Pursuing Greatness

In my conversations with many Messiah followers, I hear many express their struggle with the issue of perfection. Perfection is only found in Messiah and His Kingdom. So often, we as people look for it in ourselves, in others and in our circumstances, events and possessions. Yet, it is never intended to be found in this world’s kingdom, anywhere, as the Only Perfect One is Yeshua (Jesus) and His Kingdom which has not yet fully come.

If we are inclined toward pursuing ‘perfection’, perhaps it is the clarion call of the Master, who is Messiah, to refocus our attention toward seeking Him and His Kingdom rule that He will bring when He returns. In the meantime, we would do well to speak lovingly to all who are around us to walk in humility and repentance before Him, The Perfect One, and with love and kindness toward those around us.

I recall a time early in my walk with the Lord when I really had difficulty receiving from people. The Lord whispered to me at that time, “What you did for the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. Do you not see, daughter, that you are the least? Don’t stop them from giving to Me.”

In Luke 9, we read abut the quarrel among the disciples regarding who was the greatest. Yeshua set a child among them and said, “Who welcomes this child, welcomes Me and who welcomes Me, welcomes the One who sent Me.” May I suggest we let this be what occupies our thoughts, not the pursuit of greatness or perfection, but let us pursue embracing and loving the least as loving the Only Great ONE.

Why the Seasons?

Why the Seasons?

                In Genesis 1 we read that from the beginning of creation, God gave day and night, stars, moon, sun and seasons dominion. God then created mankind and gave them dominion, rule and authority over vegetation, agriculture, birds, animals and fish for food and provision.  But the day and night, stars, moon, sun and seasons He did not give mankind authority to change.

                Have you ever noticed the Harvest moon?  Twice a year, Spring and Fall, the phenomenon known as the Harvest Moon, the Spring Biblical Feasts correspond with the Spring Harvest moon and the Fall Biblical Feasts correspond with the Fall Harvest moon.

                In Genesis 2:3 we read that the six days of creation were for the purpose of preparing.  More can be said for the account of how Adam and Eve chose to obey the voice of the deceiver and disobey God, resulting in expulsion from the Garden of Eden – a place of God’s kingdom where God ruled in perfect shalom.  Now, they and we must live out the consequences of their choice for humankind as fallen people living in a fallen world. The good news is that God’s goodness and faithfulness have never been changed.

                Immediately after they experienced the shame of their nakedness, something that was not present in the Garden and world God created that was good, God in His mercy clothed them.

                Yes, they were banished from the Garden of Eden but the “Way of Life” that is inculcated into the “Tree of Life.”  He graciously provided for us through His choosing a people, Israel, through whom He would reveal the true nature of His character and love for humankind and through which Messiah would come.  He provided His laws and statutes to teach them the “Way of Life.”  They were to be the vehicle through which He would reach ALL humanity and all people to have restored relationship with Himself. That has been and always will be His goal, to welcome us back to the Garden of Eden, so to speak, where in His Kingdom rule, we can eat freely from the Tree of Life and be satisfied.  When Messiah returns to judge the earth, He will then create a new heaven and earth where those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be able to eat freely from the Tree of Life.

                While we still remain living in this fallen state in a fallen world, He still rules.  Even His seasons reflect His rulership. Through His times, seasons and Biblical Feasts, we are provided with the continual opportunity to learn from Him and draw closer to His Kingdom rule in our lives.

                We have just come through a 40-day season of introspection and time of repentance culminating in the Day of Atonement.  30 days after Elul 1 that started the time of reflection, we celebrated Rosh ha Shanah, a day to blow the trumpets.  This is both a time of celebration, knowing that the truly repentant will receive atonement, forgiveness and have our names written in the Book of Life.  But it is also an alarm, signaling the seriousness of producing the kind of repentance that is not just toward God but with our fellow humans as well, thus producing fruit in keeping with repentance.

                For those who have come to know and understand the redemption price that was paid in full by Messiah Yeshua/Jesus on Passover, there is both a great comfort of assurance that our names are written in the Book of Life, but also present, as we still live in this fallen state and world is the deceiver.  Have you ever noticed that his voice gets louder and louder to attempt to derail Messiah’s Beloved Bride before that great and awesome day when Messiah will return to judge the wicked and create a new heaven and new earth, removing the curse that started in the Garden when the first humans rebelled?

                We are now in the season of Sukkot, started just five days after Yom Kippur, a season of recalling the goodness and provision of God when the Israelites dwelt in temporary and flimsy structures, called Sukkot, and were unable to provide for themselves, yet they were fed with angels’ food and water flowed supernaturally to give them life.  It is a time for celebrating God’s goodness to us by tabernacling or dwelling with us in our very fragile and vulnerable lives now and a time of hope looking forward to when He will return to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and establish His People Israel where all nations and people will come to worship Him there as one Bride celebrating our union with Him and with one another in perfect shalom.

                There are other Feasts, times and seasons that will teach us so much more about His designated pathway to living in the Kingdom of God and enjoying the fruit of the Tree of Life.  We look forward to Hannukah (aka the Festival of Lights) , that Yeshua/Jesus also celebrated, remembering the miracle of one days supply of oil lasting 8 days to celebrate a delayed Sukkot after the Temple had been cleansed and worship restored to Israel.  We look forward to Passover when the first born were saved from the Angel of Death by the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts.  Later, Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah became The Passover Lamb for all humanity.

                We look forward to Shavuot/Pentecost which occurs 50 days following the wave offering that occurs on Firstfruits, the day after the Sabbath following Passover.  Yeshua (Jesus) was resurrected on Firstfruits which is why the term “firstfruits” is linked with Him throughout the Epistles.  As prophesied by Ezekiel in 36:24-27 regarding a new heart and Jeremiah 31:32 where Torah would be written in their hearts, this is what occurred on Shavuot to all the Jews whose hearts were opened to Him as they gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot.  Much later, even the God-fearing gentiles received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was given to the Jewish Messiah followers on Shavuot.

                So, why celebrate the Biblical Feasts of the Lord? Because God established the times and seasons and instructed us to follow Him, learn from Him and be prepared for His Kingdom rule that will be established when Messiah returns.

                In Genesis 1, we read that God gave the moon and sun (seasons) to rule the earth. Even in our pre-fallen condition, humans were only given authority over agriculture, animals, birds and fish.  The seasons and what they require remained in God’s authority to choose, not people.

What is “The Full Armor of God”?

What is “The Full Armor of God”?

            Most Bible believing followers of our Lord, Yeshua (Jesus) have been taught about God’s armor described in Ephesians 6. The visual model most often used to describe it is that of a Roman soldier.  But would Paul, a Jewish Messiah follower focus his model on what was clearly in the natural an adversary to all who followed Messiah?

            As a Pharisee, he was well-learned in the Hebrew Scriptures.  Just as Yeshua (Jesus) brought a fuller understanding of the Scriptures to those He taught, so would Paul have done.

            Eph. 6:14-17 lists this armor as ‘the belt of truth around the waist, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the Good News of shalom, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.’

            Let us now look at key passages from the Tanakh (aka Old Testament.)  Isaiah 11:5 says, “Also, righteousness will be a belt around his loins, and faithfulness the belt around his waist.”  Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces shalom, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” Psalm 28:7 says, “Adonai is my strength and my shield.”  Psalms 91:46 says, “His faithfulness is body armor and shield.”  Isaiah 59:17 says, “He put on righteousness as a breastplate and the helmet of salvation on his head.”  Isaiah 49:2 says, “He made my mouth like a sharp sword.  In the shadow of His hand He hid Me.  He made Me a polished arrow.  He has hidden Me in His quiver.”

            A Roman soldier served a self-exalted sinful ruler who waged earthly war on his own behalf and purpose.  Peter referred to Messiah followers as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).  A priest served The Holy God and his garments reflect the attributes and power of God alone, not ours.

            Images carry subtleties that influence our perspective.  When applying the referenced garments of those who engage in spiritual warfare using a foreign, even hostile worldly image, it is easy to misapply the purpose of our armor and fail to place all trust and confidence in God’s mighty power (Eph. 6:10) and forget that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). It is so we can resist the temptation to wage war on our own worldly terms and stand in the promise and authority of God who rules, trusting in Him. 

Let us look again at His armor. 

Belt of Truth – Yeshua (Jesus), for He is the righteous one. Isaiah 11:5

Breastplate of righteousness – Isaiah 59:11

Feet shod with God News of Shalom – Yeshua (Jesus) said He was bringing Good News of shalom meaning wholeness, completeness, soundness, sufficiency, satisfaction, harmony, peace, holistic well-being, announcing ‘God Reigns!’ Isaiah 52:7

Helmet – salvation Isaiah 59:17

Sword of the Spirit – Me refers to Yeshua (Jesus). Isaiah 49:2

Shield – His faithfulness is a shield around us. Psalm 91:46

When we don’t know the Biblical foundation of the New Covenant Scriptures found in the Torah, Prophets and Writings (Tenakh/Old Testament) and know God’s perspective in what Paul knew and communicated, we will look for what is familiar and relatable to us who are distant from God and utterly sinful from the womb.  We will miss the whole point and create our own ‘form’ (not based in truth) of righteousness.  But there is no on righteous but the Lord Himself.

Phil. 2:6-11 says we are to have the same attitude that Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah had. “Who, though existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be grasped.  But He emptied Himself- taking on the form of a slave, becoming the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man.  He humbled Himself – becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua (Jesus) every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue profess that Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah is Lord – to the glory of God the Father.”

As His followers, should we do any less?

2 Cor. 10:3-6 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds.  We are tearing down false arguments and every high-minded thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah.”

So, how will we now understand and apply God’s armor?

All Scripture quotations taken from The Tree of Life Version

Are We truly Obeying God?

Unity in the Body of Messiah is a repetitive theme initiated by God the Father. Psalm 133 speaks loudly, followed by Yeshua/Jesus in His final prayer for His followers (John 17) and again established through the Apostles.

In Romans, we see many critically important instructions. Today, I am impressed to talk about the theme punctuated in Romans 16:17-18. “Now I urge you brothers and sisters, to keep your eye on those who are causing divisions and stumbling blocks contrary to the teaching that you learned. Turn away from them. For such people do not serve our Lord the Messiah, but only their own belly. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”

My heart has been grieved by the hostile, even arrogant rhetoric and divisive positions voiced and demonstrated within Messiah’s body. The basic tenets of our relationship with God is centered here. Rom. 13:9b-10, ”You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fullness of the Torah.” (Lev. 19:18) Paul continues his plea for the community to stop focusing on what in that time was a source of division regarding food – some ate meat and others only vegetables so as not to inadvertently eat meat that had been offered to idols. They placed more importance upon a weak and incomplete response to the real issue – which was living in trust and obedience to the Messiah who provides what we need to live faithfully in Him and toward one another. Rom. 14: 4 says, “Who are you to judge another’s servant?”, vs 10-12 says, “But why do you judge your brother? Or you too, why do you look down on your brother? For we all will stand before the judgment seat of God, For it is written, ‘As I live, says Adonai, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

He goes on to give examples about how the two opposite factions judge each other regarding food and verse 15 “no longer walking according to love.” Verse 17, “The kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking (or the issues that divide us today) but righteousness and shalom and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Paul sums up his instruction with verses 19-20, “So then, let us pursue what makes for shalom and for the building up of one another. Stop tearing down the work of God for the sake of …..”(insert current causes that divide!}

If I close my ears to the words expressed by both sides of the present divisions, I see angry, judging, self-righteous demeanor in both. By their fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) you will know the one who truly walks with God and what is important to Him!

These passing situations – political persuasion and how to respond to a plague (covid) – are not present attributes of the kingdom of God. When we place our passion, focus, and agenda toward either end of the spectrum of these passing worldly element – we are not kingdom of God focused and are causing divisions.

When Messiah returns for His Bride, will the political powers and disease motivated responses be present at His Marriage Banquet? I dare say – NO! So let us not judge one another in how we decide to vote or respond to threat of this deadly plague! The real enemy is the deceiver who would entice us into his worldly domain to take sides in the activities of his kingdom.

Did Yeshua/Jesus ever instruct His disciples in how to oppose Rome? Do we read political strategies in the Epistles? NO! Their focus was on the kingdom of God and pointing people away from worldly agendas to find unity in Him – the One who willingly laid down His life for us and tells us to follow Him.

Let us love the Lord with all our hearts, minds and strength (Deut. 6:4) and let us love our neighbor by doing no harm to one another! Our divisive stands truly harm us. But His love draws us away from sin and into right fellowship with Him and one another.

When Will Revival Come?

In these uncertain time many are asking, ‘When will revival come?’ We read in Matthew’s Gospel that Yeshua (Jesus) first began His ministry by preaching, ”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”(Matt. 4:17 NET) Mark’s Gospel states His proclaiming the Good News as, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!” (Mark 1:15 NET) If we take what Yeshua (Jesus) described the Good News as being, the message His followers should be preaching is "the Kingdom of God is near. Turn away from looking to this world and its powers as a priority and ..But above all pursue His kingdom and righteousness....” (Matt. 6:33 NET) In the prayer our Lord taught His disciples, we learn to pray for His Kingdom rule to come to earth. (Matt. 6:10) We also know that He will judge the earth for the wickedness that will prevail before He returns to earth to establish His rule and reign as King of His kingdom on earth located in Israel with Jerusalem as its capital.

The 15th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel provides very poignant account of a Canaanite woman, a gentile, calling to Yeshua (Jesus) to heal her daughter who was demon possessed and suffering horribly. His decisive refusal to hear her request until His disciples brought her continual plea to focus and then His reply has always been one that has captivated my attention for decades. He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24 NET) By His own definition, He is the Messiah of Israel. So why did Yeshua decide to heal her daughter? Her response was one of trusting in His ultimate calling to save the world, thus gentiles who are clearly not the chosen. But when they acknowledge their position in relationship to His chosen, trusting in Him as Messiah, healing and salvation will result. All throughout the Hebrew Scriptures we read that Israel was chosen to be a light to the gentiles. Does that mean that only Jews can be saved? Not at all! But by election, it is through them and their Messiah the world would be redeemed.

Paul, the apostle to the gentiles made this plea to them in Romans 11 to remember that it is only because the unbelieving branches of the Vine (Israel) were cut off making room for those wild ones, gentiles, to be grafted in that they are blessed. He warned them to take heed not to embrace pride in that and forget the true Vine, but to accept the assignment of taking the good news of their Messiah to them as then they will be easily grafted back into their own Vine, one they understand in its fullness once Messiah is embraced, even more than the gentiles who are of another culture and not of the promise apart from the precious blood of Messiah.

In Matthew 16 we read the account of Yeshua (Jesus) asking His disciples first who people said He was and then finally what Simon Peter said He was. When Simon acclaimed Him to be the Messiah of Israel, Son of the Living God, Yeshua (Jesus) blessed him and changed his name to Peter as this revelation didn’t come to him by natural means but by Father God Himself. Thus, on that rock Yeshua (Jesus) would build His community. Immediately following that, Yeshua (Jesus) began to prepare His disciples for the way He would suffer, be killed and raised to life. It is very interesting to see that right after receiving divine revelation about Yeshua’s identity and purpose, Peter spoke from his worldly understanding and rebuked the Messiah for speaking of His destiny.

The next important declaration Yeshua (Jesus) spoke weighs very heavy on my soul. Speaking to Peter, the one who was just lifted up as a true insightful follower of truth as he understood Yeshua to be Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) proclaimed, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”(Matt. 16:23 NET)

Wow! When I look at many of Messiah’s followers today, I see how far many of us have come from the true gospel of turning from the political agenda of this world and its influence and confusing it with the Kingdom of God that is totally other than the powers and systems of this world. In doing so, have His followers become a stumbling block to Him in His desire to bring revival? The next verse cites Yeshua (Jesus) instructing His disciples in how they are to live saying, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life.? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matt. 16:24-27 NET)

So, my question remains. When will revival come? Historically, has it come when faithful followers were praying fervently for revival? Or is it more accurate to recall that revival has come when it was truly needed, when those who thought they were following in their Master’s footsteps were indeed walking in the ways of the world? Does the Lord hear the prayers of His people? Yes, He does. But His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours and His purpose and agenda is not like ours. It is my belief that the truly merciful One will bring yet another revival before He returns to first judge the earth and then recreate it where He will rule as King. His desire is for His chosen ones, Israel, to be know their Messiah and be redeemed and that the full number of the other peoples of the earth who have a heart to embrace Him and be grafted into His beloved Messianic Israel, will respond before that day.

What will our response to Him be? Will we deny ourselves and our lofty position to be His ambassadors to His beloved Israel? Will we embrace suffering and persecution for the sake of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Or will we continue to propagate the political agenda of this world and call it something it truly Scripturally is not?

Divine Encounters

I have experienced many Divine Encounters with the Lord.  Most of them were in response to my desperate cry to Him for help in threatening situations through receiving different types of healing, miracles of provision, hearing His Voice and even angelic help. But the one I am about to share was initiated by the Lord to me for His specific purpose and calling.

So, why take so much time talking about Divine Encounters?  I have been blessed to have had numerous ones, many of which are presented in detail in my book, Encounters with the Living God. One such encounter occurred three years ago on the Biblical calendar Elul 1.  On this historic day, in 2017 a total solar eclipse was seen across much of the United States.  Interestingly, it began on the West coast at exactly the same time the sun was setting in Jerusalem on Elul 1 which begins 40 days of introspection and repentance in preparation for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  Ten days prior to Yom Kippur is the Feast called Rosh ha Shannah. Following Yom Kippur is Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles. (These will be explained in detail in future blogs.)   

On that Elul 1, in 2017 I was prompted to turn on the Weather Channel and watched the solar eclipse take place from city to city.  As the sun’s light was totally eclipsed and darkness covered the earth beneath it, my body began to tremble almost violently from head to toe.  From deep within my soul, a groaning and wailing erupted with sobbing that crescendoed into the “song of the Lord.” This Scriptural passage from the Book of Joel that years earlier I had heard the Lord singing to me and had set to music, came forth with intense passion.  It was followed by many other such passages from the Prophets Isaiah, Zephaniah, Hosea and Jeremiah.  As the light from the sun once again was shining on the earth below, the trembling subsided.  I was held spellbound to the Weather Channel and watched as each city where cameras had been waiting for this phenomenon to take place broadcast the event over and over again as it crossed the United States.  Each time the sun’s light was extinguished, the trembling and wailing burst forth from the core of me.  It happened over and over again.

That day marked a ‘line in the sand’ for me that changed my life forever.  That day, I distinctly heard the Lord call me to learn and follow the Jewish essence and way of life that has been lost to most Christians throughout the centuries.  Almost immediately, He directed me to a Messianic Jewish Synagogue that embraced all Yeshua taught about living Biblically and exemplified what the Kingdom of God in the World to Come will look like -  Jewish and non-Jewish believers, both true to their identity and purpose, living in perfect unity under the rule of Yeshua Messiah, the Messiah of Israel. 

I had always heard His purpose for me was to be a peacemaker who facilitated the unity in the Body of Believers that Yeshua had prayed for in John 17.  Now, more clearly, I understood His urgent time sensitive move within His Body was to send many equipped with the unifying message of the God of Israel who sent His Son, the Messiah of Israel to draw together both Jewish and non-Jewish believers together in the full understanding of who He is, the Messiah of Israel who is also the Savior of the World.  His return will come when ALL His people come together as One Body in Him.  As I am not Jewish, but have always identified more with a Messianic worship and understanding of Scripture even before being taught of the rich heritage so sadly not known by most Christians, I understand how I can be used to be His voice of Shalom to the non-Jewish expression of His body known as the Church.  I will expound more upon that in future blogs. Stay tuned as this is merely an introduction to a series of blogs to bring a broader understanding of the times in which we are living.  This Thursday marks the 1st of Elul on the Biblical Calendar.  This begins the preparation for the Fall Biblical Feasts. 

All those who want to experience and “encounter” the Lord through His pre-ordained Feasts are welcome to come along on the journey with me. 

Shalom

Divine Encounters

Divine Encounters

I have experienced many Divine Encounters with the Lord.  Most of them were in response to my desperate cry to Him for help in threatening situations through receiving different types of healing, miracles of provision, hearing His Voice and even angelic help. But the one I am about to share was initiated by the Lord to me for His specific purpose and calling.

So, why take so much time talking about Divine Encounters?  I have been blessed to have had numerous ones, many of which are presented in detail in my book, Encounters with the Living God. One such encounter occurred three years ago on the Biblical calendar Elul 1.  On this historic day, in 2017 a total solar eclipse was seen across much of the United States.  Interestingly, it began on the West coast at exactly the same time the sun was setting in Jerusalem on Elul 1 which begins 40 days of introspection and repentance in preparation for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  Ten days prior to Yom Kippur is the Feast called Rosh ha Shannah. Following Yom Kippur is Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles. (These will be explained in detail in future blogs.)   

On that Elul 1, in 2017 I was prompted to turn on the Weather Channel and watched the solar eclipse take place from city to city.  As the sun’s light was totally eclipsed and darkness covered the earth beneath it, my body began to tremble almost violently from head to toe.  From deep within my soul, a groaning and wailing erupted with sobbing that crescendoed into the “song of the Lord.” This Scriptural passage from the Book of Joel that years earlier I had heard the Lord singing to me and had set to music, came forth with intense passion.  It was followed by many other such passages from the Prophets Isaiah, Zephaniah, Hosea and Jeremiah.  As the light from the sun once again was shining on the earth below, the trembling subsided.  I was held spellbound to the Weather Channel and watched as each city where cameras had been waiting for this phenomenon to take place broadcast the event over and over again as it crossed the United States.  Each time the sun’s light was extinguished, the trembling and wailing burst forth from the core of me.  It happened over and over again.

That day marked a ‘line in the sand’ for me that changed my life forever.  That day, I distinctly heard the Lord call me to learn and follow the Jewish essence and way of life that has been lost to most Christians throughout the centuries.  Almost immediately, He directed me to a Messianic Jewish Synagogue that embraced all Yeshua taught about living Biblically and exemplified what the Kingdom of God in the World to Come will look like –  Jewish and non-Jewish believers, both true to their identity and purpose, living in perfect unity under the rule of Yeshua Messiah, the Messiah of Israel. 

I had always heard His purpose for me was to be a peacemaker who facilitated the unity in the Body of Believers that Yeshua had prayed for in John 17.  Now, more clearly, I understood His urgent time sensitive move within His Body was to send many equipped with the unifying message of the God of Israel who sent His Son, the Messiah of Israel to draw together both Jewish and non-Jewish believers together in the full understanding of who He is, the Messiah of Israel who is also the Savior of the World.  His return will come when ALL His people come together as One Body in Him.  As I am not Jewish, but have always identified more with a Messianic worship and understanding of Scripture even before being taught of the rich heritage so sadly not known by most Christians, I understand how I can be used to be His voice of Shalom to the non-Jewish expression of His body known as the Church.  I will expound more upon that in future blogs. Stay tuned as this is merely an introduction to a series of blogs to bring a broader understanding of the times in which we are living.  This Thursday marks the 1st of Elul on the Biblical Calendar.  This begins the preparation for the Fall Biblical Feasts. 

All those who want to experience and “encounter” the Lord through His pre-ordained Feasts are welcome to come along on the journey with me. 

Shalom

Stop Being Afraid

“Stop Being Afraid”

In Matthew’s gospel 17:7b we read Yeshua telling His disciples, “Stop being afraid.”  Why do we not trust God? His character is what is described in Hebrew as chesed. In English, we could use all the following words to describe the Biblical meaning of chesed: loving kindness, mercy, compassion, loyal covenant love, faithfulness, devotion, benevolence, goodness, strength and protection.

If we truly knew Him and His character, we would not be afraid.  In this world, we will see and experience the chaos and trouble of fallen sinful humanity.  But we need to obey what Yeshua said here, “Stop being afraid.” Also, in response to the condition of this world’s realm in another passage where He said, “be of good cheer.”  Why? Because He has overcome – through His death, resurrection and ascension – this world’s kingdom rule and He is ruling in the Kingdom of God.

When we trust Him, His kingdom rule breaks into ours where He calls us to find our dwelling place, in Him. He gives us His shalom: wholeness, completeness, soundness, sufficiency, satisfaction, harmony, peace, or holistic well-being.

In His shalom, we pray as He taught us, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Yeshua is the Prince of Shalom. Yeshua’s beloved disciple, John said in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love (chesed) drives out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and the one who fears has not been made perfect in love.” So, where is our hope that causes us not to fear? The next verse goes on to say, “We love, because He first loved us.”

Yes, Yeshua gave His life as an atonement for us, which is perfect love.  Yet, we first learned about chesed in the Tanakh, or Hebrew Scriptures also known as the Old Testament.  However, it is NOT old, for the Entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation is one Hebrew Bible revealing the true nature of God!  He revealed His chesed the most to the people of Israel when they disobeyed and fell deep into sin after they repented for their sin.  We see this in Exodus 32-34 at the foot of Mt. Sinai right after He delivered them from Egypt and gave them the Torah when they made and worshipped a golden calf!  There will always be consequences for our sinful choices, but the God of Israel is a God of love by His very nature!  His complete love was manifested in His Son, Yeshua the Messiah of Israel.  He has always intended good for humanity.  He is worthy of being trusted for He alone is truly trustworthy.  In Him, we can indeed stop being afraid.

Beware of the Tempter’s Strategy

Beware of Tempter’s Strategy

Many things can be gleaned from a study of the temptations the devil used against Yeshua, the Messiah. We can see the devil’s tactics used most on followers of Yeshua.  But best of all, we can learn from Yeshua how to resist and overcome them. Matt. 4:1-3 says, “Then Yeshua was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry.  And when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’”

The first point to recognize is that Yeshua was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  This was a divinely orchestrated event.  The outcome of it holds many powerful insights intended to be instructive to the followers of Messiah.

Yeshua, in His flesh was extremely vulnerable.  He had gone without food for 40 days. He would have felt the agonizing pain of hunger screaming to be fed.  What area of His life did the devil try to tempt first?  It was his personal need for gratification in His flesh. The devil appealed to Yeshua to pay attention to His own personal need for self-indulgence, entitlement and pride and prove His supernatural power by satisfying His flesh.  May this be a warning to be aware of when the devil will use this tactic to try to deceive believers to pay more attention to personal need, self-indulgence and entitlement than to our Father’s purpose for our relationship with Yeshua our Messiah.

How did Yeshua respond? Verse 4 states, “But He replied, “It is written, ‘man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” As an observant Jewish man, He had learned and followed the Torah His entire life. He referred back to Deuteronomy 8:3 but as Jewish custom would have it not only to that passage but to all the Scripture that preceded it as well. Deut. 8:1-3  says, “You are to take care to do the whole commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to your fathers.  You are to remember all the way that the Lord your God has led you these 40 years in the wilderness – in order to humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.  He afflicted you and let you hunger, then He fed you manna - which neither you nor your fathers had known – in order to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

It is important to mention that all religious Jews then and today recite and live daily by these Scriptures in Deut. 6:4-9: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These words, which I am commanding you today, are to be on your heart.  You are to teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, they are to be as frontlets between your eyes and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Yeshua’s 40 day fast would remind His Jewish audience of the 40 years of wandering in the desert.  Just as they had to learn to trust the Lord for food, manna He provided daily, except the double portion on the 6th day as God rested on the 7th day, we as Yeshua followers must learn to depend upon Him for everything.  They were tested when told not to take more manna than enough to meet one day’s need. When they didn’t trust Him, taking more for the next day, it would become rancid and uneatable the next day.

The second temptation in Matt 4:5-7 reads, “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on the highest point of the Temple. ‘If You are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw Yourself down.  For it is written, ‘”He shall command His angels concerning you and upon their hands they shall lift you up, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Isn’t it interesting that Yeshua, who is God in the flesh, was taken to the highest point of the Temple where the Presence of the Lord dwelt with His people in worship? Here, the devil quoted Psalm 91. This Psalm is one of the most widely known and quoted passages of most Christians.  But notice what the devil does with it.  He twists it, taking it out of its original context, and misapplies it to bring about his desired end.  The devil is a liar.  He comes to steal, kill and destroy.  First, he tried to steal Yeshua’s identity.  Now he is trying to kill him.  But what does Yeshua say in response to this?  Once again, He quotes from the Torah in Deut. 6:16.  Matt 4:7 says, “Yeshua said to him, “again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  Again, He returned to Covenant instructions in Torah, to observe them and not to test the Lord.

Replacement theology, a heinous teaching that wrongly teaches that the Church replaced Israel, is a prideful usurping and coveting of the unique Covenant relationship God instituted with His people Israel.  There are many Scriptures that warn of false teaching throughout the Epistles.  When the whole counsel of the entire Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is not studied and understood on its own terms, it is easily fed to unsuspecting hearers by the master manipulator and twister of Scripture the devil was revealed as being.  It is one of his tactics that has worked far too often with those who hold learned doctrines and traditions above the Holy Scriptures.  It is a twisting of Scripture and manipulation for it is indeed testing God.

Finally, let us look at the third and final temptation in Matt. 4:8-9. “Again, the devil takes Him to a very high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’”

Why would the devil think that might even be possible?  Since the Fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden that affected all of creation, the devil has maintained control over his domain.  The devil took him to a high mountain to impress Him with the fact that he had domain over all the worldly systems, the fallenness of all creation over which he was given temporary control.  The devil was attempting to intimidate Yeshua into serving and obeying the devil for the exchange of giving Yeshua the tainted kingdoms of the earth.  Imagine that usurper attempting to give the fallen world he had corrupted to the Creator who created it without corruption!  How did Yeshua respond?

Matt. 4:10 says, “Then Yeshua says to him, ‘Go away satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”

Once again, Yeshua is quoting Deut. 6:13, “You must fear the Lord your God and serve Him.”  It is imperative for all believers to read know and observe Torah, especially the book of Deuteronomy as it provides instructions for life, even abundant life, promised by Yeshua Messiah.

Yeshua said in Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”  The word ‘fulfill’ actually indicates a making full or expounding the right understanding of Torah. He goes on to say in the following verses, “Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.  But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the Torah scholars, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven!”  Righteousness is actually doing what is righteous, or being obedient to what the Torah teaches.  How is one to be obedient and do it if one has not learned it?  Yeshua came to teach how to understand and live it properly.  He never abolished His law, just the legalistic interpretation of it.  When we read the whole book of Deuteronomy, we see that God knew they would forget and disobey Him.  But He gave them hope in His instructions to return and obey.  We may never see God’s people live in such a way as to fully obey and live out the commandments perfectly this side of the world to come.  But we can be confident that when Messiah Yeshua returns and establishes His Kingdom on earth, we will see His commandments manifested in the righteous ways His people live.  For truly the kingdom of God is here now and yet, not yet.

It is my prayer and desire to see those of us Gentile believers, of whom I am one, repent for our arrogance and pride in embracing the twisting of Scripture through Replacement Theology and turn to the Lord who graciously forgives and restores us. Most of us innocently simply accepted  the erroneous teaching that the Church fathers handed down without realizing that it was motivated in the 3rd century by those teaching the false doctrine John warned about in all his Epistles and Yeshua prayed against in His prayer found in John 17.  He desires all those who believe in Him, the Messiah of Israel, who are both Jewish and non-Jewish to be one even as He and the Father are One.  He longs for His Jewish people who are far from Him and the people of the nations to come to Him, the Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Yeshua’s Priestly Prayer

How many people wonder what Yeshua is praying as He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us?  We know from reading the Gospel of John in Chapter 17 what was the focus of His prayer then.

What He intercedes for us today, I would think, would be in keeping with what aligns with this condensed version of His prayer right before His crucifixion.  This is what He prayed.

"This is Eternal Life - that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah, the One You sent.

Father, I pray for them (all who put their trust in Him as Messiah then and all of us throughout the ages who have come after them as a result of their testimony)

So that they may be one just as We are.

So that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

So that You keep them from the evil one.

So that they may be made holy in truth.

So that they all may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, so also may they be one in Us.

So that the world may believe that You sent Me.

So that they may be one just as We are one.

So that they may be perfected in unity.

So the world may know that You sent Me and loved them as You loved Me.

So that they may see My glory.

So that love which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

It is very clear to see how important our relationship with one another is to our Messiah.  When He returns for His Bride, comprised of Jewish and non-Jewish believers, this is the community He will take to Himself.

May we all take His prayer for us seriously and seek Him to transform us into His image through the watering of His Word and the indwelling of His Spirit.

Many blessings be upon you, my readers.