Sha’ul wrote that twice he had tried to come to visit and minister to the messianic Congregation in Thessalonica, “but the Adversary (hindered, thwarted) stopped us” (I Thess.2:18). The Greek word for hindered or thwarted is EGKOPTO: to cut into, to impede one's course by cutting off his way, to hinder. Egkopto was used to describe a road so deteriorated, so tore up it’s impassable, forcing a person to turn around, go back, and try another way to get to the desired destination.
The enemy is trying to hinder, thwart, stop what Adonai is doing among us! Some signs of hindering spirits are an inability to move forward, distractions, no shalom, confusion, depression, discouragement, diversions, unusual attacks, all indicate hindering spirits whose assignment is to hinder or thwart your destiny. Idolatry is a primal sin, connected with sexual immorality and avarice, the things listed are hinderances, stumbling blocks! A life lived upon the truth of Adonai’s word prevents us from stumbling!
Psalm 119:165. Those who love your Torah have great peace; nothing makes them stumble.
Let’s look at the tactics of HaSatan such as sexual misconduct, racism, petty arguments, and the lack of pressing into the things of GOD.”
1. We commanded to remove the idols from our heart and lives.
Ezekiel 14:3-6. "Human being, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, thus setting in front of themselves the stumblingblock (mikshowl {mik-shole'}: stumbling block, obstacle, enticement, cause to fall) that leads to sin. Should I let them consult me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them, and tell them that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Everyone in the house of Isra'el who takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, I myself, ADONAI, will answer him in a manner suited to his many idols, 5 in order to grab hold of the house of Isra'el in their hearts; since, through their idols, they have all fallen away from me.' 6 "Therefore say to the house of Isra'el that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Repent! Turn yourselves away from your idols, turn your faces away from all your disgusting practices (Toa‘tëy’khem: something disgusting (morally), an abhorrence; especially idolatry, something abominable, unclean food, idols, wickedness)!
Idolatry which God considers adultery are the things that consume your heart, time, finances, and passion. Its whatever gets more time in your life than God. Considering the average believer spends less than 10 minutes a week in prayer it’s almost everything in our materialistic, consumer driven, immoral society.
2. We are told to Run from sexual immorality.
I Corinthians 6:18. Run from sexual (porneia {por-ni'-ah}: illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, sexual intercourse with close relatives, the worship of idols, of the defilement of idolatry) immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body.
Sexual Immorality is the surrendering of sexual purity! In scripture it primarily refers to premarital sexual relations. Porneia is the root word for pornography in English. Porneia is a “selling off”, it’s a business! A trillion dollar business! Sexual immorality is the “selling off” of sexual purity and involves any type of sexual interaction, intercourse, and contact outside the covenant boundaries of biblically a defined marriage relationship. The sin must stop, so must the charade of hiding behind false titles and renaming the sin as love, an indiscretion, which makes sin morally acceptable in society. We must call it what it is! And there must be an associated repentance! There must be a turning away from the sin and a turning back to Adonai!
I Corinthians 5-1-2. It is actually being reported that there is sexual sin among you, and it is sexual sin of a kind that is condemned even by pagans-a man is living with his stepmother! 2 And you stay proud? Shouldn't you rather have felt some sadness that would have led you to remove from your company the man who has done this thing?
Our societies sex-saturated culture poses a serious challenge for many reasons. Our culture is one where sex is accessible, affordable, anonymous, and addictive, we can see that our culture, like in Corinth, is a conduit that feeds our view of individual freedom, free choice, and self that easily lead us into radically militant hyper sexuality behaviors. Our culture feeds our fleshly nature and desires which believes we have freedom to make sexual choices and gender identity.
We live in a time in which people think they may fabricate or choose whatever truth about sex or gender they want to believe! That they may do whatever they want sexually, and that no one has a right to question their sexual expression. The Corinthian culture at the core of this is that same foundation we have today which results in the same erroneous conclusions regarding sexual immorality Corinth retained.
3. There must be unity! We must be freed from antisemitism, racism, bigotry, and every toxic division in the body:
Acts 10:34-35. Then Kefa addressed them: "I now understand that God does not play favorites, 35 but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people (ethnos {eth'-nos}: a race, nation, people group, the whole human race) he belongs to.
We are not part of an exclusive Jewish congregation, exclusive Gentile congregation, a black congregation, a white congregation, a First Nation only, Asian, or Hispanic congregation! You all see where this is going! There’s no place for the Westboro Baptists Church or World Church of the True Creator! It’s time for all bigotry, racism, divisiveness, and segregation to be completely and total removed from the greater body! Through Yeshua and His blood, we all have a seat, an equal seat at the Pesach Table to share in the body! Sukkot represents the coming wedding feast of the lamb and the bride! Who is the bride?
Revelation 7:9. After this, I looked; and there before me was a huge crowd, too large for anyone to count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands;
As it is in the end is how we should be living and worshipping together now!
4. Seeking God requires a daily culture of fasting and praying.
Joel 2:12-15. "Yet even now," says ADONAI, "turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting." 13 Tear your heart, not your garments; and turn to ADONAI your God. For he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace, and willing to change his mind about disaster. 14 Who knows? He may turn, change his mind and leave a blessing behind him, [enough for] grain offerings and drink offerings to present to ADONAI your God. 15 "Blow the shofar in Tziyon! Proclaim a holy fast, call for a solemn assembly."
Food, technology, social media, internet, TV, hobbies… all are areas of distraction that we must lay down in order to seek God. I personally believe that fasting food is the most powerful! To fast without prayer is a diet. Prayer, communicating with God, is the corner stone, its essential in seeking God.
Isaiah 55:6. Seek (Dir’shu: follow, to seek, to ask, specifically to worship, care for diligently, inquire, make inquisition, search) ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby.
Seeking a God encounter is hard work. Seeking God requires sacrifice, prayer, fasting, removal of all distractions, the removal of obstacles that will hinder Gods presence and hearing His voice. It means shifting your schedule and placing prayer to a place of prominence in your daily routine. It means increased time in the word to facilitate and anchor that prayer. All the great men and woman of God had long periods of solitude, often in the wilderness with Adonai! Moses had three 40-day periods on the mountain, David who spent his childhood in the wildness shepherding sheep with a slingshot and a harp, Yeshua Himself spent 40 days fasting in the desert without all of our modern distractions, cell phones, internet, social media, etc! The world must be tuned out to hear Adonai and be intimate with Him! It means having a common, unified focus of prayer to seek for a God encounter, for revival! It means dying to your flesh, its prayer without an agenda. It is disciplined, effective, and habitual prayer. It’s not liturgical, ritualistic, or religious, its fresh manna daily from heaven. We have a solid, covenant promise that when we seek Him:
Jeremiah 29:13. When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly;
5. There must be total, unrestricted, and wholehearted commitment to press into His Presence.
Psalm 37:5. Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act.
There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses. Commitment requires previous habits to be changed. I’m going to say this in love but if you aren’t consistent in attending services then most likely you’re not consistent in everything else regarding God. Stop making God a hobby and make Him number one in your life.
God doesn’t equip those who are interested, He equips those who are committed. If you want to be used by God, if you desire to be part of the coming outpouring of God, part of the revival of the Jewish People, if you love God and Israel then you’ve got to commit to Him. If you abandon God, He’ll abandon you. If you are a part time devotee to God, He’ll be a part time God to you. Stop wandering and drifting, commit. You will never reach your full potential in the Kingdom and fulfill your destiny until you commit. Commitment requires discipline:
Proverbs 1:1-3. The proverbs of Shlomo the son of David, king of Isra'el, 2 are for learning about wisdom and discipline (uma’sar; Discipline, instruction) for understanding words expressing deep insight; 3 for gaining an intelligently disciplined life, doing what is right, just and fair;
This passage isn't talking about correction; it’s talking about instruction! Discipline in reading the word. Discipline in fasting, prayer and intercession. Discipline in Praise and worship. Discipline in our daily living. Discipline in our commitment to God through our actions in sharing the good news, attending corporate gatherings, and services. Hunger, desire, zeal with disciplined commitment results in God encounters.
6. There must be expectation, a trust that Jewish revival and restoration is at hand, the Messianic Reign I here, breakthrough is at hand!
Luke 3:15. The people were in a state of great expectancy, and everyone was wondering whether perhaps Yochanan himself might be the Messiah;
The Judeans knew 2,000 years ago something was happening, occurring, unfolding in their day! Adonai searches for those who are searching for Him! Expectancy establishes the atmosphere for the supernatural. Its ground zero for every outpouring, revival, and awakening in scripture! Today we all know something is going on, something is happening! We must run straight at this, head on with great expectancy in trembling fear of the Lord! Luke 3 is crystal clear- they were expecting the Mashiach, the Messiah. Are you in a great state of expectancy? Do you truly believe Yeshua is returning and establishing His kingdom here? Do you truly believe we are on the cusp of a major, radical, supernatural Jewish Revival and move of God? As Sha’ul stated in:
Acts 27:25. So, men, take heart! For I trust God and believe that what I have been told will come true (esomai {es'-om-ahee}: future tense. Shall Be, shall come to pass, will be).
We speak those things that aren’t as though they are! We pursue Adonai’s goal which is beyond our ability and capability because it’s a God thing, not our own. God works in the trust and faith of His people to create the atmosphere, the foundation the starting point of what “WILL BE”. The Breakthrough:
II Samuel 5:20. So David went to Ba'al-P'ratzim and defeated them there. He said, "ADONAI has broken through my enemies for me like a river breaking through its banks." This is why he called the place Ba'al-P'ratzim [Lord of breaking through].
We serve the Lord of Breakthrough! This is how the World will know! Spontaneous, powerful, energized, explosive, supernatural, sudden revival! An awakening, a worldwide harvest, a double portion outpouring, the nations are our inheritance starting with Israel first!! The darkness is getting darker, but the light is getting brighter.
It is a high and lofty thing we have been called too, way beyond our understanding, capability, or ability yet it's coming as surely as you are reading this right now! You will see it come to pass with your own eyes if only you will commit, pray, fast, and seek Him for it!!
Blessings and Shalom,
Rabbi Eric Carlson
The enemy is trying to hinder, thwart, stop what Adonai is doing among us! Some signs of hindering spirits are an inability to move forward, distractions, no shalom, confusion, depression, discouragement, diversions, unusual attacks, all indicate hindering spirits whose assignment is to hinder or thwart your destiny. Idolatry is a primal sin, connected with sexual immorality and avarice, the things listed are hinderances, stumbling blocks! A life lived upon the truth of Adonai’s word prevents us from stumbling!
Psalm 119:165. Those who love your Torah have great peace; nothing makes them stumble.
Let’s look at the tactics of HaSatan such as sexual misconduct, racism, petty arguments, and the lack of pressing into the things of GOD.”
1. We commanded to remove the idols from our heart and lives.
Ezekiel 14:3-6. "Human being, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, thus setting in front of themselves the stumblingblock (mikshowl {mik-shole'}: stumbling block, obstacle, enticement, cause to fall) that leads to sin. Should I let them consult me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them, and tell them that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Everyone in the house of Isra'el who takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, I myself, ADONAI, will answer him in a manner suited to his many idols, 5 in order to grab hold of the house of Isra'el in their hearts; since, through their idols, they have all fallen away from me.' 6 "Therefore say to the house of Isra'el that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Repent! Turn yourselves away from your idols, turn your faces away from all your disgusting practices (Toa‘tëy’khem: something disgusting (morally), an abhorrence; especially idolatry, something abominable, unclean food, idols, wickedness)!
Idolatry which God considers adultery are the things that consume your heart, time, finances, and passion. Its whatever gets more time in your life than God. Considering the average believer spends less than 10 minutes a week in prayer it’s almost everything in our materialistic, consumer driven, immoral society.
2. We are told to Run from sexual immorality.
I Corinthians 6:18. Run from sexual (porneia {por-ni'-ah}: illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, sexual intercourse with close relatives, the worship of idols, of the defilement of idolatry) immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body.
Sexual Immorality is the surrendering of sexual purity! In scripture it primarily refers to premarital sexual relations. Porneia is the root word for pornography in English. Porneia is a “selling off”, it’s a business! A trillion dollar business! Sexual immorality is the “selling off” of sexual purity and involves any type of sexual interaction, intercourse, and contact outside the covenant boundaries of biblically a defined marriage relationship. The sin must stop, so must the charade of hiding behind false titles and renaming the sin as love, an indiscretion, which makes sin morally acceptable in society. We must call it what it is! And there must be an associated repentance! There must be a turning away from the sin and a turning back to Adonai!
I Corinthians 5-1-2. It is actually being reported that there is sexual sin among you, and it is sexual sin of a kind that is condemned even by pagans-a man is living with his stepmother! 2 And you stay proud? Shouldn't you rather have felt some sadness that would have led you to remove from your company the man who has done this thing?
Our societies sex-saturated culture poses a serious challenge for many reasons. Our culture is one where sex is accessible, affordable, anonymous, and addictive, we can see that our culture, like in Corinth, is a conduit that feeds our view of individual freedom, free choice, and self that easily lead us into radically militant hyper sexuality behaviors. Our culture feeds our fleshly nature and desires which believes we have freedom to make sexual choices and gender identity.
We live in a time in which people think they may fabricate or choose whatever truth about sex or gender they want to believe! That they may do whatever they want sexually, and that no one has a right to question their sexual expression. The Corinthian culture at the core of this is that same foundation we have today which results in the same erroneous conclusions regarding sexual immorality Corinth retained.
3. There must be unity! We must be freed from antisemitism, racism, bigotry, and every toxic division in the body:
Acts 10:34-35. Then Kefa addressed them: "I now understand that God does not play favorites, 35 but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people (ethnos {eth'-nos}: a race, nation, people group, the whole human race) he belongs to.
We are not part of an exclusive Jewish congregation, exclusive Gentile congregation, a black congregation, a white congregation, a First Nation only, Asian, or Hispanic congregation! You all see where this is going! There’s no place for the Westboro Baptists Church or World Church of the True Creator! It’s time for all bigotry, racism, divisiveness, and segregation to be completely and total removed from the greater body! Through Yeshua and His blood, we all have a seat, an equal seat at the Pesach Table to share in the body! Sukkot represents the coming wedding feast of the lamb and the bride! Who is the bride?
Revelation 7:9. After this, I looked; and there before me was a huge crowd, too large for anyone to count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands;
As it is in the end is how we should be living and worshipping together now!
4. Seeking God requires a daily culture of fasting and praying.
Joel 2:12-15. "Yet even now," says ADONAI, "turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting." 13 Tear your heart, not your garments; and turn to ADONAI your God. For he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace, and willing to change his mind about disaster. 14 Who knows? He may turn, change his mind and leave a blessing behind him, [enough for] grain offerings and drink offerings to present to ADONAI your God. 15 "Blow the shofar in Tziyon! Proclaim a holy fast, call for a solemn assembly."
Food, technology, social media, internet, TV, hobbies… all are areas of distraction that we must lay down in order to seek God. I personally believe that fasting food is the most powerful! To fast without prayer is a diet. Prayer, communicating with God, is the corner stone, its essential in seeking God.
Isaiah 55:6. Seek (Dir’shu: follow, to seek, to ask, specifically to worship, care for diligently, inquire, make inquisition, search) ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby.
Seeking a God encounter is hard work. Seeking God requires sacrifice, prayer, fasting, removal of all distractions, the removal of obstacles that will hinder Gods presence and hearing His voice. It means shifting your schedule and placing prayer to a place of prominence in your daily routine. It means increased time in the word to facilitate and anchor that prayer. All the great men and woman of God had long periods of solitude, often in the wilderness with Adonai! Moses had three 40-day periods on the mountain, David who spent his childhood in the wildness shepherding sheep with a slingshot and a harp, Yeshua Himself spent 40 days fasting in the desert without all of our modern distractions, cell phones, internet, social media, etc! The world must be tuned out to hear Adonai and be intimate with Him! It means having a common, unified focus of prayer to seek for a God encounter, for revival! It means dying to your flesh, its prayer without an agenda. It is disciplined, effective, and habitual prayer. It’s not liturgical, ritualistic, or religious, its fresh manna daily from heaven. We have a solid, covenant promise that when we seek Him:
Jeremiah 29:13. When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly;
5. There must be total, unrestricted, and wholehearted commitment to press into His Presence.
Psalm 37:5. Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act.
There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses. Commitment requires previous habits to be changed. I’m going to say this in love but if you aren’t consistent in attending services then most likely you’re not consistent in everything else regarding God. Stop making God a hobby and make Him number one in your life.
God doesn’t equip those who are interested, He equips those who are committed. If you want to be used by God, if you desire to be part of the coming outpouring of God, part of the revival of the Jewish People, if you love God and Israel then you’ve got to commit to Him. If you abandon God, He’ll abandon you. If you are a part time devotee to God, He’ll be a part time God to you. Stop wandering and drifting, commit. You will never reach your full potential in the Kingdom and fulfill your destiny until you commit. Commitment requires discipline:
Proverbs 1:1-3. The proverbs of Shlomo the son of David, king of Isra'el, 2 are for learning about wisdom and discipline (uma’sar; Discipline, instruction) for understanding words expressing deep insight; 3 for gaining an intelligently disciplined life, doing what is right, just and fair;
This passage isn't talking about correction; it’s talking about instruction! Discipline in reading the word. Discipline in fasting, prayer and intercession. Discipline in Praise and worship. Discipline in our daily living. Discipline in our commitment to God through our actions in sharing the good news, attending corporate gatherings, and services. Hunger, desire, zeal with disciplined commitment results in God encounters.
6. There must be expectation, a trust that Jewish revival and restoration is at hand, the Messianic Reign I here, breakthrough is at hand!
Luke 3:15. The people were in a state of great expectancy, and everyone was wondering whether perhaps Yochanan himself might be the Messiah;
The Judeans knew 2,000 years ago something was happening, occurring, unfolding in their day! Adonai searches for those who are searching for Him! Expectancy establishes the atmosphere for the supernatural. Its ground zero for every outpouring, revival, and awakening in scripture! Today we all know something is going on, something is happening! We must run straight at this, head on with great expectancy in trembling fear of the Lord! Luke 3 is crystal clear- they were expecting the Mashiach, the Messiah. Are you in a great state of expectancy? Do you truly believe Yeshua is returning and establishing His kingdom here? Do you truly believe we are on the cusp of a major, radical, supernatural Jewish Revival and move of God? As Sha’ul stated in:
Acts 27:25. So, men, take heart! For I trust God and believe that what I have been told will come true (esomai {es'-om-ahee}: future tense. Shall Be, shall come to pass, will be).
We speak those things that aren’t as though they are! We pursue Adonai’s goal which is beyond our ability and capability because it’s a God thing, not our own. God works in the trust and faith of His people to create the atmosphere, the foundation the starting point of what “WILL BE”. The Breakthrough:
II Samuel 5:20. So David went to Ba'al-P'ratzim and defeated them there. He said, "ADONAI has broken through my enemies for me like a river breaking through its banks." This is why he called the place Ba'al-P'ratzim [Lord of breaking through].
We serve the Lord of Breakthrough! This is how the World will know! Spontaneous, powerful, energized, explosive, supernatural, sudden revival! An awakening, a worldwide harvest, a double portion outpouring, the nations are our inheritance starting with Israel first!! The darkness is getting darker, but the light is getting brighter.
It is a high and lofty thing we have been called too, way beyond our understanding, capability, or ability yet it's coming as surely as you are reading this right now! You will see it come to pass with your own eyes if only you will commit, pray, fast, and seek Him for it!!
Blessings and Shalom,
Rabbi Eric Carlson
Posted in August 2024
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