Tag: Word

Discovering the Way of the Rabbi: Insights and Inspiration

Discovering the Way of the Rabbi: Insights and Inspiration

When i began writing this blog back in 2016 my intention was to write short 500 word motivational pieces. Occasionally, they were longer with more teaching and instruction. However, the underlying theme was to be motivational. As time went on teaching and instruction became more of the driving force behind my posts. That is still true to this day. There is however, yet another driving force behind each post and that is to stir a desire. To cause the reader to be like the Berean’s of Acts 17:11. To eagerly listen to the message. Then check the Tanakh to verify if what i have written is true. There is one other aspect i hope to accomplish with these writings. It is intended for those who do not share my faith in Yahoshua. The idea also comes from Acts 17 just a few verse down from eleven. In Acts 17:32-34 it records this:

“When they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to ridicule Paul. However, others said, “We’ll hear from you about this again.” At that, Paul left the council. Some people joined him and came to believe, including Dionysius, a member of the council on Mars Hill, a woman named Damaris, and several others.”

Ridicule will come because some people are simply mean spirited. i can’t let that get to me, although, at times i do. i try not to think about them too much. Now, on the other hand, those who want to hear more inspire me. Those who want to follow the Way of the Rabbi also inspire me to write more. Over the years because of my own writing and research i have come to new understandings. i believe differently than i once did. Like many who were under Paul’s teaching. They believed one way, they believed they had it right but then Paul showed them the truth. It caused them to pause, reflect, and adjust their beliefs. Sometimes this is very difficult because we have held beliefs for a long time, a very long time. We couldn’t possibly have been wrong that entire time could we? When faced with this it requires a great deal of prayer and study. One must be willing to ask, is what I am being shown true? Is what I have known been wrong, misquoted, or misinterpreted? No one wants to be wrong, i can assure you of that.

In Psalm 19 the Psalmist writes:
“Adonai’s Torah is perfect,
    reviving one’s very being.
Adonai’s instructions are faithful,
    making naive people wise.
Adonai’s regulations are right,
    gladdening the heart.
Adonai’s commands are pure,
    giving light to the eyes.
 Honoring Adonai is correct,
    lasting forever.
Adonai’s judgments are true.
    All of these are righteous!”

Many have come to believe that the Torah has been done away or was too difficult to maintain. In believing this they must ignore David’s words above. They have to ignore many other passages within the Tanakh as well. We cannot pick and choose what we find acceptable and discard what we find difficult. The Torah, has been translated Law within the majority of biblical translations. However, this is a terrible rendering. For the Torah as David describes is instructions, it is regulations, it is commands, it is judgments. It is also to be honored, and kept. For in doing so it brings revival, wisdom, gladness, light, and truth, that lasts forever.

David wraps up this Psalm by writing these words. “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence. For You Adonai, are my Rock and Redeemer.” He ends this Psalm about the goodness of Torah with a request. A verse most people memorize today, for it is also their hearts desire. Yet they don’t grasp the enormity of his words, that they are wrapped around Torah. The very written Word of Elohim. May you read these posts, may they grab your heart and your attention. May they lead you to seek the Way of the Rabbi. May you be drawn into a love for the Torah and the Tanakh. May you understand that the Apostles used the Torah as a foundation in their writings. That they shared David’s heart, as revealed in this Psalm.

This was also Paul’s desire to a young preacher known as Timothy. (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
“But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; 15 and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yahoshua the Messiah. 16 All Scripture is Elohim-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to Elohim may be fully equipped for every good work.” We need to be more diligent in our study of the Tanakh. We should focus specifically on the Torah, taking the advice of Paul.

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

Are You the Temple? Embracing Your Spiritual Identity

Are You the Temple? Embracing Your Spiritual Identity

“Don’t you know that you are Elohim’s temple and that Elohim’s Spirit lives in you? So if anyone destroys Elohim’s temple, Elohim will destroy him. For Elohim’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

“Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from Elohim? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves; for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify Elohim.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Have you ever stopped to think what it means to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit? The very Spirit of Elohim, His presence, dwelling within. First we need to understand that in the first passage above the term translated as ‘you’ is plural. We do not have an equivalent word in English so it is simply translated ‘you’. However, in both Hebrew and Greek there are terms for a plural form without adding adjectives. Translators should have rendered the passage, “you people”. A short grammar lesson here. In order to keep ‘YOU’ as the noun they remove ‘people’ since with it ‘you’ becomes an adjective. Now, when Paul writes, “your body,” later he indeed means the individual. So they weren’t entirely wrong but we need to understand the difference. The Holy Spirit, (Ruach HaKodesh), dwells within the Ekklesia. He also dwells within the individual believer. Each one comes with deeper understanding of how we should worship.

To be identified as the Temple we must understand what Paul is trying to express. He didn’t just say, the Spirit dwells in you. But rather specifying that the Ekklesia as well as the individual are representations of the Temple of Elohim. What is a Temple, or more specifically, the Temple of Elohim? The Temple had very specific construction. It was an earthly representation of the Heavenly structure. A mirror image made with human hands. It also came with a set of rules. A very specific set of rules. All intended to keep the holiness of the Temple intact. For the very presence of Elohim in all His splendor and Holiness dwelt there. Today, it remains the same. Until the New Jerusalem and the Heavenly Temple are established in the millennium, we are the Temple.

So, if we are the Temple, both corporately and individually, what set of rules should we follow? Let’s begin to explore this by taking a look inside the Holy space. “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is Adonai Elohim Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8. Contrast that with a glimpse of the earthly Holy place. “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of Yahweh, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Elohim filled the house of Yahweh.” 1 Kings 8:10-11. Does this begin to open your eyes to the significance of what it means to be the Temple of Elohim?

With this picture, think about your corporate gathering. Does it look like Elohim’s presence is welcome there? Are the folks anticipating the HOLY presence of Elohim? Or does it look like a concert hall where everyone is looking to be entertained? “You know I just didn’t get anything out of worship today.” In the Temple there was an order, a structure, a purpose for everything. From the show bread, to the Menorah, to the Ark and the Altar, each had their place and function. The Priests had specific responsibilities within the Temple and had to be cleansed before participating. For too long now we have had a lackadaisical approach to corporate worship. As Priests it is our responsibility to change that perspective and approach. “But you are a chosen people! A royal priesthood! A holy nation! Elohim’s special possession! That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Now, as an individual. What are you thinking about? What are you reading, listening to or watching? Who or what are you inviting into your personal space? What are you eating and drinking? Are these things edifying the Temple of Elohim or would you be embarrassed if Yahoshua was standing next to you? Well, if Scripture is true not only is He standing next to you, He dwells within you. If you are feeling distant from Elohim, wondering why He seems afar off. You might need to evaluate how you are treating the Temple of Elohim. If you think the Temple idea was just an illustration and isn’t important. Or that it was only a Jewish thing. Let me leave you with Ephesians 2:19-22.

“So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with Elohim’s people and members of Elohim’s family. You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yahoshua the Messiah Himself. In union with Him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with Adonai. Yes, in union with Him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for Elohim!”

For more understanding on the Temple read 1 Kings 8. It’s time we get back to a sense of awe and wonder for the Day of Adonai is quickly approaching! You don’t want to be left outside of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The good news is if you have breath in your lungs you have time. Begin to get your Temple in order, become the light, share the bread, make disciples, serve your Ekklesia.

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

The Significance of Sabbath Observance Today

The Significance of Sabbath Observance Today

i have thought about this series for some time. How do i share my understanding in a way that leads you, the reader, into curiosity? To inspire a deeper look into Scripture. To light a fire within you to be like the people of Berea. Who received with joy, the words being taught to them. But then went and searched the Scriptures to see whether or not it was true. There are plenty of posts you can go over in which i will have touched on these ideas presented here. Although, not so succinctly as i will try in this series of posts. i will present the options and then give my ‘why’s’ trying to be fair to both sides in the end. These are the topics i will present over the next few days. Yahoshua or Jesus (see post); Rabbi or Teacher (see post); Adonai Elohim or Lord God (see post); Feast Days or Holidays (see post); Sabbath or Sunday (Current Post). It has been my goal to persuade you to begin to evaluate your ‘why’s’. To ask the question of yourself, “Am I using mans justification or Elohim’s Word, to determine my beliefs?” Let’s wrap this series up.

Sabbath or Sunday:
In my last post i went over the idea of Feast Days or Holidays. Presenting the idea of the significance of Elohim’s Feasts. In the description of the Feast Days in Leviticus you will find the Sabbath Day. In fact it leads the way. Leviticus 23 begins — Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelite’s and say to them, ‘These are My appointed feasts, the feasts of Yahweh that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to Yahweh.

The Sabbath wasn’t new to Israel. The Creator of the Universe in the beginning said, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And by the seventh day Elohim had finished the work He had been doing. So on that day He rested from all His work. Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.” From the beginning of time Adonai was demonstrating the necessity of rest. He designed it as a day of reflection, a day to gather, a day to feast. You begin with a gathering in which you feast together with those in your family and community of faith. You commemorate the very first Sabbath each week at the end of six days of labor. Reflecting on the goodness of Elohim.

The Sabbath Day wasn’t just demonstrated to us by Yahweh Himself, He instructed us to observe it. In the passage above from Genesis 2 and in the Ten Commandments given at Mt Sinai. Exodus says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” This is the fourth commandment. It is the most detailed of all the commandments given to Moses on Mt Sinai.

The Sabbath Day was important to Yahweh. He demonstrated it and commanded it. He held Israel to a standard regarding it. Isaiah writes, “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of Yahweh honorable; and if you honor it, not doing your own ways, or finding your own pleasure, or speaking your own words, then you will delight yourself in Yahweh, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.“. (Isaiah 58:13-14) It was a covenant sign between Yahweh and His people. Exodus 31:13-17 — “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘You shall be careful to keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you… You are to observe the Sabbath, for it is a holy day to you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death… It is a permanent sign, a covenant forever“.

There is no passage of Scripture that changes or modifies the Sabbath in any way. No reputable scholar will argue this point. Yahoshua said, “I am Adon (Master) of the Sabbath.” He kept the Sabbath, attending synagogue faithfully on the Sabbath. While His body lay lifeless in a tomb. One could say that both metaphorically and physically Yahoshua rested on the Sabbath. The Apostles all kept the Sabbath. Throughout the book of Acts we read about Sabbath observance. So where does the modern tradition of Sunday observance come in? What verse changes the day? The answer is none. Not one single verse. It is impossible to argue the other side because it doesn’t exist. The only place that references a change to the Sabbath Commandment is the Catechism of the Catholic Church Article 3.

Unfortunately, in their own Catechism they incorrectly number the commandments calling the Sabbath Commandment number three instead of four. Presumably, to allow for their engraved images. They take great delight in their ability to change times and seasons. This action is expressly forbidden in Scripture. It is also warned against. Found in both Deuteronomy (4:2) and Revelation (22:18-19). The act of changing times and seasons is written of as being from the spirit of Anti-Christ. Daniel 7:25 says, “He will speak words against the Most High and try to exhaust the holy ones of the Most High. He will attempt to alter the seasons and the Torah; and [the holy ones] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.”

The Sabbath is a blessing! It is not too difficult to do. Science has shown that resting as prescribed by the Sabbath command is extremely beneficial to good health. In all areas of our lives, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. It was demonstrated by Elohim, observed by Yahoshua and His disciples. We are instructed to be like Yahoshua. Paul writes, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” I believe that not observing the Sabbath day puts us at odds with Elohim. Scripture indicates it is a sign for all generations. It also says it is for the foreigner. It is for the servant. So one cannot say it was only for Israel. So what will you do? Will you obey mans tradition or Elohim’s Word?

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

Yahoshua vs Jesus: Exploring Name Significance

Yahoshua vs Jesus: Exploring Name Significance

i have thought about this one for some time. How do i share my understanding in a way that leads you, the reader, into curiosity? To inspire a deeper look into Scripture. To light a fire with in you to be like the people of Berea. Who received with joy, the words being taught to them. But then went and searched the Scriptures to see whether or not it was true. There are plenty of posts you can go over in which i will have touched on these ideas presented here. Although, not so succinctly as i will try in this series of posts. i will present the options and then give my ‘why’s’ trying to be fair to both sides in the end. These are the topics i will present over the next few days. Yahoshua or Jesus; Rabbi or Teacher; Adonai Elohim or Lord God; Feast Days or Holidays; Sabbath or Sunday. In the end it will be my goal to have persuaded you to begin to evaluate your ‘why’s’. To ask the question of yourself, “Am I using mans justification or Elohim’s Word, to determine my beliefs?” Let’s begin.

Yahoshua or Jesus:
The first question i usually get is, “Why not Yeshua?” The reason i choose to use the name Yahoshua is rooted in the Torah. A story of victory, and salvation. Taking what was common and presenting it as redeemed. The Name has meaning that is not filtered through transliteration or translations or passed through cultures. It is pure and it teaches, the name alone teaches. It originates with Joshua son of Nun. Well, there isn’t definitive more assumed but it seems historically reasonable. Joshua in Hebrew is Yahoshua. In Numbers 13:16 we read where Moses gives Hoshea the name Yahoshua. Hoshea by itself means Salvation. Yah is a condensed version of Yahweh or Yahovah which we can see in Psalm 68:4. Of course you will need to get a hold of a Bible that at least references the Hebrew names. The 1599 GNV is available online at Bible Gateway (see the footnotes). So Moses was reminding the people through the name of his successor. Yah is Salvation. Yah’s Salvation was leading them to the promised land. The same is true for our Messiah. Yahoshua, Yah’s Anointed One is our Salvation. Through Him alone we enter the Promised Land. Although similar the same argument cannot be made for the name Yeshua. We do not say HalleluYes, we say, HalleluYah, which is Praise Yah!

Jesus is a transliteration of Iesus, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Yahoshua. The letter ‘J’ was not introduced into the language until the 17th century. When it was introduced, it had a soft sound. It was used the same way as in Hispanic cultures today, like in the name Juan. In Greek however the sound of the I is literal I E SUUS. It is completely different. If we take the name Juan, the English transliteration is John. This might be fine for the average Joe but we are talking about the Name of Elohim! “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your Elohim. Because, Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses His name lightly.” Exodus 20:7 tells us. We should be intellectually honest. At minimum, we should call our Messiah by the English version of His Hebrew name, Joshua. Still even greater is honoring His given name, Yahoshua. Even if you choose a different spelling. However, i find my argument pretty compelling for Yahoshua.

For more on this topic you can check out the menu bar, “Why Yahoshua and other names and titles.”

Feel free to leave a comment below or ask a question@thewayoftherabbi.com

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

Preparedness in Faith: Lessons from the Ten Virgins

Preparedness in Faith: Lessons from the Ten Virgins

Throughout Scripture the term “to be sleeping” has meant not necessarily to be asleep. It has meant to be ignorant of a thing or unaware. It has also meant, ‘to be dead’. i recently had a word stand out to me while reading Matthew 25:1-13. This is the parable of the 10 Virgins. i read it, prayed, and read it again, over and over. i just felt that there was something there. This is where it hit me, “They all became drowsy and slept.” They became tired, or bothered, bored perhaps. Then they gave in to neglect, and slept. All of them were asleep until they heard the cry, “Here comes the bridegroom!” It is at this time that we find out that half of the virgins were unprepared. They did not bring enough oil for their lamps. Now oil is symbolic of preparation, anointing, provision, knowledge, understanding and even wealth in some circumstances.

So what can we take from this? First, let us look at the passage in its entirety.
“The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil, whereas the others took flasks of oil with their lamps. Now the bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep. 6 It was the middle of the night when the cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here! Go out to meet him!’ 7 The girls all woke up and prepared their lamps for lighting. The foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both you and us. Go to the oil dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ But as they were going off to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. Later, the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they cried, ‘Let us in!’ But he answered, ‘Indeed! I tell you, I don’t know you!’ So stay alert, because you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Throughout Scripture Israel, the Hebrew Nation, has been referred to as the Bride. They entered into covenant relationship with Elohim. YHWH, divorces them for their unfaithfulness. Yet, He is constantly wooing them to come home. He even promises to them through Jeremiah restoration. The renewed covenant found in Jeremiah 31, is a beautiful picture of restoration. This restoration reiterates an invitation to the nations, that is, the gentiles. This we read in Paul’s writings, as well, Peter, James and John. Not to be left out we see it in Luke, Mark and Matthew as above. We can also read about this invitation in the Tanakh, it wasn’t a new idea brought by the Messiah. It was simply taught that now is that time, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” We the gentiles along with those of Israel who know Messiah, form the Ekklesia. We are apart of the New Covenant written of in Hebrews and presented by Messiah Himself. Which means as the ‘Church’ has stated often, we are the bride of Messiah. However, we must enter through the Messiah. So that the fullness of the covenant can now be written on our hearts and minds.

Do you have a hobby? Something you like to do and do regularly? Is there an activity that you do or a group that you like to participate in? Maybe you really enjoy where you work or it is simply spending time with family. In all of these instances, if you begin to tire or take a break from it, neglect can creep in. You can become bothered or even bored with what you are doing. Like marriage for instance. You love your spouse but there are times you want to be alone. In those moments, guard your hearts. Boredom can set in. You might even notice a bothered spirit about things you once didn’t recognize. Soon, neglect, and the once sacred covenant is broken or hanging by a thread. Once one falls asleep they don’t know until they wake up what a mess things have become. Some don’t realize it at all. When they wake up, they expect someone else to provide them with something to make it right. This is an unattainable expectation. It is the scenario five of the virgins found themselves. They wanted the prepared ones to provide for them rather than take responsibility for themselves.

In the parable of the 10 virgins we read that they became drowsy and slept. The term drowsy and slept has many meanings. One of which is neglectful and forgetful. In other words it could be that they began to neglect the covenant. They may have started to forget portions of the fullness of the covenant, thereby falling asleep. The 10 virgins are symbolic of believers in Yahoshua. They are waiting on Him to bring them to the wedding banquet. As time went on and it appeared that He was late the virgins got tired and fell asleep. All of them! Now there was a shout. They awoke as they now knew the time was coming that they would enter the banquet. Five of the virgins had enough oil in their lamps. Remember oil represents preparation, anointing, provision, knowledge, and understanding. Five awoke from their neglectful ways and were ready for the coming Bridegroom. Five awoke from their neglectfulness and were unprepared. They didn’t have the necessary knowledge or understanding and it was too late!

We all have the Word of Elohim. It is available to every single person in every single language now with AI and smartphones. No one will have an excuse for not being prepared. Unfortunately, wolves have crept into the Ekklesia and have brought a teaching of neglect to Elohim’s Word. They preach a different gospel and because most believers have become bored and lazy they do not know any better. They refuse to search out the scriptures to see if what they are being taught is true. Rather they cling to a few passages to justify their lazy neglectful ways. They sit under pastors who know more quotes from their spiritual heroes, than they know of Scripture itself. They know that Yahoshua is the Word made flesh. However, they fail to realize that the Word is the Torah. The Son of Yahweh is the very expression of Elohim, His Word made flesh. If we know Yahoshua, the Word, then we know Elohim. If we love Yahoshua, we will do as He commanded. We will not be neglectful of the covenant.

What lessons can we take away from the 10 Virgins? First, preparation, we must know that we know what we know. We must have the necessary understanding, study to show yourself approved. Listen and Obey, the Word of Elohim. Yahoshua said, “IF you love Me, you WILL OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS.” Yahoshua said, “Be watchful! Don’t let anyone deceive you.” Don’t get caught in the trap of New vs Old. It is one collection of writings, The WORD of Elohim. The Tanakh and the Apostles writes all point to the Torah. Do not get wrapped up in New vs Old Covenant. It is the same covenant but secured in a permanent way through the blood of Messiah Yahoshua. It is no longer simply written on stone, and it no longer requires the works of the Levitical Priesthood. It is in our hearts and minds. We have the seal of the Holy Spirit.

To dig a little deeper into the “Old Covenant” vs the “New Covenant”, you can read more about this topic. Check out this series of posts on Melchizedek titled Every Wind of Doctrine. i go into more detail on Melchizedek in these two posts: Levitical priesthood < Melchizedek (p2) and The Simplicity of Melchizedek’s Priesthood (P3).

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

The Dangers of Success: Lessons from Jeroboam and Aaron

The Dangers of Success: Lessons from Jeroboam and Aaron

What do Moses, Aaron, Gideon, Samson, Solomon, Elijah, David, the Hebrew Nation, cj, and countless others have in common? When successful, at peace in rest and comfort, a relaxed spirit allowed Satan an opening. Success can lead to a sense of self-righteousness and pride. This happens if one is not careful to remember the One Who brought the success. We can say all day long that: “Every good and perfect gift is from above. Coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. Who does not change like shifting shadows.” But if we allow our own feelings to interfere, and we say, “Look what I have done!” We crack the door open for the devouring lion. There is much to be proud of. We can say, “Look at what Elohim chose to do through me.”

Success has another ugly head, the one that defies Elohim to maintain its power. We can look at many stories in Scripture to find this to be true. Today, I want us to look at Jeroboam. He was the first King of Israel after the Kingdom was split in two. It was taken from Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. In fact modern Israel is only one of the tribes of Israel, Judah. Jeroboam, in a move to keep his new found Kingship made some terrible decisions. 1 Kings 12:25-33 Tells the story, we will look at parts of it here.

“Nevertheless Jeroboam said to himself, “Now the kingship will return to the house of David. For if these people continue going up to offer sacrifices in the house of Adonai in Jerusalem, their hearts will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they will kill me.”

Jeroboam found that his success was in jeopardy. He feared an awakening of the heart to Yahweh which would bring about a reunification of the Kingdom. If the people sought Adonai Elohim they would desire His ways over mans. So to establish his rule he made some changes.

“After seeking advice, the king made two calves of gold. He then said to the people, “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough! Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ He placed one in Beit-El [Bethel] and the other in Dan. The affair became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one [in Beit-El and] all the way to Dan [to worship the other]. He also set up temples on the high places and made priests from among all the people, even though they were not descended from Levi.”

Does this at all ring a bell? Look at what Aaron did at Mt. Sinai while Moses was on the mountain. “When the people saw that Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Get busy; and make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moses, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt — we don’t know what has become of him.” Aaron said to them, “Have your wives, sons and daughters strip off their gold earrings; and bring them to me.” The people stripped off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He received what they gave him, melted it down, and made it into the shape of a calf. They said, “Israel! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” On seeing this, Aaron built an altar in front of it and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is to be a feast for Adonai.” We are a fickle people.

Coincidentally, Jeroboam, like Aaron instituted his own feast days. “Jeroboam instituted a festival. In the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the festival held in Jerusalem. He went up to the altar in Beit-El to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He placed in Beit-El the priests he had appointed for the high places. He went up to the altar which he had set up in Beit-El on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had chosen on his own, and instituted a festival for the people of Israel; he went up to the altar to burn incense.”

Sadly mans tradition of creating his own feasts to celebrate and honor Elohim has continued. The church today ignores His appointed feast days. They essentially call Elohim a liar. “Yahweh said, ‘And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep [it] a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.’” Apparently, forever means, just until I change My mind, except, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Or they will argue that the Feasts are for Israel. Yet again they ignore two things. First, that the gentiles are grafted into Israel. Second, that the feasts were to be celebrated by those who would join themselves to Israel. Instead, the church has said, “We will celebrate Christmas and Easter. We will call Sunday holy. God will like it because we said so.”

You know who else has this mindset? Yahoshua talks about this in Matthew 15:9 “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Isaiah wrote something similar, “Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.” Ezekiel writes, “Her priests do violence to My Torah and profane My holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common. They teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean. And they shut their eyes to the keeping of My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.”

What would happen if the church today began to seek Yahweh as His word describes. Isaiah says in 58:13-14 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of Yahweh honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in Yahweh, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth, I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.” Imagine seeking after Elohim as He desires us to, it sounds pretty awesome to me. This is the way of the Rabbi.

Do you think Satan has a hand in the western church? In that he is influencing it to stray just enough off course that they dishonor Elohim. All the while thinking that they are worshiping Him. It’s been done before. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. Paul thought he was doing the will of Yahweh when he was persecuting the followers of Yahoshua. Then he came face to face with Him. He realized then he was fighting the very Elohim he was trying to protect. The Sabbath is important to Elohim. Throughout the Torah and the Prophets He declares it. To the point that Elohim exiled the nation. So why would we think any different today.

Jeremiah writes in chapter 7, 8 Look! You are relying on deceitful words that can’t do you any good. 9 First you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer to Ba‘al and go after other gods that you haven’t known. 10 Then you come and stand before Me in this house that bears My name and say, ‘We are saved’ — so that you can go on doing these abominations! 11 Do you regard this house, which bears My name, as a cave for bandits? I can see for Myself what’s going on,” says Adonai.

The western church has been so successful that pride has crept in. No one wants to admit that they are wrong. They have fallen in love with their traditions that they ignore Elohim’s Feast Days. This is a dangerous practice. And we should be asking the questions. What did Yahoshua mean when He said, “If you love Me, OBEY My commandments”? What are we doing? Who are we honoring? What is truth?

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

Are We Encouraging Weak-Willed Christianity?

Are We Encouraging Weak-Willed Christianity?

Warning: This post is going to sound very judgmental, cynical or snarky, it is not my intention. i don’t know how to ask the questions without them sounding so. Or perhaps it’s just me. i came across a post recently that touted 45,000 person attendance at a crusade. Impressively 5,500 came forward for the altar call. In a later post the idea of a fresh spiritual awakening may be occurring. They mentioned other points for why they believe this way. Notably, two of the current top ten secular songs in the nation are Christian. One of which is a collaborative effort between the current top Christian artist and a very popular secular artist. Which in my opinion takes some of the mystique away from its popularity. It’s not a terrible song, certainly not as heretical as some of the Christian songs out there have become. Heretical might be too strong a word, maybe lyrically challenged is better. Still are these signs of a true spiritual awakening?

Of the 5,500 who responded to the altar call at the crusade, the attendees were panned by the film crew. Many didn’t look like first-timers. Now, i admit this is a judgment call but as you look at them this was a familiar occurrence. Many wearing the attire of a nominal Christian, with religious symbolism adorning their bodies. Was this their yearly trek to Mecca or Jerusalem? Did they go there to pay their respects? Were they seeking forgiveness for the past years’ failings? Perhaps the altar call had feeders to initiate participation. This setup encouraged those hesitant participants. They might have been waiting for someone else in their area to ‘go first’? i am not suggesting here that altar calls are bad or unnecessary or even unproductive. i simply want to see genuinely passionate people. Who seek to truly repent of their way of life and seek to walk with Yahoshua.

Before i continue let me express this thought. i understand struggle. Sin isn’t foreign to me as Scripture says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of Elohim.” i even understand the idea Paul writes so passionately about in Romans 7:15-20. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. But the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it. But it is sin living in me that does it.”

The question i have is this, have we as a church fostered a pattern of weak willed Christianity? And have we done so based on poor interpretation of Scripture, and lazy reading. In Romans 6:12 Paul writes: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. Do not let it make you obey its passions.” Later in chapter 7:7 he writes: “What then shall we say? That the Torah is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the Torah, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the Torah had not said, ‘You shall not covet.‘” We have become too dependent on Chapter and Verse, and Sectional headlines. For example in Romans, in the ESV, Chapter 7 has a heading, “Released from the Law.” If you read that then read the passage where will your mind go? It is like those suggestive recordings where the line you read is what you hear the recording say. If you read it another way then you will hear what you read. I don’t understand how that works exactly but it is by the power of suggestion.

Remove chapter and verse, remove headlines and what will you read Paul saying? Sin is bad. The law (Torah) tells us what sin is. It should be avoided at all costs. The struggle is real. Thank Elohim through Messiah Yahoshua for revealing to us and granting us His grace and mercy. We should do our best at keeping the Torah. Perhaps if we were intellectually honest with ourselves and with Scripture, we wouldn’t be in such a state. The interpretation affects the Church, the Nation and the World.

How do we get to a real faith awakening. An awakening in which the Ekklesia, and those desiring to join themselves to it, want to be obedient. Desiring what the Word of Elohim says, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” How do we recognize genuine heart change? We know through Scripture that seed lands on many different types of ground. Let’s look at the Parable of the Sower from Luke 8:4-8. “A large crowd had gathered. They came from town after town. Yahoshua saw the crowd and told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the path and was stepped on, and the birds flying around ate it up. Some fell on rock; and after it sprouted, it dried up from lack of moisture. Some fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. But some fell into rich soil, and grew, and produced a hundred times as much as had been sown.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear with, let him hear!”

In this parable what is the manageable aspects? First, we can’t know the ground of someone’s life so like the sower, we plant seed everywhere. We water everywhere. We seek the good everywhere. Second, if we are the seed that finds the rocky ground, we must adjust our surroundings. If we find weeds, it is crucial to change our environment. “If you love Me, obey Me.” Yahoshua said. We must express the importance of following the Way. Only then is importance placed on shielding oneself from the world. Am i thankful for an Elohim who forgives? Who looks at the heart of repentance and judges them based on the actions of Yahoshua? Yes, one million times YES! However, this does not excuse me to then continue in sin. Even Paul writes, “So then, are we to say, ‘Let’s keep on sinning, so that there can be more grace’? Heaven forbid! How can we, who have died to sin, still live in it?”

Let me be clear, i am not against Christian music, nor am i against evangelistic crusades. What I am questioning is, at what compromise are we doing these things? At what expense do we undertake these actions under the guise of Christianity and inclusion? If we are unwilling to preach the whole of the gospel. Of which Paul himself teaches in Romans. Yet it is hid under the faulty headlines like, “Released from the Law.” If we began to teach the importance of Torah. Along side the amazing gift of grace, would we see the hundredfold increase Yahoshua said of the good soil? If we called those who responded to the message out of worldly living. Would we see them flourish rather than whither? This is the Way of the Rabbi.

When Yahoshua ate with sinners he didn’t join in their sin, he called them to repentance. He said, what you are doing is wrong, here is a better way. A way that leads to life. On a popular national Christian radio show a DJ said, “Jesus partied with sinners.” This error wrapped in some truth, like pigs in a blanket. Yes, he was ridiculed by the religious leaders for socializing with sinners. However, He didn’t condone their sin. He pointed them to a more excellent way. We, as scripture says, are to mingle with sinners. We are all sinners. However, we do not condone or excuse sin. When we leave Scripture open ended, we don’t tell the whole truth of Elohim’s Word. We are helping no one, least of all, ourselves.

The world is going to hate us. Why? Because we condone their practices? We say nothing of their high places? We party with them? No, it is the opposite. They are going to hate us because we set ourselves apart. We do this morally, and for lack of a better word, religiously. Not to say we are better than them but to say, the Elohim we serve is a better WAY. We say if it isn’t of Elohim, we don’t want it. If Elohim condemns it, we don’t want it. Yahoshua said, “Your sins are forgiven, now go and sin no more.” He said, “Follow Me.” He said, “The things that you have seen Me do, even greater things you will do. When I go to the Father.” Don’t you desire a more excellent way? Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” In other words we are to Imitate Messiah. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

What should one do then? Seek Yahoshua. Read Scripture from the beginning to the end as ONE body of work. Understand that as gentile believers we are grafted into the people of Elohim and with that perspective read the Word. Find a Torah friendly Ekklesia that teaches that our foundation and root is Torah even as followers of Yahoshua. Who was the WORD made flesh. Desire a better way, the Way. Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me.”

Remember: Sin is bad. The law (Torah) tells us what sin is. It should be avoided at all costs. The struggle is real. Thank Elohim through Messiah Yahoshua for revealing to us and granting us His grace and mercy. We should do our best at keeping the Torah.

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

From Israel to the Ekklesia: Embracing Our Holy Identity

History is full. i often look back on my life. i wonder what it would have been like if i had taken a different path. It was my Jr. Year of High School and i wanted to be a history teacher. i have always liked history. i can watch biographies and historical accounts without getting board. I enjoy reading history too. recently I have been studying Antiochus IV, often referred to as Antiochus Epiphanies. Antiochus was the King of Syria and captured Jerusalem in 167 B.C. He set a monument to Zeus in the Temple and slaughtered a pig on it. He persecuted the Jews living in his Kingdom mercilessly. He banned any Torah observance in stead making laws that required the breaking of Torah. In other words, as the Torah taught to honor the Sabbath, Antiochus required everyone to work on the Sabbath. The Torah taught to not eat unclean animals, Antiochus required the eating of pig and other unclean animals. The Torah taught to honor the Feast Days, Antiochus outlawed them. Antiochus banned Torah study, circumcision, and Jewish life essentially. Forcing Hellenization, the assimilation of Greek culture within Judaism.

These events lead to the Maccabean revolt which allowed for the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It also led to a period of Jewish self-rule. It is the foundation for modern day Hanukkah, known during the time of Yahoshua as the Feast of Dedication. Something mentioned in Scripture recorded by the Apostle John (10:22-23). “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yahoshua was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.”

The purpose of the Torah, is that it serves as the contract of the covenant made with Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6) “Now if you obey Me fully. Keeping My covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The purpose of Israel was to be a nation of Priests to the nations. A light in the world. A set-apart people of Elohim to point the nations to Elohim.

In what we call the New Testament, gentiles are grafted into Israel and as a whole we are called priests. The Apostle Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Elohim’s special possession. That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of Elohim. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” The idea that believers in Yahoshua are now a royal priesthood, a holy nation, should call us to action. Yahoshua said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” What commandments? Yahoshua, is the Word, that is the Torah, made flesh. He is the fullness of the commandments. We are to be like Him. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

Early followers of Yahoshua weren’t called Christians, but Followers of the Way. Although, there is reference to the Ekklesia being called Christians in the book of Acts, it was a derogatory term. A word however used often by the Ekklesia to refer to Followers of the Way is saint. Unfortunately the term has been hijacked and turned into an honor only achievable by the most pious of people. The word derives from the Hebrew word Qodeshim. This is from Qadosh and Qadash. Remember from a couple weeks ago: Qadash means clean, consecrated, dedicated, pure, and sanctified. It also means set apart. For I am (Qadosh) Elohim, Holy-One, Sanctuary. So what does Qodeshim mean? It means ‘The Set-Apart Ones’. This isn’t a pious term this is a sign, a mark, a title.

We are the Qodeshim of Elohim, The Set-Apart Ones. We are called to be set-apart. We are a chosen people, a holy (Qadash) nation. A royal priesthood, Elohim’s special possession. If this is true, why would we want to assimilate into the culture around us. To mimic Greek culture in our worship practices? We are called to workout our own salvation with fear and trembling, take the narrow way. We are to be Qodeshim, set-apart from mans tradition, the Apostle Matthew records in his Gospel. “They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules, man made traditions.” Why do we want to follow the ways of Antiochus? To follow his decrees and his laws for the Jews of his time. Why do we want to follow the ways of Constantine, who wrote letters following the Nicene council. In which he attempted to separate from Torah. Something the early Ekklesia never did. Peter writes of Paul, “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand. Which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.“

Paul himself writes, “What shall we say, then? Is the Torah sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the Torah.” He goes on to say, “So then, the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.” It is in fact the Torah that marks us as being Set Apart, Qodeshim. We are the Ekklesia, the gathering of the saints. The Qadash people of a Qadosh Elohim. We are to be a light to the world around us. “Come out of her My people!” That is to come out of the ways of the world and the mystery religions of the pagan nations. To be holy. To be Set-Apart. To be royal priests. To be a chosen people. To no longer live by the ways of the nations around us but by the way of the Kingdom. “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Be Qodeshim, be apart of “The Set-Apart Ones,” of Elohim.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,

You are loved,
cj

Understanding ‘Holy’ Through Scripture: A Deep Dive

Understanding ‘Holy’ Through Scripture: A Deep Dive

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is from the breath of Elohim. Making it a profitable instrument for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness. So that the man of Elohim may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.”

Paul writes to a young pastor in Ephesus. He writes to encourage him. He writes to instruct him. He writes to warn him. The root of this letter for me is found in the passage above. Where Paul writes about the importance of Scripture as the foundation for ministry and life. We in the west are spoiled with the written Word. Most homes have a Bible whether it is read or collecting dust on their coffee table. Still many others have one in a box that they forgot is even there. In Timothy’s time the Word was not as available, not even close. For now we are spoiled. We are so accustomed to having the Word even at our fingertips. In fact, everywhere we go whether, on a computer or a smartphone, or the beautiful crinkle of a turning page. Absolutely, no one can use the excuse that they don’t have a Bible. Everyone has access to the Word.

Paul writes to Timothy and to you this instruction. “But as for you, continue in the things you have learned. In which you firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. Which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Messiah Yahoshua.” Paul writes this just before the passage above. The Scripture is paramount to instruction, conviction, correction and for training in righteousness. It is for our equipping to carryout the work of Elohim set before us.

Peter writes these words in his letter to the remnant of Jewish believers in Messiah. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. But as He who called you is Holy, you also be Holy in all your conduct. Since it is written, ‘You shall be Holy, for I am Holy.‘” (1 Peter 1:16) Where does Paul and Peter get such wild ideas? Well from the Torah! Of course. “And Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel. Tell them, You shall be holy. For I Yahweh your Elohim am Holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father. You shall keep the Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your Elohim. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal. I am Yahweh your Elohim.‘” This from Leviticus 19:1-4 which isn’t even the more common reference to this quote. Rather Leviticus 11:44-45 is often sited. “For I am Yahweh your Elohim. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy. For I am Holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your Elohim. You shall therefore be holy for I am holy.”

Do you know what the word holy means? If you look it up in a dictionary you will get definitions like, sacred, revered, purity. These are not wrong definitions but they are not whole either. The word Holy in all of these instances comes from the words Qadash and Qadosh. Qadash and Qadosh are Hebrew and they have similar meanings. However, when used together they present a very powerful message. “Be Qadash, for I am Qadosh.” It means this, Be (Qadash) clean, consecrated, dedicated, pure, sanctified, set apart; for I am (Qadosh) Elohim, Holy-One, Sanctuary.

We set ourselves apart when we follow the Way of the Rabbi. Yahoshua, followed Torah, He was after all sinless. He observed the Sabbath. He ate clean. He honored His earthly parents. This intrigue’s me. Here we have our Messiah following the ways of the Father. Later, Paul writes, “imitate me as I also imitate Messiah.” Yet, so many find ways not to. Loophole after loophole because they have found comfort in their way. Yet very clearly we are taught to look to all of Scripture. We are told to live to a standard of Qadash because we serve Yahweh who is Qadosh! Is there grace? Of course there is. Is there forgiveness? Absolutely! Is there still a standard by which we are called to live? Without a doubt.

Hebrews 8 and Jeremiah 11 tell us of the coming renewed covenant. In which Elohim will write the law on our hearts and minds. So many will say that this is for Israel. They would be right. However, Romans 11 puts this in perspective when we read that we are grafted into Israel. This is not replacement theology it is adoption theology. We are adopted into the people of Elohim as Galatians 3 tells us. “You are all sons of Elohim through faith in Messiah Yahoshua. For all of you who were baptized into Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yahoshua. And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”

What was Israel’s sin? Ezekiel writes, “Her priest have done violence to my Torah. They have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common. Neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean. They have disregarded My Sabbaths so that I am profaned among them.” This is on Paul’s heart when he writes to the Romans. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of Elohim. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy (Qadash) and acceptable to Elohim. Which is your spiritual act of Worship. Do not be conformed to this WORLD, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. That by testing you may discern what is the will of Elohim. What it is that is good and acceptable and perfect.” Later in the same 12th chapter he writes, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”

In Isaiah and Ezekiel we read about a time to come and what will be expected. Not just of Israel by blood but also by those grafted into Israel by adoption. Isaiah writes, “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath. From doing your pleasure on My holy day. Calling the Sabbath a delight and the Holy day of Yahweh honorable. If you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure talking idly. Then you shall take delight in Yahweh and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth. I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:13-14) Ezekiel writes in the 44th chapter this (23-24). “They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common. Showing them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. In a dispute they shall act as Judges, and they shall judge it according to my judgments. They shall keep My Torah and My statutes and all My appointed feasts, and they shall keep My Sabbaths Holy.”

We are to take on the full counsel of Scripture. The Berean’s were of more noble character. They eagerly received the words of the Apostles. Then, they searched the Scriptures to verify the teachings. This is what we are called to do! What Scriptures are we to search? The same ones that Paul tells Timothy to study. It is the Torah, and the Tanakh. We call it today the Old Testament. It is what Yahoshua quoted from and taught from and lived from. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” What will you do with the words of Yahweh, “Be Holy (Qadash), for I am Holy (Qadosh)?” May you search the Scriptures for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness. So that you, a child of Elohim, may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

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

Finding Hope Through Grace: The Gospel’s Good News

i have known for a long time that the world is unforgiving. Not to mean that one cannot rise from the ashes of their ruined life, but it is ruthless. The world will hold over you your weakness, your wrong, and your sin with relentlessness. It is why many find comfort in bars, gangs, and alleyways. i never have been so low. i have never felt so down on myself that i sought solace in bars or other places. No, i am one who finds solace in the dark of my own thoughts isolated from others. Yet, in life i have always tried to be a safe place for others. A place where they could find comfort or solace. An alternative to bars, gangs, and alleyways. A listening ear, a calming presence, a place to vent frustration. When i stood in the pulpit my goal was always to teach others to do the same. After all it goes with my life verse from Micah 6:8 paraphrased, “Act Justly, Love, Mercy, Walk Humbly.” After falling from grace, so to speak. i made a catastrophic error in judgment that affected others. Speaking only of my grief and brokenness, i never hit the bottom. Nearer than ever before but held up by faith. It is in this time however, metaphorically speaking, i cut out my tongue.

To this, i also played the victim. It was look at me and why is this happening to me? It wasn’t that i blamed others for my mistakes, i didn’t. i blamed myself and in so doing condemned myself. i was my own worst enemy. i was unworthy of forgiveness because the world doesn’t forgive anyway. The Church didn’t forgive either. i can count on one hand the amount of Church leaders who reached out to me. It has been just over 5 years now. i say this all to point out one thing. we must be as an Ekklesia, more full of grace than condemnation, more full of hope than shame. As i wrote last week, when we love our enemies, we present grace and hope. It is here that i would like to say, we are the enemy in someone’s story. So take to heart, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” We do this by praying for those who persecute us. Whether or not our enemies accept it is not up to us. We are simply planting the seed, or watering a seed that has been planted by someone else. Possibly, even, we are about to reap what has already been sown. Regardless, the passage that refers to heaping burning hot coals is not ours to dump.

In this realization, by way of deep introspection, i have come to conclude that there is hope for me yet. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is still a calling and a purpose. Perhaps, i will never regain my voice. Although, currently there is no plan to stand in a pulpit again. There is writing and because of that i still have a voice through my fingers. The truth of the gospel doesn’t change because of brokenness, brokenness is changed because of the gospel. Hope is restored because of the gospel. Restoration happens because of the gospel. Reconciliation is possible because of the gospel. It is through the gospel. But what is the gospel?

Gospel, in its simplest form means, “good news.” It signifies the message of salvation and reconciliation through Yahoshua Messiah. It is this reconciliation to Elohim and the renewing of the covenant. The idea of the renewed covenant is found in Jeremiah and Hebrews. The Gospel is the Creator calling His creation back home. Elohim is essentially saying, “Good news! I have provided a way for you to come home. I have provided the atonement necessary, paid the penalty for your sin. Declared victory over both sin and death. I have done this because of My great love for you. Because of My desire to have fellowship with you. For you are My children. All I ask is that you separate yourself from others by wearing this lifestyle of righteousness. I want you to be My Ambassador. To tell others of this life changing possibility. Of the eternal rewards that await all who accept this invitation.”

The sign and seal of the New Covenant is the circumcision of the heart. It is the tenderness and willingness to grow in grace and truth. What is truth? His Word is Truth. Yahoshua is Truth. We put on the wedding garment laid out for us by the Groom. We clothe ourselves in His righteousness. His Word is Righteousness. We place ourselves under the protection of His Commandments. “If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments.” (John 14:15) This is the message of Yahoshua. This is the Way of the Rabbi. Hear again His words:

“Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ but not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on sandy ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!” Luke 6:46-49

The thing about the good news of the gospel is this, that wherever you are, whatever you have done, you can always return home. What is needed is a heart of repentance. To turn your life around from sin. Do a complete u-turn. To give all your brokenness to Yahoshua, the author and perfecter of our faith. For He who has begun a good work in you will see it through until completion. We only need to allow Him to do what needs to be done. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Choose the Way of the Rabbi and receive grace for your soul. This is the good news of the gospel.

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