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WEEKLY SABBATH READINGS>
SABBATH READINGS 7/24/10
July 22, 2010
"YAHUAH is my strength, and my shield; My heart has trusted in Him, and I have been helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I thank Him." (Teh/Ps. 28:7)
Shabbat Shalom Family!
All praises to the Almighty for He has blessed us with another Shabbat Day! HalleluYAH!
"YAHUAH is the strength of His people, and He is the stronghold of deliverance of His anointed." (Teh. 28:8)
This week, we completed the fast of Tisha B'Av (the 9th day) and had a powerful prayer service interceding for Yisrael. We praise YAHUAH for no major events occurred against the people of YAH! " Blessed be YAHUAH because He has heard the voice of my prayers!" (Teh. 28:6)
There was definitely a fight going on because for the past couple of weeks, we were tried in all directions. But now the trials and the mourning is over, and YAHUAH is comforting His people. This Shabbat is a special Sabbath called Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of Consolation (Comfort). It is the first of seven Sabbaths of Consolation. So, though we may have endured hardship, YAHUAH is now going to comfort His people. Believe it! "Comfort, comfort My people!" says your Elohim (Yesh. 40:1).
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THE ENGAGEMENT CONTRACT (TENA'IM)
This weekend, we will be completing the second part of the Engagement to our Bridegroom Messiah YAHUSHUAH! At Shavuot, we began the engagement when we agreed to obey the Laws of YAHUAH--this was the first part of the Engagement Contract. Now, we will complete the Tena'im. Tena'im means 'agreements.' In earlier times, a man and woman would agree to marry, then complete the Tena'im, the Engagement Contract. In the Tena'im, the two parties (man & woman) agree upon a date, time, and place for marriage, and also detail all other obligations, responsibilities, or stipulations for a long and successful marriage. It can include such things as who will cover expenses, who will make necessary provisions, living arrangements, clothing agreements, etc. Both parties are named on the contract along with two witnesses who sign the document.
The Tena'im is legally put into effect by kinyan. Kinyan is a legal act of transaction. It is a symbolic transfer in which one party gives the other an object (such as a napkin, handkerchief, ring, etc.) in exchange for something intangible such as commitment. After the kinyan ceremony, the Tena'im is legally in effect. The couple is legally considered husband and wife, although in earlier times the kinyan ceremony (engagement ceremony) took place up to a full year before the actual marriage and living together took place.
In our Engagement Ceremony, YAHUSHUAH is our Bridegroom. The bride is the Assembly of Messiah: all the set-apart ones who have come out of Babylon and followed YAHUSHUAH completely; the set-apart nation of kings and priests unto YAHUAH. We make the commitment to walk in His ways, to learn and study His laws, and to obey His voice. YAHUSHUAH promises to give us whatever we ask: “And whatever you ask in My Name, that I shall do, in order that the Father might be esteemed in the Son. If you ask whatever in My Name, I shall do it" (Yoh. 14:13,14). That's the agreement: if we walk in His ways, then He will bless us abundantly. If we don't, we could lose all the blessings He has given us. The marriage will take place this year at Sukkot.
For the kinyan ceremony, we will use a small piece of cloth to put the contract into effect. The cloth represents the linen wrappings that YAHUSHUAH left in the tomb after He was resurrected. He left this cloth for His bride in exchange for her commitment. When we take the cloth, the contract is complete.
The Engagement Ceremony will take place the evening of 7/25/10. Almost a month ago, the Spirit impressed it upon Ruth to set a date for the Ceremony to complete the Engagement. She selected a date after the Three Week period of mourning, and it wasn't until later that we found it was the special day called Tu B'Av--the 15th day of the 5th month. It is said in Jewish writings that in ancient times, there were no holidays so joyous as Tu B'Av and Yom Kippur. On Tu B'Av, the daughters of Jerusalem would dress in white and dance in the vineyards. Those who didn't have a wife would go out and select a bride--choosing wisely (Mishle/Prov. 31:30). So, we were led to complete the Engagement on the same joyous day as when the Yahudim would go out to select bride! Praise YAHUAH!
This is an extremely important ceremony that must take place. We honestly cannot give an 'order of ceremony' at this time because we are still being led by His Spirit. We will be recording the service on DVD. If you feel you would like to make this commitment, please reply to us and we will send you a DVD of the service and a 'kinyan' cloth so you can complete the Engagement.
Some scriptures to study for the Engagement Ceremony:
Conditions for engagement: Deb/Deut. 6:1-9; Deb. 28:1
Promises to bride: Deb. 6:10,11; Deb. 28:2-14; Yirm/Jer. 33:11; Yoh. 14:1-4,7,23; Hos, 2:16-22; Yesh. 62:4-7;
The Bridegroom: Hos. 2:19,20; Matt. 9:15; Rev. 22:17; Yoh/John 20:5-7; Luk 24:4,12
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May YAHUAH Elohim, Sovereign of the universe, bless you abundantly this Shabbat Day and in the coming week. May He prosper your hand and give you favor in the eyes of men and Elohim. May He give you of His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to walk in all His ways, in the Set-Apart Name of YAHUSHUAH, so be it.
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SHABBAT READINGS for 7/24/10:
BESORAH/Good News: Luqas / Luke 16 - 18
IGGEROT/Letters: Eph'siyim / Ephesians 1 - 3
Tehillim/Psalm 28
**Special Reading for Shabbat Nachamu: Yesh/Is. 40:1-26
**DON'T FORGET: Daily Torah Readings on our Resources page
(http://www.familyofmessiah.net/resources.html)
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PLEASE REPLY TO: familyofmessiah@yahoo.com
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Family of Messiah Fellowship
Ministers Michael & Ruth Dunn
P.O. Box 50884
Summerville, SC 29485
Phone: (843)821-4832
Email: familyofmessiah@yahoo.com
http://www.familyofmessiah.net
http://www.youtube.com/brideofthespirit
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