Category: the next chapter

After 20 plus years of full time ministry and a spiritual awakening these posts reflect my thoughts on what’s next now that i have had such a time of reflection?

Every wind of doctrine . . . part 1

Have you noticed that those foods, whether from a fast food place or a box of your favorite cereal, just doesn’t taste the same anymore? Some say it is because our tastebuds have changed over time. That may be partly true. However, ingredients have changed so much i am sure that plays a larger role in why foods taste different, and not for the better in most cases. Neither are they any healthier, in fact with near certainty i can say foods have become less healthy over time. The food industry in an attempt to reduce waste, and increase profit have tweaked recipes endlessly with little regard to original taste as long as it is “close”.

i for one am not a fan of change. Let’s look at my favorite fast food restaurant as an example, Taco Bell. They had an encharito, which was beef and beans, rolled in a soft corn tortilla, smothered in red sauce and covered in cheese, onions, and black olives. It was amazing! Through the years it lost its corn tortilla and became flour, this to some was a subtle change, but to me it was huge and not for the better. Then they ditched the black olives, another cost cutting effort i am sure. Over the years they changed their sauce ever so slightly, a little at a time. Today, if you did a taste test of sauce from 1980 and today, i bet not only would you not think that they were from the same restaurant, you would definitely notice the major differences between them and how newer is definitely not better. All of this is a moot point as Taco Bell no longer offers the encharito on their menu, nor their tostada, Bell-Beefer, or the All Beef Burrito. Change is not always good regardless of the motive behind it.

When restaurants, or food companies, make changes they are counting on the consumer not noticing or if they do notice, it will be so subtle that they will accept it. And in most instances if the price is right, change will be accepted regardless or how much change takes place. The proof is in the fact that we have become fatter, and overall, more unhealthy over time and much of it can be attributed to the food industries changes in ingredients. i am no health expert, i don’t pretend to eat all healthy, i enjoy a donut and ice cream now and then, however, i do try to buy and eat foods that are healthier. i cook most of my meals, i read labels, i try to eat in moderation or in healthy proportions.

What is the original recipe of the Ecclesia (Ekklesia – the assembly of the sect of the Nazarene in and around Greece), the people of the Way? The word ἐκκλησία means, “called out ones” or “set apart ones”. Today we say church, a weaker ingredient if you ask me. If you are a Christian, regardless of your brand, wouldn’t you want to be most like the original recipe as you could? Don’t you want to read labels, check recipes, scour menus for imperfections and lesser ingredients? We are called to be Berean’s who in Acts are described as more noble because they received the Word with gladness and then searched the Scriptures to see whether what they were hearing was true. They were hearing the gospel message, and verifying it within the Torah and the Profits writings. Interesting.

The Berean’s did this because they didn’t want a counterfeit religion they wanted the original recipe. Over time things were added to the faith of YHWH. There was an oral tradition which was later written known as the Talmud full of extra laws and regulations and ordinances, that the religious leaders elevated above the Torah, above the Prophets, above the Word of YHWH. It was subtle, over time, a little here and a little there until faith in YHWH was unrecognizable. i look at the many buildings in my town serving an unhealthy version of the original and because it has been done subtly over time most don’t even know it. It’s sad because it would only take someone doing a little digging to see that what they are doing, hearing, and being taught doesn’t look anything like that of the Way. (Where are the Pastors?)

i feel like we have lost the Berean spirit. We have substituted a curious mind for a mindset that says, “tell me what to think, tell me what to believe.” Not everyone, everywhere, but definitely a majority. Ask yourself this question with all the flavors available on Sunday, who has been swept away, blown about by the winds of change? Taking Ephesians 4:14-15 for a spin around your neighborhood. “That we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him, who is the heard, Messiah.” While you consider this remember these passages of Scripture as well, and on this theme do some digging.

Numbers 23:19
“Elohim is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?”

James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Hebrews 13:8
“Yahoshua Messah is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

John 1:1, 14
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.”
“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw His glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

What inspired this post? Well, on my planner, yes i still use a paper binder planner, over the past several weeks i have written the following;

Yahoshua said that He is
The Way, The Truth, The Life

The Torah is described as
The Path/Way/Instruction
The Truth, what is truth? Your Word is Truth
The Life, man shall not live by bread alone BUT
By every Word of Elohim

Yahoshua is The Word made flesh

With this in mind i began reading from Wesley’s works again. It is one of the collection of books i have kept. To be honest, mainly for the binding and how cool they look on my bookshelf. However, i do enjoy the information written within them . . . Not over Scripture of course and as many will concur, i don’t agree with everything he said either. Now with that disclaimer, it did stir the Berean heart within me to really think about the idea found in Ephesians 4:14

“. . . tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

i don’t know about that, but i am gonna dig around and write a part two.

You are loved,
cj

Journey Update 3 Love

i have always said that love is a choice it is not an emotion or feeling. However, there are blocks to love which are emotions, and feelings based on experience unforgiveness, anger, and hurt. The opposite is also true, good experiences and positive emotions and feelings like joy, happiness, and forgiveness. These are gateways that make choosing love easy. The devil does his best to accuse Elohim in our hearts. To get you to be angry at Him and others. Satan knows this well. If he can make you angry and dwell in hurt, your heart will harden. Then, choosing love will be nearly impossible. Because love blossoms out of forgiveness.

Humanity is a willing, unwilling, and unaware participant in Satan’s plan. So it’s easy to be angry even cynical of all of this . . . the world, politics, family, friends, life. Yet, even with such an advisory we are told to love. When Yahoshua was asked what the greatest commandment was He said, “30 Love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) He was referencing Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

The definition of love found in a dictionary is unbelievably mangled. As it will define it from loving one’s family, pet, or food, to intercourse, and a love affair. This definition is why society is so lost. We have taken the very thing Elohim rates at the top of His list for humanity and we have diluted it in a cesspool. There are different words for love within the recorded texts of Scripture, Storge, Phileo, Eros, and Agape. (The following definitions are from the website Biblestudytools.com)

  1. Storge: Storge love is the care that exists between family members, friends, or companions. Longer-lasting, it goes beyond an initial infatuation or attraction. Built on a familiarity between people, the emphasis of storge is on devotion and intimacy that develops over time.
  2. Phileo: Phileo most often describes a relationship between people, one of generous warmth for another. But in a broader sense, it can also apply to churches and even cities. The basis of this common bond is shared beliefs, values or interests.
  3. Eros: Eros love is a the kind of affection meant to describe a healthy, sensual love between husband and wife. Romance and physical attraction play a part in it. God [Elohim] gave us this kind of desire with the clear instruction to express it only within the bonds of marriage.
  4. Agape: Agape love is probably the most talked about of the four kinds of love. It is the highest, most complete form of affection. God’s [Elohim’s] love for us is the foundation of this love. And Jesus [Yahoshua] gave us many lessons about and examples of agape – a strong, selfless and sacrificial love – during His earthly ministry.

Based on the greatest commandment to Love [Agape] Elohim with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second love [Storge/Phileo] your neighbor you can see how this becomes more of a choice than an emotion. One must choose to love and in order to choose love, one must remove the obstacles that would hinder the ability to love as commanded.

If human love flows from forgiveness then perhaps this is why Yahoshua prayed, “forgive us our sins as we forgive . . .” those who trespass or are in debt to us so that we can love. Divine love flows from gratitude. Therefore it requires counting our blessings. However, if Satan can make you miserable, unforgiving, and fearful, it becomes nearly impossible to love your neighbor. He creates doubt and grievances, making it hard to love your enemy. Not to mention it makes it challenging to love Elohim with every fiber of your being.

i am not dismissing the difficulty in forgiveness, especially when one has been hurt, emotionally, physically, or both. i am not dismissing the difficulty in forgiving one’s self for failure. It is challenging to forgive oneself for hurting someone emotionally or physically. Experiencing loss tragically or unexpectedly adds to the difficulty. For all the barriers of choosing love, choosing forgiveness is the hardest. It isn’t just forgiving others, one must also forgive themselves. Satan works extremely hard to get one to believe they are not deserving of forgiveness. This belief makes one feel as if they are unlovable. This internal struggle stems from ones heart whether anger, fear, hurt, or trauma. And if one is unloved or unlovable, it is nearly impossible for them to love others.

Here is the good news, in Yahoshua Messiah, there is forgiveness for He loves you! One only needs to recognize that in Yahoshua there is the fullness of Agape love. It is complete with forgiveness, and then accept it. If you can understand this then you are on the road to wholeness. i have found that when one truly seeks to Agape Elohim with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength it becomes necessary to evaluate life from HIS perspective.

If all of the law and the prophets (what we call the Old Testament). Hangs on these two, love Elohim and love your neighbor. Knowing what that means from the beginning is vital. Micah 6:8 says, “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the YHWH requires of you: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” If Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever, learning His ways as one grafted into Israel is a sign of affection. it is Agape. As a member of Israel by way of graft i am part of the new covenant which is spelled out in Jeremiah and Hebrews.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 —
31 Look, the days are coming” — this is YHWH’s declaration — “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 “This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt — my covenant that they broke even though I am their husband”— YHWH’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” — YHWH’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 34 “No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them” — this is YHWH’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.”

Hebrews 8:7-13 —
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8 But finding fault with his people, he says: “See, the days are coming, says YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah —9 not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. I showed no concern for them, says YHWH, because they did not continue in my covenant. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says YHWH: I will put my Torah into their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know YHWH,” because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. 12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.”

The old covenant written on tablets and parchment. It has been rewritten on the hearts and the minds of the people of Elohim. The prophets taught the people to obey the very Torah. Yahoshua, the WORD made flesh, also taught His disciples to obey it. This Torah is written on the heart and mind of the people of Elohim. If we love Him we will obey Him, we are not a people of lawlessness but a people of Elohim. Set apart and marked by His covenant and sealed with the signs of His commandments, His feasts, His Torah.

i am forgiven, learning to forgive myself, learning to forgive others . . . Choosing to love Elohim and my neighbor. Learning to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my Elohim. Agreeing with the accuser, satan, as he accuses me before the Father. Yet, holding fast to my Advocate, my High Priest, my Savior, Yahoshua Ha’Mashiah.

You are loved,
cj

Journey Update (part 2)

What i have come to understand about shadows and prophecy, fullness and fulfillment. In part 2 of my Journey update i want to explore these things and encourage you to be a Berean and explore them for yourself as well…

There was a time that i worked at DIA (Denver International Airport) as a ramp agent, affectionately known among peers as ramp rats. We made a song, don’t ask me to sing it, not that it was vulgar, they all knew of and respected my faith. First, i don’t remember most of it and two i was once asked if i was tone deaf after singing. Anyway, it was a pretty cool gig. Besides all the cool benefits it was just fun work, physically tiring, but fun. One of the cool parts of working there was all the sights of various planes taking off and landing. The shadow of a plane on the ground as it came in getting larger and larger until it merged with the wheels on the runway as if Tinker Bell had sown them together. Revealing the fullness of the shadow in the presence of the plane.

The shadow of the plane on the ground looks like a plane. You can hear the plane, and see its shadow, an image of what is to come. As the object gets closer, the shadow grows in size until the fullness of the image casting the shadow arrives. The shadow doesn’t change it becomes more full when the substance of the shadow, the plane arrives. The planes shadow is an image of what is to come and when the substance arrives it reveals the fullness of the casted shadow. The shadow becomes something that you can enter into in its complete form.

John 1:1-3

“In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with Elohim,
and the Word was Elohim.

He existed in the beginning with Elohim.

Elohim created everything through Him,
Fore nothing was created except through Him.”

Yahoshua is the fullness, He is the substance of the shadow of what was to come. The Word casted its shadow on humanity, through Israel. Yahoshua, the Word made flesh, was the arrival of the Torah. The instruction (Torah) known as the Word, a shadow of things to come, arrived as the Word became flesh, Yahoshua Messiah. As Paul writes to the Colossians: “which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah’s.” (Colossians 2:17)

Yahoshua is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s Prophecy in 31:31-34– “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHWH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I will put My law (Torah) within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘know YHWH,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares YHWH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” In Hebrews this is brought up as fulfilled in Messiah. (See Hebrews 8)

The Word didn’t change. The Torah didn’t change. Elohim didn’t change. His instruction didn’t change. The method of delivery changed. The Holy Spirit is the written Torah, the written WORD, on the hearts of those within the Nation of Israel, whether by birth or by adoption, grafted into . . . There is one Torah for the native and for those who adjoin themselves to the people of Elohim. When we enter into the fullness of Messiah we are no longer Gentiles or Jews but we are one people, the people of Elohim, we are the bride. As gentiles (any nation of people not of the 12 tribes of Israel) can not live outside the foundation and root of the Hebrew Nation which is founded on the Word of Elohim, who was made flesh and dwelt among us, and now resides in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit. The written Word on our Hearts does not free us from Torah but empowers us to live it!

Yahoshua didn’t come and die for our sin so that we could live a life of sin. Sin as defined by 1 John 2:3-6 —
“This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word (Torah), truly in him the love of Elohim is made complete. This is how we know we are in Him: The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.” He came to reconcile us to the Father, take the punishment of our disobedience, and show us how to live. Paul, says, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” We also need to understand what John was referring to when he says, the word, and His commandments. As Paul instructs Timothy in his 2nd letter to him: “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Neither Paul or John were in anyway referring to their own letters or the Gospels, but the written Word of Elohim of the day, the Tanakh, which includes the Torah, or instruction, which has been translated, Law.

The shadow of things to come, has come in fullness through Yahoshua. And in the millennium, we will continue to live these instructions of Elohim. We will observe the Sabbath, the Feast Days, and the commandments of Elohim. As we have been taught to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” May we through the power of the Holy Spirit begin to live our lives in the pattern of Yahoshua Messiah, imitating Him as Paul demonstrates.

You are loved,
cj

Journey Update (part 1)

As the blog heading says, this is my journey with Yahoshua and in the description i mention that the writings you will read here are inspired by that journey. So i thought i would share an update on where i am on this journey; What is it that i believe and why i believe. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he writes, “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.” (Philippians 2:12 ESV) This passage and this one from Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does YHWH require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” Are my starting points. We are called to be like Him, “Be holy for I am Holy,” and as Paul also writes, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.”

Back in 2017 i put down most commentaries when reading and picked up a regular dictionary and a strongs as well as an interlinear concordance. In 2020 i put down nearly the rest of the commentaries i was still using and really began word studies and reading more history. What i began to discover was that i relied on the interpretations and customs of man which is exactly what the Pharisees had done and it was what Yahoshua was calling them out on . . . Not the observance of Torah, but of the traditions of man.

First lets talk about the name Jesus. This one had me spun for some time. Why do we use the name Jesus, when we also translate the name into English with the name Joshua? And why do we use those names at all when we know His Hebrew name is יֵשׁוּעַ which would be transliterated in modern Hebrew to Yeshua? This led me down another path on language. The letter J didn’t come into existence until 1650 and when it did it had a soft Y sound. Therefore the name Jesus as we know it today would have sounded more like its origin Yeshua, Yesus, a deeper study led me to the fact that in the Greek the S on the end (Ιησούς prior to 1650 transliterated Iesus) would have been silent so it would sound like, Yesu, which if we equate it to modern English it would be like calling a person named Joshua, Josh.

Somewhere along the line, much like the game operator, where you start by whispering something in the ear of one person. Who then whispers it into another until it goes around the circle. When it gets back to the beginning its more likely than not something different, even if its close, to the original. We have been playing operator and few seem to care about the original because they have become accustomed to the alternate. Yet we still use the excuse of transliteration, when its the evolution of language. i had to ask myself if i had gone on a long vacation and while i was away the sound of CH in my name went from K to M and the R became silent and suddenly everyone was reading my name off my passport and calling me Mistopher, would i know they were talking to me?

Yes, Yahoshua, this is how scholars render the name for Joshua son of Nun, who we understand to have the same given name as our Savior. This is why i use this spelling. Also, it has a pretty cool story of development which leads me to believe it was no coincidence. (See this Post, ‘Why Yahoshua, and other names and titles’ for a starting point on reasons why i choose Yahoshua), is the Word made flesh, He was in the beginning and He is at the end, the Aleph – Tav or the Alpha – Omega, so i am pretty sure He knows who we are talking about. However, with that i also believe that as we grow in knowledge and understanding we should take into account the commandment; “You shall not take the name of YHWH your Elohim in vain, for YHWH will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

We have made this to mean simply, by using the name Jesus or saying God in slang or a curse word is taking His name in vain. Although, partially true, it is much deeper than this. It also, includes, attributing sayings to Him, “Thus says the Lord . . .” Etc. that He did not say or believing that His Word is inconsequential as Israel did often, “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26). They would justify this by saying they haven’t been punished, when it was simply Elohim’s patience, that sought from them a repentant heart. His NAME is Holy! Isaiah (9:6) writes, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Elohim, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Did you read that, “Mighty Elohim, Everlasting Father,” this is specifically talking about Yahoshua, who most modern Christians call Jesus. Now i came to know Yahoshua through the name Jesus, i appreciate the name Jesus, i believe in the Power of the Name of the Word made flesh, the Lamb of Elohim, Emmanuel which means Elohim (God) with us. However, knowing what i know now makes it difficult for me call the Messiah anything other than His given name, Yahoshua. Even saying, Yesu, seems disrespectful to me. He is Mighty Elohim! The I AM!

i hope this makes sense to you, really i do. In the coming posts i will be discussing my beliefs on the Sabbath, Feast Days, Torah, among other things. Although, you can go into my archives and read about them there here, i will be spelling out the “WHY.” Anyway, i hope this at least gets you to ask the question, “WHY?” Just like when you were a kid and your parent told you to do something and you asked, “Why, why, why?” May you be so curious . . . For it is this curiosity that has made me to fall in love with Yahoshua ha’Mashiah all over again and in a much deeper way than ever before.

You are loved,
cj

A Reunion of Sorts

“All the believers devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

What is described in Acts 2:42-47 has been a desire of mine to build or to find for 30 years. Of which i have believed true, but now know i have only come close, sadly. And again, i have attended and been apart of ministry nearly my entire life. Folks, will come and say, “You have to try my church it’s an Acts 2 church!” i will go expecting; i will leave wanting. Are my expectations too high? As we look at this passage do we draw to grand a conclusion of the early church? Was Luke as guilty as we are when we describe our churches today, full of delusions of grandeur?

Oh i know the church was flawed then too. In fact it didn’t take long and there was some discord among the fellowship. It became a theme throughout the Epistles. But does that excuse us from aiming for the target? By no means! And don’t get me wrong i have attended reunions of fellowship where i have run into old friends and ministry partners and the joy it brought was quite grand. And there are moments, that like Paul, i long to see fellow believers again. Although, with social media, and cell phones, it isn’t really the same. Which makes me think that perhaps the bond built in the first century is not even possible today. Oh we may get close but can we really say that we are an Acts 2 church? If you think that your fellowship is to that standard, have you really asked the questions? Or do you fall back on the Acts 6 church and say, “wasn’t possible then surely it isn’t now.”

And who am i to even ask this question? Certainly, i am as guilty for what is lacking. Introvert, guarded, quiet, until of course i am comfortable or thrust into the spotlight, in which case i can be extroverted but it takes a toll on me no doubt. i like seclusion, i enjoy being by myself, i am a terrible friend. Besides all of this i am under the pressure of life and just trying to survive, and struggling to get back to a fixed point where i can be the friend i once was. Maybe, it is this period of introspection that has caused me to become more aware and more cynical.

For a period of 60 days the amount of reunions i witnessed was heartbreaking. The revolving door of our prison system and correctional institutions is really unbelievable until witnessed first-hand. “Oh, hey we did time together in (insert town name jail) or (such-n-such prison), The instant camaraderie was remarkable. It was often genuine joy and time spent catching up with one another, no judgment, no criticism, just ill-advised support and misguided advice, done with genuineness. The church really could use the lesson taught within the walls of the penitentiary, done with love, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

In 1 John 3:18-20 John writes, “My dear children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, Elohim is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” This seems in the spirit of James, faith without works is dead. These are the Apostles and these are their teachings. This is what Luke expresses in Acts 2:42-47.

“And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles teaching (doctrine) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the Apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and taking meals together house to house, they ate their good with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising Elohim and having favor with all people. And Adonai added to the Body of Messiah daily those who were being saved.”

So here is the checklist:
1. Living steadfastly in the Apostles teaching
2. Fellowships by breaking of bread and prayers (commonly understood to be Adonai’s supper, or communion)
3. Fear — Fear mingled with reverence and wonder, a state of mind inspired by something terrible or sublime. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling”
4. Signs and Wonders; To what degree should we see these things today? Outside of the NAR movement which is riddled with extra Biblical nonsense, where is the passion for the miracles of Elohim?
5. Together (of one accord) having all things in common (believing the same, unity)
6. Meeting the needs of the fellowship — as anyone had need (of the fellowship) things were sold, possessions exchanged, “as anyone had need”
7. Continuing daily with one mind in the temple — Daily! Some churches use their building once a week and heaven forbid the service last longer than an hour.
8. Meals together from house to house, cheerfully and simply, enjoying the fellowship of one mind in Messiah
9. Praising Elohim they found favor with all people
10. Adonai added the increase — the program was the fullness of fellowship, not the latest fad or new revelation, it was the simplicity of the Elohim’s desire found in Micah 6:8 — Do justly, LOVE mercy, Walk HUMBLY, with Elohim, with Messiah, “I and My Father are one.”

We are to be one as Elohim is one . . . Yet, we are a house divided, blown by every wind of doctrine. We desire the traditions of man over the things that set us apart for His glory. Where is the remnant?

You are loved,
cj

NOTE: Thank you, to many friends who have stuck beside me, prayed for me, and have blessed me in more ways than i can count. You are the remnant, may i be a like friend.

By the Power of His Name

“But these are written so that you may believe that Yahoshua is the Messiah, the Son of Elohim, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His Name.” John 20:31

Here me out on this, it will be an unpopular opinion for sure. Your knee jerk reaction will be to throw stones at me. However, if you just reason within yourself and wrestle with the word you will see my point. Also, let me say, that i am not against the name of Jesus, i came to know the Son by this name.

The other day i was talking with a gentleman about a place to live. i was calling him Clint. i did this several times. He interrupted me at one point and corrected me, “my name is Colt.” At first i was embarrassed, as i had been using the name Clint for a couple of days. So what right? Well, here is the moral of the story, Colt responded to me calling him Clint. He answered my questions, and interacted with me all while i was calling him by the wrong name. Why? Because he knew that i was talking to him. However, when he realized that there was potential of us interacting more frequently, he corrected me, “my name is Colt.” Of course i want to call him by his name, yet i was thankful that he responded to me even when i called him by the wrong name.

In the case of the name Jesus. The letter J didn’t even exist until the 1600’s. Pryor to it’s creation Jesus’ name was rendered Iesus. When the letter J was brought into the language it had a Y sound to it. i know i have written about this before and mentioned if one travels abroad do they translate their name into another language so as to better communicate with them? No of course not, at least not the super majority. We go by our legally given name. Not only is Jesus not the legally given name of Messiah, it didn’t even exist for 1600 hundred years after Messiah. In Matthew 1:21-23 we see the angel of YHWH giving to Joseph the name of the Son.

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name יהושע, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by YHWH through the prophet saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “El with us.”

Now how was the name of Elohim rendered in the Scriptures? It is called the Tetragrammaton and it looks like this: יהוה — Now, reading from right to left as is done in Hebrew do you see a similarity? Yes, because Yahoshua, came from the Father, is one with the Father, and reveals the Father. His name literally means YHWH is Salvation. It also makes verse 23 of Matthew even more significant, “‘and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, “El with us.’” As if this isn’t sufficient enough for us to understand the importance of using the name Yahoshua, (alternatively spelled, Yahushua, Yeshua, Yashua, Yahshua, i liken this discrepancy to my own name; Christopher, Kristofer, Chris, Cris, Kris, Cristofer, Cristopher, Kristopher. The reason i feel the Yah in Yahoshua is more accurate is because many scholars render the Tetragrammaton, Yahweh. —Note: i wrote a blog about the Yah you can read here.) let’s look deeper.

We understand that Elohim is Jealous; “for you shall worship no other el, for YHWH, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous Elohim,” Exodus 34:14.

We know that He instructed us not to profane the name of Elohim; “You shall not take the name of YHWH your Elohim in vain, for YHWH will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Deuteronomy 5:11)

We know His name is Exalted; “Oh, magnify YHWH with me, and let us exalt His name together!” Psalm 34:3 — “Sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise!” Psalm 66:2 — “Bless YHWH, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!” Psalm 103:1 — “I bow down toward Your Holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things YOUR NAME and YOUR WORD.” Psalm 138:2

Yahoshua said, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.” John 5:43 — In light of Psalm 138:2, i find so much more meaning here. Are we preparing to meet the Elohim of the Bible or the god of man? Should we not take the word of Elohim serious when it says; “You shall not take the Name of YWHW your Elohim in vain, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who take His name in vain.” He is as John described, the WORD made FLESH, and He did as the John described, the WORD dwelt among us.

i do believe there is power in the Name of Elohim and i do my best to honor it. i also believe that once i truly realized the significance of the name of Yahoshua and its relation to the name YHWH/Yahweh i could no longer continue to use the name Jesus, a translation of Iesus, the Greek transliteration of what? Because the name translated Joshua is more accurate than that of Jesus. So why? Especially, when we are warned time and time again about honoring the Name of Elohim! Folks, in these last days it will be increasingly difficult to discern truth. The word warns of a great deception coming. We need to get into the root of YHWH’s Word. We need to understand that that very WORD became flesh and dwelt among us — “He will be called Emmanuel, which is translated, ‘El with us.’” And the Angel of YWHW said, “You shall call His name Yahoshua, for He will save HIS people from their sins.”

When you know you know . . .

You are loved,
cj

Roses are Red

Did you know that if you want healthy rose bushes you are to prune them back to basically stumps in the fall? Doing so will allow growth and produce beautiful, full flowers throughout the season. It’s a wild concept, one that goes against the natural instincts, especially if you have ever seen a properly pruned rose bush. They look ruined and nearly dead. Yet it is in this pruning that allows for new growth. Likewise, during the growing season if a branch doesn’t produce a gardener will cut it down to the base. Sometimes this will restore life, other times it just hides the uselessness of the branch.

Yahoshua said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:1-4)

There was a time when i had rose bushes. And in the fall it was custom to spend a day in the yard pruning back the bushes. The cuttings were thrown into the dumpster to be collected and eventually burned. At the end of the day i was usually quite dirty, with scratches and cuts and a splinter or two from the thorns. i don’t know what the bush felt as i am no rose bush but i can say that i was tired and a bit beat up. In our life the processes of cutting and pruning are never fun or easy. It cuts away the dead and useless in our lives, even if we don’t recognize them as dead or useless, and often times we don’t.

In fact, what makes the process so hard is that when we allow for Elohim to prune us and really seek Him through the process we have things revealed to us that we didn’t even recognize or know were there. That my friends is an uncomfortable feeling. After all we are supposed to know ourselves, right? Pruning requires the eye of an outsider, just like the rose bush, we need the gardener’s eyes and hands to cut away those things in our life that are dead. Now . . .

Yahoshua continues, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:5-6)

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Elohim will use, friends, family, and the Church, as His instruments of revelation. However, in that same vain, Elohim may very well prune from our life, friends, family, work, church, other things we value for comfort, etc. away. These things are done in love with our best interests in mind. As i stated, revelation may come from friends, family and the Church but the work is done by the Holy Spirit. The hardest part from a human perspective is what pruning sometimes looks like, abandonment, chastising, friends and family turning their back on you.

Even if others abandon us if we remain in Him, He promise never to abandon us. We will always have an advocate with the Father. Yahoshua says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:7-11)

This is how the pruning takes place, by abiding in Him. His message, the Word, prunes us. His Spirit prunes us. As iron sharpens iron, through the Holy Spirit, those of us that are likeminded, seeking first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, prunes us. If we remain in Him, He promises to remain in us. Let Him prune away, let Him shape you into an instrument of righteousness, a rose bush in full bloom.

You are loved,
cj

Love each other . . .

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” — “These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” John 15: 12,17 (12-17)

The new commandment isn’t to love one another, as the Scriptures already declared that we are to love: “Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am YHWY.” Leviticus 19:18 — Love has been the command of life from the beginning. We are instructed to: Love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44); which includes doing good to those who persecute you. We are told not to return evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9). Yahoshua reiterates the commandment to love in Matthew 22:37-39 — “And Yahoshua said to him, ‘You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and great command. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The new command is simply the example of love, “just as I have loved you”. How has Yahoshua demonstrated His love? Between the John 15:12 and 17 we read: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” How did Yahoshua lay down His life? He served, He didn’t regard His position, His equality to Elohim, His Sonship, but rather emptied Himself and become a servant. He healed, He taught, He washed feet, He made wine, He wept, He died.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” What sort of love? One that serves, one that weeps, one that heals, one willing to wash feet, dying to self, living for Yahoshua.

As the song goes: “They will know that we are Christians by our love.”

We are called to love as Yahoshua loves and not as the world loves. For the world loves with expectation, “what do I get out of it?” Yahoshua taught us to love, because, He first loved us, period.

By our love.

You are loved,
cj

A Kind Word

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10

One can learn a lot, when there is nothing to do but learn. One can observe a lot, when there is nothing to do but observe. One can grow a lot, when there is nothing to do but grow. The problem is that we like to fill our lives with fillers; Inconsequential things, that suck the life and time out of our day. i had roughly sixty days where there was quite literally nothing to do but learn, observe, and grow, and i took full advantage. Even now i am in a season in which i am taking every opportunity to learn from the Word, from others, from life. i am taking every opportunity to be observant of others so that i can be attentive and i am taking every chance to allow for growth both mentally and spiritually.

During my sixty day hiatus, in a cell built for one, filled with two, doing time, i spent most of it learning to be more attentive. The CO’s (correction officers) were not regarded well especially if there was a perceived weakness or an experience to exploit. Females were gawked at and taunted for being, well, female; “Say that with your chest out!” If it was a male CO most of the ridicule came based on appearance, especially if that appearance was that of a 15 year old boy, dubbed a middle schooler or a rugrat. These were of course the G rated terms used. Even other CO’s would ridicule each other, some more harshly than others, based on these same characteristics.

There is a point in Yahoshua’s early ministry when His own family didn’t believe in Him. John records it this way, “So His brothers said to Him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works You are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For NOT even His brothers believed in Him.” (John 7:3-5)

Have you ever been in a situation where people didn’t believe in you or didn’t have faith that you were able to get the job done? It is never easy to work in that type of environment. Now make that environment one filled with men or women doing time and suddenly the atmosphere changes. One afternoon the guys were being especially, umm how should i say, demeaning to a young guard who in all honesty looked like he was 15 years old. When my particular group was let out for our free time i made it a point to walk over to the CO and say, “Don’t listen to these knuckleheads, if i were your dad, i would be extremely proud of you.” His response overwhelmed me, “Thank you” pause, a shine in the eye, “for that.” Without realizing it, the young CO lifted his shoulders, used a hand to press out his shirt from his chest to his waist, with a new spark in his eye.

i was constantly thinking of Paul while he was imprisoned. How did he act. In Acts 16, He and Silas were praying and singing hymns to Elohim, when there was an earthquake that made a way of escape. However, neither Paul nor Silas, or anyone for that matter took advantage. When the jailer saw that it appeared all had escaped, he was about to take his own life. When Paul yelled out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” Now there was no earthquake, no opportunity for escape, but i still thought in that moment that young man needed an encouraging word.

Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” And Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, that it may minister grace to the hearers.” A kind word or a gentle spirit can change the spirit of most every environment. You can effect the atmosphere of a situation with the power of speech. James warns of its power in chapter three of his book. i know for a fact that i have used the power of the tongue wrongly, for that i am sorrowful. However, each day, moment, conversation, is a new opportunity to use the power of speech to speak a kind word.

May we all become observant in ways that we become aware of those around us and then choose to use the power of speech to speak a kind word, changing the atmosphere of our environment for good.

You are loved,
cj

IF

“If you will diligently listen to the voice of YHWH your Elohim, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes. I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am YHWH your healer.” Exodus 15:26

IF, is a theme well overlooked in Scripture. No one likes to read the IF. There are many examples i could have pulled from where IF is the clause. But i like this passage in Exodus because of its connection to listening to, and obeying, YHWH. We can hear, or read, and understand what is being said, but IF we do not apply it than we have not obeyed and that is what matters. Oh some will say, we are not saved by works therefore we needn’t do anything. Yet, we read that it was Abrahams faith in YWHW that caused him to do and it was the doing that revealed his faith and that was accounted to him as righteousness. IF carries a lot of weight.

“But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in Elohim.” John 3:21

This verse doesn’t get as much attention as its famous cousin, John 3:16 but it is equally important. In fact, one could say that the very act of believing is a triple work done in us and through us by Elohim with us. To get around that many will point to the words elect, or chosen, to which i would still point out the IF. Look what history tells us of Israel or what it reveals of the followers of Messiah. Still, walking with YHWH is simpler than some make it out to be.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does YHWH require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim!” Micah 6:8 One could easily argue that the Torah, the old covenant, was based on grace.

Paul writes to the Romans about the Law, and when we read Law it is speaking about the Torah. In Paul’s writing he points out the idea that the Law, (Torah) reveals sin without it we wouldn’t know what sin is. He then points out one of the commandments, covetousness, he doesn’t excuse sin in his discourse but rather points out the need for a remedy. Romans 7:24 says; “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He answers his own question in verse 25, “Thanks be to Elohim through Yahoshua Messiah our Adon! So then, I myself serve the law of Elohim with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

What seems to be missed so often in Paul’s writing is he isn’t excusing sin but rather revealing the remedy. Yet, still the remedy comes with the IF. Paul continues in chapter 10:5-13 to address this further but i will highlight verses 8-9; “But what does it say? The WORD is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is the word of faith that we proclaim); because, IF you confess with your mouth that Yahoshua is Adonai and believe in your heart that Elohim raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” There is hearing the word, listening to the word, and obeying the word. IF carries a lot of weight.

You are loved,
cj