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Hebraic Perspectives
Click on Title for a Synopsis
About Yeshua and YHVH
As we grow in grace and knowledge of our Messiah we have
a zeal to place Him back into the Hebrew culture in which He did His
work. This is right and good, but sometimes our studies lead
us down a path to where we begin to condemn everything we learned in
the church. This is often the case, especially when
we learn that The Messiah's real name is Yeshua, not Jesus.
Were we lied to about the name of our Messiah? Did the English
"miss-translators" mix our Messiah's name with the name of the pagan
Greek god Zeus? This study will help us see the transition of
His name down through the languages . . .
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 12, 2011
Most Bible believers know that Jesus (Yeshua) was not born on December 25. But if not in December, when was Yeshua really born? Does the Bible give us the answer? Yes and No! Though the exact date is not given, the scriptures provide enough information to determine the season of the year from which we can pinpoint the approximate week of His birth. Once you see it, you'll see that - just like everything else in scripture - God's plan works perfectly.
Eight Jewish Men - Writers of the New Testament - Tim Kelley
The New Testament writers make many references
to the Old Testament, but in their day, there
were at least two versions of the Old Testament
scriptures - the "original Hebrew" and the
Septuagint. Which one did they use? Does it
really matter? This brief study gives the
background of both so that the Bible student can
be informed when he runs across references to
these biblical texts. March 2006.
the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint - Dealing with Apparant Contradictions - Tim Kelley
The New Testament writers make many references
to the Old Testament, but in their day, there
were at least two versions of the Old Testament
scriptures - the "original Hebrew" and the
Septuagint. Which one did they use? Does it
really matter? This brief study gives the
background of both so that the Bible student can
be informed when he runs across references to
these biblical texts. December 30, 2015.
Psalm 22 - A Messianic Prophecy - Part 1 - Tim Kelley
Christians and Jews have been battling over this Psalm for nearly 2000 years. Judaism teaches
that the Psalm is merely a story of David's
trials as he flees from Saul, while Christianity
teaches that it is a prophecy of the crucifixion of
Jesus - the Messiah. The arguments
generally center around the authority of the
text … the Masoretic Text from which the
Jewish view is derived, and the Septuagint from
which the Christian view is derived. Part
1 of this series focuses on the text itself and
will be followed in Part 2 with arguments
against the Jewish view.
We recommend you read the article "the Masoretic
Text and the Septuagint - an Introduction"
(see above) before reading this article.
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 26 , 2015.
Psalm 22 - A Messianic Prophecy - Part 2 - Tim Kelley
Do the Jewish arguments against the Christian
view of Psalm 22:16 hold water? As we
continue to explore the traditional Jewish
arguments against the Messiahship of Yeshua, we
find that the Jewish case is weak at best.
But even if they are right, does it change
anything? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 9, 2016.
Isaiah 7:14 - Debunking Jewish Opposition to the Virgin Birth - Tim Kelley
Matthew's reference to Isaiah's prophecy of the
virgin birth has been used as a tool of
anti-missionaries for two millennia. Though
"Christians" are usually not the target of those
who would try to disprove the messiahship of
Yeshua ( Jesus ), they often get caught in the
cross-hairs because "knowledge" is so readily
available on the Internet, and most Christians
are ill-prepared (in regards to Bible knowledge)
to defend themselves. This study takes
three claims normally made by the rabbis and
shows how they (the rabbis) are wrong on all
three counts. Please read the above
article "the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint"
to familiarize yourself with these texts before
reading this article.
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - October 24, 2015.
the Curse of Jehoichin - Confirming God's Promise to David - Tim Kelley
Many believe that the supposed 'curse' that was put on Judah's King Jehoichin invalidates Yeshua's claim to be king. Christians come to his defense by saying that Jehoiachin repented of his undefined evil deeds and thus the curse was removed. Unfortunately, the scriptures do not support that theory, but they do support the fact that there never was a curse, and that by removing Jehoiachin, God was confirming his oath to King David.
Delivered at Season of Our Joy Sukkot Festival - October 2019.
Is Yeshua YHVH? (A Hebraic Perspective) - Eddie Chumney
This teaching will explain using the Bible with references to the Targums and Zohar the Shema
and the unity of the Godhead. We will also share terms and titles for the Messiah from
Genesis to Revelation to get a Biblical perspective of how does the Bible represent Yeshua
the Messiah of Israel. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael
Fellowship - March 19, 2011
Toward a Better Understanding of Sacrifice - Jonathan Stahl
The sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua can be better
understood within the culture of the Hebrew
people who, every year, personally brought their
lamb to the Temple and sacrificed it with their
own hands. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 9, 2013.
Shaliah, the Agent of God - Tim Kelley
In our quest to understand Yeshua, and to answer those who deny
His place in the salvation of all Israel, it's important that we
are able to explain some of His remarks that seem to contradict
the Old Testament. Armed with the Jewish understanding of
"agency", this is quite easy to do.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 18, 2015.
Yeshua - a Sacrifice or Not - Tim Kelley
As we move further and further from the "cocoon"
of organized religion, we find ourselves
challenged more and more often. One of the
most common challenges is if we can explain how
if "god hates human sacrifice", Yeshua could be
a sacrifice. This teaching tackles that
question by showing what the Torah actually says
about human sacrifice and by showing what the
ancient Jewish sages believed and taught about
human sacrifice. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 23, 2013.
Violence In the Scriptures - In Defense of God - Tim Kelley
The world is filled with violence, and according to many Biblical skeptics, so is the Bible! In thier mind, it would be hard to follow a god of 'love', when His actions are so 'violent'. How do we answer that argument? Does God need us to defend His actions? Does He even want us to defend His actions? Originally written June 2016; revised March 2019.
How God Describes God - The Use of Anthropomorphisms in Scripture - Tim Kelley
The scriptures are full of examples of where the
God of Israel expresses Himself through the use
of human-like terms. He has hands, arms, a
mouth, a face, and a voice. He walks,
talks, and runs. He rejoices, loves, and
hates. All of these are human
characteristics that He applies to Himself.
Are we practicing idolatry if we think of Him in
those terms? What if He chose to convey
Himself in all those terms at once? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 28, 2015.
Situational Awareness - Seeing the Big Picture - Tim Kelley
We are living in times where the belief in the God of the Bible is no longer fashionable. Parents can no longer assume that their child's teachers and friends include God in their lives and lesson plans. Such was the case in Joshua's day. The people of Israel were already turning away from YHVH - the God of Israel, and toward the pagan gods of the nations. What can parents do to help their children maintain the belief in the God of the Bible? Delivered at Season of Our Joy - October 14, 2019.
Burning Alive - the Sinner's Fate? - Tim Kelley
There are two places in the Torah where it appears that God prescribed the penalty of being burned alive for specific sins. But is that really the case? Does God prescribe or even condone such cruel punishement? A deeper look at the scriptures reveals the truth, a truth that might have implications for those who die as unbelievers. Delivered at Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 20, 2021.
Why Earth? - Jonathan Stahl
As scientists continue to search for the source
of life, it's becoming more and more evident
that man is a special creation, especially as
one considers the unique location in which we
find ourselves in the universe. Delivered
at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 5, 2012
Understanding Israel - Tim Kelley
Introduction - Solomon's Kingdom
As a Hebrew Roots fellowship, we often speak of the restoration of
the Kingdom of Israel, and so we should - it was the central theme
of the prophets of old as well as the focus of the disciples of
Yeshua. This series will discuss the history of Israel
including the prophecies of return. It will help correct many
misunderstandings concerning Israel, chief of which is the thought
that all Israelites are Jews.
This series begins with a discussion of Solomon's Kingdom. The kingdom that he inherited from his father David was a picture of the end-time Kingdom of God. It is important for a student of the New Testament to understand that the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel was the focus of the disciples and the mystery that Paul and his fellow apostles focused on. To properly understand Israel is the key to understanding the Mystery of the Kingdom of God. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 25, 2011
This series begins with a discussion of Solomon's Kingdom. The kingdom that he inherited from his father David was a picture of the end-time Kingdom of God. It is important for a student of the New Testament to understand that the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel was the focus of the disciples and the mystery that Paul and his fellow apostles focused on. To properly understand Israel is the key to understanding the Mystery of the Kingdom of God. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 25, 2011
Understanding Israel - the Tribes
Israel is a people with a very specific calling. When YHVH
entered into covenant with Abraham, it's as if He was taking
Abraham's children as His bride. Thus, to properly understand
Israel, one must first look at the seriousness of the marriage
covenant, for YHVH's commitment to Israel is as if she were married
to Him. This teaching discusses the history of Israel
and clears up one of the biggest misunderstandings of who are the 12
Tribes of Israel. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July
9, 2011
Understanding Israel - Blessing and Curses
Though Israel inherited the unconditional covenant YHVH made with
Abraham, and passed on to Isaac and Jacob, when Israel was delivered
from Egypt and taken to Mount Sinai, they entered into a conditional
covenant with YHVH. According to their covenant, if Israel
lived up to the conditions of the covenant, they would receive
abundant blessings. On the other hand, if they did not, they
would be cursed, with the primary curse being that they would be
driven out of the land. This "curse of the law" did not cause
the covenant to cease, but in fact, ensured that YHVH was committed
to the covenant. This teaching begins to explain this
"mystery" - how YHVH is going to fulfill Israel's purpose
through a rebellious people. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July
16, 2011
Understanding Israel - a United Kingdom
Never a homogeneous people, Israel was always divided on the line
between the sons of Joseph (and those who associated with them) and
the sons of Judah (and those who associated with them). King
David was the first to really unite these two kingdoms into one
kingdom, the Kingdom of Israel. This teaching shows how the
terms "House of Israel" and "House of Judah" are not the same.
It also discusses the Tabernacle of David, a symbol of the Dynasty
of King David. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July
23, 2011
Understanding Israel - the Sieve Analogy
This teaching is a supplement to the above teaching. There are
questions about the sieve analogy - who stays in the sieve, who
falls out. This in-depth teaching goes to the Hebrew root
words in an attempt to clear up this question.
Understanding Israel - the Kingdom Divides
David was promised that he would never lack for one of his
descendants to reign over the combined kingdom of Israel as long as
his son's would walk in YHVH's ways as David had done.
Unfortunately, that was not the case and David's dynasty only lasted
till the death of King Solomon. Before Solomon died, YHVH
brought adversaries against Solomon, one of which was Jeroboam.
Why did Jeroboam rebel? What had Solomon done to provoke it?
And does Solomon's actions provide foresight into what is happening
today as YHVH is beginning to gather the tribes together once again? Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship
- August 6, 2011
Understanding Israel - the Prophecy of Hosea
After the Kingdom of Israel split into the Kingdom of Judah and the
Kingdom of Israel (sometimes known as Ephraim), both nations fell
deeply into idolatry. Whereas Judah had occasional periods of
repentance, it appears Ephraim never did. Shortly before
Ephraim's fall, YHVH sent Hosea to show what would soon happen to
the House of Israel. This prophecy, more than any other, helps
reveal the identity of the northern - "Lost Ten Tribes" - of Israel.
It also clearly shows that Ephraim and Judah are not the same
people, but will united again at the end of days. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship
- August 13, 2011
Understanding Israel - Two Witnesses
God established a principle that it takes two witnesses to establish
a matter, whether it be a criminal case or a matter of scripture.
For instance, God called heaven and earth to testify for or against
Israel. But God also called Israel to be a witness whether
YHVH is indeed God. "But that's only one witness", you might
say. True, if it were not for the fact that God split the
Kingdom of Israel into two kingdoms. Now they are both
witnesses, and God says that their witness to the fact that He is
God is dependent of whether He is able to re-unite them at the end
of this age. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship
- August 27, 2011
Understanding Israel - so ... Who Is Israel?
It is a popular belief in Messianic circles that all Israelites are
Jews. Unfortunately neither historical or Biblical records
support this belief. This study provides overwhelming evidence
that the first century Jewish people clearly understood the
existence of the Northern Tribes as a separate people from the
Jewish people. It also explains the Mystery of the Gospel,
how YHVH will use these distinct groups of people to save
all Israel and ultimately all mankind. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship
- September 3, 2011
the Mystery of the Gospel - Part 1 - Understanding Biblical Mysteries
Many believe that God separated Himself from Israel and is now doing a work through the Gentiles. Is that the Mystery being spoken of by Paul in Romans 16, or is there something
else? What if the mystery is that God can take a rebellious people, even a people who are
in many ways walking contrary to His ways, and use them as a witness of God's grace and mercy; and
in doing so completely foil the adversary's plan.
This three-part series will help us to see what a Biblical mystery is and how to understand them. In Part 2 we will see that God called Israel for a purpose, but to fulfill that purpose Israel has to become a united kingdom, which has not been the case since Solomon died and Israel was scattered.
Finally, we will see that the mystery revolves around how Israel will be drawn back to God and will ultimately be joined with Judah so as to fulfill her purpose.
Originally Delivered in the fall of 2011 as part of the Understanding Israel series. This updated and expanded version posted February 2024.
This three-part series will help us to see what a Biblical mystery is and how to understand them. In Part 2 we will see that God called Israel for a purpose, but to fulfill that purpose Israel has to become a united kingdom, which has not been the case since Solomon died and Israel was scattered.
Finally, we will see that the mystery revolves around how Israel will be drawn back to God and will ultimately be joined with Judah so as to fulfill her purpose.
Originally Delivered in the fall of 2011 as part of the Understanding Israel series. This updated and expanded version posted February 2024.
the Mystery of the Gospel - Part 2 - Israel's Purpose
Israel was called for a purpose which she only fulfilled during about 70 of her 3400 year history. After being split and subsequently scattered through the nations, she has been unable to fulfill her calling. This part shows that in 1st century Judea and Samaria, the Northern Ten Tribes had not become part of Judah, and were in fact clearly distinct from Judah.
the Mystery of the Gospel - Part 3 - Israel and Judah Unite - the Mystery Revealed
How can Israel be redeemed and brought back into fellowship with brother Judah? That was the Mystery! What's more, why was the Kingdom of Israel not restored in Yeshua's day? The Mystery is continuing to unravel!
The Hebrew Walk
Born Again - what does it mean? - Tim Kelley
The concept of being 'Born Again' is widely taught in Christian churches. Most believe it is a 'New Testament' concept, but the scriptures show otherwise. When Yeshua spoke to Nicodemus about the need to be 'born again', he look puzzled, but Yeshua claimed that he should already understand it.
Do WE understand it? It's very clear when we use the example gave us in His dialogue with one of Judeas leading teachers.Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 2, 2023
Do WE understand it? It's very clear when we use the example gave us in His dialogue with one of Judeas leading teachers.Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 2, 2023
Before Covenant - Tim Kelley
As a person moves toward a more 'Hebraic' walk with God, he is quite often faced with his past. This might include crimes, divorces, or simply things he wished he had not done. How does that affect your relationship with God, and what should you do to move forward? The answer lies in understanding the 'covenant relationship' you want to have with the Creator. - Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - October 21, 2023
haDerek - a Guide to the Hebrew Way - Tim Kelley
From the very beginning, God intended for His people to walk a
certain 'way'. That way is defined in God's instructions -
the Torah. Our father Abraham walked in the 'way" as did
most of the great men of scripture. It's the same walk
given in the Garden of Eden, and the way God's people will
return to end the end. This 4-part series defines the 'way',
and shows that the Apostles continued in the 'way' even after
the death and resurrection of our Savior - Yeshua the Messiah. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 25, 2015
haDerek - ACTionS of the Apostles - Tim Kelley
It's quite clear - Yeshua was in full support of God's law, but did His words fall on deaf ears when it came to his disciples? Absolutely not! The book of Acts provides overwhelming evidence that the apostles continued in the teachings of their teacher - Rabbi Yeshua. This study gives 10 examples of the discipes continuing to follow the Torah-based teachings of Yeshua after His death and resurrection. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 16, 2015
haDerek - Difficult Scriptures - Tim Kelley
If the book of Acts shows that the apostles continued to teach the Torah, why do so many Christians believe the apostles, primarily Paul, taught against the law? Could it be that they did just as Peter said they would do - "because they are unwise, they twist Paul's words to
their own destruction"? In this study we take three of the most popular "proof-text" scriptures and show how they, when put in
the proper context, fully support the Law of God. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 27, 2015
haDerek - More Difficult Scriptures - Tim Kelley
Does being a "New Covenant" Christian mean that God expects you to discard the Torah? This last installment in the "haDerek" series answers the question of what it means to be "New Covenant". It also shows how the Messiah is truly "the end of the law", but beware - it's not what you think! Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 25, 2015
Righteousness - What is It? - Tim Kelley
The word "Righteous" and its dirivitives are mentioned throughout the Bible. But what is it? Have you ever tried to define it? If you cannot define it, how do you know if you are 'righteous' in God's eyes?
This study investigates the word using the Hebraic culture of the Bible. Part 2 of this study will help us to learn how to restore righteousness, and show from the Writings of the Apostles (New Testament) why they had trouble explaining it to the believing Jews and non-Jews of his day. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 18, 2024
This study investigates the word using the Hebraic culture of the Bible. Part 2 of this study will help us to learn how to restore righteousness, and show from the Writings of the Apostles (New Testament) why they had trouble explaining it to the believing Jews and non-Jews of his day. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 18, 2024
Righteousness - Becoming Blameless in God's Eyes - Tim Kelley
Though the Bible defines 'righteousness' in the Old Testament, is it the same in the New? In this study we find that in order to restore righteousness before God, we have to do the same as in the Old Testament. Because that is true, we find why Paul took issue with Peter as well as the believing Pharisees when they believed that for the returning exiles, righteousness depended on observance of the Jewish 'oral traditions'. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 29, 2024
Sabbath Rest - Tim Kelley
Does God want us to 'rest' on the Sabbath, or does He want us to simply cease from doing our normal work on it so that we can dedicate that time to doing His work? This message explores the meaning of a number of Hebrew words that are translated as 'rest' and helps us to understand the true REST He wants for all of us. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 19, 2021
Festival Primer - Overview of Biblical Festivals - Tim Kelley
Were the Biblical festivals "done away with"? Were they only for the Jews? If so, then God never told Paul! Paul uses the festivals as a "shadodw" of what is yet to happen with the "body of Christ." Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 8, 2022
Modesty for Messianics - Tim Kelley
As God brings us to a better
understanding of the Hebrew walk, which is supposed to be a
reflection of His ways, we begin to understand that Israel is a
community and that we are all brothers. As brothers, we
have the responsibility to help each other perfect their walk in
Messiah Yeshua. We are in fact 'our brother's keeper'.
How we dress can help or hinder our brother's walk. This
study takes a more 'in depth' look at the Biblical
understanding of what it means to be modest, and how we can help
our brother in his Hebraic walk. Originally
written for the, Sept. 2011 issue of
Hebrew Roots
magazine.
www.hebrewroots.net
Perfect Husbands - Tim Kelley
The Feast of Sukkot begins with the Wedding Supper of the Messiah.
It's the time when the Bride of Messiah begins her life together
with the most awesome man - Messiah Yeshua - the Perfect Husband.
The scripture indicates that we men are to be "perfect" as well.
How do we do it, and why is it so important? Delivered at the
"Season of Our Joy" observance of the Feast of Tabernacles -
September 19, 2013
Tzitzit, Tallits, and Head Coverings - Tim Kelley
Is God concerned about the way we dress, and
more specifically, is He concerned about some of
the symbolic items a person wears or wears on
his clothing. Does God care if we wear a
head covering, a tallit, or if we follow the
scriptural injunction to wear tassels? Did
Paul require women to wear head coverings and
forbid men from doing the same. This
teaching delves into some of the Hebrew and
Greek words pertaining to these topics in order
to better understand both YHVH's and Paul's
instructions. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 16, 2012
Living in a Torah-Less Society - Tim Kelley
As a fellowship that strives to learn as much
about God's ways and wishes as we can, are we
able to identify how the disregard to God's laws
- His Torah - played a part in some of the major
news events in the past few weeks? This
interactive discussion of God's Torah
instructions took place at the Ami Yisrael
Fellowship - December 29, 2012
Keeping It Holy - Sabbath Traditions - Tim Kelley
In Isaiah 58, God warned Israel because of their
casual approach to the Sabbath and Holy Days.
Even today, God's people often take a casual
approach to observing His festivals. In an
attempt to bring more sanctity to the Sabbath,
the Jewish people have incorporated various
traditions to their Sabbath observance.
This teaching helps explain some of these
traditions and shows how tradition could help
all God's people. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 25, 2013.
Circumcision - According to Paul. . . - Tim Kelley
Within practically all Christian denominations
there's the belief that because of Yeshua's
life, death, and resurrection, much - if not all
of the Old Testament law had been "done away
with". When asked "who had the authority
to 'do away with it'?", a common response is
"Paul did". This study focuses on what's
probably the most notable of Paul's alleged
deletions from the Law of God. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Jan. 10, 2015; June 29:2019
Mixing Meat and Milk - using context to understand God's word. . . - Tim Kelley
Does God condemn the mixing of meat and milk? What does it mean to "seethe a kid in its mother's milk? Was
this just an ancient pagan practice or is there
something to this passage that we're missing?
Could it be that the translators simply made an
error? This study delves into the meaning
of this passage by using focusing on the context
of the scripture. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 29, 2017.
Can You Really FORGIVE? - Biblical Forgiveness - Tim Kelley
People naturally want to forgive, after all - God built it into us. Why then is it sometimes so hard to forgive? The purpose of this study is to show that God created forgiveness, and therfore has the authority to legislate it. Just as God defines marriage, God defines and controls forgiveness. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 12, 2021.
Can You Really FORGIVE? - the Apostle's Example - Tim Kelley
In the previous installment we saw that forgiveness is defined in the Torah, and that the prophets show us how it is applied. Unfortunately, many Christians bypass the OT and go directly to the words of Jesus. But Jesus' (Yeshua's) words are sometimes hard to understand. So we're going to bypass the gospels for now and see what the apostles taught about forgiveness — after all, they simply taught what their Teacher taught them! Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 12, 2021.
Can You Really FORGIVE? - the Words of the Messiah - Tim Kelley
It is our natural desire to want to forgive a person so that the relationship can be restored. But it is so hard to do - especially if the offender has not repented. Nevertheless, we have been conditioned to forgive anyway. Why? Because that is what Yeshua (Jesus) taught — but is it really? Let's dig deeply into His words and find out. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 26, 2021.
Can You Really FORGIVE? - Pathway to Forgiveness - Tim Kelley
If true Biblical forgiveness is only possible when there is repentance, what can you do when the offender fails to repent? If both persons submit to the authority of the whole Bible, the answer is easy - you go to your brother. If not, ... Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 10, 2021.
Prayer
Pray As David Did - Part 1 - Our Mindset Toward Prayer - Tim Kelley
All of us believe we should pray, and we've all heard that we should avoid repetitious
prayer. Yet once we look at the scriptures, we see what appears to be a pattern
for prayers. Did God give us a pattern by which we can make our prayers more
effective. Is the "Lord's Prayer" a model from which we should build our prayers.
What about our posture? Should we sit, stand, fall flat on our face? Does it
matter if we look to the sky, look to the ground, look to the east? This 3-part
series examines what the scriptures have to say in regards to these questions and many
more.
Part 1 deals with our mindset toward prayer. Do we really understand what prayer is? Do we prepare ourselves to pray the way the scriptures indicate we should? Do we understand that we're requesting the audience of the Judge of the World?
Part 1 delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 28, 2016.
Part 1 deals with our mindset toward prayer. Do we really understand what prayer is? Do we prepare ourselves to pray the way the scriptures indicate we should? Do we understand that we're requesting the audience of the Judge of the World?
Part 1 delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 28, 2016.
Pray As David Did - Part 2 - Posture for Prayer - Tim Kelley
What is the correct posture for prayer? Are we to sit? Stand? Kneel?
Prostrate ourselves? Are we to look up? Look down? Based on what
we see in the scripture, each of those positions were used in the scriptures at various
times and for specific reasons. Yet, does our posture while praying mean more to
God than the content of our prayers? Part 2 delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 9, 2016.
Pray As David Did - Part 3 - Prayer Customs - Tim Kelley
Most of us were raised in God-fearing homes, and as such, we probably learned a few
prayer habits like kneeling beside our bed with our hands together and our face in the
mattress. Or maybe we were raised to make the "Sign of the Cross" each time we
pray? Did you know that many of our traditional prayer customs are no where found
in scripture? Maybe we should examine some "non-traditional" prayer customs . . .
ones that are found in scripture, and
ones that can be shown to get results. After all, prayer is about communication,
and communication is not always verbal.
Part 3 delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 23, 2016.
Part 3 delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 23, 2016.
Nehemiah's Prayer - Pattern for Effective Prayer - Tim Kelley
Prayer, in it's simplest terms, is when you petition God for your wants or needs. Nehemiah's prayer was his request that God would give him favor in the eyes of King Artexerxes when he went to ask for help for his Jewish brothers in Judea. Though it is a prayer, it was spoken as if he were kneeling before a judge in court of law, making his case.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 13, 2024.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 13, 2024.
The most common word for thanks or thanksgiving
in the Old Testament in the Hebrew word Yadah.
The word literally means "to stretch out the hand" and is used
to convey the thought of thanks, praise, and confession.
How did YHVH intend for His people to thank and praise Him.
This teaching gives a deeper insight into the ancient Hebraic
understanding of these important topics, and how we can apply
them in our lives. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 21, 2012
Names Mean Things - Using Yah's Various Names in Our Prayers - Tim Kelley
The scriptures show us that the Creator of the Universe has a number of different names and titles, all of which provide insight into what He is, what He does for us, and the hope we can have by understanding the titles by which He identifies Himself. When we use the appropriate name in our prayers, maybe He will be touched by our dilegence and be more inclined to grant us our petition.
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 21, 2023.
In My Name - Messiah's Role in Our Prayers. . . - Tim Kelley
One of the most common closings for prayer in the
Christian world is ". . . in Jesus' name we pray . .
.", but many people know little about what that
actually means. Is praying or doing
anything in another's name a New Testament
creation or is it derived from the beginnings of
Israel's history? What does it mean to
pray in His name? Are we even allowed to
"pray in His name"? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Dec. 20, 2014.
Insights Into the Priestly Blessing - Tim Kelley
In the book of Numbers, YHVH instructs Aaron and his sons to
pronounce a specific blessing - His blessing - over the children
of Israel. This blessing is often repeated by Hebraic and
Messianic groups. What is the blessing about? Who is it
for? Should it be repeated today? This study offers
answers to some of those questions. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 30, 2011
Miraculous Healing - Does God Still Heal as in Biblical Times? - Tim Kelley
"Why doesn't God heal today as He did in Biblical times?" is a question that is often asked when a believer is on his death bed and the doctors have done all that they can do. Is there a reason why miraculous healing is not as common today as it was then? Could it be that we have a distorted view of what it was back then?
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 25, 2020
Miraculous Healing - How to have Effective Prayers - Tim Kelley
"By using social media, a prayer request can be sent around the world in a matter of minutes, and thousands of prayers can be sent to God within hours. But is God more concerned about the quantity of prayers or the Quality of those prayers. Maybe we should do as Yeshua's disciples did and ask - 'Lord, teach us how to pray' "
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 23, 2020
Discipleship
In the Dust of the Rabbi - Tim Kelley
Matthew 28 shows that we have all been called to be disciples of the Messiah. But what does it mean 'to be a disciple' of Jesua? Is it just believing in Him, or does it imply more. In the first century culture meant a lot more than many of us realize, and much more than most of us are willing to do. Because 12 men were willing to do it, we are now blessed with the words of our Messiah.
Delivered at the Season of Our Joy festival site -
October 2017.
the Believer's Calling - fulfilling your purpose - Tim Kelley
To be "called" by God is a tremendous blessing and opportunity. In the Hebraic context of the scripture, a calling carries with it a responsibility - a responsibility to live up to and fulfill your calling. Only by fulilling our calling can we "make our calling and election sure." Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 12, 2022
Let's Rebuild the House - a Message from the Prophet Chaggai - Tim Kelley
After being released from their Babylonian captivity, many Jewish people returned to the land of Israel with a renewed zeal for the God of Israel
and charged with the task of rebuilding the Temple, but before the project really got underway, their zeal
was replaced by the cares of the world. On the 7th day - the Last Great Day of the Feast of
Tabernacles, the prophet admonished them to concentrate on the task they'd been given and let God take care
of their needs. Chaggai's prophecy, and its promise of salvation and restoration, was not fulfilled
in their day, but remains for us and our generation. Delivered at the
"the Rehearsal" (Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016) and at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship (Oct. 29, 2016) .
Be Not Like the Gentiles - Lessons in Hebraic Leadership P1 - Tim Kelley
James and John were two of Yeshua's leading
disciples. They were full of zeal for the
Messiah and longed for the restoration of His
kingdom. But were they fit to be leaders in
that kingdom? Were they qualified to sit
on His right and left hand? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 9, 2013.
the Parable of the Minas - Tim Kelley
Yeshua's last trip to Jerusalem was filled with
symbolism, instruction, and encouragemant for
His 12 disciples - men who were specifically
chosen to deliver His message to the nations.
This parable was given to them just before they
departed on the last leg of their journey.
It was a message of warning and encouragement -
not only for them, but for all those who claim
to be disciples of The Messiah.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship -
December 10, 2016.
Drashing God - Hints for Effective Bible Study - Tim Kelley
God tells us to 'seek' Him, but how do we do that? For many it is through daily readng of the scriptures. But is that the best use of our time with God? Probably not. If we really want to 'get to know' our creator, there are more effective ways of doing so. This message shows steps we can take to make our time in Bible Study more effective. By incorporating them into our study, we can begin to better understand the mind of God! Note: this message was originally given in two parts.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship -
September 27, 2022.
Teachings of a General Nature
The New Moon and Israelite Unity - Tim Kelley
The Hebraic / Messianic movement is dividing over many things, many
of which are not extremely relevant to the Hebraic walk. Yes
everyone wants to be scripturally correct in their walk - and that's
good! But some things just cannot be determined clearly from
the scriptures, and the timing of the New Moon is one of them.
Yes - there have been many papers and books written in an attempt to
explain this view or that, but it gets to be so difficult trying to
determine which is correct. God says that His ways are easy to
follow - we don't have to go to the heights of the heavens or the
depths of the oceans to figure them out. So why all the
confusion over the New Moon?
The Threshold Covenant - Rico Cortes
TheThreshold Covenant is an ancient
ritual that reveals the Plan of Yah in our redemption. Covenants are
important and once we understand ancient covenants then we will
appreciate the work of Yeshua and our redemption. The Passover is
about ancient rituals of the Covenant of the Door. This teaching
will help you understand why Yeshua said "I am the Door" and why we
need the Messiah to be part of the kingdom. Delivered at
an Ami Yisrael Fellowship Seminar - March 6, 2011
Let Us Go Up to Zion - Eddie Chumney
This teaching explains how the declaration of the God of Israel to
take His people out of Egypt and come into the promised land
(Deuteronomy 6:22-23) is the foundation for understanding the entire
Bible including the new covenant, the preparation of the Bride, the
uniting of the twelve tribes of Israel and the Messianic Era.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 19, 2011
Who Are The First Fruits? - Jim Cowan
The Bible provides the identity of those YHVH calls
"firstfruits". Who are they and what can be learned by
understanding the identity of and the concept of "First
Fruits"? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 21, 2011
Grace From a Hebraic Perspective - Pt. 1 - Tim Kelley
Most Christians define Grace as "Undeserved
Pardon" or "Divine Influence on the Heart". Both of these
definitions are somewhat abstract, but the Hebrew language
defines Grace in a very concrete way. Armed with a truly Biblical definition,
grace is more easily understood, and can be seen from a much
different perspective, especially in how YHVH deals with his
people in the first century. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 4, 2011
Grace From a Hebraic Perspective - Pt. 2 - Tim Kelley
See Above Synopsis. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 11, 2011
Joy and History of the Dance - Angie Kelley
Dance was a part of the praise before YHVH since at least the
exodus from Egypt and continued down through the first century.
But what happened to the dance as part of the praise and worship
before the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? This teaching
is a brief history lesson showing how dance, the free
expression of worship before God, was systematically
controlled more and more by the clergy, thus creating an
un-natural divide within the congregation. The PDF copy is
the notes of the presentation. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - October 29, 2011. This message
was first delivered at the Season of Our Joy Sukkot Festival in
2011. The recording and Power Point presentation are from that
event.
What is the Church? - Tim Kelley
Did you know the word "church" cannot be derived from either the
Greek or Hebrew texts of the Bible? Where did the word
"church" come from. Is it Biblical? More
importantly, would there be a difference in our understanding of
scripture if, instead of using the word "church", the English
translators chose to use the word that is a correct translation
of the Greek text. I believe there would be. This
two-part teaching delves into the correct translation of the
word "ecclesia" and shows how our understanding of the Old
Testament would probably change with this understanding. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 12, 2011
Build My Church? - Tim Kelley
Was it Yeshua's role to 'build' a new religion called
Christianity or was it to restore what YHVH had begun in
Abraham? Over half the prophecies in the Bible pertain to
the restoration of Israel, yet Christian scholars and Bible
translators seem to have missed this very important point.
This study shows that Yeshua's teaching to His disciples at
Cesarea Philipi was that He would re-build Yah's
assembly and that once rebuilt, they would never turn to idols
again. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 3, 2011
What Does YHVH Call His Church? - Tim Kelley
I was once told that God's church would bear a certain name, and
if they didn't have that name, they couldn't be God's church.
Is that a true, Biblically-based statement? Is there any
place in the Bible that says that a person, or a people, must be
called a specific thing in order to be recognized by YHVH.
Is God that limited that He will not recognize people or peoples
with other names? Surely not! This study looks at
the various names and terms YHVH uses to identify His people and
asks the question," What's more important - what you call
yourself, or how you behave"? Written June 20,
2012
Torah Economics Part 1 - Tim Kelley
Israel's economic system was built on the principle that the
fewer laws and taxes you had the better off the nation was as a
whole. The economic model was agrarian with the idea that
YHVH was the landowner and the people were sharecroppers who
partnered with YHVH for the betterment of the entire nation. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 17, 2011
Torah Economics Part 2 - Tim Kelley
The majority of laws in the Torah that pertain to economic
issues show how YHVH expects the Israelites to deal with the
poor. It is important to YHVH that the poor are able to
maintain their dignity, thus He provides various means by which
they can work and take care of their families. This study shows
how YHVH used Indentured Servitude and Loans as a way to provide
for the poor. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 7, 2012
Torah Economics Part 3 - Tim Kelley
The economic system YHVH intended for Torah required each person
to look out for the needs of the poor (see previous articles
in this series), but what about the needs of the priests -
the ones who did the work of God? This study shows that
YHVH had made provisions for the service of the Tabernacle, but
when Israel sinned by building a Golden Calf, things changed -
the priesthood and the means of providing for the priests -
Tithing. Tithing became a part of Israel's culture because
of sin and was not what YHVH had intended. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 28, 2012
Loving Your Neighbor - Tim Kelley
What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? In
a recent speech given by the President of the United State, he
used the words of Messiah Yeshua to support his case for social
reform. But did he take Yeshua's words out of context?
Did he even have the slightest idea what it actually means to
love your neighbor as yourself?
This study delves into the
Hebraic background of those words with the attempt to show
that loving your neighbor - at least from a Biblical point of
view - is different from what most people think. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 10, 2012
Who Is Your Neighbor - Tim Kelley
If we are to 'love your neighbor as yourself', then we
must decide who our neighbor
is. Many believe that Yeshua settled that debate with the
parable of the Good Samaritan, but is that really the
case. Did Yeshua expand the definition of neighbor beyond
what His Father had established in the Old Testament? This
study is a sequel to the previous study 'Loving Your
Neighbor', and takes a deeper look at the Parable of the
Good Samaritan and offers another view of Yeshua's purpose is
delivering this message. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 3, 2012
Finger of God - Tim Kelley
At various times in the Scripture, God gave His people signs to
help them with their faith, to give direction, or to confirm
their position as a leader. Is it wrong to ask God to give
you a sign? The scripture clearly shows that it is not.
This teaching is wrapped into the story of the signs YHVH gave
to the author while he was searching for his deceased brother in
the Colorado desert. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 19, 2012
Code of Hammurabi - Tim Kelley
Did you ever wonder why God gave some of the
laws that He did? Why did God find it
necessary to define how inheritances must be
divide, or how to deal with multiple wives?
Was God in favor of multiple wives, or was He
just legislating bad behavior? Answers to
these and many other questions may be found when
God's law is compared to that of Hammurabi, a
middle-eastern King and contemporary of Abraham. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - October 13,2012
Lines in the Sand- Tim Kelley
God's people are good at causing division, and
it comes in various ways. One of those
ways is when we determine if a person is willing
to be called a brother, or better yet "a part of
God's people" based on what he believes, or by
where he is in his walk with God. We tend
to draw "lines in the sand" and unconsciously
decide that if a person is on the other side of
that line in regards to his beliefs, he is not
worthy of fellowship. But did God draw
these lines, or did we. Do we have
the right to draw lines in the sand that YHVH
did not draw? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 10, 2012
Hanukkah - For Jews Only? - Tim Kelley
Hanukkah is a traditional Jewish festival that
commemorates God's hand in delivering the Jewish
people from Syrian/Greek oppression. It's
a clear example of a king who wanted to expel
God's Hebrew culture and replace it with a more
"progressive" Greek culture. Though not a
"Biblical" story, it never-the-less gives us
insight into what the deceiver is doing today. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 28,2024.
I Will Bless Those Who Bless You - Examples of Faith in the Hanukkah Story - Tim Kelley
For the past 15 or so years, it's become quite
popular for those who profess to love God to
turn their hearts to the Holy Land and the
Jewish people. This "love for Israel"
thing has moved many people to openly profess
their support for that tiny Jewish nation by
taking part in marches, raising money, inviting
Jewish speakers into their churches, and various
other means. But is this really "loving
Israel"? The apochyphal Book of Maccabees
provides insight into individuals and families
who loved Israel and what it stands for so much,
they gave their lives for it, and it's all cast
within the story of Hanukkah. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 8, 2012
King Arthur - Another Proof of Your Hebrew Roots - Roger Norman
The Legend of King Arthur is a large part of
English folklore. Is this legend simply
the creation of some person's imagination, or
is it rooted in fact? A good case can be
made that it is indeed rooted in fact, and that
it can help us to understand that our roots
extend back to the Hebrew people. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 15, 2012
Joining Together - Tim Kelley
In the wake of recent tragedies in our nation,
there has been a return to spirituality by a
number of the American people. It seems
that catastrophe tends to wake people up to
their God. But is this the way God wants
to get our attention? Would it not be
better it those who profess a belief in God to
get their "act together" before catastrophe
strikes? Malachi 4:6 seems to indicate
that this is indeed God's will, but will the
people of God do so? And if they do, will
they do what it takes to help others to do so as
well? Delivered at the
Assembly of Yahvah (Emory, TX) - December 22, 2012
Cultural Decline - What Were Once Vices are Now Habits - Tim Kelley
Our "American" culture was founded on and based
on the rule of law as defined by our founder's
understanding of the Bible, but in the 1960's
our nation began to separate itself from God,
and so has our culture. Does the Bible
give us a clue as to what should be the
"cultural norm"? This two-part study will
examine this topic. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 28, 2013.
Even the Demons Believe . . . - Tim Kelley
According to Yeshua, the greatest example of
belief and faith in His day was not that of a
Jew; nor even an Israelite, but instead - that
of a Roman soldier. What did that soldier
know that we don't know about belief. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 16, 2014.
the Men of the Great Assembly - Preparing the Way for the Messiah. . . - Tim Kelley
Ezra the priest was commissioned by God to
restore Torah observance and the Hebrew walk to
the Jewish people who had returned to the land.
According to Jewish sources, he created a body
of men who helped bring that about. The
edicts and rulings made that body helped form
the culture that enabled Messiah Yeshua, along
with His disciples, to do the work they were
commissioned to do nearly 400 years later. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Jan. 24, 2015.
the Synagogue - a Place of Study and Justice - Tim Kelley
When Moses gave his final instructions to Israel before they
entered the Promised Land, he instructed them to establish
judges. When you study the five books of Moses - the Torah
- you will see that much of God's instructions to Israel deal
with resolving problems between people. Though it would be
best if people worked their own problems out, there are times
when a case needs to be decided by judges. What are the
qualifications of a judge, and should God's people return to a
system of judges in order to bring peace to all? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 7, 2011
the Synagogue - Platform for Spreading the Gospel - Tim Kelley
Though the synagoge's main purpose was to provide a place for the study of the scriptures, it also served as a place for itenerant rabbis to spread what they had learned from the sages. Yeshua. Paul and the other apostles used it repeatedly to spread the message of the Kingdom of God and her king - Messiah Yeshua. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Feb. 14, 2015.
Judges in the Congregation - an Overview. . . - Tim Kelley
Most Christians are taught that it's wrong to
judge one another, but it that what the Bible
actually teaches? Scripture shows that the
establishment of judges should be one or our
first priorities. This 4-part study will
reveal what the scripture has to say about
judges and judging. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 31, 2014.
Judges in the Congregation - Preparing to Be a Judge. . . - Tim Kelley
To properly judge God's people takes
preparation. There are a number of things
a person should do to prepare himself for this
responsibility. Unlike what we've been
taught, judging is not the problem, but rather
it's unqualified judges who cause the problems
in the community. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 12, 2014.
Judges in the Congregation - How to Judge. . . - Tim Kelley
If we area chosen to be a judge within a Hebraic
congregation, we must follow the guidelines for
judging that are spelled out in scripture.
To do anything less could bring in-justice
instead of justice. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 8, 2014.
Judges in the Congregation - Choosing Judges. . . - Tim Kelley
The Biblical qualifications for judges, as well
as the pattern for choosing judges, are clearly
established in the Torah. If we follow
God's pattern, the judges of Israel will more
likely be successful, and Israel will be better
equipped to perform the job YHVH has called her
to do. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 27, 2014.
Hedges - Protection for the Exiles of Israel - Tim Kelley
God put a hedge around Job and his family to protect them, but when the hedge came down, destruction and death followed. Scripture indicates that God put a hedge around the Hebrew exiles as well - a hedge that provided safety and prosperity these past 250 years. But as in the case of Job, the hedge is destined to be removed. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Nov. 26, 2016.
Was God in the Second Temple? - Houston Hagler
Was God in the second Temple? In their attempt to discredit that Temple, many believe and teach that He was not. The scripture seems to indicate otherwise. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 23, 2021.
Vision - Moving Toward a Common Goal - Tim Kelley
"Where there is no vision, the people perish."
Vision is the motivation to work toward a common
goal; to set aside things that might divide in
order to achieve the purpose for which we were
called. This study gives insight into how
we can better serve our Master both individually
and collectively. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November. 14, 2015.
John the Baptist - Preparing the Way - Part 1 - "His Purpose and Message" - Tim Kelley
John the Baptist had a unique calling. He
was to prepare the way for the coming of
Israel's messiah. How did John fulfill his
role? This 3-part series takes a look at
John's life, the prophecies concerning him, the
prophet that come before him, the things said
about him, and the mysteries surrounding him.
In Part One, we examine his life and his
message. This 3-part series delivered in two parts at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 13 & 27, 2016.
How did John the Baptist "come in the spirit of
Elijah"? Were there similarities between
their ministries and if so, how did Elijah and
John "prepare for the coming of the Messiah? In
Part Two we'll also discover the motivation
behind John's question to Yeshua "are You the
chosen one, or do we look for another?" This 3-part series delivered in two parts at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 13 & 27, 2016.
John the Baptist - Preparing the Way - Part 3 - "The Breaker and Our Calling" - Tim Kelley
The gospels give us a lot of information about
John's calling and the later part of his
ministry, but they also incite a number of
questions about John, one of which is Yeshua's
statement that "since John, the kingdom suffers
violence . . . ". What did John do that
caused his name to be included in that
statement? We'll discover the meaning to
that statement in this final installment of our
study of John the Baptist. This 3-part series delivered in two parts at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 13 & 27, 2016.
Be Strong and of Good Courage - Avoiding Entropy in the Family - Tim Kelley
Most everything has a natural tendency to decay. This tendency in called "entropy" and
will happen within any "system" that is closed to outside input. It's much like an
automobile left outside in the weather. Without outside input (washing, waxing, etc.)
it will eventually turn to rust. Families are much the same. They are systems
that - without outside input - can self destruct. How can families avoid this
inevitable self destruction process? By bringing into the family the correct input.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 13, 2016.
Hope - Alligning Our Will With God's - Tim Kelley
'Hope'is a widely used word in both the Tnakh (Old Testament) and in the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament. But what is Hope? Does it carry the same meaning and desires as our current English word? What did the leaders and prophets in ancient Israel hope for? What did the apostles hope for?Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 12, 2022.
Frequencies in the Bible - Steve and Shirley Rees
This 3-part recorded message was given by Steve and Shirley Rees who have been working
with the Hebrew text of the Psalms discovering ways to unlock musical patterns
from them and arrange(ing) into compositions on the harp . . . . Some of the
latest discoveries have linked the various musical frequencies found in the
scriptures with the various pieces of Moses's Tabernacle furniture and how each
station - piece of furniture and frequency - was part of the facilitating our
approach into the presence of YHVH in worship.
Part 1 and 2 are by Steve. Part 3 is a short presentation given by Shirley in regards to the Tabernacle furnishings. The first two minutes of this message were not recoarded do to a technicle mishap. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 4, 2017.
Part 1 and 2 are by Steve. Part 3 is a short presentation given by Shirley in regards to the Tabernacle furnishings. The first two minutes of this message were not recoarded do to a technicle mishap. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 4, 2017.
Salvation Cycles Series - Tim Kelley
Introduction - Bondage and Sin
Many of the Biblical Heroes had times in their lives where they
failed to live up the standards YHVH set up in the scriptures.
David, for instance, succumbed to lust, committed murder, and
numbered Israel - all direct violations of Torah. Yet David
was called "a man after God's own heart"! How is it that these
men were able to pull themselves back out of the pit and becomes
examples that we should follow today. This series explores the
Exodus story from Egypt through entry into the Promised Land and
highlights the steps YHVH has defined for us as we journey from
slavery to freedom.
The concept of redemption is quite prevalent throughout the
scriptures. The terms “redeem” and “redeemed”
are used nearly 130 times in the Bible, and in most cases indicate a state of being released or loosed from some
type of bondage, be it bondage from slavery in Egypt to the (supposed) bondage to the (Old Testament) law.
In fact, my Bible Works dictionary, in giving the definition of one of the Greek words for “redeemed”, states that
metaphorically, to be redeemed is “Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of
his vicarious death”4. It would seem, then, that God “redeemed” Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt,
took them to Mount Sinai, where He gave them the Law, then 1500 years later sent Jesus to die an excruciating
death in order to redeem them from that same law! Humh. . .
are used nearly 130 times in the Bible, and in most cases indicate a state of being released or loosed from some
type of bondage, be it bondage from slavery in Egypt to the (supposed) bondage to the (Old Testament) law.
In fact, my Bible Works dictionary, in giving the definition of one of the Greek words for “redeemed”, states that
metaphorically, to be redeemed is “Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of
his vicarious death”4. It would seem, then, that God “redeemed” Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt,
took them to Mount Sinai, where He gave them the Law, then 1500 years later sent Jesus to die an excruciating
death in order to redeem them from that same law! Humh. . .
Covenants - Part 1
The concept of being under covenant is somewhat misunderstood today,
especially in the churches. Most Christians consider
themselves to be "New Covenant" Christians and completely disregard
the covenants that came before! In this three-part teaching,
we will explore the Hebraic concept of covenant and
discover our part - and our role - in the covenants of God.
Part 1 discusses the Biblical basis of covenant and presents a historical perspective of the covenants God made with mankind, Abraham, and Ancient Israel.
Part 1 discusses the Biblical basis of covenant and presents a historical perspective of the covenants God made with mankind, Abraham, and Ancient Israel.
Covenants - Part 2
Part 2 of this teaching investigates three of the major covenants
God made with mankind, the covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel
at Mount Sinai. All three covenants follow a pattern that
helps to show a believer's attachment to all three.
Covenants - Part 3
Part 3 poses the question - "Is the New Covenant Really New?"
It's quite common in Hebraic circles to consider the Jeremiah 31
covenant as simply a renewal of the previous Sinitic covenant, but
is that really the case? Are there aspects of the "New
Covenant" that distinguish it from the previous covenant at Sinai?
Salvation
Most Christians believe they are "saved". Sometime in their
life, they accepted Jesus as their Savior, got baptized . . . and
that sealed the deal - they're saved! On the other hand, there
are Christians who believe a person is not saved till their "change"
comes and they are forever with Jesus. But what does the Bible
teach? We investigate the Hebraic background of salvation to
see what the New Testament writers would have been thinking when
they used the words save and salvation.
Baptism
Israel was "saved" when YHVH destroyed their enemy and they accepted
Him, and His representative - Moses. They entered the Red Sea
on the Egyptian side as slaves, but emerged on the other side as
free men and women. During their time below the great
expanses of water on each side, and possibly covered in deep fog,
they had time to reflect on the changes that had happened, and were
about to happen in their lives. These former Egyptian slaves
were about to become new men, in essence - born again.
the Way
After going thru the sea, Israel was born again, they
became a new creation and thus had to be brought up
as a babe and taught the things of God. God could have sent
Israel directly to the promised land, but by doing so, they would
have been destined to return to Egypt, so God took them on a
journey, led them down the way in order to teach them about Him.
By the time they reached Mount Sinai, they had learned more about
how to act and behave as free people. It was not until then
that they were able to receive His law.
Repentance
The history of the children of Israel can be summarized as a pattern
of cycles, they forget YHVH’s commandments, YHVH brings trials on
them which cause them to cry out to Him, and YHWH sends a
savior who returns them to YHVH. This happened over and over.
Although Israel did cry out to God, did they ever change their heart
toward God and what He wanted to give them, or did they
continue to long to return to Egypt. In this final installment
in the Salvation Cycles series we investigate whether
Israel ever learned to repent and turn wholly to God.
Death and Beyond
Death and Beyond - Introduction by Tim Kelley
In 1999, a friend and I organized what soon became a very popular
Sukkot festival site called "Season of Our Joy". After that first
year - and as a result of the heated discussions we witnessed at that
year's festival, we decided to make 4 topics "off limits" for those who
wished to speak at the festival. Those topics were: 1) the
calendar, 2) the nature of God and Messiah, 3) kosher foods, and 4) the
sacred name. Though we were not afraid of those topics, we felt
that their divisive nature took from the "joy" of the festival, and thus
were better handled in local fellowships.
Looking back over the years, I see that there is another topic that is just as divisive as the aforementioned four. That topic is "the state of the dead". Though the debate about the previous four is often ignited as a result of a person's desire for a better understanding, those who "divide" over the "state of the dead" seldom want to debate the scriptures, but simply cling to what they've been taught since childhood. Yet there are those who are diligently looking for answers to this mystery, and it's for them that I am posting this series on my web site.
This series begins with a well thought out and thought provoking booklet written by Dean Wheelock entitled "Death and Resurrection". Dean and Susan Wheelock are founders of "Hebrew Roots Magazine". I have broken the booklet into eight parts based on the headings and sub-headings found in it. For more information about "Hebrew Roots" magazine, go to Dean's web site - www.hebrewroots.net, or contact Dean and Susan Wheelock at dew@hebrewroots.net.
Other articles in this series explore the same general theme, but from my perspective after looking deeply in the meaning of some of the Hebrew words that apply to the topic. For the most part, they are the text of messages that were delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship.
Looking back over the years, I see that there is another topic that is just as divisive as the aforementioned four. That topic is "the state of the dead". Though the debate about the previous four is often ignited as a result of a person's desire for a better understanding, those who "divide" over the "state of the dead" seldom want to debate the scriptures, but simply cling to what they've been taught since childhood. Yet there are those who are diligently looking for answers to this mystery, and it's for them that I am posting this series on my web site.
This series begins with a well thought out and thought provoking booklet written by Dean Wheelock entitled "Death and Resurrection". Dean and Susan Wheelock are founders of "Hebrew Roots Magazine". I have broken the booklet into eight parts based on the headings and sub-headings found in it. For more information about "Hebrew Roots" magazine, go to Dean's web site - www.hebrewroots.net, or contact Dean and Susan Wheelock at dew@hebrewroots.net.
Other articles in this series explore the same general theme, but from my perspective after looking deeply in the meaning of some of the Hebrew words that apply to the topic. For the most part, they are the text of messages that were delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship.
Death & Resurrection - Book Introduction by Dean Wheelock
An ancient adage states there are only two things one can be sure of in this life; death
and taxes. When a person is young, neither of these seem important, but as one grows older,
death in particular begins to loom ever larger. Often times young people behave as though
they are immortal, since death seems very remote to them. However, as people mature, they
begin to understand mortality more fully, and their perception of death changes from a remote
possibility into a harsh reality that must be faced.
Death & Resurrection - The Sting of Death - Part 1
As Believers in Y'shua HaMashiach (Yeh-shoo'-ah Hah Mah-shee'ackh = Jesus the Messiah)
we accept the Holy Scriptures, both Hebrew and Greek (Old and New Testaments) as the revealed
word of God. Therefore, we look to the Scriptures for the basis of our beliefs, rather than
to the testimony of others, no matter how credible that testimony may seem to be . . .
Death & Resurrection - The Sting of Death - Part 2
It is not possible for us to understand the state of the dead from a Scriptural standpoint
without coming to understand the meaning of the Hebrew word sheol (she-ohl', Strong's #7585).
Sheol corresponds to the Greek word hades (hay'-dees, Strong's #86) and is often translated
into the English word "hell." However, sheol has two other English translations as well . . .
Death & Resurrection - The Sting of Death - Part 3
Armed with the understandings about the nature and cause of death, and about the two deaths,
let us now go back and see if we can properly understand the definition of the word soul,
as it is used in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. Actually, there are three different
elements that make up a human being; the body, the soul and the spirit . . .
Death & Resurrection - The Hope of the Resurrection - Part 1
In the preceding chapter we explored the Scriptures pertaining to three common theories
concerning death: The Cessation of Life, The Immortality of the Soul and Reincarnation.
In that article, we learned that at death the body is consigned to a place called sheol,
which is synonymous to the grave, and that the 'soul' is not immortal, but is merely the
physical life force which is contained within the living blood . . .
Death & Resurrection - The Hope of the Resurrection - Part 2
Much of the confusion about resurrection clears up when it is understood that the Scriptures
teach two resurrections, not just one . . .
Death & Resurrection - The Hope of the Resurrection - Part 3
Not only will all the people who have ever lived be judged, the Adversary, HaSatan will also be
required to go through two judgments. The first judgment occurs at the beginning of the Millennium:
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven,having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain
in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound
him for a thousand years . . .
Death & Resurrection - Who Has Ascended?
Today, it is commonly believed that when a person dies they go to heaven (unless they
are very wicked, then they go to hell). This concept is taught, not only in Christendom
but throughout the secular world as well. However, Y'shua said: "'No one has ascended to
heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.'" (John 3:13)
Are the Dead REALLY DEAD?- by Tim Kelley
This is a question that has been asked from the very beginning. Ever since the deceiver answered Eve with the big LIE saying that "you shall not surely die", many have fallen for the deception. Many believe that man has an 'immortal soul' and that grandma is "looking down on us from heaven". But what does the Bible say about this topic? Is there life after death? What is the 'state of the dead'? Is there a resurrection to life? Let's see what the Bible has to say. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 15, 2020
Are the Dead REALLY DEAD? Countering the Proof Texts - by Tim Kelley
There are a number of proof texts that are used to validate the concept of an 'immortal soul'. They include Elijah's Chariot, Saul and the Witch of Endor, the Transfiguration, Lazarus and the Rich Man, and many others. This study will examine a number of these texts to see if they really do substantiate that position. Note that this page will be updated a number of times and more of these texts are studied. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - September 5, 2020
Where is Elijah Today? - by Tim Kelley
The story of Elijah and the Chariot of Fire is oftentimes used to prove that a 'righteous' person will go to Heaven after death. But does the story really show that? A deeper look into the story actually indicates the contrary. Though he went up into 'heaven' via a whirlwind, the scriptures show that he continued to serve God here on earth.Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 5, 2023
Galatian's Series - Tim Kelley
The Jerusalem Conference - Acts 15 and the Restoration of All Israel
Many people's New Testament theology hinges on a
good understanding of Paul's epistle to the
Galatians as well as the Acts 15 Conference.
What's more, many scholars say that even Galatians
can only be understood in light of Acts 15. Unfortunately, many who study this pivotal
meeting generally do so without the benefit of a
basic understanding of first century Judaism.
Attempting to make sense of Acts 15 outside of
the Jewish culture is akin to trying to
understand the intent of The Constitution
without considering King George, the
Revolutionary War, and the desire for self
governance by the 13 colonies. This study
puts Acts 15 back into the culture in which it
took place, and presents a different conclusion
than what's found by most Christian scholars.
Note that the audio and slide presentations
are abridged versions of the written text. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 19, 2013
Galatians - Laying the Foundations
Paul's letter to the Galatians simply cannot be
understood outside the context of first century
Judaism. Who were the Galatians?
Where were they meeting? Who was causing
the stir? What's the urgency? These
and many other foundational questions must be
answered before a person can get a handle on
what Paul was dealing with, and how he hoped to
resolve the Galatians controversy.
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 23, 2013
Galatians 1:1-5 - Commentary
What is an "apostle"? Who were the
Galatians? Grace and Peace - Paul's
underlying theme. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 13, 2013
Galatians 1:6-10 - Commentary
What is the Gospel? Is is a message about
the Messiah; a message of the Kingdom; or both?
If we don't understand what the gospel was in
the mind of those who read Paul's letter, how
will we ever know what a perverted gospel looks
like? Also . . . what was the motivation
behind the perverted gospel? Was Paul
guilty of it? What about the other
apostles? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 4, 2013
Galatians 1:11-24 - Commentary
Paul was clearly frustrated that the Galatians
had adopted this new gospel, though as we saw
last time, was not a new gospel, but the same
gospel with just a different twist. So
Paul shows that the source of his version of the
gospel is from Messiah himself, instead of from
the traditional teachers of the gospel. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 1, 2013
Galatians 2:1-10 - Commentary
Paul has shown that his message has not been
influenced by the “Judaism” of his day. Even
after notable men came from Jerusalem, possibly
to persuade him in his gospel message, he didn’t
change. On the other hand, he did submit his
view of the gospel to the leading apostles in
Jerusalem, and they agreed that he was correct
in his beliefs. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 29, 2013
Galatians 2:11-21 - Commentary
Paul clearly shows that the gospel message he’s
been given is something he truly believes. He
was given it by inspiration, he checked it out,
he took it to Jerusalem to make sure he
understood it correctly, and he was willing to
defend it at all costs, even if it meant being
ostracized by his colleagues and the Jewish
community. Now he’s ready to confront the
Galatians for turning away from it. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Aug 3, 2013
Galatians 3:1-14 - Commentary
Is the Messiah's blood not sufficient for
redemption? If Messiah's blood is not
enough, what more can a person do to become a
part of the people of God? Is taking part
in a man-made Jewish tradition required in order
to become a part of God's people? If
Abraham is justified (made righteous) by faith,
can't we be also? All these points were
brought out as Paul continued to show the
Galatians their error in following the
"different gospel". Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Aug 24, 2013
Galatians 3:15-20 - Commentary
Can a law be added to a contract. What
about to a covenant? Obviously not.
What then was the purpose of the Torah? Is
the covenant made with Abraham dependent on the
Torah, or is our relationship with the Messiah
the key? Maybe a better question would be
"what came first, the Messiah or the Torah"? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 9, 2013
Galatians 3:21-29 - Commentary
Paul continues to answer the question "What is
the purpose of the Torah?" The answer
becomes quite clear once we understand the terms
Paul was using to describe some of the Torah's
roles. As with most thing "Pauline", we
must be familiar with the Jewish culture of his
day. Note - the audio of this
message includes the Q&A afterwards which adds
more understanding to the presenter's message. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - December 7, 2013
Galatians 4:1-7 - Commentary
What does it mean to be a "slave to the Law"?
Paul gives an analogy based on the Roman laws
pertaining to children coming of age that helps
clear up a number of misconceptions concerning
Pau's view of the Torah. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - January 4, 2014
What are the "weak and beggarly elements".
Are they the same as the "elements" that kept
Judah in bondage? - January 28, 2014
Galatians 4:8-20 - Commentary
What had happened to the
non-Jewish Galatians? Why were they
turning back to the pagan Roman culture they had
come out of? Paul knew the answer, he just
couldn't believe it was happening. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 1, 2014
Galatians 4:21-31 - Commentary
The Hagar-Mount Sinai comparison is one of the
most miss-understood passages in Galatians, if
not the entire Bible. For 2000 years it's
been the primary proof-text of anti-Torah
Christians. Was Paul really painting the
Torah as bondage . . . something that needed to
be cast out? This ALLEGORY can be clearly
understood if you choose to do so within the
context of Galatians, the combined teachings of
Paul, and the prophecies of the Bible. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 1, 2014
Galatians 5:1-12 - Commentary
Paul has made his case. Now he reverts to simply
appealing to the heart of the Galatian believers. Are
they willing to simply trade one type of bondage for
another? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 24, 2014
Galatians 5:13-26 - Commentary
The "perpetrators" of the "other gospel" had laid
seeds of discord within the Galatian congregations,
and the issue of Jewish identity was planting its
claws in the congregations. If something didn't
change, the Galatian congregations would self
destruct. Paul's answer? Put the Jewish
oral traditions in their proper place and let the
Torah of Moses define the believers' walk. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 21, 2014
Galatians 6:1-10 - Commentary
Paul was through making arguments. He believed
his letter would convince the Galatian congregations
to reject the "other gospel" of the perpetrators and
return to the gospel he himself had delivered.
But that's not the end of the story. Paul knew a
lot of damage had been done to the assemblies and
steps would have to be taken to restore broken
relationships. Using the Matthew 18
guidelines of Messiah Yeshua, Paul shows them steps
they can take to restore those relationships. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - July 26, 2014
Galatians 6:11-18 - Commentary
Following his usual pattern, Paul takes the pen
himself to close this letter. As he does,
thoughts continue to flow into his mind and he can't
help but make a couple more arguments to support his
stand, finally closing with an appeal to look upon his
dedication to the gospel and compare it to theirs. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 9, 2014
Spring Festival Series (Passover and Pentecost)
a Passover Primer - Tim Kelley
What is Passover, and what is it about? Is it a Jewish festival? Was it 'done away with'? Was it changed because of the death of Jesus? This study answers these and many other questions about Passover Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 29, 2020
Passover - the meaning of the words - Tim Kelley
What happened on the night of the first Passover? Was YHVH the 'destroyer' who killed the firstborn of the families who would not put the lamb's blood on the doorpost, or was it haSatan - the 'adversary'? By studying the meaning of the Hebrew words, we can figure it out.Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 20, 2024
So You Want to Observe Passover Part 1 - Tim Kelley
As YHVH draws His people out of the "Church" and begins to work with
them, they begin to replace their former holidays (Christmas,
Easter, etc. with God's appointed times, such as the festivals of
Leviticus 23. Passover tends to be the most popular of these
festivals - probably because of its association with the crucifixion
of the Messiah. Though Passover is one of the festivals, it is
one with covenantal overtones that a believer should be aware of.
In order to maintain the sanctity of the festival, God prescribes
certain requirements of those who partake of the very special
festival. You will want to investigate these requirements
before attending your Passover Seder. Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - April 2, 2011
The information in this article is more clearly understood if the reader first avails himself of the information in all three of the "Salvation Cycles" articles entitled "Covenants". You will find them listed below.
The information in this article is more clearly understood if the reader first avails himself of the information in all three of the "Salvation Cycles" articles entitled "Covenants". You will find them listed below.
So You Want to Observe Passover Part 2 - Tim Kelley
As YHVH draws His people out of the "Church" and begins to work with
them, they begin to replace their former holidays (Christmas,
Easter, etc. with God's appointed times, such as the festivals of
Leviticus 23. Passover tends to be the most popular of these
festivals - largely because of its association with the crucifixion
of the Messiah. Though Passover is but one of YHVH's festivals, it is
one with covenantal overtones that a believer should be aware of.
In order to maintain the sanctity of the festival, God prescribes
certain requirements of those who partake of the very special
festival. You will want to investigate these requirements
before attending your Passover Seder. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 9, 2011
The information in this article is more clearly understood if the reader first avails himself of the information in all three of the "Salvation Cycles" articles entitled "Covenants". You will find them listed below.
The information in this article is more clearly understood if the reader first avails himself of the information in all three of the "Salvation Cycles" articles entitled "Covenants". You will find them listed below.
So You Want to Observe Passover Part 3 - Tim Kelley
There are a number of questions we all have when trying to
reconcile the New Testament account of Yeshua's last meal with
the timing of the Passover events as described in Exodus 12.
How could Yeshua eat the Passover and at the same time, be the
Passover? Why do we seem to have a conflict between the
synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the book of John?
How can we prove the timing of these momentous events if the
Biblical accounts differ? This study provides a way that
we can understand all we need to know in order to have full
confidence and understanding of Yeshua's sacrifice.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 16, 2011
Passover & Circumcision - Houston Hagler
The Torah indicates that a person may not "eat" the Passover if he is not physically circumcised, but should that keep you from observing the Passover? Because of restrictions God Himself put in place, no one can eat the Passover today, but we can all observe it! Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - February 26, 2022
Passover Changes - Tim Kelley
Though God does not change, it seems that
Passover and its observance has changed since
that fateful night over 3500 years ago.
But is that really the case? Did God
change the Passover? Did Yeshua change the
Passover? Why is our observance today so
much different than what it was in the original
Passover? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 5, 2014
Leavening and Oppression - Tim Kelley
Have you ever wondered why the Hebrew slaves had not baked bread nor prepared food to take with them on the trip as they were awaiting the call to leave Egypt? Was it that they actually had no intention of leaving Egypt? Were they not given clear instructions? Is there something in that story we're missing. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 11, 2020
Passover's 4 Cups of Wine - Tim Kelley
What is the purpose of the Four Cups of Wine at Passover? Is there a clear relationship to the Passover story, or is it just Jewish Tradition?Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 28, 2020
Teach Your Children, a Passover Mandate - Tim Kelley
The Passover Story is the greatest story ever told.
It's the story from which 95% of the Bible is derived,
and it's the story that defines the need for a
deliverer, a savior, a Messiah! God continually
instructed His people to tell this story (from the
beginning of Exodus to the end of Deuteronomy) Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 23, 2016.
Having a Successful Passover - Tim Kelley
God's original intent was for Passover to be
observed in a person's home, but over the years
changes were made that presented challenges for
home-based Passovers. Then at the
destruction of the Temple (70 CE) there was no
reason why a person could not either observe
Passover in his home or join in with another
family. Observing Passover in your home
can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be
overwhelming. This study provide
guidelines for having a home-based Passover. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 21, 2015
Lessons from Passover - Tim Kelley
God's plan for mankind is for him to eventually
dwell in Jerusalem, but the journey there starts
with Passover. We can understand the
journey by striving to understand the festivals.
There are a number of lessons we can learn about
what YHVH expects of us by delving into the
Passover story. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 22, 2014
Love One Another - the Mandate to the Disciples of Yeshua - Tim Kelley
During Yeshua's last supper, He charged His disciples
with the commandment to Love One Another, in fact, He
repeated it 3 times. Why did Yeshua spend so much of
that night on the same topic. Was there an
underlying flaw that He saw in His disciples, a flaw
that might jeopardize the mission for which they had been
called? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - Feb. 28 , 2015.
Why did God have Israel put blood on their doorposts?
Why not their roof? Why not their door? As
we glean from the scriptures details found buried in the
stories of Joseph and the Exodus, we find a message that
seems to just "jump out" at us. But hold on . . .
we're going to be reading the "white spaces between the
letters" as we discover this message - one that
becomes even more clear as we approach the end times. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 9, 2016.
Though Yeshua died to fulfill numerous prophecies, He was killed because He claimed to be the King of the Jews, and by being associated with the would-be 'king' and a "co-conspiritor" in the "plot" to restore the ancient Kingdom of Israel, the disciples were put in a precarious position. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 31, 2018.
By Faith, Moses Kept Passover - Tim Kelley
The writer of Hebrews makes this statement in regards to Moses: 'By faith, he kept the Passover', but did it really take faith to do something that would save the life of your firstborn? Is there something we don't know that the writer of Hebrews did know?
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 20, 2019.
the Bones of Joseph - Tim Kelley
The writer of Hebrews makes a statement about the faith of Joseph when he instructed his brothers to carry his bones out of Egypt. But why did he not have them carry his bones immediately to the land of Canaan just as his father had instructed him? Joseph's bones remained in Egypt for a purpose, for a sign and inspiration to the Hebrew slaves.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 26, 2019.
Elijah in the Passover - Tim Kelley
Elijah is a very important figure in Jewish understanding of a
coming Messiah. In the culture of the first century Jewish
people, the leadership taught that an Elijah or an Elijah type
would appear before the advent of the Mashiach (the Messiah),
and Yeshua concurred. Most Christians agree that John the
Baptist fulfilled that role. This study brings out some
important points about Elijah and his similarity to John the
Baptist, then briefly discusses Elijah's role in Jewish and
Christian observance of Passover.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 17, 2012
The Moeds on Nisan 15 - Jim Cowan
Nisan 15 is a very significant
date in God's plan. A number of significant events
happened on this day. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - March 31, 2012
Passover and the Firstborn of Israel - Tim Kelley
When the Passover lamb was slain, God took the firstborn of
Israel for His own. But what did He plan to do with them?
The Torah shows that He had intended for them to be the
priesthood of Israel, but Israel's sin at the golden calf
changed all that. Do the firstborn still have a purpose?
Will God re-establish the firstborn of Israel? Did
Yeshua's death on the cross have anything to do with the
firstborn? Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 7, 2012
Toward a Better Understanding of Passover - by Jim Rector (Opening Comments by Tim Kelley)
The timing of the original Passover has been a matter of
discussion for hundreds of years, but in the recent
restoration of Torah pursuant Christians (the past 80 years),
the debate is ignited once again. What is the premise on
which we should determine when the Passover should be kept -
that Yeshua had to have kept the Passover or that the Torah
dictates when the lamb is to be killed. The following 17
pages present a very clear teaching on this issue. It was
written by Jim Rector, founder of Cornerstone Publications.
Jim wrote this in the late 1990's and revised it again a couple
of years before his death in 2006. Jim's widow, Rita, has given
us permission to publish this teaching and to make comments
within.
Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Preparation
Part 3 - The Details
Part 4 - The 15th Day
Part 5 - The Term At Even
Part 6 - Why Such Haste?
Part 7 - Passover in the New Testament
Part 8 - A Day to Prepare
Part 9 - The Authority of the Pharisees
Part 10 - Christ and the New Covenant
Part 11 - The First Day of Unleavened Bread
Part 12 - Last Supper a Passover?
Part 13 - Let Us Keep the Feast!
Part 14 - The Early church Carries On
Part 15 - Passover - The Future
Part 16 - Significance of the Last Supper
Part 17- Conclusions
Freedom vs. Bondage - Tim Kelley
God intends for all men to be free. Ancient Israel was
established as a free nation - no king, no president, no prime
minister. But free societies typically gravitate toward
bondage, and such was the case with Israel - the asked for a king.
Are there similarities between Israel's plight and that of us here
in the United State? Are we headed toward bondage, and is
there anything we can do about it?
Determining the 430 years of Exodus - James Cowan
Genesis 15 indicates that Israel's bondage would last four
hundred years, but Exodus 12 says 430 years. Is there a
conflict there? If not, how can we clear this up. It's
not really that hard to figure out . . .
Why I Observe Shavuot . . . On Sunday - Tim Kelley
The timing of the Wave Sheaf Offering and
Shavuot is one of the major calendar issues in
the Hebrew Roots "awakening". As YHVH
continues to draw his people together, it's good
to know the basis for the two major beliefs.
The Jewish view is quite prevalent, but what
about the Sunday view? This article shows
the steps I went through as I was being
challenged with this question a few years back.
May 14, 2013.
Joshua 5 Wave Sheaf - Fact or Error - Tim Kelley
Many teach that the Hebrew people observed the Wave Sheaf Offering just days after entering the Promised Land. But is that really the case? The Torah tends to show otherwise. See why the typical Sabbath-Sunday scenario that is typically used is in error and get a hint of what the Wave Sheaf Offering is really about.
March 5, 2021.
the Role of the Firstfruits - a better understanding of the Wave Sheaf Offering - Tim Kelley
The Wave Sheaf offering is somewhat shrouded in mystery,
with various understandings attached to it. Yet
the offering can be easily understood when one
takes into account the timing of the offering, God's
festival cycle, the message of the prophets, and Paul's
insight into the role of the Torah, the prophets, and
the life of the Messiah. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 4, 2015.
The Courtship of the Messiah and Israel - Tim Kelley
The 50 day period of the Omer count was very
important to Israel. During that time
they witnessed the parting of the Red Sea and
their salvation from the hand of Pharaoh. But
were they, a brand new nation, willing to enter
into covenant with YHVH, the god of their
forefathers? YHVH spent the next 40-45
days showing them His glory and power so that by
the time they reached Mt. Sinai, their desire to
Him was more than infatuation, but was indeed
true love. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - April 20, 2013.
Words - the Shavuot Miracle - Tim Kelley
The miracle that God bestowed on the disciples on Shavuot was the gift of words – what to say, and when to say it. The impact of those words gave them confidence that would propel them and their message for years to come. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 9, 2019.
the Promise of the Father - Tim Kelley
For many Christians, the 'Promise of the Father' is considered to be the giving of the Holy Spirit. But is that really the case? The 'Promise' that Yeshua taught to His disciples is a message that is dependant on the Holy Spirit to be delivered to the nations. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - November 9, 2019.
The Message Behind Shavuot - Tim Kelley
The Wave Sheaf offering is somewhat shrouded in mystery,
with various understandings attached to it. Yet
the offering can be easily understood when one
takes into account the timing of the offering, God's
festival cycle, the message of the prophets, and Paul's
insight into the role of the Torah, the prophets, and
the life of the Messiah. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 24, 2015.
Pentecost from Another Perspective - Tim Kelley
Pentecost is often considered to be the
"birthday of the church, but is that really the
case? There is more to the Pentecost story
than the return of he Holy Spirit to God's
people. By delving deeply into the
prophecies quoted by Peter on this momentous
day, we can discover aspects of the first
Pentecost we may have never considered. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - June 8, 2014
the Holy Spirit in Action - Tim Kelley
The Nature of God is a very divisive issue.
Though the Bible does not indicate such, many people believe you
have to figure out what the Holy Spirit is and it's "place in
the godhead" in order to be saved. This is a very
Greek way of thinking. But YHVH wants us to develop
our minds like the Mind of the Messiah. He wants us to
look at things like a Hebrew, not a Greek, and as we've
come to see, the Hebrew way of thinking is an Action Based
way. So instead of trying to determine what the Holy Spirit is,
let's see what the Holy Spirit does, for "by your fruits you are
known". This study lists many of the actions of the Holy
Spirit and also shows how Holy Spirit was alive and well in the
Children of Israel. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 26, 2012
being Led by the Spirit - Tim Kelley
We are often admonished to ". . . let the Spirit
lead you!" But what does it mean to
be spirit led? Does the Bible define
it? How are we to know if we're really
being led by the spirit? The
scriptures are replete with examples of people
who were led by God's spirit to perform various
tasks and to lead others to a successful
outcome. Can we learn from their examples?
Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship - May 11, 2013.
Fall Festivals
The Beginning of the Birthpains? - Tim Kelley
Biblical history is prophecy; at least that is what we can assume in Solomon was right when he said "That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun." If that is the case, then the propecies that fortold Israel's demise some 2700 years ago would be just as applical today". This journey thru some of those ancient prophecies reveal that we just might be living in the last days. Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 21, 2021
A Place of Refuge? - Tim Kelley
The New Testament is the source of information for much of Christianity's "rapture" teachings. But where did Paul and get his information? He got it from the ancient prophets and then put that information into the context of the Biblical festivals and the traditional Hebrew wedding. Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - September 7, 2021
Teshuva - Tim Kelley
John the Baptist told the throngs of Jewish people who came to his
baptism to "repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". Weeks
later, Yeshua repeated this statement to those who came to hear His
preaching. As we know, the fall festival season pictures the
re-establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. The first
century Jewish people saw a connection between the fall festivals
and repentance, especially the days leading up to Yom Kippur.
Based on the story of Moses and his repentance on behalf of the
Israelite people for the sin of the golden calf, they established a
traditional period of repentance known as Teshuva. This
teaching discusses this very important tradition. Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - September 10, 2011
Five Steps Of Repentance - Tim Kelley
God expects His people to truly repent when they sin against Him
and their brother. But what is repentance? Is it simply
saying you're sorry then continuing on, or is it a
process? I submit that it's a process, one that can be
defined by the scriptures. Understanding repentance is not
hard, and can be easily understood within the context of betrothal,
marriage, and the raising of little children. Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 25, 2012
Teshuva & the Role of the Remnant - Tim Kelley
For mainstream Judaism, the tradition of Teshuva is practiced to
help prepare them for the fall holy days - Yom Teruah (Rosh
HaShanah) and Yom Kippur. On the other hand, the Remnant of
Israel must make Teshuva a way of life. See how the
Biblical Festivals, the Hebrew Wedding, and Teshuva all play a part
in the restoration of all Israel. Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - August 10, 2013
Corporate Repentance & Teshuva for All Israel - Tim Kelley
The leaders of ancient Israel departed from YHVH's instructions and
drew practically the entire nation into idolatry and sin. As
a result, Israel has to endure the "curse of the law" - separation
from YHVH. The ancient prophets understood then and repented
of the sins of their fathers, and called on the nation to do so as
well. Should the "Israel of God", the true believers do so as
well? Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - Sept. 13, 2013
the Message of the Mikvah - Tim Kelley
The weeks preceding the fall festivals are traditionally
understood to be a time of repentance, which is often shown by
baptism.
The purpose of baptism is understood in many different ways, but
the meaning of this ancient Hebrew practice is rooted in the
Hebrew language. This study of the Hebrew words behind the
concept of baptism will not only give us a hint as to how it's to
be done, but more importantly, will show us what baptism does for
those who truly enter that "watery grave". Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 15, 2015
Baptism and the Bride of Messiah - Tim Kelley
The first century Jewish culture contained many traditions that
have been adopted by Christianity. One of those is Baptism.
The scripture shows that baptism predates Christianity by 1400
years. This teaching focuses on how baptism was part of the
Hebrew wedding customs. Since this same culture places the
coming (return) of the Messiah at the fall Holy Day season, it's
prudent to discover how the tradition of baptism fits into the
period of time pictured by the fall festivals. Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - August 11, 2012
Yom Teruah and the Restoration of All Things - Tim Kelley
God is not into change, in fact, He says that He does not change.
God is really into Restoration. The fall festivals picture a time of
restoration. God is beginning to restore a number of Bible basics
back to His people. Armed with these understanding, a person is
able to get a greater grasp of what YHVH is doing at this end time.
Delivered at the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - September 8, 2018
Yom Kippur - Covering God's People - Tim Kelley
Yom Kippur is considered to be the Holiest day of the year. On that one day, the High Priest is allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God on earth. Through his actions that day in placing the sins of Israel on the "goat of departure", His people recieve a covering that keeps us in good standing with YHVH. Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - Yom Kippur 2013 & 2017
Yom Kippur - Sins Blotted Out - Tim Kelley
The purpose of the two goats of Yom Kippur has been shrouded in mystery for 3000 years, but the Messianic believer can understand it simply by letting the Bible interpret itself. Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - Yom Kippur 2018 & 2019
Yom Kippur - The Message of the Jubilee - Tim Kelley
Yom Kippur marks the beginning of the 50th year Jubilee. It signifies liberty and freedom for the captives of Israel — a new beginning as they return to their land and start a new life. It also plays a big part in understanding the end time "greater Exodus" as Yeshua begins to draw His people from the four corners of the earth. Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - Yom Kippur 2020
God's Coming Kingdom - No New Thing Under the Sun - Tim Kelley
The Kingdom of God was the focus of Yeshua's ministry as well as the
Gospel message delivered by His disciples. What motivated the
disciples to long for the Kingdom of God. Was it some far off
dream, or a reality that they could very well imagine, and that may
have come before? Does God give us a glimpse of the Kingdom in
His scriptures? Yes - He does! Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - September 19, 2015 and at Season of Our Joy - 2015
the Marriage of The Lamb - Tim Kelley
God chose the institution of marriage to describe His relationship
with His people. But the Hebrew marriage tradition is much
different from that of the modern western nations. To properly
understand the festivals of YHVH, you must first understand the
Hebrew wedding tradition because the festivals are all attached to
different aspects of the Hebrew wedding. Delivered at the Ami
Yisrael Fellowship - September 17, 2011 but re-recorded due to a
faulty recording (I forgot to push the record button).
Peace with No End - Tim Kelley
According to scripture, the world will experience peace when all
things are restored to the way they were intended to be.
There are examples in the Bible as to what that peace might look
like. What is our role in bringing about peace, and how do we
start? - Delivered at the
"Season of Our Joy" observance of the Feast of Tabernacles -
October 9, 2014
Derek ha Tov - the Good Way - Tim Kelley
The fall festival of Sukkot is about restoration ... restoring the kingdom of God and restoring the Good Way that YHVH gave the Hebrew people. How will God go about introducing His way to the nations that survive the Tribulation? He'll do it through Israel as they live up to their calling. Delivered at the
"Season of Our Joy" observance of the Feast of Tabernacles - 2018
the Last Great Day - the Tradition Behind It - Tim Kelley
The Last Great Day is a Jewish tradition that has been misunderstood by many Christians simply because it is just that - 'Jewish Tradition'. See what is behind this day and why Yeshua used it to illustrate one of the greatest keys to understanding the Resurrection of the Dead. Delivered at
the North Texas Fellowship Sukkot - October 9, 2020
Rivers of Living Water - Tim Kelley
Can the heathen be saved? What happens to those who die
without having a relationship with God and His Son? This is a
question that has perplexed theologians for 2000 years. But the
answers are there - in your Bible. The festivals given to
Israel in Leviticus 23 are in many ways, and outline of God's plan
of Salvation for all mankind. God desires that all men will be
saved. But if they're already dead? One key to
understanding God's salvation plan can be found in the Jewish
tradition called "Hoshanna Rabbah", the seventh and Last Great Day
of the Feast of Tabernacles. Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - September 24, 2011. This
same message was delivered at the Season of Our Joy Sukkot Festival
in 2011. The recording and Power Point presentation are from
that event. Revised March 2020
It Takes a Village - Hoshanna Rabbah and the Hebraic Community - Tim Kelley
Hoshanna Rabbah, the Last Great Day of the festival, pictures the
great outpouring of YHVH's Holy Spirit. During that time many
will awaken to the understanding that the message of the Messiah is
not what they had thought. At that time, they will need
teachers to show them the way, and communities in which to meet. Delivered at the
"Season of Our Joy" observance of the Feast of Tabernacles -
September 25, 2013
And All Israel Shall be Saved - Salvation and Reward - Tim Kelley
As we approach the fall festivals - the time that pictures the end of the age and the resurrection - our
minds naturally consider the plight of mankind. Who will be saved and who will not. If it is
God's desire that all men be saved, then why does it appear that He's not making that happen? Did we
misunderstand His intent, or have we misunderstood His plan? Part 1 of this series shows that in the
Hebrew mind, salvation is not the same as reward. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship -
September 10, 2016
And All Israel Shall be Saved - Hope for the Non-Believer - Tim Kelley
God called and saved His people so that they could declare His awesome power and mercy to the world, but few down through the ages heard that message, and even fewer believed it. How then is God going to bring
His will to pass? How is it possible that "all Israel shall be saved"? The answer lies in the festivals of God. Delivered at the
Ami Yisrael Fellowship -
Oct. 3, 2016 (Yom Teruah)
the Beit haShoeivah - the Water Pouring Ceremony - Tim Kelley
In John 7, the writer speaks rather matter-of-factly about the "last day, the great day of the feast", but if you were to look elsewhere in scripture for those terms, you would not find them. Why? Because these terms refer to a Jewish tradition — one Yeshua used to help illustrate God's plan of salvation for all who are willing to recieve His words. -
Posted August 10, 2021.
World Peace - in the Messianic Kingdom of God - by Tim Kelley
If the Messianic Kingdom pictures 'world peace', but God gives mankind the opportunity to choose between right & wrong - good & bad, how will that peace be acheived? The answers are in the scriptures.
Shimini Atzoret - the Day After Time - Tim Kelley
What happens when it's all over? Is the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom
the end of things. What happens after the 1000 years.
Because Hebrew thought is cyclical, it would stand to reason that
things don't end, but rather continue on and on. But what will
we be doing? If the end of 7000 years is the end of a cycle,
then it must be the beginning of another; and if there is "no new
thing under the sun", then the beginning of the cycle must be
something we've seen before. Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - October 1, 2011
the Last Great Day God's Spirit Poured Out - by Tim Kelley
Sukkot to Passover - Spiritual Strides Between the Festivals - Tim Kelley
The six months between Sukkot and Passover sometimes considered to
be the "spiritual doldrums", a time of spiritual idleness as we
await the spring festivals to begin. Yeshua did not let the
winter get Him down. He spent it performing some of His
greatest acts and miracles, providing proof to His disciples that He
was indeed Israel's Messiah. Should we be using these days for
the same purpose? Delivered at
the Ami Yisrael Fellowship - October 17, 2015