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Myrbdl Myrpomh
Ha’Misparim La’Debarim
The Numbers of the Words
by Craig Wm. Peters
The Messiah Teaches Fasting in the Beatitudes
How a Life of Fasting and Prayer Continually Fulfills
The Shema
Shema/Hear Yisrael,
hwhy
is our Elohim,
hwhy
is one. And you shall love
hwhy
your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
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When the Messiah spoke forth that portion of Scripture which is now commonly called, “The Beatitudes,”
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He was actually teaching us about the life of a person who expresses true faith in the Elohim of Yisrael through frequent times of fasting with prayer. It is sad to think of all the children who have grown up across the centuries learning about the Bible but having never been taught this remarkable fact:
“The Beatitudes” reveal truths that are all directly related to a life characterized by the wholehearted seeking of
hwhy
which is only possible through fasting.
And so it was with these oft-quoted lines, and now-famous words, that the Messiah taught all who would follow Him of true humility and true spiritual service:
Apart from a life characterized by fasting and prayer, believers will never experience authentic humility as
hwhy
defines it.
For the lowliness of mind which is fed by the Spirit of the Most High is only obtained through fasting-derived humility. Fasting and prayer are the ultimate acts of enduring righteousness. They are the believer’s most powerful spiritual weapons.
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And because of the immense impact (and far-reaching potential) of these profound, Spirit-filled acts of absolute reverence, fasting and prayer are essential elements of True Worship that are greatly maligned in the camp of the Enemy. Because fasting and prayer are the two most consummate acts of True Worship—and because they are the two things that ensure
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we maintain hearts which have already been circumcised by the Spirit of
hwhy
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—the Adversary does
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Jewish tradition divides this Commandment into two separate parts: “The Shema” (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the “V’havta” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Since the Messiah made no such division (He taught the entire text embodies the single, greatest commandment), we will refer to both verses as “
The Shema
” (capitalized and italicized).
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Matthew 5:3-12
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2Corinthians 10:4-5
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2Corinthians 13:5-6
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Romans 2:28-29, Colossians 2:11-12
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much to darken the paths that would lead the people of the Most High into new realms of spiritual refreshment, victory, blessing, peace, and prosperity, as Elohim defines them. We pray the light that
hwhy
shines forth from His Word will illumine many hearts over this most critical topic. Surprisingly enough, there are scores of believers who will dismiss the importance of fasting as well as the importance of prayer. Yet their reasons for this are always without any substantial foundation; there is simply no scriptural basis for such falsehood. And it ultimately comes down to more fully understanding what it means to love
hwhy
with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength. Because the Presence of
hwhy
is the Ultimate and Only Source of love, joy, and peace/shalom,
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we cannot experience fullness of joy in this life apart from abiding in Him
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(i.e., apart from a life of continual, reverent prayer).
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
Like marriage and food,
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times of fasting are sanctified (set apart) by prayer and the Word of Elohim. Through Yoel/Joel,
hwhy
called the people to “sanctify a fast.”
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How did this sanctifying of the fast, this setting apart, occur? It came about through prayer. We see this in the life of Daniel: from the outset of his 21-day fast,
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the prophet’s voice was heard in the Courts of Heaven; his time of fasting and humility marked his determination to seek
hwhy
with a whole heart and that time began with prayer.
Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your Elohim, your words were heard: and I have come for your words’ sake.
Daniel 10:12 So Daniel’s time of fasting had been set apart through prayer. And those prayers ascended on a continual basis for the duration of that 21-day period. But that time was set apart from the very beginning by the prayer Daniel offered to commence his fast. Mosheh likewise spoke of the total devotion to prayer before
hwhy
while fasting across forty days:
And I fell down before
hwhy
, as at the first: forty days and forty nights; no bread I ate, and no water I drank …
Deuteronomy 9:18
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Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 26:3, John 15:7-11, 16:23-24
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John 15:4,7
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1Timothy 4:3-5
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Joel 2:15 (for context, see verses 12-18)
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Daniel 10:2-3.
Note
: This was a 21-day fast; it was not a time of drinking water, honey, and lemon juice, as many today teach with no support of Scripture.
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So Mosheh fell down before
hwhy
in continual prayer for the duration of his forty days of fasting. Such is the nature of truly seeking
hwhy
. Thus, we will not always write of fasting
with prayer
, but the reader should know the preponderance of prayer during times of reverent fasting is absolutely essential; and this preeminence should be fully understood by all as we progress through the present study.
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
Authentic ministry-service emanates from the life a person lives. The author does not believe in sitting down to “study out” a given topic so he can then simply turn around and teach it to others.
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This manuscript came into existence across a lengthy period of time as the writer was led of the Spirit into a life of fasting and prayer in the early 1980s. Across the past 31 years since that time, many things have been revealed and confirmed in the Spirit over the matter of fasting and prayer. Thus, the present study emanates from the walk which
hwhy
has blessed to reveal His Son, His Name, and His greatness to all of Yahudah and Ephrayim.
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And this brings us to our final, opening thoughts—considerations over the connection between fasting and revival.
eSwhy
prophesied that, before He returns to reign out of Tziyon, there would be many
in Yahudah who would turn to Him—believing Him to be the promised Mashiach/Messiah:
O Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, that kills the prophets, and stones those that are sent unto her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say to you, “You shall not see Me henceforth, until you shall say, ‘Blessed is He that comes in the Name of
hwhy
.’”
Matthew 23:37-39 This prophecy informs us that there will be (there must be!) a spiritual awakening among the physical descendants of Yisrael, and that there will be many converts to the Messianic Faith among their numbers in advance of the Mashiach’s return. And it further tells us they will be declaring of
eSwhy
the Messiah in advance of His descent from the Heavens:
‘Blessed is He that comes in the Name of
hwhy
.’”
We note these Israelis will not be making this great proclamation in the Scripture-nullifying title of “Adonai.”
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Replacing the Name of
hwhy
(in the above Scripture
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And it is a lack of humility that would even begin to imagine one has fully “studied out” any topic in the Kingdom of
hwhy
or within His Infinite Word. Job 26:14, Psalm 119:96, Romans 11:33
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(i.e., they will not fulfill this word by saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Adonai.” “Adonai” is not a name, it is not a part of the original text, and it does not fulfill the prophecy).
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