Tag: Yahweh

Understanding False Teachings in Today’s Church

Understanding False Teachings in Today’s Church

Jeremiah 5:31
“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it that way. But what will you do in the end?”

Have you ever wondered about the state of the church? There are many self proclaimed prophets out there and many pastors operating in their own authority. Yet, they have hundreds of thousands of followers, books for sale, conventions and schools. They lead a people, that although have access to the Word, fail to read it. They are not like the Berean’s, searching the Scriptures daily to see if what they are being taught lines up, or even adds up. No, they swallow it whole and regurgitate the falsehoods. Where are the Jeremiah’s, the Isaiah’s, the Ezekiel’s, the Enoch’s? Where are the Peter’s, Paul’s, and John’s?

Instead we have TikTok prophets, unschooled and unlearned babblers in pulpits. The blind leading the blind. They read a book from a false prophet and are now spewing the same falsehoods in ignorance. But what does the Word say? They don’t care, they will take one verse out of context and shout you down with it. They are weak willed individuals with no discernment. How can i be so harsh? Who am i to say such things? What gives me the right? i am not the one saying it, Jeremiah is: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priest rule by their own power; And My (Elohim’s) people love to have it that way. But what will you do in the end?”

“Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’ – that you may do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight”? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares Yahweh.” Jeremiah 7:8-11

What is a false prophet? What is considered false teachings? Yahoshua (Jesus) tells us through Matthew’s writing: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. you will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs form thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from Me, You who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS (TORAHLESSNESS).'” Matthew 7:15-23

When Yahoshua is teaching on false prophets He was drawing on the Word, the Torah. Where it teaches about false prophets. He also throughout His ministry challenged those teaching the commandments of men rather than the Commandments of the Father. Let’s look at Deuteronomy 13:1-4.

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign of a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your Elohim is testing you to find out if you love Yahweh your Elohim with all your hear and with all your soul. You shall follow Yahweh your Elohim and fear Him; and you shall KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, SERVE HIM, and CLING TO HIM.”

Anytime that we do mans commandments over Elohim’s commandments we are essentially following other gods. If a prophet teaches us to obey other commands than he is a false prophet, and that would include the Greco-Roman Jesus. But Yahoshua never taught a different way, in fact He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He was the very unchanging Word of Elohim made flesh. To do away with the commandments of God would have been to do away with Himself.

No, He said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill (Bring fullness or clarity to). For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law (Torah) until all is accomplished. (Note, heaven and earth have yet to pass away. See Revelation 21) Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 7:17-20.

Many will say that we cannot be more righteous than the Scribe or the Pharisees and therefore Jesus meant we actually didn’t have to. However, that isn’t at all what Yahoshua was getting at! For time and time again He challenged the Pharisees that they were teaching the commandments of men rather than the commandments of God. And by definition righteousness is “the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.” Therefore righteousness is obedience to God’s Torah. It is that simple. The Torah is not a burden, mans tradition is the burden. God is not a yoke that we cannot bear and to say so means you lack understanding.

Time is drawing short. Even if you live to be 90 before Yahoshua returns. Why? Because, deception is growing. Hearts are growing cold, sound doctrine is drying up, the wheat and the tares are being separated. What pile do you want to find yourself in? As Jeremiah said, “But, what will you do in the end?”

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 the Kingdom of Heaven in Parables

Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven in Parables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You are loved,
cj

Living Under Grace: Understanding God’s Commandments

Living Under Grace: Understanding God’s Commandments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You are loved,
cj

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

Finding Favor: The Balance of Faith and Community

“. . . having favor with all the people.” There is something i have heard a few times lately that has pricked my spirit. It’s not that what is being said or taught is wrong, it’s not. In fact an argument can be made that my point here is lacking. The idea is this, if we are going to live for Messiah, we can expect to be hated. In fact, if we aren’t getting push back it is because we are not living out loud enough, for Elohim. After all the Word says, “You will be hated, for My (Yahoshua) names sake.” This isn’t said in passing, it’s essentially a promise. This is what i am trying to talk to . . . “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

This quote, often attributed to Alexander Hamilton, has been used in a variety of ways. Constructively, it has been said in standing up for our principles and the marginalized. In the case of our principles, we must live by conviction. Otherwise, we will succumb to whichever way the wind blows. For the marginalized, if we do not stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, what then do we stand for? And, if we are so weak that we can’t stand, then we will fall for anything. However, as of late it seems, at least to my ears, that it has been twisted. Now it is said of the religious as a battle cry against the marginalized. Swept away by the crowd with the torches and pitchforks. Running from crusade to crusade in the name of religion.

The Word of Elohim is clear, there is right and there is wrong. There are the Commands of Elohim and the ways of the world. There is the flesh which is sinful. “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, orgies, and things like these.” It goes on to say, “I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.” Contrast that with the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”(Galatians 5:18-23).

The followers of Yahoshua the Nazarene, were taught to walk in the Spirit. Within the body of Yahoshua we hold each other accountable. We call out sin. We rejoice at the repentant heart, and we cast out the unrepentant. However, among the outsiders, we live among them. We live as Ambassadors. We proclaim the honorable day of Adonai. We say, “Today is the day of salvation!” We tell those captive to sin, that there is freedom. We tell those marginalized that there is no partiality in Messiah. We proclaim, repentance from the ways of the flesh and the call to walk in the Spirit. But with the people we must live. The Word teaches us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Elohim says, vengeance is Mine, I will repay. Therefore, “To the contrary if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This passage is found in Romans 12:18-21, i did leave out one piece. “. . . by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” This is part of the vengeance, the judgment to come. It is not ours to do.

It will be terrible, with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Eternally separated from the very One who our spirits long for. Think about how horrific that will be! To what lengths would you want someone to go to for you to hear the message of hope and salvation? The early believers, shortly after Yahoshua ascended into Heaven, were living in such away that they found favor in the eyes of all the people. Acts tells us this in the second chapter. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common and sold their possessions and property and distributed them to everyone, as each one had need. Continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food together with gladness and singleness of heart, praising Elohim and having favor (grace) with all the people. And Adonai added to the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} daily such as should be saved.“

At present this place is not our home. We are in fact foreigners. We have the Kingdom with in us, we desire that the Kingdom come and Elohim’s will be done. Yet, the current age reveals many challenges to this idea. We are to share the Gospel, the Good News, until the Day of Adonai. How people respond to the message is not up to us. Some are called to plant, some to water, some to reap. We are to do our part and pray. We are to live as examples of Yahoshua’s love. There is a line in the movie Miracles from Heaven. Anna the girl in which the movie is based, says, “It’s okay, not everyone is going to believe. They will get there when they get there.” This was for me the best line in the movie. It was the purest call to action. “Not everyone is going to believe.” That doesn’t mean we get to stop walking in love.

How do we make the nations jealous? By minimizing segments of the population deemed unclean? How do we proclaim freedom to the captive? If we claim the commandments are bondage? How do we have favor with all the people? If all we do is condemn them?

“It’s okay, not everyone is going to believe. They will get there when they get there.” Anna, Miracles from Heaven.

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

Concerning the coming of our Adonai

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Adonai Yahshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Messiah had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NKJ (Italic’s & Hebrew Names added by me)

i feel a pressing urgency to write to you, in light of current events. i hear many talking about getting ready because the rapture is going to happen. Yet, time and time again as Paul wrote above, and Yahshua, said in Matthew 24:12; “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Many are not ready for what is at the doorstep of the world.

i want to say this as succinctly as possible. Instead of hoping for a rapture, what we should be doing is strengthening our faith in order to endure. There are times that are coming, as Yahshua declared and as Paul taught, that will try every man (humanity), and we are called to endure. Paul says it this way, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Adonai Yahshua HaMashiach Himself, and our Elohim and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Yahshua says it this way, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” John writes to the Churches in Revelation, saying, “repent,” “overcome,” “endure.” These are not merely empty sayings but warnings; we as believers are going to see a time like nothing seen before and we must be able to endure. Not with fear but with hope. Not alone but by and with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).

i fear the reason we read about a falling away is because many are not ready to endure, not many are willing to give up the pleasures of this world. Rather, they are putting their hope in it which only leads to destruction. Narrow is the way to salvation and few find it, are you ready to endure?

You are loved,

cj