Category: Prison Epistles

Read, Listen, Meditate

“But they delight in the law of YHWH meditating on it day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” Psalm 1:2-3

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.” Acts 17:10-12

“If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling Elohim a liar and showing that His Word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:10

Over a period of 60 days i read 11 novels: The Hobbit, Summer Knight, Sandstorm, To the Last Man, Wisdom Hunter, 70×7 and Beyond, Legend, The Talisman, Ride the River, The Last Heroes, and Foreign Influence, also one prayer devotional, 31 Days of Prayer. Along with these i read, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Micah, the whole of the New Testament once through and then John, and 1-3 John, two more times each, as well as repeating Philippians, Ephesians, Jude and James. Reading is about the only thing i did besides, eat and sleep; with one exception, chess, the best $13.50 i spent on commissary.

i also spent time writing my thoughts for this and many other previous blog posts, 34 in total. Meditating on the Word and singing praises to My Elohim is what saw me through my time of exile. What I discovered is i have waisted much of my life. Although, i was always a student of the Word i definitely lacked as fas as time. i could have, no should have, been applying myself to understanding what 2 Timothy 3:16 truly meant, as well as Acts 17:10-12, Psalm 1:2-3 . . . When one truly spends uninterrupted time meditating on verses like:

“Do your best to present yourself to Elohim as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of Elohim that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us.” 1 John 5:13-14

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

“so as to walk in a manner worthy of Adonai, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of Elohim.” Colossians 1:10

“You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7

“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

It is after all the “Old” Testament Paul was referring to when he said to Timothy: “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We live in a world of speakers, and few honest listeners. We must learn to read, to listen, and to meditate, on the Word of Elohim. Yahoshua is the Word made flesh, if we truly want to know Him should we not read Him, listen to Him, and meditate on Him?

This concludes the 34 blogs written and found under the category, “prison epistles.”

You are loved,
cj

Community Awareness

“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of Elohim abides forever.” 1 John 15-17

We need to begin to wake up to the world around us. It doesn’t matter what TV shows or movies you watch it is nearly a guarantee that there will be something associated with the show, the commercials or the coming attractions that are evil in the sight of Elohim. i haven’t reached a point that i advocate for a total boycott or abstinence of these forms of entertainment, but i am close. It is wicked! When Satan is paraded as a good guy, cartoons even promote him this way, what is being soaked into the mind which influences the heart? i can assure you it isn’t good. John continues:

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” 1 John 2:18

“Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” 1 John 2:24-26

It isn’t just on TV, Movies, and Music/Radio, it is all around us every day. It walks among us silently, as the hearts of people grow colder and colder. For many are under the spell of the deception of anti-christ. Look what is happening in our communities from human trafficking, to smash and grab robberies, with community violence increasing, being aware of your surroundings is vital. i think pastors or any layperson wanting to understand their community should drive a couple hours a week for Lyft, Uber, or a Taxi. It would definitely give one a good perspective of the community they serve. Also, getting involved in a local mission or jail ministry. It would open ones eyes to a whole new understanding to those so easily brushed aside. Of course to help, but also to understand the community, the environment, and the pulse of the people.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Elohim, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as Elohim has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” 1 John 2:28-29

Time is getting shorter, the return of Messiah draws nearer, His footsteps in the garden are getting louder, are you ready? Are you doing all you can to stand in righteousness? Holiness unto Adonai! Yet even still thank you Yahoshua for the grace found in knowing You, empower us through Your Holy Spirit to live, to preach, to proclaim, today is the acceptable day to call on the Name of Adonai! Before it is too late!

You are loved,
cj

A Reunion of Sorts

“All the believers devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

What is described in Acts 2:42-47 has been a desire of mine to build or to find for 30 years. Of which i have believed true, but now know i have only come close, sadly. And again, i have attended and been apart of ministry nearly my entire life. Folks, will come and say, “You have to try my church it’s an Acts 2 church!” i will go expecting; i will leave wanting. Are my expectations too high? As we look at this passage do we draw to grand a conclusion of the early church? Was Luke as guilty as we are when we describe our churches today, full of delusions of grandeur?

Oh i know the church was flawed then too. In fact it didn’t take long and there was some discord among the fellowship. It became a theme throughout the Epistles. But does that excuse us from aiming for the target? By no means! And don’t get me wrong i have attended reunions of fellowship where i have run into old friends and ministry partners and the joy it brought was quite grand. And there are moments, that like Paul, i long to see fellow believers again. Although, with social media, and cell phones, it isn’t really the same. Which makes me think that perhaps the bond built in the first century is not even possible today. Oh we may get close but can we really say that we are an Acts 2 church? If you think that your fellowship is to that standard, have you really asked the questions? Or do you fall back on the Acts 6 church and say, “wasn’t possible then surely it isn’t now.”

And who am i to even ask this question? Certainly, i am as guilty for what is lacking. Introvert, guarded, quiet, until of course i am comfortable or thrust into the spotlight, in which case i can be extroverted but it takes a toll on me no doubt. i like seclusion, i enjoy being by myself, i am a terrible friend. Besides all of this i am under the pressure of life and just trying to survive, and struggling to get back to a fixed point where i can be the friend i once was. Maybe, it is this period of introspection that has caused me to become more aware and more cynical.

For a period of 60 days the amount of reunions i witnessed was heartbreaking. The revolving door of our prison system and correctional institutions is really unbelievable until witnessed first-hand. “Oh, hey we did time together in (insert town name jail) or (such-n-such prison), The instant camaraderie was remarkable. It was often genuine joy and time spent catching up with one another, no judgment, no criticism, just ill-advised support and misguided advice, done with genuineness. The church really could use the lesson taught within the walls of the penitentiary, done with love, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

In 1 John 3:18-20 John writes, “My dear children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, Elohim is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” This seems in the spirit of James, faith without works is dead. These are the Apostles and these are their teachings. This is what Luke expresses in Acts 2:42-47.

“And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles teaching (doctrine) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the Apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and taking meals together house to house, they ate their good with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising Elohim and having favor with all people. And Adonai added to the Body of Messiah daily those who were being saved.”

So here is the checklist:
1. Living steadfastly in the Apostles teaching
2. Fellowships by breaking of bread and prayers (commonly understood to be Adonai’s supper, or communion)
3. Fear — Fear mingled with reverence and wonder, a state of mind inspired by something terrible or sublime. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling”
4. Signs and Wonders; To what degree should we see these things today? Outside of the NAR movement which is riddled with extra Biblical nonsense, where is the passion for the miracles of Elohim?
5. Together (of one accord) having all things in common (believing the same, unity)
6. Meeting the needs of the fellowship — as anyone had need (of the fellowship) things were sold, possessions exchanged, “as anyone had need”
7. Continuing daily with one mind in the temple — Daily! Some churches use their building once a week and heaven forbid the service last longer than an hour.
8. Meals together from house to house, cheerfully and simply, enjoying the fellowship of one mind in Messiah
9. Praising Elohim they found favor with all people
10. Adonai added the increase — the program was the fullness of fellowship, not the latest fad or new revelation, it was the simplicity of the Elohim’s desire found in Micah 6:8 — Do justly, LOVE mercy, Walk HUMBLY, with Elohim, with Messiah, “I and My Father are one.”

We are to be one as Elohim is one . . . Yet, we are a house divided, blown by every wind of doctrine. We desire the traditions of man over the things that set us apart for His glory. Where is the remnant?

You are loved,
cj

NOTE: Thank you, to many friends who have stuck beside me, prayed for me, and have blessed me in more ways than i can count. You are the remnant, may i be a like friend.

Supreme

“For Elohim in all His fullness was pleased to live in Messiah.” Colossians 1:19

“In the beginning the WORD already existed. The WORD was with Elohim, and the WORD was Elohim.” John 1:1

“. . . and through the Son He created the Universe.” Hebrews 1:2b

There is no other name under heaven in which on can be saved. Yahoshua is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Yahoshua Messiah, to the glory of Elohim the Father. The Father, revealed through the Son, and in the Son. Revealed, even in Word, and Deed, in Name and in Purpose.

Joshua son of Nun, who led the people of Israel into the promised land was named Hoshea. It was through Moses, that Elohim changed his name to Joshua. Some would think this name is inconsequential, most read right over it because lets be real, names and genealogies are boring. However, here is a revelation to all of humanity. Hoshea means, salvation, the name change puts the emphasis on who is salvation, Yahoshua, means, YHWH IS Salvation.

Who saves? YHWH saves, Yahoshua saves, “I and My Father are One.” “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has commanded Me, thus I do.” Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Messiah.” What did Yahoshua do? He kept the Sabbath, He kept the feasts, He ate clean. What did Paul do?

He kept the Sabbath — Acts 17:2 & 18:4
He kept the Feasts — Acts 20:6 & 20:16
He instructed on the Feasts — 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
He believed in Torah — Acts 24:14
He taught the Torah — Acts 28:23 & Romans 3:31
He obeyed the Torah — Romans 7:25
He delighted in Torah — Romans 7:22
He said IMITATE ME as I IMITATE MESSIAH 1 Corinthians 4:16 & 11:1

Are we saved by keeping the Law or the Torah? No, we are saved by Grace as was Noah, as was Abram. We show our love for Messiah, by keeping His commandments. In Luke 6:46 Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ but not do what I tell you?” We are set apart by Torah. What significance is there in keeping Torah? It sets us apart from the pagan, and the unbelieving. To worship on the Sabbath demonstrates our thankfulness in His provision, if even the land was commanded to keep the Sabbath shouldn’t we? If Yahoshua became the Sabbath wouldn’t keeping it honor Him even more?

The very fact that the commandment starts with the word, “Remember,” should be motivation enough. It should also give us pause to reflect on why there has been such an attempt to forget the Sabbath. To celebrate the Feasts is to honor Him, “These are MY FEASTS” if we are His people should we not honor Him by keeping His Feasts and not the traditions of men, which is one of the major points of contention between Yahoshua and the Pharisees? And if clean and unclean came before the Torah, should we not also now keep the clean and unclean dietary practices? Certainly if Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever; we should. Does this make us Holy? No. Does it show that we love Him and want to honor Him? Yes!

We are instructed to be set apart, sanctified, holy. This is done through Yahoshua, who is our example, not our free pass to idolatry. “If we know what is good and we do not do it, that to us is sin,” said James. Also, in Revelation 3 Yahoshua says:

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

It seems to me that this is a direct reflection of Jeremiah 31:31-34 in which is written:

Behold, the days are coming, declares Adonai, when I will renew My covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand
to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they broke My covenant,
though I was a husband to them.” it is a declaration of Adonai.
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai—
“I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their Elohim and they will be My people. No longer will each teach his neighbor or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.” it is a declaration of Adonai. “For I will forgive their iniquity, their sin I will remember no more.”

For those who will say that the Gentiles and Israel are two separate tracks of Elohim’s story with humanity, i give you Yahoshua, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be ONE flock, one Shepherd.” (John 10:16) Is Messiah divided, that this ONE flock would be separate somehow? No, not at all, they become one under the Shepherd who is the WORD of ELOHIM made FLESH. And He declared that He is knocking on the heart of the lukewarm believer, and if we open to Him He will come in and in essence write the Torah on our hearts.

This is also taught by Paul, for he understood this to be true. “And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for Elohim has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Earlier Paul warned the gentiles, “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.” (Excerpts from Romans 11:18-24)

So then what? Is it by grace or works of the Law? As James says, “Faith without works is dead . . . I will show you my faith by my works.” Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me Adonai, and not do as I commanded?” If we are to love Elohim with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength isn’t it reasonable to think that living by the commandments of Elohim is within the realm of loving Him completely? Keeping holy what he declares holy and unclean what he calls unclean, is this also not a sign of our love for Him? To join Him in celebration of His Feasts, is this not also a condition and confession of our heart?

i present this as a question, i choose to live it as a statement. i am not under the law, yet, i choose to live in the footsteps of My Adonai, by the power of His Holy Spirit within me, writing Torah on my heart.

You are loved,
cj

By the Power of His Name

“But these are written so that you may believe that Yahoshua is the Messiah, the Son of Elohim, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His Name.” John 20:31

Here me out on this, it will be an unpopular opinion for sure. Your knee jerk reaction will be to throw stones at me. However, if you just reason within yourself and wrestle with the word you will see my point. Also, let me say, that i am not against the name of Jesus, i came to know the Son by this name.

The other day i was talking with a gentleman about a place to live. i was calling him Clint. i did this several times. He interrupted me at one point and corrected me, “my name is Colt.” At first i was embarrassed, as i had been using the name Clint for a couple of days. So what right? Well, here is the moral of the story, Colt responded to me calling him Clint. He answered my questions, and interacted with me all while i was calling him by the wrong name. Why? Because he knew that i was talking to him. However, when he realized that there was potential of us interacting more frequently, he corrected me, “my name is Colt.” Of course i want to call him by his name, yet i was thankful that he responded to me even when i called him by the wrong name.

In the case of the name Jesus. The letter J didn’t even exist until the 1600’s. Pryor to it’s creation Jesus’ name was rendered Iesus. When the letter J was brought into the language it had a Y sound to it. i know i have written about this before and mentioned if one travels abroad do they translate their name into another language so as to better communicate with them? No of course not, at least not the super majority. We go by our legally given name. Not only is Jesus not the legally given name of Messiah, it didn’t even exist for 1600 hundred years after Messiah. In Matthew 1:21-23 we see the angel of YHWH giving to Joseph the name of the Son.

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name יהושע, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by YHWH through the prophet saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “El with us.”

Now how was the name of Elohim rendered in the Scriptures? It is called the Tetragrammaton and it looks like this: יהוה — Now, reading from right to left as is done in Hebrew do you see a similarity? Yes, because Yahoshua, came from the Father, is one with the Father, and reveals the Father. His name literally means YHWH is Salvation. It also makes verse 23 of Matthew even more significant, “‘and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, “El with us.’” As if this isn’t sufficient enough for us to understand the importance of using the name Yahoshua, (alternatively spelled, Yahushua, Yeshua, Yashua, Yahshua, i liken this discrepancy to my own name; Christopher, Kristofer, Chris, Cris, Kris, Cristofer, Cristopher, Kristopher. The reason i feel the Yah in Yahoshua is more accurate is because many scholars render the Tetragrammaton, Yahweh. —Note: i wrote a blog about the Yah you can read here.) let’s look deeper.

We understand that Elohim is Jealous; “for you shall worship no other el, for YHWH, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous Elohim,” Exodus 34:14.

We know that He instructed us not to profane the name of Elohim; “You shall not take the name of YHWH your Elohim in vain, for YHWH will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Deuteronomy 5:11)

We know His name is Exalted; “Oh, magnify YHWH with me, and let us exalt His name together!” Psalm 34:3 — “Sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise!” Psalm 66:2 — “Bless YHWH, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!” Psalm 103:1 — “I bow down toward Your Holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things YOUR NAME and YOUR WORD.” Psalm 138:2

Yahoshua said, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.” John 5:43 — In light of Psalm 138:2, i find so much more meaning here. Are we preparing to meet the Elohim of the Bible or the god of man? Should we not take the word of Elohim serious when it says; “You shall not take the Name of YWHW your Elohim in vain, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who take His name in vain.” He is as John described, the WORD made FLESH, and He did as the John described, the WORD dwelt among us.

i do believe there is power in the Name of Elohim and i do my best to honor it. i also believe that once i truly realized the significance of the name of Yahoshua and its relation to the name YHWH/Yahweh i could no longer continue to use the name Jesus, a translation of Iesus, the Greek transliteration of what? Because the name translated Joshua is more accurate than that of Jesus. So why? Especially, when we are warned time and time again about honoring the Name of Elohim! Folks, in these last days it will be increasingly difficult to discern truth. The word warns of a great deception coming. We need to get into the root of YHWH’s Word. We need to understand that that very WORD became flesh and dwelt among us — “He will be called Emmanuel, which is translated, ‘El with us.’” And the Angel of YWHW said, “You shall call His name Yahoshua, for He will save HIS people from their sins.”

When you know you know . . .

You are loved,
cj

Know His Voice

“When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” John 10:4

You know what i find interesting, this verse in John is 10:4 and 10-4 is radio speak for “understood” basically, “Okay, I hear you and understand.” i don’t know where the radio call signs come from or what influenced them but i wouldn’t be surprised if somehow it was related to John 10:4. Knowing and recognizing the voice of Yahoshua is key and becoming increasingly critical as we step into the last days. Yes, i do believe we are entering the last of the last days. It is my goal to be as responsive to the voice of Yahoshua as my dog Shiloh is to mine. i want to recognize His voice as so familiar it is like that of my boys recognizing the voice of their dad, me.

We need to be so in tuned with Yahoshua that we hear, recognize, and obey. We may hear a similar voice, but if it goes against Elohim’s Word it is a counterfeit. Now we may hear and we may recognize, but if we do not obey we are only fooling ourselves. We need all three to truly walk with Adonai Yahoshua. Perilous times are upon us as described in 2 Timothy 3 and 4.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, having an idea of divinity, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

This instruction to Timothy is a warning much like that of Yahoshua’s teaching in John 10 — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. . . He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (John 10:10, 12-13)

People who truly don’t know the voice of Yahoshua will follow that of the thief, and the stranger, who brings teachings that tickle the ears but harden the heart. Yahoshua continues in John 10 —

“I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

Who are the other sheep not of this fold? The fold He is talking about is Israel, the other sheep are those out of the gentile nations. We must learn to recognize His voice. Also, notice that we become one! There are not two separate people, but one people of Elohim through Yahoshua. We did not replace Israel, and we are not on a different level or end time path, we are one! Paul instructs Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of El may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The “All Scripture,” Paul is referring to here is what we know today as the Old Testament. Yahoshua never quoted the New Testament, obviously, as it hadn’t been written. All the Apostles, taught as Yahoshua taught, from the “Old.” Yahoshua, is the Word made flesh, as John describes— “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” A few verses down John adds, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory , glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In essence, Yahoshua is the Torah. More than just the five Books of Moses, He is the major and minor prophets, He is the books of wisdom, He is the Word made flesh. He cannot contradict Himself.

Would it not make sense if we are to truly understand the Word made flesh that we look at the whole of the Word. “My sheep know My voice and come to Me.” Do you know His voice? Will you be able to recognize it over the noise, distractions, and falsehoods, that are coming in these last days? Are you willing to follow the Good Shepherd when — “Indeed, all who desire to live a divinely inspired life in Messiah Yahoshua will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

We need to to begin to understand Him by reading the very Word He represents. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Do you know His voice?

You are loved,
cj

Understand this saying . . .

I FIND HIM NOT GUILTY

What must have been going through Pilate’s head when he was questioning Yahoshua? Yes, we get a glimpse of his thoughts but not the inner struggle and that is what i find fascinating. What was his inner struggle in those moments. Certainly there was a battle raging in his heart and mind; “‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,’ Pilate said, ‘I find Him not guilty.’” Everyone has struggles, have you seen the meme that states, “Be kind, everyone is struggling with something.” Oh, I know the scene at the Governor’s Mansion reveals a heartless account of all involved in the betrayal of Yahoshua, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t inner struggle. Here is a portion of the account.

“Then Pilate took Yahoshua and flogged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe. They came up to Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.’ So Yahoshua came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the man!’ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find Him not guilty.” (John 19:1-6)

The struggle here is evident, although Pilate had Yahoshua flogged and He was mocked and disrespected, the pronouncement was made from a true understanding, “I find Him not guilty.” Yahoshua, was in that moment taking on the sins of the world, the sins of those mocking Him and ridiculing Him, for those shouting, “Crucify Him!” Understanding, that in the end, when He returns as the victor, riding in the clouds, that He will be returning as the King of kings and the Master of masters. He is the Everlasting King of Israel and we gentiles are grafted into that Kingdom, thanks to the work of Yahoshua.

Even now however, Yahoshua is on trial. Not just from those outside the fellowship of believers, but those also of the household of faith. For it is true everyone is struggling with something. If not for the finished work of Yahoshua, not a soul would be spared the suffering of eternal separation from YHWH. Oh perhaps, one might find favor in the eyes of YHWH, as Noah did, as Abraham did . . . But not on the scale that we have today thanks to Yahoshua. HalleluYah!

Over the last five posts, i have been writing about the Signs that would set the stage for Yahoshua’s triumphant return. One area that i pointed out was, “The love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12 — Here is the passage that reveals the heart of struggle within those who would say today that they are believers in Yahoshua. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

i think it is important for us to remember and to build on our faith while we still can. Because, there is coming a time when we will be under such great persecution that many will fall away, betray one another, fall for the false teachings that have and will continue to lead many astray and allow for our hearts to grow cold. The struggle within our hearts and minds are real. The struggle to forgive others, the struggle to see those through the eyes of Yahoshua, “‘Who condemns you?’ Yahoshua asked the woman, ‘No one Adonai,’ Yahoshua said, ‘Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.’” Or to those who have given in to weakness, “‘Do you love Me?’ Yahoshua asked Peter, and Peter replied, ‘Yes Adonai, I love you!’ Yahoshua said, “Feed My sheep.’”

Salvation is in Yahoshua, there is no other name to which one can call upon for forgiveness. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “Behold the lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sin of the world.” It is by grace, through faith, that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life! Yet, History repeats . . . Some call it a foreshadowing, regardless, we seem not to learn. As the Israelites in the desert so we tend to forget the goodness of Elohim. Both, His power and His forgiveness. May we never forget what Yahoshua did for us on the cross.

Remember, no matter the battle you are facing, or the struggles in your heart and mind, Yahoshua our High Priest has and is praying for you. “I am praying for them . . . Holy Father, keep them in Your Name . . . That they may be one . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one . . . Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth . . . That they also may be sanctified in Truth.” Portions taken from John 17

Pilate’s words, “I find Him not guilty.” Are the very words we receive when we put our faith in Yahoshua, for He took our guilt and shame upon Himself and suffered and died in our place. That where He is we may also be! The accuser, the evil one, stands and accuses us; while our advocate the High Priest prays for us; And because of the work of Yahoshua on the cross, He who judges the earth declares, “I find him not guilty!”

Behold the LAMB and BELIEVE! Time is getting short.

You are loved,
cj

Signs . . . Pt 5

Harpazo?

“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel spoke of . . .” Matthew 24:15

There is a great deal of thought, opinion, and theory, concerning what is widely known as the 70th week of Daniel. What most scholars agree on is that the main character referenced in it is the final Anti-Christ. Why final? Because the word says that there will be many anti-Christs throughout history, that even the “spirit of anti-Christ is present in the world already.” Where there is some differences in timing and whether the church will see these things is the debate. However, we are going to read the word and see what it says. It is important at this time to remind us that this discussion and teaching that Yahoshua is having with His disciples is a private lesson, He was speaking to them about them.

“So when YOU SEE, the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And woe to the pregnant women and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” Matthew 24:15-22

The 70th week of Daniel is the final seven year period known by eschatologists as the tribulation period. It is believed to be broken up into two equal parts, three and half years on either side of this event spoke of— “the abomination of desolation.” When the final Anti-Christ, steps into the Holy of Holies and declares himself to be God. Something satan has been trying to do since at least the beginning of human history, recoded in Genesis. We need to recognize that prior to this final Anti-Christ the Church is warned that there will be many false Messiah’s and false prophets. Some will even perform great signs and wonders. We are to be prepared NOT to follow them but especially this final one. For he too will perform many wonderful signs and there will be a great delusion or deception, that will fool MANY.

The teaching of those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture would have you believe that the Church will not be present at this time. They believe that they will be raptured or caught up (harpazo is the Greek term being translated), to meet Yahoshua in the clouds and become spectators from afar of the tragic events unfolding on earth. However, it is clear that Yahoshua wasn’t teaching this at all. Let’s take a little time exploring some clues to get some understanding. Here are a few clues. Yahoshua said, “So when YOU SEE . . .” Who was He teaching? His disciples, the pre-tribulation crowd will say they were Jews, my rebuttal is simple, were they not Messianic Jews? Are Messianic Jews not worthy of the rapture? That should be enough but there is more.

The pre-tribulation crowd also will say that babies and children will be raptured. This is depicted in the movie Left Behind. However, again Yahoshua teaching His disciples says, “and woe to the pregnant women and for those who are nursing infants.” If the rapture takes children why are there nursing infants? Again, will it only be Jewish infants that remain? There is still another clue here in Yahoshua’s teaching to look at. “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake those days will be shortened.” Now who are the elect? The pre-tribulation crowd will say the elect is Israel, which they are not wrong but who are we? Gentiles, yes, but we are grafted into Israel. There is no longer, Jew or Greek . . .

Ephesians 1:5 says, “He predestined us for adoption through Yahoshua Messiah, according to the purpose of His will.” When a child is adopted, they take on the name and become one with the family. This is what Elohim does with us who have accepted Yahoshua as our Adonai, we are adopted and take on the name of the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here is one more clue, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . Then will appear in the heaven the sign of the Son of Man . . . They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds . . . And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect.” (Matthew 24:29-31). Read this alongside the passage the pre-tribulation crowd teach as the rapture verse in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. Sure does sound like the same event.

Why do i make so much of this point? Because, i fear that the rapture teaching will lead to great harm when the things spoken of in Matthew 24 begin to unfold and the pre-tribulation crowd is still here. i fear if they are not ready to stand against the final Anti-Christ, they will end up standing with him or at least not in his way. There is coming a great deception, that if possible will fool the very elect. If i am wrong about the rapture, and trust me if there is something to be wrong about i hope it would be this, then no harm. i prepared to endure, i readied my spirit to be able to stand in the face of death and NOT deny my Adonai Yahoshua Messiah. However, if the pre-tribulation crowd is wrong, and i fear they are, are they spiritually ready to endure? Are they ready to deny the many false Christ’s and THE false christ to come? “See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:25-26

Matthew 24:31 NLT— “And He will send out His angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather His chosen ones from all over the world — From the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”

Even still Adonai come quickly, Maranatha!

You are loved,
cj

Signs . . . Pt 4

Persecutions and the Increase of Sin

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

We must seek to do the WILL of the Father, love Elohim with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength; likewise our neighbor as ourselves. Love our enemies, “Forgive them for they know NOT what they do” (Said, Yahoshua on the cross and Stephen under a pile of rubble). It is going to become increasingly hard to love others, to love our enemies. Especially, once they begin to turn on us in spite of the love we have shown. They will assume they are doing what is right. Much like the brown shirts of Germany. They thought they were doing what is right by turning in the Jewish people and those who would help them. Even Paul admitted that he thought his zeal for YHWH gave him the right to persecute the Believers of the WAY.

It will come first from within. We see it already within the Church as it splits into the right, left, paradigm. False teachers have sprung up and are tickling the ears of many and in the midst of them are the ignorant. Persecutions are nothing new. We in the west don’t understand fully the weight because we have been blessed to live in the freedom of religion capital of the world. The early church wasn’t as lucky. The Apostles with the exception of John were all murdered for their belief. Some will say that John being exiled on the island of Patmos was a sever punishment, if only i would be exiled on an island. i would go in a heartbeat, but that’s a different story.

i recently saw a story about Christian persecution around the world and how it is increasingly common. India surprisingly, with only a single digit percentage of Christians is under increasing persecution. Of course China, but places like Ireland are also on the list. Of course the many countries on the African continent is a hotbed for persecution against Christians. So what will happen when that persecution really turns up on believers around the world? Well, Yahoshua said, many will be offended. i am one that believes this isn’t just those outside the “Church” i believe those who think of themselves as Christians will be offended by the Truth of the Word and turn on their fellowship thinking they are doing a service to the greater good. For the sake of coexisting, of course.

Even now we have believers who relish in the fall of other believers. They point fingers, laugh and applaud, rather than weep, and pray for them, reaching out in love as the word declares, in order to restore them. We treat them like a hot-potato and the sooner they are gone the better. Few things hurt more than having those you love, cheer your biggest struggles. The question is this; Can one forgive and live under true persecution? Like many around the world, can you stand up in the face of death? Can you endure to the end, even if that end is a martyr’s death? Because of this persecution, the love of many will grow cold. Not just the persecution, but the lawlessness.

Yahoshua, also talked about the increase in lawlessness. Who’s law? Man’s law or Elohim’s law? As the world increasingly decriminalizes things it certainly can’t be man’s laws that lawlessness abounds in . . . Certainly, Yahoshua was referring to the increase of lawlessness to the Word, to the laws of Elohim. But what laws is He talking about since many in the Church believe the old covenant is gone? This is a slippery slop for the church and they don’t even realize they are on it. Yahoshua, said, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness, this is the same lawlessness that is increasing in the world.

We need to get back to the fundamentals of walking with Yahoshua. Follow His example, which will ensure that we are counted worthy of persecution. That seems counter intuitive but it is truth. We must walk in love that says, go and sin no more. We must walk in love that picks up the broken-hearted, helps the widow and the orphan. We must walk in love that puts others first. We must walk in love that does justly, loves mercy, and walks humbly with YHWH.

Endure to the end, do not stop loving and sharing the good news of salvation in Yahoshua who takes away the sin of the world. This message will reach the ends of the earth . . . Endure to the end!

Do no let your love grow cold.

You are loved
cj

Signs . . . Pt 3

Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes

“. . . And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Matthew 24:7

Much like wars, famines, disease, and earthquakes have been around since the fall of man. We could look at countless famines in Scripture, Egypt and the surrounding territories suffered a famine and if not for Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream things would have been way worse. Plague’s, and diseases, have also been around, again we could find many examples of this within Scripture. Finally, earthquakes, i think one overlooked earthquake in Scripture is the one at Yahoshua’s death, in which the graves opened up (see Matthew 27:51-53).

So, again, like with wars we need to get some perspective. Once again Israel is the timepiece. With that our time stamp takes us to 1948. Everything before 1948 we can put in the category of Braxton Hicks Contractions. Here is a quote from social science action, “More than 70 million people died in famines during the 20th century.” Although the article notes the success, some countries are having eradicating mass mortality food crises. It also points out that parts of the world, namely sub-Saharan Africa, have become endemic since the late 1960’s.

We all know of the most recent plan-demic. As reported, this bio engineered power grab, with particularly deadly results in the elderly and immuno compromised population, brought the economy of the world to a screeching halt. Still, what is the data since 1948? i went to PubMed for the following: “The last 40 years has been no exception, as the world witnessed the emergence and reemergence of viral outbreaks, of which Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 1981, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002, H1N1 influenza virus in 2009, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, Ebola virus in 2013 and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019-present, are noteworthy.” This and the prediction of more severe diseases to come, just ask the WEF, or Bill Gates.

The one that gets the most press is earthquakes and although for a long time they tried to deflect the truth, one could always find the data that showed an uptick in earthquakes; both frequency and magnitude. Here is a statement from USGS.gov “In the past 40-50 years, our records show that we have exceeded the long-term average number of major earthquakes about a dozen times. The year with the largest total was 2010, with 23 major earthquakes (greater than or equal to magnitude 7.0).” What about 2023? “In the span of 12 months in 2023, a staggering 15,600 earthquakes were detected. Among these, 19 seismic events reached a significant magnitude of 7.0 or higher, 128 between magnitudes 6.0 and 6.9, and 1,637 registered magnitudes between 5.0 and 5.9.” (Data collected by Quantectum).

Although, there is without a doubt an uptick in both magnitude and frequency of earthquakes, disease, and famines, these things should not bring fear or worry. No, on the contrary, Yahoshua said, “See that you are not troubled.” These things must take place, what they should do for us as believers is get our attention. His return is a certainty, and it draws increasingly closer. So now is the time to Workout Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling! Or ask the question, “What must I do to be saved?”

Are we in the birth pains? It sure does feel like it!

You are loved,
cj