Tag: Torah

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

The Ancient Paths: Following God’s Word in Modern Times

The Ancient Paths: Following God’s Word in Modern Times

“. . . more than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Luke 11:28

This short statement was made by Yahoshua. It was in response to a woman who essentially interrupted His teaching with her own statement. “As Yahoshua was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!” Recorded in the previous verse. This statement is clearly a distraction from the intention of the passage. It takes the eyes and ears off the intended purpose, “hear and obey,” and places them on a person.

This reminds me of when Yahoshua was taken into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Satan says, “if you bow down to me, all this can be yours.” The temptation to look away from the Father. Many have fallen for this distraction. As it is presented in many different ways today. Anything that keeps one from hearing the word of God and keeping it, is that distraction. Whether it be in the person of Mary; Yahoshua’s mother, as something otherworldly. Or Paul the Apostle, as somehow greater than Yahoshua, carrying in him greater authority. Elevating his words, twisting them, and holding those misinterpreted, above that of Gods instruction.

In John 5:24 Yahoshua is recorded as saying; “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Yahoshua spoke Aramaic, it is rooted in the same Semitic language structure and meaning as Hebrew. The word ‘believe’ in Aramaic is ‘haymen’ ܗܝܡܢ which has its root in the Hebrew word ‘aman’ אָܡܢ. Where we get the word amen, said following a prayer or in agreement with a statement. It means, ‘so be it’ or ‘let it be’, the idea of putting action to the statement, in support, to prop up, to make firm. (i recently wrote some similar thoughts on faith here: Understanding Faith Beyond Faith and Action, or if you prefer to listen to an overview listen here: Podcast Episode).

Here is the idea, we are called by Yahoshua to both hear and obey, believe, do, the Word of God. The Word of God whenever referenced in Scripture by Yahoshua or even Paul, is the Tanakh, with emphasis on the Torah. The title most have come to know is “the law.” In the gospels it is repeatedly called the “Law of Moses,” or referenced, “Moses wrote.” In the Gospels, if one reads them with this understanding it becomes clear that Yahoshua not only was the Word made flesh. He was calling Israel back to it, the Word, and therefore to Himself.

Luke chapter eleven is all about stepping into covenant, guarding your house, hearing Gods word and obeying it. Standing in the ancient path. Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Here is what Yahweh says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask about the ancient paths, ‘which one is the good way?’ Take it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not take it.”” The distraction comes from the world crying out, blessed is this thing or that thing, rather than Blessed be the One from Whom it was created.

In the Luke 11 Yahoshua had just finished talking about cleaning your house, and warning that if it isn’t filled with the Light of the Word but only swept out. The demon which was cast out may return with others and the state of that man will be worse than it was at first. Right here is where the woman cries out, “Blessed is the womb . . .”. Immediately, Yahoshua states, “blessed are those who hear the Word, and keep it.” The focus of Yahoshua’s teachings has always been obedience to Gods Word, nothing more and certainly nothing less.

Clearly, Paul, understood this for he wrote to the Thessalonians, “When this man who avoids Torah (Lawless One, Torahless One) comes, the Adversary will gibe him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness (lawlessness), will be condemned.”

The mark of those in darkness is that they practice lawlessness, in other words they do not practice, the Torah. They refuse to walk on the ancient paths; “But they said, ‘We will not take it.'” It really boils down to whether or not one is willing to seek out the instruction of God, believe it and thereby keep it. In so doing they put that belief into action, supporting the Scriptures through their daily walk. Propping the Word up, not tearing it down and calling it “Old” or “obsolete.” They indeed make firm the covenant by walking in its statutes and commands. Seeking with their whole heart the Father and His Kingdom, becoming ambassadors to the King in a fallen world.

Let me wrap this up by looking at a couple verses in the Gospel of John. (John 6:29, 38-40, and 47) –

29 Yahoshua answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Again Yahoshua speaking Aramaic would have used the word ‘haymen’ ܗܝܡܢ which again has its root in the Hebrew word ‘aman’ אָܡܢ. Simply, it means to support, prop up, or make firm. It is NOT passive, rather it is indeed, active.

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” Again Yahoshua speaking Aramaic would have used the word ‘haymen’ ܗܝܡܢ which again has its root in the Hebrew word ‘aman’ אָܡܢ. Simply, it means to support, prop up, or make firm. It is NOT passive, rather it is indeed, active.

47 “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.” Again Yahoshua speaking Aramaic would have used the word ‘haymen’ ܗܝܡܢ which again has its root in the Hebrew word ‘aman’ אָܡܢ. Simply, it means to support, prop up, or make firm. It is NOT passive, rather it is indeed, active.

A calling to seek with your whole heart the Father and His Kingdom, becoming an ambassador to the King in a fallen world. The question, is will you listen and obey? Will you hear the word, and keep it? Will you sweep out the old life and fill the house with light of the world?

You are loved,
cj

Understanding Faith: Beyond Belief and Action

Understanding Faith: Beyond Belief and Action

What does it mean to have faith, to truly have faith? Often faith and belief are incorrectly considered interchangeable. Belief, is intellectual. It is said, “that even the demons believe and tremble.” Belief isn’t the problem. Many say they believe in an afterlife, even belief in a higher power. That belief gets you nowhere if it is not active. That is where faith comes in. When I enter a room I can believe the lights work, that the switch works, that if I flip the switch it will turn on the light; But, if I don’t actually flip the switch nothing will happen. Or the oven, I know that the oven will cook my food but if I do not turn it on nothing will happen.

When we read about faith in the Tanakh, (Old Testament) we see it as active obedience. Hebrews 11 gives us a quick account of the pillars of Faith. The writer makes it a point to say, by Faith, “By Faith, Noah . . . in reverent fear constructed”, “By Faith, Abraham, obeyed . . .”. The word Faith in Hebrew is אֱמוּנָה – Emunah. It means a steadiness, as in a steady walk of obedience. A steadfastness, faithfulness in keeping the ordinances of God.

The Greek counterpart is πίστις – pistis. The Greek culture was known and is still known for its philosophers, and artisans of various types and skill. Just take a look at any capital city and for the most part you will see a Greco-Roman influence. Rome simply adopted the majority of Greek culture. So when the Apostles wrote their letters, mostly in Greek the word they had for faith was pistis. Having no other real viable choice. Pistis, is faith without power, faith without substance, a mental understanding without an outward expression.

Perhaps this is why James writes pistis, without works is dead. Works in this greek context is Ergon and it means occupation, employment, undertaking. So James is combining two Greek words in order to present one Hebrew truth, Faith is active, it requires action, one cannot say they believe and not show it by their undertakings.

Paul is recorded in Acts as telling those in Ephesus about being watchful for ravenous wolves coming into the flock and deceiving many. Just before that warning he talks about his lifestyle, how he conducted himself and told those under his care to do likewise. He said that he was instructed both the Jew and the Greek (gentile). Now what do you think ravenous wolves would look like? Would you say that they would draw men unto themselves to practice ways foreign to God or do you think ravenous wolves would teach obedience to God?

Before you answer Pharisee, remember Yahoshua (Jesus) called out the Pharisees for teaching the doctrines of man. The message has always been one of repentance, a turning from disobedience to obedience. Turning from the ways of man to the instruction of Elohim. Some will point out Colossians 2:16 and say they aren’t required to keep the ordinances of God any longer. They do so without considering the culture in which this letter was being written. It was a Greek philosophical culture mixed with a sect of Judaism bound in mans traditions. Both equally astray from אֱמוּנָה – Emunah, Faith in YHWH.

Just look at Pauls warning earlier in that same chapter. “Therefore, as you received Messiah Yahoshua your Adonai, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to the human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Messiah.”

So when Paul is talking about food and drink, or festivals and new moons or Sabbaths he is drawing a contrast between the culture and God’s instruction. He is actually calling on those who would be otherwise chastised for keeping them to do so without condemnation. The Pharisees who were surely to judge the gentile for keeping them and the pagan culture around them for keeping what was considered a “Jewish thing”. Sound familiar? It should because it is the same argument being made today. Sadly, the greek influenced church is the pagan voice today.

Think about it, Paul warns not to be taken captive by philosophy, a major part of Greek culture. Deceit, something Yahoshua also warned about in Matthew 24:4 essentially saying, “Don’t let anyone deceive you.” According to human tradition, now let me ask you, are Christmas, Easter, Sunday, a human tradition or a Scriptural one? In contrast are the Feasts of Elohim; Passover, First Fruits, Pentecost, Atonement, Trumpets, Tabernacles, Sabbath, are they God’s instruction? The Church will fight tooth and nail for human tradition while calling God’s Feasts a thing of the past. Do you think that is according to the elemental spirits of the world?

Certainly not according to Messiah who was the Passover Lamb, the Word (Torah) made flesh, Adonai of the Sabbath, Light of the World, The Way, The Truth and The Life . . . all of which the Torah is described. He is the First Fruits, He is both the Torah revealed to Moses at Mt. Sinai on the Feast of Weeks, Pentecost as well, through Him the gift of the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost, a.k.a. Feast of Weeks. He is our Atonement, He is coming with a Trumpet blast, He is coming to Tabernacle with us for a Millenia. Are you seeing a pattern?

The devil is a copycat. He has mimicked and attempted to mirror celebrations but he cannot duplicate perfection which is what Torah is. God’s Word is true and He calls us to walk in its light. It isn’t about perfection it is about Faith, Emunah. A steadiness, as in a steady walk of obedience. A steadfastness, faithfulness in keeping the ordinances of God. Do you want human tradition or God’s perfect instruction? Only you can answer that question.

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

Podcast Episode: The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

Podcast Episode: The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

Pip: One book, not two — and apparently that page between Malachi and Matthew has a lot to answer for.

Mara: cj’s recent writing on The Way of the Rabbi goes deep into what holds scripture together as a single story, and what that means for how we live inside it. Let’s start with the covenant itself — and what the text actually says about sin, Torah, and obedience.

The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

Pip: The central claim here is that the Bible was never meant to be read in two halves — and that the dividing line most readers take for granted has quietly done real damage to how people understand who they are and what they’re called to do.

Mara: The post frames the whole of scripture this way: “It should be read as if it was written to you and your family from your dad. Because, every word of it, was inspired by your Heavenly Father.”

Pip: That reframe matters practically. If it’s a letter from a father, you don’t skip chapters or treat half of it as superseded fine print. The whole thing carries weight, and you read it looking for coherence, not contradiction.

Mara: And the coherence the post argues for runs straight through the question of sin. John’s definition from 1 John 3:4 is quoted directly: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” The post is careful to note that the word translated as law is better rendered Torah — instruction.

Pip: So lawlessness isn’t just moral chaos in the abstract. It’s specifically being without God’s instruction — which reframes repentance too.

Mara: Exactly. Repentance, the post argues, has always meant returning to the Father’s ways. Not a one-time transaction, but an ongoing orientation. Romans 6 gets quoted at length on this point — the logic that dying to sin means you can no longer live in it.

Pip: There’s a pointed moment where the Pharisees come up — not as rule-obsessives, but as people who added to and subtracted from Torah while performing compliance. That’s the irony the post lands on: the accusation of legalism often comes from people who also claim you should obey God.

Mara: The post closes with a direct question to the reader — what exactly are you practicing? It’s less a rhetorical flourish and more a genuine diagnostic. The instruction, the covenant, the door — all one continuous thing.

Pip: One story, one covenant, one set of questions you actually have to answer for yourself.

Mara: The kind of reading that doesn’t let you stay comfortable at the page break. More of that territory next time.

Read the whole post here: The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

Understanding Repentance and Return in Faith

Understanding Repentance and Return in Faith

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” Acts 3:19

Repent: repentance is not only seeking forgiveness but also turning around. It is a 180 degree life course correction, from a life of sin. Peter in his second sermon found in Acts also states return, return to what? It is a return to righteousness, it is the opposite direction of sin. If sin is the transgression of the law, one can have confidence that to return means to return to the instruction of God. A return not to law as we define it today but to what the word law means, Torah, Instruction, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man. Perhaps this point could be debated if we only read this verse however, Peter continues.

“And that He may send Yahoshua (Jesus), the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:20-21

Peter is giving continued validity to the Tanakh and its teachings on repentance. From the pages of Torah to the writings of the prophets, the message is “IF”, if you will turn from your wicked ways and follow Yahweh’s commandments, He will bless you and the land. As Peter says, “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” You see Peter is referring to the time between Yahoshua’s coming, his death, resurrection, and His ascension into the heavens, until He returns in the clouds to rule and reign from Jerusalem as King.

What did Yahoshua declare to 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.” (John 18:37). What is truth? His Word is Truth! And therefore if we are of His Word then we hear His voice, and if you hear His voice do not harden your heart but repent of your sin. What is sin? John writes in 1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” Lawless, without or outside of Torah, the instruction, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.

For the entirety of my ministry I preached repentance, and to believe in the Name of Jesus for salvation. Although, now I use His Hebraic name Yahoshua, the message is still the same. However, with one major change, ‘IF’. For roughly three and a half years Yahoshua taught repentance and walking in humility with the Father. What does it mean to walk in humility? It is to set aside yourself and live for Him, by His instruction. Yahoshua came to present the Torah as a living, breathing, instruction manual of how to live righteously, set apart for the kingdom. One must ask the question, “What is one to repent of?” The answer of course is sin. That begs the question, “What is sin?” If sin is Torahlessness which John states than repentance is by its very definition observance of Torah.

In Luke 13 Yahoshua tells this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'” Luke 13:6-9

If we compare this parable and the scene Mark tells in 11:12-14 we will see something striking. “On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.” This scene takes place at the end of Yahoshua’s earthly ministry just after His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He went straight to the Temple looked around and departed.

What is the significance you ask? There was no fruit in the lives of the Pharisees or other ‘Religious’ leaders. They had replaced much of Torah with their own traditions of man. It is the same thing the western church has done today. The Word calls us back to Himself throughout its pages from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, most will separate the ‘Old’ from the ‘New’ and miss the whole point of the story. The Torah was not found in the people. They were void of righteousness i.e. the righteous acts of the saints, which is obedience to the Ways of God. “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 – The whole passage is on gaining and keeping wisdom, about faith and the heart. It is and always has been a heart issue!

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, Yahweh, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24

We have a promise in all of this spiritual battling that rages for our very souls. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

We read in Act 5:32 – “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who obey Him.” To whom is the Holy Spirit given? To those who obey Him. Are you obeying God or man? Are you seeking His ways or are you trapped in a man made religion that is on the wrong side of the spiritual battle?

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

“So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am Yahweh. You shall not profane My Holy Name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.” Leviticus 22:31-32

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14

We who are under grace are not devoid of Torah, by no means! We are to put on Messiah who is the Word made flesh. The one who sanctifies us and puts us on the good path. As the Proverb states: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9 – Psalm 119:53 states, “Righteous indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Your Torah.” Those who know God’s commands but choose not to obey them, that is the one being described here. As a reminder again 1 John 3:4 tells us what is sin. “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is Torahlessness.“

My hope is that you will be challenged in heart and mind to search out the Scriptures. To seek what the good way is and to walk in it. That you will desire good works that have been prepared for you to do and that you will do them. Deuteronomy 6:17 “You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.” To put to death the old self and put on the new self, this is repentance, turning from sin (outside of Torah) to righteousness (in Torah).

“All who sin apart from the Torah will also perish apart from the Torah, and all who sin under the Torah will be judged by the Torah. For it is not the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Torah who will be declared righteous. 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.” Romans 2:12-16

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Messiah Yahoshua, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Adon Yahoshua Messiah.” 1 Timothy 6:13-14

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3

The lawless one, the deceiver of nations, the prince of this world, is a lier and a thief. Yahoshua came to present Himself the living Word and as He declared to Pilate, “and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the Truth.” Yahoshua already told us what Truth is; “Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17; 18:37) – Yahoshua said, “I am door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

“IF My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 – Wickedness is being outside of Torah, sin is Torahlessness, the repentant heart will humble itself and pray and seek the Face of God through Yahoshua, turning from wickedness and sin (rebellion to the Torah for those with Torah and for the Gentile born outside of Torah but by nature turning and doing the work of Torah as it is written on the heart through faith) to righteousness in Messiah by faith that He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion.

Humbly return to His Ways, this is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Light vs Darkness: The True Meaning of God’s Instruction

Light vs Darkness: The True Meaning of God’s Instruction

When you think about the passage where it says, “Good will be called evil and evil good,” what comes to mind? The verse found in Isaiah has been used often to describe our culture, and rightfully so. However, I wonder if we aren’t missing the actual meaning of the verse. Let’s take a look at the verse in question.

Isaiah 5:20
“Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who change darkness into light
and light into darkness,
who change bitter into sweet
and sweet into bitter!”

Woe, profound grief or distress, woe to those who call evil good and good evil. What is evil? Is sin evil? And what is sin? 1 John 3:4 gives us the best definition, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” The word lawlessness means outside the Torah. The Torah is the instruction of God to man on how to live, love, worship and be. You may have heard the acronym given to the BIBLE, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Well, that is the Torah by its very definition, only it describes inheriting the earth; not leaving it.

Anything, outside of God’s instruction therefore can be considered evil or rebellious. The Psalmist writes, “Righteous indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject Your Torah.” (Psalm 119:53). Yet, today, within the majority of the church, “christians” forsake, even reject the Torah.” They call it obsolete, done away with, complete. They claim Paul teaches this as fact when in reality he upheld Torah, taught Torah, and instructed Timothy to hold fast to the Torah. Peter, writes a warning about Paul being taken out of context. The church ignores Peter too. “. . . as also in all his (Paul) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16).

Isaiah gives us a few comparisons to drive home his point, which also gives us a clearer understanding of his point. “Who change darkness for light and light for darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter!” The Word of Elohim is a light to our path. Often the idea is presented that coming into the Word is stepping out of darkness. Darkness is being outside of God’s Word. The same is true for sweet. The Word is described as tasting good. These present a clear understanding, that it isn’t only what the world once called evil becoming good, but what God has declared evil. And where do we find good and evil? Scripture.

Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
John 8:12
“Then Yahoshua spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 12:46
“I have come as a light into the world, that whosoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
Ephesians 5:8
“for at one time you were in darkness, but now you are in the light of Messiah. Walk as children of light“
John 1:5
“And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness could not understand.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should be the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

In each of these passages replace light with instruction or Torah and reread those passages. This is the very idea that is being presented. For example, ‘Then Yahoshua spoke to them, saying, I am the Torah in the world: he that follows me shall not walk outside of instruction, but shall have the instruction of life.’ It isn’t always clean but the idea is always there as Yahoshua is the Word made flesh. The use of light and darkness is symbolic and poetic language to drive home a point. ‘And the Torah shines in darkness, and the darkness could not understand.’ Now here in 1 Peter 2:9 we are called chosen, royal, priests, why? Because we hold the Torah, the instruction of the Father for His people. ‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should be the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness (without instruction) into His marvelous Torah!.’ And it is sweet.

Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are Your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!“
Psalm 34:8
“Taste and see that Yahweh is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
1 Peter 2:2-3
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that Yahweh is gracious.”
Hebrews 6:5
“who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—“

I have asked this before and I will ask it again; Did God change so we wouldn’t have to? The God who declares, “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Has He redefined sin? Or does He call us out of sin and into righteousness (the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man)? These are the questions that demand an answer. These are the questions one should wrestle with for relationship is found in love, love is based on action and expression. For even the demons believe and tremble. How many say they follow Jesus with their lips but their hearts are far from Him?

Isaiah 29:13
“And the Adonai said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment taught by men.”
Ezekiel 33:31
“And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.”
Matthew 15:7-9
“You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Are you following the instruction of the Father or are you following the commandments of men?

You are loved,
cj

The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

It’s one book, not two or sixty-six, it is a three act play in which the beginning is also the end. It’s one continuous story of redemption, of hope, pointing to a time to come that goes beyond anything we could ever imagine. It’s a love story, it’s an adventure novel, it’s a history book, it’s a prophetic look into the future. It is a collection of writing by many authors but inspired by the same Spirit. It should be read as if it was written to you and your family from your dad. Because, every word of it, was inspired by your Heavenly Father. It is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. It is intended to equip you so that you can be competent in all that the Father has for you.

That page that is found between Malachi and Matthew that says, “New Testament”, rip it out. It has done more harm to the body of Messiah than any other page in your Bible. Not because there isn’t a new or renewed covenant. Because of the separation it has caused the church from Elohim’s people and the covenant. It has put up a dividing line on both sides. There is one God, one story, and one people, one covenant and one way to enter in.

The law of sin and death, death for sin, has been done away with for those who are in Messiah. It is not a license to sin but rather the removal of a sacrifice for sin. Since by one mans death and resurrection the debt of sin has been paid. Repentance, however, has always been and still is a returning to God’s ways. A return to the Fathers instruction. The door remains the same Yahoshua, the Word made flesh is that door. Obedience to the Word, obedience to Yahoshua, is obedience to the Father.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Messiah Yahoshua were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4

What is sin? Sin as defined by the Apostle John is violation of the Torah. We read in 1 John 3:4 exactly what sin is: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” Again as we have discussed in previous posts the word law is better translated Torah or instruction. Thus lawlessness is being without Torah or without the instruction of God. If this wasn’t enough what does John go on to say in this passage?

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.“

The word righteousness means; ‘The things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.’ Whoever practices obedience then is righteous and those who do not are without instruction. They are practicing lawlessness. The very thing Yahoshua accused the Pharisees of doing when He said, “you are of your father the devil.” Why? Because they had added to and taken away from the instructions of God. They were putting on the appearance of walking in Torah but it was a show as they were more concerned with their own ways than that of God’s. Indeed they were practicing lawlessness and therefore were of the devil.

So one must ask themselves, “what exactly am I practicing?” If repentance is turning from sin and sin is the breaking of Torah. Then one turns from breaking Torah to following it. This is repentance. It is not legalism to be obedient, to seek out those things God delights in and do them. That label is given by hypocrites who in the same breath will say one should obey God. In the end when Yahoshua is separating His people from those that are not he will say to many, “Depart from Me, I never knew you. You who practice lawlessness.”

What are you practicing? How are you reading? Who are you following? Who are you listening to? These are important questions that only you can answer. And you need to answer them because if you call yourself a believer but are following the traditions of man over the instruction of God . . . things will not end well. Are you walking the Way of the Rabbi?

You are loved,
cj

The Rabbi’s Way: Embracing God’s Promises

The Rabbi’s Way: Embracing God’s Promises

The Way of the Rabbi. It begins with a promise and a declaration: “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Do you believe it? Does it inspire your life, what you do, think and say?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 . . .
“Hear, Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! And you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Are you operating under the promise as a living declaration? As an Ambassador of God’s Kingdom, representing, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”? Do you know who brings this promise? It is the Holy Spirit, the Helper that Yahoshua promised. Yahoshua is the fulfillment of the promises of Yahweh.

Unfortunately, humanity has a way of complicating things. Nothing can ever be easy. Yet, throughout Scripture we find a simplicity. Difficult yes, but why? It is a made difficult by humans. By man made traditions and processes and instruction, and influence, and choice. It is what the writer of Ecclesiastes was getting at when he penned these words in the 29 verse of chapter 7. “Behold I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” Device, also schemes, adding to or taking away from those things commanded by God to be observed by men, The very definition of righteousness. So what did Elohim intend from the beginning?

Genesis 1:26-31 . . .
26 Then Elohim said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

27 So Elohim created man in His own image,
    in the image of Elohim He created him;
    male and female He created them.

28 And Elohim blessed them. And Elohim said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And Elohim said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And Elohim saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

What are the takeaways?
– Made in the image of God, after His likeness
– To have dominion
– To be fruitful
– To subdue creation
– To tend to creation, caretakers, gardeners
– To walk with Him
He saw all this and it was very good! And what did humans do?

Genesis 3:1-13 . . .
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that Adonai Elohim had made. He said to the woman, “Did Elohim actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but Elohim said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For Elohim knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of Adonai Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh among the trees of the garden. 9 But Yahweh called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then Yahweh said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

What are the takeaways?
– Gave attention to satan
– Questioned God
– Wanted more, coveted
– Hid from God
– Tried to cover their shame
– Blamed others for their poor choice
He saw this and was grieved. From this point He sets in motion the story of redemption.

Fast forward to the present day and you have modern Pharisee’s, the church. They say and do a lot of good but they deny Torah. They believe in a lawless Jesus, a Greek infused Jesus. A Jesus who has done away with obedience to God and called it legalism and replaced it with hyper-grace. They have give up, “It is too difficult, no one can keep the commandments that is why Jesus had to come!” Yet, they will say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This is why I use the name Yahoshua. What is the #1 curse-word, slur, slogan . . . exclamation point? Isaiah and Ezekiel write about God protecting His name and I believe that is also the name of the Son. I don’t want any part of the Greco-Roman lawless (Torahless) Jesus. So what do we know?

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 . . .
13 Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear Yahweh, and keep His commandments; this is what being human is all about. 14 For Yahweh will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad.
Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear Yahweh, and keep His commandments; this is what being human is all about.

What are the takeaways?
– Narrow is the way to life and few find it (Matthew 7:13-14)
– Imitate Messiah (1 Corinthians 11:1)
– Yahoshua is the Way, the Truth, the Life (John 14:6)
– Yahoshua is the Word made Flesh (John 1:14)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. What is Truth? God’s Word is Truth. The interconnectedness of all of this is beyond coincidence. So what did Yahoshua say?

Matthew 5:17-20 . . .
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

What are the takeaways?
– Obey me (Jeremiah 7:23; John 14:23)
– Keep My commandments (John 14:15) “If you love Me, you WILL keep My commandments.”
– Tell others everything He has taught you (Matthew 28:18-20)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We are to do this until He returns. So what will it be like in the end?

Micah 4:1-4 . . .
“But in the end-of-days it will come about that the mountain of Adonai’s house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and peoples will stream there. 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Adonai, to the house of the God of Israel! He will teach us about His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” For out of Zion will go forth Torah, the word of Adonai from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for many nations far away. Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war. 4 Instead, each person will sit under his vine and fig tree, with no one to upset him, for the mouth of Adonai Elohim has spoken.”

What are the takeaways?
– Sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) Funny today being called a goat is good and a sheep is bad. Yet in the end you will want to be numbered with the sheep and not the goats.
– Your Kingdom come Your will be done (Matthew 6:10) It is Adonai’s prayer, we are to pray for His Kingdom here and now. We are to live under and in its authority, while living as strangers and aliens in our current age.
– Feast Days (Zechariah 14:17-19) In the Millennium if we don’t keep the Feast of Tabernacles we will be cursed. Also, there is coming an event that Yahweh says will be so great we will forget the first Passover. This tells me until that happens we should be honoring the Passover we know today.
– New Heavens and Earth (Revelation 21:11) Since we haven’t seen the New Heavens and the New Earth, if we are to take Yahoshua at His word, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Torah“.

How can a wretch like me possibly make it?
“I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13)

This is the end of the matter as John writes in Revelation 14:12 “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of Elohim AND their faith in Yahoshua.”

You are loved,
cj

Understanding Psalm 2: The Kings of Earth and God’s Authority

Understanding Psalm 2: The Kings of Earth and God’s Authority

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against YHWH and His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!‘” Psalm 2:1-3

Sounds like this was written yesterday. It is true what Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun, all is vanity.” The Psalmist begins with a question we should all be asking, “Why . . .” Ask ten people and you are sure to get eleven different answers. In the end does any of it really matter if the victors do not honor YHWH Elohim? If not they will once again follow mans ways and go after false gods. Our King is coming and when He does He will make all things right. Until then we are here and we must live within the society but we do so as foreigners. For the ways of man are foolishness to God.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs, Adonai scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, but as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:4-6

Yahoshua (Jesus), came first as our redeemer, He will return as King. He will come in the clouds and every eye will see Him. And He is coming with a rod of iron and judgment. The world is being set up now for a one world government. The actors are all working together, the world is a stage. God’s plan will unfold. Do not put your hope in princes or presidents especially if they are not living according to the Word. There is a false king coming, a ruler robed in peace but beneath the service, violence and destruction.

“I will surely tell of the decree of YHWH: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron You shall shatter them like earthenware.” Psalm 2:7-9

Yahoshua said, He only does and says what the Father instructs. He came as the living Torah, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This is how John describes it in John 1:14. If it is true for the King it should be true for His people. The law of the Kingdom of Elohim is the Torah. We should be practicing it. The one coming in mans delusion is as the Word describes, lawless, he is without Torah. He will not be living according to the instruction (Torah) of Elohim the Father or of His Son Yahoshua, our King.

“Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship YHWH with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 2:10-12

Take refuge my friends in Him, the Living Word, He is our Instruction. He is our redeemer and King. He comes to establish the Law, the Torah, of the Kingdom. What side are you on now? Are you waiting for the king of lawlessness? Are you waiting for The King in lawlessness? We are called to as John writes in Revelation 14:12 – “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yahoshua.”

This is the Way of the Rabbi. The road is narrow and it is growing increasingly shorter as the edge of the Kingdom draws near. Come our of lawlessness and into the refuge of the Word of God and in His instruction.

You are loved,
cj