reason I say it like that is because of the Torah portion that we studied this past week.  See, the Gregorian calendar, for the most part, doesn't mean very much to the Lord.  He’s on a Biblical calendar that has little to do with the calendar that we recognize.  Still, it serves a purpose when dealing with matters concerning this age.

I have just come off of a sabbatical in which I spent New Year’s Eve alone with the Lord.  It was a glorious time, but the significance wasn't in the New Year coming.  No, the significance was that I took time to spend with the Lord.  While the world celebrated a seemingly meaningless time in the Biblical context, it seemed the Lord was waiting for me and our very intimate time together.  Now, let’s look at the text of this past week’s Aliyah.

 21 The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch forth your hand toward the heavens, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness will become darker.”

 22 So Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness over the entire land of Egypt for three days:

 23 They did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days, but for all the children of Israel t here was light in their dwellings.

Verse 21 speaks of not just darkness, but a darkness that can be felt.  While families gather for New Year’s and have wonderful times (I have had wonderful times over the years as well), we are well aware that this time can be a time of great darkness in this age, with parties that have nothing whatsoever to do with our Lord. I've personally experienced darkness during the New Year celebration before I came to Christ and it is dark.  There is coming an age, and now is, when the darkness will become darker (verse 21).  We can see it and even feel it all around us now.  But, the portion speaks of a darkness that even those in the darkness will not be able to comprehend.  How true that is today.  Even evil people are saying things are getting bad. 

My encouragement in this writing is that the children of the Lord are children of light and no matter how dark it gets we will continue to dwell in the light (verse 23).

Another  word for “dwell” is  “tabernacle” .  In the Gospel of John 1:1, it says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God, etc.    Verse #4 says in Him was life and the life was the light of men.  Now, go to verse #14.  It says and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.  What does this mean, my dear brothers and sisters?  Yeshua made his tent here.  He “tabernacled” here, he dwelt here, and when he finished the work on the cross, that light was made available to dwell within us.  When you accepted Yeshua, there is no amount of darkness that can overcome the light that shines within you.  I don’t care how dark, how ugly, how scary it becomes out there, it shall not “come nigh thy dwelling” place (Psalm 91:10).  The darkness shall not overtake you.  I declare it.  I decree it.  I absolutely profess it over your lives in the name of Yeshua.     

In light of what I just said, I believe for you all a joyous and prosperous 2014.