Tag: father

Avoiding Deception: The Call to Biblical Truth

Avoiding Deception: The Call to Biblical Truth

Confused? So am i. In Matthew 24:4 Yahoshua warns, “See that no one leads you astray.” In other words, do not be deceived. We are told throughout Scripture to be weary of those who profess to know truth but speak falsehoods. They lie and they scheme to lead others away from the truth. That in the last days wolves will creep into the Ekklesia and deceive many, even the elect if possible.

This morning a popular pastor and teacher warned of this saying. “We are going to pray together against deception. We hope that people will choose to read their Bibles instead of getting their theology from TikTok. A lot of people who build their theology on TikTok are going to be very disappointed someday.” He went on to say that we need to take on the whole counsel of Scripture. That if your church doesn’t teach the whole Bible, flee from that church! He said, “Let us pray that you, me, and anyone else out there being deceived would comeback to Biblical truth. Stop listening to people, that includes me, start judging everything by the Bible.” He also said that this is the age of the gentile. That yes Jews can be saved, by coming into the fullness of Messiah.

All of this sounds great! Until, you begin to recognize that the modern church or Westernized Church has this belief. The modern church says: “Become like the gentile to be saved!” When Elohim calls the gentile to be like Israel.” The pastor went on to say that he would be speaking at a particular church “this Sunday.” Whose Sabbath is this Sunday’s? If we are taking the whole counsel of Elohim it isn’t YHWH’s or Yahoshua’s. This is the greatest deception facing the church today! The Sabbath is the sign of the covenant. It is the wedding ring! This is what separates us outwardly. Not that teaching can’t happen on Sunday. Certainly it can as we see Paul teaching on the 1st day of the week. The concern becomes the blatant disregard for the 7th Day Sabbath. Especially when warning about deception and false teaching.

The pastor used Romans 11:11 to make his point. It states: “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” Which is really ironic since it calls us to live like the Hebrews. We should be living to make the natural branches jealous, stirring a desire to return to Elohim within them. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in 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. For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.” Romans 11:17-21.

This is where the whole counsel of Elohim becomes more than just word play. Where taking in the fullness of a passage is far more important than taking one verse out of context. Then twisting it to fit what makes you comfortable. Exactly as Peter warns. “And count the patience of Adonai as salvation. Just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. So as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand. Which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand. Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people [Torahless people]. Thereby, losing your own stability. But Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Adonai and Savior Yahoshua Messiah. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:15-17.

Most of what he said was actually good advice. Put on the full armor of Elohim. Don’t believe everything you hear even from your pastor. Test the teaching against Scripture. Does it line up with what Elohim has already said? Remember, He is the same and His Word endures forever. Now after saying all of this he says here are the devils tactics.

First, he will get you to doubt what you have believed. True. Yet the Holy Spirit will also correct us if we are wrong. Philippians 3:15 gives us insight. “Let those of us who are mature think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Sounds a lot like being challenged on our beliefs to me. So what we need is discernment. To know the voice of Elohim. So what is the test that we are listening to the True Voice of Elohim? “Truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

How do we know that we are entering in through the narrow way? This same idea is presented time and time again. Paul says it this way, “Imitate me as I also imitate Messiah.” Yahoshua says, “If you love Me, YOU WILL keep My commandments.” Later in the same chapter He says, “If anyone loves Me, HE WILL keep My word. For this My Father will love him. We will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever DOES NOT love Me DOES NOT KEEP My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:15 & 23-24. Yahoshua is the Word made Flesh, that Word is Torah! Elohim’s Words to His chosen people of which we get to be apart by way of Yahoshua. As Romans 11 says again, “grafted in” to the branch, Israel.

Second, the pastor goes on to warn of Satan’s attacks. To which i have no quarrels. He will attack us and he knows the Word of Elohim well. He is a master craftsman of manipulation who twists scripture better than anyone or anything could ever hope to do. So it is important to know how did Yahoshua confront Satan in the wilderness. While He was being tempted at the start of His ministry. He confronted him with the very Word of Elohim. “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD of Elohim.” Do you know His Word personally, or only know of it through man? Do you read it and meditate on it so that it becomes written on your heart and mind? Want to know what voice you are listening to? Study the word!

Hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah, again i say SHEMA!

“Thus says YHWH! ‘Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon My salvation will come. My righteousness will be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast. Who KEEPS THE SABBATH, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.’ Let not the foreigner who has JOINED himself to YHWH say, ‘YHWH will surely separate me from His people.'” Later, he writes: –– “And the foreigners who join themselves to YHWH, to minister to Him, to love the name of YHWH, and to be His servants, everyone who KEEPS THE SABBATH and does not profane it, and holds fast My covenant–– these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:1-3 & 6-7.

“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of YHWH honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly, then you shall take delight in YHWH, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of YHWH has spoken.” Isaiah 58:13-14.

The devil loves it when we ignore the word of Elohim for our traditions and our religions. He loves it when we call on a hollow name because we don’t know the one who has it. He loves our speeches of adornment with no actionable practices. He loves that we have fallen for the lies and the twisting and the deceptions. He loves the unlearned teachers or the overly prideful ones. He loves the lazy pew warmers who lap up the same soured milk Sunday after Sunday.

“Depart from me, you who practice Torahlessness, for I never knew you.” Psalm 6:8 & Matthew 7:23

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices Torahlessness; sin is Torahlessness.” 1 John 3:4

“Hot indignation has take hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake your Torah.” Psalm 119:53

“Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember Your Name in the night, O YHWH. I keep Your Torah. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept Your precepts.” Psalm 119:54-56

“I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7 Interestingly, the Torah is also known as ‘The Way, The Path, Instruction.’ It is known as Truth, ‘Your Word is Truth.’ It is known as the Life, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone. But, by every Word of Elohim.’ His Word is a light to our path, this journey of life, it is the Way of the Rabbi. If you don’t want to be lead astray than you must know the Truth through the Truth. You must know the Word by knowing the Word. You must start now because time is drawing short and the return of our Messiah is approaching.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Contend for the Faith (Torah)

“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 complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

If Paul was writing to Timothy that all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness . . . Surely he was also referring to Ezekiel and Ezekiel records this:

“Her priests have done violence to My Torah 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

The thing i am finding more and more frustrating with modern translations is their separation from Israel, and by this separation the changing of and diluting of Elohim’s word. If you open your modern translation for Ezekiel 22:26 it will read, “Her priests have done violence to my law.” In our westernized, hyper grace way of thinking it is easy to disregard the word ‘law’ as outdated and done away with. However, the word is Torah and it refers to HIS WORD. His written word and if Yahoshua is the WORD made flesh it even sets Him aside.

“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 become flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-5,14

Yahoshua, declared, “I and My Father, are one.” “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father.” “I can do nothing of Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” What is the will of the Father? Well, according to Ezekiel YHWH, the Father, was calling out Israel for what they had allowed to happen among them. Violence towards the Torah, profaning the Holy things of Elohim, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded the sabbaths.

Micah records YHWH saying, “I have told you o’man what is good and what does YHWH require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” It isn’t so much a set of rules as it is acting justly by following the decrees of Elohim, it is loving mercy, and walking humbly. Not by our own will or understanding but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim. Yahoshua is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He and the Father are one what is the writer of Hebrews saying? Malachi writes, “For I YHWH do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WORD of our Elohim will stand forever.” Matthew writes, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My WORDS will not pass away.” John in the book of Revelation records Yahoshua saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega (Aleph—Tav), the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Has the WORD been done away with? Are we now outside of Torah? Are we allowed to live lawlessly? By all means NOT! But Yahoshua, writes the Torah on our hearts and through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to live for Him, not under the punishment of the law but by faith we must be obedient to the WORD made flesh. “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 5:18-19 — His coming, was the fulfillment of the Torah and the prophets not the dissolving of them. He states that Moses wrote about Him, He reads Isaiah in the Temple and declares, “Today this verse is fulfilled in your eyes.” He is the promised Messiah. In Him is healing and forgiveness, “Behold the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world.”

There is coming a separation of the sheep and the goats. The sheep will enter through the narrow gate. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 The idea of being a sheep is a reoccurring theme, in John, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and THEY will listen to My voice. So there will be ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD.” Messiah is not divided, nor are we two different nations, but we are one people, with one Shepard.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 —If profaning the sabbath, and treating the holy things of Elohim as common, and putting that which is unclean in place of that which is clean was detestable in the days of Ezekiel, then they are detestable today. Oh yes, thank Adonai for favor, for grace, for forgiveness, but grace does not excuse our lawlessness or better our Tora’lessness. Obedience is righteousness, FAITH drives our obedience.

In a world hell bent on excluding Elohim, we the PEOPLE of Elohim, need to stand up, stand apart, and live our lives in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Yahoshua said, “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and manifest Myself to him.” . . . “If anyone loves Me, he will KEEP MY WORD, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does NOT love me does NOT keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” . . . “But the HELPER, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:20-21, 23-24, 26

Many will hear Yahoshua say, “Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” The Greek “Anomos,” means, “Destitute of Mosaic Law” or Tora’lessness, being without or outside of Torah. Yahoshua is the doorway by which we enter into relationship with Elohim. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life, the very WORD of Elohim, in the flesh.

Time is short—

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve YHWH, 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 YHWH.” Joshua 24:15

You are loved,
cj

Supreme

“For Elohim in all His fullness was pleased to live in Messiah.” Colossians 1:19

“In the beginning the WORD already existed. The WORD was with Elohim, and the WORD was Elohim.” John 1:1

“. . . and through the Son He created the Universe.” Hebrews 1:2b

There is no other name under heaven in which on can be saved. Yahoshua is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Yahoshua Messiah, to the glory of Elohim the Father. The Father, revealed through the Son, and in the Son. Revealed, even in Word, and Deed, in Name and in Purpose.

Joshua son of Nun, who led the people of Israel into the promised land was named Hoshea. It was through Moses, that Elohim changed his name to Joshua. Some would think this name is inconsequential, most read right over it because lets be real, names and genealogies are boring. However, here is a revelation to all of humanity. Hoshea means, salvation, the name change puts the emphasis on who is salvation, Yahoshua, means, YHWH IS Salvation.

Who saves? YHWH saves, Yahoshua saves, “I and My Father are One.” “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has commanded Me, thus I do.” Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Messiah.” What did Yahoshua do? He kept the Sabbath, He kept the feasts, He ate clean. What did Paul do?

He kept the Sabbath — Acts 17:2 & 18:4
He kept the Feasts — Acts 20:6 & 20:16
He instructed on the Feasts — 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
He believed in Torah — Acts 24:14
He taught the Torah — Acts 28:23 & Romans 3:31
He obeyed the Torah — Romans 7:25
He delighted in Torah — Romans 7:22
He said IMITATE ME as I IMITATE MESSIAH 1 Corinthians 4:16 & 11:1

Are we saved by keeping the Law or the Torah? No, we are saved by Grace as was Noah, as was Abram. We show our love for Messiah, by keeping His commandments. In Luke 6:46 Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ but not do what I tell you?” We are set apart by Torah. What significance is there in keeping Torah? It sets us apart from the pagan, and the unbelieving. To worship on the Sabbath demonstrates our thankfulness in His provision, if even the land was commanded to keep the Sabbath shouldn’t we? If Yahoshua became the Sabbath wouldn’t keeping it honor Him even more?

The very fact that the commandment starts with the word, “Remember,” should be motivation enough. It should also give us pause to reflect on why there has been such an attempt to forget the Sabbath. To celebrate the Feasts is to honor Him, “These are MY FEASTS” if we are His people should we not honor Him by keeping His Feasts and not the traditions of men, which is one of the major points of contention between Yahoshua and the Pharisees? And if clean and unclean came before the Torah, should we not also now keep the clean and unclean dietary practices? Certainly if Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever; we should. Does this make us Holy? No. Does it show that we love Him and want to honor Him? Yes!

We are instructed to be set apart, sanctified, holy. This is done through Yahoshua, who is our example, not our free pass to idolatry. “If we know what is good and we do not do it, that to us is sin,” said James. Also, in Revelation 3 Yahoshua says:

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

It seems to me that this is a direct reflection of Jeremiah 31:31-34 in which is written:

Behold, the days are coming, declares Adonai, when I will renew My covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand
to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they broke My covenant,
though I was a husband to them.” it is a declaration of Adonai.
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai—
“I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their Elohim and they will be My people. No longer will each teach his neighbor or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.” it is a declaration of Adonai. “For I will forgive their iniquity, their sin I will remember no more.”

For those who will say that the Gentiles and Israel are two separate tracks of Elohim’s story with humanity, i give you Yahoshua, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be ONE flock, one Shepherd.” (John 10:16) Is Messiah divided, that this ONE flock would be separate somehow? No, not at all, they become one under the Shepherd who is the WORD of ELOHIM made FLESH. And He declared that He is knocking on the heart of the lukewarm believer, and if we open to Him He will come in and in essence write the Torah on our hearts.

This is also taught by Paul, for he understood this to be true. “And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for Elohim has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Earlier Paul warned the gentiles, “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.” (Excerpts from Romans 11:18-24)

So then what? Is it by grace or works of the Law? As James says, “Faith without works is dead . . . I will show you my faith by my works.” Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me Adonai, and not do as I commanded?” If we are to love Elohim with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength isn’t it reasonable to think that living by the commandments of Elohim is within the realm of loving Him completely? Keeping holy what he declares holy and unclean what he calls unclean, is this also not a sign of our love for Him? To join Him in celebration of His Feasts, is this not also a condition and confession of our heart?

i present this as a question, i choose to live it as a statement. i am not under the law, yet, i choose to live in the footsteps of My Adonai, by the power of His Holy Spirit within me, writing Torah on my heart.

You are loved,
cj

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

Understand this saying . . .

I FIND HIM NOT GUILTY

What must have been going through Pilate’s head when he was questioning Yahoshua? Yes, we get a glimpse of his thoughts but not the inner struggle and that is what i find fascinating. What was his inner struggle in those moments. Certainly there was a battle raging in his heart and mind; “‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,’ Pilate said, ‘I find Him not guilty.’” Everyone has struggles, have you seen the meme that states, “Be kind, everyone is struggling with something.” Oh, I know the scene at the Governor’s Mansion reveals a heartless account of all involved in the betrayal of Yahoshua, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t inner struggle. Here is a portion of the account.

“Then Pilate took Yahoshua and flogged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe. They came up to Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.’ So Yahoshua came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the man!’ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find Him not guilty.” (John 19:1-6)

The struggle here is evident, although Pilate had Yahoshua flogged and He was mocked and disrespected, the pronouncement was made from a true understanding, “I find Him not guilty.” Yahoshua, was in that moment taking on the sins of the world, the sins of those mocking Him and ridiculing Him, for those shouting, “Crucify Him!” Understanding, that in the end, when He returns as the victor, riding in the clouds, that He will be returning as the King of kings and the Master of masters. He is the Everlasting King of Israel and we gentiles are grafted into that Kingdom, thanks to the work of Yahoshua.

Even now however, Yahoshua is on trial. Not just from those outside the fellowship of believers, but those also of the household of faith. For it is true everyone is struggling with something. If not for the finished work of Yahoshua, not a soul would be spared the suffering of eternal separation from YHWH. Oh perhaps, one might find favor in the eyes of YHWH, as Noah did, as Abraham did . . . But not on the scale that we have today thanks to Yahoshua. HalleluYah!

Over the last five posts, i have been writing about the Signs that would set the stage for Yahoshua’s triumphant return. One area that i pointed out was, “The love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12 — Here is the passage that reveals the heart of struggle within those who would say today that they are believers in Yahoshua. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

i think it is important for us to remember and to build on our faith while we still can. Because, there is coming a time when we will be under such great persecution that many will fall away, betray one another, fall for the false teachings that have and will continue to lead many astray and allow for our hearts to grow cold. The struggle within our hearts and minds are real. The struggle to forgive others, the struggle to see those through the eyes of Yahoshua, “‘Who condemns you?’ Yahoshua asked the woman, ‘No one Adonai,’ Yahoshua said, ‘Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.’” Or to those who have given in to weakness, “‘Do you love Me?’ Yahoshua asked Peter, and Peter replied, ‘Yes Adonai, I love you!’ Yahoshua said, “Feed My sheep.’”

Salvation is in Yahoshua, there is no other name to which one can call upon for forgiveness. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “Behold the lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sin of the world.” It is by grace, through faith, that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life! Yet, History repeats . . . Some call it a foreshadowing, regardless, we seem not to learn. As the Israelites in the desert so we tend to forget the goodness of Elohim. Both, His power and His forgiveness. May we never forget what Yahoshua did for us on the cross.

Remember, no matter the battle you are facing, or the struggles in your heart and mind, Yahoshua our High Priest has and is praying for you. “I am praying for them . . . Holy Father, keep them in Your Name . . . That they may be one . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one . . . Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth . . . That they also may be sanctified in Truth.” Portions taken from John 17

Pilate’s words, “I find Him not guilty.” Are the very words we receive when we put our faith in Yahoshua, for He took our guilt and shame upon Himself and suffered and died in our place. That where He is we may also be! The accuser, the evil one, stands and accuses us; while our advocate the High Priest prays for us; And because of the work of Yahoshua on the cross, He who judges the earth declares, “I find him not guilty!”

Behold the LAMB and BELIEVE! Time is getting short.

You are loved,
cj

Highlight Reel

If you spend any amount of time on social media you have seen a parody video. Basically, an edited video, where they take a bunch of clips and make up funny speeches or even songs. i don’t have regular cable or satellite TV so to get my sports updates i watch a YouTube channel that edits the games, splicing up the game to just highlights and a two-three hour game becomes a 15 minute highlight reel. They are enjoyable to watch and more often than not i don’t know who won the game until i watch it. The only problem is that i will be listening to the color man tell a story and just when he is about to finish the clip ends and the video is on to the next play.

For example, i was watching a baseball game and the announcer said as the clip began, “tying run to the plate”, now mind you if you weren’t paying attention one would assume that this was the tying run at the plate. However, looking at the scoreboard there was nobody on base and the team up to bat was down by 2. So this wasn’t the tying run. The edit would have you believing otherwise if you weren’t truly paying attention.

This is how many people who go to church every week, live out their faith. They get clips of the Bible, a verse here and there, and then string together highlights that just don’t tell the whole story. Maybe its enough to get by, “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15) i am not writing to question one’s salvation, but to challenge the walk. You see the whole of Elohim’s word is important. The Will of the Father, is to know the Son, but even the demons know and tremble. James writes, “You believe that Elohim is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19)

In Yahoshua’s High Priestly Prayer we are given a glimpse of His heart for the children of Elohim, both His chosen people, and those who are grafted in by believing in the Son. Read all of John 17 on your own at some point, now even as to not miss a detail, here i am only highlighting a few spots . . . In the end you will know the final score but you will miss smaller details that get us there.

He begins; “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true El, and Yahoshua Messiah whom you have sent.”

1. Yahoshua glorifies the Father.
2. The Father gives to the Son.
3. Yahoshua gives eternal life.
4. Eternal life = that one know’s the only true GOD and His Son Yahoshua.

“Now they know that everything that You have given me is from You. For I have given them the words that You gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that you sent Me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”

1. Everything is from the Father.
2. Believing in Yahoshua is believing in the Father.
3. Yahoshua pray’s for His own.
4. His own (the Church) glorifies the Son, in turn the Son glorifies the Father, we therefore glorify the Father through the Son.

“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 . . . I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the WORLD may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved Me . . . I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

1. The Father and the Son are one.
2. Yahoshua desires that we be one with Him.
3. Yahoshua glorified the Father by doing His will.
4. We glorify the Son by doing His will which is the same will as the Father.

Do you know Yahoshua? Do you know the Father? We can know the Father, through the Son. We can glorify the Father by glorifying the Son. What does it look like to be in the will of the Father? To live for and in the Son. Yahoshua is the Word of our Father Elohim made flesh, the WHOLE of His Word.

We are called to be set apart from the world. A chosen people, set on a hill, that introduces the lost to Yahoshua, the Son of Elohim. We are in the world, we are not to be of the world. May we glorify Yahoshua, as He glorified the Father.

You are loved,
cj

I Don’t Wanna Go (Part 5 of 5)

I Don’t Wanna Go (Part 5 of 5)

The final verse of the song by Chris Renzema is, for me, the most powerful. (If you haven’t yet you can find a link to the song at the bottom of Part 1) Here is the lyric:

Like Jesus in the garden
Will you take this cup from me
Like Jesus in the garden
You don’t call where you won’t lead
I wanna love like you love
I wanna bleed like you bleed

The struggle is real, my friends. i love how Chris writes this first part, “Like Jesus in the garden, Will you take this cup from me.” It is based on Jesus’ request recorded this way in the Gospel of Luke 22:

“41And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.”

The anguish in those words is unmistakable. Yet Jesus’ resolve is in the very next part of verse 42, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done.” It isn’t about our will; it is, however, completely about the Will of the Father. And like Jesus in the garden, the Father won’t lead us where He doesn’t’ first call us. His love for us is genuine, and therefore, our love must mirror His.

“I wanna love like you love,  I wanna bleed like you bleed.” What breaks the heart of the Lord should also break our hearts. What stirs the Lord to move must also stir us to action! Are you living a life that loves like that and bleeds like that? i desire to live in this way, i hope that you do too!

Seek the Lord, and boldly declare, “i don’t wanna go if you’re not going with me!” And “i wanna go where You go and stay where You stay!” i want to be where You are Lord, lead me, and i will follow.

You are loved,

cj

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Follow Me (part four)

Follow Me (part four)

Although Jesus said, “Follow Me,” there was one place that He said, they would not go, more specifically, Peter. Not that they wouldn’t all eventually walk that road, in some way-or-other, just that there was still more to be done. Here is the exchange between Peter and Jesus as recorded in John 13:36-38:

“Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord why can I not follow you now? I would lay down my life for You.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.'”

Jesus in all of His preparation had not yet completed that work, nor had they! There may come a time when we are called to lay down our lives for the cause of Christ. Yet, we shouldn’t go looking for it. Many times the disciples were arrested, but later escaped because it wasn’t their time. Eventually, each of the disciples came to a point where they followed Jesus, even to death. Some in the same way even, on a cross. All save one, John. He was exiled on the island of Patmos. Whether we give our lives as martyrs or we live a full life, we are called to follow.

There is no one else to follow. There is no other way to go. As we have explored over the past several weeks, to follow means to lay down our lives, figuratively, and quite possibly, literally. There is no question that His will must become our will, “not My will but Your will be done.” (see Matthew 26:39). Although the weight seems heavy, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Listen to Jesus’ words to His disciples after answering Peter; John 14:1-4:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.“

We should be comforted in Jesus words to those who Follow Him. Who truly know Him, and seek to do His will. The disciples were confused by Jesus’ words, “And you know the way . . .” to the point that Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” To which Jesus replied; (John 14:5-6)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If we follow Jesus, we come to know the way, the truth, and the life. And when this feeble life is over, we will enter the place prepared for us.

You are loved,

cj

“Will I find Faith . . .”

“Will I find Faith . . .”

This week i want us to take a look at the Parable of the persistent widow, found in Luke 18:1-8. Here Jesus contrasts the actions of an unrighteous judge, being nagged by a widow, to the acts of a loving God, and the prayers of His faithful. Jesus ends His parable with;

“And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?’” Luke 18:6-8

The unrighteous judge grants justice to the widow who persisted, nagged him, to the point he responded. God who is loving and desires our good, will be all the more quick to respond. However, here is where the lesson gets deeper, “. . . will He find faith on earth?” Ouch, if that doesn’t sting, you are reading it wrong. Sometimes we get tired of waiting in prayer, having a persistent faith in God moving on our behalf. Let me remind you Joseph remained in prison for years as he waited in prayer for crimes he did not commit. He, of course, is finally vindicated and raised to such authority in Egypt that only Pharaoh had more authority. (see Genesis 39-41)

You see, God’s answers are not in our timing, and speed is relative, when talking about a God who doesn’t live within space or time as we know it. But, He is not slow to answer, and when He does answer, it is suddenly, and unexpectedly. Unexpected, because sometimes He doesn’t answer them the way we have been praying for them. He may be teaching us, waiting for us to mature before granting our answer. It may not be exactly what “we” wanted but, it will be what is true, right, impactful and “HIS WILL!” Remember, even Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

In the meantime, we need to know that Satan is out and about looking for anyone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8-9, tells us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” He, the devil, is persistent. He doesn’t tire of doing evil, he is simply waiting for opportune times. When we are weak, or tired, or struggling . . . he prepares to pounce. Luke 4:13, says, “And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” If he was this persistent with Jesus, the Son of God, just how much more will he be with us who often battle with a lack of faith?

We live in a world that gives up far too quickly, because, giving up is easy to do. We move on to paths of least resistance. We quit because the task looks impossible. We look for happiness and fulfillment in others, in a man or a woman, in a job or a hobby, in something or anything else, when we feel God hasn’t answered our prayers. It is why i linger on, ponder more, pray unceasingly, and remind myself even of this line, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Will He, find us waiting faithfully for Him, in word, in deed, in love, in prayer . . . Let me finish the last bit of the passage in 1 Peter 5:10-11;

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Be encouraged, don’t give up waiting in prayer, do not think God’s delays are a punishment but rather take the time in waiting to discover all that God has for you, in and through, Christ Jesus our Lord! Pray more, yet, listen more than you speak. Read more, pray what you read, that it would encourage you, listen to it as Jesus speaks to you. Allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in your heart and mind as you commune with the God of the universe, the Lord of your life, the one who calls you His friend.

You are Love,

cj

Advent (week one) Hope

Advent (week one) Hope

What is hope? And, what does it mean, that hope does not disappoint? Well, according to the online dictionary, it says; “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” As far as hope not disappointing, that’s something to be understood, not just spoken as cliche. i have hoped for a great many things in my life. Some, when they did not come to pass, were really somewhat disappointing at the time. Actually, some are still disappointing to remember back upon. Other things hoped for now that i look back were a blessing to not have happened the way i had hoped. So, what of Advent hope?

You can’t tell me that Mary hoped to see her son one day hanging on a cross, after getting beaten beyond recognition. You can’t tell me that Mary and Joseph desired to flee to Egypt out of fear for their lives. You can’t tell me that their hopes of their son sitting on an earthly throne, in the Kingdom of their ancestors, wasn’t their ultimate dream, given the words of the Angel to them. Yet, the things one could most definitely say were no hopes at all, but fears are what actually came to pass. When we talk about Advent hope, we think of things like the coming King, the Messiah, the Son of God! These thoughts instill a sense of hope in us because we have seen the ending. And, that my friends, is the essence of this Advent hope.

In Romans 5:1-5 it says . . .

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV)

Our hope is not in earthly riches, fame, or anything of the like. Rather, our hope is in the faithfulness of God in His eternal reward received by faith in the one and only begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah! Life will let you down, humans will let you down, spouses, children, friends, jobs, vacations, neighbors, you catching on? The list is endless, hoping in any of these things eventually will only end in a feeling of hopelessness. The only hope is not Obi-wan Kenobi, but it is only in the one named Jesus! According to the Word, given through the prophet Isaiah, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth, it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

There is our Hope! Our Advent Hope is the eternal Word of God! His faithfulness is endless, His promises sure, His love never fails, His Joy is unspeakable, His peace is unexplainable, He is the giver of life, the author and perfecter of faith, and His mercy is new every morning! Hope in that!

You are loved,

cj