In Which Kingdom Are We Dwelling?

A kingdom is a dom of a king

or a domain/dominion

a designated area of land

which is ruled over by a king/leader;

one who has dominion or

has dominated the dom-domain.

Today we may associate the word more with a webpage or website having a domain name in order to reach it!

NAS: him and obtain dominion; his domain [will be] a great

KJV: above him, and have dominion; his dominion [shall be] a great

INT: dominion a great his domain

Hebrew words for domain include:

noun. תְחוּם confines, territory, realm, scope, area

noun. דוֹמֵיין domain

noun שֶׁטַח surface, area, territory, field, zone

noun רָשׁוּת

Strong’s Hebrew: 4475. מֶמְשָׁלָה (memshalah) — rule …

memshalah: rule, dominion, realm

Original Word: מֶמְשָׁלָה

Phonetic Spelling: mem-shaw-law’

Here the translations of the verses use the words:

govern and rule as well as dominion:

Genesis 1:16 
HEB: הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־
NAS: light to govern the day,
KJV: light to rule the day,
INT: light the greater to govern the day light

Genesis 1:16 
HEB: הַמָּא֤וֹר הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת
NAS: light to govern the night;
KJV: light to rule the night:
INT: light and the lesser to govern the night the stars

1 Kings 9:19 
HEB: וּבְכֹ֖ל אֶ֥רֶץ מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃ 
NAS: and in all the land under his rule.
KJV: and in all the land of his dominion.
INT: all the land his rule

We are most familiar with Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness and let them have dominion over fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

During the last 2,000 years Christianity followed in their own way and not the way of their Hebrew/Jewish/Israelite heritage and have missed out on special blessings as well as spiritual experience.

The Hebrew word yiredu is translated into our English Bible as dominion but the Hebrew language has a different rendering for this word. Without exception all the modern translations of the Bible follow the common teaching that the word yiredu comes from the root word radah; which means: 

dominion, or to subdue, 

to rule over,

to tread upon like in a winepress.  

It has been suggested that the root word is really yarad.

Here it would follow, that as the original inspired Word of God had no vowel dots, it would seem more correct to the original by using the root word yarad – to lower oneself, 

rather than radah – to rule over.

In the original Hebrew, the word starts with a letter Y – Yod

which is a picture of a heavenly messenger

or yarad which means to lower oneself

and not an R – Resh in radah,

which means to rule over…something to chew on at least!

A King makes it his domain, his own.

Melek מלך

Melech (מלך) is a Hebrew word that means king and may refer to: Melech (name) a given name of Hebrew origin. The title of king in ancient Semitic culture.

Strong’s Hebrew: 4428. מֶ֫לֶך (melek) — king

a male monarch; member of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation.

The word me•lech is mentioned over 1,000 times in the Bible, but only a handful of references refer to our Heavenly Father. Interestingly, the title me•lech is a part of God’s name in every Hebrew prayer.

All Hebrew prayers begin with

Blessed are You Lord, King of the universe.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam 

ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו מלך העולם

It raises a question as to why we see only a few references to our Heavenly Father as a King. An interesting note is that many of the Hebrew prayers were inspired by the Book of Psalms, where King is most frequently used in reference to Adonai. 

“Thus says the Lord the King of Israel…”

Isaiah 44:6

“The Lord is King for ever and ever”

Psalm 10:16

“and the Lord sits enthroned as King forever”

Psalm 29:10

“For the Lord Most High is awesome; he is a great King over all the earth”

Psalm 47:2

All other references of me•lech/king are of the many human kings mentioned throughout scripture.

It is noteworthy to mention that Messiah is also called

King Messiah.

In Luke 23:2 “They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king’”

Also in the New Testament:

Me•lech Me•la•chim va•A•do•ney ha•A•do•nim’

“…KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”

Revelation 19:16

Strong’s Hebrew: 3566. כּ֫וֹרֶשׁ (Koresh) — a Person. king

Koresh: a Person. A king.

Original Word: כּוֹרֶשׁ.

Phonetic Spelling: ko’-resh

and saying,

The time is fulfilled, and the

kingdom of God

is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Mark 1:15

What is the gospel

It’s the good news,

 that’s what the Greek word euangélion meansgood news.

And what exactly is the good news?

In western Christianity the answer is usually something like, “Jesus died for our sins and we are forgiven.” 

That is good news, however, it isn’t exactly the biblical euangélion.   

The real good news is clear in Mark’s introduction of Jesus/Yeshua’s ministry in this verse. 

The good news is this:

God’s Kingdom is close and its time to repent.

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[ the Son of God,[ as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”[
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.

The writers of the new testament understood this.  In Paul’s opening statement in his letter to the Romans he says:

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, . .”  Not, the

good news of forgiveness

but rather the good news of God.

The kingdom is close to arriving.

It’s worth a second thought that Yeshua/Jesus preached the kingdom, while the church/ecclesia mostly preaches Jesus/Yeshua.  It is important to be aware that we may be preaching and teaching about Jesus/Yeshua, however we may lose the vision of the kingdom that He came to bring?

We first hear John speak In Matthew 3:2 repent because the kingdom of Heaven is here.

The word heaven in this verse is shamayim and it is used as a reverent and respectful way of avoiding speaking the divine Name/Hashem – YHVH/YHWH. Notice Heaven has a capital H when it’s referring to our Heavenly Father, while heaven refers to the sky or in some cases paradise. When reading, we often miss the use of the capitalized letter which is not a typo or misprint but indicative of the above observance.

Yeshua/Jesus instructed His listeners about the kingdom of God, however the phrase kingdom of God is not anywhere in the Torah/Towrah. It does have parallels in the Torah, (first 5 books); however, and it became more popular as the rabbis taught it so when Yeshua/Jesus spoke about the kingdom, it was familiar to the people because they knew what the rabbis taught. 

What is the definition of the Kingdom

Matthew 6:33…..

The kingdom of heaven /the kingdom of God

is tikkun ha’olam,

God’s redeeming work in this world. 

We are not simply waiting for heaven to come to earth and neither is it an escape from our earthly life.  It’s not just the hope of some special reward after our bodies die; rather it is doing with our Heavenly Father what He is doing right now. 

In Luke 4

it’s, as Yeshua/Jeus tells us, healing the sick, visiting prisoners, forgiveness of sins, encouraging those in despair, bringing light to the blind both physical and spiritual and caring for the poor.  It is giving hope in times of darkness, food to the hungry, health and deliverance to the captives; and making disciples.  The reason the Kingdom of God is close at hand, is because all of these godly actions are only as far away as our willingness to do them.  The gospel, the good news, is NOW, it is for everyone who has ever known the sadness and desperation of living in this broken sin sick world. The Kingdom of our Heavenly Father can be manifested anytime we choose to yield ourselves and experience His redemptive power. One day His Kingdom will be obvious and it will be manifest everywhere, until then, His Kingdom comes when we allow our Heavenly Father’s character to be shown to the world through our lives.

The Kingdom of God

אלוהים – elohim

מלכות האלוהים

The Kingdom of Heaven – מַלְכוּת הַש .

sha•ma•yim,

mal•choot ha•sha•má•yim

מַלְכוּת הַלְמַוּם

ממלכה

kingdom –

A nation having as supreme ruler a king and/or queen

Hebrew Translation. מַלְכוּת. 

More Hebrew words for kingdom.

noun מַלְכוּת. reign, royalty, monarchy, kingship, kinghood.

noun מַמלָכָה. realm, state, sovereignty.

מַּלְכוּ ‘malku’ meaning ‘Kingdom’ 4437

 Hebrew word מַּלְכוּ, malku (Strong’s 4437) translated ‘Kingdom’.

מַּמְלָכָה ‘mamlakah’ meaning Kingdom

 Hebrew word מַּמְלָכָה, mamlakah (Strong’s 4467) translated kingdom, king’s, reign, royal

From malak ; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm) — kingdom, king’s, reign, royal.

In ancient times kings were kings over cities and smaller areas. Often called empires.

Nowadays there are only a few countries who have a royal family or a king /queen ruling over them; and most are in name only, not having the full control or dominion over the land they are king/queen over.

In His conversation with Pilate, the scripture tells us that Messiah stated His kingdom is not of this world

His kingdom is the kingdom of the heavens

and is not yet visible to us and we live in it by faith because… it is an unseen realm, one purely spiritual in nature. There is a scripture that tells us that… 

the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ/Messiah and He shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15.

This tells us that it is yet to come and meanwhile, the adversary has Gods’ permitted rule and dominion as the prince of the power of the air and as Yeshua/Jesus said, in John 14:30 the prince of this world cometh…. He could not have offered them to Messiah during the wilderness temptations, if they were not his to offer.

The question is.. if we are children of light and the kingdom of the heavens is within us which kingdom are we living in and for?

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

John 17:11, 15–16

We are in the world but not of it so……

where are we dwelling?

Ps 91:1 states that He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide …

so where are we dwelling?

Is it IN the kingdom of heaven?

The Kingdom of Heaven – מַלְכוּת הַש.

This phrase is very important to every believer.

It is made of two words:

kingdom and of heaven.

Recall Hebrew is written from right to left, therefore

kingdom is on the right followed by of heaven on its left.

If heaven is sha•ma•yim, then what is the ha in front of it?

It’s the definite article the. The word the is not a separate word in Hebrew as it is in English, but is a prefix that is a part of the word that it is defining.

The word sha•ma•yim was given by our Heavenly Father…

“And God called the firmament Heaven…”

Genesis 1:8

..after He divides the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. Therefore, this word in Hebrew only speaks of the biblical narrative; the word

water – má•yim

is a part of the word for

heaven – sha•ma•yim!

Recall that there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The kingdom of heaven is mentioned 22 times in the New Testament when searching for whole words (not combinations).

kingdom of heaven

מלכות השמים

malkut or mamlakah shamayim

mamlakah meaning Kingdom

Strong’s 4467

מַּמְלָכָה

used in

2 Sam. 7:13.

He shall build a house for my name,

and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

Hebrew word מַּלְכוּת, malkut Strong’s #4438

translated Kingdom used in

2 Chron. 7:18. Then will I establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail of you a man to be ruler in Israel.

מַּלְכוּ malku meaning Kingdom Strong’s #4437

used in Ezra 7:13 Levites, in my kingdom, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with you.

Kingdom of Heaven & Kingdom of God.

We read of two different phrases in the gospels:  

kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God.

In Matthew, kingdom of heaven is used, while in Mark and Luke, kingdom of God is used. This is because in the Israelite culture of Messiahs’ day, and today, people show respect for our Heavenly Father by not pronouncing His Name. Another word is often substituted, e.g., heaven, the name (Hashem), or the mighty one.

For example, the prodigal son says to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.” The son is using the word heaven as a reference to God. Here, Matthew is preserving the culturally-correct quote kingdom of heaven while Mark and Luke are explaining that heaven is a reference to God.

The words that Messiah spoke were probably

Malchut shemayim – mahl-KUT shuh-MAH-eem;

which was a phrase used then in the rabbis’ teaching.

The word malchut is related to the word

melekh which we have noted means king.

Malchut is associated with the

actions of a king: his reign and authority,

and also anyone who is under his authority.

and shemayim is Hebrew for heavens.

(Shamayim is sometimes spelled Shemayim).

A simple way of translating it would be:

God’s reign,

or

how God reigns

or

those God reigns over.

But what does it really mean?

The basic understanding of the kingdom of heaven was

God’s reign over the lives of people who enthrone him as king.

We might think that God by default as its creator, is king over everything He created. In scripture, however, it’s assumed that after the fall and the tower of Babel, the world began to serve other gods and here, God ceased from being their king. Much of the world did not know God, however the Bible promises that one day, The LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. Zech 14:9.

The main question of Messiah’s day was when and how God would establish this kingdom over the world. It was believed that when the Messiah came, the Kingdom of God would arrive at the same time and all at once be established with great glory. Yeshua/Jesus clearly disagreed:

On one occasion, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied, The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20.

Yeshua/Jesus meant that: an individual is brought into the kingdom of God when they repent and choose, deciding to accept God as their King, this is something that happens in a person’s heart; it is not a political movement nor a visible display of God’s power. Messiah agreed with the teaching of the other rabbis who said that; when a person committed himself daily to love God with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength, (by saying the Shema), he had received upon himself the kingdom of heaven. Meaning: the person had put God on the throne over their life and entered under God’s king-ship, giving Him dominion and rulership.

One of the reasons Yeshua/Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God was to proclaim the fact that He is the Anointed King (Messiah) and this Kingdom is His Kingdom. The good news of the kingdom is that when Messiah, the Son of God arrived on earth, the Kingdom had arrived with Him. Yeshua/Jesus told His disciples to go out and heal the sick, and say that the kingdom of heaven is near, meaning: this Kingdom is arriving NOW on earth, not that it isn’t quite here yet…. fulfilling Balaams 4th prophetic word..

in Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel….. 

A Star out of Jacob is believed to be what the wise men allude to when they search for Messiah as a child and report,

We have seen his star in the east.  Matt. 2:2.

The word Sceptre used in Numbers 24:17 relates to rulership; Jacob used the word when he predicted that the sceptre would not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes; Shiloh was a name used to identify the Messiah, Gen. 49:10. Messiah’s birth, accompanied by the unique cosmic/heavenly sign/signal, was in Bethlehem of Judea. Matt. 2:1.

For us the message is that Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, the King, has arrived, and He is continually establishing His Kingdom as people repent and follow Him. He always described His Kingdom as One which was gradually expanding using descriptions with which we are familiar: like a mustard seed or a tiny bit of yeast that grows and grows. He is describing the groups of believers that start small, and grow as people join. The finale will be when every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess that Yeshua/Jesus is THE King of all Kings!

Note that the basic understanding of the Kingdom of heaven is our Heavenly Father and Messiah’s reign over people in this world. Often we understand it by likening it to heaven itself, leading us to think that Yeshua/Jesus was always talking about the place heaven, when in fact He was talking about His Father’s work in people’s lives. This leads us to understand that our Heavenly Father cares very little about the lives we live in the here and now, and that He is primarily focused on and cares very deeply about us and our final destination in heaven with Him.

We are not to always interpret the kingdom in terms of Messiah’s return; although of course when He does return His Kingdom will be beyond glorious. Sometimes in the 4 gospels we read the use of the word kingdom where Messiah’s return is referred to, or about His future Heavenly Kingdom, however, much of what He says about His Kingdom is about its’ reality in the here and now.

Which kingdom are we a citizen of/ a part of?

Which kingdom are we looking forward to?

Which kingdom has us in its grip?

Which kingdom have we given our heart, mind, life & strength to?

From David to Yeshua/Jesus, the everlasting kingdom rules and reigns; His kingdom is pure, righteous, holy and is without end.

Kingdom of God

Kingdom of light

Kingdom of darkness

Kingdoms of this world

The dom of THE King!

This kingdom is the kingdom of light

kingdom of light ממלכת האור

kingdom of darkness ממלכת החושך

Strong’s Hebrew: 2822. חֹ֫שֶׁך (choshek) 

darkness, night, obscurity

From chashak ; the dark; hence (literally) darkness;

figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness — dark(-ness), night, obscurity.

Choshek also spelled חוֹשֶׁך.

More Hebrew words for darkness.

noun חוֹשֶׁך. dark, murk, obscurity.

noun חֲשֵׁכָה.

The Domain of Darkness.

For He delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” Colossians 1:13.

God delivers.

Strong’s Hebrew: 215. אוֹר (or) — to be or become light

Ohr’ Is The Hebrew Word For Light

– Light – אוׄר

It means: to see.

Obviously we understand the connection between seeing and light.

In Hebrew  the biblical prophet, the seer, is called 

ro-eh, which also comes from or, light.

LIGHT – NOOHRA (ARAMAIC)

‘OR (HEBREW) אור נהר

The Hebrew word is spelled Aleph, Vav, Resh.

The Hebrew word for light expresses

a connection between the natural and the supernatural.

No doubt that many reading this will have felt at one time or another that we are square pegs trying to fit in round holes! Our core values, convictions, responses, beliefs and feelings never seem to find a perfect equal and it’s in those times we must remember… this world is NOT our home and we are just passing through. We are not to build our piece of paradise here on this earth. The only firm foundations we are to lay down must be in our knowledge, understanding of our Heavenly Father and any building must be one of faith in the creator of all things, including the 1st paradise and the one into which we shall one day come.

Dwells is not a common word that we use every day. Once in a while we may hear someone say… 

it’s time to stop dwelling on that.

Meaning In other words, that we are stuck on an issue that has bothered us.

However the Biblical definition reveals another perspective.

יָשַׁב

Dwells is Strong’s #3427. 

 יָשַׁב (yashab) — to sit, remain, dwell

pronounced yaw-shab’

Genesis 4:20 
HEB: הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃
NAS: he was the father of those who dwell in tents
KJV: he was the father of such as dwell in tents,

Dwells is defined as:

to sit down, to remain, to settle, to marry,

make to keep [house], and to return.

Most of the words used to describe Dwell, point to it as a permanent address/place. It’s not like a hotel/motel or a type of travel trailer used during holidays/vacations.

To dwell means: to set up housekeeping, plant flowers, grow trees, hang pictures, to marry and set up a home/ housekeeping.

All the promises of this psalm rest on this first few words and therefore Dwelling is not an optional choice.  Dwelling is an essential component for a believers lifestyle if we want to experience the benefits listed in Psalm 91.

It may be a good opportunity to reflect on exactly what this word means to us individually and furthermore, what does it mean to our Heavenly Father?

Looking at the Hebrew spelling of the word Dwell.

and remembering in Hebrew to read it from right to left

Bet Shin Yod….

Recall from previous posts that every Hebrew letter has a name, a picture, a number value, and a meaning. Interestingly, scientists have discovered that each letter also has a unique sound frequency. No surprise that our Heavenly Father’s chosen language is the only language known with ALL of these qualities!

The very 1st book tells us that His spirit moved upon the face of the waters…

Genesis 1:2
HEB: וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י
NAS: of God was moving over
KJV: of God moved upon
INT: and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface

The word moved is:

merachapheth –  me·ra·ḥe·p̄eṯ – מְרַחֶ֖פֶת

which means:

to move rapidly, to flutter or to vibrate…

The Spirit of God vibrated over the earth and whatever were His vibrations which came from the sound of His kol/voice as He spoke.. all particles, atoms etc., vibrated in a symphony, synchronized with Him in perfect harmony and creation literally came into being. WOW!

 Deeper look at the word: Dwell.

יָשַׁב

Bet Shin Yod….

YOD יָ numerical value of 10

has a meaning of:

The outcome, the completion of something.

Also Means: Hand, Right Arm, Power – Right hand of God’s power, a Deed Done, to Work, to Cover, Allow, Hollow, Open Hand, and also refers to His Spirit of Holiness as is always hanging in the air overseeing.

SHIN שַׁ  numerical value of 300

has a meaning of:

Victory of good over evil, Holy Spirit

Is the picture of: Teeth or Fire and

means: Teeth, Fire, the Fiery zeal of God to consume all His enemies, Devour, Destroy, Something Sharp.

BET  ב numerical value of 2

has a meaning of:

 Divide or Division.

Is the picture of: House.

Means: House/Family; God’s word, God’s dwelling place

A deeper meaning behind the word Dwell could be said to be:

He who Dwells is one who has made the choice to live permanently in God’s house/BET– trusting in God and honoring His Word

There he will experience the activation of God’s right hand YOD of power covering him.

And God in His fiery zeal will consume SHIN all that tries to keep or draw him away from Dwelling.

We are His dwelling place and He is ours and when we choose to trust and obey Him, we live secure in His Presence.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

BECAUSE…

HE IS OUR BET/HOUSE—OUR SAFE/SECURE HIDING PLACE

2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! Amplified.

 He will pitch a tent over us and dwell – covering us with Himself.

Isn’t this a more preferable place to be, than in the adversary’s kingdom where stress is at an all time high and fears of every imaginable flavor abound? That kingdom, whose promises are always and inevitably too good to be true and those ventures that end in disaster and ruin. Luck and chance NEVER lead to victory and everlasting peace. The true kingdom is where the true shalom of a Heavenly Father with unconditional love is.

He longs to place us under that canopy where we can not only dwell in His kingdom but His kingdom can dwell in us too. We just have to do our part and make the choice to not just visit a couple of times a week…

but to live permanently to dwell in God’s house –

trusting in God and honoring His Word.

Thrones, dominions, powers, rulers, principalities and spiritual wickedness described in Ephesians 6.

1Tim. 1:17 so to the KING, eternal, imperishable, invisible…

One day we will hear the declaration of complete and total victory….

The kingdoms of this world

have become the kingdoms of our God and His Christ. 

Revelation 11:15

Yeshua/Jesus said when He was here

My kingdom is NOT of this world!

A principality is an area presided over by a Prince.

Jesus/Yeshua’s own words we

Can’t serve two masters ..god and mammon.

The world systems are comprised of commerce, buying and selling which requires some kind of currency; i.e. money/mammon and uses mens’ form of governments.

Trade – buying and selling, wealth, riches and pleasures.

The end times list includes

lovers of pleasures – not lovers of God.

The kingdoms are opposed to one another

The kingdoms of darkness and light…

good and evil…

holy and profane…

The world encourages a lifestyle of taking care of self FIRST.. self serving ..to save self, to better self, to advance self.

Are we building our own kingdom?

…trying to make our own paradise here on earth?

Are we continually trying to re establish our lost authority and dominion by building and creating our own kingdom where we are the king in control and safe within our domain?

This, by definition is seeking to save self and preserve our own life apart from Messiah who wants us to…. leave it all and go…seekig His Kingdom and His Way….

No where does scripture tell us to build our own kingdom; instead, we are to lay down our life and take up our cross.

So which kingdom are we in

and

in which one are we serving?

How does this understanding of the

kingdom and king and dominion

affect how we read the scriptures

when Jesus/Yeshua is teaching?

If we read Yeshua/Jesus’ sayings in terms of what our Heavenly Father is doing on earth, rather than in terms of heaven, it may give new insight to his words. When He said:

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matt. 19:14.

Childlike trust is a model for a believer’s commitment to God. Those who are humble, know they can’t live without His care and direction, and they approach Him as children would to their father; these individuals are the ones that He really can teach and have a relationship with. Proud people who feel they have everything under control have a very hard time being under God’s king-ship.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt. 6:33

If we devote ourselves allowing our Heavenly Father to direct our lives and do His will, He promises He will take care of our physical needs.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matt. 6:10

Tavo Malkhutekha.

When we say this in what we term as the Lord’s prayer,

we often assume that your kingdom come

means we are waiting for you to return.

We interpret it as a request for Messiah to return quickly.

The two phrases

your kingdom come and your will be done on earth 

are really synonymous and are saying :

May all the peoples of the earth enthrone you as king! May everyone on earth know you and do your will!

There is no doubt we are all waiting for Messiahs return; however this is really a request for our Heavenly Father to use us in spreading the gospel/good news and establish His Kingdom on earth within every believer!

We cannot straddle both kingdoms with one foot in each and there is NO fence upon which to sit…we must decide and then live wholeheartedly in and for the kingdom we choose.

The words of this song should be our hearts cry for us not only to be within His Kingdom but to have the fullness of His Kingdom within.

Shalom shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

… and…

it’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Is A Gift A Talent or Is A Talent A Gift??

mincha or minchah is

GIFT

in Hebrew

מתנה

the letters:

hey chet nun mem

Strong’s Hebrew: 4503.

מִנְחָה

minchah —

a gift, tribute …

gift, oblation, meat offering, present, sacrifice. 

From an unused root meaning to apportion,

i.e. Bestow

 gift – מַתָּנָה

Today in Hebrew, this is the most common word for a gift. It is exactly the same word that was used in both in the Old and the New Testaments.

The root of this word is

na•tan,

gave, gift

spelled with the letters:

noon, tav, and noon.

this is actually the name Nathan.

In Hebrew, a gift, can also mean

כִּשָּׁרוֹן 

kisharón. 

This refers to someone who is gifted, or has a special talent or ability.

In modern Hebrew, there are two different words for

gift:

מתנה. Matana

שי  Shai

Generally a gift would be

matana מתנה

in Hebrew however lesser used synonyms are:

shay שי and doron דורון

and are often used as names alongside

מתן to signify someone being a gift to the world or life.

In modern Hebrew the most common word would be

מַתָנָה  pronounced ma-ta-nah 

and also meaning:

present, offering, donation, largess, or a bribe, depending on the context and the intention you are using the word with.

There are at least a dozen other words in Hebrew with the same meaning of: a thing given willingly to someone, without payment or retribution or as a gratuity.

מתנה; MATANA 

is used if it refers to the thing you give people

e.g. on their birthday.

כישרון; KISHARON

if it refers to a special talent.

Strong’s Hebrew: 3604. כַּכְּרִין

kikkar — a talent

kikkar: a talent

(a measure of weight or money)

noun כִּשָׁרוֹן. 

aptitude, competence, capability, gift, ability.

noun כִּשָׁרוֹנוֹת.

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This parable has more than one message within it and all have relevance to our life and times.

First it’s a warning, telling us to stay alert, because we do not know the day nor the hour of His return. Then He likens it to the situation described in the parable:

“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. – Matthew 25:13 (NKJV)

So the foundation of the parable of the talents really begins with verse 13. That’s why this parable is one of preparedness – because eventually, Yeshua/Jesus is coming back and sooner than most realize or want Him to!

 In the Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus/Yeshua again used a story to encourage His followers to be ready for His return at all times.

“Be on the alert,”

He said,

“for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” Matthew 24:42.

In the parable, He describes a man who goes on a journey, entrusting his servants with his wealth and possessions in his absence.

The man traveling is Yeshua/Jesus and we are the servants.

From this understanding, let’s look at the various meanings people have pointed out.

First the talents referred to here are coins, money.

In the chart above we see that a talent or mina is worth a lot of money!

We often picture it as a few coins; as in the picture below:

This is an incorrect image and alters our visual understanding of what Yeshua /Jesus was trying to illustrate.

Just one talent could be valued at around

$400,000 in today’s U.S.dollars!

Or approx.. 300,000 UK pounds or Euros.

1 drachma = 1 days wages

1 mena = 100 drachma which = 100 days wages

60 minas = 1 talent which was = to about 19 years wages!!

So it would have been according to that which was given of

5, 2 and 1 talents.

5x 400,000 = 2,000,0000  

2x 400,000 = 800,000 and 1 = 400,000

This could not have been put in a little bag under a stone!

It also says how much the Lord values us and how much He values what He gives us. More than most people will see in a lifetime.

However it is not really talking about money.

More importantly, it is talking about:

stewardship,

responsibility,

obedience

and preparedness.

Looking at this parable, it really is one of self-examination; and a good one to meditate on during the season prior to Shavuot/Pentecost.

We often say of someone they are very talented or they have talent! This does not mean money it means they have an ability or are gifted in some area either musically, artistically, creatively, usually in regard to making something that others admire. Many times it is above what is considered the normal or average ability.

So we interchange the word

gift for talent

and don’t think of it as money or currency.

Here it may surprise us to discover that this parable may have nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities

but what rather relates to

THE GIFT of His Holy Spirit.

Mincha Ruach HaKo’desh

Here we must point out that the Hebrew reads

רוח הקודש

ruach hako’desh

the spirit of the holy one

also transliterated

ruacḥ ha-qodesh and 

literally spirit of holiness/holy spirit

YHWH – hwhy (Yahoveh)’s Spirit.

His Spirit of Holiness is Jesus/Yeshua

because He said in John 14:23

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. John 14:18

His spirit of Holiness is not an it or a thing and it seems strange that we always seem to refer to Him as ‘the’? when it should be His Holy Sprit, or, Gods’/Fathers’ Holy Spirit or Yeshua/Jesus’Spirit of Holiness. We lessen the purity and reverence that is due to the essence of our Heavenly Fathers presence.

He is with us always even to the end of the age.

He is the same Spirit of Holiness that created the universe and hovered/ brooded over the face of the deep. We need a fresh and deeper revelation of the gift/mincha we have been given. His power has been given in a measure that will not harm or destroy us but will enable us to walk as Yeshua walked while on this earth.

Every power source needs a stable container, uncontaminated with certain parameters to maintain its correct operation and function. This is why we are to be cleansed, purified and prepared; the very essence of the OMER and a special reason they were to count the OMER that particular year. 50 days to Pentecost/Shavuot and the time of receiving the promise; His impartation and the promise of His being with us always. Literally living, residing, within us.

A portion of the kingdom of the heavens – the gift/mincha of eternal life; followed by the flowing out in physical manifestation of: preaching the good news of the kingdom of the heavens, healings and casting out unclean spirits raising the dead, performing miracles and working the works of Jesus/Yeshua.

It is the Father doing the works through us, just the same as through Jesus/ Yeshua. Heal the sick, the lame, give sight to the blind, cleanse the lepers set the captives free.

We know that Shavuot/Pentecost is the time of the

giving of His gift/mincha,

of His Spirit of Holiness.

It is important that we must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or intellect; but rather our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God.

2 Cor. 1:20

All the promises of God in Him are yes and in Him Amen.

If we receive less than God wants for us to have, we are in danger of falsely accusing Him; just as the servant in the parable did because he did not know his master.

The giver of the gift.

Which in essence, still belonged to the master who received it back upon his return.

So that puts another angle on it also. Was the servant was saying:  You expect more of me than you equipped me or gave me the power to do. Your demands are too much on me my time and my life and I cant do what you want me to in what you have chosen for me??!

Here’s your talent back….

We need to remember that when it’s a question of our Fathers Spirit, we never say, I Cant; that is simply turning the responsibility on ourselves and we are to be dead to self. If we are still trying to figure out everything and organize our time and schedule our lives, we are not submitted to His spirit working in us. We are still in control and we must never allow the limitations of our own natural ability to enter into any given situation. If we received His Spirit of Holiness He expects the work of His Spirit to be exhibited in us just as He did with Jesus/Yeshua.

In the parable the servant justified himself and at the same time was condemning his lord /master on every point; as if to say, your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave me.

Have we been falsely accusing God? By daring to worry after what He has promised in Matt 6:33?   Worrying means exactly what was implied by the servant.

I know your intent to leave me alone and vulnerable.

We must be careful to remember that our lives will only reflect that which is from within and that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on the the promises of God who alone is able to fulfill them.

Do we believe that?

Our answer to that question will depend on whether or not we have received His Mincha/His Spirit of Holiness.

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift.

First He came in the flesh and now is present with us always.

 If we are still only come as far as asking God for things, we have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means; and we have instead become a Christian based on our own terms. Jer. 45:5.

As we continue to count through the days from the Omer lets surrender all, and prepare ourselves to receive afresh His Mincha the gift of His Spirit of Holiness; and re evaluate what the parable of the talents is saying to us. The lateness of the hour is evident and to whom much is given much is required and we have ALL been given the gift of the measure of faith.

Another view of The Parable of the Talents is, that Yeshua/Jesus uses it to help us understand our calling as Christians and our responsibility to use what God has given us to bring Him glory and honor! We can only do that when we invest our time, talents and treasure into His Kingdom and not one of our own making, based on us and making a life for ourselves!

We have the most valuable gift/mincha of all,

the Word of God and the

saving Gospel

of Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach.

Reading the verses it’s also clearly a HEAVEN and HELL parable! The servants who used their talents entered into heaven,

“the joy of the Lord”.

The servant who didn’t use his talent was cast into hell.

Some say the only thing the talents could represent is – saving faith!

That view says that salvation, which is entering the Kingdom, is only by grace though faith. It is a gift from God. Everyone is given the opportunity to have faith.

It is up to us what we do with it.

Do we use it

or

do we bury it?

Are those who put their talents to work are simply those who have genuine faith? “Faith without corresponding actions is dead” i.e. not genuine.

These servants would seem to represent the Jewish “sinners” of Messiah’s day, and the humble poor, who were believing in the grace of God and receiving Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah.

Will they enter into the Kingdom?

Are they are the good and faithful servants simply because they have faith?

The lazy servant represents the self righteous religious people of His day and the prideful rich. This wicked servant buried his talent, hid his faith, because he didn’t believe in the goodness and grace of God. Instead he believed that God was a hard task master who demands we give to Him and also what we are not able to give. This is a mindset of law based thinking, which Yeshua/Jesus came to correct. This evil unbelieving servant represents those who trust in their works or their riches to save them, Pharisees’ rules and laws, those who ultimately reject Messiah and God’s grace.

The parable is given to contrast:

faith vs works,

grace vs law,

the gift of righteousness vs self righteousness

and humility vs pride.

The talents were given according to ability, 5, 2 and 1.

Remembering what a talent is = to in todays money.

It is all referring to that which God knew He had imparted into them and what they were able to do.

Its also about obedience.

Using our talents for the kingdom of the heavens, not for our own success fame and fortune. It’s a test of our allegiance and to whom we are in submitted. If we are truly dead to self then we have no goal, no personal agenda other than to serve our Father in His Kingdom; no vision other than the heavenly one.

We need to stop making excuses and go, make disciples!

Just as He told us to.

We are all too often working the wrong works.

Ultimately is wasn’t about the amount given or the ability to use it, it was about –

did they use it?

Did they use their faith or did they bury it?

Did they believe in the goodness of their master or did they believe wrongly about him?

Those who receive the grace of God by faith, will enter into the Kingdom and receive grace upon grace, those who reject His grace through unbelief will have everything taken away from them and will be cast into outer darkness.

Jesus/Yeshua uses a number of parables to communicate essential principles about His return.

We have seen that a talent in the first-century was a unit of currency and 1 talent represented a large sum of money. A lot of older translations used to use the word talent, so the parable came to be known as The Parable of the Talents. The value of the money entrusted to the servants isn’t that important. Obviously the master was extremely rich and was entrusting a tremendous amount to them.

In the beginning, we see the master making the disciples responsible for managing a portion of his estate. Even though the servants are given different sums to take care of, it all still belongs to the master. They’re merely administrators who will answer for how they invested the master’s belongings.

This fact reinforces the principle of stewardship.

As believers, we are all given resources according to our skills and abilities, but those resources ultimately belong to God. We will eventually answer for how we invest and reminding us that we really own nothing it is on loan to us from the Father.

When the master returns and hears the reports of the first two servants, he’s pleased.

His response is to invite them to share in his happiness.

This seems a strange suggestion…

why?

In place of only the wrath of God that people associate with His judgment, Jesus/Yeshua shows that upon His return, the faithful will be entering into His happiness and will experience His joy. He made a similar statement in

Luke 12:32. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

            The unfaithful servant who doesn’t give the master a return on his investment is thrown out where he will never experience the master’s happiness.

When the unfaithful servant returns the exact amount he received, the master is infuriated. Where is the return on the servant’s investment? To excuse himself, the servant reveals to the master that he was scared. Knowing the master to be a merciless boss, he was afraid to invest and lose the master’s money. This is the reason he just buried it in the yard.

The master responds in anger. Is he saying that if that servant were truly afraid of him, he would have responded differently, and would have done anything to have something to offer?

Too often we allow our misunderstood views about God to justify or excuse poor stewardship or disobedience.

As servants of Messiah/Christ, we are called to be productive. All of our health, money, time, and abilities have come from Him, and we are tasked with putting them to use to benefit the kingdom. A time is coming when the Master will return to settle accounts, and then it will be too late.

It’s not enough to say, I didn’t waste what you gave me, Lord. We want to demonstrate how we have used the gifts and abilities we have been given to benefit the kingdom. God desires that we be those who step out in faith, who share His commitment. That’s how we’ll enter into the happiness of the Master.

Consider what Yeshua/Jesus said in Matt. 25:14-15.

A man traveled to a far country, called his own servants, delivered his goods to them, and immediately went on a journey.

We must see the parallels….Yeshua/Jesus came to earth, called His disciples, entrusted them with the message of the gospel, and departed when He ascended back to heaven, and

Matthew 25;19 completes this picture.

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (NKJV)

This verse is a reminder that not only did Messiah leave this earth, but one day He will come back and we will have to give account. This is one of the most important points.

The parable of the talents is a reminder that Jesus/Yeshua is coming back and we have some work to do. 

While we are still counting from Omer, below are some things to prayerfully consider.

One of the phrases we read this story is

to each according to his own ability;

leading to simple questions:

What is our role in the kingdom,

what has God given us to do?

and what is His expectation of us?

Remember, He began the parable by saying

the kingdom of heaven is like.

God has given each of us a responsibility, according to our abilities. So often we leave the work of preaching the gospel and making disciples to those who are called to do it

The reality is that calling is for all of us.

Some may have more responsibility if God has called them to do that in a full-time capacity, but we are all called to this purpose. These are the talents/goods God has delivered to each of us.

It does not matter if God has positioned us to do this full-time or not, it is critical to recognize what God has given each of us as individuals. The message of the gospel, which is the talents/goods/gifts are alive in us if we know Yeshua/Jesus as our Savior.

What has God given us?

The responsibility, applies to everyone,

and now that we are aware of it we are accountable, so we must ask ourselves,

what are we doing with it?

Looking at this in a very practical way; recall one had 5 talents, one had 2 talents, and one had 1 talent. We need to see that our mindset needs an adjustment and understand that in Gods eyes, everyone is in full-time ministry. The difference is what is the primary focus of our ministry.

It could be described as this:

Some people’s ministry is only focused on the gospel and disciples all the time (5 talents). Some people work full-time outside of a church or ministry setting and may volunteer to serve in church. For this person the majority of their ministry happens in their jobs and communities (2 talents or 1 talent). So being a teacher, business person, an accountant (or whatever your occupation) is really full-time ministry.

The difference is that the primary focus of an individuals ministry is not just preaching the gospel; but it is still ministry. In the course of working, we can shine His light and share the truth of the gospel when the opportunities arise.

The bottom line is we may not be able to do as much as someone with 5 talents, but we still can and should contribute with the talents God has given us.

To whom much given much is required.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

Again reminding us that we are not alone in the quest for doing good and that we have to be responsible in using His gifts.

One of the most important thing to remember from this parable of the talents, is the suddenness of the master’s return.

This takes us back to Matt. 25;19 

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (NKJV)

There are two points of emphasis here:

First, the master (Yeshua/Jesus) will return one day,

and second,

we will have to give account.

The master didn’t announce his coming, he just came back after a long time!!

It will be the same with Yeshua/Jesus.

After a while, He will come back.

The question is,

are we ready for His return?

Another way of looking at it is—what would we want to be found doing when Messiah returns? Hopefully, the answer is to be taking what He has entrusted us with and sharing it with those around us. After all, this is the only way possible He can get a return on what He has entrusted you with.

Are we ready for His return?

Why is this a recurring theme in the posts? Because it is the message coming from His Spirit of Holiness at this hour, and the hour is very, very late……

When we read the whole story, there were two different responses given to the servants. Two of them heard well done and one heard you wicked, lazy servant. That is why it is so important to focus on what we do with the task/responsibility God has given us and not the amount of responsibility God has given us.

The point made in this situation is the servant with the smallest amount of responsibility was the one who was declared wicked and lazy. This confirms that it is not how much God has given us but what are we doing with it. In other words, there are no excuses.

This is a challenging word, but it is part of the calling and what Yeshua/Jesus has entrusted us to do. What God has given us is real and very valuable and we have a responsibility to share it, even if all we have is 1 talent. That can make a very big difference in the kingdom of God, and it can also make a difference in what God will say to us on that day.

What will Yesua/Jesus say to us on that day and

where do we go from here?

Each reader be encouraged to consider what God has entrusted and placed in us. Consider what He is asking us to do. Remember everyone is not going to be full-time (5 talents). Most of us will only have 2 talents or 1 talent.

Whatever God has asked us to do, we are to work at it with all our might, being the best we can be and doing all we can for the kingdom of God. 

Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength. Ecc. 9:10

Gifts can be talents placed within us, given by our Father to use for and in furthering His Kingdom; talents are also gifts/goods that we are entrusted with, to put to His use and increase their volume; so we can present them to Him upon His return and show that we have been good stewards.

Paul makes it clear that faithfulness in that calling was not an option; it was a requirement.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1Peter 4:10

There’s a purpose why God has given us what we have right now. Let’s not waste what God has given us. Make sure we do our best to increase what God has given us. As good stewards, we have the responsibility to manage and handle our resources so we can earn an increase.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Cor. 15:58

Family, His truth is what we need in this hour and not having our ears tickled… like the people said in Isaiah 30:10

who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.

Oh prophesy to us of pleasant things

…they did not want to hear the voice of their Lord through His prophets …He was calling them telling them to repent/teshuvah, to turn back to Him and His ways ..He is speaking the same today; and above all let us be found faithful doing that which we have been called to do.

Days are quickly coming when an unshakable faith in the Way the Truth and The Life is going to be critical. We must not be moved by what we see or hear, but stand fast in who and what we know.. He will strengthen our hearts…

 

The kingdom of the heavens is this parable, and it exists right this moment, each minute of the day we have a choice to use our gifts wisely; to go forward into growth and maturity, or retreat back to safety.

Just what is it we are supposed to do with these talents?

We are to serve with all our hearts and then we will experience the true joy of the Lord that always accompanies the blossoming and thriving of life/chaim. Let us us not fail to use our gifts/mincha by burying and hiding them….

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek the Lord while He may be found don’t wait one more day…today is the day of salvation.

The greatest mincha was and is Himself – Jesus/Yeshua

John 3:16

God GAVE

and salvation is

His GIFT/mincha

to us.

God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Are you sure of your salvation? 

May His true Shalom/Peace

rest upon each one in Jesus/Yeshuas’ Name.

‘Mishpachah’ ‘Family’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa Mish-pa-KHa

you are greatly loved and prayed for daily..

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

please make certain you are secure in the knowledge that you are saved….

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Who Was Tsofnat Paneach?

Who was Tsofnat Paneach

פַּעְנֵחַ צָפְנַת

and how is this person linked to Messiah?

It has been said that there are no secrets or mysteries in the Bible and yet Jesus/Yeshua Himself declared as recorded in

Mark 4:11. And he said unto them, unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God:

In Matthew 13:11: To you, who have, it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven – The deep things which flesh and blood cannot reveal, pertaining to the inward, present kingdom of heaven.

Luke 8:10; And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Mark 4:11). And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

The contrast between the disciples and others, as it is written here, is that in the case of the disciples, the mysteries of the kingdom are given to be known. In that of the others, the mysteries are given, but only in parables, therefore so as to remain veiled/unknown.

This passage goes on to tell us that if we know the Parable of the Sower, we will know all parables (Mark 4:13).

(Understanding comes through the unfolding/revealing, that is, of your inward powers of perception, not merely by means of the exposition.)

We are told plainly in Yeshua’s interpretation of the Parable of the Sower that the seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11), and this seed is sown in our hearts (Mark 4:15).

Therefore, a major key to unlocking all mysteries is…. the Word of God being deposited in the rich fertile soil of our hearts.

We should think of the Scriptures as being like a self-decoder to the mysteries and secrets of His Kingdom; containing within itself, all the answers to the questions we may have.

In Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.

But holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 1Tim. 3:9.

A search will confirm there are some 371 instances of secret and 43 verses about mystery.

Mystery = ta’alumah (תעלומה)

1Cor. 2:6-8 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

In Col. 1:26-27 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

and we still speak mysteries today!

1Cor. 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

The word “mystery” appears twenty eight times in the New Testament,  but is not found in the Old Testament. The Greek word “musterion,” translated “mystery” did not mean something that is obscure or incomprehensible; rather it meant a truth given and revealed only to a select few that was unknown until it was revealed.

The word ‘mystery’ appears 22 times in the King James Version (KJV). It appears 26 times in the NIV so the count varies slightly depending on which translation you use.

The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his Epistles. In each case, the mystery involved a wonderful declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine inspiration.

that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Zaphnath-Paaneah

Hebrew   פַּעְנֵחַ צָפְנַת

Ṣāfnaṯ Paʿnēaḫ

Tsophnath Pa`neach

Pronounced: tsof·nath’ pah·nā’·akh

was the Egyptian name given by Pharaoh to Joseph -Yahuwseph, in Genesis 41:45

Meaning:

Decipherer or Revealer of Secrets.

gelah or gela: to reveal

strongs 1541

Original Word: גְּלָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: gelah or gela
Phonetic Spelling: (ghel-aw’)
Definition: to reveal

Daniel 2:47 
HEB: וּמָרֵ֥א מַלְכִ֖ין וְגָלֵ֣ה רָזִ֑ין דִּ֣י
NAS: of kings and a revealer of mysteries,
KJV: of kings, and a revealer of secrets,

Targum Onkelos (1st century AD) gives the meaning of the name as:

“the man to whom mysteries are revealed”;

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan,

“one who reveals mysteries”;

Josephus (Antiquities ii.6.1, c. AD 94),

“a finder of mysteries”.

The Jewish interpretation is received in early Protestant translations: the Geneva Bible (1599):

“The expounder of secrets”,

while the Authorised Version of 1611 has in the margin: “Which in the Coptic signifies,

A revealer of secrets’,

or

The man to whom secrets are revealed.’

 

Others say that it is an Egyptian name (Ibn Ezra; Radak, Sherashim).

In Egyptian, Tzaphnath is:

tza-pa-neth meaning, ‘the Neth speaks’ or ‘the god speaks.’

Paaneach is pa-anakh, meaning ‘the life,’ where anach or ankh is the symbol of life. Hence the name can be translated as, ‘Lord of life,’ ‘Neth speaks life,’ or ‘The God speaks and [this man] lives.’

Scripture reveals a secret that he was no regular Joe!

Yôsēp̄    יוסף   יהוסף

The name can be translated from Hebrew יוסף יהוה Yosef YHWH

as signifying

“Yahweh/Jehovah shall increase/add”

יהוסף

Increaser – May He Add.

From the verb יסף (yasap), to add, increase, or repeat.

Joseph was Jacob’s eleventh son and Rachel’s first son, and known in the Jewish Bible as Yoseph ben-Yaakov.

Joseph was thirty years old when he appeared before King Pharaoh. When Pharaoh told him that he had heard of Joseph’s great gift as an interpreter of dreams.

The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Dan 2:48 Then the king [fn] promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief [fn] prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

Joseph modestly replied that his wisdom was not of his own making but of God’s.

Then Pharaoh related his dreams to Joseph, and Joseph knew at once that God had revealed their meaning to him.

41:45: Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Tzaphnath Paaneach. He gave him Asenath, daughter of Poti Phera, the priest of On, as a wife. Joseph thus went out to oversee Egypt.

Vayikra Far’oh shem-Yosef Tsofnat Paneach vayiten-lo et-Osnat bat-Poti Fera kohen On le’ishah vayetse Yosef al-erets Mitsrayim.

Returning to Messiah we read in Matt. 13:11- 12.   And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Because the secrets does not mean the same as what we understand as mysteries in the English language sense; it means something like this, in paraphrase: what we can know of the kingdom of heaven, only by divine revelation, has been given for us to know, but it has not been given to them.

12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Amplified: He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend. you might say it was a kind of punishment for their blindness as He made obscure to them things which He made clear to others. 

Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Mark 4:11. And he said unto them His disciples; unto you it is given to know

the mystery of the kingdom of God;

or the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,

the secrets of the Gospel dispensation,

the mysterious doctrines of grace;

Mark 4:11. ὑμῖν, to you has been given,

so as to be a permanent possession,

the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

They have been initiated into the secret, so that for them it is a secret no longer, not by explanation of the parable (Weiss), but independently.

Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God:

or the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the secrets of the Gospel dispensation, the mysterious doctrines of grace; but unto

them that are without;


“to strangers”,

as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, who were not the disciples of Messiah, nor admitted to any intimacy with Him; who came only to amuse themselves with the sight of His person and miracles:

all [these] things are done in parables;


are wrapped up in dark sayings, and figurative expressions, the sound of which they heard, and might well have been pleased with the similes made use of in the stories and parables, but they did not understand the spiritual meaning contained within them.

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. neither any thing hid, that shall not be made known, and come abroad;

for what had been whispered to them, in the most secret and silent manner, was to come abroad not only in Judea, but in all the world, and to be published upon the house tops;

With the emphasis on what has not been known – this means that all mysteries will be revealed.

Apocalypsed!

In Hebrew

אַפּוֹקָלִיפּסָה

apocalypse.

The word apocalypse comes from the Greek word apokalupsis.

Greek: apokalupsis – from 2 root words apo means away or to remove

Kalupsis means a veil or covering.

The removing of the veil speaks of revealing.

These are the things pertaining to the second coming – and there are many variations and explanations referring to the opening of the vision concerning the end of the present age. Believers, as His bride, are to live in that Way every day as in the time of the true bride – face to face – unveiled – there is to be nothing between or separating and nothing covered – nothing hidden before Him.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-revealing/

 

It also refers to disobedience and sinful behavior that will be exposed on judgment day and in context with

Luke 8:17 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Ps 78:2. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old–

things hidden 
חִ֝יד֗וֹת (ḥî·ḏō·wṯ)
Noun – feminine plural
Strong’s Hebrew 2420: 

1) riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question 

1a) riddle (dark obscure utterance) 

1b) riddle, enigma (to be guessed) 

1c) perplexing questions (difficult) 

1d) double dealing (with ‘havin’)

Strong’s Hebrew: 4565.

מִסְתָּר (mistar) — a secret place …

מִּסְתָּֽר – secret – mistar

Strong’s Hebrew: 7328.

רָזraz – a secret

The mystery preserved for us after all this time is that Messiah would in loving obedient devotion to His Heavenly Father, willingly go to His death on the cross. The servant Messiah would by doing so fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation for all those under the curse of sin.

Mystery = ta’alumah – (תעלומה)

The word Hebrew is a Hebrew word, borrowed into English from the Greek language, 

that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Mystery of God is Jesus/Yeshua

The Mystery: The word Mystery denotes:

(1st) a religious mystery like those of Eleusis, into which men were initiated;

(2nd) a secret (as in 1 Cor. 15:51); and is applied (a) to the Gospel itself (as here and in 1 Cor. 2:7Rom. 16:25Eph. 1:9); and (b) to the various parts and truths of the Gospel (Matt. 13:11Lk. 8:101 Cor. 4:1);

(3rd) to a symbolic representation or emblem as in (Rev. 17:5Rev. 17:7).

Mark 4:11. Looking at the Greek: (Ἔλεγεν, He said) With hearty good-will [with real pleasure].

ἔξω, without) – outside of the circle of genuine discipleship. [Whereas in Mark 4:10 (They that were about Him with the twelve).

γίνεται) Fall to[are done as concerns] them as parables.

Verses 11, 12. – To know the mystery. The Greek verb γνῶναι, to know, is not found in the best manuscripts, in which the words are (ὑμῖν τὸ μυστὴριον δέδοται), unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God.

Here the explanation as to why He spoke to the mixed multitude in parables; namely, because most of them were as yet incapable of receiving the gospel: some would not believe it, others reviled and rejected it.

Therefore here He encourages His own disciples to search out the words He speaks in parables, and to humbly inquire into their full meaning; so they might become able ministers and efficient preachers of the gospel.

By this He shows that this efficiency cannot be obtained by our own strength, but must be sought from God with a humble heart.

For it is His own gift which He bestows on the disciples and denies to others, whom He leaves to the blindness of their own hearts. It is as though He said, (paraphrase):

“To you, my disciples, my apostles, since you believe in me as the Messiah, it is given for you to continually have more clear revelations from Me of the Mysteries of God and of the Heavens, by this you shall increase day by day in the knowledge and love of Him.

But from the scribes and others, because they will not believe in Me as their own Messiah, God will take away even that small knowledge which they have of the Father and of His Kingdom. He will deprive them of all the special privileges which they have had up to now.”

But these words are not limited to those who were living on the earth when Messiah was here.

He says in effect that their application is to all, in every age, who come within the reach of His gospel.

“Those who come to me with a sincere heart and a simple desire to know the truth, as you are doing, to them I will reveal the mysteries of my kingdom, and I will help them onwards in the path of holiness, (set-apartness), by which they may at length attain to the heavenly kingdom. However, those who don’t have a pure desire for truth, but rather indulge their own lusts and errors, from them that little knowledge of God and Divine things will be taken away from them by degrees, and they will become altogether blind.” (Paraphrase.)

Here the Greek expression:

(ἐκείνοις δὲ τοῖς ἔξω),

but unto them that are without.

Just as there are today, in those days there were those who were without/outside the realm of spiritual things; not caring for, not understanding and not desiring spiritual truth.

He revealeth the deep secret things he knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with Him.

He’ll share His secrets with us revealing hidden things. This lifts us out of darkness and gives us the WAY – DERECH, of understanding His TRUTH – EMET, which in turn brings LIFE- CHAIM, and freedom.

If we seek Him in His fullness and desire to know His heart, He will open Heavens Treasures and He will impart His wisdom to everyone who asks.

We His children are not ordained to be blind and lacking in comprehending His will and His ways. His will is the eternal light and the revealing. He sends His wisdom to us through His Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit. It’s sin that blinds the soul to His Truths. It was sin that brought the darkness both before Genesis 1:1 and after!

Something caused the great expanse to be in chaos without form and void! The waters were already there!

BUT His Blood of the Atonement, opens spiritual and physical eyes and makes us whole.

There are secrets and mysteries and diamonds in the rough, things that we can learn of His Providence. Not secrets like those of secret societies that are only for a select few initiates. Gods’ secrets are for whosoever will.

When outward physical circumstances seem negative to the natural eye; we need to look deeper; for this is Gods’ secret. By not looking only at the exterior but with the eye of faith, we will see the hidden deeper meaning within.

The view of the wilderness – Mishkan is a perfect example.

The inner shekinah glory is hidden and obscured to those who don’t bother to seek Him. Nothing on its exterior appearance gave any indication of the unfathomable glory contained within.

Conclusion coming in part 2…

Shalom Alecheim.. 

‘Mishpachah’ – ‘Family’.

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa

as He continues to reveal His Mysteries and Secrets to us all!

Please don’t leave this site without accepting

the revelation

of the mystery

that was kept secret

from Genesis/Bereshyt – the beginning

which is an apocalypse to you today.

Make sure that

You can know for certain that Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

It’s all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

Then simply SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.