Work and Worship :: By Jeff Van Hatten

 

Recently the ladies of Simply HIS over at SkywatchTV asked the questions, “Is Worship More Than Music at Church? Can We Worship in Everything We Do?” To which I answer, “Did you know that work and worship are the same thing? Most people do not!

The Hebrew word abad [H5647] is used over 290 times in scripture. It is translated: to do service, to serve, till, work, or labor. It can mean bondage, a burden, or to produce. However, it is also translated: to worship!

Burdens and Bondage

Exodus 6:5 tells us that the Hebrews were being “held in bondage” by the Egyptians.

Isaiah 14:3 and Ezekiel 34:27 tell us that the Hebrews “have been enslaved.”

Joshua 16:10 tells us the Hebrews “became forced laborers.”

Isaiah 43:23-24 tells us that Yahweh has not “burdened us with offerings,” but we “have burdened him with our sins”!

Both held and bondage are the Hebrew word abad, as are the words enslaved, laborers, and burdened.

Tilling and Cultivating

Genesis 2:15 – “Then the Yahweh took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”

Genesis 4:2 – “Cain was a tiller of the ground.”

Deuteronomy 28:39 – “You shall plant and cultivate vineyards.”

2 Samuel 9:10 – “You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land.”

Ezekiel 36:9 tells us that desolate lands and even people “will be cultivated.”

Proverbs 28:19 tells us that a person who “tills the land will have plenty of food.”

Cultivate, cultivated, tiller, and tills are also the Hebrew word abad.

Work, Work, Work – All We Do Is Abad

Exodus 20:9 and Exodus 34:21 – “You will work six days” and “perform the service of Yahweh” (Joshua 22:27). The Hebrews were to “labor rigorously” with the labors which were “rigorously imposed upon them”! Nebuchadnezzar’s army received no wages from Tyre for the labor that they performed against it (Ezekiel 29:18), but instead received the land of Egypt for the labor which he performed (Ezekiel 29:20).

Aaron and the Levites were “to do” the service of the Tabernacle (Numbers 3:7-8) and “to do the work of service” (Numbers 4:47). Numbers 8:11 and 8:25 also use the words perform and work. Deuteronomy 15:19 tells us, however, that we will not “work with the firstborn”!

Work, perform, performed, imposed, and to do are also all the Hebrew word abad.

Worship– We Abad

Isaiah 19:9-23 tells us that the “manufacturers of linen” will be dejected but that they will “worship with sacrifice and offering,” and the “Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.” The “prophets of Baal and all Baal’s worshippers” were summoned by Jehu and then killed (2 Kings 10:19-22).

More importantly, throughout the scriptures, we are commanded to worship/ Yahweh (Exodus 3:12, Exodus 12:31, Deuteronomy 6:13, Psalm 2:11, etc.).

Worship, worshippers, and manufacturers are also all the Hebrew word abad.

Conclusions

Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart as one who is serving Yahweh himself, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from him. Remember, you are a slave of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.”

Many believe that work and worship are separate concepts that have little to nothing in common. We work all week and then worship on a day of rest. The Hebrew mindset, however, sees no disconnect between work and worship – they are the same concept. Paul states it very succinctly in Colossians 3:23-24, tying in our work [abad] and serving as part of our enslavement [abad] to Yeshua!

Final Thought

Luke 21:28 – “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!”

We are always to be ready for Yeshua to return. Are you ready? If not, then get ready. Exercise whatever time you have to repent and trust Yeshua for your eternal salvation. Do not test Yahweh’s patience and wait too long – the dress rehearsals will not continue much longer. May Yom Teruah this year be fulfilled in the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of Yeshua’s Bride.

Website: https://raptureparty.net

Email: jeff@raptureparty.net

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About Jeff

Jeff is a retired Youth Worker and Christian camp employee/volunteer/board member with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies. He has been teaching /writing/blogging about the Pre-Trib Rapture and many other subjects for many years and has written much on these topics. His primary focus is analysis and teaching his favorite subject – the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Retirement allows him to concentrate on studying the Rapture and the Season of Yeshua’s Return, to blog, write, and teach what he learns, and to focus on Biblical exposition of his understanding of Biblical themes and patterns, word definitions, Hebrew idioms, and insights given by the Ruach Ha’Kodesh.

 

Chinese Challenge and Prophetic Progression  :: By Terry James

 

China is shaping up to become the entity prophetically designated the king of the “kings of the east.”

The leadership of the CCP hasn’t been asleep while the Biden administration has bumbled along in some instances and planned badly in others. Or, perhaps as some might put it, it is all a disguised blueprint that the so-called New World Order has concocted; i.e., the globalists are pulling strings of this president like the strings many generations ago saw as they watched Howdy Doody go through his antics. Only we can’t see the strings. But the antics are certainly manifesting while this administration dances to the globalists’ tune.

Again, the Chinese CCP schemers haven’t been oblivious to the Biden bumbling–or whatever is at the heart of the apparent downward spiral.

If the one-world crowd expects to outwit the CCP in their plans to dominate their part of the planet, and then expand everywhere else, they had better hurry and implement their brilliant blueprint to save the earth.

The Chinese communists are, themselves, pulling the puppet strings in consort with Vladimir Putin. Things aren’t looking so good, for example, in the matter of the globalists’ plans to continue to rule the world of finance. The communist cabal comprised of the old Soviet oligarchs and the more modernistic and inscrutable Chinese monetary masters seem to be outwitting those of the West who want to continue to rule the fiscal world through the petro dollar.

The Chinese, long known for their patience in their movement toward conquering the world, are seeing weakness they apparently can’t resist— weakness in an America under Mr. Biden, whose government is seen dancing around like that old Howdy Doody puppet of all those years ago.

The CCP has made its own self-perceived strength felt in letting its intentions with regard to Taiwan be known.

It has shown its contempt for American power—or lack thereof—by issuing a direct order in the form of a threat. The following excerpt encapsulates that Sino contempt for apparent US haplessness.

BEIJING (Reuters) -China warned on Thursday it would take strong measures if U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and said such a visit would severely impact Chinese-U.S. relations, following media reports she would go next week.

China considers democratically ruled Taiwan its own territory and the subject is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, especially given strong U.S. military and political support for the island.

The possible visit has not been confirmed by Pelosi’s office or Taiwan’s government, but some Japanese and Taiwanese media reported it would take place after she visits Japan this weekend…

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Fijian told reporters that Beijing firmly opposed all forms of official interactions between the United States and Taiwan, and Washington should cancel the trip.

“If the United States insists on having its own way, China will take strong measures in response to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. All possible consequences that arise from this will completely be borne by the U.S. side,” he added, without giving details. (Martin Quin, “China warns U.S. against House Speaker Pelosi visiting Taiwan,” Reuters)

Since this report, Speaker Pelosi has suddenly come down with COVID, or something other, it is speculated. The trip is off and the report is that she is ill and can’t make it.

Perhaps she was at the white-tie Gridiron Dinner in Washington, DC, the other day. That was apparently a COVID spreader, as many reportedly came down with the virus following the get-together. At any rate, following the Chinese directive, the trip was called off.

My own thinking continues to be that if China is that future king of the kings of the east (Revelation chapters 9 and 16), they will soon launch an assault on their Taiwanese neighbor. Thus will be due to the opportunity that has arisen because of America’s weakness. If they want to launch such an assault, they wouldn’t want the complication of having a US official of such status in the way of the military power that would be necessary to do the job on Taiwan like Mr. Putin is having such a time doing on Ukraine. The warning against Ms. Pelosi making the trip thus has been issued.

If China is the leader of that massive force from east of the Euphrates, they will–as I’ve expressed before—have to bring within their hegemony all of the Far East, including Japan, Taiwan, and the like, which are tied to the Western powers.

While we watch all of the power spheres shaping for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, believers should be alerted that the time of Christ’s call to the Church is almost certainly near indeed. Pastors across the nation and world should be issuing such alerts. We are not to look for the kings of the east to fulfill their dastardly role. We should be looking for the King of all kings.

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)