Tag: Jesus

Mark Twain’s Insight: Pausing Amid the Majority

Mark Twain’s Insight: Pausing Amid the Majority

Mark Twain is credited with many profound quotes. There is one that I came across recently that really struck me. He said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” It reminds me that the majority of humanity does not know God. They don’t know the Son Yahoshua (Jesus). Scripture breaks this down further by saying there is only a remnant. “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?” (Micah 7:18)

Do you know of the parable of the ten virgins? There were five wise and five foolish. Have you read the words of Yahoshua where He warns us, “depart from Me I never knew you! You who practice lawlessness.” The message over and over is a remnant. In John 6:66 we read of many turning and walking away from Him. Because His teachings were too hard to accept. Only a few remained and He asked them, “are you going to leave also?” They responded, “where would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” They were the remnant.

Have you heard about the second Exodus? . . . Jeremiah 23:7-8. “So behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as YHWH lives, who brought the Israelite’s up out of the land of Egypt.’ Instead they will say, ‘As surely as YHWH lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ Then they will dwell once more in their own land.”

Before one begins to quote the overly taught phrase, “That is for the Jews.” Let me share another couple verses with you. Isaiah 56:1-8 is as clear as day. This is significant because it draws a conclusion few are prepared for which leaves them open to deception. Lets look at this passage in Isaiah.

This is what YHWH says: “Maintain justice and do what is right. For My salvation is coming soon, and 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 without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Let no foreigner who has joined himself to YHWH say, “YHWH will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.” For this is what YHWH says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me. And hold fast to My covenant. I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial. And a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And the foreigners who join themselves to YHWH to minister to Him, to love the name of YHWH, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar. For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Thus declares Adonai Elohim, who gathers the dispersed of Israel. “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

The second passage I want to draw the readers attention to is found in Romans 11. Here are verses 18-23 for your consideration. “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 God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God. Severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in. For God has the power to graft them in again.”

I hope this establishes in your mind the connectivity of God’s people and the nations. His desire is that ALL would come to the knowledge of the Truth. What is truth? His word is truth, John 17:17. You see even in a graft sometimes the graft doesn’t take and the branch then needs to be cut off. We are called to know Him by His word and His word is True. That Word is the Tanakh or as we flippantly call it today, “The Old Testament.” It isn’t either or it’s both and, for it is a continuation. Yahoshua told Pilate during His trial, “You say correctly that I am a King. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” His Word is Truth, Yahoshua came to testify of the WORD. It is a continuous revelation and a constant call to revival. To return to the Torah! The instruction of Elohim.

What is the sign of revival? Acts declares this as the sign of revival. “You see, brother, how many thousands there are of those who have believed. And they are all zealous for the Torah. . .” So then how is it that we are to live but obediently to the Word. And for what reason? So we can partake in the second exodus written of in the Prophets.

Jeremiah 30:1-3.
“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH. “This is what YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah, declares YHWH. I will restore them to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”

Jeremiah 31:7-10.
“For this is what YHWH says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations! Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly! They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” Hear, O nations, the word of YHWH, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.“

Zechariah 8:7-8.
“This is what YHWH of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous Elohim.”

Hosea 3:5.
“Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek YHWH their Elohim and David their king. They will come trembling to YHWH and to His goodness in the last days.”

Ezekiel 28:25-26.
“This is what YHWH Elohim says: ‘When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, I will show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will dwell in their own land, which I have given to My servant Jacob. And there they will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards. They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am YHWH their Elohim.’”

There is but a remnant that will see the Kingdom from the inside. Sadly, the majority of people will be looking at the Kingdom from the outside. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They will say, didn’t we believe, didn’t we do, didn’t we? And they will only hear, “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” They were in darkness believing they were in the light. But the light is Torah. So if you are not living in Torah you are indeed living in darkness. And no amount of believing will suffice. For those in the light walk according to the light. The light, the truth, these are the Word and the Word is the instruction and the instruction is Torah. This is the way of the Rabbi. May you experience true revival and become zealous for the Torah.

You are loved,
cj

The Power of Endurance in Faith

The Power of Endurance in Faith

Endure.
1. to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding; undergo.
to endure great financial pressures with equanimity.
2. to bear without resistance or with patience; tolerate.
I cannot endure your insults any longer.
3. to admit of; allow; bear.
His poetry is such that it will not endure a superficial reading.

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures, I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life. Which is in God’s Paradise -‘Eden.’” Revelation 2:7

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who endures will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name. A name that nobody knows except the one receiving it.” Revelation 2:17

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “. . . only hold fast to what you have until I come. To him who endures and does what I want until the goal is reached.” Revelation 2:25-26 (29)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.“) “He who endures will, like them, be dressed in white clothing. I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life. In fact, I will acknowledge him individually before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 (6)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will make him who endures a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of My God. As well, the name of My God’s city, the new Jerusalem. Which is coming down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name.” Revelation 3:12 (13)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will let him who endures sit with Me on my throne. Just as I myself endured and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 (22)

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Endurance, is an important part of the Way of the Rabbi. He taught us by His actions. Not just His life, but even more so in His death, enduring death, beaten, pierced and hung on a tree. Paul, continues the passage above by saying, “Therefore, I do not run aimlessly.” No he ran with a purpose. He said, imitate me as I imitate Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus). We are not to live aimlessly, lawlessly, or without purpose. No we have been given instruction for our purpose and charged with an enduring mission.

“Then Yahoshua (Jesus) came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

What is it that Yahoshua instructed? He exemplified the Torah, bringing it to fullness, revealing its purpose. The Torah is the instruction manual on how to live set apart lives from the nations. It reveals to us how to live obediently, holy, sanctified lives. Without it we are lawless making us no different than the nations. To keep the Torah is not to do away with Faith in Messiah. It is done because of our faith in Messiah. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints. Who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua (Jesus).”

In Yahoshua’s charge to His disciples in Matthew 28 quoted above He says, “. . . all that I have commanded you.” At no point did Yahoshua instruct His disciples to do away with the Torah. No not once but to do away with man’s tradition. He challenged the religious leaders on their interpretation and their added rules. He clarified, and lived out the Torah perfectly. It is by His grace through faith that we are saved but we are called to live set apart.

Many will read this and say it is impossible to keep all the commandments of God. Yet in their next breath quote Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” All but keep the commandments of God, that I cannot do. Oh you of little faith, hypocrites and weak willed fools. Paul’ s words are true and align with the instruction of Messiah perfectly.

Is it difficult in a fallen world to live set apart lives under the instruction of God? YES! A hundred times yes. But that doesn’t mean we are free to practice lawlessness (Torahlessness) and say we are under grace. By no means! We are to endure and in that endurance we will be blessed, protected, and welcomed into the Kingdom. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Choosing to Listen: Embracing God’s Word Daily

Choosing to Listen: Embracing God’s Word Daily

How serious are you, when you attend your church gathering, in hearing the Word of God? What preparation goes into it? Do you pray before asking God to reveal your heart? This is my practice. When I enter the Synagogue I pray, “Adonai, reveal my heart, You know me better than i know myself. Help me to not only hear You but to listen and obey Your instruction.” After this prayer I write out my initial thoughts. This past Sabbath as I prayed this prayer this is the thought given me through that prayer.

“i am not in a right frame of mind. i am not sure what i need to do since it is ultimately a heart issue. i am growing increasingly critical of myself, but lack the strength to change the thought patterns.”

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession. So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

From this point I begin to prepare my heart and my mind to receive what Adonai has for me. The question was asked, “What is the truth of your calling?” From that question I wrote down the first things that came to mind.
Concert Tour – if you read back in my blog several years. I shared how my family would travel and sing in churches. It was during this time that I believe I received my first calling into ministry.
Visions while Driving – It would become increasingly clear that this calling was sure. You see while friends were talking about their future plans or lack of I was having visions of my calling. It was a mixture of singing and preaching. This would later be the case as in some churches I had to both lead worship and preach.
Jr. High Camp – It was at an evening Chapel service at Jr. High Camp that my calling into ministry would be cemented. It would also face one of its greatest challenges. As the speaker presented the message, it became clear that I was to do this. “This is what I am calling you to do, this is the purpose I have set out for you. To preach My Word.” I could feel the burning inside my heart as I went to the alter that night. I spoke of my calling at our cabin time later.
Prayer Chapel – Years had past and I had forgotten the root of my calling. It was always there but I lacked a seriousness. I would find myself at a crossroads, homeless and jobless, I sought shelter one night in a prayer chapel. It was positioned on a cliff overlooking Puget Sound in Northwest Washington State. It was unlocked and I had prayed here many times before. On this night, although I was physically alone, I was not Spiritually alone. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit I was reminded of my call. I rededicated my life to the purposes of God that night. The very next day I was blessed with both a house and a job.

Everything in life is a choice. You have to choose one way or another, moment by moment. These choices are often inconsequential. However, there are choices that can be earth shaking. Therefore, every decision made should be made thoughtfully and in some instances with the guidance of others. Perplexing it is that often we find these things out after wrong choices are made. Everything in life is a choice, even allowing yourself to be chosen.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 . . .
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.”

How many times have I defiled the temple? How many times have I brought uncleanness, by choice, into the temple of my body? Proverbs offers wisdom in short, impactful pieces. This is perfect for a generation that cannot focus for more than 30 seconds before scrolling to the next TikTok video. “The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against Adonai.” “Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps errs.” “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of Adonai will stand.” “Cease listening, my son, to discipline, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Each of these are found in Proverbs 19).

They are relevant to choice. We can all relate in one way or another in making hasty decisions that ended up being wrong. Some of us carry the burden of those decisions long after the dust has settled. It is an unfortunate truth however, there is still room for choice. Will you wallow in the mud or will you step boldly forward in the Grace of God?

1 John 2:3-6
“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him.” Yet he does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Here is truth, whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him . . . the one who says he abides in Him ought walk in the same manner as He walked.”

John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

IF is the conditional term. If we choose to allow ourselves to be chosen. We then must choose to walk in the manner worthy of that calling. In what manner? What are his ways? Do our ways conflict with what He has instructed? Are following the traditions of man over the instruction of God? Tradition, does not make disobedience to His word less disobedient. There is no such thing as acceptable sin. What is sin as defined by the Apostle John in 1 John 3:4? “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” Lawlessness is defined as being without Torah. Likewise, being without Torah is known as being in darkness. Therefore, being in Torah is then being in the light.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession. So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Sin, or as many like to say, to lessen the blow, missing the mark. Whether in ignorance or intentional, when found out, repentance is required. A turning away from that sin is a choice and a matter of the heart. When you break relationship, dishonoring someone, that guilt is conviction. That conviction is dealt with by repentance. That repentance is a choice, as much as sin was a choice. “IF My people, who bear My name, will humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Here is where we are in the cycle of life. We are in a famine. The famine is severe, so severe that it has become normal. So normal in fact that most people don’t even know what they are missing and they don’t care to know. Even some who sense there is something deeper, a calling, a choice to be made, they too are starved. They don’t choose, whether out of fear of making a wrong choice or seeing it as inconsequential either way. The famine shouldn’t surprise anyone. It was foretold by the Prophet Amos.

“The time is coming,” says Adonai Elohim,
“when I will send famine over the land,
not a famine of bread or a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of Adonai.
People will stagger from sea to sea
and from north to east, running back and forth,
seeking the word of Adonai;
but they will not find it.”
Amos 8:11-12

However, those who are in Messiah Yahoshua, we are at an advantage. We have the Word made flesh. He promises the new covenant will be written on our minds. It will also be inscribed on our hearts. So that we can be the Temple, that we can be the city on a hill. So that we can stand out separate from the world, sanctified by the Word of Truth. As Yahoshua prayed for us to be.

“I have given them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world — just as I myself do not belong to the world. I don’t ask you to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth — your word is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. On their behalf I am setting myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the truth.” John 17:14-19

Sometimes I have to write to remind myself of whose I am. That I am no longer my own but have been bought at a price. It is no longer I who live but Messiah who lives in me and through me. I don’t always make the right choice, I am thankful for Grace. But one thing I do, forgetting that which is behind me. I strain for what is ahead of me in Messiah Yahoshua.

“It is not that I have already obtained it or already reached the goal — no, I keep pursuing it in the hope of taking hold of that for which the Messiah Yahoshua took hold of me. Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yahoshua. Therefore, as many of us as are mature, let us keep paying attention to this; and if you are differently minded about anything, God will also reveal this to you. Only let our conduct fit the level we have already reached.” Philippians 3:12-16

You see it is a constant choice, moment by moment, decision by decision, we choose. What will you choose?

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

Understanding Redemption Through Yahoshua: A Scriptural Journey

Understanding Redemption Through Yahoshua: A Scriptural Journey

“Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is One. And you shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

The journey of redemption is lead by Yahweh. It is His desire to make us into who He made us to be. A restoration of His garden plan found in Genesis. “And He saw ALL that He had made, AND IT WAS GOOD.”

Luke 24:13-19 “And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Yahoshua Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?’ And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?’ And He said to them, ‘What things?’

The scene is post crucifixion. Two disciples are walking together and discussing all that had transpired. They were saddened believing that all had come to an end. They were discouraged, and aimless. On their way back home presumably to resume that which they did before following the Messiah. When the very One they mourned appeared in their midst and began to question them. To ask them “What things?” seems out of touch but in reality it was the open door to bring the Scriptures to life. To open their eyes to the promises that had always been and now were. But first, Yahoshua needed to know what they understood and they revealed it in their answer to Him.

Luke 24:19-24 “And they said to Him, ‘The things about Yahoshua the Nazarene. Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people. How the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.‘” Note here: Their expectation was of a Kingdom. That David’s throne would be reestablished with Yahoshua reigning in Jerusalem and Israel being reborn. Continuing now. “Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, they did not find His body. They came back, saying that they had also seen a vision. A vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.“

Yahoshua (Jesus) had spent three and a half years teaching them. He told them multiple times of His purpose. He even tells Pilate, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world. To testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate then asks, “What is truth?” Do you know what truth is? Do you know why He said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice?” It is because truth is the Word and the Word is Truth. As Yahoshua says, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 18:37-38; & 17:17).

Luke 24:25-27. “And He said to them, ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” The Scriptures here being referred to, we call the ‘Old Testament,’ but is better understood as the Tanakh. All the answers, all Truth is found in the Word. That Word is (for clarity) the Old Testament. The promise of the New Covenant is that the Torah would be written on the hearts His people.

Jeremiah 31 says, “I will put My Torah within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Ezekiel 36 puts it this way; “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Hebrews 8 records this idea not because the commandments were burdensome but because of the fault of man. “For finding fault with them, He says, . . . I will put My Torah (instruction) into their minds and I will write it on their hearts.”

The cry of David’s heart should be the cry of every heart that calls itself a believer. “Make me know Your ways, O Yahweh; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your TRUTH and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. For You I wait all the day. Remember, O Yahweh, Your compassion and Your loving kindnesses, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions. According to Your loving kindness remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Yahweh. Good and upright is Yahweh. Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice. He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.” Psalm 25:4-11

True revival is a desire for Elohim’s (God’s) instruction. It is a calling back to His instruction, a call to obedience. This was the instruction of Yahoshua who said, “If you love Me obey My commandments.” And, “Why do you call Me Adonai (Master), Adonai, and not do as I command?” We should desire His ways, His path, His instruction. Yahoshua said, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Did you know that the Torah is called, the way? It is also called the Truth and it is Life. Yahoshua is the Word made flesh, the Torah made flesh. Is any of this making sense yet?

In Deuteronomy you will find these passages . . .
5:8-10 “. . . but showing loving kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
7:9-11 “. . . who love Him and keep His commandments.”
10:12-13 “. . . to walk in all His ways and love Him. To serve Yahweh your Elohim (God) with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep Yahweh’s commandments.”
11:1 “You shall therefore love Yahweh your Elohim. And always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.”
11:13 “. . . listen obediently to My commandments . . . love Yahweh your Elohim . . .”
11:22 “For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love Yahweh your Elohim. To walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.”
19:8-9 “. . .if you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love Yahweh your Elohim, and to walk in His ways . . .”
30:16 “. . . love Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in His ways and keep His commandments . . .”

Joshua 22:5 “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the Torah which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you. To love Yahweh your Elohim and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and holdfast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Nehemiah 1:5-6 “. . . for those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
Daniel 9:4 “. . . those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and observe His commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
2 John 1:5-6 “. . . not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”

Therein lies the truth of the matter, the Torah, Elohim’s instruction was not done away with but was made manifest. It was done so through Messiah Yahoshua (Christ Jesus). He is the instruction that is now written on the hearts of those who love Elohim and keep His commandments. For as promised, we have the instruction now within us enabling us to walk in love. Both love for the Father and for our neighbor. To honor Elohim and His Sabbath’s, His Feast Days, His commandments and statutes. Through the power of our resurrected Adonai Yahoshua and the promised helper the Holy Spirit.

One day we will stand before the judgment seat. Many will hear something they are not expecting. Not because they didn’t hear the truth but because they didn’t keep it. Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.‘” It wasn’t because they thought their works would save them it was because they were not following the commandments of Elohim. They were lawless, they were without Torah. They made it a practice to not do what Elohim expects of those who say they love Him. If you love Him, keep His commandments. This is the way of the Rabbi.

Luke 24:30-32, 35 “When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?'” “They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.”

What will you do? Yahoshua is the bread of heaven, the Word made flesh. Do you know Him? Do you know His Word? He reveals the Father, the Father never changes nor does His word. Therefore, it stands to reason if we want to truly know Yahoshua Messiah the Son of Elohim. You must know the Scriptures, Genesis to Malachi. And not only know them but obey them. Are you on the narrow road that leads to Salvation? Or, are you on the wide road that leads to destruction?

You are loved,
cj

My Journey from Ministry to a Deeper Faith

My Journey from Ministry to a Deeper Faith

From an early age I have been involved in ministry. As a kid singing with my family in churches even doing concert tours. Later, I would attend youth camps. When I was eighteen, the owner of the campground where we lived asked me to be the Pastor of the “Little Chapel of the Canyon.” He even helped me figure out a way to receive an ordination so that I could legally officiate weddings. This so he could advertise this as an available option to the campground experience. I led services at the chapel every Sunday for a year. At the same time I also held a Bible study in my home on Wednesday nights. I did this until I moved to Washington state for a girl that I had met in Jr. High at a summer camp. A camp I attended while visiting my grandparents after earning money selling candy door to door. We wrote letters back and forth for years. However, after my arrival the spark we shared in Jr. High never returned.

All was not lost however. As I did begin volunteering at a Youth for Christ center in the town I lived. Later, I would be asked to lead the Jr High Ministry at the church I attended. I did this for a couple years before moving back to Southern California, the place I called home. After moving back I started attending a local church and again began volunteering with the Youth ministry. After a year the youth pastor moved on. They did not have a budget to hire a new youth pastor. So, they asked me to lead as a volunteer. To which I accepted. Newly married, and bi-vocational, it was a busy time. We would have our first son during this time as well. On top of family, work and ministry, I began attending classes towards becoming a Pastor.

Mostly online through a Denominational University, however, some courses were held at the District Center. While still attending classes I would be granted a District license. Later, upon completion of my studies I was ordained. I did eventually end up finishing two degrees, Biblical Studies (Theology) and Biblical History. After my first District license I would accept my first full time Youth Pastor position. At my first assignment my family would grow adding two more son’s to the clan. After my ordination I was approached about moving into a Lead Pastor position to which I accepted. I would bounce between, Youth, Lead, and Evangelism over the next 20 years. After which I would step down from ministry within the denominational structure.

My transition from full time ministry wasn’t all by my desire. However, several life events of my own making, caused a ripple effect that forced my hand. Some of those ripples I am still feeling and will be riding out for as long as I live. However, these events have brought something good. They have brought the closeness with Adonai that I have desired. I started first with putting down all devotionals, commentaries, and inspirational books. I began to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Oh I had done this before, several times actually, but with guides. This time I simply prayed, “Adonai, I want to know You for who You are and not what man has made You.”

The journey that I am on has been one of change and adaptation. As I learn new principles and new ways that Elohim desires worship, I adjust to Him. No longer do I take mans definitions, and mans traditions and tell the Father, “this is how I will honor You.” No, now I learn what pleases Him and I strive to make that a part of my life, of who I am day in and day out. I taught for so long man’s definitions, mans traditions, all centered around a Greek Jesus. Now I am learning about Elohim’s instruction, His desires, all centered around a Hebrew Messiah, Yahoshua.

During this time I studied in depth the works of Augustine, and Josephus. Along with many other historians. One thing rings true in these writings. The faith of the earliest Apostles has slipped from the Way left by Yahoshua. It has taken on a Greco-Roman philosophical leaning faith. A mixture of ideas from cultures not inspired by Elohim but men.

Ezekiel 22:26 is one of the eye opening verses that started my journey of awakening to the Fathers instruction. It was the first step after deciding to take the advice of the Apostle Paul. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but so much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” It was my first walk through of Genesis to Revelation. When the Ezekiel passage leaped off the page and smacked me in the face. “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.”

I was one of those who stood in a leadership position and did violence to His Torah. I did not make any distinction between the Holy and the common, nor did I teach the difference between the unclean and the clean. I disregarded His Sabbaths, and profaned them even, by doing my pleasure on them. This was eye opening. It isn’t that I feel a need to earn my salvation. No, I am thankful for my Messiah Yahoshua who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is through Him that I receive forgiveness of sin and am washed clean. Through His righteousness I am made worthy. However, it is Yahoshua who says, “If you love me, obey My commandments.” He also said, “Why do you call Me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I command?”

Dating back to late 2019, you can begin to read the shift. There are posts before that that I am still editing as my understanding of Elohim’s instructions are more clear. However, in a nutshell here is that journey. These are my highlights.

Psalm 51:6-13
– Purge me with hyssop
– Create in me a clean heart
– Do not cast me away
– Restore me
– Uphold me

Revelation 19:7
– make yourself ready

2 Corinthians 5:17
– IF anyone is in Messiah

2 Corinthians 13:5
– Examine yourself/test yourself

Galatians 6:4
– Examine your own works

1 John 2:3-6
“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar. The truth is not in him. Now, the promise is true, whoever keeps His word [Torah], in him truly the love of Elohim is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him. Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
– Fear Elohim
– Keep His commandments
– Every deed will be judged (Those in Messiah have the hope of forgiveness)

John 5:46-47
– If you believed Moses, you would believe Me
– The Torah points to Messiah
– Look at the road to Emmaus where Yahoshua explains through the Tanakh who He is
– To truly know Messiah we must know the whole of Elohim’s Word

Psalm 119:105-112
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, Adonai, according to Your Word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, Adonai, and teach me Your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget Your Torah. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the end.”

This is the Way of the Rabbi, won’t you join me on this journey?

You are loved,
cj

Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven in Parables

Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven in Parables

The Kingdom is like . . .
What is the Kingdom like? When Yahoshua (Jesus) taught us to pray He said, “Your Kingdom come.” But what does that Kingdom look like? Yahoshua also said the Kingdom is here, or in your midst. Is the Kingdom merely the Messiah? Do we have glimpses as to what the Kingdom will look like in the future upon Messiah’s return? Surely we do. We see Yahoshua throughout the Gospels teaching, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . .” He follows this statement up with various parables. We will look at one of them in a minute. However, the first thing I want to look at is the prophetic images given to the prophets. As they were inspired to write about things to come.

Zechariah describes a time to come when Yahweh sets up His Kingdom on earth. Zechariah 14:16-19 tells us that the Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated. If the nations do not celebrate it they will suffer plagues. “And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter in, then the rain will not fall on them. This will be the plague with which Yahweh strikes the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.” John writes in Revelation a scene that reads like “the good ole’ days.” Revelation 21:3 “I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God.” 

Yet today’s ‘Christian’ Church ignores the Feast of Tabernacles, they call it a “Jewish” thing. Something that carries so much weight certainly cannot be just a “Jewish” thing. Since the ‘Nations’ that don’t come up to celebrate will be cursed. Modern ‘Christians’ will say that they will be in Heaven. Yet the Word says that God sets up His Kingdom here on earth, as Revelation describes. The separation of Jew and Gentile is nowhere in Scripture. Even in the “Old Testament” it says over and over, “There is one Law for you and the stranger among you.” In the “New Testament” it says, we are one, and that gentiles are grafted into Israel. Yet the modern ‘Christian’ church largely dismisses it as irrelevant.

This brings us to the parable Yahoshua taught in Matthew 13.
24 Yahoshua [Jesus] told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like someone who planted good seed in his field. 25 While people were sleeping, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 When the stalks sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The servants of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’ 28 “‘An enemy has done this,’ he answered. “The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 “But the landowner said, ‘No, because if you gather the weeds, you’ll pull up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow side by side until the harvest. And at harvest time I’ll say to the harvesters, “First gather the weeds and tie them together in bundles to be burned. But bring the wheat into my barn.”’”

I have mentioned this in previous posts but why were the Berean’s of more noble character? It was because they received the teachings of the Apostles with eagerness. But they searched the Scriptures to see whether or not what they were being taught was true. What Scriptures? The Scriptures referred to here is the Tanakh to include the Torah. The pages of your Bible many modern ‘Churches’ will say is obsolete or “for the Jews,” both in ignorance. What can we learn from this parable? Well, let’s first look at what Yahoshua meant to teach because He reveals the answer to His disciples.

Later in the same thirteenth chapter of Matthew Yahoshua teaches the meaning.
36 Yahoshua left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 Yahoshua replied, “The one who plants the good seed is the Son of Adam. 38 The field is the world. And the good seeds are the followers of the kingdom. But the weeds are the followers of the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the present age. The harvesters are the angels. 40 Just as people gather weeds and burn them in the fire, so it will be at the end of the present age. 41 The Son of Adam will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin. 42 He will throw them into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Those who have ears should hear.”

There is so much here to point out. Yahoshua is the Son of Adam. He is the sower of the good seed. Teaching rightly the ways of the Kingdom. As He states in Matthew 5:17-19. (For a teaching on the meaning of ‘complete’ check out this post here). He tells us what the markers of the good seed are “followers of the kingdom.” But the weeds follow the evil one. Who is the evil one? Or also known as the Lawless one? And what Law will he be without? Common sense should tell you the lawless one is without the laws of the Kingdom. The Torah the first five books of the Tanakh, “Old Testament”.

What does the evil one plant? The same thing he planted in the hearts of the first Adam and his wife Eve, doubt. “Did God really say?” “You won’t surely die!” How do we know that the Torah will still be relevant? Well, Yahoshua says, “Heaven and Earth will pass away first.” Also, Jeremiah and Ezekiel both prophecy that the “New Covenant, is the Old Covenant written on our hearts. You can read that in Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Ezekiel 36:26-27, also, in Hebrews 8:8-10. This “New” covenant, side note the word new here is the same for a new moon. The moon is not new every month but the cycle is renewed. This renewed covenant is written on our hearts and minds. What does Yahoshua promise His followers once He departs? Yahoshua says in John 14:16-17. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” What is TRUTH? His WORD IS TRUTH.

Finally, many in the modern ‘Church’ are waiting to be taken out of the world. Yet in this parable of the weeds who are taken? They are the children of the Lawless one, the devil. Those that endure and remain will enter into the Kingdom here on earth. They will rule and reign with Him for a thousand years. The weeds are taken and burned while the righteous dwell in safety. The righteous are only ‘caught up’ briefly for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We then return with Him and the New Jerusalem where He will reign as King. This is where “we will be with Him where He is.” He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. He is the Word made flesh. He is the sower of the good seed. This is the way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Understanding Alma 32: A Response to Mormon Teachings

Understanding Alma 32: A Response to Mormon Teachings

Part 7 of my on going conversation with two Mormon Missionaries. If there is anyone familiar with Mormon missionaries you will know two things. First, they are persistent, to their credit. Second, they serve on a rotation system that moves them from place to place over two years. This makes ongoing conversations with them difficult. I now have two knew missionaries in my area. They knew my name, it seems I have been marked, “We heard you like talking to Missionaries.” After meeting with them they suggested that I read Alma 32. So I did. This is my response to the reading. (You can read a part one, two, three, four, five, six)

There is nothing overtly in Alma 32 that attempts to discredit the Torah. A cursory reading of the chapter would find one reading what appears to be another Biblical text. Many of its thoughts are found in the writings of the Apostles. I will highlight a few for reference. At the end I will draw my conclusion. If one is to have an honest discourse with another, you must be willing to consider their point. If they are intellectually honest they will consider yours as well. Deception is deception because it is masked in truth. If one isn’t willing to challenge their own thought you may just be deceiving yourself with half truths and misunderstandings.

Alma 32:11 . . . (Also, Mosiah 18:25).
“And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?”
Within this passage is a footnote leading to another passage in the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 18:25. “And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together.”

Here I want to address the Sabbath. This seems to be a contentious point within westernized churches based on church history. I have written on the counsel of Nicea before and the letter sent by Constantine to the surrounding territories following its conclusion. You can read about that here. The separation of the Gentiles “Church” from the fellowship of the Synagogue was encouraged by both sides. However, it was not ever the desire of Elohim. There is one Torah for the native born and the stranger who dwells among you. These are the words and the desire of The Most High. The Sabbath was sanctified in Creation, it was observed since then by the people of God. It is still His Sanctified day and both a sign and a seal of the followers of Elohim Most High.

Alma 32:15 . . .
“Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.”

I found this passage particularly interesting as it calls for humility and repentance from sin. What is sin? John gives of the clearest definition of sin in 1 John 3:4. “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.” Most bibles will have a footnote for this verse that says, “or, is violation of the Law.” The Law is the Torah. Sin is literally the breaking of Torah. Therefore, true repentance is turning from sin to the Torah. This isn’t me saying this, these are the Words of Elohim. ‘Oh, no one can keep the whole law!’ So does that mean we can don’t try? Does that mean we don’t seek to follow the commands that we can keep? The Sabbath, the dietary laws, these are easy to keep for the truly humble at heart. After all a humble heart seeks to honor before it seeks to be honored. In other words, walk humbly with God by seeking Him and His ways. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Alma 32:16 . . .
“Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.”

It is hard to fully know what is being portrayed or the idea of the message behind this thought. Yes, we must be humble, yes, Adonai will call who He calls. “As it is said: “Today if you should hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15) – However, we do see that it is noble to search out Scripture for what is true. As we read of the Bereans. “Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians. For they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.”

Now it is understood that the Book of Mormon is a collection of writings made after Jesus appeared in the America’s. I am not too familiar with the origin story, beyond a cursory reading of history. I suppose it can be assumed that those that came to the America’s only had the oral tradition and not any writings. However, we also know that Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever and therefore would not contradict Himself. So if there was an appearance here it would line up with Torah. Anything that doesn’t is either a forgery or misunderstood. Perhaps in the same way many misinterpret Paul’s writings as Peter warns. “Indeed, he speaks about these things in all his letters. They contain some things that are hard to understand. Things which the uninstructed and unstable distort, to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:16).

Paul was a teacher of Torah, he instructed others to study Torah. We know this because he told Timothy not to forsake what he knew. “But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it. 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 God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living. Thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.” 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Alma 32:28 . . .
“Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.”

We can relate this to many passages in what is commonly known as the Old and New Testament. Yahoshua’s parable of the sower in which He talks about fertile ground in Matthew 13. We can read about tasting and seeing that the Word is good in Psalm 34. However, we can also read that the heart is desperately wicked. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9. This is why we are told to search the Scriptures and not to lean on our own understanding. Why? Again, Paul warns us that there is coming a time which now is that men will not adhere to sound doctrine. “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

This warning is why it is vital that we check all things to the source of all truth. “Sanctify them by Your Truth, Your Word is Truth.” John 17:17. The default Scripture must be the Torah and the Tanakh. Because it tells how to spot false prophets and false teachings. It focuses the reader on the goodness of Elohim and His salvation through Messiah. It instructs us on what to do and how to do it. It tells how to worship. It calls us to be separate. It calls us to Torah. His instruction in righteousness. With this understanding we can read Alma 32 and put it within the context of Torah. Here it can fit. This isn’t an endorsement but it is a concession.

Alma 32:40 . . .
“And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.”

This is true. We must look to Torah, the Word of Elohim. Otherwise we will have no place in His Kingdom. We must get back to the instruction that we can follow, Sabbath’s, and eating clean, just to name a couple. His Word is not burdensome. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

This is the Way,
You are loved,
cj

Living Under Grace: Understanding God’s Commandments

Living Under Grace: Understanding God’s Commandments

Oh how burdensome it is to take a day off each week. To dedicate it to rest and restoration. To honor God and His instructions. It is a heavy yoke to carry. Oh that there would be a simpler way than resting in His presence. Oh thank You Lord Jesus. He completed it so I don’t have to. No longer am I burdened with what the children of Israel were burdened with for thousands of years. They couldn’t do, for it was too hard. Even though You constantly called them back to it and told them if they turned from their own ways. If they followed you again and kept Your statutes You would bless them again. Yet, you must have known that it was too hard and that they would fail. You punished them so that you could send Jesus and make it easy on us gentile believers. No longer burdened with living a life that sets us apart. Thank you for freeing us from the law of sin and death. Thank you for giving us thousands of years of illustrations of punishing a people so we could be free. Free to live however we want, for all things are permissible, for grace sake.

Does this statement sound absurd? It should, yet for many Christians this is exactly what they believe. Oh, they won’t say it out loud but deep down they believe it. They have to. If they don’t then they will be forced to recognize their constant depravity. And their need for walking out the commands of God. They will be forced to consider the whole of God’s Word. They cannot rely only on the few verses they cling to in order to break the commands of God. Does this sound too harsh? It’s better than eternal darkness and complete everlasting separation from Yahoshua (Jesus). Who is King of kings, and Master of masters.

Henry David Thoreau an early American poet and philosopher said; “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious effort.” The writer of Revelation, pens this statement; “Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua (Jesus).” It is both, and, not either or. We must do what we can to honor the commandments of Elohim and couple that with our faith in Yahoshua. It is not by works that I am saved. It is by living within the instruction of Yahweh that I show myself as having faith. I believe, therefore, I do.

Jude writes, “Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints. For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Adonai, Yahoshua Messiah.” How does one deny Yahoshua while claiming faith in Him? Simple, they say His teachings were for the Jews. That He came to fulfill the law so that we don’t have to. They deny statements like “I did not come to abolish the law, but to bring it to the full.” He challenged the religious leaders of the day and the man made traditions they held above the Word of God.

Ezekiel writes about the shepherds who don’t feed their sheep. “Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.” There are many pastors getting fat off the flock today. They aren’t scattering them. They are deceiving them with false messages of prosperity and even making a mockery of grace itself.

He continues, “You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.” The violence and cruelty today is that they are not teaching the commandments of God but of man. They have created a different religion and their Christ Jesus is the lawless one He himself warned about. They both cannot be true. This is why I choose to use His Hebrew name. This is why I choose to seek Him fully and completely. To know His Word is to know Him for He is the Word made flesh. Thoreau may not have been a true believer but he did get it right when he said, “. . . unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious effort.”

Paul writes, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Messiah Yahoshua took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Messiah Yahoshua.” Are we striving for “Your Kingdom come, Your WILL be DONE“? Or are we content with mediocrity? Are we content with lukewarmness? Are we content fooling ourselves that what the Word describes as not burdensome, to be too burdensome? “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” For this is what John 5:3 says.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. It is true to this day. Jeremiah records this in the sixth chapter. “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’'” Yahoshua said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Early believers before they took on the ‘christian’ moniker were known as the sect of the Nazarene. They were also known as the people of the way. We know truth to be the Word, “Your Word is Truth”. Life, for all who come and obey Yahoshua will live.

As Jeremiah later writes in the sixteenth chapter. “O Yahweh, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” Some churches do have idols, engraved images, but beyond that many have man made traditions. They them place above the Word of Elohim. They justify themselves by taking the words of Paul and twisting them. As Peter warns. If the faith you follow allows for lawlessness, which is Torahlessness, you are outside the ways of Yahweh. Therefore, you are not following Yahoshua Messiah.

“Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’” These are Yahoshua’s (Jesus’) words to those who live outside the instructions of Elohim, outside of Torah. The lawless one is coming and he will deceive many. In fact the spirit of the lawless one is already at work. Wake up! The time is drawing short. Put your faith in the true Messiah Yahoshua! The ‘Jesus’ the Apostles taught about and live for and ultimately died for. Not the lawless one being taught today in the majority of churches.

You are loved,
cj

Repetition and Retention: Wisdom from Proverbs

Repetition and Retention: Wisdom from Proverbs

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Adonai. Writing the same things to you again is no trouble for me. For it is repetition that is a good instructor.” Studies show that repetition is necessary to retain information. Even basic retention of simple contextual ideas require 3 to 7 times of hearing the information. While more complex ideas may require 6 to 20 times. Of course emotionally charged or high-stakes information can be retained almost instantly. This has been my motivation over the past few months. Perhaps, presenting it in different lights for slightly different audiences, nevertheless, it is the same concept repeated. It is in this vain that write to you today.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares Elohim,  “when I will send a famine on the land. Not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of ADONAI.” Amos 8:11

Are we living in the days of famine prophesied by Amos? It sure seems so. No one wants to hear the idea that faith is more than a prayer and Sunday attendance. Reformations and Church splits happen, not because people want things to be more difficult. No, they happen because people want to find the easiest path forward. It is human nature after all to seek ease and comfort. New technologies emerge daily with that simplistic goal in mind, to make life simpler.

Proverbs is a book of wisdom, a collection of thoughts and instruction. It is also laced with warning and a call to obedience, to the instructions of Yahweh. Proverbs chapter one is full of riches. “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth– Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:2-7)

Some definitions that I think will be helpful. Instruction can mean Torah for Torah is Elohim’s instruction. Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosynē which means, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man. In other words, righteousness is an act of obedience to God. In Hebrew the word is ṣeḏeq which means pretty much the exact same thing. Solomon who is the author of Proverbs was asked by God what he wanted. Solomon responded, “wisdom.” He wanted to be wise. A wise man seeks instruction and obeys without exception those things commanded by God. For this obedience it is counted to him as righteousness.

Proverbs chapter one continues in verse twenty-two, “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?” This ties into Amos’ prophecy perfectly. You see the simple today want simpler. They don’t want to be challenged. They will scream grace, grace, but condemn the sinner. They will say, “I am free from the law.” And brush away verses like James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Yahoshua (Jesus), declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me. John describes Yahoshua as “. . . the Word made flesh . . . ” He is the living Torah scroll now emblazoned on our hearts and minds. This is the exact description of the New Covenant. It isn’t new instruction, it is new placement, new empowerment. The penalty of death is gone for the one who has faith in Yahoshua. This does not however give one license to keep on sinning. Paul emphasizes this point by asking the question, “Do we then keep on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means!” What is sin, if not transgression of the Torah (law)? John writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices Torahlessness (lawlessness); sin is Torahlessness (lawlessness).”

Yahoshua during the parable of the persistent widow, asks a stinging question at the end. He asks, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Faith as defined by itself in Scripture is action and activity of the things of Elohim (God). It is fidelity to the truth, what is truth? God’s Word is Truth, the Torah, and Yahoshua the Word made flesh. Yahoshua asks another question, “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I ask?” There is one final statement many will hear on the last day. What is it? “Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness (Torahlessness).”

How is one to know what to do if one doesn’t study the Word? The whole Word. The Word the Apostles referred to every single time they say, ‘the Word”, is the Torah. Yet, so many today don’t have any desire to pick up and read it. In the end are they condemning themselves? For the Word says, the very Word of Elohim will judge at the last day. If the Word is the judge shouldn’t one know the Word? This is the Way of the Rabbi.

Will He find Faith?
You are loved,
cj

The Importance of Obeying God’s Instructions in Scripture

The Importance of Obeying God’s Instructions in Scripture

A few years back I was watching a YouTube video. The video was made by an admitted atheist. In it he was praising the efforts of someone who admitted to trying to proselytize him. However, there was a remark in it that I found interesting, recently, as I was reminded of this video. He was given a small pocket sized Bible of the New Testament, along with Psalms and Proverbs. He said, “Psalms is in the New Testament right?” I don’t blame him for not knowing, that isn’t what I am getting at. What I am getting at is many believe this idea. Many think the Old Testament is irrelevant. They believe this except when they can find generic support for their life.

It isn’t just the idea of finding passages to draw strength from. It is the fact that they deny the relevance of other passages they don’t. The translators haven’t helped humanity either. For example in Proverbs 28:9 it says: “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” There are two critical errors in word translation choice that has aided and abetted this idea. First hearing, this is the word שָׁמַע shâmaʻ. This Hebrew word means, intelligent hearing, listening and obeying. This wisdom is telling the reader, don’t turn away from listening to and obeying. What are we the readers not to turn from? The translators would have you think law. Many read this as a bad thing now. “The law is done away with,” they will say. “It has been nailed to the cross,” they will say. Both statements made in illiterate ignorance.

You see the word law is תּוֹרָה tôrâh. The Torah is God’s instruction to His people. So Proverbs 28:9 says: “If one turns his ear from listening to and obeying the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.” I didn’t say it, Proverbs said it. And the presenters of pocket sized Bibles thought it was important enough to include with the ‘New Testament.’ Which isn’t New, but a retelling of the Old. A call to obedience and a pathway of forgiveness through Yahoshua, (Jesus).

John describes sin in 1 John 3:4. He writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” Here again translators make an error. But, even if it wasn’t an error, and if law was a good translation, what John is saying should draw one’s attention. He who practices or abides by a different instruction is living in sin. Sin is being outside of God’s instruction, His Way.

Yahoshua says, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20 – What are some things He commanded? Well, how about Matthew 5:17-19? “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill (To bring a deeper understanding). For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Many will say that we are incapable of following the whole of the law or Torah. And they would be correct. You see I am not a woman, so I cannot, nor should I, follow the instructions for women. I am also not a Levit so am not part of the Levitical priesthood. That also takes out those instructions. I am not a slave owner, or a king, reducing the instruction further. There is no standing Temple so I am not bound by those instructions either. What am I capable of then? Well, I can eat those things God calls food. I can make the distinction between clean and unclean, holy and unholy. I can honor the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.

In other words, I can certainly keep the 10 Commandments, and the dietary instructions. I can keep His Feast Days and Sabbaths. I then can study the Word daily and learn and grow in my understanding, adjusting my life accordingly. This is the Way of the Rabbi. This is how Paul taught. His instructions do not contradict that which came before because if they did . . . By definition, he would be a false prophet or teacher and we shouldn’t listen to him. However, I don’t believe he was, I simply believe what Peter says about his writings. “And count the patience of our Master as salvation. Just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. 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. Especially, with the error of lawless (Torahless) people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahoshua Messiah. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:15-17)

Let me leave you with this statement from Yahoshua (Jesus) to ponder from Matthew 7:21-23. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness (Torahlessness).’”

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