2 Timothy 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, NASB
By Skip Moen
Malicious gossips – Paul chooses a very interesting word, a word we probably couldn’t imagine would be translated as “malicious gossips.” The word is diaboloi. It is the plural, nominative adjective of diabolos, the word that obviously is often translated “devil.” Is Paul suggesting that in the last days “devils” will be running around all over the place? Hardly! He is not hinting that there are “demons” among us. But he has something very strong to say about people who slander, gossip, seduce or accuse falsely. He says exactly what we would expect from a Jewish rabbi. Such behavior is precisely the same behavior as the Accuser. It is therefore, in Greek, “of the devil.” In the last days the Devil won’t have to do much convincing. He won’t need to be a great and persuasive orator. Men and women will do all the talking for him.
Didn’t Yeshua call the Accuser the father of lies? Perhaps we haven’t understood how serious this is. We perpetuate the destruction of God’s order with every lie, every bit of gossip, every slanderous innuendo. That has been true since the end of the vacation in the Garden. But Paul tells us that in the last days, “devil-speech” (for that’s what it is) will reach epidemic proportions. Men and women will not consider the destructive power of their words. They will judge according to the media, the culture and their own feelings. Opinion polls will be more important than the truth. In the last days the power of the word will be turned inside-out and vocal vomit will be the norm. The stench will smell to high heaven but those who spew it forth will not even notice their own regurgitated filth.
The words of God are the most powerful dynamics in the world. They create. They heal. They forgive. They judge. They condemn. God created moral free agents with the same linguistic capability. The risk God took was enormous. Suddenly there existed in the well-ordered world an agent who could alter the course of God’s purpose with a word. The story of the first seduction is about this alternative world of words. The father of lies was present in the Garden and he continues to ply his trade by training his victims to imitate his methods. Just a tiny variation from ‘emet is all that is necessary to push the public into the arms of the satanic utterances.
Let’s pause right here. Do you believe that last statement? Do you really believe that all it takes is a tiny variation of God’s words in order to undermine, misdirect and delay God’s purposes? Do you really believe that God allows human free agents the capability to change the face of the universe with an idea, a proclamation, a creed? I’m going to suppose that you do, just for the sake of argument. Because if you do, then why are you going to church on Sunday? Why are you eating pork? Why are you following the Church’s holidays but not the Scriptural ones? Why do you waffle on the question of circumcision? Why do you think “Jesus” changed the Law? Where, o where, is the scriptural support for any of these common assumptions? Did God really change His mind when His own Son said that the Torah will not pass away until heaven and earth pass away—or maybe until the Pope says that the Torah passed away? Who is the father of lies now? Who is following the father of lies now?
In the last days, says Paul, a great number of people will be “malicious gossips.” But that’s not really what he said, is it? What he said is that in the last days a great number of people will speak Satan’s vocabulary. Now who do you suppose that is?
Saturday, November 8, 2014
A quick question about "religious" women's dress codes
Why do so many Messianic/Hebrew Roots women dress like frumps and peasants? The Bible tells us to dress modestly; nowhere does it say we have to look like throwbacks to the 1800s.
I believe a lot of this is is spawned by insecure men who feel the need to dominate women because, every once in awhile you'll see some man telling women they cannot wear pants, and that they cannot cut their hair, and that women must keep their hair covered. And, of course, they attempt to use Scripture to support their opinions on women's apparel.
But is that really true? Let's see what Scripture actually says:
1 Peter 3: 1. So also you wives, be subject to your husbands; that by your pleasing behavior you may gain over without difficulty those who are disobedient to the Word, 2. when they see that you conduct yourselves with reverence and chastity. 3. And don't adorn yourselves with the external ornaments of curls of the hair, or of golden trinkets or of costly garments. 4. But adorn yourselves in the hidden person of the heart with a mild and pure spirit, an ornament that is precious before Elohim. 5. For so also the Set Apart women of old who trusted in Elohim, adorned themselves and were subject to their husbands....
1 Timothy 2: 9. So also, that women (appear) in a chaste fashion of dress; and that their adorning be with modesty and chastity; not with curls or with gold, or with pearls, or with splendid robes; 10. but with good works as is becoming to women who profess reverence for Elohim.
Titus 2: 1. But as for you, the things that belong to wholesome doctrine. 2. And teach the older men to be watchful in their minds and to be sober, and to be pure, and to be sound in the faith, and in love and in patience. 3. And so also the elder women that they be in behavior as is becoming to the Fear of Elohim; and not to be slanderers; and not to be addicted to much wine; and to be teachers [1] of beautiful things, 4. making the younger women to be modest, to love their husbands and their children, 5. to be chaste and Set Apart and to take good care of their households and to be obedient to their husbands, so that no one may reproach the Word of Elohim.
In 1 Timothy, Rav Shaul commands that women keep silent in the assembly and not assume authority over a man. However, here in Titus 3:2, the older women are instructed to lead by examples of their own piety and to teach the younger women in the Fear of Elohim. (The word malpan most certainly means to teach.) Y'shua is frequently called a Malpana almost as often as he is called a "Rabbi."
So, the concern in 1 Timothy (according to a footnote in the Aramaic English New Testament) seems not so much about women speaking, but to not speak out of turn while the official leader is teaching. Surely, such action is disrespectful universally; neither is it normal for men to be given such liberty. Rav Shaul encourages the older and spiritually mature women to both teach and be examples for the younger women, as they are able to help safeguard young men and women from "worldly lusts." We don't see endorsement of women congregational leaders in Paul's writings, but we certainly do see encouragement for women to exercise leadership in modesty and be Set Apart unto YHWH.
Matthew 6: 31. Therefore, do not be anxious or say, What will we eat? Or what will we drink? Or what will we wear? 32. For all these things, the peoples those of the world require these things, and your Father who is in heaven also knows that you require all these things. 33. But first seek the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 34. Therefore, be not anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow is anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.
Bottom line: Dress modestly and behave in a holy, godly manner! Scriptures suggest that women not flaunt their beauty by wearing revealing clothing and adornments designed to attract others in a sexual way. That is ALL. There's nothing that says women cannot wear pants or that they must keep their hair covered at all times (hair is to be covered when they are praying or prophesying - 1 Cor. 11:3-15)!
Pants are a relatively modern invention and if you want to get technical, then MEN should be wearing dresses too, because, back in Biblical times, both men and women wore loose robe-like clothing and tunics. NOBODY wore pants! Pants aren't just a "man" thing; there are pants made for men and pants made for women, so don't let anyone tell you, you HAVE to wear dresses down to the ankles and all the way up to your ears! Just dress MODESTLY! You know what that means....
I believe a lot of this is is spawned by insecure men who feel the need to dominate women because, every once in awhile you'll see some man telling women they cannot wear pants, and that they cannot cut their hair, and that women must keep their hair covered. And, of course, they attempt to use Scripture to support their opinions on women's apparel.
But is that really true? Let's see what Scripture actually says:
1 Peter 3: 1. So also you wives, be subject to your husbands; that by your pleasing behavior you may gain over without difficulty those who are disobedient to the Word, 2. when they see that you conduct yourselves with reverence and chastity. 3. And don't adorn yourselves with the external ornaments of curls of the hair, or of golden trinkets or of costly garments. 4. But adorn yourselves in the hidden person of the heart with a mild and pure spirit, an ornament that is precious before Elohim. 5. For so also the Set Apart women of old who trusted in Elohim, adorned themselves and were subject to their husbands....
1 Timothy 2: 9. So also, that women (appear) in a chaste fashion of dress; and that their adorning be with modesty and chastity; not with curls or with gold, or with pearls, or with splendid robes; 10. but with good works as is becoming to women who profess reverence for Elohim.
Titus 2: 1. But as for you, the things that belong to wholesome doctrine. 2. And teach the older men to be watchful in their minds and to be sober, and to be pure, and to be sound in the faith, and in love and in patience. 3. And so also the elder women that they be in behavior as is becoming to the Fear of Elohim; and not to be slanderers; and not to be addicted to much wine; and to be teachers [1] of beautiful things, 4. making the younger women to be modest, to love their husbands and their children, 5. to be chaste and Set Apart and to take good care of their households and to be obedient to their husbands, so that no one may reproach the Word of Elohim.
In 1 Timothy, Rav Shaul commands that women keep silent in the assembly and not assume authority over a man. However, here in Titus 3:2, the older women are instructed to lead by examples of their own piety and to teach the younger women in the Fear of Elohim. (The word malpan most certainly means to teach.) Y'shua is frequently called a Malpana almost as often as he is called a "Rabbi."
So, the concern in 1 Timothy (according to a footnote in the Aramaic English New Testament) seems not so much about women speaking, but to not speak out of turn while the official leader is teaching. Surely, such action is disrespectful universally; neither is it normal for men to be given such liberty. Rav Shaul encourages the older and spiritually mature women to both teach and be examples for the younger women, as they are able to help safeguard young men and women from "worldly lusts." We don't see endorsement of women congregational leaders in Paul's writings, but we certainly do see encouragement for women to exercise leadership in modesty and be Set Apart unto YHWH.
Matthew 6: 31. Therefore, do not be anxious or say, What will we eat? Or what will we drink? Or what will we wear? 32. For all these things, the peoples those of the world require these things, and your Father who is in heaven also knows that you require all these things. 33. But first seek the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 34. Therefore, be not anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow is anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.
Bottom line: Dress modestly and behave in a holy, godly manner! Scriptures suggest that women not flaunt their beauty by wearing revealing clothing and adornments designed to attract others in a sexual way. That is ALL. There's nothing that says women cannot wear pants or that they must keep their hair covered at all times (hair is to be covered when they are praying or prophesying - 1 Cor. 11:3-15)!
Pants are a relatively modern invention and if you want to get technical, then MEN should be wearing dresses too, because, back in Biblical times, both men and women wore loose robe-like clothing and tunics. NOBODY wore pants! Pants aren't just a "man" thing; there are pants made for men and pants made for women, so don't let anyone tell you, you HAVE to wear dresses down to the ankles and all the way up to your ears! Just dress MODESTLY! You know what that means....
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
The 2014 election: Fetal ‘Personhood’ Laws Defeated in Colorado and North Dakota
Despite nationwide GOP gains, the Nov. 4 elections also brought victory for pro-choice liberals in Colorado and North Dakota, where voters rejected anti-abortion ballot measures by significant margins. Voters in Colorado and North Dakota struck down the Amendments that would have included unborn fetuses as “children” in the state’s criminal code, and rejected a ballot measure that would have added to the state constitution the words, “The inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected.”
“We are relieved and overjoyed,” Sarah Stoesz, president of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, said in a statement to Think Progress. “The personhood movement took another major blow, and it’s time for them to stop pushing this agenda on women and families in state after state.”
Well, I have a response to Sarah Stoesz: Well, actually TWO responses: The first one is this article Bad news for pro-abortionists: Researchers identify very first neurons in the 'thinking' brain ... And the second one is: Enjoy your “relief and joy” now, because you’ll be feeling something completely different, come Judgment Day! YOU may not believe in the “personhood of unborn fetuses”, but GOD does!
First of all, an unborn fetus is a LIFE! It grows from the moment of conception, which means it’s a LIVING being! As a matter of fact, in the Book of Exodus we see that YHWH views unborn fetuses as children:
Exodus 21: 22 "If people are fighting with each other and happen to hurt a pregnant woman so badly that her unborn child dies, then, even if no other harm follows, he must be fined. He must pay the amount set by the woman's husband and confirmed by judges.
And Psalm 127 tells us: 3 Children too are a gift from ADONAI; the fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 The children born when one is young. are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. 5 How blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them; he will not have to be embarrassed when contending with foes at the city gate.
Matthew 18 has a dire warning: 1. At that moment, the disciples drew near to Y’shua and said, “Who indeed is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? 2. And Y’shua called a child and made him stand in their midst. 3. And said, Truly I say to you, that unless you change and become like children, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4. He therefore who humbles himself like this child, he will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5. And he who receives one like this child in my name receives me. 6. And anyone who harms one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him that the millstone of a donkey would be hung on his neck and he be sunk into the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18: 10. See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones. I say to you, for their Messengers in heaven at all times see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Mark 10: 13. And children were approaching him so that he might touch them, but his disciples were rebuking those who were bringing them. 14. And Y’shua saw it and was offended and he said to them, Allow the children to come to me and do not hinder them. For because of those who are as these, the Kingdom of Elohim exists. 15. Truly I say to you, that anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of Elohim like a child, will not enter it. 16. And he took them into his arms and placed his hand upon them and he blessed them.
So, Sarah Stoesz and every person who voted against the idea that unborn fetuses do not have “the inalienable right to life at any stage of development” – know this: You are pushing MURDER ... so here’s a question for you: Would you ever urge a woman who becomes pregnant to commit suicide? Why not? What’s the difference – after all, suicide would end an unwanted pregnancy, wouldn’t it? And … unlike that tiny, blameless baby who was conceived by an act that COULD have been prevented in one of several ways, at least the woman – unlike the fetus - would have the CHOICE to do it, or not.
THINK about that!
In the meantime, we will keep people such as you in our prayers, because you are truly lost!
“We are relieved and overjoyed,” Sarah Stoesz, president of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, said in a statement to Think Progress. “The personhood movement took another major blow, and it’s time for them to stop pushing this agenda on women and families in state after state.”
Well, I have a response to Sarah Stoesz: Well, actually TWO responses: The first one is this article Bad news for pro-abortionists: Researchers identify very first neurons in the 'thinking' brain ... And the second one is: Enjoy your “relief and joy” now, because you’ll be feeling something completely different, come Judgment Day! YOU may not believe in the “personhood of unborn fetuses”, but GOD does!
First of all, an unborn fetus is a LIFE! It grows from the moment of conception, which means it’s a LIVING being! As a matter of fact, in the Book of Exodus we see that YHWH views unborn fetuses as children:
Exodus 21: 22 "If people are fighting with each other and happen to hurt a pregnant woman so badly that her unborn child dies, then, even if no other harm follows, he must be fined. He must pay the amount set by the woman's husband and confirmed by judges.
And Psalm 127 tells us: 3 Children too are a gift from ADONAI; the fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 The children born when one is young. are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. 5 How blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them; he will not have to be embarrassed when contending with foes at the city gate.
Matthew 18 has a dire warning: 1. At that moment, the disciples drew near to Y’shua and said, “Who indeed is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? 2. And Y’shua called a child and made him stand in their midst. 3. And said, Truly I say to you, that unless you change and become like children, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4. He therefore who humbles himself like this child, he will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5. And he who receives one like this child in my name receives me. 6. And anyone who harms one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him that the millstone of a donkey would be hung on his neck and he be sunk into the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18: 10. See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones. I say to you, for their Messengers in heaven at all times see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Mark 10: 13. And children were approaching him so that he might touch them, but his disciples were rebuking those who were bringing them. 14. And Y’shua saw it and was offended and he said to them, Allow the children to come to me and do not hinder them. For because of those who are as these, the Kingdom of Elohim exists. 15. Truly I say to you, that anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of Elohim like a child, will not enter it. 16. And he took them into his arms and placed his hand upon them and he blessed them.
So, Sarah Stoesz and every person who voted against the idea that unborn fetuses do not have “the inalienable right to life at any stage of development” – know this: You are pushing MURDER ... so here’s a question for you: Would you ever urge a woman who becomes pregnant to commit suicide? Why not? What’s the difference – after all, suicide would end an unwanted pregnancy, wouldn’t it? And … unlike that tiny, blameless baby who was conceived by an act that COULD have been prevented in one of several ways, at least the woman – unlike the fetus - would have the CHOICE to do it, or not.
THINK about that!
In the meantime, we will keep people such as you in our prayers, because you are truly lost!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
From the Twitterverse: "Paul said..."
When we announced on Twitter the new blog for The Refiner's Fire, it quickly brought the following 4 comments from the same individual:
@TheRefinersFire: Yeshua condemned sin in flesh, so the righteous decree in the law might b fulfilled within us. Romans 8 speaks 2 your blog.
@TheRefinersFire: Jesus did not abolish the law but He gave us the Holy Spirit to discern where the law weakened by the flesh has failed.
@TheRefinersFire: In other words sacrificial law has been fulfilled..now were compelled by love & faith 2 live in His Holy Spirit & example.
@TheRefinersFire: This includes Mosaic law, proverbial law, and the greatest commandment of all. In addition, he added to love your enemies.
So, 140 characters at a time, this person was clearly trying to say that "Torah was replaced by the Holy Spirit". We answered "Thank you for you comments", but in more detail I will say here: I'm sorry, but this is typical Christian schmaltz!
These comments are really nothing but "Paul said....", with the typical Christian zero-understanding of what Paul said! Zero. Zilch. Nada.
But let's talk about this since it is so confusing.
Romans 8 is very often used to "explain away" the need to actually obey God. (I truly don't understand this reasoning. Why would one NOT want to be obedient to God? And if you did want to be obedient, wouldn't you want to know how you should behave to be obedient? But I digress.) Does Romans 8 actually say that "...because you have the Holy Spirit, you actually don't need to obey Torah any more"? The opening verses of Romans 8 (out of context) sure sound like it! Here's the first 10 verses from the AENT:
8:1 There is therefore no condemnation to them who in Y’shua the Mashiyach walk not after the flesh. 2. For the Torah of the Spirit of Life, which is in Y’shua the Mashiyach, has emancipated you from the instruction of sin and death. 3. Therefore, as Torah was impotent through the weakness of the flesh, Elohim sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin; that He might, in his flesh, condemn sin; 4. So that the righteousness of Torah might be fulfilled in us, since it is not in the flesh that we walk, but in the Spirit. 5. For they who are in the flesh recall to mind the things of the flesh: and they who are of the Spirit do recall to the mind the things of the Spirit. 6. For minding the things of the flesh is death; but minding the things of the Spirit is life and peace. 7. Because minding the things of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim: for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Elohim, because it is not possible. 8. And they who are in the flesh cannot please Elohim. 9. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit; if the Spirit of Elohim truly dwells in you. And if in anyone there is not the Spirit of Mashiyach, he is none of his. 10. But if Mashiyach is in you, the body is dead in regard to sin; and the Spirit is alive in regard to righteousness.
But to whom is Paul writing? Ever think to ask that? Was he addressing modern "Christians" who deny everything YHWH & Y'shua taught, in favor of some "Torahless Messiah" named "Jesus"? Or was he addressing Gentiles of his day who were first to receive the gift of eternal life, brought to all (Jew and Gentile alike)? The answer is in Romans 1:
1:1. PAUL, a servant of Y’shua the Mashiyach, called and sent and separated to the Good News of Elohim. 2. (That) He (Elohim) had before promised, by His prophets, in the Set Apart Scriptures, 3. Concerning his Son who was born in the flesh, of seed of the house of Dawid, 4. And was made known as the Son of Elohim by power, and by the Ruach haKodesh, who arose from the dead, Y’shua the Mashiyach, our Master, 5. By whom we have received grace and a mission among all the Gentiles to the end that they may obey the faith in His Name; 6. Among whom, you also are called by Y’shua the Mashiyach; 7. To all those who are at Rome, beloved of Elohim, called and sanctified: Peace and grace be with you, from Elohim our Father, and from our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach. (AENT)
So let's see who these Gentiles were:
a. Romans. (Verse 7)
b. They who chose to "obey the faith in His Name". (Verse 5)
c. Those "called and sanctified". (Verse 7)
So Paul was writing to Romans (gentiles) who had heard of and accepted that the Messiah came to ALL, should they only "obey the faith in His Name" and be "called and sanctified". Remember, Roman gentiles lived under ALL SORTS of gods! They had to actually work hard to ferret out the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob from the riff-raff!
So what is "faith in His Name"? It is that Y'shua's very name means "YHWH is salvation". Y'shua actually tells us in John 17:2-3 that to obtain eternal life we must "know YHWH and know the Messiah"! To "know" YHWH most certainly does not include going about your daily lives constantly sinning and denying His instructions for us to live on earth then expecting to be blessed!
And what does it mean to be "called and sanctified"? (This is your opportunity to cite from Romans 8!) Paul tells the Romans in Chapter 8, that while they had heard that Torah was impotent to cover their sins because it had only become "rules" which, when broken, condemned you, Y'shua's atoning death for you covers you - provided you actually let the Holy Spirit into your mind/body and walk in Torah instead of the flesh (Romans 8:8) - and you not continue to sin intentionally! To be "sanctified" means you are set apart for a sacred purpose, free from the influence of sin! How can you be "free from sin" if you continue to sin? Paul was not saying "you can't sin if only you believe"! No! He was saying that your obedience becomes a thing of the heart when you accept the Holy Spirit, and not just as "rules" forced on you by the authorities! Paul was not denying Torah! He was explaining why it is the only thing which makes you righteous (Romans 8:4)! And if "minding the things of the flesh is death; but minding the things of the Spirit is life and peace" (8:6), then in your mind, what is "minding the things of the flesh" if not your complete and utter disobedience to YHWH's rules for living and instead doing what you want 'cause it feels good? If you are "called and sanctified", i.e. those to whom Paul was writing, then should you not WANT to know and obey YHWH?
Paul actually quotes the Hebrew "Old Testament" (Tanakh) over 80 times in this Letter to the Romans. Does this sound like he would teach that Torah was "fulfilled" or "replaced by the Holy Spirit"? Without understanding the context of Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible), Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) from which Paul quotes, it is impossible to thoroughly comprehend his teachings! In fact, Paul never heard the words "Old Testament" in his lifetime, nor would he ever refer to the Word of YHWH - which was all he knew - as "abolished" or "no longer applicable"!
You said "Jesus did not abolish the law but He gave us the Holy Spirit to discern where the law weakened by the flesh has failed". Perhaps now you can see what nonsense this is. If "Jesus did not abolish the law", then what does the last part of your comment even mean? Paul was only saying, for example, that while the rote sacrifice of animals did not fully provide for us because our flesh is weak, Y'shua's sacrifice did cover us for such weakness, but only to that point where we accepted what His substitutionary death provided for us! If we continue to sin, we are no longer covered! See Hebrews 10:26 "For if a man sin voluntarily after he has received a knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice which may be offered for sins..." You seem to be saying "Jesus did not abolish the Law, but I don't have to follow it, and my sins are covered". Well, your INADVERTENT sins ARE covered! But this is the same as it always was! Even before Y'shua, the obedient to YHWH were only covered for accidental/unintentional sin! We have ALWAYS been expected to try hard to lead a sinless life! And need I define for you what "sin" is?
So, no, please don't quote Romans 8 and try to tell us that the "Torah was fulfilled in the Messiah", and then say we only need to "live in His Holy Spirit & example" when you clearly don't understand that His Holy Spirit and example IS TORAH! And you clearly don't know Y'shua! Please, go find out who Paul was and what he actually taught!
@TheRefinersFire: Yeshua condemned sin in flesh, so the righteous decree in the law might b fulfilled within us. Romans 8 speaks 2 your blog.
@TheRefinersFire: Jesus did not abolish the law but He gave us the Holy Spirit to discern where the law weakened by the flesh has failed.
@TheRefinersFire: In other words sacrificial law has been fulfilled..now were compelled by love & faith 2 live in His Holy Spirit & example.
@TheRefinersFire: This includes Mosaic law, proverbial law, and the greatest commandment of all. In addition, he added to love your enemies.
So, 140 characters at a time, this person was clearly trying to say that "Torah was replaced by the Holy Spirit". We answered "Thank you for you comments", but in more detail I will say here: I'm sorry, but this is typical Christian schmaltz!
These comments are really nothing but "Paul said....", with the typical Christian zero-understanding of what Paul said! Zero. Zilch. Nada.
But let's talk about this since it is so confusing.
Romans 8 is very often used to "explain away" the need to actually obey God. (I truly don't understand this reasoning. Why would one NOT want to be obedient to God? And if you did want to be obedient, wouldn't you want to know how you should behave to be obedient? But I digress.) Does Romans 8 actually say that "...because you have the Holy Spirit, you actually don't need to obey Torah any more"? The opening verses of Romans 8 (out of context) sure sound like it! Here's the first 10 verses from the AENT:
8:1 There is therefore no condemnation to them who in Y’shua the Mashiyach walk not after the flesh. 2. For the Torah of the Spirit of Life, which is in Y’shua the Mashiyach, has emancipated you from the instruction of sin and death. 3. Therefore, as Torah was impotent through the weakness of the flesh, Elohim sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin; that He might, in his flesh, condemn sin; 4. So that the righteousness of Torah might be fulfilled in us, since it is not in the flesh that we walk, but in the Spirit. 5. For they who are in the flesh recall to mind the things of the flesh: and they who are of the Spirit do recall to the mind the things of the Spirit. 6. For minding the things of the flesh is death; but minding the things of the Spirit is life and peace. 7. Because minding the things of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim: for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Elohim, because it is not possible. 8. And they who are in the flesh cannot please Elohim. 9. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit; if the Spirit of Elohim truly dwells in you. And if in anyone there is not the Spirit of Mashiyach, he is none of his. 10. But if Mashiyach is in you, the body is dead in regard to sin; and the Spirit is alive in regard to righteousness.
But to whom is Paul writing? Ever think to ask that? Was he addressing modern "Christians" who deny everything YHWH & Y'shua taught, in favor of some "Torahless Messiah" named "Jesus"? Or was he addressing Gentiles of his day who were first to receive the gift of eternal life, brought to all (Jew and Gentile alike)? The answer is in Romans 1:
1:1. PAUL, a servant of Y’shua the Mashiyach, called and sent and separated to the Good News of Elohim. 2. (That) He (Elohim) had before promised, by His prophets, in the Set Apart Scriptures, 3. Concerning his Son who was born in the flesh, of seed of the house of Dawid, 4. And was made known as the Son of Elohim by power, and by the Ruach haKodesh, who arose from the dead, Y’shua the Mashiyach, our Master, 5. By whom we have received grace and a mission among all the Gentiles to the end that they may obey the faith in His Name; 6. Among whom, you also are called by Y’shua the Mashiyach; 7. To all those who are at Rome, beloved of Elohim, called and sanctified: Peace and grace be with you, from Elohim our Father, and from our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach. (AENT)
So let's see who these Gentiles were:
a. Romans. (Verse 7)
b. They who chose to "obey the faith in His Name". (Verse 5)
c. Those "called and sanctified". (Verse 7)
So Paul was writing to Romans (gentiles) who had heard of and accepted that the Messiah came to ALL, should they only "obey the faith in His Name" and be "called and sanctified". Remember, Roman gentiles lived under ALL SORTS of gods! They had to actually work hard to ferret out the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob from the riff-raff!
So what is "faith in His Name"? It is that Y'shua's very name means "YHWH is salvation". Y'shua actually tells us in John 17:2-3 that to obtain eternal life we must "know YHWH and know the Messiah"! To "know" YHWH most certainly does not include going about your daily lives constantly sinning and denying His instructions for us to live on earth then expecting to be blessed!
And what does it mean to be "called and sanctified"? (This is your opportunity to cite from Romans 8!) Paul tells the Romans in Chapter 8, that while they had heard that Torah was impotent to cover their sins because it had only become "rules" which, when broken, condemned you, Y'shua's atoning death for you covers you - provided you actually let the Holy Spirit into your mind/body and walk in Torah instead of the flesh (Romans 8:8) - and you not continue to sin intentionally! To be "sanctified" means you are set apart for a sacred purpose, free from the influence of sin! How can you be "free from sin" if you continue to sin? Paul was not saying "you can't sin if only you believe"! No! He was saying that your obedience becomes a thing of the heart when you accept the Holy Spirit, and not just as "rules" forced on you by the authorities! Paul was not denying Torah! He was explaining why it is the only thing which makes you righteous (Romans 8:4)! And if "minding the things of the flesh is death; but minding the things of the Spirit is life and peace" (8:6), then in your mind, what is "minding the things of the flesh" if not your complete and utter disobedience to YHWH's rules for living and instead doing what you want 'cause it feels good? If you are "called and sanctified", i.e. those to whom Paul was writing, then should you not WANT to know and obey YHWH?
Paul actually quotes the Hebrew "Old Testament" (Tanakh) over 80 times in this Letter to the Romans. Does this sound like he would teach that Torah was "fulfilled" or "replaced by the Holy Spirit"? Without understanding the context of Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible), Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) from which Paul quotes, it is impossible to thoroughly comprehend his teachings! In fact, Paul never heard the words "Old Testament" in his lifetime, nor would he ever refer to the Word of YHWH - which was all he knew - as "abolished" or "no longer applicable"!
You said "Jesus did not abolish the law but He gave us the Holy Spirit to discern where the law weakened by the flesh has failed". Perhaps now you can see what nonsense this is. If "Jesus did not abolish the law", then what does the last part of your comment even mean? Paul was only saying, for example, that while the rote sacrifice of animals did not fully provide for us because our flesh is weak, Y'shua's sacrifice did cover us for such weakness, but only to that point where we accepted what His substitutionary death provided for us! If we continue to sin, we are no longer covered! See Hebrews 10:26 "For if a man sin voluntarily after he has received a knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice which may be offered for sins..." You seem to be saying "Jesus did not abolish the Law, but I don't have to follow it, and my sins are covered". Well, your INADVERTENT sins ARE covered! But this is the same as it always was! Even before Y'shua, the obedient to YHWH were only covered for accidental/unintentional sin! We have ALWAYS been expected to try hard to lead a sinless life! And need I define for you what "sin" is?
So, no, please don't quote Romans 8 and try to tell us that the "Torah was fulfilled in the Messiah", and then say we only need to "live in His Holy Spirit & example" when you clearly don't understand that His Holy Spirit and example IS TORAH! And you clearly don't know Y'shua! Please, go find out who Paul was and what he actually taught!
Refuting the idea that "Jesus is a vampire who commands us to eat his flesh"....
“Anti-missionaries” (traditional Jews and/or converts who attempt to “prove” that Yeshua is NOT the Messiah and that the New Testament is a farce) will often use the following scripture to show “Jesus” can’t be real because God would never demand that you eat His flesh or drink His blood.
Let’s put this silly notion into its proper context with the help of Andrew Gabriel Roth’s Aramaic English New Testament:
John 6:53 And Y’shua said to them, Amen, amen I say to you, that unless you eat the body of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in Qnoma. 54. And he who eats from my body and drinks from my blood has life that is everlasting, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55. For truly my body is food and truly my blood is drink. 56. He who eats my body and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. 57. As the Living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, and whoever eats of me he also will live because of me. 58. This is the Bread that has descended from Heaven. It is not as manna your forefathers ate and died. He who eats this Bread will live forever! 59. He said these things while he taught in the assembly in Capurnakhum. 60. And many who heard it of his disciples said, “This saying is hard! Who is able to do it?” 61. But Y’shua knew in himself that his disciples were argueing about this, and he said to them, This offends you! 62. What if, therefore, you see the Son of man ascending to the place that he was before? 63. It is the Spirit that makes alive; the body does not profit anything. The words that I speak with you are spirit and are life. (Aramaic English New Testament).
Qnoma, usually translated here as “you”, “self”, or “yourselves”, but literally means “Underlying substance.” The body/blood imagery is metaphoric. Y’shua, of course, knows very well that it is an abomination to drink any kind of blood, let alone human blood (Leviticus 17:11). Consuming human flesh is also an abomination that is strictly prohibited. Rabbis even suggest that part of the reason swine’s flesh is forbidden is because it resembles human skin.
There are two underlying parts: Part 1 recalls the imagery of Ezekiel 3:1-15 where the prophet actually ate a Torah scroll; the imagery symbolizing the prophet being sustained by and proclaiming Torah, which is the essence of what Y’shua is teaching. Y’shua’s example and teaching are to be part of our innermost being, literally taken in and ingested into our hearts. This imagery is also seen in Mark 7:19 which distinguishes between physical food and spiritual (heart) “food”, and Jeremiah 31:33 which speaks of writing Torah upon the heart. Part 2, is the life which Y’shua refers to; it is not physicality, as “self”, but the core essence of being, literally of the neshama, (spirit of man).
“He who eats this Bread will live forever!” is clear evidence that opposes the “communion” model of mainstream Christian institutions. Nothing is being eaten while Y’shua is making this statement; he had just levied a rebuke for their desire of physical rather than spiritual “bread.” It is Faith in Y’shua as Mashiyach which causes a person to “eat the flesh and drink the blood.” The “wafer” (transubstitution) is a Pagan adulteration against Y’shua’s teaching. Y’shua observed Torah to perfection; his perfect atoning sacrifice would be remembered specifically on the Moedim (YHWH’s feasts) as the Word of YHWH instructs.
As the “body does not profit anything,” then neither can ingesting a wafer that symbolizes the body! Sin is violation of Torah. The absolution of sin begins with Teshuva (turning to YHWH). Faith in Mashiyach is evidence that the Ruach haKodesh has begun to write Torah upon the heart. Obedience to Torah as the Word of YHWH is the process of Sanctification, which is the setting apart of YHWH’s people unto Himself, from all manner of worldliness and false religion. No volume of wafer-ism or canned prayer in or about Mashiyach will provide an acceptable substitute to being born into the Image of Elohim!
Let’s put this silly notion into its proper context with the help of Andrew Gabriel Roth’s Aramaic English New Testament:
John 6:53 And Y’shua said to them, Amen, amen I say to you, that unless you eat the body of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in Qnoma. 54. And he who eats from my body and drinks from my blood has life that is everlasting, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55. For truly my body is food and truly my blood is drink. 56. He who eats my body and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. 57. As the Living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, and whoever eats of me he also will live because of me. 58. This is the Bread that has descended from Heaven. It is not as manna your forefathers ate and died. He who eats this Bread will live forever! 59. He said these things while he taught in the assembly in Capurnakhum. 60. And many who heard it of his disciples said, “This saying is hard! Who is able to do it?” 61. But Y’shua knew in himself that his disciples were argueing about this, and he said to them, This offends you! 62. What if, therefore, you see the Son of man ascending to the place that he was before? 63. It is the Spirit that makes alive; the body does not profit anything. The words that I speak with you are spirit and are life. (Aramaic English New Testament).
Qnoma, usually translated here as “you”, “self”, or “yourselves”, but literally means “Underlying substance.” The body/blood imagery is metaphoric. Y’shua, of course, knows very well that it is an abomination to drink any kind of blood, let alone human blood (Leviticus 17:11). Consuming human flesh is also an abomination that is strictly prohibited. Rabbis even suggest that part of the reason swine’s flesh is forbidden is because it resembles human skin.
There are two underlying parts: Part 1 recalls the imagery of Ezekiel 3:1-15 where the prophet actually ate a Torah scroll; the imagery symbolizing the prophet being sustained by and proclaiming Torah, which is the essence of what Y’shua is teaching. Y’shua’s example and teaching are to be part of our innermost being, literally taken in and ingested into our hearts. This imagery is also seen in Mark 7:19 which distinguishes between physical food and spiritual (heart) “food”, and Jeremiah 31:33 which speaks of writing Torah upon the heart. Part 2, is the life which Y’shua refers to; it is not physicality, as “self”, but the core essence of being, literally of the neshama, (spirit of man).
“He who eats this Bread will live forever!” is clear evidence that opposes the “communion” model of mainstream Christian institutions. Nothing is being eaten while Y’shua is making this statement; he had just levied a rebuke for their desire of physical rather than spiritual “bread.” It is Faith in Y’shua as Mashiyach which causes a person to “eat the flesh and drink the blood.” The “wafer” (transubstitution) is a Pagan adulteration against Y’shua’s teaching. Y’shua observed Torah to perfection; his perfect atoning sacrifice would be remembered specifically on the Moedim (YHWH’s feasts) as the Word of YHWH instructs.
As the “body does not profit anything,” then neither can ingesting a wafer that symbolizes the body! Sin is violation of Torah. The absolution of sin begins with Teshuva (turning to YHWH). Faith in Mashiyach is evidence that the Ruach haKodesh has begun to write Torah upon the heart. Obedience to Torah as the Word of YHWH is the process of Sanctification, which is the setting apart of YHWH’s people unto Himself, from all manner of worldliness and false religion. No volume of wafer-ism or canned prayer in or about Mashiyach will provide an acceptable substitute to being born into the Image of Elohim!
Monday, November 3, 2014
Depression and negative feelings...are from Satan!
I found myself in a deep depression on this past Shabbat – so deep, I actually sat and cried for hours on end. I’m not necessarily the “depressed” type, but lately, I’ve found myself becoming more and more despondent, thanks to all the “bad” that is happening in the world, including the endless in-fighting amongst Believers (something that recently caused me to leave Facebook, because I simply couldn’t take the nonsense anymore). Many of you know exactly what I’m talking about….
Anyway, my depression was kicked off by the fact that we allowed ourselves to be talked (by some new acquaintances) into attending a Messianic synagogue located approximately an hour’s drive from our home. Due to reasons I don’t wish to discuss here, suffice it to say, we had not set foot into any congregation since Passover 2008 and had planned on NEVER attending another congregation. But now, there we were, finding ourselves in this supposedly “wonderful, awesome congregation” that came highly recommended by people we had basically just met.
We should have stayed home….
Although the service was very nice and the Rabbi did a great job, our reception was “cold” – to say the least. Not one person had reached out to greet us. Not one person had said “Hello and welcome” or anything else. And afterward, at a small oneg (fellowship lunch get-together) in the synagogue’s kitchen, not one person came to join us at the table. People saw us and some smiled, but no one (except the Rabbi who had stopped by briefly during the worship service to chat for a couple minutes) bothered to talk to us! It was truly the “coldest,” most unwelcoming experience we have ever had!
Fed up with the collective “cold shoulder” and failing to feel one iota of love and fellowship, we left, never to return, wondering why we had allowed ourselves to be talked into leaving the comfort of our home where Shabbats are always full of rest and joy and comfort and true STUDY of YHWH’s Word.
Unfortunately, by the time we got home, I was feeling devastated – all because I don’t always handle rejection well. And, let’s face it: We WERE rejected at that synagogue. We apparently weren’t even worthy of a “Hello” or “Thank you for coming to our synagogue,” let alone, being asked our names.
Here's the thing: I have suffered rejection all my life, starting with my natural mother in Germany who gave me away at birth, forcefully jerked me out of my happy home at the age of 9, and was too selfish to bother bonding with me, or to recognize that her own daughter was being endlessly sexually abused by her new, American husband. The feelings of rejection continued throughout my Army career (I joined mainly to get away from home!), because back when I was in, many men felt that women didn’t belong in the military; and all my promotions – including my ultimate promotion to Sergeant Major – were NOT because I had met and/or exceeded expectations, but (according to some) “because the Army has to promote some token women.” And after I finally found God (at the age of 44), and had a driving desire to “lead people to the Lord” I’ve met tons of resistance by men who insist that women are to sit down, shut up and remain “barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen”….
And so that is part of the reason why I allowed myself to fall into a downward spiral after our cold reception at that synagogue. I was hurt, plain and simple!
Thankfully, the next day, after I came to my senses, I realized something profound: Negative feelings are NOT from God; they are from the enemy, who knows exactly how to push our buttons! He used what happened at that synagogue, to remind me of who he tried to force me to be, throughout my life – a sad person with a persecution complex, feeling she was never “good enough” or “smart enough” or “capable enough” to amount to anything! In other words, he did what he always does: He LIED! He caused me to become self-centered (instead of God-centered); to “concentrate on the past” instead of remembering “who I am in YHWH” and “looking toward the future” (see Philippians 3:13 and a host of other scriptures).
Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44)! He wants you to believe you are worthless, ugly, stupid – you name it and he will help you achieve all the negatives in your life! He WILL keep you from reaching your God-given potential IF you let him! Unfortunately, I once again fell for his wiles after the synagogue experience…but I have now promised myself – NEVER AGAIN! The next time depression hits me in the face, I will do my level best to remember WHO I AM (as opposed to who satan WANTS me to be!)….
As for that synagogue – once the depression receded I thought to myself:
I need to STOP those "voices from the past" from making me feel like "nobody, worth nothing!" I AM SOMEBODY and so is my sweet husband! We belong to YHWH! We were worth a "Hello and welcome!" from somebody at that synagogue!
Had they bothered to ask our names, they might have discovered that they had in their midst a godly couple who followed biblical principles to become completely debt-free (no mortgage, no car payments, NOTHING!) who are not stingy when it comes to tithing. They would have discovered a man who was a “retired” high-ranking Air Force officer with a Masters degree in Physics (who recently retired from his second career as a contractor with Space Command), who was chosen as an alternate astronaut for the Air Force’s Manned Space Program during the Eighties; a man who is a calendar expert and amateur astronomer, used who continues to be used as a consultant by Aramaic scholar and author, Andrew Gabriel Roth.
They would have discovered a woman who had overcome childhood rejection and sexual abuse to work her way up to Sergeant Major in the Army; someone who went to night school for 20 years to get a college degree; someone who found God in middle age and went on to become a leader in a prison ministry for 5 years and to teach Bible classes; who by the grace of YHWH became the original editor of Andrew Gabriel Roth’s Aramaic English New Testament; who has a huge website for God that receives well over half a million hits per month; who has written and published 8 books of her own and been used by God to lead some hard-to-reach people to Himself….So, SHAME on the members of that synagogue for ignoring us!
It wasn’t OUR loss; it was THEIR loss! ANYONE who walks through the doors of their synagogue - regardless as to who they are, tall or short, young or old, rich or poor - is worth a "Hello and welcome!"
So, the next time you feel depressed, down and out, upset over something you have no control over, remember WHO you are! Satan doesn’t own you! You are a child of YHWH/Y’shua! Nothing else matters. Give it all to Him, the moment you recognize depression or upset trying to creep in. We ALL have issues - and to help us overcome and deal with them, I have written an article containing some suggestions on how to heal.
We need to stop beating ourselves up and start remembering WHO we are. YHWH knows we are human and that we experience troubles and turmoil. He, time and time again implores His people to to trust Him and turn to Him. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect; He just expects us to TRY and to be OBEDIENT to the best of our ability.
Those who are in tune with Him recognize that everything that happens in our lives is a “learning moment” and that we need to move our “carnal” ego aside and glean from it. If we don’t, then we allow the enemy to win….I certainly learned something!
The bottom line is: It’s NOT “about us”; it’s all about YHWH/Y’shua! In the grand scheme of things, we are to serve and obey and ENJOY Him, and to look forward to our eternal life with HIM! Halleluyah!
Anyway, my depression was kicked off by the fact that we allowed ourselves to be talked (by some new acquaintances) into attending a Messianic synagogue located approximately an hour’s drive from our home. Due to reasons I don’t wish to discuss here, suffice it to say, we had not set foot into any congregation since Passover 2008 and had planned on NEVER attending another congregation. But now, there we were, finding ourselves in this supposedly “wonderful, awesome congregation” that came highly recommended by people we had basically just met.
We should have stayed home….
Although the service was very nice and the Rabbi did a great job, our reception was “cold” – to say the least. Not one person had reached out to greet us. Not one person had said “Hello and welcome” or anything else. And afterward, at a small oneg (fellowship lunch get-together) in the synagogue’s kitchen, not one person came to join us at the table. People saw us and some smiled, but no one (except the Rabbi who had stopped by briefly during the worship service to chat for a couple minutes) bothered to talk to us! It was truly the “coldest,” most unwelcoming experience we have ever had!
Fed up with the collective “cold shoulder” and failing to feel one iota of love and fellowship, we left, never to return, wondering why we had allowed ourselves to be talked into leaving the comfort of our home where Shabbats are always full of rest and joy and comfort and true STUDY of YHWH’s Word.
Unfortunately, by the time we got home, I was feeling devastated – all because I don’t always handle rejection well. And, let’s face it: We WERE rejected at that synagogue. We apparently weren’t even worthy of a “Hello” or “Thank you for coming to our synagogue,” let alone, being asked our names.
Here's the thing: I have suffered rejection all my life, starting with my natural mother in Germany who gave me away at birth, forcefully jerked me out of my happy home at the age of 9, and was too selfish to bother bonding with me, or to recognize that her own daughter was being endlessly sexually abused by her new, American husband. The feelings of rejection continued throughout my Army career (I joined mainly to get away from home!), because back when I was in, many men felt that women didn’t belong in the military; and all my promotions – including my ultimate promotion to Sergeant Major – were NOT because I had met and/or exceeded expectations, but (according to some) “because the Army has to promote some token women.” And after I finally found God (at the age of 44), and had a driving desire to “lead people to the Lord” I’ve met tons of resistance by men who insist that women are to sit down, shut up and remain “barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen”….
And so that is part of the reason why I allowed myself to fall into a downward spiral after our cold reception at that synagogue. I was hurt, plain and simple!
Thankfully, the next day, after I came to my senses, I realized something profound: Negative feelings are NOT from God; they are from the enemy, who knows exactly how to push our buttons! He used what happened at that synagogue, to remind me of who he tried to force me to be, throughout my life – a sad person with a persecution complex, feeling she was never “good enough” or “smart enough” or “capable enough” to amount to anything! In other words, he did what he always does: He LIED! He caused me to become self-centered (instead of God-centered); to “concentrate on the past” instead of remembering “who I am in YHWH” and “looking toward the future” (see Philippians 3:13 and a host of other scriptures).
Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44)! He wants you to believe you are worthless, ugly, stupid – you name it and he will help you achieve all the negatives in your life! He WILL keep you from reaching your God-given potential IF you let him! Unfortunately, I once again fell for his wiles after the synagogue experience…but I have now promised myself – NEVER AGAIN! The next time depression hits me in the face, I will do my level best to remember WHO I AM (as opposed to who satan WANTS me to be!)….
As for that synagogue – once the depression receded I thought to myself:
I need to STOP those "voices from the past" from making me feel like "nobody, worth nothing!" I AM SOMEBODY and so is my sweet husband! We belong to YHWH! We were worth a "Hello and welcome!" from somebody at that synagogue!
Had they bothered to ask our names, they might have discovered that they had in their midst a godly couple who followed biblical principles to become completely debt-free (no mortgage, no car payments, NOTHING!) who are not stingy when it comes to tithing. They would have discovered a man who was a “retired” high-ranking Air Force officer with a Masters degree in Physics (who recently retired from his second career as a contractor with Space Command), who was chosen as an alternate astronaut for the Air Force’s Manned Space Program during the Eighties; a man who is a calendar expert and amateur astronomer, used who continues to be used as a consultant by Aramaic scholar and author, Andrew Gabriel Roth.
They would have discovered a woman who had overcome childhood rejection and sexual abuse to work her way up to Sergeant Major in the Army; someone who went to night school for 20 years to get a college degree; someone who found God in middle age and went on to become a leader in a prison ministry for 5 years and to teach Bible classes; who by the grace of YHWH became the original editor of Andrew Gabriel Roth’s Aramaic English New Testament; who has a huge website for God that receives well over half a million hits per month; who has written and published 8 books of her own and been used by God to lead some hard-to-reach people to Himself….So, SHAME on the members of that synagogue for ignoring us!
It wasn’t OUR loss; it was THEIR loss! ANYONE who walks through the doors of their synagogue - regardless as to who they are, tall or short, young or old, rich or poor - is worth a "Hello and welcome!"
So, the next time you feel depressed, down and out, upset over something you have no control over, remember WHO you are! Satan doesn’t own you! You are a child of YHWH/Y’shua! Nothing else matters. Give it all to Him, the moment you recognize depression or upset trying to creep in. We ALL have issues - and to help us overcome and deal with them, I have written an article containing some suggestions on how to heal.
We need to stop beating ourselves up and start remembering WHO we are. YHWH knows we are human and that we experience troubles and turmoil. He, time and time again implores His people to to trust Him and turn to Him. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect; He just expects us to TRY and to be OBEDIENT to the best of our ability.
Those who are in tune with Him recognize that everything that happens in our lives is a “learning moment” and that we need to move our “carnal” ego aside and glean from it. If we don’t, then we allow the enemy to win….I certainly learned something!
The bottom line is: It’s NOT “about us”; it’s all about YHWH/Y’shua! In the grand scheme of things, we are to serve and obey and ENJOY Him, and to look forward to our eternal life with HIM! Halleluyah!
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Wouldn’t it be nice if people would start seeking YHWH for the answers?
My husband and I recently heard a rabbi say he thinks the reason God gave humans the ability to procreate is so that people could see how it feels to be disobeyed and rejected and have their existence denied….
This is surely how our ELOHIM, YHWH, must be feeling as He watches us stupid humans floundering around, arguing about “Gawd and the Bible” and beating each other up verbally over their preferred spelling of the English transliteration of His Name; and insisting we’re doing it right while everybody else is doing it wrong.
I mean – let’s just take a look at this Jesus thing: Christians have twisted the Bible into being all about “Jesus.” Every denomination talks about Jesus this and Jesus that. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. You rarely, if ever, hear the Name of His Father, YHWH – (pronounced Yah-weh) in a church setting. (Please see our articles, God revealed His Name to Moshe and Our Savior’s Name was never Jesus.)
On the other side of the coin, we have traditional Jews (and Jewish wannabe’s – Christian converts to Judaism, who got fooled somewhere along the way into rejecting “Jesus” and the New Testament – who are infinitely busy trying to disprove the Christian “Jesus” (while refusing to use our Messiah’s REAL Name, Y’shua, which means “YHWH is Salvation”) instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal to them all the scriptures there is a “rest of the story” called the New Testament….
So, here we have these two diametrically opposed sides, each insisting THEY have all the answers – and they will give you a biblical concussion … one, using the New Testament; and the other using Torah.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people would start seeking YHWH for the answers?
I mean, take this idea that Christianity is all about Jesus and nothing else. “Jesus plus NOTHING!” (That is what my Baptist pastor used to say.) Jesus abolished the “Law” and today, it’s all about “grace.” Riiiight! Never mind that grace was around when God allowed Adam and Eve to LIVE outside the Garden after having sinned, instead of pounding them back to the dust from whence they came! Never mind that He saved Noah and his family from the flood that destroyed everybody else on earth! But hey, THAT wasn’t “grace.” Grace only happened after Jesus died on the cross. Grace means we were delivered from having to do ANYTHING except “believe in Jesus.”
Er … What about the Father? Why is HE not in the picture? (Well, except, of course in traditional Judaism where they won’t even use His Name because they’re afraid they might disrespect Him by using the Name He gave to Moshe, or they might “use it in vain” somehow. And oh yeah, there’s that little thing about the ancient sages/rabbis and their “oral Torah” ideas which, of course, are SO much more important than anything Gawd (or in their case “G-d”) ever said….)
So, here’s the thing: Y’shua was our Final SIN “sacrifice.” He was the “arm of YHWH” (Isaiah 53:1); He WAS Divine ( Philippians 2:6-11 – see endnote below), and that is how He managed to be sinless and perfect, constantly seeking the Father in ALL things and even being willing – even unto DEATH - to OBEY the Father! (We humans certainly aren’t capable of being “perfect” and sinless! Not to mention WE cannot raise the dead, walk water, or turn water into wine.)
Y’shua sacrificed/offered Himself on our behalf. His shed blood relieved us from having to kill an innocent animal to atone for our sins. BUT – and this is a huge BUT! … Remember all those millions of bulls, goats and rams that died over the millennia BEFORE Y’shua died? Well, I don’t recall seeing anywhere in Scripture that the people started worshiping and revering THEM after they died, do you? Nobody went around bemoaning poor Bullet or Max or Pookie who “died on our behalf and we really need to go out and form a new religion in their honor….”
Well, think about it. Isn’t that kinda what we did with “Jesus”?
The truth is: YHWH created Y’shua in Miriam’s virgin womb (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38). Unlike the traditional act of conception in our fallen world where people are born into sin, Miriam’s hymen was broken from WITHIN. She had never had sex. Y’shua was supernaturally created in her womb – He was a human with a divine qnoma/nature. He was the “arm of YHWH” (Isaiah 53:1) – and as we all know, since YHWH is a Divine Being upon whom we cannot look, lest we die (Exodus 33:20), wouldn’t His “arm” also be “divine”? His “arm” IS part of His “body” (though we really have no clue exactly what He looks like!).
Be that as it may, YHWH sent us His “arm” (and aspect of Himself in human form) to reveal YHWH and His Torah (Divine Instructions) to YHWH’s people, and to personally (face-to-face) show people how to properly walk in Torah (while getting into the faces of all those rabbis and Torah teachers who had been ADDING TO the Word and and building fences around Torah)! And then He martyred Himself for YHWH’s people (those who accept YHWH as their ELOHIM and believe that His Divine Messiah, Y’shua, was our Final Sin Sacrifice/Offering).
The bottom line is: It’s all about YHWH! It’s not about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Yes, Y’shua is “YHWH in the Flesh”; but as a human being who was called His Son, He constantly deferred to whom? To the Father! (See our article for the answer.) The “arm” doesn’t tell the rest of the “body” what to do! The brain does.
So WHY has Christianity made it all about Jesus? WHY has Judaism denied that YHWH has already sent His Messiah, who has ALREADY fulfilled hundreds of prophecies ( … of course, if you check places like Truth2U.org you’ll see Rabbis Singer and Skobac and radio hosts Jono Vandor and some guy calling himself “Jason Spiritualbabies” and all their Twistian hangers-on rabidly trying to debunk all those prophecies….).
We humans are a stupid lot, aren’t we? Most of us are so arrogant that we spend all our lives trying to force God into a box that fits OUR idea of Him. He must be so sad!
__________
ENDNOTES:
Philippians 2: 5. And think you so in yourselves, as Y’shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y’shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and that every tongue should confess that Y’shua the Mashiyach is YHWH, to the glory of Elohim his Father. (AENT)
More that his literal birth name Y’shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y’shua bears the Name of YHWH, the “name above all names”! Y’shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means “YHWH is Salvation” (Matthew 1:21).
___________
A friend of ours, Donna ("Fallingwaters") sees the YHWH/Y'shua relationship thusly - which we feel is a truly great way to view it:
YHWH is the Roots of the Tree, Y'shua is the Branch coming out of the Root, and the spirit is the liquid that produces the life in the Tree. And we are the branches produced off of Y'shua.
This is surely how our ELOHIM, YHWH, must be feeling as He watches us stupid humans floundering around, arguing about “Gawd and the Bible” and beating each other up verbally over their preferred spelling of the English transliteration of His Name; and insisting we’re doing it right while everybody else is doing it wrong.
I mean – let’s just take a look at this Jesus thing: Christians have twisted the Bible into being all about “Jesus.” Every denomination talks about Jesus this and Jesus that. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. You rarely, if ever, hear the Name of His Father, YHWH – (pronounced Yah-weh) in a church setting. (Please see our articles, God revealed His Name to Moshe and Our Savior’s Name was never Jesus.)
On the other side of the coin, we have traditional Jews (and Jewish wannabe’s – Christian converts to Judaism, who got fooled somewhere along the way into rejecting “Jesus” and the New Testament – who are infinitely busy trying to disprove the Christian “Jesus” (while refusing to use our Messiah’s REAL Name, Y’shua, which means “YHWH is Salvation”) instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal to them all the scriptures there is a “rest of the story” called the New Testament….
So, here we have these two diametrically opposed sides, each insisting THEY have all the answers – and they will give you a biblical concussion … one, using the New Testament; and the other using Torah.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people would start seeking YHWH for the answers?
I mean, take this idea that Christianity is all about Jesus and nothing else. “Jesus plus NOTHING!” (That is what my Baptist pastor used to say.) Jesus abolished the “Law” and today, it’s all about “grace.” Riiiight! Never mind that grace was around when God allowed Adam and Eve to LIVE outside the Garden after having sinned, instead of pounding them back to the dust from whence they came! Never mind that He saved Noah and his family from the flood that destroyed everybody else on earth! But hey, THAT wasn’t “grace.” Grace only happened after Jesus died on the cross. Grace means we were delivered from having to do ANYTHING except “believe in Jesus.”
Er … What about the Father? Why is HE not in the picture? (Well, except, of course in traditional Judaism where they won’t even use His Name because they’re afraid they might disrespect Him by using the Name He gave to Moshe, or they might “use it in vain” somehow. And oh yeah, there’s that little thing about the ancient sages/rabbis and their “oral Torah” ideas which, of course, are SO much more important than anything Gawd (or in their case “G-d”) ever said….)
So, here’s the thing: Y’shua was our Final SIN “sacrifice.” He was the “arm of YHWH” (Isaiah 53:1); He WAS Divine ( Philippians 2:6-11 – see endnote below), and that is how He managed to be sinless and perfect, constantly seeking the Father in ALL things and even being willing – even unto DEATH - to OBEY the Father! (We humans certainly aren’t capable of being “perfect” and sinless! Not to mention WE cannot raise the dead, walk water, or turn water into wine.)
Y’shua sacrificed/offered Himself on our behalf. His shed blood relieved us from having to kill an innocent animal to atone for our sins. BUT – and this is a huge BUT! … Remember all those millions of bulls, goats and rams that died over the millennia BEFORE Y’shua died? Well, I don’t recall seeing anywhere in Scripture that the people started worshiping and revering THEM after they died, do you? Nobody went around bemoaning poor Bullet or Max or Pookie who “died on our behalf and we really need to go out and form a new religion in their honor….”
Well, think about it. Isn’t that kinda what we did with “Jesus”?
The truth is: YHWH created Y’shua in Miriam’s virgin womb (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38). Unlike the traditional act of conception in our fallen world where people are born into sin, Miriam’s hymen was broken from WITHIN. She had never had sex. Y’shua was supernaturally created in her womb – He was a human with a divine qnoma/nature. He was the “arm of YHWH” (Isaiah 53:1) – and as we all know, since YHWH is a Divine Being upon whom we cannot look, lest we die (Exodus 33:20), wouldn’t His “arm” also be “divine”? His “arm” IS part of His “body” (though we really have no clue exactly what He looks like!).
Be that as it may, YHWH sent us His “arm” (and aspect of Himself in human form) to reveal YHWH and His Torah (Divine Instructions) to YHWH’s people, and to personally (face-to-face) show people how to properly walk in Torah (while getting into the faces of all those rabbis and Torah teachers who had been ADDING TO the Word and and building fences around Torah)! And then He martyred Himself for YHWH’s people (those who accept YHWH as their ELOHIM and believe that His Divine Messiah, Y’shua, was our Final Sin Sacrifice/Offering).
The bottom line is: It’s all about YHWH! It’s not about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Yes, Y’shua is “YHWH in the Flesh”; but as a human being who was called His Son, He constantly deferred to whom? To the Father! (See our article for the answer.) The “arm” doesn’t tell the rest of the “body” what to do! The brain does.
So WHY has Christianity made it all about Jesus? WHY has Judaism denied that YHWH has already sent His Messiah, who has ALREADY fulfilled hundreds of prophecies ( … of course, if you check places like Truth2U.org you’ll see Rabbis Singer and Skobac and radio hosts Jono Vandor and some guy calling himself “Jason Spiritualbabies” and all their Twistian hangers-on rabidly trying to debunk all those prophecies….).
We humans are a stupid lot, aren’t we? Most of us are so arrogant that we spend all our lives trying to force God into a box that fits OUR idea of Him. He must be so sad!
__________
ENDNOTES:
Philippians 2: 5. And think you so in yourselves, as Y’shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y’shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and that every tongue should confess that Y’shua the Mashiyach is YHWH, to the glory of Elohim his Father. (AENT)
More that his literal birth name Y’shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y’shua bears the Name of YHWH, the “name above all names”! Y’shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means “YHWH is Salvation” (Matthew 1:21).
___________
A friend of ours, Donna ("Fallingwaters") sees the YHWH/Y'shua relationship thusly - which we feel is a truly great way to view it:
YHWH is the Roots of the Tree, Y'shua is the Branch coming out of the Root, and the spirit is the liquid that produces the life in the Tree. And we are the branches produced off of Y'shua.
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