DifferentSpirit

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'lach L'cha, which means "Send for yourself." The title comes from the first verse of the Sabbath readings: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send (salah - send, go, send out, stretch out, sow, let loose, shoot forth) men to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." (Num. 13:1-2).

     We will see that the LORD was about to expose something in the hearts of His people that we sometimes call "unbelief" or "disobedience" but is really something far more dark and insidious, something of which we should all be aware.

     I will just summarize the account of the twelve spies, leaders among Israel, whom Moses sent to spy out the land which the LORD had promised to give to Israel. Those twelve included Joshua, right-hand-man to Moses who was from the half-tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, who was not called a Hebrew in scripture but a Kenizzite, which was one of the Canaanite tribes. (see Gen. 15:17-21, Num. 32:11-12, Josh. 14:6).

     The twelve tribes remained on their mission to spy out the land of promise for forty days. When they returned, while admitting that the land was very fruitful, ten of the spies brought back the evil report (diba/dabab/dobe' - evil report, slander, infamy, defamation, whispering, secret slanderer/to creep about, a slanderer/the languor of death) that giants were in the land and the Israelites would not be able to win against them. In scripture then, according to the Hebrew meaning above, the LORD described their report as infamous slander against Him and the inheritance that He had promised to the fathers of Israel. Only Joshua and Caleb insisted that with the LORD on their side, the Israelites would be able to overcome the current inhabitants of the promised land. They urged the Israelites not to fear the inhabitants and not to rebel (marad - bold and audacious in acts of rebellion or disobedience, contumacious [meaning willfully resisting authority, unruly, intractable, insubordinate]) against the LORD.

     The Israelites reacted with violence to these words of Joshua and Caleb: "And all the congregation said to stone them with stones." (Num. 14:10). The LORD had to directly intervene, and He was not happy, saying, "How long will these people reject (na'as - despise, abhor, blaspheme, deride, reject with contempt and derision, speak evil of) Me?" (v. 10-11). The command of the LORD to send the twelve spies exposed an abhorrence against Him in the hearts of His people to whom He had shown many signs and wonders. This was not only unbelief and disobedience, but derision and despising according to the Hebrew meaning above. Why this extreme reaction against God and against Joshua and Caleb? We will hopefully find out.

     The LORD said this after Moses interceded to Him for forgiveness and mercy towards the people: "...but truly, as I live, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-the-earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD - because all these men who have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-glory and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-signs/miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected (see na'as above) Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit (ruah - spirit, Spirit, breath) in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." (v. 20-24).

     The men and leaders of Israel had witnessed the glory of the LORD and His signs and miracles, but still rejected or despised (see na'as above) Him. However, the LORD vowed on His own eternal existence to fill the whole earth with the glory that had been despised by these men. Caleb, however, had a "different spirit" from these other men who despised and rejected the LORD. In fact, the men who rejected and despised the LORD would later die of the plague that comes with the evil report: "But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land." (v. 36-38).

     The LORD exposed the very deep despising and violent contempt of man for God and His Messiah/Christ (as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew. See *note below) in this account above, but His answering vow was even greater: to fill the whole earth with His glory. Caleb, the LORD revealed to Moses, was of a different spirit. The Feast of Pentecost has recently passed during which the disciples of Jesus Messiah/Christ received the outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit (Ruah HaKodesh in Hebrew). If we take a look at this event on Pentecost more closely, we will see something more about man's violent hatred towards God.

     The Feast of Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, is directly connected and timed from Passover. This Feast of the LORD is to occur fifty days after Passover according to the law of Moses as given by God. The New Testament account of this Feast day, occurring after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, begins: "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they (referring to the followers of Jesus) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4).

     The disciples of Messiah/Christ are described as being "all with one accord in one place." It sounds good in English and is even often repeated as a goal to attain, however, the Greek reveals something else that is going on here that is not good. The phrase "in one accord" is the Greek word and roots, homothymadon/thymos/thyo. These are the meanings attached to the Greek: "with one mind, with one passion/boiling up fierceness, passion, anger, to rush, breathe hard/to sacrifice, immolate, slay, kill the pascal (Passover) lamb." Jesus wasn't slain for our sins only because of others' unbelief in Him. He was slain in the fierce and passionate anger of man against God. That same anger towards God, according to these verses was still present in the disciples. All mankind had a hand in slaying the Lamb of God, Jesus. Several times in scripture, violently angry, irrationally angry people tried to kill Jesus for what He was saying, but it was not yet His appointed time to die. 

     The second highlighted phrase from the verses in Acts above, "in one place," is the Greek word and root autos/aer, meaning "themselves, the same/lower air rather than higher rarer air, to breathe unconsciously, to blow the air."

     I know that it may be hard to believe that this kind of anger and fierceness towards God and Christ as noted by the Greek meanings above was present in the disciples who had followed Christ, seen miracles with Christ, seen Him crucified, resurrected and later ascended. However, it is confirmed when we look back into the law concerning the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost: "Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (from Passover); then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves...They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD." (Lev. 23:16-17). The word "leaven" used here is the Hebrew word hames, which means: "gained by violence and wrong, grieved, cruel, harsh, embittered, sour, oppress, be red or blood-stained, be ruthless, be unjust, violent, to injure." As we can see, the meaning of leaven here is very specific and the hames leaven cannot be a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but just the opposite. The hames leaven of the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost indicates that a violent and unjust cruelty is being lifted up to God as a firstfruits offering. The lifitng up or waving of Jesus on the cross was likewise unjust and atrociously cruel. Jesus sacrificed Himself, in part, to cover and intercede for the very people who were committing this terrible act of hate and violence: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34).

     However, a "different Spirit" came upon the followers of Jesus that Day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit came upon them. It changed the disciples. They were not the same. Paul explained the difference between the (Holy) Spirit-filled man and the carnal man: "...do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (ekhthrah/ekhthros - hostility, hatred/hating, odious, enemy, foe, opposing as the devil opposes God, hateful) against God...So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His...But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you...For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:4-14, excerpt). Paul said that the carnal mind of man hates and opposes God in the same manner that Satan hates and opposes God. This is another confirmation of man's natural or fleshly and truly irrational hatred of God. This is what sin does to man - to his mind, to his soul. Paul also wrote about men becoming haters of God. (see Rom. 1:28-31).

     Jesus said to His disciples that it was better for them that He goes away to His Father so that He could send the Helper/Comforter, the Spirit of truth. (see Jn. 16:7-15). Even for the disciples of Messiah/Christ on the Day of Pentecost as we see above, and in us today, the Holy Spirit is not just about receiving spiritual gifts, but He is needed and sent by Jesus Christ to work a transformation in our souls. Paul wrote above that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Caleb, who, as we saw above, was of a "different spirit" was associated with life and peace in scripture. (see Num. 14:38 and Josh. 14:13-15).

     The Holy Spirit was present and necessary in the work of transformation from the beginning. When the earth was buried in deep darkness and emptiness, the Holy Spirit hovered (rahap -gently cherish, fluttering, brooding meaning incubating and hatching) over it. Then the Word of creation spoke forth and transformed the darkness of death into the teaming of light and life. (see Gen. 1:1-2, Jn. 1:1-5). We need this transformation working in each of us. Not only that, but we need to pray and desire that our love for the Lord never grows cold or is lost. Jesus warned in scripture that this is a possibility as lawlessness increases. (Mt. 24:12-13, Rev. 2:4-5).

     This also helps us to understand what we are seeing in the world today - the irrational hatred of God and the people of God. Jesus spoke of this hatred. (see Jn. 15:18-19). However, the LORD vowed on His own Life after the rejection (see na'as above) of His own people for Him: "...all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." The prophet Joel confirmed this promise. (see Joel 2:28-29). This starts with each of us as His Spirit of glory fills and transforms us.

     If you would like to learn more about being of a "different spirit", and being filled with the transforming Holy Spirit of God, you can join with my prayer: "Beloved Father, Your commandment to us says: 'You shall love ('ahab - love, long for, breathe after, beloved, to produce fruit, to germinate, putting forth) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.' Lord, let Your Word and Your Holy Spirit create and continually revive in me a spiritual mind. Place Your protection around my mind, heart and soul, so that I will always walk in love for You. Let my desire be to love and worship You above all and with all. Holy Spirit, as on the Day of Pentecost, come into my life and fill my soul and spirit with the flames of fire of love for the Lord. Change my carnal mind into the mind of Spirit and of Messiah/Christ. Renew my love for the Lord daily as I pray and declare over my heart, and the hearts of all the earth, the commandment above to love You. I ask and receive these things in the name and by the grace of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Unleavened

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Bo, meaning "Enter." The title comes from Ex. 10:1-2: "Now the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in (bo - enter, come in, come or bring to pass, bring in, bring near, to enter as a bride into the house of a husband, attack an enemy, bring against, enter into judgment, bring before a tribunal) to Pharaoh; for I have hardened (kabad - to be heavy, be grievous, be hard, be insensible, be dull, make unresponsive, make oneself dense)  (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD."

     As we can see from the meaning of bo, above, there is a double understanding within the Hebrew word. We can come into or enter the presence of the LORD like a bride entering into her husband's house, or to enter into the judgment of, or the attack against an enemy.

     We can also see that while Pharaoh had had an *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega heart, he had deliberately turned his back on that purpose and consequently the LORD made it impossible for Pharaoh to enter into the knowledge of the LORD again. Judgment therefore had come to Pharaoh and his house. Proverbs tells us that the heart of the king is in the hands of the LORD, and He turns it whichever way He wills, and the LORD weighs the hearts. (Prov. 21:1-3). Beware kings and rulers on the earth. Don't resist the leading of the LORD.

     We also see that the purpose of this powerful dealing with Pharaoh and Egypt was to be an account to be passed down the generations of the Hebrews as an everlasting ordinance. There was something vitally important in this encounter never to be forgotten.

     Within this Bo Sabbath reading portion is the account of the night of the Passover of the LORD, when the Hebrews were told to enter into their homes, the doors, the doorposts and lintels of which had been covered by the blood of the sacrificed Passover lamb, were shut, while the death of all of the first born of Egypt swept across that land, and anguished cries sounded outside the closed doors of the Hebrews. From the beginning, the LORD had told Moses that Pharaoh would harden his heart against the command of the LORD to let His people go out of the slavery of Egypt. In the verses above, the LORD reveals that it is He who hardened Pharaoh's heart.

     The death of all of the first born of Egypt was the tenth plague brought against the Egyptians and their gods (Ex. 12:12), and the most severe. However, as for the Hebrews: "Now the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) blood (on the doorposts and lintels) shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (v. 13). Even Pharaoh's own first-born son died that night (Ex. 12:29). As a result of this plague of death: "...Pharaoh rose in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he (Pharaoh) called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 'Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also." (Ex. 12:30-32).

     A very strange thing was noted as the Israelites quickly left their slavery and Egypt behind: "So the people took (nasa - lift up, bear continuously, carry, forgive, support, sustain, accept, exalt, pardon, spare, desire, hold up, raise up, bring forth)  (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) their dough (baseq - unleavened dough, dough before rising) before it was leavened (hames - leavened, be sour, grieved, cruel, be imbittered, oppress, be ruthless, harsh, blood-stained, scarlet mantle of a ruler, to act violently, unjust, to injure, to be afflicted with pain), having their kneading bowls (root word sa'ar - remnant, left over, remain, left alive, survive, the rest) bound up (sarar - be in straits, adversary, bound up, tied up, cause distress, make narrow, shut up, birth pangs, to persecute [see 1 Sam. 25:29]) in their clothes (simla/semel - apparel, a covering assuming the shape of the object beneath, a covering in sleep/image, figure, likeness, resemblance) on their shoulders (shekem/shawkam - shoulder, back, portion, place of burdens/to rise or start early, rise up early). Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles/jewels (keli/kala - vessel, arms, weapons, jewel, armor, ornaments/fulfill, accomplish, finish, end, done) of silver, articles (see keli/kala above) of gold, and clothing. And the LORD had given the people (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they spoiled/plundered (nasal - deliver, recover, escape, rescue, take out, snatch away, draw out, preserve, deliver from sin and guilt, to deliver from death or enemies) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Egyptians." (Ex. 12:34-36).

     According to the Hebrew meanings of the words used in the above verses, there is a wealth of information connected to the Israelites exit out of Egypt on the night of Passover. The LORD commanded that immediately following Passover, there would be a seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. Along with Egyptian gold, silver, and raiment, the Israelites carried out on their shoulders dough bowls filled with the unleavened bread dough that did not have time to rise because of their hasty exit from Egypt. As we see above, leavened bread is associated with suffering, oppression, injustice, bitterness, blood-stained, violence, injuries, affliction and pain. We also see a picture of the evil of leavened bread in the suffering of Christ in these terrible afflictions as He was "raised up" on the cross. The unleavened bread celebrates the absence of or deliverance from these terrible things which the Israelites had suffered during bondage in Egypt. It also represents our spiritual liberty found in the sacrifice of the Messiah/Christ. 

     As we incorporate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, including the Hebrew meanings of the verse above from Ex. 12 in our lives as believers, the apostle Paul wrote this to the church: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness (pikria/pikros/pegnymi - bitter gall [see Mt. 27:33-34], bitter hatred, poison, extreme wickedness/bitter, harsh, virulent, to pierce, to cut/to fasten by peg [see also Col. 2:13-14]), wrath (thymos/thyo - passion, fierceness, indignation, wrath, inflaming wine that kills or drives drinkers mad/slaying or sacrifice of the paschal [Passover] lamb), anger (orge/orego - violent passion or emotion, agitation of the soul, angry infliction of punishment/to stretch one's self out, covetous love of money), clamor (kraugo/krazo - cry, crying in tumult or grief/cry out for vengeance, shriek, scream), and evil speaking (blasphemia - slander, detraction, abusive injurious speech to another's good name, impious speech injurious to divine majesty) be put away from you with all malice (kakia - maliciousness, ill will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, without shame, evil, harm, worthless). And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:30-32).

     Jesus told His listeners to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:6), which He described as hypocrisy (Lk. 12:1). This must have shocked His listeners, because these two groups were viewed and feared as being the most "religious". While being confident in and prideful of their own self-righteousness and expert adherence to scripture, the Pharisees and Sadducees did so through a spirit of meanness, mercilessness and accusation, which blinded them to their own Savior and Redeemer, Jesus, whom they accused most viciously and rejected.

     From another reading portion of this "enter" Sabbath from Ezra 6, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was observed with joy: "And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the LORD made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel." (Ezra 6:22). In fact, the house of the LORD was finished in Jerusalem as a result of the commands of three foreign kings: Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Ezra 6:14-15).

     It is also interesting to see that according to the Hebrew meaning of "spoil or plunder" of the wealth of the Egyptians, it had more of a meaning of a redemption price for the Egyptians, a pardoning of sin and guilt, a deliverance from death for the injustices they had heaped upon the Israelites. The wealth of the Egyptians, in part, came from the free labor and broken backs of their slaves. This restitution paid carries the meaning of being pardoned for that injustice. The lives of the Egyptians were spared from death as a result as found in the meaning of nasal (see above) in Hebrew. This redemption price also would build the tabernacle or house of God in the wilderness. We can say that the house or temple of God is built from the redemption price paid. In fact, after paying this redemption price, which is the rescue or deliverance from deserved death, the Egyptians are then noted as being the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Egyptians, the title associated with the Lord/Messiah/Christ Jesus, the Redeemer.

     Scripture says that our lives were also bought with a price paid by our Redeemer with His blood: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's...You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1 Cor. 6:19-20, 7:23). We are living temples also built by the redemption price paid by Christ for us. Peter also wrote: "...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot [see the Passover lamb of Ex. 12:5]." (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Our redemption price was the blood of Jesus, the unblemished Passover Lamb of God.

     Again, the LORD commanded that this remembrance of Passover was to be passed to all future generations: "So this day shall be to you a memorial (zikaron/zakar - memorial, remembrance, records, reminder, a memorable thing/mention, recorder, bring to remembrance, call to mind, think on); and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance." (Ex. 12:14).

     There are many important accounts in scripture of the miraculous deliverance of the LORD when His people were under the oppression of their enemies.  However, this particular event, the Passover, is of such significance that the LORD commanded that it always be remembered and observed as a memorial.

     Not only was Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread to be kept forever through all generations, but the Israelites were commanded to wear the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a sign: "Unleavened Bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you in all your quarters. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, 'This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.' It shall be as a sign (ot - sign, signal, distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, warning, miracle, proof, evidence, mark, monument, flag, beacon, a prophetic portent, a sign of a future fulfilment, to consent, to agree) to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) ordinance in its season from year to year." (Ex. 13:7-10).

     The Israelites were to wear the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a sign. The Hebrew definition of "sign" also includes "beacon". The definition of beacon is "a light/fire set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration". While the Church of believers as a whole does not observe either Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread or any of the other Feasts of the LORD, Jesus told us to be "beacons", with our lights set in a high place on a lampstand for all to see. (Mt. 5:14-16). We need to understand the importance of wearing and being the mark or sign of salvation life.

     The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to last seven days: "Seven (seba/saba - seven, seven-fold/swear, oath, charge solemnly, adjure, curse, "seven" oneself) days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread ...that person shall be cut off (karat - cut off, cut down, destroy, to permit to perish, to covenant to perish) from Israel." (Ex. 12:15). The seven days represent an oath. It is either an oath to be partakers of the unleavened bread, or it is a covenant made to perish by the curse that accompanies what is represented in leavened bread. 

     The Passover Lamb has redeemed and delivered us from slavery and death. It is a very serious thing to follow that sacrifice by turning back to the bitterness of leavened bread

     After the Israelites left Egypt, they took the unleavened dough they had carried on their shoulders and baked it: "And they baked (apa - to bake, to be complete or whole) unleavened (massa - without leaven, sweet, not soured by yeast) cakes of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened (hames, as above - cruel, grieved, sour, embittered, ruthless, oppress, harsh), because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions (food, meat) for themselves." (Ex. 12:39). 

     Not only was it important to eat the unleavened bread after they had dwelt in Egypt, but it was also important to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread when they would eventually dwell in the Promised Land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and the Jebusites dwelt (Ex. 13:5-7). These tribes of the land would be dispossessed as their wickedness became full. As the people of God eat the unleavened bread, it sets a difference between them and those who are "leavened".

     It is the completed work of God in us through Jesus Messiah/Christ as He removes us from Egypt, the house of bondage (Ex. 13:3) and commands us to eat the unleavened bread of, and following, Passover.

     If you would like to know more about living as unleavened bread, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You brought me out of the house of bondage to sin through Your Son, Jesus, and brought me into Your house of Redemption. By the power and truth of Your Word and Holy Spirit, teach me how to walk as unleavened bread, to be a sign or beacon for others to see. Remove from me all leaven and hypocrisy, and cause me to be covered with the resemblance and image of Jesus Messiah/Christ. Help me to show others the sweetness of Your living Bread that came down from heaven. I ask this in the name of Jesus, AMEN."

     *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.