Tag: Faith

Journey Update (part 2)

What i have come to understand about shadows and prophecy, fullness and fulfillment. In part 2 of my Journey update i want to explore these things and encourage you to be a Berean and explore them for yourself as well…

There was a time that i worked at DIA (Denver International Airport) as a ramp agent, affectionately known among peers as ramp rats. We made a song, don’t ask me to sing it, not that it was vulgar, they all knew of and respected my faith. First, i don’t remember most of it and two i was once asked if i was tone deaf after singing. Anyway, it was a pretty cool gig. Besides all the cool benefits it was just fun work, physically tiring, but fun. One of the cool parts of working there was all the sights of various planes taking off and landing. The shadow of a plane on the ground as it came in getting larger and larger until it merged with the wheels on the runway as if Tinker Bell had sown them together. Revealing the fullness of the shadow in the presence of the plane.

The shadow of the plane on the ground looks like a plane. You can hear the plane, and see its shadow, an image of what is to come. As the object gets closer, the shadow grows in size until the fullness of the image casting the shadow arrives. The shadow doesn’t change it becomes more full when the substance of the shadow, the plane arrives. The planes shadow is an image of what is to come and when the substance arrives it reveals the fullness of the casted shadow. The shadow becomes something that you can enter into in its complete form.

John 1:1-3

“In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with Elohim,
and the Word was Elohim.

He existed in the beginning with Elohim.

Elohim created everything through Him,
Fore nothing was created except through Him.”

Yahoshua is the fullness, He is the substance of the shadow of what was to come. The Word casted its shadow on humanity, through Israel. Yahoshua, the Word made flesh, was the arrival of the Torah. The instruction (Torah) known as the Word, a shadow of things to come, arrived as the Word became flesh, Yahoshua Messiah. As Paul writes to the Colossians: “which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Messiah’s.” (Colossians 2:17)

Yahoshua is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s Prophecy in 31:31-34– “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHWH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I will put My law (Torah) within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘know YHWH,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares YHWH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” In Hebrews this is brought up as fulfilled in Messiah. (See Hebrews 8)

The Word didn’t change. The Torah didn’t change. Elohim didn’t change. His instruction didn’t change. The method of delivery changed. The Holy Spirit is the written Torah, the written WORD, on the hearts of those within the Nation of Israel, whether by birth or by adoption, grafted into . . . There is one Torah for the native and for those who adjoin themselves to the people of Elohim. When we enter into the fullness of Messiah we are no longer Gentiles or Jews but we are one people, the people of Elohim, we are the bride. As gentiles (any nation of people not of the 12 tribes of Israel) can not live outside the foundation and root of the Hebrew Nation which is founded on the Word of Elohim, who was made flesh and dwelt among us, and now resides in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit. The written Word on our Hearts does not free us from Torah but empowers us to live it!

Yahoshua didn’t come and die for our sin so that we could live a life of sin. Sin as defined by 1 John 2:3-6 —
“This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word (Torah), truly in him the love of Elohim is made complete. This is how we know we are in Him: The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.” He came to reconcile us to the Father, take the punishment of our disobedience, and show us how to live. Paul, says, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” We also need to understand what John was referring to when he says, the word, and His commandments. As Paul instructs Timothy in his 2nd letter to him: “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Neither Paul or John were in anyway referring to their own letters or the Gospels, but the written Word of Elohim of the day, the Tanakh, which includes the Torah, or instruction, which has been translated, Law.

The shadow of things to come, has come in fullness through Yahoshua. And in the millennium, we will continue to live these instructions of Elohim. We will observe the Sabbath, the Feast Days, and the commandments of Elohim. As we have been taught to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” May we through the power of the Holy Spirit begin to live our lives in the pattern of Yahoshua Messiah, imitating Him as Paul demonstrates.

You are loved,
cj

Contend for the Faith (Torah)

“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 complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

If Paul was writing to Timothy that all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness . . . Surely he was also referring to Ezekiel and Ezekiel records this:

“Her priests have done violence to My Torah and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded My sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 22:26

The thing i am finding more and more frustrating with modern translations is their separation from Israel, and by this separation the changing of and diluting of Elohim’s word. If you open your modern translation for Ezekiel 22:26 it will read, “Her priests have done violence to my law.” In our westernized, hyper grace way of thinking it is easy to disregard the word ‘law’ as outdated and done away with. However, the word is Torah and it refers to HIS WORD. His written word and if Yahoshua is the WORD made flesh it even sets Him aside.

“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. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” . . . “And the WORD become 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.” John 1:1-5,14

Yahoshua, declared, “I and My Father, are one.” “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father.” “I can do nothing of Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” What is the will of the Father? Well, according to Ezekiel YHWH, the Father, was calling out Israel for what they had allowed to happen among them. Violence towards the Torah, profaning the Holy things of Elohim, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded the sabbaths.

Micah records YHWH saying, “I have told you o’man what is good and what does YHWH require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” It isn’t so much a set of rules as it is acting justly by following the decrees of Elohim, it is loving mercy, and walking humbly. Not by our own will or understanding but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim. Yahoshua is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He and the Father are one what is the writer of Hebrews saying? Malachi writes, “For I YHWH do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WORD of our Elohim will stand forever.” Matthew writes, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My WORDS will not pass away.” John in the book of Revelation records Yahoshua saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega (Aleph—Tav), the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Has the WORD been done away with? Are we now outside of Torah? Are we allowed to live lawlessly? By all means NOT! But Yahoshua, writes the Torah on our hearts and through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to live for Him, not under the punishment of the law but by faith we must be obedient to the WORD made flesh. “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:18-19 — His coming, was the fulfillment of the Torah and the prophets not the dissolving of them. He states that Moses wrote about Him, He reads Isaiah in the Temple and declares, “Today this verse is fulfilled in your eyes.” He is the promised Messiah. In Him is healing and forgiveness, “Behold the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world.”

There is coming a separation of the sheep and the goats. The sheep will enter through the narrow gate. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 The idea of being a sheep is a reoccurring theme, in John, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “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.” Messiah is not divided, nor are we two different nations, but we are one people, with one Shepard.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 —If profaning the sabbath, and treating the holy things of Elohim as common, and putting that which is unclean in place of that which is clean was detestable in the days of Ezekiel, then they are detestable today. Oh yes, thank Adonai for favor, for grace, for forgiveness, but grace does not excuse our lawlessness or better our Tora’lessness. Obedience is righteousness, FAITH drives our obedience.

In a world hell bent on excluding Elohim, we the PEOPLE of Elohim, need to stand up, stand apart, and live our lives in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Yahoshua said, “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and manifest Myself to him.” . . . “If anyone loves Me, he will KEEP MY WORD, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does NOT love me does NOT keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” . . . “But the HELPER, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:20-21, 23-24, 26

Many will hear Yahoshua say, “Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” The Greek “Anomos,” means, “Destitute of Mosaic Law” or Tora’lessness, being without or outside of Torah. Yahoshua is the doorway by which we enter into relationship with Elohim. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life, the very WORD of Elohim, in the flesh.

Time is short—

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve YHWH, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.” Joshua 24:15

You are loved,
cj

Contend for the Faith

“See that no one leads you astray.” Matthew 24:4
“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:10
“I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8
“Why do you call Me ‘Master, Master,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46

“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead and saying, ‘This Yahoshua, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah.’” Acts 17:2-3
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4

Everywhere we read, “Scriptures,” in the New Testament, it is referring to the Old, every, single, time. The Scriptures in the New support the Old, they do not contradict them. If what you read in the New seems to contradict or change the Old, you need to re-examine your understanding. Unfortunately, for many the Old is done away with which allows them to make the New say anything they want in order to justify their way of living. Beginning with this post i will be diving into the idea of being ready to give an answer to everyone who asks and contend for the faith of those in Messiah Yahoshua. Today i want to point out the idea of the Sabbath.

Paul, was in the synagogues every Sabbath as was his custom. There he reasoned with both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), using the Scriptures to show that Yahoshua was the Messiah. The Apostles, understood the significance of the Sabbath. In fact you wont find a scripture in which they were not honoring or reasoning, or teaching on the Sabbath. In Exodus 20:8-11 we read:

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it HOLY. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY.”

This, the fourth commandment is the one emphasized the most with the second being the 2nd commandment, regarding carved images and idol worship. Can you name a denomination that uses carved images and encourages praying to statues or idols? Hint, it is also the organization that claims its authority by way of its changing of the Sabbath day from the seventh day of the week to the first (See: “The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine” Rockford, IL: Tan Books & Publishing, 1977; pg. 50 — and —Catholic Catechism, Part Three, Section Two, Chapter One, Article 3- I, II). Interestingly enough the Catholic 10 commandments removes the second commandment which commands us not to carve images or worship idols, and expands the 10th Commandment into two, “You shall not covet your neighbors spouse,” and “You shall not covet your neighbors goods.” Not to be misunderstood while giving the 10 Commandments, which is better translated, 10 Words, YHWH reminded them, “But showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and KEEP My Commandments.” Daniel warns us this would happen, Daniel 7:25 says, “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”

Peter and the Apostles declared, “We must obey Elohim rather than men. The Elohim of our fathers raised Yahoshua, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. Elohim exalted Him at His right hand as King and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who OBEY HIM.” Acts 5:29-32. And Jude writes, “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our Elohim into sensuality and deny our only King and Master Yahoshua Messiah.” Jude 1:3-4

There is one Sabbath Day. Can we worship Elohim on any day? Yes, of course we can! However, if we are to emulate the Messiah, as Paul says, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah,” and both Yahoshua and Paul honored and kept the Sabbath day, should we then not also keep the Sabbath day as Elohim instructs us?

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it HOLY. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days YHWH mad heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY. (Exodus 20:8-11)

REMEMBER, 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

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

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

Burdensome

“And now, Israel, what does YHWH your Elohim require of you? He requires only that you fear YHWH your Elohim, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of YHWH, which I am commanding you today for your good.” Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Imagine if YHWH in a desire to reconcile humanity to Himself, were to come to earth as a human. To empty Himself, take on the form of humanity in the person of Yahoshua the only begotten of the Father. How wonderful would it be if the Word of Elohim, was made flesh, to reveal and to write the Law on the hearts of man? To teach us not only to keep the letter of the law but also to reveal that it is a heart issue, this also would be wonderful, would it not? To reveal that circumcision of the heart is the fullness of the command and not only that of the flesh.

Oh wait, not only did this happen but it wasn’t even a new revelation it was simply the WORD made flesh to reveal unto creation the Way, is through the heart. It has always been a heart issue. Where is your heart? Stuck so deep in hyper grace that you are missing the keep My commandments part, or is it so stuck, in the keep My commandments part that you missed the Grace through Faith part? The whole of the story is both and, not either or.

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For YHWH your Elohim is Elohim of mighty ones and the Adon of masters, the great El, mighty and Awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:16-17

“Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHWH. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,” for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest declares YHWH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

Just like every month Elohim creates a new moon, oh wait, the moon isn’t new every month it is the same moon. It is the cycle that is new, a renewing of the moon. The Word made flesh, didn’t come to contradict itself, He came to bring a newness of the cycle. A renewing of the heart and mind. A revelation of what it means to walk with YHWH our Elohim, in the newness of Yahoshua, the Living Word. Yahoshua didn’t bring a new commandment when He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:” The newness was in the example, “Just as I have loved you” (Read more on that here). Yahoshua didn’t come to contradict the Word, He is the Word! We are to be like Him.

Paul writes, “I urge you, be imitators of me, as I am of Messiah.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 — Paul also 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 Elohim may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — When Paul wrote this to Timothy he was talking about the Torah and the Prophets, he was referring to the ‘Old’ Testament specifically. In fact if we only had Deuteronomy we would still have the gospel message just without the fullness of Messiah revealing it and writing it on our hearts.

“You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5 — “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am YHWH.” Leviticus 19:18

Peter writes, “And count the patience of our Adonai as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Adonai and Savior Yahoshua Messiah. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 15-18

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim . . . 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.” John 1:1,14 Elohim is not a contradiction. The Word is not a contradiction. Yahoshua is not a contradiction.

The Word reveals that there is:
Blessing in Obedience
Victory in Obedience
Eternal life in Obedience
Obedience of:
Heart, mind, body, will, finances, future.

Let us imitate Paul, who kept the Sabbath, kept the feasts, and observed the Torah, for he himself said, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” For Messiah Yahoshua is the very WORD we keep when we walk with Him in fellowship, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

“By this we know that we love the 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.” 1 John 5:2-3

You are loved,
cj

Work in Progress

He’s still working on me
to make me what i ought to be
it took Him just a week to make
the moon and stars, the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars
how loving and patient he must be
cause He’s still working on me

This song by Joel Hemphill, is one i know very well, or did know very well; As i sang it probably over a hundred times on our family concert tour and various concerts, when i was a kid. We are all a work in progress and if you think otherwise you might need to reexamine yourself. Often we get to a point where we don’t want to admit that we have faults out of fear of what others might say or think. Worse, that fear steams from those inside the Church! This should not be so. We should be able to communicate with one another openly and honestly.

The Word is full of instruction on building one another up, and allowing the Holy Spirit to instruct us. So that we grow in Messiah. i have several favorite passages of Scripture, Micah 6:8, is not only a favorite it is my life verse: “He has shown you oh man what Elohim requires of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him.” i strive daily to act justly, to side on in the way of mercy, and to walk humbly with Adonai Yahoshua who is one with the Father. Part of being humble is acknowledging that we are not perfect. It is this humility that allows for growth. Another one of the passages that really give me great hope as it should you is Philippians 1:6 — “And I am certain that Elohim, who began the good work within you, WILL continue His work until it is finished on the day when Messiah Yahoshua returns.”

We need to stay connected to the source of our growth, Yahoshua, through the work of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t easy. Especially when the world is full of challenges and obstacles to our faith. Just look at the world right now, it is a sad place, war, deadly disasters, and just today another School shooting tragedy. These things can and have shaken the faith of many. It brings out the carnal nature in us, to hate, to curse, to seek comfort from worldly things. We might stumble or fall but the question is will you get up? Philippians 3:13-14 — “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.”

The keys to growth although simply stated are not simply kept — but to press on in . . . Repentance is mandatory. It requires recognition of sin, and a willful turning away from sin. Another key to growth is understanding, not just the human nature but understanding that Elohim desires us to walk with Him in holiness through Messiah Yahoshua and the power of the Holy Spirit which enables us to do so. Growth requires focus, “Seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness,” and “. . . Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence, if there is anything praise worthy, think about theses things.”

Growth requires surrender, we must surrender our will to the WILL of Elohim, “not My will but Yours be done,” Yahoshua prayed. Growth requires willingness, just like an alcoholic or drug addict must be willing to seek treatment if they are to get true help, so we must be willing participants in our growth.

In Paul’s prayer for the Colossians he said, “. . . Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 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.” We are a work in progress, i am a work in progress.

He’s still working on me . . .

You are loved,
cj

Abandon Your Faith

It seems many walk away from faith in Elohim because of bad experiences within the Church. Either that or because they, “prayed and prayed, but nothing happened.” Both of these excuses are selfish as our example, Yahoshua’s garden prayer, “Let this cup pass from me,” was not answered. Yet, He still walked the road to Golgotha. Our example, Yahoshua from a heart of compassion while being brutally murdered cried, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” In the midst of abandonment, our example, Yahoshua, found Peter who denied ever knowing Yahoshua, even to the point of cursing, and ask him, “Do you love Me?” And then said, “Feed My sheep.”

“I have said all these things to you so that you will not abandon your faith. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to Elohim. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor Me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” (John 16:1-4)

Our example, Yahoshua, told them they would be expelled from the Synagogues, the churches of the day. That they would be killed in the name of Elohim, out of ignorance. For they will believe they are serving Elohim. Look at Paul, he pursued the believers relentlessly in the name of Elohim. Paul/Saul was there at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:51-60). Paul, who had faith in Elohim, came to know the Messiah on the road to Damascus. Even though His mission to Damascus was one of persecution, Yahoshua, revealed Himself. This shows us Paul’s heart, he loved Elohim, his desire was for Him, and he was open to receive.

The early Church met in the Synagogues. They were a sect of judaism known as the “Sect of the Nazarene.” Yet, because of their belief in Yahoshua Messiah, they were expelled. Scattered among the nations, this Sect of the Nazarene did not abandon their faith but proclaimed it. “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word.” (Acts 8:1). It was because they knew both the Father and the Son, they believed in their hearts that Yahoshua truly was the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

There is coming, not long from now, a persecution the Church has never seen. Many are unprepared, as they wait for a pre-tribulation rapture event. Scripture tells a different story. One of great persecution and trial and death. One where the world seeks to wipe from the face of the earth all who call on the Name of Yahoshua. If you are not prepared to endure you might find yourself in the shoes of Peter, denying and cursing the name of Yahoshua. Even perhaps, in the shoes of Judas, betraying those who call on the name of Yahoshua. We are called to endure, with the hope of knowing, we, as did Yahoshua, will rise again. We will rule and reign with Him in eternity. Only be ready to holdfast, endure to the end.

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.”

You are loved,
cj

Love each other . . .

“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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