Teaching Resources

Contrary to some journalists, political activists, and extreme left-wing historians, Israel has a long history dating back at least to the Hebrew settlement by Abraham in circa 2,090BC (4,113 years). Some scholars suggest the lineage can be traced back 5,784 years to Creation in Israel, though I prefer to rely on historical documents that can verify these dates. Hebrew history is well-documented in many Jewish sources dating back to antiquity, as well as the Mesopotamians, Greeks, Christianity, Gnosticism, the Druze, and Islam. There were various descendants of Noah that possessed the Promised Land at least verifiable to the timeline of Noah and the end of the flood, circa 2,457BC (4,480 years).

There has been much misunderstanding of the Zohar because it was perceived as Jewish mystical book, whereas in reality it is one of the earliest commentaries of the Bible, and it includes many of Jesus’ parables, riddles, and Jewish Essene teaching. Unfortunately, some Christian scholars have chosen to demonize it because it is Jewish, claiming it was Gnosticism. Let me correct these heresies by teaching from the Gospel of John.

Most people probably do not realize that prior to Jesus Christ and Hillel the Elder (the origins of Rabbinic Judaism), the Bible as we know it did not exist. Judaism was nothing more than a few scrolls of “the Law” (the Torah scrolls) and “the Law of the Prophets”, and were only ever in the hands of the Temple priests and scribes, who taught the Law of Moses orally (in Hebrew: Kabbalah “oral tradition”). The “Law” started with two sapphire stone tablets on Mount Sinai that were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant (a gold-covered timber chest with lid described in the Book of Exodus), however this artefact has been lost since the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587BC and took away the vessels of the Temple, though the rabbinic work of Tosefta explains its real hiding place where it can be found for the Third Temple.

Jesus said, “do not judge others”. What did He mean by that? What about the judges in the courts? Are courts legal? Yes, they are a necessary form of keeping the peace that are recorded all the way back to the Israelites. What Jesus was discussing here is to judge the offence rather than the offender. We must confine the motive and relationship aspect with God. We should never become judge without remembering our own sinfulness, in that we too are in need of a Saviour.

Andre Schwarz-Bart wrote a book called ‘The Last of The Just’ speaking of the Just Men of God. Specifically, he was writing about the Levy family. They were one of the many families of the Lamed-Vovnik, or “36 righteous ones” in each generation that greet Shekhinah, and re-establish the connection of the Temple within. Essentially it means, “Happy are they that wait lo [for Him]” (Isaiah 30:18), speaking of YHVH and Shekhinah as they “rise together”, and the thirty-six commune with Her daily.

In the preceding passage of Matthew 22, Jesus is teaching the ‘Parable of the Great Feast’ where the King of Kings has prepared a wedding feast for His Son. His guests were invited but they went on their way to their own homes instead to eat, or to their farms or businesses. Others murdered the messengers. It was teaching about the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:7-9 where the bride of Christ is to be prepared ready in pure white linen garments, which represents the good deeds of God’s holy people (Revelation 19:8).

In Ephesian Chapter 5, the Apostle Paul taught how we should ‘live in the light’ of God. We are sons and daughters of God and therefore we should imitate Him. We should thank God for His grace and mercy (Ephesians 5:4). We should be pure in everything we do, for “no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world” (Ephesians 5:5).

When King Solomon was a young king, the Lord appeared to him in a dream, asking, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” He could have asked for riches, fame, long life, happiness, but no, Solomon didn’t ask God for any of these things. He replied, “Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:9) Continuing from my previous message, the ‘Just Men’ need to have a heart that listens to God.

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. (Acts 2:15-23)

The Bible tells us in times of trouble, the “Just Men” must stand. They are littered throughout history, but most people don’t notice them, because they normally hide in society unnoticed. They are not military leaders or kings, often they are carpenters, rural fireman, or farmers who decided to make a stand.

This Sunday I would like to talk about the Power of the Lord’s Prayer. Too often in Church and in prayer meetings there are Church Pastors and Christians wailing in prayer for hours, telling us it is needed for spiritual warfare to “break-through” the heavenlies and touch God. They use the analogy of Daniel who has been fasting and praying for 21 days, or Jacob who wrestled with “God” (angel of God actually) and won. Others will quote Ephesians 6 where the Apostle Paul tells us to put the full armour of God on and stand against the forces of evil, as if we should be in “warfare” 24 hours a day. You know, I’ve been down that road before, and I’ve learnt a few things since then…