Understanding the Fall Feasts

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog

By observing the Fall Feasts, we progress through repentance and redemption in order to experience His joy.

Leviticus 23 reveals God’s plan to meet with His People, Israel and those who have been grafted in through faith in Israel’s Messiah. It tells of a time when Moses heard the voice of the Lord saying:

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”

The last three holy convocations or “festivals” that the Almighty commanded the Torah observing people to celebrate are:

  1. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
  2. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and
  3. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

Each of these feasts occurred in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, the month called Tishri.

Yom Teruah, the first of the Fall Feasts, heralded the arrival of the seventh month. It also began what is known as the Ten Days of Awe between Yom Teruah and the Yom Kippur. This is the period in which the penitent would humble themselves in preparation for the Day of Atonement.

During these 10 days we are to forgive those that have wronged us… but more importantly, we should look within and ask forgiveness from those we ourselves have wronged.

Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Torah observant people traditionally observe this holy day with fasting and intensive prayer.

Sukkot is the harvest festival that commemorates the Israelites’ wandering the desert following their Exodus from Egypt. The week-long period is observed by building and spending time in a sukkah, a temporary outdoor structure that represents our temporary life on earth as we look toward eternity with the King of Kings.

On Yom Teruah (The Feast of Trumpets), the sound of the ram’s horn calls upon each person to repent and confess his sins before his Maker.

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is that ominous day when peace is made with God.

During Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles), Israel obeys God’s command to rejoice over the harvest and the goodness of God.

By observing the Fall Feasts, we progress through repentance and redemption in order to experience His joy.

Perhaps most significant, the Fall Feasts remind us that we are laborers in his field. The fields are ready and it is time for us to work for the greatest harvest of all — the Harvest of Souls for a celebration that will last for all eternity.

Biblical Keys To A Happy Marriage

by with 2 Comments Faith and FamilyVideo Blog

Many of the problems we face in our marriages are ultimately rooted in an unrealistic expectation of what marriage is supposed to look like.

Movies and TV shows have given us a distorted perspective that marriage will provide ultimate fulfillment. And so we demand things from our marriage that it was never designed to give. God doesn’t promise that we’ll never face difficulties in marriage. However, with a right perspective on marriage and using the tools He gives us in His Word, we can know how to handle conflict. Here are three biblical keys that can help you stay on track to a happy marriage:

Number one… Respect.

Respecting your spouse means that you value them and hold them in high esteem. Value their feelings and opinions just as you value your own. Don’t disregard what your spouse shares with you. Don’t get frustrated or angry if you don’t like what they say. Just be patient and listen.  Remember, your marriage is a picture of the Messiah’s relationship with the Church. Respecting your spouse is ultimately connected to respecting God.

Key number two… Support

Being happy in marriage requires you to take the focus off of yourself. When you are selfless and focused on fulfilling your spouse’s needs instead of striving to get what you want, you’ll often find that your spouse is more than willing to reciprocate.
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” – Proverbs 11:25
Support takes many forms. The simplest and often most needed form of support is encouragement and verbal affirmation. This goes back to Respect. If you value your spouse, you’ll value their hopes, dreams, trust, and sense of security. You’ll put their needs before your own.

Key number three… Listen

Most of the problems we face in marriage happen because we don’t know how to communicate effectively. Instead of listening to our spouse and validating their feelings, we get busy formulating counter arguments and building our case against them. We listen to reply rather than listening to learn. But this response puts them on the defensive and makes it more difficult to resolve the problems.
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” – Proverbs 18:2
Spouses can get so distracted with “winning” the argument that they lose sight of the goal, which is to resolve the conflict! Marriage cannot flourish in a self-centered environment. It can’t flourish without mutual respect and support. It all boils down to this: Love your spouse more than yourself. Respect them, support them, and listen to them. And then watch as new life is breathed into your marriage!

Why the Mustard Seed?

by with 2 Comments Faith and FamilyVideo Blog
I try my best not to question the Word, but often I come across imagery that just doesn’t translate into something meaningful to me. That is, until I take a deeper look.

One example of this is when Yeshua compares our faith and the Kingdom of YeHoVaH to a mustard seed. I get it — it’s small and grows into something big. Yet, I am quite sure there are smaller seeds and bigger plants or trees that could have painted this picture just as effectively, if not better.

But, what if that wasn’t the only message that Yeshua was trying to get across? 

Let’s start with the metaphor where the parable of the mustard seed is first used. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Yeshua likens the Kingdom of YeHoVaH to the mustard plant.

“And He said, “To what shall we compare the reign of Elohim? Or with what parable shall we present it? Like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth, and when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all plants, and forms large branches, so that the birds of the heaven are able to nest under its shade.”
– Mark 4:30-32 (ISR)

What exactly did Yeshua imply by “greater”? I have a feeling that it does not suffice to say size alone.

Mustard is an herb. While it is quite large compared to other herbs, what is so special about it is how densely it grows. Wild mustard spreads quickly, densely covering the surrounding area. Due to this trait of the plant, it greatly suppresses weeds from growing.

This was HUGE to me! So often the Scriptures refer to the harvest of the wheat and tares. This imagery reveals to us that the Kingdom of the Almighty has the power to suppress the growth of the tares! It is the Kingdom above all kingdoms. Praise Yah!

The mustard seed is also likened to faith.

“And Yeshua said to them, Because of your unbelief, for truly, I say to you, if you have belief as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move. And no matter shall be impossible for you.”
– Matthew 17:20 (ISR)

When we look at the characteristics of the mustard plant, there are a few details that can be pondered on:

  • Germination takes place in the cool season.
  • It flourishes in fertile soil, and grows rapidly.
  • Within 4-5 weeks, the plant covers the ground.

The teacher in me loves homework, so I will leave it to you to dig deeper into these and see what connections YeHoVaH reveals to you.  

My final point is the most impactful of all.

I felt a yearning to research the Hebrew word for mustard, which is חרדל. Each Hebrew letter has a picture associated with it, stemming from the ancient Paleo-Hebrew alephbet. Here is the breakdown:

  • Chet (ח) – Fence/Inner Room
  • Reysh (ר) – Head/Person
  • Dalet (ד) – Pathway/Door
  • Lamed (ל) – Authority/Shepherd Staff

So, when looking at the Hebrew word pictures for the word mustard, we see that the innermost part of a person is the pathway or door to the Shepherd. 

The Hebrew word for mustard literally gives a definition for faith. How awesome is that!

I try my best not to question the Word, but often I come across imagery that just doesn’t translate into something meaningful to me. That is, until I take a deeper look.

Problem of the Heart

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog

In recent days we have seen horrific crimes committed against our fellow man. People gunned down with little to no reason. Shooters with no more purpose than to kill their prey in the most ruthless ways. This is not what God had intended for us. Not in the slightest.

We can hate on our leaders, but this starts in our own home when we say, “This far, no further.”

This is not a gun problem. This is not a political problem. This is a problem of the heart.

You see, Yeshua (Jesus) said this is one of the most important things we can do…

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
– Mark 12:28-31

Where have we gone wrong with this world? We need to go back to the word of the Almighty, the Bible.

I’m not asking you take my word for it. Just stop for one moment, pull your Bible out and see what God has in store for you. He doesn’t want you to hate your brother or sister and you know we are all brother and sisters. He wants you to love them, to understand them, and to protect them as your own.

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
– Mark 12:28-31
​

Remember politics can only do so much. We can hate on our leaders, but this starts in our own home when we say, “This far, no further.” We have to take responsibilities for our future — now before it’s too late.

To the people of El Paso and Dayton, our hearts and prayers go out to each and every one of you.

Let’s all pray that this is the last time we have to come together and speak of such a horrible thing. Remember — God loves you. Today, love each other as he loves us.

Stick to the Plan

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog
After moving to Fort Mill, South Carolina from Missouri, I sat in our apartment one day and wondered, Why am I here? Do I understand God’s plan for me and what I am to do? Did I hear right from God?

From my experience, questions like these tend to follow a huge life change, like switching career paths or moving across the country. As I pondered these questions, I replayed the different adventures the Father has sent me on during my life.

I remembered the crossroads that I faced—the places where I wasn’t really sure which way to go—and the times I questioned God.

Maybe you’re in that place right now. You felt you heard from the Father that you are walking in obedience, and then all of a sudden things just don’t feel or seem right.

I have stepped out in faith many times in my life, even when it made no sense at all to anyone else. If you find yourself facing a decision that will drastically change your life, and you feel the Father is calling you to that decision, know that His plan is for your good. Jeremiah 29:11 says…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Each time in my life that I have gone against the wisdom of man and followed God in faith, He has prospered me. But I’ve also faced hardship during times of being obedient. At times, I can honestly say that I thought calamity was what He was giving me.

However, the calamity was only temporary. It brought about a stronger faith, a stronger dependency on Him. And as soon as the hardship passed, I had prospered.

I think it would be safe to say that most of us have prayed at some point, Father, make me more like You. Give me Your heart. Change me. So when you step out in obedience, do not be disappointed if He answers the very thing you have been asking for.

There will always be an adversary that will try to rob what God is doing in your life. And the plan to prosper you may look a little different than you thought. But stick to the plan and enjoy the journey!

Tearing Down The Legacy Of Hate

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog

In my 58 years on this planet, I have noticed a trend if you will, of people being more and more influenced by hate.

I hate this neighbor, I hate this politician, I hate this person, I hate hate HATE!!!” It seems like the world is just growing a legacy of hate. And if you’re not careful, you will be trapped by the influence of hate in your life.

You see, hate is just another way Satan gets into your life and makes an absolute mess of your attitude, your emotions, and most importantly, the way you look at the world and the people around you.

If you live in the world of hate, Satan has you right where he wants you: In the pit of despair and hopelessness.

Jesus or Yeshua says in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
– Philippians 4:8

You see, the Almighty’s plan was to make this world a peaceful, loving place where people would treat one another with kindness and trust in a way that only God’s love can overcome life’s obstacles.

Are you surrounding yourself with negative people? Then break the bonds of hate and find people that treat you with respect, with love and happiness. Find relationships that see the good in people and your surroundings.

Remember when you live in hate — Satan wins.

Be an overcomer.

Today, right now, tell Satan to get under your feet and see the good in everything you can. Be the person Yeshua wanted you to be and change the world, one attitude at a time. You can be the change that YeHoVaH is looking for, one life at a time. God Bless.

The Breath of Life

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog
I love how descriptive the Word of Yehovah is. We are often given metaphorical imagery to help us understand spiritual concepts.

These comparisons not only give us a tangible idea of what Scripture describes but, I imagine, that each metaphor also carries secret keys to understanding the physical world.

We are often called “the body of Messiah” in the Scriptures:

“For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Messiah, and members each one of one another.”
– Romans 12:4-5

We also know that we are created in the image of Elohim. Imagine, then, all the ways that our bodies reveal the glory of our Creator!

Recent studies have shown that the average human body is composed of approximately 37 trillion cells- not including the at least equal amount of foreign cell bodies that live in us, too.

97% of all cells in the body fall into one of six categories: red blood cells, glial cells, endothelial cells, dermal fibroblasts, platelets, and bone marrow.

Over 70% of ALL cells in our bodies are red blood cells. This means that most of our actual body is responsible for carrying oxygen to other cells. The other really important thing that red blood cells do is remove carbon dioxide from our cell tissues.

Glial cells, once thought to simply be neuron-insulators, are now being investigated more deeply as some scientists believe they could be responsible for our creative thoughts. They make up 90% of our brain. Another important function of glial cells is, again, to transport oxygen and nutrients to neurons.

Endothelial cells create a one-cell thick lining in all of our blood vessels. They ensure a smooth ride for our oxygen-carrying RBCs.

Dermal Fibroblasts are found in our skin, and aid in healing when we are wounded!

Platelets, another vital component to healing in our bodies, specifically work to seal any breaks in the endothelial lining of our blood vessels.

Lastly, we have bone marrow cells that are responsible for the cultivating of our blood cells.

This means that 97% of the human body is directly involved with the transport of oxygen to our cells.

“And YeHoVaH Elohim formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils breath of lives. And the man became a living being.”
– Genesis 2:7

We that make up the body of Messiah all have this breath of life! What an interesting parallel the Father has given us in the design of our own bodies.

Just as our cells minister to one another, we are to do the same.

We are each filled with the Ruach haKodesh, the Holy Spirit, and we manifest different gifts that we are to use in support the body of Messiah as a whole.

How amazing! Baruch Hashem YeHoVaH!

I leave you with this…

As these cells bring life-breath to the functioning tissues of our bodies, they also rid the body of waste.

“And, according to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
– Hebrews 9:22

Our blood moves throughout the body, cleansing it. Individual cells are the vessels for cleansing. They are carried by the blood and they are filled with the breath-of-life!

I encourage you to dwell on this thought. We know of the power of the Blood. It courses through our (endothelial-lined) veins.

Each of us has the privilege of being vessels of the Holy Spirit.

Let us continue to work together as one body of many members, until the day He is crowned as King of Kings.

Choosing Faith or Fear

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog

My father-in-law taught me something a long time ago.  He said, “Tedd, you can either live in faith or fear, but you can’t live in both. It’s your choice.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion, caused by anticipation or awareness of danger or doom.”

Now, I’m just like any other man who can have doubts or fears – fears about health, fears about finances, fears about personal relationships, even fears about my relationship with The Father.

On the other hand, the Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The Bible really doesn’t define fear, but simply tells us, “Fear Not!”…

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
– John 4:18

 

“And the Lord appeared to Isaac the same night and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you’.”
– Genesis 24:26

Finally, in 1 Chronicles 28:20, David says to his son Solomon, “’Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God – will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you’.”

Again, my father-in-law Ron taught me that fear and faith are both spiritual elements – elements that can’t take up the same space.  

If you live in fear, then faith just simply is not present; but if you live in faith, fear cannot exist either.

YeHoVaH wants you to live in faith, to live in hope, love, happiness and peace, not in fear.  That is nothing more than Satan bringing doubt and hopelessness into your life.

In fact, the Bible says “fear not” 365 times in one form or another. If you think about it, that’s a “Fear Not” for every day of the year!

So now you have a choice: to live as The Almighty would have you live – in faith and hope – or as Satan would have it, in fear and despair.

Don’t allow negativity to dwell in your life. Anger, fear, doubt. It’s all of the Devil.

Choose YeHoVaH.

Choose life.

Choose faith.

Your Storm Will Pass

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog
I love to be outside in YeHoVaH’s beautiful creation. Not too long ago, I spent some time in the woods.

I was a good distance from the truck, but I didn’t realize it until the sky started to darken and I heard thunder. A storm was coming. But it was too late. I knew there was no way I’d make it back to my vehicle.”

I hunkered down in a place I felt was the safest and waited for the storm to pass. I prayed, “YeHoVaH, please watch over me and protect me.” The lightning cracked and the wind blew.

I thought a couple of times that it may be a tornado.

After a while the storm began to pass, each crack of thunder quieter than the last one. The rain had stopped, but water still dripped heavily from off of the leaves. I was soaking wet and started to feel a little cold. The sound of dripping slowed and the sound of the birds soon took front stage.

It was amazing how fast the storm came and went, even though it seemed to last forever when I was stuck in it.

When I got back to my truck, Luke 6:48-50 came to mind. Remember when Yeshua was walking on the water and was about to pass by the disciples in the boat? They thought they had seen a ghost. He told them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

And when He climbed in the boat, the storm subsided.

As I thought about that scripture, it dawned on me that He was about to pass them by. In other words, if they had not called out to Him, I believe He would have kept going. Also, He was far enough away from the boat that they did not recognize Him.

What a great example of storms in the believer’s life. In the midst of the storm (trials and tribulations), we cry out to YeHoVaH. When it takes a while for the storm to pass, the complaint some believers have is, “YeHoVaH is not hearing me.” I’ve been there myself. But let’s remember the scripture. When they called out, He answered with words of encouragement.

In other words, He said, “You’re going to be okay.” Hang in there.

Keep your eyes on Him during life’s storms, and know that whatever storms we have in our lives will pass. So the next time you cry out, know that He hears you. Keep your eyes on Him and, at His appointed time, He will enter your boat and calm your storm.

Where is Your Heart Today?

by with No Comment Faith and FamilyVideo Blog

As a pastor, I had many instances when people would come up to me and ask: “What truly does Matthew 6:21 mean?”

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

My normal response is “Well, it’s complicated.” You see, Yeshua always talked in the simplest language, so that the people of the time would understand – most of the time in parables, in other times, simple sentences.  I think he was saying “You give where you love” or maybe better interpreted, “Give where you are loved…” Is that what you are doing? Yeshua also said:
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” – Luke 6:38
And in this verse he talks about the ultimate giving:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
In short, I believe that Yeshua thought that giving was one of the most important things that we believers can do. It shows our trust in the Almighty, that when we give unto him, he truly gives back to us in return. In fact, it was the very thing that the Almighty said in Malachi 3:10: “Test me on this.” But be wise – He wants you to give but plant your seed into good soil, soil that bear fruit. Every day here at A Rood Awakening! International, our prayer warriors are praying and interceding for people literally all over the world. And our broadcasts are ministering to young and old alike in English, Spanish, German, Russian, Chinese and soon, in Italian and French. We aim to teach Truth to a lost and dying world. Your giving of the Truth brings people out of the darkness and into the light of Yeshua. So do your homework. See the fruit that comes from this ministry. See how lives are changed. How bonds are broken. How health is restored to the sick. And how people’s lives and relationships are made whole again. Please consider giving your best gift to A Rood Awakening! International and Michael Rood – click here to give online or call us at 800.788.7887. From Michael and the entire Rood Crew, we wish you LOVE, peace and happiness. Blessings to you all and have a GREAT week!
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