Month: June 2023

Give us this day our daily bread

“And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of Elohim, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But He answered, ‘It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of Elohim.’”’” Matthew 4:3-4

“And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of Yahweh” Deuteronomy 8:3

In order to truly understand this line, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we need to grasp wholly these two passages above. Was Yahoshua speaking of bread or word? Perhaps both. The miracle of the manna from heaven is where we will find our answer, Exodus 16.

“They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin,” (A side note that i find interesting is the location in which the miracle of the bread of heaven is done, a valley called, the Wilderness of Sin or Desert of Sin. And it is brought about as a sign for Israel’s lack of faith and grumbling.) “Which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of YHWH in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:1-3

Ever heard of the term, hangry? Its definition, hunger that makes one angry or upset, thus the word, hangry. i think it is safe to say that the Israelites were hangry in the Wilderness of Sin. How good is our Elohim? In response to their grumbling He tells Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” Exodus 16:4-5

Isn’t it amazing that the word of Elohim to Moses was that He was sending bread for the people, each day, a day’s portion with exception of the 6th day where a double portion was given so that they had enough for the Sabbath day?! And, that this was being done to test them on whether or not they would walk in His law or not?! Both physical bread, manna and spiritual bread, the Word. i don’t think it is a stretch that every day we should seek our daily need of manna and the Word. Gives us this day, our daily bread, physical and spiritual.

In our present day i believe it is becoming more and more important that we seek our daily spiritual bread through His Word. For there is coming a time, soon, that there will be a famine in the world and it will drive people to fall from Adonai, to deny Yahoshua, we are warned of famines and when we think of famines we instantly think of food. And we hear of things happening around the world to our food supply on a daily bases, let us remember Elohim is faithful, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Yet, this is not what is pressing my spirit in the moment as i have been praying about this post.

Amos 8:11-12 “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares Adon YHWH, ‘when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of Yahweh. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of Yahweh, BUT THEY SHALL NOT FIND IT.’”

Life is not about possessions, it isn’t about fame or fortune, it is about taking up our cross daily and following our Adonai, Yahoshua ha’Mashiah, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1-4, 14a

“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of Elohim is He who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to Him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:32-35

O Father, may we hunger and thirst after Yahoshua ha’Mashiah our Adonai and King; Give us this day our daily bread.

You are loved,
cj

On Earth as it is in Heaven

“. . . They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, our Adonai and Elohim, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.’” Revelation 4:11

As we continue breaking down Adonai’s Prayer i think it is important to keep in the forefront of our minds whom we are talking to, the Creator of all things. Let us not lose perspective of this for when we do i believe that is part of the slippery slope which leads to the great falling away Yahoshua mentions in Matthew 24:10. For when tribulation comes, and it is coming to us in the western culture; Yet, many in the world already suffer great tribulation everyday, and i believe what see’s them through it is reminding themselves they are serving the Creator of all things. So when we pray, “one earth as it is in Heaven” we are stating we want Elohim’s will to be done with no distinction, between heaven and earth. In the High Priestly Prayer recorded in John Yahoshua says:

“I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:15-21

Remember sanctify means set apart. Yahoshua is praying that we be set apart from the world but not removed from it. Israel was to be the people in which Elohim was known to all nations. They were to be set apart and what set them apart was following the Commandments of YWHW. This covenant between Elohim and man begins with Abram, later Abraham; “Now YWHW said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’” Genesis 12:1-3 Fast forward to Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

This covenant hasn’t changed the people of Elohim are to be priests and to be set apart from the world both the natural and those of us grafted in. This was done through the redemption we have through Yahoshua. “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for Elohim from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our Elohim, and they shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10. Knowing this should help us to live Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
and approve what Elohim’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
AND
“Since you were raised from the dead with Mashiah, aim at what is in heaven, where Mashiah is sitting at the right hand of Elohim. Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth. Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Mashiah in Elohim.” Colossians 3:1-3 — i am one who believes that understanding this puts the words of Yahoshua ha’Mashiah into greater perspective.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19

The key part of this passage i believe many miss is the heavens and earth passing away. Instead, they look at the word accomplished and relate that to the work of the cross. i am of the camp that sees this as a wrong interpretation. what was being finished on the cross was the redeeming work of the Lamb of Elohim. Read Psalm 22 and then the accounts of the crucification found in the gospels. i believe Yahoshua was quoting this Psalm while on the cross and when he said, “It is finished” Yahoshua was ending the Psalm not abolishing the Law or the prophets. Something else noteworthy here is the tradition of the High Priest, to come out after the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb and proclaim, “It is finished.” What is? The sacrifice. Yahoshua is both the Sacrifice, the Lamb of Elohim, and the High Priest. Furthermore, look at Revelation 21 where we see the passing away of the heaven and earth.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from. The throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of Elohim is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and Elohim Himself will be with them as their Elohim.’” Revelation 21:1-3

Do you truly want the WILL of Elohim “on earth as it is in heaven” if so what does that look like?

You are loved,
cj

Thy WILL be done

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me ‘Adonai Adonai,’ but not do what I say?”What is the Will of Elohim? Yahoshua when asked what the greatest commandment was, responded, “To love your Elohim with all your heart, soul, and mind; and the second, love your neighbor as yourself.” Many take this to mean Yahoshua was setting aside the 10 Commandments, yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. Some will assign the first of the greatest to the first 4 or 5 depending on how you see honoring your father and mother. Likewise, assigning the second of the greatest to the latter half of the 10 Commandments. This i would say is the most accurate of the two. However, going a bit further what if Yahoshua was saying the greatest is and the second is like it . . . The Whole of the 10 Commandants are essentially one. To disobey one is to disobey all; Thereby sinning and to obey one is to honor all. But is this fulfilling the Will of Elohim?

As many of you already know my go to verse in life is Micah 6:8 “. . . Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with Elohim.” Is this fulfilling the Will of Elohim? James (1:27) writes: “Pure and undefiled religion before Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulation; to keep oneself untainted from the world.”

Who was Yahoshua teaching this prayer to? In the account found in Matthew Yahoshua presents it as part of His sermon on the mount, Matthew 5-7. In Luke however it appears that the disciples went to Yahoshua and asked Him, “Adonai, teach us to pray . . .” Some argue this is a contradiction, some will just brush it off with some sort of slight of hand answer. What if Yahoshua taught it in His sermon on the mount and then later when asked by His disciples He simply stated the same prayer? Wouldn’t that then also lend more to its purpose then merely an outline? That aside, (although food for thought) in the sermon on the mount He was teaching His disciples specifically (see Matthew 5:1) and by proximity those that gathered unto him, a mixed multitude probably made up of mostly Jews. In Luke He was teaching His disciples during a personal time of prayer (see Luke 11:1). So the question should be how would the Jews interpret, “Thy Will be done”?

Is this a point of order to draw the Hebrew nation back to the Torah? What about the Church. Many believe that the Church is on a different track than the Jews. Yet, we are grafted in. See Romans 11:11-31 for full context. Let me point out; “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in (speaking of gentiles) among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.” Romans 11:17-20

We are told to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is Elohim who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” What was the purpose of the chosen people? Exodus gives us a snapshot, “‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:5-6. Has that changed with gentiles being grafted in? No it has not. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Mashiah Yahoshua.” Galatians 3:28

Peter writes: “But you are a chosen people, a holy nation, royal priests, a people of Elohim’s own possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1Peter 2:9) Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Therefore we are ambassadors for ha’Mashiah as though Elohim were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Mashiah: Be reconciled to Elohim.” (2 Corinthians 5:20

Should we not then as a chosen people, or as one grafted in, seek to know and do; Thy WILL be done? Not to blend into the world but to be that city on a hill? We will be hated for the name of YWHW and His Son Yahoshua we cannot allow that to stop us from doing the Will of the Father. Thy WIll be done.

You are loved,
cj