A former student of mine trains and shows dogs. i don’t know exactly what they do or how they train them since i only follow their socials now. Still, it is easy to see that when they speak, the dog listens and responds with action. The dogs they train are what we would call, a “good boy.” Have you ever watched the puppy bowl? It is usually on during the Super Bowl. It is essentially a dog show. Where well trained dogs show off not only their well groomed fur but also their strut. Then of course there are the dogs who run obstacles. Those dogs are well trained too. Both listen to cues which can be whistles, clicks, or words. They hear them, then they listen and they obey.
Now our family dogs aren’t always as easily trained, they are kinda like us. Although, there are some great ones out there. Throughout the years, i have had a few dogs. my dog now, Shiloh, is by far the smartest. He is also the most obedient. He responds to my weak attempt at whistling. Or the click i make with my tongue and the roof of my mouth. He also responds to my words. We have developed a routine also. He moves about based on that routine which makes it easier to signal to him. His response each time is, almost always, immediate.
This brings me to the word “Shema.” When someone says, “Shema” today it is typically in reference to the Hebrew prayer. Found in Deuteronomy 6:4 and quoted by Yahoshua when asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” The reason for the name of the prayer is simple, it is the first word of the prayer. In the ESV it reads; “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” In its broader use it also includes verse 5. In the ESV it reads; “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In Jewish custom it is recited twice a day. First, when you arise in the morning and second, before you go to bed at night. Shema, has a very deep meaning that is lost in translation. Here the ESV and most other translations translate the word Shema to ‘Hear.’ This has harmed, I believe, the overall meaning of the word. As a result, the passage becomes less compelling. “Shema,” means to hear, yes, but in its fullness it means to “Listen and Obey.” Now knowing this truer definition lets look again at the passage. “Listen and Obey, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is ONE. You shall agapaō Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might!” Now you tell me which one sounds more impactful?
We are to listen and obey by faith. So much can be said here. i want to be careful not to run off on some tangent. Losing sight of what i am trying to say. i am trying to say that, like Abraham, Noah, Moses, Peter, Paul, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah . . . did . . . and like Yahoshua. He said; “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord. He does only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” We are to Shema the Word of Elohim. To Listen and Obey. To Read and to Do.
Shema my family and friends, Listen and Obey! Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is ONE! You Shall agapaō, Love fully and completely, Yahweh your Elohim. Love with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength! And don’t stop there, agapaō, your neighbor. Love fully and completely, as much as you love yourself, love others in the same way. To continue reading on this topic check out “Will the real Jesus please stand up?”
As i drive around my town, i have noticed several churches. These churches have at least one thing in common, they claim the title, “Disciples of Christ.” This observation isn’t a new one. In fact, i have made it before in this series of posts, “Every Wind of Doctrine.” But I feel this needs another look. All the “Christian Churches” claim to be “Disciples” even if they don’t advertise it on their signs. The definition of disciple is “to take” or “to become like.” By its very definition a disciple takes on the characteristics of the teacher. This is what the early followers of the Way believed and taught. It is why in fact the earlier believers were called “Christians” as the term means, “little Christs.” There is one glaring truth. The Apostles were put to death because they “took on” their Rabbi, becoming indistinguishable from their teacher. It didn’t end there. The great commission states: “Go and Make Disciples. Teach them all that I have taught you.” This what they were doing and the religious rulers of the day found that threatening to their survival.
Today, in the majority of churches, love is preached. Love God and love others. Many a church has this as part of their mission statement in some way. Ask them to define love and i am sure you will get various definitions even if similar in nature. If we were to go to the Rabbi and ask Him to define love, it would be whole. It would be complete. First, He would point out the love statement in most churches. He would most likely ask, “What does it look like to love Elohim?” How did Yahoshua show His love for the Father? He did so with full surrender. He did it as a servant, and as an Ambassador. An Ambassador stands for a Kingdom or Nation. He speaks on behalf of the ruler or government of the place he represents. A servant has no power or authority, he can only do that which is allowed or directed by his master. Yahoshua presents both of these and says, yes, this is how you love Elohim.
What is the Kingdom of Elohim? What does it stand for and what are its laws? How is honor shown to the King? If you want to love Elohim you must be able to answer these questions. In Matthew when Yahoshua is answering the question of what is the greatest commandment He says, “agapaō“. Specifically, He says; “Love Adonai your Elohim with all your heart.Love Him with all your soul. Love Him with all your mind.” This is a quote of Deuteronomy 6:5. In quoting this passage of Torah it should be assumed He was referencing the entirety of the passage. In its fullness Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says; “Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our Elohim, Yahweh is One! You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. Teach them diligently to your sons. Talk of them when you sit in your house. Discuss them when you walk by the way. Speak of them when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” This is the fullness of love and honor toward Elohim.
Yahoshua adds to the answer of the question, love for your neighbor. He says, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Here Yahoshua is quoting from Leviticus 19:18. In its context it says, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people. Instead, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I AM Yahweh.” The fuller context which again should be assumed here is Leviticus 19:9-18. The entirety of the passage is on how we treat our fellow man. Which is simplified to love others the way you love yourself. The term is the same, “agapaō“. Yahoshua teaches on this when He says, “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”
There is a way in which we show love to unbelievers and a way we show love between believers. It is not the same. Although, similar in nature one is reaching out and the other is lifting up. As disciples of Yahoshua, we walk as He walked. We talk as He talked. We give as He gave. We love as He loved. i have not been very good at this, i have done things in pride, jealousy, spite, and anger or hurt. i have acted out of emotions, rashly and with little thought for the big picture. This was not loving my neighbor as myself. It was projecting myself onto others with little regard for them as an individual. It was demanding without example. Yahoshua tells us how to live and he lived that way. He said, “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.” He was walking out what it looks like to be a disciple. A follower of the Way, an Ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven.
I have watched music artists and Hollywood actors give speeches. They thank their “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” for roles or songs. Of which do not bring honor to the King as an Ambassador to the Kingdom. In fact the exact opposite is true. Yet, many of my friends will say, “Oh they’re a Christian.” But are they though? Or are they just a believer as the demons believe and tremble. Are they actually an ambassador of another kingdom leading astray a multitude of people? Now I am the judgmental one, yet we are told we will know them by their fruits.
Fruits are more than words, it is in action as well. It is in repentance, it is in a life changed. One who walked in darkness but has seen a great light and now walks in that light. Is there a change? Has one stumbled or made mistakes? Have they gotten up and repented? Do they continue reaching for the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yahoshua? This is how you know if they are true followers of the Way. We are to test the spirits. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from Elohim. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.” A prophet is simply someone who proclaims to know Messiah and presents Messiah. A prophet is true if they show the Messiah of Scripture. They must walk as He walked. If not, they are false.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. This is how you can tell if someone is a true disciple, whether they are following the true Messiah. It is in their word and speech as much as it is in their spirit and their actions. When you drive around and see the sign, “Disciples of Christ,” ask yourself this. Are they truly walking the way Yahoshua walked? Are they walking the Way of the Rabbi? To read more on this topic check out “Shema.”
In understanding the hesitation of the Levitical priests, and the Sanhedrin we need to understand their recipe and ingredients. Over time, even though, “for from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the Synagogues.” —Acts 15:21— (The Torah along with the prophets these two make up the Tanakh.) Much had been added which is now collected in the writing of the Talmud and other Rabbinical writings. These added ingredients tainted the original recipe and cluttered the menu of YHWH’s banquet table. This in part, along with pride, made Yahoshua unrecognizable to the religious leaders of the day. i fear the same would be true today with the many denominations we have teaching for the most part the doctrines of man.
In part two of this series on “Every Wind of Doctrine” i want to take a step back, and yet still forward, as we look at what Yahoshua accomplished when He said, “It is finished.” i don’t know, but it seems to me that the argument that Yahoshua did away with the Law, or the Levitical Priesthood or that He just did away with the sacrificial system, all miss the mark. For it appears the Law is taught by the Apostles, we are all called priests and Kings, and sacrifice will return in the millennium. When we truly understand Torah, the Priesthood and the sacrificial system we also realize that they all point to giant banquets for the Most High on His feast days. Not only that but also a way for the Levitical priests in charge of the Temple to eat as they did their Temple duty rotations. However, now we see that there is no Temple, no Levitical priesthood, and no way or need to sacrifice. One of the misunderstandings of those who say the Torah is completely done away with is this idea of the sacrificial system. i don’t know but it seems misguided with the understanding of Yahoshua, and the High Priest duties in the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek is mentioned only a few times in Scripture. Genesis 14:18 — “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a Priest of YHWH.” This is prior to the Torah or as described the Law of Moses. Psalm 110:4 (a prophetic look at the coming Messiah) — “YHWH has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” This is after the giving of the Torah (the first five books of the Tanakh and the Bible on your coffee table, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Hebrews 7:1-3 (combining the understanding) — “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, Priest of YHWH, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is King of Peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of Elohim, he remains a priest perpetually.” 17-19 — “For it is attested of Him, ‘You are the Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to Elohim.” 28 — “For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.” (Following the ministry, death, and resurrection of Messiah Yahoshua)
Now, Yahoshua after the order of Melchizedek the High Priest forever, is the way the truth and the life. Through His blood we have redemption of sin, no longer daily, weekly, yearly sacrifices for sin no more redemption through another or priestly order of man. When one would sin or transgress the law they brought a sacrifice to the temple. Now we have Yahoshua our High Priest, who is constantly making intercession for us, and we bring His sacrifice to our Temple, the body, and He through His sacrifice cleanses us from sin. Our transgressions of the law (Torah) not the ordinances of man. Why? Because the law is now written on our hearts!
There is salvation in no other than Yahoshua Messiah. Although, the world would have you believe otherwise, He is the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Him. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. The author of the Law written on our hearts. The seal of the NEW Covenant found in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:7-12. The new ingredient isn’t new at all but rather implanted in our hearts and minds through Yahoshua. Are we still fallen creatures in a fallen world, full of sin and dysfunction? Yes, of course. Yet the recipe for salvation is still faith, still reckoned by obedience, as it was counted righteousness toward Abraham for his obedience by faith, solidified by the work of Yahoshua our King and High Priest.
It seems to me we need to get back to the original recipe of faith as found in Hebrews 11 and throughout the Scriptures in line with the order of Melchizedek. i don’t know but i am gonna dig around and write a part 3. Until then here is a Hymn written by James Montgomery, circa 1800’s —
“Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, Returning from his ways; While angels in their songs rejoice And cry, ‘Behold he prays!’
“Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, The Christian’s native air, His watchword at the gates of death; He enters heaven with prayer.”
Have you noticed that those foods, whether from a fast food place or a box of your favorite cereal, just doesn’t taste the same anymore? Some say it is because our tastebuds have changed over time. That may be partly true. However, ingredients have changed so much i am sure that plays a larger role in why foods taste different, and not for the better in most cases. Neither are they any healthier, in fact with near certainty i can say foods have become less healthy over time. The food industry in an attempt to reduce waste, and increase profit have tweaked recipes endlessly with little regard to original taste as long as it is “close”.
i for one am not a fan of change. Let’s look at my favorite fast food restaurant as an example, Taco Bell. They had an encharito, which was beef and beans, rolled in a soft corn tortilla, smothered in red sauce and covered in cheese, onions, and black olives. It was amazing! Through the years it lost its corn tortilla and became flour, this to some was a subtle change, but to me it was huge and not for the better. Then they ditched the black olives, another cost cutting effort i am sure. Over the years they changed their sauce ever so slightly, a little at a time. Today, if you did a taste test of sauce from 1980 and today, i bet not only would you not think that they were from the same restaurant, you would definitely notice the major differences between them and how newer is definitely not better. All of this is a moot point as Taco Bell no longer offers the encharito on their menu, nor their tostada, Bell-Beefer, or the All Beef Burrito. Change is not always good regardless of the motive behind it.
When restaurants, or food companies, make changes they are counting on the consumer not noticing or if they do notice, it will be so subtle that they will accept it. And in most instances if the price is right, change will be accepted regardless or how much change takes place. The proof is in the fact that we have become fatter, and overall, more unhealthy over time and much of it can be attributed to the food industries changes in ingredients. i am no health expert, i don’t pretend to eat all healthy, i enjoy a donut and ice cream now and then, however, i do try to buy and eat foods that are healthier. i cook most of my meals, i read labels, i try to eat in moderation or in healthy proportions.
What is the original recipe of the Ecclesia (Ekklesia – the assembly of the sect of the Nazarene in and around Greece), the people of the Way? The word ἐκκλησία means, “called out ones” or “set apart ones”. Today we say church, a weaker ingredient if you ask me. If you are a Christian, regardless of your brand, wouldn’t you want to be most like the original recipe as you could? Don’t you want to read labels, check recipes, scour menus for imperfections and lesser ingredients? We are called to be Berean’s who in Acts are described as more noble because they received the Word with gladness and then searched the Scriptures to see whether what they were hearing was true. They were hearing the gospel message, and verifying it within the Torah and the Profits writings. Interesting.
The Berean’s did this because they didn’t want a counterfeit religion they wanted the original recipe. Over time things were added to the faith of YHWH. There was an oral tradition which was later written known as the Talmud full of extra laws and regulations and ordinances, that the religious leaders elevated above the Torah, above the Prophets, above the Word of YHWH. It was subtle, over time, a little here and a little there until faith in YHWH was unrecognizable. i look at the many buildings in my town serving an unhealthy version of the original and because it has been done subtly over time most don’t even know it. It’s sad because it would only take someone doing a little digging to see that what they are doing, hearing, and being taught doesn’t look anything like that of the Way. (Where are the Pastors?)
i feel like we have lost the Berean spirit. We have substituted a curious mind for a mindset that says, “tell me what to think, tell me what to believe.” Not everyone, everywhere, but definitely a majority. Ask yourself this question with all the flavors available on Sunday, who has been swept away, blown about by the winds of change? Taking Ephesians 4:14-15 for a spin around your neighborhood. “That we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him, who is the heard, Messiah.” While you consider this remember these passages of Scripture as well, and on this theme do some digging.
Numbers 23:19 “Elohim is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Hebrews 13:8 “Yahoshua Messah is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
John 1:1, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.” “The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw His glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
What inspired this post? Well, on my planner, yes i still use a paper binder planner, over the past several weeks i have written the following;
Yahoshua said that He is The Way, The Truth, The Life
The Torah is described as The Path/Way/Instruction The Truth, what is truth? Your Word is Truth The Life, man shall not live by bread alone BUT By every Word of Elohim
Yahoshua is The Word made flesh
With this in mind i began reading from Wesley’s works again. It is one of the collection of books i have kept. To be honest, mainly for the binding and how cool they look on my bookshelf. However, i do enjoy the information written within them . . . Not over Scripture of course and as many will concur, i don’t agree with everything he said either. Now with that disclaimer, it did stir the Berean heart within me to really think about the idea found in Ephesians 4:14
“. . . tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”
i don’t know about that, but i am gonna dig around and write a part two.
What i have come to understand about shadows and prophecy, fullness and fulfillment. In part 2 of my Journey update i want to explore these things and encourage you to be a Berean and explore them for yourself as well…
There was a time that i worked at DIA (Denver International Airport) as a ramp agent, affectionately known among peers as ramp rats. We made a song, don’t ask me to sing it, not that it was vulgar, they all knew of and respected my faith. First, i don’t remember most of it and two i was once asked if i was tone deaf after singing. Anyway, it was a pretty cool gig. Besides all the cool benefits it was just fun work, physically tiring, but fun. One of the cool parts of working there was all the sights of various planes taking off and landing. The shadow of a plane on the ground as it came in getting larger and larger until it merged with the wheels on the runway as if Tinker Bell had sown them together. Revealing the fullness of the shadow in the presence of the plane.
The shadow of the plane on the ground looks like a plane. You can hear the plane, and see its shadow, an image of what is to come. As the object gets closer, the shadow grows in size until the fullness of the image casting the shadow arrives. The shadow doesn’t change it becomes more full when the substance of the shadow, the plane arrives. The planes shadow is an image of what is to come and when the substance arrives it reveals the fullness of the casted shadow. The shadow becomes something that you can enter into in its complete form.
John 1:1-3
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.
He existed in the beginning with Elohim.
Elohim created everything through Him, Fore nothing was created except through Him.”
Yahoshua is the fullness, He is the substance of the shadow of what was to come. The Word casted its shadow on humanity, through Israel. Yahoshua, the Word made flesh, was the arrival of the Torah. The instruction (Torah) known as the Word, a shadow of things to come, arrived as the Word became flesh, Yahoshua Messiah. As Paul writes to the Colossians: “which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah’s.” (Colossians 2:17)
Yahoshua is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s Prophecy in 31:31-34– “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHWH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I will put My law (Torah) within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘know YHWH,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares YHWH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” In Hebrews this is brought up as fulfilled in Messiah. (See Hebrews 8)
The Word didn’t change. The Torah didn’t change. Elohim didn’t change. His instruction didn’t change. The method of delivery changed. The Holy Spirit is the written Torah, the written WORD, on the hearts of those within the Nation of Israel, whether by birth or by adoption, grafted into . . . There is one Torah for the native and for those who adjoin themselves to the people of Elohim. When we enter into the fullness of Messiah we are no longer Gentiles or Jews but we are one people, the people of Elohim, we are the bride. As gentiles (any nation of people not of the 12 tribes of Israel) can not live outside the foundation and root of the Hebrew Nation which is founded on the Word of Elohim, who was made flesh and dwelt among us, and now resides in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit. The written Word on our Hearts does not free us from Torah but empowers us to live it!
Yahoshua didn’t come and die for our sin so that we could live a life of sin. Sin as defined by 1 John 2:3-6 — “This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word (Torah), truly in him the love of Elohim is made complete. This is how we know we are in Him: The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.” He came to reconcile us to the Father, take the punishment of our disobedience, and show us how to live. Paul, says, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” We also need to understand what John was referring to when he says, the word, and His commandments. As Paul instructs Timothy in his 2nd letter to him: “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Neither Paul or John were in anyway referring to their own letters or the Gospels, but the written Word of Elohim of the day, the Tanakh, which includes the Torah, or instruction, which has been translated, Law.
The shadow of things to come, has come in fullness through Yahoshua. And in the millennium, we will continue to live these instructions of Elohim. We will observe the Sabbath, the Feast Days, and the commandments of Elohim. As we have been taught to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” May we through the power of the Holy Spirit begin to live our lives in the pattern of Yahoshua Messiah, imitating Him as Paul demonstrates.
“But they delight in the law of YHWH meditating on it day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” Psalm 1:2-3
“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.” Acts 17:10-12
“If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling Elohim a liar and showing that His Word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:10
Over a period of 60 days i read 11 novels: The Hobbit, Summer Knight, Sandstorm, To the Last Man, Wisdom Hunter, 70×7 and Beyond, Legend, The Talisman, Ride the River, The Last Heroes, and Foreign Influence, also one prayer devotional, 31 Days of Prayer. Along with these i read, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Micah, the whole of the New Testament once through and then John, and 1-3 John, two more times each, as well as repeating Philippians, Ephesians, Jude and James. Reading is about the only thing i did besides, eat and sleep; with one exception, chess, the best $13.50 i spent on commissary.
i also spent time writing my thoughts for this and many other previous blog posts, 34 in total. Meditating on the Word and singing praises to My Elohim is what saw me through my time of exile. What I discovered is i have waisted much of my life. Although, i was always a student of the Word i definitely lacked as fas as time. i could have, no should have, been applying myself to understanding what 2 Timothy 3:16 truly meant, as well as Acts 17:10-12, Psalm 1:2-3 . . . When one truly spends uninterrupted time meditating on verses like:
“Do your best to present yourself to Elohim as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of Elohim that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us.” 1 John 5:13-14
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
“so as to walk in a manner worthy of Adonai, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of Elohim.” Colossians 1:10
“You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7
“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
It is after all the “Old” Testament Paul was referring to when he said to Timothy: “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
We live in a world of speakers, and few honest listeners. We must learn to read, to listen, and to meditate, on the Word of Elohim. Yahoshua is the Word made flesh, if we truly want to know Him should we not read Him, listen to Him, and meditate on Him?
This concludes the 34 blogs written and found under the category, “prison epistles.”
“For Elohim in all His fullness was pleased to live in Messiah.” Colossians 1:19
“In the beginning the WORD already existed. The WORD was with Elohim, and the WORD was Elohim.” John 1:1
“. . . and through the Son He created the Universe.” Hebrews 1:2b
There is no other name under heaven in which on can be saved. Yahoshua is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Yahoshua Messiah, to the glory of Elohim the Father. The Father, revealed through the Son, and in the Son. Revealed, even in Word, and Deed, in Name and in Purpose.
Joshua son of Nun, who led the people of Israel into the promised land was named Hoshea. It was through Moses, that Elohim changed his name to Joshua. Some would think this name is inconsequential, most read right over it because lets be real, names and genealogies are boring. However, here is a revelation to all of humanity. Hoshea means, salvation, the name change puts the emphasis on who is salvation, Yahoshua, means, YHWH IS Salvation.
Who saves? YHWH saves, Yahoshua saves, “I and My Father are One.” “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has commanded Me, thus I do.” Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Messiah.” What did Yahoshua do? He kept the Sabbath, He kept the feasts, He ate clean. What did Paul do?
He kept the Sabbath — Acts 17:2 & 18:4 He kept the Feasts — Acts 20:6 & 20:16 He instructed on the Feasts — 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 He believed in Torah — Acts 24:14 He taught the Torah — Acts 28:23 & Romans 3:31 He obeyed the Torah — Romans 7:25 He delighted in Torah — Romans 7:22 He said IMITATE ME as I IMITATE MESSIAH 1 Corinthians 4:16 & 11:1
Are we saved by keeping the Law or the Torah? No, we are saved by Grace as was Noah, as was Abram. We show our love for Messiah, by keeping His commandments. In Luke 6:46 Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ but not do what I tell you?” We are set apart by Torah. What significance is there in keeping Torah? It sets us apart from the pagan, and the unbelieving. To worship on the Sabbath demonstrates our thankfulness in His provision, if even the land was commanded to keep the Sabbath shouldn’t we? If Yahoshua became the Sabbath wouldn’t keeping it honor Him even more?
The very fact that the commandment starts with the word, “Remember,” should be motivation enough. It should also give us pause to reflect on why there has been such an attempt to forget the Sabbath. To celebrate the Feasts is to honor Him, “These are MY FEASTS” if we are His people should we not honor Him by keeping His Feasts and not the traditions of men, which is one of the major points of contention between Yahoshua and the Pharisees? And if clean and unclean came before the Torah, should we not also now keep the clean and unclean dietary practices? Certainly if Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever; we should. Does this make us Holy? No. Does it show that we love Him and want to honor Him? Yes!
We are instructed to be set apart, sanctified, holy. This is done through Yahoshua, who is our example, not our free pass to idolatry. “If we know what is good and we do not do it, that to us is sin,” said James. Also, in Revelation 3 Yahoshua says:
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
It seems to me that this is a direct reflection of Jeremiah 31:31-34 in which is written:
Behold, the days are coming, declares Adonai, when I will renew My covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them.” it is a declaration of Adonai. “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their Elohim and they will be My people.No longer will each teach his neighbor or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.” it is a declaration of Adonai. “For I will forgive their iniquity, their sin I will remember no more.”
For those who will say that the Gentiles and Israel are two separate tracks of Elohim’s story with humanity, i give you Yahoshua, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be ONE flock, one Shepherd.” (John 10:16) Is Messiah divided, that this ONE flock would be separate somehow? No, not at all, they become one under the Shepherd who is the WORD of ELOHIM made FLESH. And He declared that He is knocking on the heart of the lukewarm believer, and if we open to Him He will come in and in essence write the Torah on our hearts.
This is also taught by Paul, for he understood this to be true. “And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for Elohim has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Earlier Paul warned the gentiles, “do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” (Excerpts from Romans 11:18-24)
So then what? Is it by grace or works of the Law? As James says, “Faith without works is dead . . . I will show you my faith by my works.” Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me Adonai, and not do as I commanded?” If we are to love Elohim with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength isn’t it reasonable to think that living by the commandments of Elohim is within the realm of loving Him completely? Keeping holy what he declares holy and unclean what he calls unclean, is this also not a sign of our love for Him? To join Him in celebration of His Feasts, is this not also a condition and confession of our heart?
i present this as a question, i choose to live it as a statement. i am not under the law, yet, i choose to live in the footsteps of My Adonai, by the power of His Holy Spirit within me, writing Torah on my heart.
“When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” John 10:4
You know what i find interesting, this verse in John is 10:4 and 10-4 is radio speak for “understood” basically, “Okay, I hear you and understand.” i don’t know where the radio call signs come from or what influenced them but i wouldn’t be surprised if somehow it was related to John 10:4. Knowing and recognizing the voice of Yahoshua is key and becoming increasingly critical as we step into the last days. Yes, i do believe we are entering the last of the last days. It is my goal to be as responsive to the voice of Yahoshua as my dog Shiloh is to mine. i want to recognize His voice as so familiar it is like that of my boys recognizing the voice of their dad, me.
We need to be so in tuned with Yahoshua that we hear, recognize, and obey. We may hear a similar voice, but if it goes against Elohim’s Word it is a counterfeit. Now we may hear and we may recognize, but if we do not obey we are only fooling ourselves. We need all three to truly walk with Adonai Yahoshua. Perilous times are upon us as described in 2 Timothy 3 and 4.
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, having an idea of divinity, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
This instruction to Timothy is a warning much like that of Yahoshua’s teaching in John 10 — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. . . He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (John 10:10, 12-13)
People who truly don’t know the voice of Yahoshua will follow that of the thief, and the stranger, who brings teachings that tickle the ears but harden the heart. Yahoshua continues in John 10 —
“I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)
Who are the other sheep not of this fold? The fold He is talking about is Israel, the other sheep are those out of the gentile nations. We must learn to recognize His voice. Also, notice that we become one! There are not two separate people, but one people of Elohim through Yahoshua. We did not replace Israel, and we are not on a different level or end time path, we are one! Paul instructs Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of El may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The “All Scripture,” Paul is referring to here is what we know today as the Old Testament. Yahoshua never quoted the New Testament, obviously, as it hadn’t been written. All the Apostles, taught as Yahoshua taught, from the “Old.” Yahoshua, is the Word made flesh, as John describes— “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” A few verses down John adds, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory , glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In essence, Yahoshua is the Torah. More than just the five Books of Moses, He is the major and minor prophets, He is the books of wisdom, He is the Word made flesh. He cannot contradict Himself.
Would it not make sense if we are to truly understand the Word made flesh that we look at the whole of the Word. “My sheep know My voice and come to Me.” Do you know His voice? Will you be able to recognize it over the noise, distractions, and falsehoods, that are coming in these last days? Are you willing to follow the Good Shepherd when — “Indeed, all who desire to live a divinely inspired life in Messiah Yahoshua will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)
We need to to begin to understand Him by reading the very Word He represents. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
What must have been going through Pilate’s head when he was questioning Yahoshua? Yes, we get a glimpse of his thoughts but not the inner struggle and that is what i find fascinating. What was his inner struggle in those moments. Certainly there was a battle raging in his heart and mind; “‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,’ Pilate said, ‘I find Him not guilty.’” Everyone has struggles, have you seen the meme that states, “Be kind, everyone is struggling with something.” Oh, I know the scene at the Governor’s Mansion reveals a heartless account of all involved in the betrayal of Yahoshua, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t inner struggle. Here is a portion of the account.
“Then Pilate took Yahoshua and flogged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe. They came up to Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.’ So Yahoshua came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the man!’ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find Him not guilty.” (John 19:1-6)
The struggle here is evident, although Pilate had Yahoshua flogged and He was mocked and disrespected, the pronouncement was made from a true understanding, “I find Him not guilty.” Yahoshua, was in that moment taking on the sins of the world, the sins of those mocking Him and ridiculing Him, for those shouting, “Crucify Him!” Understanding, that in the end, when He returns as the victor, riding in the clouds, that He will be returning as the King of kings and the Master of masters. He is the Everlasting King of Israel and we gentiles are grafted into that Kingdom, thanks to the work of Yahoshua.
Even now however, Yahoshua is on trial. Not just from those outside the fellowship of believers, but those also of the household of faith. For it is true everyone is struggling with something. If not for the finished work of Yahoshua, not a soul would be spared the suffering of eternal separation from YHWH. Oh perhaps, one might find favor in the eyes of YHWH, as Noah did, as Abraham did . . . But not on the scale that we have today thanks to Yahoshua. HalleluYah!
Over the last five posts, i have been writing about the Signs that would set the stage for Yahoshua’s triumphant return. One area that i pointed out was, “The love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12 — Here is the passage that reveals the heart of struggle within those who would say today that they are believers in Yahoshua. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”
i think it is important for us to remember and to build on our faith while we still can. Because, there is coming a time when we will be under such great persecution that many will fall away, betray one another, fall for the false teachings that have and will continue to lead many astray and allow for our hearts to grow cold. The struggle within our hearts and minds are real. The struggle to forgive others, the struggle to see those through the eyes of Yahoshua, “‘Who condemns you?’ Yahoshua asked the woman, ‘No one Adonai,’ Yahoshua said, ‘Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.’” Or to those who have given in to weakness, “‘Do you love Me?’ Yahoshua asked Peter, and Peter replied, ‘Yes Adonai, I love you!’ Yahoshua said, “Feed My sheep.’”
Salvation is in Yahoshua, there is no other name to which one can call upon for forgiveness. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “Behold the lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sin of the world.” It is by grace, through faith, that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life! Yet, History repeats . . . Some call it a foreshadowing, regardless, we seem not to learn. As the Israelites in the desert so we tend to forget the goodness of Elohim. Both, His power and His forgiveness. May we never forget what Yahoshua did for us on the cross.
Remember, no matter the battle you are facing, or the struggles in your heart and mind, Yahoshua our High Priest has and is praying for you. “I am praying for them . . . Holy Father, keep them in Your Name . . . That they may be one . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one . . . Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth . . . That they also may be sanctified in Truth.” Portions taken from John 17
Pilate’s words, “I find Him not guilty.” Are the very words we receive when we put our faith in Yahoshua, for He took our guilt and shame upon Himself and suffered and died in our place. That where He is we may also be! The accuser, the evil one, stands and accuses us; while our advocate the High Priest prays for us; And because of the work of Yahoshua on the cross, He who judges the earth declares, “I find him not guilty!”
Behold the LAMB and BELIEVE! Time is getting short.
If you spend any amount of time on social media you have seen a parody video. Basically, an edited video, where they take a bunch of clips and make up funny speeches or even songs. i don’t have regular cable or satellite TV so to get my sports updates i watch a YouTube channel that edits the games, splicing up the game to just highlights and a two-three hour game becomes a 15 minute highlight reel. They are enjoyable to watch and more often than not i don’t know who won the game until i watch it. The only problem is that i will be listening to the color man tell a story and just when he is about to finish the clip ends and the video is on to the next play.
For example, i was watching a baseball game and the announcer said as the clip began, “tying run to the plate”, now mind you if you weren’t paying attention one would assume that this was the tying run at the plate. However, looking at the scoreboard there was nobody on base and the team up to bat was down by 2. So this wasn’t the tying run. The edit would have you believing otherwise if you weren’t truly paying attention.
This is how many people who go to church every week, live out their faith. They get clips of the Bible, a verse here and there, and then string together highlights that just don’t tell the whole story. Maybe its enough to get by, “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15) i am not writing to question one’s salvation, but to challenge the walk. You see the whole of Elohim’s word is important. The Will of the Father, is to know the Son, but even the demons know and tremble. James writes, “You believe that Elohim is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19)
In Yahoshua’s High Priestly Prayer we are given a glimpse of His heart for the children of Elohim, both His chosen people, and those who are grafted in by believing in the Son. Read all of John 17 on your own at some point, now even as to not miss a detail, here i am only highlighting a few spots . . . In the end you will know the final score but you will miss smaller details that get us there.
He begins; “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true El, and Yahoshua Messiah whom you have sent.”
1. Yahoshua glorifies the Father. 2. The Father gives to the Son. 3. Yahoshua gives eternal life. 4. Eternal life = that one know’s the only true GOD and His Son Yahoshua.
“Now they know that everything that You have given me is from You. For I have given them the words that You gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that you sent Me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”
1. Everything is from the Father. 2. Believing in Yahoshua is believing in the Father. 3. Yahoshua pray’s for His own. 4. His own (the Church) glorifies the Son, in turn the Son glorifies the Father, we therefore glorify the Father through the Son.
“That they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in US, so that the world may believe that You have sent me . . . I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the WORLD may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved Me . . . I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
1. The Father and the Son are one. 2. Yahoshua desires that we be one with Him. 3. Yahoshua glorified the Father by doing His will. 4. We glorify the Son by doing His will which is the same will as the Father.
Do you know Yahoshua? Do you know the Father? We can know the Father, through the Son. We can glorify the Father by glorifying the Son. What does it look like to be in the will of the Father? To live for and in the Son. Yahoshua is the Word of our Father Elohim made flesh, the WHOLE of His Word.
We are called to be set apart from the world. A chosen people, set on a hill, that introduces the lost to Yahoshua, the Son of Elohim. We are in the world, we are not to be of the world. May we glorify Yahoshua, as He glorified the Father.
The Way of the Rabbi 