“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Mt. Moriah – #1)

Posted on October 15, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

“And Abraham built an altar there.” v.9, on Mt. Moriah to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Remember, whenever you have an altar you have worship, sacrifice and prayer. I’m sure Abraham was in prayer the night God told him to go out of the land of the Philistines and into the ‘Land of Promise’ to offer up Isaac. Prayers are often absent when we should naturally expect them. In fact the absence of prayer many times makes it even more conspicuous. For instance, ‘Joseph never prayed’ at least it is never recorded in Scripture. There is no mention in our text about Abraham praying or struggling with his decision. In chapter 21:11-12 he had to throw out Ishmael and it, “was very grievous in Abraham’s sight” and then here 22:9, he had to “slay his son.” Isaac.  To think he didn’t struggle and pray much about these decisions is very naive.

God calls him by name, “Abraham,” and he immediately answers, “Here I am.”  He knew the voice of God, how? He was accustomed to the sound of it, he spoke to Him often. Do we know the voice of God, John 10:27. Remember, there were no chapter or verse divisions in the original scrolls, so twenty words before this command you have Abraham calling, “on the name on the LORD, the Everlasting God, El Olam.” I’m sure he prayed all night long; I’m sure he prayed during his three day journey; I’m sure he prayed as they ascended Mt. Moriah; I’m sure he prayed as they built the altar together; And I’m sure he prayed as he bound his son, laid him on that altar and lifted that knife to slay him. All this time there seems to be ‘Silence’ in heaven, until v.11 and then, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am!” Abraham was going all the way, we too often are guilty of going only so far, half way and stopping short. Abraham lifts his eyes and sees the ram caught in a thicket. The ram was there the whole time, just like Gen. 21:19 with Hagar, the pool of water was always there, but God had to open their eyes to see it!

The key is Prayer, earnest, effectual, fervent, desperate, destitute, prayer, that’s what opens our eyes to God’s blessings and provisions. He calls the place Jehovah-Jireh, ‘The LORD Will Provide,’ and He will for us today as well, if we will just pray and ask Him to open our eyes in the midst of our calamity. Gen. 22:1 was a test from God, “And it came to pass after these things that God did test (nasa) Abraham.” In Hebrew this word means to try, prove, assay, test, or put to the proof. The idea behind this word is that of testing or proving the quality of someone or something often through adversity and hardship. Is God testing you right now? Are you climbing your Mt. Moriah or are you still on your three day journey? Are you wandering in the wilderness, hot, dry, thirsty, tired? Are you doubting God, His direction, His will, His word, right now? Then Pray! I mean PRAY! Really PRAY! Earnestly, Fervently, Desperately, PRAY! And He will open your eyes to see that pool of water or that ram of provision.

Abraham held back nothing from God and God held back nothing from Abraham. Prayer opens our eyes to God’s provision in our wilderness experience, what a paradox. As we close our eyes to pray, God opens our eyes to see, our inner eyes, our spiritual eyes. Following this experience Abraham packs his camel and moves back to Hebron where he buries Sarah in the cave of Machpelah and lives another 38 years. John Bunyan said, “Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God and a scourge to Satan.”

We could have entitled this section, ‘The God Seer’ instead of ‘Mt. Moriah’  for “Jehovah-Jireh,” The Lord Provides ahead of time, or The Lord Sees to it ahead of time. Moriah is made up of two Hebrew words, (Ra-ah – to see) and (Yah- Jehovah or Yehovah) or “To see Jehovah.” In John 8:56 Yeshua/Jesus said, “Your father, Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it, and was glad.” So who is the, ‘Angel of Jehovah‘ v.11 many times just called, ‘Jehovah‘ if it’s not Yehoshuah? As revealed by Rabbi Kaduri on u-tube at 108 years old recently just before he died.

Mt. Moriah appears only two times in the Scriptures, here in Gen. 22:2 as the, ‘Land of Moriah’ but Yehovah points out a mountain in the land of Moriah or, ‘Mt. Moriah.’ the other reference is in II Chron. 3:1 where Solomon builds Yehovah a house in Jerusalem on Mt. Moriah. On the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite in Jerusalem where David built an altar to stop a plague II Chron. 21:1-30, read it especially v. 24, “Nay, but I will verily buy it for full price, for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost!” What a beautiful lesson, tie this in with Malachi 3, when you build your altar and sanctify it with prayer, sacrifice and worship it should, ‘COST’ you! Time, talents, treasures, if it costs you nothing it is worth nothing! He gave you everything, His best, His beloved, His only begotten Son and we bring Him our lame, blind, sick, leftover, junk. Shame on us! Moriah was also the vicinity where, still later Yeshua/Jesus offered Himself without spot on an old rugged cross. (What a coincidence!) Unless you are spiritually blind you should begin to see many Biblical types beginning to surface in this chapter. You could write books on Genesis 22, but we are looking for ‘Principles for Prayer’ in the life of Abraham and specifically on Mt. Moriah.  “Between The Lines”

“Oh God, as we give ourselves to prayer, earnest, fervent, prayer, open our eyes to Your blessings and provisions that surround us. May we trust and believe You and Your Word and be counted as a ‘Friend of God.’ May we pass Your test today and every day, Thank You, for these precious truths. In Your holy name we pray, Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Mt. Moriah Part – #1)

Posted in Ancient Judaism, Christianity, Communion With God, Devotional, Family Altars, Heart After God, Judaism, Olivet Ministries International, Personal EGO "Edging God Out", Portraits of Prayer, Prayer, Prayer and Thanksgiving, Prayer Closet, Prayer Garden, Prayer Journey, Prayerology, Scarlet Worm, Spirituality, Unbroken Fellowship, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part #6)

Posted on October 8, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

“Then Abraham removed his tent and came and dwelt (by the oaks) in Mamre (fatness) which is in Hebron (communion) and built there an altar unto the LORD.” Gen. 13:8. Abraham moves again after the LORD tells him in v.17 to, “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto you.” Oh, the promises of God and the fellowship Abraham must of had with his Creator. He pitched his tent in Mamre, which means, lusty, vigor, fatness, by the oaks or the terebinth trees. Webster says, ‘They are of the sumac or cashew family and yield turpentine.”

He stays there for awhile, buys the cave and field of Machpelah in Mamre where he and Sarah are buried as well as Isaac and Rebekah and Jacob and Leah. He was in Mamre when Lot was captured and when the three heavenly visitors came to him on their way to Sodom. Mamre was in Hebron which means, seat of association, or to join, to league, couple together, or to have fellowship with. So here by the trees of ‘Fatness – Mamre’ which was in ‘Communion – Hebron,’ Abraham chose to pitch his tent, bury his family and build his family altar.

He finally settles down, for awhile anyway. and unpacks his camel and when he does he builds a family altar, in a place of fatness where he can have sweet fellowship and build a friendship with God. Our altars should be just that, a place of fatness, a place where we can grow fat on the ‘Word of God,’ a place where we can grow and mature and our families with us. It should also be a place of fellowship, communion and togetherness with our families but most of all with God. That’s what God desires more than anything else, even more than sacrifice. That sweet intercourse, that sweet union with Him, that intimate communion (yada) and fellowship through prayer. “Talking To God!” A place of friendship, do you want to be a friend of God’s? Do you want to have that fellowship and experience that Abraham had? Then today build that family altar in your Mamre, in Hebron, your fatness in communion, and take your fanily there and all your possessions and pitch your tent. Remember, everywhere Abraham had a tent, God had an altar and an altar sanctified by prayer, except Mizraim!

The three essential prerequisites to having an altar are the place, the time and the voice. The three essential elements of an altar are sacrifice, worship and prayer; and the three lasting benefits or results of a family altar are fatness, fellowship and friendship.

“Oh LORD, may we find our Mamre in Hebron, our fatness in communion and grow fat in our fellowship with You. Oh LORD, may we pitch our tents and build our altars with our families so that we may build our friendships together with You. LORD help us to find our Mamre, our Hebron and help us to find it soon, today LORD.”

“And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God.” Gen. 14:18. Melchizedek is referred to as a type of Christ, Heb. 7:1ff, he has no beginning and no ending, Heb. 7:3. There is no Levitical priesthood at this time and ancient Hebrew scholars believe this person could have been Shem Noah’s son. According to the genealogical records Noah was alive while Abraham walked on the earth and Shem was alive after Abraham died so it is feasible. Anyway he brought out bread and wine, the basic elements of the earth; bread being the staff of life and wine the fruit of the vine, the same elements used by Yeshua to establish communion and the same elements found on the Passover table and on every Jewish Sabbath table as well. They were basic to life, ‘L’Chaim!’

Gen. 14:19 says that Melchizedek blessed Abraham, “And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:” Which is very normal and something we need to do. Blessing man is simply invoking God’s riches or Grace on man or to put it simply, praying for mankind – ‘Intercession.’ He blesses Abram and back in gen. 12:1-3 God said, Those that bless you I will bless.” so here Melchizedek not only blesses man but the Jewish nation to be as well. But then he blesses God, “And blessed be God most high.” Blessing God is unusual but it is Biblical, Psalms 103, 104, 134, etc. Blessings are prayers, prayers to God for men, and prayers to God for God. How often or better yet how seldom do we invoke or pray for blessings on mankind let alone God? When was the last time you blessed God like His servant David, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.” “Behold, bless the LORD.”

How do we pray for God? Well praise is prayer and that exalts God; thanksgiving is prayer and that honors God; confession is prayer and that glorifys God. We can pray against the deeds of the wicked and that helps God, Ps. 141:5.; but most of all Ps. 72:15 says, “Prayer also will be made for Him continually, and daily He shall be praised.” To pray for God, to bless God, is a startling thought! It almost seems profane, but it is not, it is very beautiful, very holy, very Biblical and the most holy of all prayers.

Think of the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ in Matthew 6, why did Christ teach us to pray for His Father first? “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” wasn’t our need for daily bread greater? NO! God’s heart was famished, and starving without fellowship, without communion, without our daily love and devotion. Oh my friend, to bless God, to pray for God, for His will, His works, His glory, is greater! “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory;” Psalm 115:1, is the highest form of prayer known to man. How often, and I repeat, how seldom, do we pray or ask for blessings on mankind let alone God?

To pray for God the Father and the Son what a radical thought, yes; but radically beautiful. Prayer; Communion; Blessings; Tithes; Victory; Fellowship, WOW! What a gathering we have here in Gen. 14, all the elements of a glorious worship service. (Are you still walking with me?)  “Between The Lines”

“Oh LORD, teach us not only to pray for man but for You LORD; Not only to bless man but to bless You LORD; “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done; Teach us to be ‘Bridge-Builders’ believer priests, I Peter 2:9; like Melchizedek.” For ha Shem Yeshua’s sake. Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part – #6)

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“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis’ (Abraham – Part #5)

Posted on October 2, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

As I said earlier, I hesitate moving on too quickly away from this ‘Friend of God’s‘ without drawing all the principles for living we possible can from his ‘Prayer Garden’ for our garden’s. So, ‘Come walk with me’ and let’s see if we can learn anything else from this great Patriarch of Israel.

After Abraham built his altars in Shechem and between Bethel and Ai, Gen. 12:9 says he, “Journeyed, going on still towards the south.” The word, south or Negev means ‘dry’ and he ends up in Egypt. Another word for Egypt as we have seen is, Mizraim and sounds a lot like our word ‘misery.’ Egypt represents the world!  Why is it, we so often leave Bethel, leave the house of God for Mizraim? There are no altars in Egypt, only compromise, only half truths, only lies! Finally Abraham is forced out of Egypt by Pharaoh himself, he did not go willingly and he returns to Bethel, ‘The House of God’ and to the altar he built for his family at first. There is an old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” Many times we have to return to the place where we left God, or left off serving God, or left off growing for God. Jacob’s grandson will do exactly the same thing in Gen. 28 and 35. When we run from God He will always try to bring us back, and usually succeeds, usually! If our big, fat ego doesn’t get in His way. (Ego stands for ‘Edging God Out’)

There is no mention of prayer, altars, sacrifice or worship of God since Abraham left Bethel until he returns, Gen. 13:4, “And there Abraham called on the name of the LORD.” Oh what a sweet reunion that must have been. We should be so thankful that God never gives up on us, NEVER! He is constantly trying to conform us to the image of His Son, and drawing us back to Himself, back to our Bethel, back to our altar, to our place of ‘Prayer-Sacrifice & Worship,’ back to the cross. Abraham needed wisdom at this time to separate from Lot and he gets it at Bethel, at the altar, not in Mizraim. We all need to part friendships in this way, but in order to do that we all need to have our own personal altars and Bethels where we can meet God alone, face to face and offer our prayers, sacrifices and worship, and we need to bring our families to that altar with us.

It was God who drew Abraham back to Bethel from Mizraim, and it was God who made Pharoah throw Abraham out of Egypt, but it was Abraham v.4 who had to call on the name of the LORD at the altar for confession, restoration, repentance, reunion, and fellowship. Oh, my friend have you been or are in Mizraim right now? Return to the first place, return to your first love, return to the LORD God before it’s to late. Abraham called (kara) to call out to, call upon, to cry unto and he identified with, which means to encounter. Abraham not only called but cried unto the LORD, Yehovah, the Self-Existent and Eternal God. He encountered the LORD in prayer! Oh, how we need to continually come back and and cry unto the LORD. Why, because, David wrote in Psalm 65:2, “O Thou Who hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.”

God is waiting, at Bethel at the house of God, at the altar, at the slaughter place, for all of us to come and to call upon Him, and to encounter Him. Oh, won’t you come back to Him today, right now it’s not too late, it’s never too late. “Oh God, Thank You for waiting, Thank You for drawing us back, Thank You for forcing us back, forgive us, cleanse us, revive us, restore us to our first love!”

“And there he built an altar to the LORD,” Gen. 12:7, nine simple words, and you can almost glance over them in a very nonchalant way without even so much as a thought. Yet in them is the secret and the power of Abraham’s relationship and friendship with God. Abraham obeyed God’s call in Gen. 12:4 and left it all and enters Canaan the ‘Promised Land’ and stops in Shechem, where God appears to him and promises him the land, “And there he built an altar to the LORD.” v.7 From this point on anywhere he goes he must have an altar, and an altar sanctified by prayer, sacrifice and worship. Did you ever notice in the ‘Older Testament’ when it comes to prayer, God speaks to men more then men speak to God. There is a ‘Principle For Living’ there we need to note, ‘We talk to much when we pray.’ Listening, is a lost art in prayer! The words, ‘Silent and Listen’ have exactly the same letters, but you can not listen if you are not silent. How much time do you devote to listening to God during your prayer time? Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know (yada) God.” Be still God says, and ‘Listen to Me.’ Abraham said nothing, when God said, “Sacrifice Isaac!” We need to cultivate listening in our prayer life, prayer is a two-way street not a turnpike, we need to slow down and listen.

A key to remember in our text is that Abraham was a family man and where ever he went he took his family and his possessions. Also he made sure God was in the midst of that family and he did that by building an altar to the LORD. Oh my friend, that is what is needed in our homes today, ‘Family Altars’ a place to ‘Sacrifice, Pray and Worship’ together. A place to meet God as a family. We need to teach our children to call on the name of the LORD and to listen to His voice and know the sound of it. Abraham did more than just build altars, he built ‘Family Altars.’ Amen?          ‘Between The Lines.’

“Oh LORD, please help us to establish and consistently maintain a ‘Family Altar.’ A place of prayer, sacrifice and worship; A place where we can not only call on Your name Father, but seek Your face and wait on You and be ‘Silent & Listen’ to the sound of Your voice as well.” In Yeshua/Jesus name we pray. Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis”  (Abraham – Part #5)

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“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part #4)

Posted on September 26, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

Gen. 12:1, “Now the LORD said unto Abram;” There is no indication here that Abraham was in prayer: However, Abraham must have been a man of prayer, and a man of God before he left Haran. Terah, Abraham’s father was originally on his way to Canaan with his family from Ur of the Chaldeans when he stopped in Haran, dwelt there and died. He had to die for Abraham to become the patriarch of the family and finish leading his family into Canaan. But was God directing Terah with his family first, could he have gotten the call before Abraham? We will never know, but who taught Abraham about the one and only true God and how to address that God and please Him and worship Him and serve Him?  The LORD appears to Abraham or Abram after Terah dies in Haran when Abram is 75 years old Gen. 12:4, “So, Abram departed as the LORD had spoken unto him and Lot went with him;” How or why Abram received and responded to God’s covenant invitation is not revealed but we do know that he had to recognize God’s call! He was 75 when he got his call and Moses was 80 when he got his and we think we are too old to serve God.

He is listed with the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11; he is a God-Pleaser Heb. 11:6 like Enoch, a man of faith, a man of God, and a man of prayer. The LORD gave Abraham a seven part promise in Gen. 12:2-3, “And I will make of thee a great nation; And I will bless thee; And make thy name great; And thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee; And curse him that curses thee; And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” What a precious promise from the LORD, the God of Redemption, to Abraham, the father of the Jewish Nation, and remember we said earlier that a blessing was a prayer and here God promises His prayers, His blessings on Abraham and his seed.

How do we ‘Please God’ like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, etc? Heb. 11:6; by the exercise of our faith! I Cor. 1:21 says, “Preaching the gospel brings salvation.” Isa. 53:10 says, “It pleased the LORD to bruise His Son.” The atonement for our sins pleases God. Isa. 55:10-11 says, “His word going forth pleases Him because it produces life,” preach, teach, pray, give, go, serve but we must leave room for God to work. We must give Him ‘Elbow Room’ like Abraham did, for God to break in and do His work in our lives. Seek the kingdom first, it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom Luke 12:32, but we must be careful where our heart is because that is where our treasure is. “LORD, help me to keep my priorities straight, to focus on You, to seek Your kingdom, to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in heaven, as it is on earth!” And in my heart and life as well!” Psalm 69:30-31 says, “Praise and thanksgiving and a song please the LORD more than an ox and a bull.” Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he even makes his enemies be at peace with him.” “Father, help me, show me the way I should walk and talk, so the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth will be acceptable and well pleasing to You.” Psalm 19:14

In Genesis chapters 1-11 we have the history of the human race, about 2,000+ years; and beginning in Gen. 12:5 we have His-tory of how the Jewish race began for about the next 400+ years. Meditate on this principle for a moment, “I will bless (pray for) those who bless (pray for) you.” God is referring to the great nation He would make out of the loins of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Israel, The Jewish People! If we bless them (ba-rak) to kneel, by implication to bless God as an act of adoration or man as a benefit then God promises to bless us. But is we curse them (kaw-lal) to be or make light of, or to bring into contempt, to despise, to lightly esteem. Then God promises to curse (aw-rar) execrate, to bitterly curse, to denounce. According to Webster this word means to, detest utterly, to abhor, to abominate, to call down evil upon. Therefore, God says if we just lightly esteem the ‘Jewish People’ He will utterly and completely detest and hate us. The implications of this principle are earth shattering.

Do you pray for and bless the Jewish People, Israel, God’s Chosen people continually? You do want to be blessed don’t you? You do want to prosper don’t you? Psalm 122:6 says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love you.” Abraham as we shall see in v. 7 is a man of prayer, but the question is, are you? And do you pray for God’s Chosen people habitually? James 2:23 says, “Abraham, was called a friend of God.” Isa. 41:8 says, “The descendants of Abraham My friend.” (ahav) the Hebrew word for love. The same word is used in II Chron. 20:7 when referring to God giving the land of Israel to, “The seed of Abraham Thy friend (ahav – Thy lover) forever?” So the two times in the Older Testament when God is referring to His friend Abraham He uses the word (ahav – love) to have affection for, to be loved. So how can we be a friend of God’s if we are not a friend of Israel’s? Impossible, Unthinkable, Improbable, Inconceivable!

“Between The Lines”

“Abba, teach us to pray, to bless those around us, to befriend Your chosen people.  Help us to pray continually for the Jewish People, and for the Peace of Jerusalem! May we be like faithful Abraham, faithful in worship, faithful in love, faithful in sacrifice, faithful in prayer, faithful to your Chosen People and faithful to the Bride of Jesus Christ.” In ha Shem Yeshua, we pray. Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part #4)

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“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part #3)

Posted on September 22, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

In Genesis 15 Abram has a vision, but we don’t like to talk about those in fundamental circles today. So, let’s call it a ‘D.M.I.’ a “Dynamic Mental Impression.” Gen. 15:2, I believe is a prayer, “And Abram said, “Lord GOD, (Adonai Yehovah) what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless and the steward (heir) of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus.” In Gen. 15:6 we have the affirmation of his faith in the LORD, “And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” The word for ‘believed’ in Hebrew is (Aw-mane). To verify, confirm, or agree with hardily. How we need the Amen of faith today especially in prayer. Martin Luther said, “And make your Amen strong!” The object of Abram’s faith was God Himself. He was called, “The friend of God.” II Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.”

It would be important for you to read Gen. 15:7-21 where GOD cuts a covenant with Abraham and not the other way around. This covenant is permanent and unconditional, Abraham is asleep. He simply prepares the animals by killing most of them and splitting them apart, three of the five, v. 9, “”Take Me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle dove, and a young pigeon.” Five animals representing the five offerings of Leviticus and  a “Pillar of Smoke and a Pillar of Fire” passed between them, v.17. and v.18 “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram.” An unconditional. eternal covenant for the land from  the river of Egypt, the ‘Wadi-el Arish to the Euphrates, not the Nile River. A river just south of Kadesh- barnea in the Gaza strip. This is just a reconfirmation of Gen. 13:14-15. What a chapter, you have ‘Prayer in v. 2; Sacrifice in v. 10; and Worship in vv. 17-18″ at the altar by Mamre (fatness) in Hebron (communion). Prayer – Sacrifice – Worship, all at an altar Abraham built. Chapter 16 Sarai’s scheme with Hagar fails; chapter 17 Abram’s name is changed to Abraham, “Father of a multitude and Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah, “Princess, or Noble Woman.” Chapter 18 three men show up to dine with Abraham and reveal the LORD’s plans for Sodom’s destruction, two angels and the LORD Himself. Chapter 19 Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed and Lot and his two daughters are rescued. Chapter 20 Abraham has another lapse in Gerar and lies about Sarah once again and this time she is 90 and still beautiful. Abraham has to pray for Abimelech or God won’t heal him and his people, God is limited many times by our prayers. Or man’s blessings are dependent upon our prayers, we will come back to this.  Abimelech is innocent but God is just!

In Gen. 21 after Abraham’s lapse in Gerar lots of things happen, Isaac is born, Hagar is cast out, and Abraham settles in Beer-Sheba. Now it does not specifically mention the word altar here but I believe it is specifically, ‘Implied!’ First – a covenant is cut , implying the Sacrifice of animals! Second – Abraham plants a grove and calls upon the name of the LORD, ‘El Olam’ the ‘Everlasting God’ implying Prayer! Third – Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, offers a sacrifice in Beer-sheba (The well of seven oaths) on his way to Egypt to meet Joseph after 22 years implying Worship in Gen. 46:1! I believe Abraham built the altar after Abimelech and Phicol left. He built it for “Prayer, Sacrifice and Worship!” Why, because he is going to live there with his family for many days v. 34. In fact, I believe all the rest of his days. His first concern was God, then his family, but especially his family worshiping his God. Who is with him, Sarah, Isaac, Eliezer and his servants or his, “Family!”

Abraham’s last altar is in Gen. 22 on Mt. Moriah (Ra-ah means to see and Yah means Jehovah) we will deal with this later. But here he offers his greatest sacrifice, his only (ya-ckid) beloved son Isaac. Question? How is your ‘Family Altar’ coming? Do you have one yet? What are you waiting for, a special invitation? God invites us to build or establish a ‘Family Altar’ just like our ‘Prayer Closet’ or Quiet Time’ and He is waiting for an ‘R.S.V.P.’ Which is an acrostic for the French phrase, ‘Respondez Sil Vous Plait.’ However, God’s ‘R.S.V.P. for your ‘Family Altar’ stands for, “R-ead, S-hare, V-enerate (worship), P-ray.” Listen, a ‘Family Altar’ may keep your children from being sucked into this world’s system, or your spouse from falling into immorality, sin, porno, or covetousness. Or it may prevent you from losing your focus, your purpose or calling in life. From the moment Abraham entered the ‘Promised Land’ God had an altar and an altar sanctified by prayer, sacrifice and worship; Shechem, Bethel, Ai, Hebron, Beer-sheba, Moriah, etc. A time and place to bring those you love the most, ‘Your Family’ for “Prayer, Sacrifice & Worship.’ Don’t make it difficult or long; ‘KISS;’ “Keep It Simple Sam.” (Read, Share, Venerate, Pray, and do it every day!)    “Between The Lines”

“Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. As Abraham looked up and saw Your splendor and said, Amen! And You counted it to him for righteousness.  Because the heavens declare Your glory and the firmament shows Your handiwork. Abba, as we gaze upon and accept the ‘Cross of Calvary’ may we see Your glory fulfilled in Jesus The Christ and receive His righteousness for our righteousness.” In ha Shem Yeshua we pray! Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis”  (Abraham – Part #3)

Posted in Ancient Judaism, Christianity, Communion With God, Devotional, Family, Family Altars, Heart After God, Olivet Ministries International, Personal EGO "Edging God Out", Portraits of Prayer, Prayer, Prayer and Thanksgiving, Prayer Closet, Prayer Garden, Prayer Journey, Prayerology, Scarlet Worm, Spirituality, Unbroken Fellowship, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abram Part – #2)

Posted on September 19, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

Abram slips in Gen. 12:10-20. “He fails under fire” and forsakes the place of the LORD’s blessings. Why do we do that? Especially those in ministry? Famine strikes and down to Egypt (Miz-rai-im) he goes. He tells a half lie, which is a whole lie, that Sarai is his sister. They both have the same father Gen. 20:12, but she is still his wife and she is 60+ years old and beautiful. So they pick up Hagar as a handmaid possibly one of Pharaoh’s daughters, (bad news). Egypt sounds more like ‘misery-im than Mizraim.’ Why is it when we fall, we forsake God, His Word, His people, His place of blessing, and prayer? Why? Conviction, sin, guilt, what? But you know what is great? The return trip! Amen? Because God is always right where we left Him! He never moves. Rev. 2:4, “You left your first love,” not Him!

Now watch this, in Gen. 13:1-4 Abram, his wife, Lot and all that he has returns;  Unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning; Unto the place where he made the altar, between Bethel and Ai. With his what? ‘Family!’ “And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” Listen, ‘Failure isn’t fatal, Quitting is!’ Back to Bethel! Back to the ‘House of God!’ Back to Prayer! Back to the God he left! Back to the ‘Family Altar!’ Back to the Bible! By the way Abram never built an altar in Mizraim – Egypt, never! I wonder why? God was still waiting He never left Bethel! Abram did. He came full circle and so must we, Amen? Rev. 2:4; Matt. 6:6; He left his first love. What was the first thing Abram did when he got back to Bethel? “He Prayed!” “He called upon the name of the LORD!” Sounds like Enosh in Gen. 4:26.

Prayer is simply an address or petition to God by word or thought; simply talking to God, don’t make it difficult, God never intended it to be. Sacrifice is simply the act of offering something precious to God, whether it is time, talents or treasures; and again don’t make it difficult or expensive, it’s the thought that counts, just don’t make it an after thought. Worship is simply to honor, reverence, or venerate a Divine Being; It is a human response to divine revelation. Why is it at church we sing, have announcements, sing, take the offering, sing, then preach (divine revelation) give an invitation and go eat chicken. Shouldn’t we preach first, receive the divine revelation and then spend the rest of the time worshiping God in response to His divine revelation? Just a thought!

Who is with Abram back at Bethel, back at the altar he built? ‘His Family!’ Implant that thought in your heart and mind. The altar is for, ‘Family – Prayer, Worship, Sacrifice.’ By the way, where is Shechem? The West Bank? Bethel? The West Bank! Ai? The West Bank! Hebron? The West Bank! They are all in what the Bible calls the Mts. of Israel in Ezk. 36:1;4;6;8 which Jehovah promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. Now we move into Gen. 13:14-18 and it would do you well to read that passage a couple of times. V.15 says, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Who is talking? Jehovah! Who is He talking to? Abram! How long is this promise for? Forever! (olam) Can God break a covenant promise? NO!

The first thing Abram does when he moves into a new neighborhood is, “Build an Altar” for family worship! Abram builds this altar between Mamre (Hebrew for strength and fatness) and Hebron (Hebrew for communion, association, to unite or bind together). How beautiful is that? The ‘Family Altar’ is a place to grow strong and fat in the LORD and to unite or bind yourselves together and commune with the LORD. “The family that prays together, (WHAT?) stays together.” What is the first thing you do when you move into a new neighborhood? Join the YMCA? Have a party? Find a Wal-Mart? The first thing Noah did when he disembarked from the ark was to build an altar for ‘Family Worship.’ By the way, who is with Abram in Hebron? His family, less his nephew Lot, right! Gen. 13 is a picture of ‘The Spiritual Man’ (Abraham) vs ‘The Carnal Man’ (Lot).

In Gen. 14 Lot takes his possessions, servants and cattle and goes to Sodom which was like the ‘Garden of the LORD.’ Gen. 13:10. (The Garden of Eden) There is no mention of Lot having a wife before he went into Sodom only after he came out, so it is very possible he married a Sodomite, which would explain a lot about Lot. Maybe that is why Mrs. Lot longed to go back and Mr. Lot lost two of his daughters to that wicked, sinful life style. Gen. 19:26 says that Mrs. Lot looked back, the word looked (na-bat) means to gaze upon, to consider. However, in Luke 17:32 the context seems to infer that she didn’t just glance back she turned back to return to the city. Then Abram had to take 318 of his men to rescue Lot from four kings at Hobah and Damascus. The key I believe is in Gen. 14:13; 15:2; and his name is Eliezer (El-ezer) God’s Helper, who becomes Abram’s most trusted servant.

Abram meets Melchizedek king of Salem and pays him tithes of all, 720 years before the law. How did he know? Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, etc, did it. If 10% bothers you give 12% of 14% but you will never out give God, never! Why did Abram give tithes to Melchizedek? Because he knew, he had the power to bless him, that’s why! Melek means king, Tsadek means righteousness, the ‘King of Righteousness.’ The ancient Rabbis believe this was Shem, Noah’s son. You will find Melchizedek three times in the Scriptures, Gen14:18 Historically; Psalm110:4 Prophetically; Hebrews 5:6 Doctrinally. I love Psalm 110 Yeshua/Jesus used it to silence the mouths of the Scribes and Pharisees when they questioned His deity. But v.7 says, “He shall drink of the brook (mud-puddle) in the way” He came to this stinking earth and drank out of our mud-puddle! Can you fathom that? Lot never built an altar in Sodom, Never! He lost two daughters to the world, two to incest, two son-in-laws to hell, a wife to lust and covetousness. She didn’t glance back, she lusted, longed after and turned back. Abram also never built one in Egypt and look at the trouble he is about to face. How is your altar? Have you bought some bricks, some mortar a trowel? Have you started to build it yet? Don’t wait for trouble to start because it will come as sure as sparks fly upward, start now, today!   “Between The Lines”

“Abba, Father it is hard for us to comprehend why You allowed Your Son to come to this earth and drink from our mud-puddle, when we all deserve to drown in it. But when we see your unfathomable grace in the life of Abram who ran and lied but came back to the ‘House of God,’ to the altar he built and You were patiently waiting with open arms to receive him and restore him our faith is rekindled. Father, open Your arms, draw us to Your bosom, hold us ever so close, that we may smell the fragrance of Your robes.” In Jesus Name!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis”  (Abram – Part #2)

Posted in Ancient Judaism, Christianity, Communion With God, Devotional, Family, Family Altars, Friendship, Heart After God, Judaism, Personal EGO "Edging God Out", Portraits of Prayer, Prayer, Prayer and Thanksgiving, Prayer Closet, Prayer Garden, Prayer Journey, Prayerology, Scarlet Worm, Spirituality, Unbroken Fellowship, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abraham – Part #1)

Posted on September 14, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

(Sorry, I had an operation and have been away from, ‘The Scarlet Worm’ for awhile but I am feeling better. First a little review!)

We have talked about, Adam the Garden-Tiller; Enoch the God-Pleaser; Noah the Ship-Builder, and now we turn our attention to Abraham the Altar-Builder. God created man (adom) in His own image, after His own likeness and Adam walked and talked with God bare naked in the garden, Gen. 2:25. Until he ate the forbidden fruit; Until he disobeyed God’s commandment; Until he rebelled against God; Until he lied to God and hid from Him; Until he refused to confess his sin and blamed his wife! But Adam taught us three things in the garden (gan) ‘the enclosed place’ about prayer before the fall, Gen. 3:8-10: 1-He knew the place, why? He was accustomed to it! 2-He knew the voice, why? He was accustomed to it! 3-He knew the time, why? He was accustomed to it! Adam and Eve were cast from the garden and gave birth to Cain and Abel. Cain slew Abel and was marked, then Adam and Eve bore Seth and he gave birth to Enosh, which means ‘mortal’ and in Gen. 4:26 we have the first mention of prayer in the Bible and it began with Enosh. “Then began man (mortal man) to call upon the name of the LORD.” (YHVH – the GOD of redemption) ‘Very Important!’

Then came Enoch the seventh from Adam who walked and talked with (eth) God for 300 years and he was not, for God took him. Gen. 5:21-24 (A pre-rapture rapture, the Hebrew word is ‘Translated’) From Enoch we learned three things about prayer in Heb. 11:6-7, along with his life, three life principles; He walked with God; He talked with God; and He lived with and for God! Without faith (pistis – noun) we are absolutely powerless to please God. We must believe (pisteuo – verb) that God is Who He says He is and we must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently (ek-zeteo) seek Him. The key to Enoch is Faith, Believe, Trust, Confidence, etc. Enoch was a God-Pleaser not a man-pleaser, and that is the key to ‘E.F.P.’ An, ‘Effectual Fervent Prayer’ life.

Then we talked about No-akh the ship-builder, a man who (eth) ‘with God walked’ for 450 years and we learned three more principles for prayer for this godly man: 1- “No-akh found grace (khan) in the eyes of the LORD;” 2- No-akh was a just man (tsa-deek) righteous, lawful in conduct and character. In fact, he was the heir of righteousness by faith. Heb. 11:7; 3- No-akh was perfect (ta-mim) a man of impeccable integrity and a preacher of righteousness. II Peter 2:5. Three things you and I must have to have ‘E.F.P.’ with God; 1-Grace, unmerited, undeserved, unwarranted favor; 2-Righteousness, ethically, judicially and theocratically; 3-Integrity, moral purity of mind, body and spirit; II Pet. 1:5, add to you faith ‘virtue.’ As Micah 6:8 puts it, “Do justly, Love mercy, and Walk humbly before God.” Adam, Enoch, and Noah were men of faith, men of prayer, men who literally walked and talked face to face (paw-neem) with their Creator God. Not to mention Enosh – mortal man, who began to call on the name of the LORD. Question, is there prayer in Genesis? Is there?

Now we come to Abram or Abraham, the father of a multitude, the founder of the Hebrew nation, the first Jew, the friend of God, and the father of the Patriarchs. There are many types of Christ in the Scriptures but Abraham is the only type of God the Father. I don’t know how you remember this Bible character but let me offer you one suggestion; Abraham the altar builder! Everywhere he went, God had an altar! Matthew Henry said of this ‘Friend of God.’ “Wherever he had a tent, God had an altar and an altar sanctified by prayer.” I like that! Gen. 12:7 says, “And the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, “Unto thy seed will I give this land;” and there builded he an altar unto the LORD who appeared unto him.” The Hebrew word for altar is (miz-bay-akh) a slaughter place, from the root (zaw-bakh) to slaughter, to kill, to sacrifice; (miz-bay-akh) is simply the place to do it. This is typical of the fact that the only way to God is through the sprinkled blood of a sacrifice picturing the blood of His Redeemer, Yeshua/Jesus. But why build or establish an altar? Remember No-akh built an altar in Gen. 8:20 when he got off the ark with his family and offered burnt offerings to God. But you say, the book of Leviticus was not written yet to tell him how to do it and besides was he a priest? Was Job, or Isaac, or Jacob? How about Abel in Gen 4:4? He brought the fat of the firstlings of his flock to God on an altar (miz-bay-akh). How did Abel know how to do all this? Ready for this great Biblical secret? His father Adam taught him?

The ‘Altar’ (miz-bay-akh) indicates that from the earliest times ‘Sacrifice’ (saw-bakh) accompanied prayer and worship, it’s a trilogy! Here is Abram (exalted father) building or establishing an altar in Shechem by the plain (el-own) oak or tree of Moreh. I don’t believe this was his first one, do you? He didn’t need instructions like Noah with his ark. The very next verse he moves to Bethel and the first thing he does is build an altar for prayer, worship and sacrifice, Gen. 12:8. Bethel on the west, ‘The House of God’ and ‘Ai or Hai’ on the east ruin or heap, translated bald or hard. Question, are you between God and a hard place right now, between Bethel and Ai? Then you need to build an altar for prayer, sacrifice and worship! Abram built or established an altar ‘to the Lord,’ why? V.8 “To call upon the name of the LORD!” Let me spell it out for you, in case you are having difficulty with this; Why did Abram build an altar? For ‘P-R-A-Y-E-R! Who is with him when he builds his altar in Shechem? Sarai, Lot and Abram’s household servants. Let’s sum it up in one word, his, ‘FAMILY!’ Who is with him when he builds an altar between Bethel and Ai? One word, his, ‘FAMILY!’ Who was with No-akh when he built an altar in Gen. 8:20? His wife, his sons, Shem, Ham, Japtheth and their wives or his, ‘FAMILY!’ Are you getting the same picture I am getting? Just about every time an altar is built to God in this Book it is for corporate – ‘FAMILY WORSHIP!’ Question? How is your ‘FAMILY ALTAR?’ Do you even have one anymore? Mine is missing quite a few stones. Always keep one thing in mind, an altar is a place for three things; ‘Prayer – Sacrifice – Worship!’ It is not a place for an in depth Bible study, a game of life or monopoly, or a family play time. It’s a time for ‘Prayer – Sacrifice – Worship’ and those three things cost; C-O-S-T!           ‘BETWEEN THE LINES’

“Father, we have been negligent, derelict,  in our family altars, please forgive us and help us to rebuild them, ‘stone by stone!’ Only You can ignite that fire once again, and may it ever be burning on the altars of our hearts and may it never, ever go out again. We bow before You in shame and disgrace with no right to call You Abba, Father but for the blood of Your Son Yeshua/Jesus Who died on a cross to give us access into your throne room. Oh, God hear the anguish of my heart, catch the tears from my eyes, I know You must feel the pain in my soul, so restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and hold me in Your hand.” In Jesus Name!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Abram – Part #1)   9/14/11

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“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Noah – Part #6)

Posted on September 5, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

As we said previous Keil points out there are three elements of Noah’s story in Gen. 6-9 his piety, his preservation and his proclamation. However, we need to concentrate on the first element, ‘Noah’s personal piety of godliness’ for an effective prayer life. This first principle is found in Gen. 6; “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” This is the first time in the Bible the word, ‘Grace’ is used and notice its context, Gen. 6:5-8, where it grieved God that He made man and anticipated his total annihilation. Once again we have the ‘Law of first mention.’

Noah found (masa) favor in another’s eyes, namely God’s. The idea is to gain acceptance or win approbation. Noah found grace (khan) in the eyes of the LORD, grace, favor, mercy, pity, acceptance; unmerited, unwarranted, undeserved, favor! Moses found grace in the eyes of the LORD in Exodus 33:13 right after the ‘Golden Calf’ before he was put into the cleft of a rock. Listen, justice is getting what we deserve, you are doing 90 in a 50 and a trooper gives you a ticket that’s justice. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve, you are doing 90 in a 50 the trooper pulls you over and gives you a warning, that’s grace. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, you are doing 90 in a 50 the trooper pulls you over, his captain is standing next to him, he writes you a ticket for $200.00, reaches in his wallet takes out $200.00 and hands it to you to pay the ticket and tells you to slow down, now that’s mercy! That’s what Jesus did for us, he reached in His wallet and paid our fine and let us nail Him to a cross for our violations and said, “Forgiven!” The first principle from Noah’s life for our prayer life is finding grace in the eyes of the LORD! Question, have you found it? If not you can’t pray for things, or people or events only salvation! If you have not found grace in the eyes of the LORD the only prayer you can utter from your heart to God’s heart is, “LORD save me!” Eph. 2:8 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith…” Eph. 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” This grace, this gift of God, provides us with a transition into the following tragedy, namely, “The Flood!” By the way, Dads listen up, only Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD, his family rode in on his boat tails! So the first principle for prayer from Noah was his piety, his godliness, he found grace in the eyes of the LORD in the midst of a wicked, wicked, wicked world!

The second principle is: “Noah was a just man.” The word for just (tsa-dek) means righteous, just, lawful in conduct, and character. The root of this word is to be straight, not deviating from the standard. Noah was the “heir of righteousness by faith.” Heb. 11:7. Psalm 145:17 says, “The LORD is righteous (Tsadek) in all His ways and holy in all His works.” This word describes three aspects of our personal relationships; 1 – Ethical (ourselves); 2 – Legal (others); 3 – Theocratic (God). In the supreme sense, the righteous man is one who serves God. Mal. 3:18. Noah was righteous in his moral relation and service to God. Whom do we serve? In Ezek. 14:14 & 20, Noah, Daniel, and Job are declared to be righteous (tsadek). Question, if you were put on trial for being a just man or woman would they enough evidence to convict you? A just man gives freely without regard for gain, Psalm 37:21. Listen, ‘Righteous conduct can only be secured by plowing up fallow, dormant, inactive ground, sowing in righteousness and reaping in mercy.’ That is making a new foundation for righteousness, for (tsadek) Hos. 10:12. Where are you today? Are you ‘JUST’ ethically, legally, and theocratically? Or do you need some prayer in those areas today? Noah found grace (khan) and Noah was just (tsadek) two very important principles for our prayer lives.

However, there is a third principle that is missing in politics, religion, the home, marriage, our military, wall street and main street today; ‘Noah was perfect (tameem) complete’ the root (tam) refers to integrity. Some might say,”I have found grace.” Others will say, “I guess I am just.” But this third thing, integrity, “What’s that?” Webster in 2005 said, “Integrity is a firm adherence to a code especially of moral values; Incorruptibility; An unimpaired condition; Soundness; The quality or state of being complete or undivided.’ Listen to Webster in 1828, “Wholeness, entireness, unbroken state; The entire, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; in-corruptness; uprightness; honesty; Integrity comprehends whole moral character but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings for others.” In 1828 Buckminster wrote, “The moral grandeur of independent integrity is the sublimest thing in nature, before which the pomp of eastern magnificence and the splendor of conquest are odious as well as perishable.” Where is that kind of integrity today, what’s happened to it? Amos 5:10 says, “They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly (tameem – with integrity).” (That’s Noah for 120 years) Brown, Driver, Briggs said of this word, “What is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact.” II Peter 1:5 says we are to add to our faith ‘virtue’ (aretay) moral excellence and purity in feeling and action; seven things to add to your faith but the first is (tameem) integrity/virtue, moral purity in action and feeling, what’s happened to our leadership?

What did Noah do for 120 years besides build a huge boat? Preach righteousness to a sin cursed world. Peter calls him a, “Preacher of Righteousness” in II Peter 2:5. Note if you will in Gen. 6:9 there is no conjunction connecting “just and perfect” so it would be better written, “Noah was a, Righteous-Perfect man.” (Tsadek-Tameen) This compound indicates a phrase or double expression covering a state of perfection as nearly as man can accomplish it. Let me say this, ‘Divine approval on God’s part does not imply perfection on man’s part.’ It merely implies that those things that God sought in man were present in Noah. God simply desired for man to believe Him and His promise of salvation through the seed of a woman and Noah did!

Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD; Noah was a just man (tsadek); Noah was perfect (tameem) complete; Noah walked with (eth) God. Noah talked with God, you can’t walk with God for 450 years and not talk with Him. However, there are many ways to communicate, speech is only one of them and the least of all. In fact you never find Noah speaking one time in Gen. 6-9 until Ham’s sin in Gen. 9:25, but his walk was so close he didn’t need words; How is yours? A lot of things impress me with Noah, the fact that he preached for 120 years and no one got saved, would you still support him? His obedience to God in light of his huge task, Gen. 6:22 “Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” His righteousness, his integrity, his walk with God, his persistence! But the thing that impresses me the most is after spending a year on that boat with all those animals and complaining kids, the first thing he does when he gets off the ark Gen. 8:20, is build an altar and worship God and pray with his family. That blows my mind! He doesn’t call his mother, get a beer, kiss the ground, unload the trunk, hit the men’s room, he build’s an altar and prays! What is the first thing you do after a long journey? What’s the first thing you should do? PRAY! The altar speaks of three things, ‘Prayer, Sacrifice & Worship’ and; Listen, the altar preceded the rainbow, Gen. 9:13.     ‘Between The Lines’

“Father, help us to remember You at the end of our journeys not just at the beginnings. We pray for ‘Traveling Mercies’ never realizing how many dangers, perils and hazards You spared us from. We have learned much from Noah today, may we find grace in Your eyes and mercy at Your throne. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our ticket in full.” In His name we pray. Amen!

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis”  (Noah – Part #6)

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“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Noah – Part #5)

Posted on September 1, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

We have been sailing with Noah, ‘The Ship Builder’ for several weeks and now it’s time to drop the anchor and dive for some pearls to add to our, “Principles of Prayer.” We have looked at two men in the ‘Book of Beginnings’ who walked face to face with Elohim the God of creation. From Adam the ‘Garden Tiller’ we learned four principles in Gen. 3:8-10; 1 – He knew the sound of God’s voice, and we need to be in the Word, John 10:27; 2 – He knew the place to meet God, and we need to be in our prayer closets, Matt. 6:6; 3 – He knew the time to meet God, and we need to have our ‘Quiet Time,’ morning, evening, afternoon, or at midnight; 4 – He came bare naked, Gen. 2:25; 3:10, without a hidden agenda and that is how we should come to God, with our hands wide open.

From Enoch, ‘The God Pleaser’ who walked, talked and pleased God, we learned three principles in Heb. 11:6; 1 – We must have faith or we are absolutely powerless to please God; 2 – We must believe that He is who He says He is, the ‘Great I AM’; 3 – We must persist in our request to receive our reward and not let go! Now we look in more depth at the third man who had sweet, intimate fellowship with God, Enoch’s great, grandson Noah who also “walked with (eth) God.

Remember the preposition with (eth) in Hebrew denotes intimacy and fellowship and only appears in reference to God with Enoch and Noah. However, in Hebrew the phrase in Gen. 6:9 is reversed, “with God Noah walked.” This is slightly different from Gen. 5:22 with Enoch. Here ‘with God’ is first for emphasis. Even though Noah was walking among godless, wicked people, his walk was “with (eth) God.” It sort of reminds us of II Cor. 6:14-17, separation is not from contact with evil in the world or the church but from compliance with or conformity to it. Personal communion, ‘Spiritual Yada’ was the taproot, the central element in this godly man’s life. The (sine qua non) Latin for ‘without which nothing.’ The absolute, absolute!

The Hebrew we saw was (yalak) which means, ‘to walk about or to live.’ You see the real test of a man’s religious life or character is not what he does in the exceptional times of his life but what he does in the ordinary times. When there is nothing tremendous or exciting going on and nobody is watching. Do you want to impress God? Then go into your prayer closet, shut the door and get on your knees. You see reputation is what people think we are but character is what God knows we are and there is a big difference between those two. The day by day, moment by moment, step by step, walk with God, that is the test of a man’s religious life and character. How you run the race is as important as how you finish, even if you finish first! At the ‘Bema’ three things were judged at a race; training, did you foul anyone and did you keep the rules; this is also true with God, the end does not justify the means, its how you ran the race that’s important. Enoch walked with (eth) God for 300 years and God took him. Noah, with (eth) God walked for at least 450 years, maybe longer. “and he died.” Gen. 9:29, God had a different plan for him!

Let me ask you a question, How is your walk with God? How is it? On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 is poor and 10 is excellent how is your walk today? Intimate, personal, affectionate, devoted or remote and distant? Maybe I should be writing on revival instead of prayer but they are both inseparable, you can’t have one without the other. Revival begins when Christians go into their closets, shut their doors and get on their knees and revival ends when Christians get off their knees and get out of their closets. There are three positive, ‘Principles for Prayer’ that can be seen in Noah’s life that we must exhibit to have an effective walk (eth) with God and an effective prayer life and you can’t have one without the other. These three elements which seem to stand out in Noah’s life in Gen. 6-9 which can help us in our prayer lives also are Noah’s piety, his preservation and his propagation. (Next time)

“Father, it’s not just running in the race, or winning the race that matters but it’s how we prepare for the race, how we treat the other contestants, and whether we obey the rules that really matters. Help me Father not to feel like I’m running the bulls but I’m in this race for You and for Your glory. Help me to pace myself and to focus on Jesus.” In His name I pray. Amen!   ‘Between The Lines’

“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis”  (Noah – Part #5)

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“Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Noah – Part #4)

Posted on August 28, 2011 by The Scarlet Worm

“So God blessed (barak) Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.” Gen. 9:1. In chapter one remember God blessed the animals and man, and in chapter two God blessed the Sabbath, but in chapters 7 & 8 God destroyed everything that had breath on the face of the earth except for what was in the ark. So, now God re-institutes His blessing (barak – to speak or invoke words of divine favor). As I said earlier, a blessing is a prayer and a prayer is a blessing. So, here again God prays for His creation and gives them a sign of the covenant He established with Him, ‘The Bow in the clouds.’ “The Rainbow.” Gen. 9:13

What a comfort to know we have been blessed by God and Eph. 1:3 reminds us that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in, “heavenly places in Christ.” We have also been given that same beautiful privilege of blessing others as well. In fact Noah later in Gen. 9:25-27 curses Canaan or Ham and blesses the LORD, Shem and Japheth. It almost makes you want to cry out with the Psalmist in Psalm 103, “Bless the LORD, Oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Bless the LORD, O my soul, what a privilege to bless not only man but God, not only the creation but the Creator as well. You see this principle, this privilege given to man by God throughout the rest of the Bible, right through the book of Revelation. In fact the last verse in the Bible is a blessing, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!” Rev. 22:21

You can see this beautiful truth and concept continually if you study prayer for yourself throughout the scriptures. The awesome power of prayer; to be able to ask the omnipotent Creator to bless someone and He does, it’s mind blowing. Why do we use this privilege, this power so little? Why? Noah did it, Abram did it, Melchizedek did it, Eliezer, Abram’s servant did it, Laban did it, etc, this was a common thing in scripture. Why have we lost sight of this privilege? May God help us to see what we have lost or are neglecting and cause us to not only be a blessing but to pray and ask God for a blessing on those we come in contact with.

However, the church is asleep in the midst of this crucial hour. While Christ is in the ‘Garden of The Olive Press‘ sweating great drops of blood (hematohidrosis) His disciples are asleep, Luke 22:45. Why? What is the reason or the chief cause of the church’s prayerlessness at this critical time? Many reasons could be suggested I suppose, but the chief one is, ‘Lack of faith in the integrity of God’s Word.’ IF we were really convinced that what He said in His Word was really true, I believe we would really pray more. Like John 14:14, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Matt. 7:7, “Ask and it shall be given you, Seek and you shall find; Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Jer. 33:3, “Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you know not.” If we really believed the promises in God’s Word, prayer would be the main business of the Church today. Unbelief in the integrity of God’s Word; not programs, not missions, not economics, not culture, not busyness, ‘Unbelief’ is the chief cause of prayerlessness. And this unbelief is so deep-rooted in our hearts and minds today we are not even conscious of it, but it is ensnared and exposed by the feeble, anemic prayer life of the Church and Christians today. “What could you not watch with Me one hour?” Oh how that would change the world we live in if we all showed up for prayer meeting, to pray! That’s why He asked them to watch, Matt. 24:40-41, “Watch and Pray!” The spirit is willing but the flesh; oh that flesh is so weak! That is why He says we need to pray my friend!

“Blessed art Thou Oh LORD our God, Creator of heaven and earth, truly You and You alone are worthy and deserving of all our praise, all our worship, and all our blessings. Oh Lord, truly bless our families, our churches, the nation of Israel, our nation, and our ministries. Bless those Oh LORD that we come in contact with today and every day, and bless Your chosen Jewish people and the Bride of Christ and make us a blessing today.” In Jesus Precious Name. Amen!

‘Between The Lines’   “Portraits of Prayer in Genesis” (Noah – Part #4)

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