“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” — “These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” John 15: 12,17 (12-17)
The new commandment isn’t to love one another, as the Scriptures already declared that we are to love: “Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am YHWY.” Leviticus 19:18 — Love has been the command of life from the beginning. We are instructed to: Love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44); which includes doing good to those who persecute you. We are told not to return evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9). Yahoshua reiterates the commandment to love in Matthew 22:37-39 — “And Yahoshua said to him, ‘You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and great command. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The new command is simply the example of love, “just as I have loved you”. How has Yahoshua demonstrated His love? Between the John 15:12 and 17 we read: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” How did Yahoshua lay down His life? He served, He didn’t regard His position, His equality to Elohim, His Sonship, but rather emptied Himself and become a servant. He healed, He taught, He washed feet, He made wine, He wept, He died.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” What sort of love? One that serves, one that weeps, one that heals, one willing to wash feet, dying to self, living for Yahoshua.
As the song goes: “They will know that we are Christians by our love.”
We are called to love as Yahoshua loves and not as the world loves. For the world loves with expectation, “what do I get out of it?” Yahoshua taught us to love, because, He first loved us, period.
By our love.
You are loved, cj
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“. . . ‘Let’s go, too — and die with Yahoshua.’” John 11:16
This statement was made by one later dubbed, doubting Thomas. How does one go from charge to retreat? It happens with a lack of understanding. Once Thomas fully understood he once again picked up the mantle and charged forward for Yahoshua, dying a martyr. There is coming a time, i believe not too far into the future, that we will be faced with a choice. The choice, to live in this world that is fallen and deny Yahoshua Messiah our Adonai or die.
Revelation 13:15 describes it thusly, “And it was allowed to give breath to the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.” Some will say that the rapture will take place before this and therefore the “Christian” needn’t worry. Unfortunately, if they are wrong, which i believe Scripture shows, i fear many of them will fall away for lack of understanding.
Now is the time to build your faith. To deny yourself, and live for Yahoshua. To stop participating in the fallen nature, in a fallen world. Stop the compromise of entertaining evil, and practicing those things that Scripture calls detestable, or abominable.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of Elohim in Messiah Yahoshua for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the Elohim of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Adonai Yahoshua Messiah. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Martha, the sister of Lazarus, in the eleventh chapter of John makes the following statement and confession; “. . . I know that he (Lazarus) will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” And, “Yes, Adonai; I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of Elohim, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:24,27)
This needs to be our confession regardless of what comes of our lives. Are you ready to die for Yahoshua? That is a hard question, especially for the western church as it lives on positive experiences and not the harsh reality, of the ever increasing intolerance of the Elohim of the Bible and His Son Yahoshua. The Jesus of the coexist movement is a false-Christ. Seriously, are ready to be a martyr? Not a martyr like the Muslims teach, in which you attempt to take out as many infidels as possible. But, a martyr for Yahoshua, in which you proclaim the truth of salvation to the world in hopes of saving even just one.
“Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and Elohim has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:4-5
Are you ready to die for Yahoshua?
You are loved, cj
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“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10
One can learn a lot, when there is nothing to do but learn. One can observe a lot, when there is nothing to do but observe. One can grow a lot, when there is nothing to do but grow. The problem is that we like to fill our lives with fillers; Inconsequential things, that suck the life and time out of our day. i had roughly sixty days where there was quite literally nothing to do but learn, observe, and grow, and i took full advantage. Even now i am in a season in which i am taking every opportunity to learn from the Word, from others, from life. i am taking every opportunity to be observant of others so that i can be attentive and i am taking every chance to allow for growth both mentally and spiritually.
During my sixty day hiatus, in a cell built for one, filled with two, doing time, i spent most of it learning to be more attentive. The CO’s (correction officers) were not regarded well especially if there was a perceived weakness or an experience to exploit. Females were gawked at and taunted for being, well, female; “Say that with your chest out!” If it was a male CO most of the ridicule came based on appearance, especially if that appearance was that of a 15 year old boy, dubbed a middle schooler or a rugrat. These were of course the G rated terms used. Even other CO’s would ridicule each other, some more harshly than others, based on these same characteristics.
There is a point in Yahoshua’s early ministry when His own family didn’t believe in Him. John records it this way, “So His brothers said to Him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works You are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For NOT even His brothers believed in Him.” (John 7:3-5)
Have you ever been in a situation where people didn’t believe in you or didn’t have faith that you were able to get the job done? It is never easy to work in that type of environment. Now make that environment one filled with men or women doing time and suddenly the atmosphere changes. One afternoon the guys were being especially, umm how should i say, demeaning to a young guard who in all honesty looked like he was 15 years old. When my particular group was let out for our free time i made it a point to walk over to the CO and say, “Don’t listen to these knuckleheads, if i were your dad, i would be extremely proud of you.” His response overwhelmed me, “Thank you” pause, a shine in the eye, “for that.” Without realizing it, the young CO lifted his shoulders, used a hand to press out his shirt from his chest to his waist, with a new spark in his eye.
i was constantly thinking of Paul while he was imprisoned. How did he act. In Acts 16, He and Silas were praying and singing hymns to Elohim, when there was an earthquake that made a way of escape. However, neither Paul nor Silas, or anyone for that matter took advantage. When the jailer saw that it appeared all had escaped, he was about to take his own life. When Paul yelled out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” Now there was no earthquake, no opportunity for escape, but i still thought in that moment that young man needed an encouraging word.
Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” And Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, that it may minister grace to the hearers.” A kind word or a gentle spirit can change the spirit of most every environment. You can effect the atmosphere of a situation with the power of speech. James warns of its power in chapter three of his book. i know for a fact that i have used the power of the tongue wrongly, for that i am sorrowful. However, each day, moment, conversation, is a new opportunity to use the power of speech to speak a kind word.
May we all become observant in ways that we become aware of those around us and then choose to use the power of speech to speak a kind word, changing the atmosphere of our environment for good.
You are loved, cj
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“I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of YHWH. YHWH has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to YHWH. This is the gate of YHWH; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Psalm 118:17-22
It seems the world, driven by the elite’s, is seeking new ways to eternal life. We can look at organizations like the World Economic Forum, or corporations like Meta and its creation of the Metaverse. We can also look at the progress being made in the world of AI. It seems the faster technology expands the greater the desire for eternal life. Yet with all of the worlds progress towards this goal the one actual road that leads to eternity is being missed all together. Perhaps because it is narrow and not wide open, maybe because it calls to us from a place of righteousness, sacrifice, and surrender. It doesn’t come with a promise to be easy, only that in the end, it will be worth it.
The adage, “what have you done for me lately”, plays like a symphony to selfish side of our humanity. Yahoshua points this out in John 6:26-27; “Hear this now, what I say to you, you are seeking Me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him Elohim the Father has set His seal.”
It is this nature within humanity, which is a result of the fall recorded in Genesis, that harkens us to desire worldly pleasure. It overcomes us because the flesh is weak. The same lie satan told Eve in the garden is the same lie he is still whispering to us today, “Did Elohim really say?” If he can get us to doubt he can then entice us to walk the wide path that leads to destruction. Unlike what the world would have us believe there are only two roads, two options, a fork in the road that at some point each of us must decide, “Should I go to the left, with its wide path, full of people, doing as they please? Or, should I go to the right, although it looks narrow, and there are few people on it?”
Yahoshua, recorded by Matthew puts it this way; “Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Those that follow Yahoshua with the idea, “what have you done for me lately,” are more susceptible to the changing wind of doctrine we are warned of in Scripture. A new or different gospel. When Yahoshua explained to all that were following Him that there is a level of commitment beyond just being fed, many walked away.
“After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.” John 6:66 it seems a fitting verse number doesn’t it? So many teach of great prosperity, no harm, no sickness, only blessings, manna from heaven. Yet, the Bread of Life, Yahoshua teaches a different truth. A narrow path. He calls us to endure, tells us that we will be hated, even killed, for following Him. This is the way that leads to eternal life. Our life in this present age is short, eternity, is well forever! So the question Yahoshua asked the remaining few is the same question He asks the few now, “Are you also going to leave?” How will you answer Him?
He never promised it would be easy, He only promises it will be worth it. These new teachings, new doctrines, new paths to enlightenment, are not new. They are the same lie the serpent told in the garden. Who will you believe? The Creator of the Universe or the fallen one? There is one way, Yahoshua, The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Call upon His name, seek first His Kingdom. Put on the full armor of Elohim, and stand ready to endure what is quickly approaching.
When things get tough, are you also going to leave?
You are loved, cj
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Life is loud, people are loud, TV is loud, music is loud, the walls echo, and silence only comes in your sleep and even then it is interrupted; click-clack-slam, twenty-two times. When i was locked in a cell one would think that it would be solitary, lonely, quiet, none of those things are wholly true. Perhaps solitary for a moment but when crammed two to a single-person cell, not so much. Lonely, only in the darkness of thought. Quiet, only in your dreams. It did however, give way to thought and an increasing desire to listen to Elohim, through the noise.
Even now as i sit and think and write in the hall, voices echo, doors slam . . . knock-knock “house cleaning,” over and over. The highway is abuzz with the constant flow of traffic. Sirens in the distance reveal drama unfolding somewhere for someone, only the participants know for certain, to what extent.
Everyday, i fight through the noise of echoing voices, bouncing off the brick walls. Often those voices yelling in anger, frustration, even madness. It takes a great deal of concentration to focus on what i am reading. To quiet my mind, and my ears, and of course my thought in order to focus on listening to the Word as i read from the pages of Scripture.
Reminding myself of passages like Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am Elohim. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” As well as reminding myself that although i am here in the world, this present moment is not my identity; “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 17:18-19) And although survival instincts kick in when life is thrown at me, i need the reminder, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of Elohim, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
On the day i penned most of what is above i was grappling with John 5. In particular, John 5:6-7; “…Do you want to be healed?” Do i? Do you? As the world distracts, as it pulls, as it turns, as it stirs; “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” The thoughts swirl around in my head, my heart turns with anxiety, the world becomes darkened, the words echo in the hollows of my soul, “Do you want to be healed?” Do i? Do you?
Be not conformed to this world. We are new creations, the old is gone. Let the past go, strain forward for what lies ahead in Yahoshua Messiah. Focus on things above, those things that are true, and lovely, and righteous.
“In all circumstances take up the shield of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
“I will bear the indignation of YHWH because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon His vindication.” Micah 7:9
Self-inflicted wounds are the hardest to overcome. No one likes to be constantly confronted with poor choices compounded by the stresses of everyday life. Yet, many people quietly struggle with this daily. Fearing the judgment of others, gossips, and rumors, many sink into a pit of despair, like quicksand, the struggling heart soon finds itself suffocated and overwhelmed. And with no one to blame but ones self, grief and depression sets in and the desire for an escape increases. These are the catalyst’s for depression which leads to imbalance and addiction.
Life is full of up’s and down’s. Some up’s are really High and some down’s are really low. Many try to achieve highs and lows artificially, through drugs, alcohol, or other vices. The addiction of reaching artificial states comes with unmanageable lows which scream for the next high, even if the next high is a low. The desire for these highs and lows are birthed in the consciousness of a person who is seeking to fill an emptiness within their soul. The addiction becomes the filler because, the devil is a liar. There is a remedy.
Depression works much the same way. A chemically or otherwise imbalanced individual hits a low and looks for the high. If untreated those highs will come at a price, if at all. Depression leads to a great number of death by suicide. The only escape one can see in the darkness. The devil is a liar. There is a door. There is a hymn that says, “There is room at the cross for you, although millions have come, there is still room for one, there is room at the cross for you.”
Yahoshua is that door for both the addict and the depressed, as well as all others, the sinner and lost alike. He is there and He is willing and able to lift those who seek Him, who call on His Name out of the low’s of life. Life the prodigal son returning home. Remember it was at the cross while Yahoshua was dying a torturous death, He said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” There is hope for the sinner. He said, “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.” There is hope for the mourning, the depressed, the one lost in confusion, doubt, and despair. There truly is room at the cross for you.
For those who have and will come to Yahoshua, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-28
“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Yahoshua is Adonai and believe in your heart that Elohim raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Adonai is Adon of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.’” Romans 10:8-13
Yahoshua, Thank You, for going out of the way to bring me into The Way. Thank You, for loving me. We can be confident in knowing that those who are in Messiah Yahoshua will remain in Him by His mercy and grace. Yet, we are still warned;
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. Elohim is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide THE WAY of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Yahoshua is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. He is also THE WAY of escape from temptations and trials. i read a very interesting book recently called, “70×7 and Beyond,” written by Monty Christensen. What an amazing testimony he has shared in the pages of this book. If you haven’t read it consider this my 10/10 recommendation and enthusiastic endorsement of it, you should read this book! After reading it i had a renewed sense of vigor, in spite of where my life was in the moment of reading it, and that same sense is still with me. Although, admittedly, i struggle with exactly how to live in it i know that whatever the future holds, Yahoshua is not only holding it, He is guiding me to and through it.
Psalm 37:4-5 states: “Delight yourself in YHWH, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to YHWH; trust in Him, and He will act.”
John 1:4 says: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
John 1:11-13 reads: “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of Elohim, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of Elohim.”
Yahoshua didn’t see prostitutes or tax collectors, Yahoshua saw people. He saw potential. He saw meaning. He saw purpose. And He was willing to lay down His life for what He saw. His prayer as i went over in another recent post shows us a glimpse into His heart. “. . .—to know You, the only true Elohim, and Yahoshua Messiah, the One You sent to the earth.” (John 17:2-3) He wants us to know Him, to believe in Him, to trust in Him.
As people, created and fallen, full of sin and dysfunction, He has compassion on us and He understands what we are going through. As Monty points out in his book, 70×7 and Beyond, Elohim is so full of grace that He forgives us even when we stumble and fail in our trials and temptations. So even if we have fallen He stands ready to help us up. He also challenges us to live a life that is full of grace and mercy, forgiving others in like manner 70×7 and Beyond!
“Then Peter came up and said to Him, ‘Adonai, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive Him? As many as seven times?’ Yahoshua said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.’” Matthew 18:21-22
The Way to Life is Yahoshua, who forgave, and forgives. This is The Way.
“If you will diligently listen to the voice of YHWH your Elohim, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes. I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am YHWH your healer.” Exodus 15:26
IF, is a theme well overlooked in Scripture. No one likes to read the IF. There are many examples i could have pulled from where IF is the clause. But i like this passage in Exodus because of its connection to listening to, and obeying, YHWH. We can hear, or read, and understand what is being said, but IF we do not apply it than we have not obeyed and that is what matters. Oh some will say, we are not saved by works therefore we needn’t do anything. Yet, we read that it was Abrahams faith in YWHW that caused him to do and it was the doing that revealed his faith and that was accounted to him as righteousness. IF carries a lot of weight.
“But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in Elohim.” John 3:21
This verse doesn’t get as much attention as its famous cousin, John 3:16 but it is equally important. In fact, one could say that the very act of believing is a triple work done in us and through us by Elohim with us. To get around that many will point to the words elect, or chosen, to which i would still point out the IF. Look what history tells us of Israel or what it reveals of the followers of Messiah. Still, walking with YHWH is simpler than some make it out to be.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does YHWH require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim!” Micah 6:8 One could easily argue that the Torah, the old covenant, was based on grace.
Paul writes to the Romans about the Law, and when we read Law it is speaking about the Torah. In Paul’s writing he points out the idea that the Law, (Torah) reveals sin without it we wouldn’t know what sin is. He then points out one of the commandments, covetousness, he doesn’t excuse sin in his discourse but rather points out the need for a remedy. Romans 7:24 says; “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He answers his own question in verse 25, “Thanks be to Elohim through Yahoshua Messiah our Adon! So then, I myself serve the law of Elohim with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
What seems to be missed so often in Paul’s writing is he isn’t excusing sin but rather revealing the remedy. Yet, still the remedy comes with the IF. Paul continues in chapter 10:5-13 to address this further but i will highlight verses 8-9; “But what does it say? The WORD is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is the word of faith that we proclaim); because, IF you confess with your mouth that Yahoshua is Adonai and believe in your heart that Elohim raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” There is hearing the word, listening to the word, and obeying the word. IF carries a lot of weight.
There is a fairly popular drink in the health and fitness section of grocery stores called Muscle Milk. i don’t recall if i have ever had it but there is always a chance, i just don’t remember. i do know that my youngest son drinks them on occasion before he goes to the gym or when he was playing hockey i think he would drink one before practice. Anyway, the point is that the drink is supposed to nourish your body and stimulate muscle growth and recovery. How well it works i don’t know, this is in no away an endorsement. i bring it up only to make this point, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul writes about milk verses meat.
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Messiah. I fed you with milk, not meat, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
Earlier Paul writes, “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of Elohim, which Elohim decreed before the ages for our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7)
Growth is a good thing. We should all strive to grow in our understanding and relationship with Yahoshua Messiah. Paul was really writing out of frustration to the Corinthians because they were lacking in the growth department. We can all relate at times to the Corinthians i think, hitting a point in which we become stagnant in our relationship with Yahoshua. On the other hand i also believe we can relate with Paul in becoming frustrated with others seemingly lack of growth even if we have poured into their lives.
One thing is for sure, we are supposed to be learning and growing. There is a beginning, of course, Acts 15:19-21 says; “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to Elohim, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Most folks stop reading at verse twenty but it doesn’t stop there verse twenty-one indicates growth will come because Moses is read every Sabbath in the synagogues. Two things are evident here, Moses is read, meaning the Torah, or the Law and when is he read? On the Sabbath. The Gentiles were participating as a sect of Judaism known as the Sect of the Nazarene. It was understood that the Gentile believers would learn and grow. Remember ALL Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, and for doctrine as Paul writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
There is growth, Philippians 3:12-16 says; “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Messiah Yahoshua has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yahoshua. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Growth is important. It isn’t the works that save us, no we are saved by the Grace through Faith. It is the Mercy of YHWH because of the work of Yahoshua.
Therefore, because of the work of the Yahoshua we respond to Him by growing in obedience to Him. In Luke, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “Why do you call me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like:” (Luke 6:46-47) Growth is important.
There is a goal. 1 John 5:1-5 says; “Everyone who believes that Yahoshua is the Messiah has been born of Elohim, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and obey His Commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Yahoshua is the Son of Elohim?”
As James 1:22 puts it; “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We must be active agents. Milk, is great in the beginning, maybe even muscle milk, but we must, in fact it is absolutely imperative, that we desire the meat of the Word. So that we grow, in that we seek to know Yahoshua, as we are known by Him and not just the new believer but all who call on the name of Yahoshua.
i attended a local Hebrew Roots congregation this past Sabbath. First, i am not a part of the Hebrew roots movement as defined by Hebrew Roots but i am a proponent of the whole of Elohim’s word. Anyway, i went to their Friday evening service, i did not intend to also be present for their Saturday service, but i was. The pastor is very passionate about Hanukkah and as it were, Hanukkah, is the holiday that started me on the path that i am on now. So with great interest i listened and took notes. While i was incarcerated i did lots of reading, in fact besides sleeping, reading was probably the thing i did the most. i also, penned 35 future blog posts. i had numbered them and was planning to put them up in the order they were numbered. However, with my visit this weekend to Everlasting Convenient, i am moving post 15 up 7 spots.
i was limited on my choice of Bibles but i did have two. Well, my celly had one which was an ESV provided by the Gideon’s and i had a NLT Life Application Study Bible i found in the little bookshelf that we had access. In it i was reading Leviticus, about the appointed times of YHWH.
Leviticus 23:1-5 And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘The Appointed Times of YHWH, which you are to proclaim as Holy Gatherings, My Appointed Times, are these:’”
Let me interject something here, look at the language being used, “Holy Gatherings” and “MY Appointed Times.” You will also note that in Exodus 12:48-49 YHWH gives instruction for the foreigner, and the sojourners within the camp who align with YHWH are to participate. He caps His instruction with: “There is ONE Torah (Law) for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
“‘Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a Holy Gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings. These are the Appointed Times of YHWH, Holy Gatherings which you are to proclaim at their Appointed Times. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover to YHWH.”
Note again, these are “MY Appointed Times.” i found it interesting that when i read this having a study Bible with notes i decided to read the note to see how the NLT scholars spinned, this one and here is what they wrote: “God established several national holidayseach year for celebration, fellowship, and worship. Much can be learned about people by observing the holidays they celebrate and the way they celebrate them. Take note of your holidays. What do they say about your values? In what ways do your celebrations and holidays reflect your relationship with God?” (Emphasis Added)
Here we have in Leviticus, a clear declaration by YHWY on HIS Appointed Times for Holy Gatherings and the emphasis the scholars chose to make in their foot notes are about your holidays. What a disconnect to what Elohim was stating and in light of Exodus 12:49 and other places i feel we as the church are really missing out on His Appointed Times for our pagan influenced holidays. Not to mention that we as gentile believers are GRAFTED into ISRAEL. They are the root and the root keeps the branches alive.
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” Romans 11:17-18
Just before this Paul writes about how we gentiles are in a sense, causing the Jews to feel jealous. Romans 11:11 “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” We do not replace them, we are grafted into them and therefore become part of the remnant of Elohim.
Remnant is by definition, uncommon. What are your uncommon traits? The world, secular, pagan, or Christian, celebrate Christmas with much of the same nonsense. Easter is a close second. These are both man made celebrations for they are not found or directed in Scripture. One could make this same argument for Hanukkah because it is not a gathering that was appointed by YHWH in the Torah. Rather, Hanukkah was birthed out of the Maccabean revolt. It is a celebration of the rededication of the Temple Altar after Antiochus Epiphanies invaded Judaea and sacrificed a pig on the altar in the temple. He also tried to change times, and seasons, the Holy Gatherings. This was predicted in Daniel, Antiochus was a type of Anti-Messiah, this will happen again. In Revelation we are told in the twelfth chapter seventeenth verse, “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of Elohim and hold to the testimony of Yahoshua. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”
The New Testament Church is called to be different. In the world but not of the world. The Church is called to be different. The center candle of the Hanukkah Menorah is known as the servant candle, which lights the other candles. The eight days of Hanukkah are significant in remembering the faithfulness of Elohim. One could even say the servanthood of Messiah Yahoshua. The Church is called to be different. The rededication of the Altar in the Temple, restoration, new birth, we the Church and individually are the living Temple of Adonai Yahoshua. Hanukkah should be a time within the church and the family of rededication of our hearts to Yahoshua. It should be a time in which we serve as the center candle, lighting those around us. As Messiah served.
We are the light of the world, a city on a hill, called out of the world, and grafted into Israel. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, a.k.a. Feast of Dedication. Did you know that Yahoshua Himself, celebrated and was a part of the Feast of Dedication? John 10:22 “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yahoshua was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.” Isn’t it our goal as followers of Yahoshua, to be like Him?
Imagine, if the fulfillment of Romans, in making the chosen people of Elohim jealous, is to celebrate the feasts, to honor the Sabbath, to rejoice in and rest in the Messiah of Israel, whom they rejected. It would stir jealousy if we honored YHWH of the Bible more if we actually honored Him as He lined out rather than the man made religion, with a Messiah the Jewish people easily dismiss as not their Messiah. Yet, it is their Messiah, Yahoshua, was and is their Messiah. The Father, YHWH, is the Elohim of Israel and we are grafted into Israel. Therefore, we should not ignore the root because we grow because of the root.
Should we honor our holidays or should we honor His Appointed Times, His Holy Gatherings? And if we are to celebrate human tradition or a holiday created by man, shouldn’t that holiday and or tradition not look like anything the world has to offer but be separate, holy, sacred? The Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah, a feast Yahoshua Himself honored seems like a pretty good place to start.
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