Tag: Messiah

Transforming Lives: Conforming vs. Standing Out

Transforming Lives: Conforming vs. Standing Out

When I was kid I had a green tank top that was my absolute favorite shirt. I wore that shirt every chance I got. I not only liked the style, but the image on the front, I found especially amusing. It had a picture of a chimpanzee, sitting on a toilet, eating a banana. Most people found the shirt tolerable, my parents surprisingly did. Especially given their usual apprehension to such things, on religious objections.

My mormon friends down the street did not find it at all amusing. In fact, I was not allowed in their home if I was wearing the shirt. I would have to go home and change, which wasn’t too bad, as I just lived a few houses down the street. A small price to pay for my favorite shirt.

I loved it so much that one Christmas season, at my schools Christmas program, I attempted to wear it. You see my second grade class was instructed to wear green. Well, I only owned two pieces of green clothing. My green chimpanzee tank top and a pair of green corduroy pants. I also wore those pants often, never with the tank top, but often enough that they were faded, worn, and never looked clean, even, fresh out of the laundry.

You should have seen the look on my mother’s face when I came out of my room. I announced, “Okay, I am ready to go.” To which my mother said, “You are not wearing that to your Christmas showcase.” “But Mom, we have to wear green and this is all the green I have.” I rebutted. She glared down at me, “Go put on your suit, you are going to look nice.” There was some more back and forth, but there was no winning and eventually I conceded, my mother victorious again. I went back to my room and pulled out my chocolate brown suit with creme colored shirt. The suit was three pieces, slacks, vest, blazer, accented with my creme colored shirt and a brown tie that had a gold weave. It matched the brown shoes with gold buckle. No doubt I looked very nice, but it wasn’t green, and I knew I was in for it, when I walked into my classroom.

Sure enough, the click clack of my dress shoes on the tile floor of the school, echoed down the halls, announcing my arrival. I stepped into the glass and my friends gasped and then as good friends do began pointing and laughing. “You were supposed to wear green!” They said. “I know!” I snapped back. Mrs Michaels my second grade teacher, who already disdained my very existence, walked over to me shaking her head. She asked if my parents were here and I said yes. She then surprisingly turned around to address another issue and I thought, “wow, that’s it? That wasn’t bad at all.”

Soon after Mrs Michaels called the class to the front and told us to get into our stage places to rehearse our two or three songs. I don’t recall the exact number but the one song that stands out in my core memory, “O Christmas Tree.” During all the other rehearsals I was set in the back row, stage right. Tonight in a sea of green Mrs Michaels would get a scarring blow, “CJ, you come down here in front, you are going to be the trunk of our tree. This way you won’t stand out as much.” To which even my second grade brain thought, ‘Not stand out? I am right in the middle up front . . . it will be like I am the only one on the stage!’ It would have been far less noticeable had I been able to stand in the back wearing my worn out green corduroy pants and chimpanzee tank.

Romans 12:1-8 says:
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Messiah we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.“

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.“

I have told that story many times before, illustrating our need as believers in Messiah, to stand out, not blend in. We are called to be different. That although we live in the world, we are not of the world. We were once partakers in sin and disfunction but now we are called to a new life. We are now Ambassadors of the Kingdom. We are now clothed in righteousness and the world should know it. We should stick out. This doesn’t mean driving around with a sticker on your bumper, or posting Bible verses on your social media pages. It isn’t about attending church every week or going to Bible studies.

Now, none of those things are necessarily bad. However, what does your lifestyle say of you. When you say no words what do your actions say? When you are at work, what does your production say? When you are out with friends, what do your habits say? Are you wearing the lifestyle of the King? Have you taken the mantle, are you carrying your cross? This doesn’t mean perfection, we all make mistakes, we allow our flesh to win sometimes. The question is, was that win an upset, or was sin favored to win?

Walking in righteousness is a struggle, walking in the spirit is a struggle. Yahoshua, never said life in Him would be easy. He said, “you will be hated for my names sake.” That isn’t blending in, that is standing out. Does it mean you can’t find favor in the eyes of others? Absolutely not. The early believers in Acts, “praising God and finding favor with all the people.” Yet, still as the day of Adonai approaches He did say that our obedience would become a suffering point. Unfortunately, too many are comfortable with the culture that they don’t realize that the pot is beginning to boil.

The ground is being shaken and we are being called to the front. We are called to represent the King by standing on the roots, bringing the message of life to the masses. We are called to be a brown suit standing in a sea of green tee’s. We are called to be set apart from the world, not to participate in its lawlessness. We must discover what it means to be an heir in the Kingdom.

What did the Father mean when He gave Micah these words; “He has shown you O’man what is good and what does Elohim require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” He wasn’t changing His ideals or His message for the Father spoke through Moses saying; “And now, O Israel, what does YHWH your God ask of you but to fear YHWH your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of YHWH that I am giving you this day for your own good.“

What did the Father mean when He inspired Paul to pen these words; “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” We are called to stand out and be different. We are called to honor our Heavenly Father. We are called to walk according to the Son, our Messiah Yahoshua.

We must learn the way of THE Rabbi, Yahoshua, and walk and do according to His instruction. Which is the Father’s instruction written out for us. Do not get wrapped in mans tradition, and twisted theologies, but rather study to show yourself approved. His Spirit will lead us into all truth if we diligently seek Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Will you earnestly seek Him? Then join me and subscribe.

You are loved,
cj

Reflecting on the Past: The Journey of Growth in Truth

Reflecting on the Past: The Journey of Growth in Truth

Another year older and i would like to think that i am at least a bit wiser. Although, every year at this time i can’t help but think what my life would be like if certain things could be undone. Statements like, “i should have done this . . .”, “i could have done this . . .”, and “i would have done this . . .”, circle my mind. The shoulda, coulda, woulda’s of life. In my opinion they aren’t completely without merit, although they can become problematic.

Yahoshua said, “And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” He was making a specific point about instructing His disciples but the idea is transferable. You have probably thought it yourself at some point, “It was better when I was a kid.” Wishing for another time in the past, hoping things will return. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but they won’t. In fact things are only going to get increasingly worse overall. At least until Yahoshua returns.

When He does return He will restore things, but to what? We have only the word but no experience in what is to come. This is why there are so many opinions. Everyone who reads it has a slightly different idea and all of them will say, “God, revealed to me in a dream . . .” Who do you trust, who do you listen to? You probably have your teacher favorites based on your doctrinal upbringing. And through that lens you will fit your understanding of Scripture. Regardless if it makes any sense or not because one simply says, “For now we know in part, seeing things through a mirror dimly.” “There are many mysteries that will be revealed in the end.” Etc.

Although, this is true it does not justify ignorance on the matters of truth. What is TRUTH? His, God’s Word, is Truth. Yahoshua said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Did He mean never look back? Obviously not, or Hebrews 11 would be unreadable. So what can one gain from looking back at one’s life and reflecting?

Learning from past mistakes, is clearly a good idea. Looking at times you were forgiven, in order to forgive others, is a worthy endeavor. Pondering what you have learned in order to understand truth, without a doubt, is a good idea. After all, Paul tells Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved, a workman, who rightly handles the word of truth.”

Be a student of life. Be willing to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Learning what not to do is as important as learning what to do. Both are equally beneficial if treated correctly. Those previous experiences can be motivation for future decisions, and they should be, with healthy perspective.

God has spoken to us through His word. There is no guessing if you read it for yourself. Part of the ‘New Covenant’ is that His Spirit will guide us. John says, “And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.”

The New Covenant is written on our hearts. It is the Instruction of God and it includes the history of His people. All of it. The good, the bad, the indifferent. All of the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s. The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah when he writes, “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares Adonai. I will put My Torah in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Paul writes to the Romans, “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature what the Torah requires, they are a Torah to themselves, even though they do not have the Torah. So they show that the work of the Torah is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Messiah Yahoshua, as proclaimed by my gospel.”

The problem many run into is that they don’t like to admit to their mistakes. Instead they blame others for their misfortunes. Pride becomes an issue. Even if it is equal parts their own doing and that of someone else, it is a default to blame the other entirely. We need to own our own. In that we discover truth. It is said that we are the sum of our mistakes. That is half true. We are the sum of our choices, good, bad, indifferent. Therefore it should stand to reason that we should desire to make choices, from this moment forward, that reflect faith, hope, and love. Right?

Yahoshua said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Let us be willing to learn from our past mistakes. Study the word with a desire to be changed by the word. In order that we might walk in newness of life, within the ‘New Covenant’, given to those who put their faith in Messiah. The past is the past. Learn from it. Grow from it. But do not be chained by it.

You are loved,
cj

Breaking Free from Legalism: Embracing Messiah’s Love

Breaking Free from Legalism: Embracing Messiah’s Love

When taking your relationship with Messiah from a religion to a relationship, one by necessity strips off the man made traditions. This is an important first step. One then begins to learn to walk in relationship with Messiah. However, in our humanity we still make this about ourselves, our comforts, our desires, our feelings, me, me me, I and me again. We look at all that Yahoshua (Jesus) did for us, how he suffered the most horrific torturous death imaginable. Then we say to ourselves, “He did this so that I don’t have to keep the law.” Say that out-loud and tell me it doesn’t sound like you are in an abusive relationship. Now look deeper into it and tell me who is the abuser?

I do not reject God’s gracious gift; for if the way in which one attains righteousness is through legalism, then the Messiah’s death was pointless.

You stupid Galatians! Who has put you under a spell? Before your very eyes Yahoshua the Messiah was clearly portrayed as having been put to death as a criminal! I want to know from you just this one thing: did you receive the Spirit by legalistic observance of Torah commands or by trusting in what you heard and being faithful to it? Are you that stupid? Having begun with the Spirit’s power, do you think you can reach the goal under your own power?  Have you suffered so much for nothing? If that’s the way you think, your suffering certainly will have been for nothing!  What about God, who supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you — does he do it because of your legalistic observance of Torah commands or because you trust in what you heard and are faithful to it?

It was the same with Abraham: “He trusted in God and was faithful to him, and that was credited to his account as righteousness.”  Be assured, then, that it is those who live by trusting and being faithful who are really children of Abraham. (Galatians 2:21-3:7)

When talking about following the commands of God, especially after coming out of religion, many will cry, ‘legalism!’ And they will use Galatians as a point of reference. Followed by something along the lines of, “See, it is about a relationship, not legalistic religion.” And they would be half right. Abraham trusted that what God said, He would do. And based on that trust, that faith, Abraham was obedient to all that God commanded. Paul in his letter to the Galatians goes so far as to call them stupid. Why? Because they began to focus on the observance of Torah outside of trusting in what they had heard and then being faithful to it. You see they were making it about something, rather than someone, and separating the two.

How do I know this? Paul himself tells the Romans this in 6:1-2. “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?” What is sin? As we have looked at time and time again 1 John 3:4 tells us exactly what sin is: “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.” That is to say that sin is being outside of Torah. There is no way around it.

So what is it then that saves us? It is the blood of Messiah, His death has taken away the sin of those who put their faith in Him. His righteousness is given to us and undeservedly so. However, sin is still sin and Abraham shows us that trusting in God is shown through obedience to Him, and that is counted to him as righteousness. So the message Paul is writing to the Galatians and also to the Romans is the same. Now that we have put our faith and trust in Messiah, we should no longer walk in the former sins that we knew. For there is a more excellent way! It is the Way of the Rabbi. It is taking on His lifestyle. Going from religion to relationship to a lifestyle that mirrors that of Messiah.

Who was obedient to the Father even to death. Yahoshua set the example of Faith in the promise of His resurrection that we who believe will also be raised up with Him in newness of life. That we no longer walk according to the ways of man, but that like Messiah we do as the Father has instructed. We build on the relationship with His Son Yahoshua, our groom to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb. “So Yahoshua replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.“” John 5:19. We should be so like minded. What pleases the Father? Psalm 51 reveals, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

If you ask those who have been married for a long time what is their secret you will hear a common theme. That is that each one sought to do for the other more than themselves. In a two-sided relationship where both participants are seeking to honor the other more than themselves you find not only longevity but happiness, peace, joy, love, and satisfaction. It is a lifestyle that becomes the focal point in a relationship, a choice to love the other as they receive love. That is how our Messiah loved and loves us and that is how we ought to love Him in return. And when we love Him we are loving the Father.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. O Adonai, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.” Psalm 51:10-1

Finally, here in Psalm 51 David writes, “I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.” This has always been the point of coming to Messiah. Learning the ways of the Father and doing them. Taking on the heavenly lifestyle and leaving the lawless lifestyle of humanity behind. For the ruler of this world is lawless, he is without Torah, without instruction. And the lawless one is coming to deceive many into a lifestyle of lawlessness, of sin. Are you walking in the light of the Fathers instruction by faith in Messiah? For in the end both are required, Revelation 14:12 says: “Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua.“

Choose this day whom you will serve, the lawless one parading around as the gods of this world or the maker of Heaven and Earth? As for me, i will serve my Father YHWH, in faith of Messiah Yahoshua, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You are loved,
cj

Living a Lifestyle of Prayer: Lessons from David and Messiah

Living a Lifestyle of Prayer: Lessons from David and Messiah

When the world has you living and doing and being everything but what God ordained in His Word, a lifestyle based on Messiah becomes blurred. How then does the statement, ‘a lifestyle not a religion,’ become more than an idea? In 1 Corinthians Paul writes, “Imitate me, just as I imitate Messiah.” This is a call to study the life of Messiah as presented in the Gospels. How did he live and do and be? This is our goal, it does not move, although we are constantly growing.

Let’s look at Psalm 5 which is a song from Davids heart to his God. It is the heart posture we should all have. He begins: “Give ear to my words, Adonai, consider my inmost thoughts.” When desiring to turn your faith into a lifestyle you have to be willing, even desiring, that God would consider your inmost thoughts. Hide nothing, for nothing in the end is hid from Him. David continues, “Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to You. Adonai, in the morning You will hear my voice, in the morning I lay my needs before You and wait expectantly.”

The plea of David, “Listen,” isn’t because he doesn’t think Adonai will listen, rather, it is a measured cry of desire. He is revealing his heart for Adonai in a heart felt plea, to his king and his God. This wasn’t a one off prayer it was a pattern it was a lifestyle of prayer as David then says, “in the morning you WILL hear my voice.” How often did our Messiah depart the crowds and even his disciples to get alone and pray? The answer often and usually in the morning. Mark 1:5 records this, “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Yahoshua (Jesus) got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.” And the prayer was one of expectancy. When we pray, we should do so with a faith filled with expectancy.

David seemingly shifts gears here in the next set of verses. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; evil cannot remain with You. Those who brag cannot stand before Your eyes, You hate all who do evil, You destroy those who tell lies, Adonai detests men of blood and deceivers.” Yet, if we look closely, David is simply drawing a contrast. God still does not take pleasure in wickedness. Adonai still hates evil. Yahoshua, didn’t come to die in order for humanity to practice such things. He came as He declared to Pilate, “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” In Yahoshua’s prayer in John 17:17 He declares, “Sanctify them by Your Truth, Your Word is Truth.”

“But I can enter Your house because of Your great grace and love;” David jumps right back into the contrast, those outside of God’s instruction, the wicked are detestable. And those, like David, who have a heart after God’s instruction, enter the house of Adonai because God is rich in mercy, grace, and love; towards those who walk according to His instruction. When those seeking after Gods righteousness enter His presence what does a grateful heart do? “I will bow down toward Your holy Temple in reverence for You.”

The walk isn’t easy. The world is full of distractions and even those with seemingly good intentions can be distractions. Therefore David asks, “Lead me, Adonai, in Your righteousness because of those lying in wait for me; make Your way straight before me. For in their mouths there is nothing sincere, within them are calamities, their throats are open tombs, they flatter with their tongues. God, declare them guilty! Let them fall through their own intrigues, for their many crimes, throw them down; since they have rebelled against You.” The word here for righteousness is צְדָקָה tsᵉdâqâh and it literally means, right actions. So David is saying, ‘Lead me, Adonai, in Your right actions.’ With what David follows up with quiet clearly David is asking God to help him walk in the light of Gods Torah (instruction).

Is David without hope for the lost? Absolutely not. For he closes his Psalm with these words; “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice, let them forever shout for joy! Shelter them; and they will be glad, those who love Your name. For You, Adonai, bless the righteous; You surround them with favor like a shield.” Here David uses the word צַדִּיק tsaddîyq, for righteous. This word means, lawful. David is saying, ‘bless those who are lawful, those keeping Your instruction, who are walking in righteousness, the light of Gods Torah (instruction).

Yahoshua, makes the same plea in His prayer found in John 17. “I made Your name known to the people You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” What is the Fathers word? It is the Torah, and it is Yahoshua, who is the Word made flesh. Yahoshua didn’t come to contradict the Fathers instruction but to bring it to life through action.

Yahoshua later in this same prayer says; “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.” Holiness, ἁγιάζω hagiazō, is set apart, sanctified, consecrated for a purpose. Yahoshua is saying He has lived out the instruction of the Father. He set Himself apart from the world, that is living in rebellion, and He is now praying that those who are of the Way. That we also would be set apart to live out the instruction of the Father.

Let me wrap this up with this; “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in Me because of their word, that they may all be one. Just as You, Father, are untied with Me and I with You. I pray that they may be untied with Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Yahoshua only did what the Father said, He lived out the Torah. He is saying that He wants us, His disciples to live in the same manner. Not living and doing and being as the world but living as a light (examples of Gods instruction), being imitators of Messiah, doing the acts of righteousness found in Gods instruction (Torah). This is the Way of the Rabbi, to follow His instruction. What does that mean? Follow for more or simply peak into the archives if you are wanting to be imitators of Messiah as the Word calls us to be.

You are loved,
cj

Living Life His Way: A Perspective on Faith

Living Life His Way: A Perspective on Faith

In the end, when the time has come, for the final curtain, will it be said, “I did it, His way?” Unfortunately, for many and even myself, on more occasions than I would like, like many we do things “our way.” Like the famous song sung by many and introduced by Frank Sinatra, “I did it myyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyy.” The more I learn and grow and discern truth in Scripture, it becomes glaringly more clear, His Way is constantly under attack.

There is a certain amount of pride that comes with the idea that we do things our way. Success feels good, as does rebellion in certain areas, power and control, is captivating. They say no one likes being told what to do. And there is some truth to that. Neither does anyone like to be under constant pressure to perform. So when you couple the idea that the Law is some sort of checklist that one must keep, it becomes less appealing. Especially, when it is put up next to a philosophy of do whatever you want.

However, most will agree that having certain parameters is necessary for a cohesive community. Now the debate begins, how far should those parameters reach? Who should get to dictate those boundaries? In today’s world regardless of where you live in it, you are living within the parameters of society. Those parameters are being established by governing bodies. The country you live in has laws that you must live under. This trickles down, State laws, city ordinances, even communities have bylaws dictated by HOA’s, work has codes of conduct even. In fact the home you live in with your family has unspoken rules as well as established understandings. Without the rule of law, there is chaos. Imagine six billion people all doing things their own way?

In the days Yahoshua (Jesus) walked to streets of Jerusalem He confronted a religious order. He did so on the premise of calling them out on their hypocrisy. Placing on the people a yoke none could bear. Taking the instruction of God and lacing it with human tradition and placing that tradition above the very Scriptures they taught. In the end causing the people undo hardship increasing the taxes levied, sacrifices required, offerings given, lining the pockets of the priests and religious counsels. Not much different than we see today in a lot of ways.

This verse in Acts 5 got me thinking: 39 “But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest you be found to fight against God.” Humanity will fight hard to keep their traditions. They will make excuses for it. Warp Scripture for it. Say it doesn’t matter in order to justify it. Rather than ask the question, “Is it of God?” If the answer is yes, then we better be found doing it, if the answer is no, we better weigh its consequences carefully. God left us with a pretty clear set of instructions, we better seek to understand them rather than make up our own.

The world is pulling for our attention in every–which–way possible. Human tradition, cultural tradition, family tradition, church tradition, individual tradition, are often at odds with God’s instruction. If we aligned ourselves with His ways we would find a set of traditions unparalleled in society. Leading to a genuine relationship with the Father based on Truth, His Word is Truth. John writes in the fifth chapter of his first epistle the following concerning Gods instructions.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

What does it mean to overcome the world? It is the same as overcoming the flesh. We are not to count ourselves as citizens of the world any longer, once we come to faith in Messiah. We are a new creation and therefore become representatives of that Kingdom. Paul to the Romans writes: 6:11: “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Messiah Yahoshua.” Later Paul writes: Romans 8:13: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

John defines sin this way in the third chapter of his first epistle, “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness (Torahlessness) as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness” (living outside of Torah, or Gods instruction). John continues to drive home a point that Paul was trying to make to the Romans. “But you know that Messiah appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.” These all seem quite inline and incredibly opposed to how modern christians live today. For many say that the commands of God have been done away with, or worse, they ignore the commands of God outright.

To the Galatians Paul writes: Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Paul goes on to contrast the flesh vs. the spirit and caps his thought with this: Galatians 5:24: “And those who belong to Messiah Yahoshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Man has been fighting God’s instruction from the beginning in an effort to do things on mans terms. It is the same lie whispered in the garden by the serpent, the devil himself. If Satan can get you to question God’s word then he has you right where he wants you.

Proverbs is a wisdom book. You probably have heard the expression “Ancient Chinese Proverbs”. Well, the same can be said of the book of Proverbs in the Tanakh. Hear now an Ancient Hebraic Proverb, “Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is detestable.” This wisdom and truth. Do not fall to the temptation to dismiss God’s instruction. His Torah is the guardrails that keep you on the path of life, to keep one in the Way. Yahoshua said to Pilate, “So then,” Pilate said to Him, “You are a king, after all.” Yahoshua answered, “You say I am a king. The reason I have been born, the reason I have come into the world, is to bear witness to the truth. Every one who belongs to the truth listens to me.” Shortly before this interaction, Yahoshua is praying in the garden, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”

As much as I like music and even some of the classics sung by Frank Sinatra, the one song that makes me cringe every time is the song, “My Way.” Because when my final curtain closes and this part of my life is over, I want others to see in my and to say of me, “he did it, HIS way!” That in spite of all his flaws, he was always growing, always learning, and always trying to walk the Way of the Rabbi. Here is a remastered version I could probably sing along to.

And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full
I’ve traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it HIS way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exception

I studied each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it HIS way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you know
That I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
Faith ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it HIS way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, no not me
I did it HIS way

For what is a man, what has he got
If not Gods Instruction, then he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And the words of one who kneels
The record shows HE took my blows
And I did it HIS way

You are loved,
cj

Navigating Life with Zeal and Purpose

Navigating Life with Zeal and Purpose

I am a learner. When people are teaching or I think they have knowledge that will help me, I listen. I don’t pretend to have all the answers or that I know everything. I will challenge someone and their thoughts if they are using passages out of context or making arguments for something with no new information than I already have. But I am teachable, if you are right I will prayerfully change my mind with new understanding. However, I am not one to be whisked away, blown about by every wind of doctrine or “new revelation” someone one has.

When in a teaching service I take notes. I have always taken notes. Something I learned from my jr. high camp counselor. I don’t remember much about him but I do know that I looked up to him, I admired him. So much so that when I saw him taking notes during chapel, I took notes during chapel. One thing that he told me was “write questions” if you want to learn, write down questions that stir in your mind as you listen. Then after, find the answers. This is how you grow.

This past Sabbath while I sat and listened my mind was full of questions. The first question that I wrote down was given by the Pastor. “Who are you a hero to?” I need to be totally honest here, although I was listening and relating to the message, many of my thoughts and attention were drawn to more and more questions. Some admittedly prompted by the message others prompted by the questions themselves.

This post is going to be different than the majority of my posts because I am going to ask you the questions I was prompted to write. I will include the answers that I wrote, even the partial answers, if I have them. I am still working through these thoughts, after all this was just yesterday that I wrote them down.

The message text was the Torah portion Numbers 25-29. The hero in the text is Phineas. The prompt, “Who are you a hero to?” My next note was ‘who do I want to be a hero for/to?’ This resinated with me because I have for much of my life had a hero complex. I wanted to be the hero. I tried to fix problems even if the person didn’t want me doing anything. My desire to be needed and a hero won out every time and it killed many relationships. Passion and zeal are a double-edged sword. You will either be admired or despised because of it.

David was passionate in many areas some good and some not so good, depending on human nature. In the end king David was said to have a heart after Gods own heart. That’s pretty high praise. David writes in Psalm 119:57, “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who forsake Your Torah!” The thing about David is in the end his desire was for what God desired. This puts into perspective the idea of being a hero and answers what being a hero looks like. The motivation is key, am I the motivation or is God the motivation?

What am I indignant about? Do I have a zeal and passion for Torah? Does it motivate me? Certainly, the majority of my posts since 2020 have revolved around being observant of Gods instruction rooted in the Tanakh. What stirs my passion and zeal in the Kingdom of God? Clearly, a desire for those who call themselves Christian to walk in the ancient paths. In life there are times when heroism is needed. A train is speeding down the rails and someone is stuck on the track. A hero is needed, get the person off the track! Someone is struggling in their understanding, struggling in a sin or rebellious spirit, instruct, persuade, but you cannot force someone. Let your own zeal and passion be a witness not the enforcer.

This begs the question: “What topics does one hear coming out of my mouth?” When in conversation am I joining in on the gossip? Am I adding to hurtful speech? What is my response to these things happening around me? It depends on the location, and the circumstances, as it does in most instances. In John 2 we read about Yahoshua’s visit to the Temple. “In the temple courts He found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.“

Time and place matter. Here in the above passage they are in the Temple. In the Torah, how we are to treat the Temple and use the Temple is explained in detail. They weren’t even close and Yahoshua acted on the zeal He had for His Father’s house. We read in Acts 21:20 that those coming to faith in Yahoshua, were, “all zealous for the Torah.” In a letter to Titus, Paul writes, “. . . who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every Torah-less deed, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

So what keeps me from being zealous today? What keeps me from observing Torah? Is it temptation, surely, the temptation of the flesh. As the Scriptures say, our spirit and our flesh are at odds. Do we give into the flesh? We shouldn’t. In fact we should do what we can to die to ourselves and put on the new man. For we are new creations in Messiah Yahoshua. Does that mean temptations stop, that the great seducer just stops whispering in our ear? Absolutely not, if anything he fights even harder. Therefore we must fight harder by surrendering to the will of God in Messiah Yahoshua. “If you love Me, obey My commandments.” This can be a fearful thing which brings us to another question.

What fears are keeping me down? For me right now I would say, fear of failure, fear of other’s opinions, doubt in myself, in my knowledge and ability. Even fear of and in my past failures. Are these fears stronger than my Messiah? “Fear not for I am with you.” That’s what Yahoshua says. So why am I running from my fears rather than chasing them off? “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.”

Who have we been made to be? Revelation 5:9-10 says; “. . . with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” We are in Messiah Yahoshua a kingdom of priests to serve our God! We are to lead others in honoring the Sabbath Day, the Feast Days, the Torah!

What legacy am I leaving for my children? What I hope is to leave them an example: Don’t be a simple follower of Yahoshua, but servant leaders. Love God, Love your neighbor. Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly. This is what I hope my kids see in me. When life knocks you down, when temptation grips your heart, when the spiritual battle around you seems too over whelming: “Trust in Adonai with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

You are loved,
cj

Living by God’s Instructions: A Faith Journey

Living by God’s Instructions: A Faith Journey

A statement that I have begun to recite after my morning Scripture reading has both challenged me and encouraged me. The statement goes like this: “The reading of the Word of Yahweh. Blessed be the Name of Adonai and the Word made flesh Yahoshua Messiah. Blessed be the hearer and the doer of His Word.” In this statement I give praise and honor to the Father, and His Son, as well, I challenge myself to not be a hearer only but a doer of His Word. When passages are read that challenge me, this statement, challenges me. When passages are read that encourage me, this statement, encourages me. For example today as I read Ezekiel 33 I was both challenged and encouraged. Let me explain.

First let’s look at the passage I want to highlight. It is Ezekiel 33:10-20 and 30-33.
“Now as for you, son of man, tell the house of Israel that this is what they have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy upon us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we live?’ Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares Adonai Elohim, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’ If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right— if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live. Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die for it. But if a wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.””

30-33 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from Yahweh!’ So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. So when it comes to pass—and surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Within the spaces, between the lines, in the sound of each letter, i am challenged to repent and to seek truth and righteousness in my life. i am equally encouraged. In this that IF one repents of any wickedness, sin, forgiveness is a promise. It isn’t based on the amount of works one can do or how good a performance one puts on. It is about the heart and where loyalty lies. Will you choose your way, saying to yourself, “I am good, because I believe, so my deeds do not matter therefore I will do as I please.” Or, will you choose His Way, the Father’s Instruction, saying, “Oh Adonai Elohim, forgive me of my sin and hear my prayer, that I may walk according to Your Instruction. Write Your Torah on my heart and my mind that I can walk in the light of Your righteousness.”

This message is woven into the fabric of the Apostles letters. Forgiveness, repentance, faith, righteousness, sin, living in instruction. Obedience isn’t works, its covenant. Paul writes to the Philippians, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Messiah Yahoshua has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Messiah Yahoshua. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

This is a progressive faith, a growing faith, an active faith. It is what the Apostles were getting at in Acts when they talked about the gentile coming to faith in Messiah. What is it they were to do? How were they to assimilate? Well, it is a process, one taken in steps through instruction. “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

James writes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” The perfect law, is Torah, God’s Instructions in righteousness.

Strongs makes this statement regarding ‘Liberty’; “freedom from the dominion of corrupt desires, so that we do by the free impulse of the soul what the will of God requires”. This is liberty, liberty from the fruitless acts of humanity into the fruitful works of righteousness. As the world seems increasingly out of wack, bizarre events happening in increasing measure, it is vitally important that you align yourself on the side of Yahoshua, the King of kings. As we pray, “Our Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. . .” This is the Way.

Growing in faith isn’t finding loopholes and ways to continue in sin. Rather, growing in righteousness is seeking with your whole heart, how to Love Adonai with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. How are you seeking? How are you growing? Faith isn’t stagnant, it isn’t passive, it isn’t perfect, it is growing.

This is the way of the Rabbi, will you walk in it?

You are loved,
cj

Understanding the New Covenant: Its Roots and Significance

Understanding the New Covenant: Its Roots and Significance

We are currently in the period between the Resurrection of our Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus) and Pentecost. The point in the upper room where the disciples were given the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Many say it was the installation service of the New Covenant. What exactly is the New Covenant? First, let’s explore what the old covenant is and when it was established.

Did you know Pentecost wasn’t a new event on the calendar? It was and is still the remembrance of the giving of the Torah. The instruction of God to His chosen people. Before you say, “that’s for the Jews.” Ask yourself, are you one of His chosen people today? The Feast of Weeks was the offering of the new grain. It is celebrated fifty days from Passover and the Feast of First Fruits. For perspective, there is Passover, the very next day begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On the third day, in the middle of Unleavened Bread is the Feast of First Fruits.

From when the children of Israel departed Egypt, having passed through the Red Sea, until they arrived at Mt Sinai and Moses received the Torah was approximately fifty days. It all aligns with the Feasts of Elohim. These aren’t Israels feasts, although they are commanded to keep them as a remembrance of all God did for them. They are indeed, as God calls them Himself, His Feasts. When we keep His Feasts we honor Him and remember His kept promises as we look to the fulfillment of Yahoshua’s second coming. In which He will rule and reign over His chosen people.

The problem is that the children of Israel did not heed Moses. Shown throughout the account of the Exodus, “and they did not heed Moses“; was a reoccurring theme. It is the reason for the Prophets writings. It is the reason Yahoshua said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The New Covenant is written of by the Prophets as a promise. The promise being that God would replace their stone hearts with hearts of flesh. A circumcision of the heart, now where have I heard that before? Even this idea however isn’t a New Testament promise it was written by Moses! It has been and continues to be God’s desire for His people that we have circumcised hearts. Tender and open to all that God has for us. Just a side note the word for New in New Covenant is the same word for New in New Moon. The moon isn’t new every month, no, the cycle is renewed. We become new with the renewing of our hearts towards God.

When we truly have circumcised hearts we become sensitive to the things of God. His instruction to us. We also allow for Him to write His instructions, His Torah, on our hearts and minds. And it is through the promised Holy Spirit, given on the Day of Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks, that we are empowered. Empowered to what exactly? “For this is the Covenant I shall make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw us back to the commandments of God.

My prayer for us is this, that we will take this period between the Resurrection of our Messiah Yahoshua and the day of Pentecost; That we will seek to know Him through His word. That we will, with circumcised hearts, tender and sensitive, seek the New Covenant spoken of by the prophets. That we would be truly open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He writes the instruction of Elohim on our hearts and in our inner most beings.

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