When I was younger in ministry, just starting out. my grandfather, who was an ordained minister, served as a Conference Superintendent for his denomination. He also served as the Director of Interracial Evangelism and worked with an inner city school in Shreveport Louisiana. Writer of many books and editor of a once greatly sought after ministry magazine, ‘The Sermon Builder.’ Said to me, “Don’t ever think that you know everything, so that you remain teachable. However, know the Word, so that you can discern Truth from lies.”
I held to that lesson from my grandpa. I taught on it. Used it in many a sermon illustration. I would have told you that I was living that advice. Yet, I was more interested in what others had to say about the Word than the Word itself. Which didn’t allow for true discernment. Oh, I knew chapter and verse just fine. But I leaned more on voices I thought were in my circle of influence and therefore must be right, right?
I lacked the Truth of the Word, to discern properly. I simply regurgitated what I was fed. My awakening to the wholeness of Scripture was stirring for years. It started to gain traction however after hearing the testimony of an Africa Region, Missionary. It was Fall. He talked about his first time in America. He saw all the pumpkins on the porches of ‘Christian’ homes. He expressed the confusion and sorrow of his heart in that moment. “Do Americans not know the symbolism of a lit gourd?” My heart was stirred and I turned to the pages of Scripture. We are called to be set apart, not to assimilate. We are not to Worship as the pagans do.
I put down books that repeated what I had been told is true. I set aside opinions and doctrines of men. I picked up the Word and began to read, and read, and read. I recalled the words of wisdom from my grandfather. My heart was broken for the many wasted years. These were years filled with misunderstandings, poor translations, and Christian hypocrisy.
I felt like I had grasped my grandfathers wisdom. That I had learned that lesson. Unfortunately, I had not. I missed the most important part of his wisdom, “Know the WORD, so that you can discern TRUTH from LIES.” I am now a student of the Word, not of man. My eyes are open. I have taken up the cause. I do not wish to enter arguments. Instead, I want to stir desires within others to read, and read, and read the WORD. In doing so, they can gain TRUTH, so others can discern the Way of the Rabbi. Had I learned this lesson earlier in ministry, perhaps I could have avoided the many pitfalls I have found myself in.
“But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yahoshua the Messiah. All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to Elohim may be fully equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17
With the Fall Feasts just around the corner this is a fitting prompt. When I began to dive into the idea of the Biblical Feasts I made a hard right turn. Every other holiday, especially Halloween, Christmas and Easter, became pagan. Although, I still know their roots I have taken a different stance. Joshua tells the people of Israel to pick a side. If you are going to honor Elohim then one should find out how to do it.
“Now therefore fear Yahweh and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.” Joshua 24:14-15
In the Torah Elohim explains these Feasts and how to celebrate them. They are essentially giant block parties. They are fantastic food filled, family oriented, jubilees. They demand rest and relaxation. They require celebration. Each one has a point of focus and remembrance, as well a forward looking expectation and hopefulness about them. Seven amazing Feasts, beginning in the Spring with Passover and the last one in the Fall, the Feast of Tabernacles. John the Baptist declared, “Behold the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world!” He was pointing to Yahoshua when he said this, Yahoshua is the fulfillment of Passover as our Passover Lamb.
As the Fall Feasts approach we have the Feast of Trumpets, a call to right living. A period of self reflection and preparation of heart, soul and mind. Ten days later the day of Atonement, which is a day of Fasting. A day we reflect on a Holy Elohim. Who calls us to be separate and live as chosen people. Reflecting not the nature of the people around us but that of our Holy Creator. After this period of soul searching and repentance, we enter into the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast looks back at the time when Yahweh dwelt with His people Israel. It also looks forward to His soon return in which He will rule and reign over His people.
I have written more on the Feasts and Holidays. I invite you to take a deep dive into learning more of these great Feasts. Why do we always replace the ways of Elohim for man made traditions? It’s time we take a serious look at how we honor Elohim for His return is fast approaching.
i often wonder about the idea of leadership. i don’t feel like a very good leader that is for sure. However, for as long as i can remember i have been in leadership roles. Sometimes i have been successful at it. However, i am also my own worst critic. Never good enough, lacking true lasting motivational skills. i can lite a fire in others but it burns out quickly. i have good personal discipline for myself, meet deadlines, showing up ready and able to get the job done. All the while in my mind wondering what it is that i actually do.
To me leadership is done from the middle. Yes, there are times when one must lead from the front. A strong leader also recognizes when leading from behind is required. Still, the majority of the time one should lead from the middle. However, few leaders from the middle are remembered for their leadership. This leads to the question, “What is it that I actually do?” In the end, i don’t think my leadership is what i want to be remembered for. My life’s goal is to ‘Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly’. i want people to think of me for my writing and my philosophy. A leader of words and ideas that motivated them to try harder, be better, love more.
i have made more mistakes than i care to admit. i have let people down and look back and wonder how just was that action? How merciful? How humble? In many cases i lacked empathy. i try to learn from that experience and do better the next time. i take every challenge as a learning opportunity. At the end of the day i want to be a better person. If that makes me a better leader than so be it. But my aim is to be a better human, a better man.
“Do you see yourself as a leader?” i see myself as an example.
Luke 6:40 — “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
“And Yahoshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2) As we read this many will only look at what we will highlight in a minute, however, this statement says a lot. For forty days, Yahoshua fasted and was tempted. We will look at three of them because that is all we get a glimpse of yet, still, i am confident that the response the entire time is the same; “It is written.” You can read the entire account in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.
Yahoshua, tired and hungry is tempted by the devil yet again, “If you are the Son of Elohim, command this stone to become bread.” Remember now, Yahoshua has been fasting for forty days. The Scripture says, “He was hungry.” The devil may not be all knowing but he is aware and knowledgable. In that awareness and knowledge of Scripture he will tempt you right where you are with exactly what might work, if you are not equipped to fight him off. The devil knows the Scriptures better than most if not all of humanity, and he knows how to twist it to make his temptation seem even as truth. Yahoshua, who is the Word made flesh was equipped to give the right answer. “Yahoshua answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of Elohim.” The Way of the Rabbi is to confront temptation with Scripture. Yahoshua, here quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3 — “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 YHWH.” As He quotes the later part of this passage, i can’t help but think that in this He was also thinking, that the Father knows of what we need. As later when asked to teach on prayer, Yahoshua says, “give us this day our daily bread.” This is the Way of the Rabbi, to hunger and thirst for righteousness. To search the scriptures daily, to meditate on them day and night. Let’s continue with temptation number two . . .
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of Elohim, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command His angels concerning You,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest you strike Your foot against a stone.'”
One wouldn’t think of this as being that great a temptation. Unless you take into account all that would befall Yahoshua. When i read this temptation i am reminded of the moment Yahoshua was taken to the cliff to be thrown down by the Pharisee’s. Just after Yahoshua reads from the Prophet Isaiah in the synagogue, “The Spirit of Adonai is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor.” After reading this passage He rolled up the scroll and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Hearing this those in the synagogue were filled with wrath. They drove Yahoshua out of town to the cliff and were intent on throwing Him over the edge. However, just when you thought His end was near, “But passing through their midst, He went away.” The devil will tempt us to put Elohim to the test, to seek for signs and wonders, yet His promise is to be there for us in our times of trouble. There isn’t a need to test Him but to trust Him. Yahoshua responds to the devil, “Again it is written, You shall not put Adonai your Elohim to the test.” This response comes from Deuteronomy 6:16 the following verse reads, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim, and His testimonies and His statutes, which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of YHWH, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that YHWH swore to give to your fathers.” This is extremely important context! For the Way of the Rabbi is to do the will of the Father, to follow His commandments and statutes. Why? Because, when we live as instructed, we don’t need to worry about such things for He will take care of us. As the lesson found in Luke 4:28-30 reveals, “But passing through their midst, He went away.“
Now the devil attempts to tempt Yahoshua in a way many are tempted today. To submit to him and in so doing gain the riches of this world. “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And He said to Him, ‘All these I will give You, if you will fall down and worship me.‘” There is an easy road that leads to destruction, this is what the Word tells us and many walk it. Even if the road isn’t easy but full of hardship, people will blame Elohim, yet they are not submitting to His way of life. The devil needn’t worry so much about them for he already has them. But the ones who are trying to walk the Way of the Rabbi are tempted, in this way, to just live free, “do as thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law.” It is the temptation of Messiah here, “don’t worry about all that stuff, just submit to me and it is Yours.” Finally, Yahoshua having had enough of the games says, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your Elohim and Him only shall you serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.” In Yahoshua’s response He is quoting from Deuteronomy again, 6:13, the fullness of that passage reads; “It is YHWH your Elohim you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by His name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you, for YHWH your Elohim in your midst is a jealous Elohim, lest the anger of YHWH your Elohim be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.” WOW! We are to “seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” We don’t need to submit to the devil and his temptations for we serve a Elohim who knows our needs, our wants and our desires. We are to resist the devil in this way, “IT IS WRITTEN!” and he has no choice but to flee.
However, in order to do this one must be versed in Scripture! You must know what it says, why it says it, and be confident in the promises of Elohim. Paul, who is often mis-interpreted, was a Torah observant follower of Messiah Yahoshua and he told Timothy this . . . “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16. He goes on in his letter to warn Timothy, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4. We live in a time of itching ears, a time where people are looking to teachers who widen the path, pervert the Word of Elohim, twist it and make a mockery of it. Yet, we are given a more perfect way, the Way of the Rabbi.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40 “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 “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 15:4 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is Truth.” John 17:17
As Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” So is the Torah described. The Torah is known as the Way, the Path, and Instruction. As we have seen above Yahoshua is Truth, and the Torah, the Word, is Truth. He is Life, Yahoshua is life and the Torah is the life, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of Elohim.” Yahoshua said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Yahoshua said, “If you abide in My word you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Not free to sin or live in rebellion to YHWH and His Word but to live free from the penalty of sin and death. For by grace we have been saved and not of works that anyone should boast. Yet, we are still to live in communion and covenant with Elohim by keeping His word. It isn’t too cumbersome, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We are to love YHWH with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To abide in Him and in His Word. Yahoshua is His Word, made flesh, He didn’t come to contradict Himself but to reveal and make full the wonders of Elohim the Father.
Let me conclude with this verse, “Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them . . . when the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49. This is the Way of the Rabbi.
“Now, therefore, fear YHWH, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt. Serve YHWH, And if it seems evil to you to serve YHWH,, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH,.” Joshua 24:14-15
This is my yearly appeal to you, out of love, walk away from Easter and all of its pagan roots. We know it to be true that Yahoshua (Jesus) fulfilled the Passover. John the Baptist declared on the river’s edge, “Behold, the Lamb of Elohim! Who takes away the sin of the world!” Yahoshua is the final Passover Lamb. We should be honoring that and not the combination of a pagan festival mixed in. The richness of the Feast of Elohim that tears the vale and covers us in righteousness. It cleanses us from our sin. It is all that we should be remembering this time of year. For it is the Feast at the head of the year.
In Emperor Constantine’s letter to “all those not present at the council”. Following the Council of Nicea he wrote how it would be better to separate from Jewish custom. He called out the Jews for killing Yahoshua and in many instances called for antisemitism. For instance, he wrote, “We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews.”
He goes on to say, “They do not possess the truth in this Easter question; for, in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements, they frequently celebrate two Passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly in error. How, then, could we follow these Jews, who are most certainly blinded by error? for to celebrate the Passover twice in one year is totally inadmissible. But even if this were not so, it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people [the Jews]. Besides, consider well, that in such an important matter, and on a subject of such great solemnity, there ought not to be any division. Our Savior has left us only one festal day of our redemption, that is to say, of his holy passion, and he desired[to establish] only one Catholic Church.”
The question of whether or not Constantine truly converted to Christianity or not has been debated for centuries. However, we do know for a fact that rather than adhere strictly to Christian tradition and belief; for the sake of the unity of the empire, he combined the festal days of paganism and Christianity. His disdain for the Jews as represented in his letter, and his lack of judgment in establishing a new religion where we see the combination of paganism and Christianity should certainly call into question our adherence to these traditions.
“When Adonai your Elohim cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? —that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship Adonai your Elohim in that way, for every abominable thing that Adonai hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” Deuteronomy 12:29-32
i want to make a clarification here about Constantine’s reference to two Passover’s. Clearly he was unaware and sadly none of the scholars of his day enlightened him. In Numbers 9 we read of some men who were ceremonially unclean and therefore unable to bring the sacrifice of Passover. They inquired of Moses and Aaron on what to do. YHWH, told Moses to give this instruction: Numbers 9:10-11 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, if any one of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body, or is on a long journey, he shall still keep the Passover to YHWH,. In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight they shall keep it. . .”
Concerning the idea that Passover or any of the Feast of Adonai are strictly Jewish, i present Leviticus 23:1-2 “Adonai spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, these are the appointed feasts of Adonai that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are MY appointed feasts.” Clearly they are HIS feasts, much like the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
Finally, let me close with this, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yahoshua. And if you are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:23) Passover this year begins at Sundown on Friday April 15, in line with Good Friday services, however, the tomb would not be discovered empty until Tuesday morning fulfilling the three days and three nights. Often Easter and Passover do not line up and occasionally are off by a months time. Although this year is very close in timing i will refuse to attend any church that is honoring Easter, hosting an egg hunt, or in any way mixing pagan tradition with this most Holy of Feasts, Passover.
Tomorrow i have the privilege of speaking at family camp at the morning teen service. i am so excited to be able to speak into the lives of the teens on our district. The theme this year is “Go Deeper” which fits really well with where i am on my own personal journey with Jesus. i was preparing for Sunday Edition a few weeks back and stumbled upon this quote from Wesley, “Have you availed yourself to the means of grace this week?”
In thinking about this it really does draw one to a deeper thought, making one “go deeper” into who Jesus is…which is where we are with Coffee with Jesus; “Who do you say Jesus is?” Based on Jesus’ own question to His disciples in Mark 8:29. The idea of understanding who Jesus is to us, how He is revealing Himself to us or stirring in our hearts helps us to draw nearer to Him. Of course in turn Jesus draws nearer to us, which brings us to the camp verse, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” James 4:8a
Although i must say that i am not one for partial verse extractions like this…so here it is in its contexts; James 4:7-10 (NLT).
“7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”
In its context we read there is a lot involved in drawing near to God…but it really does boil down to Wesley’s question, “Have you availed (made yourself available) to the means of grace (God’s grace, freely given) this week?” Have you drawn near to God? Well, have you?
The Way of the Rabbi 