Love the Truth or Be Deceived

In this study I have lightly paraphrased some of the Scripture quotes in order to keep on point; and, as always, I remind you to read them (now or later) from your own copy of Scriptures for the full impact ~ Candus

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What is Love? 

Second John Verse 6 ~ And this is love, that we walk according to the Commandments.

Why should we follow the Commandments?

.... you have heard from the beginning, that we should walk in it because many seducers have gone forth into the world who do not confess that Y'shua the Anointed One has come in the flesh.

What is Truth?

John 8:20-21* (31-32) ~ And Y'shua said to those Yehudeans who believed in him, "If you should abide by my words, truly you are my disciples. And you will know the Truth and that Truth will set you free."

John 17:17 ~ Father sanctify them by your Truth, for Your Word is Truth. As You have sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world and I fear for their sake. I sanctify myself so that they may also be sanctified by Truth.

Y'shua says his Father's Word is Truth... what is the Word?

John 1 ~ In the beginning was the Miltha (Word) and that Miltha was with Elohim and He was that Miltha. This was with Elohim in the beginning. Everything existed through His hands and without Him not even one thing existed of the things which have existed. In Him was life and the life was the light of men which shines in the darkness not to be overtaken. 9 ~ The Light  was of Truth which shines on all who come into the world.  He was in the world and it did not know him. He came to his own and they did  not receive him. But those who did receive him to them he gave authority that they might be the sons of Elohim, those who believed in His Name. 14 ~ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory as the Only Begotten  who is from the Father who is full of grace and truth. 17 ~ Torah was given through Moses but truth and grace through Y'shua who is the Mashiyach (Anointed One).

The Word is the Manifestation of the Ruach haKodesh (Spirit of Elohim) within Y'shua.

Quote: The writings of Moses (aka Torah) is the Word of Elohim, but grace and truth revealed in Y'shua are the impelling forces that uphold all righteousness and keep the Word of YHWH positioned in our hearts - these are complimentary and not opposites. It is according to the grace of the Father that Y'shua is revealed in a person's heart. (John 17:9, 10)

If we do not love Truth then we won't search it out, we won't study the first five books of the OT in order to understand what Moses was writing about, nor shall we read the writings of the prophets. Without reading the Old Testament (Tanakh) we cannot fully grasp the writings in the New Testament. We won't know what or who the Word of God is and will continue to remain slaves to the system being seduced: deceived by false teachers, preacher, ministers, pastors, Hollywood, main stream media and others who profess to be Bible-smart God-fearing Torah-observant people.

Government under Y'shua, Son of YHWH, as our king and priest, who rules by the Commandments of the Father, is what the writings of Moses foreshadow. 

'Types and Shadows' are not deeper things. They are examples written of (foretold) in the OT and usually revealed (fulfilled) in the NT, or yet to be fulfilled - this would be an example of Scripture interpreting itself and why we read the book as a whole. 

When we show YHWH our intent and abide by His Instructions, best we can in this day and age, He gives us understanding as we are comforted with the Truth revealed to us by His Ruach haKodesh (Set Apart Spirit).  Y'shua is the Word made Flesh by the Spirit of YHWH.  Believing in Y'shua and accepting his life, death, resurrection and why his blood needed to be shed, we become born again of the Spirit by which we enter his kingdom.  In a sense this is part of putting on the armor of YHWH where we find strength and protection... we shall not fall for the strong delusion.  Many have become delusional already.

Delusion defined: 

• something that is falsely believed or propagated
• a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary; also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs

2 Thessalonians 2:9

For the coming of that Evil One is the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all the deceptiveness of iniquity in them that perish because they did not receive the love of the truth by which they might have life. Therefore Elohim will send upon them the strength of a deception that they may believe a lie, and that they all may be condemned who believe not the truth but have pleasure in iniquity.

We are to Love YHWH first and foremost and not put ourselves first and then work Him into our schedule as we see fit. 

Mark 12:29 ~ Y'shua said the 1st Commandment is 'Shema (hear and obey) O Israel! Master YHWH is one - Love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, all your mind and strength. The 2nd is like it - Love your neighbor as yourself'. (Leviticus 19:18) 

And while we're at it:

Romans 12:9 ~ Let not your love be full of deceit, but be haters of evil things and adhere to good things. Love one another, honor one another, be active and not slothful. Be fervent in spirit. Work for Y'shua. Be joyful in your hope in the Good News. Be patient under your afflictions and preserving in prayer. Be communicators to the wants of the Set Apart believers. Be kind to strangers. Bless your persecutors, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with them who rejoice and weep with them who weep. Do not indulge in arrogant thoughts, but unite yourselves with the humble minded. Be not wise in your own estimations. Repay no man evil for evil but let it be to your study to do good before all men.

(ps.... As a side note: God YHWH has never been about religious organizations. There is no Scriptural authority for 'believers' to build churches, attend churches, or support churches and their various denominations (divisions). We should be gathering in assemblies with Set Apart believers in our communities, whenever possible, instead of joining churches with their con games, entertainment, rock bands, childishness and worldly nonsense.  This is part what His Truth sets us free from and will help keep us from falling for whatever the delusion is or will become.) 

Click Here to go to my study about The Church

Becoming Set Apart is not about places, buildings, or circles; rather, it is about unique and precious people. The Samaritan woman at the well changed the course of her discussion with Y'shua to places of worship. Y'shua turned that discussion toward people who would worship in spirit and in truth.

John 3- I tell you that unless a person is born again from above he cannot see the Kingdom of Elohim... unless a person is born from water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of Elohim.

Click Here for my study on Faith and Salvation 

*In later Greek translations a story appears in the text of a woman caught in adultery, which was inserted as verses 1-11. The story is nonexistent in the Peshitta and the Khabouris Codex and does not appear in the four earliest Greek manuscripts of John.

Discipline = Obedience

Obedience = Love

I am not perfect but this does not stop me from following in Messiah's footsteps which lead us into that perfection which completes us.

I have come out of the Mystery Babylon mindset but still have some habits to break. I know right from wrong but fall short from time to time.

I am at that point on His Path of Righteousness that when I look back at the way I use to be I shake my head in shame and cannot believe I was that person. 

Praise YHWH and His steadfast love and His everlasting covenant!

It is by reading His Instructions that I have learned right from wrong; good from evil. These lessons prompt me to be obedient to the One who created me. It is by following His Instructions in Righteousness that I am becoming disciplined. I choose to do so by faith.

​Exodus 15:26 - If you will diligently listen to the voice of ​YHWH your Elohim, and do that which is right in ​H​is eyes, and give ear to ​H​is commandments and keep all ​H​is statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am ​YHWH​, your healer.

Deuteronomy 11:26- See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

Deuteronomy 30:15- See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity. For I command you this day to love Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His laws, and His rules, that you may thrive and increase, and that He may bless you... But if your heart turns away and you give no heed, and are lured into the worship and service of other gods, I declare to you this day that you shall certainly perish... I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Chose life by loving Yahweh Elohim, heeding His commands and holding fast to Him. For thereby you shall have life and shall long endure.

Deuteronomy 30:19- I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life if you and your offspring would live by loving Yahweh Elohim, heeding His commands, and holding fast to Him. For thereby you shall have life and long endure.

John 14:15 - Y'shua said if you love me keep my commands. 14:21- He who has and keeps my commandments is he who loves me and will be loved by my Father. 15:10 - If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love just as I have kept the commandments of my Father (Torah) and I abide in His love. 

Revelation 22:14 - Blessed are those who do His commandments for they shall be given the right to the Tree of Life and will be allowed to enter into the city (New Jerusalem).

The Ten Commandments Summarized

Obedience is Discipline

His Governing System

Love Our Enemies

In the beginning was the Word...

We read in Matthew 5 about Y'shua teaching from the mountain. Remember the first time teaching came from the mountain? Moses brought the Word of Elohim down to the people. This time the Son of Yahweh is teaching and defining the same Word.

Y'shua did not come to do away with the Instructions established by our Creator, nor the writings of prophets of old. He did, however, bring to realization and perform his duty by obeying those Instructions of the Father. Not only that, he expanded and clarified the definition of the Commandments.

Matthew 5:21- You have heard 'you shall not kill' (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17) but I say if you even provoke to anger anyone, without cause, you are condemned to the Gehenna of fire. 5:27- You have heard you should not commit adultery but I say if you even think about it, you have committed adultery in your heart 5:38- You have heard it said "an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth" (this Hebrew idiom refers to fair restitution = the amount to be restored is equal to the loss, not crime for a crime.) 5:43- You have heard it said to "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (oral law) But I say to you to love your enemies and bless those that curse you and do that which is pleasing to those who hate you. (loving the enemy would be not to avenge or bear a grudge against them - nor to run out and give 'em a hug - its not that kind of love) Here is the reason=> 5:46- If you love only those who love you, what reward have you? Even the publicans do this. And if you greet in peace only your brothers, what more are you doing? Even the publicans do this. 5:48- You therefore be perfect as your Father in heaven who is perfect. (Yah told us to be Set Apart because He is Set Apart)

Note: When Y'shua says 'you have heard' or 'you have heard it said', he is referring to 'oral Torah' as taught by the Pharisees:

Quote - Among the Pharisaic proto-rabbis, “building fences around the Torah” was a common practice. Unlike their primary opponents, the Sadducees, the Pharisees observed a long tradition of oral interpretation of and commentary on Torah, going back to the early sages. This “oral Torah” (traditions of the elders) was passed down from teacher to student through the generations (and became the predominant expression of Judaism after the Jerusalem Temple’s destruction in 70 CE, when the religion had to be re-formulated without temple worship). An essential component of “oral Torah” was the practice of “building fences” around the commandments – formulating additional observations and practices in order to preserve the commandment itself. (end quote)

It is possible that this Pharisaic tradition originated during the seventy years of 'captivity' in Babylon where many bad habits were picked up (including giving names to days and months).  Y'shua was pointing out this error by teaching the Word of Elohim in its purity. People had forgotten Yah's Instructions to the point of even forgetting His Name. Judaism is the result of tradition, man's imagination and placing his own opinion above Yah's Instructions. Man created religion.

We know that Yahweh will destroy our enemies so it is not necessary to waste our emotions on them. We are not to rejoice in the defeat or downfall of our enemies, nor are we to hold a grudge against them or seek revenge. These are they we are to simply disassociate with. It has nothing to do with hating our enemies nor are we to embrace them. We can forgive them because they just don't know what they are doing and patiently wait for the Day of Yah's Wrath. 

Luke 6:35 - Love your enemies and do good to them and lend a hand and do not cut off the hope of man. Be merciful as your Father is merciful... for the measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you. Take the beam out of your own eye then you will be able to see to take out the straw that is in the eye of your brother.

The 2 The 10 and The Rest Follow Naturally

Matthew 22 tells us that Yah's Instructions (Torah) and the (writings of the) prophets hold onto these two commandments: 

• Love Master Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, soul, might and mind 
• Love your neighbor as yourself 

Earlier, we read in Deuteronomy 6:5

• You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and all your soul and with all your might.

and in Leviticus 19:18

• Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself.

You see, those "two great commands" do not replace anything else - they come straight from the Old Testament, the part referred to as Torah. If you love Yah with your entire being then it should be no problem for you to understand and follow His Instructions.

I am YHWH your Elohim who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: You shall have no other gods besides Me. You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. I YHWH am your Elohim, impassioned, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children upon the third and the fourth generations of those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments. You shall not swear falsely by My Name for I will not clear one who does.

If you love your fellowman as yourself, you will treat him with the same respect as you would like to be treated. You should have no problem following the Instructions of Yahweh.

Honor your mother and father that you may long endure in the Promised Land that I am giving you. You shall not murder, or commit adultery or steal or bare false witness against one another. You shall not covet your neighbor's house or wife or anything that belongs to him.

Those who do the commandments are those who love Yahweh. 

Without love, observing His Instructions is vanity and 

without His Instructions one's love is vanity.

Remember the sabbath day and keep it set apart. Six days you shall do all your work but the seventh day is a sabbath of Mine. You, your family, your hired hands or your work animals or the stranger who is visiting your town shall do no work. I made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them in six days and on the seventh I rested, therefore I blessed the sabbath day and set it apart.

All of His Instructions are recorded in the the first five books of Scriptures: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This is His Instruction Manual provided for His Creation.  Sure, it takes some study time to even begin to understand what was going on back in those days and to learn that it still applies to us today; just as any owner's manual needs to be read a few times before the instructions make sense, become clear.

Nothing was done away with when Yahshua came on the scene, in fact, he clarifies and even raises the standard a few times, but he did not put an end to what the Father started.

Exodus 20:

I am YHWH your Elohim who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: You shall have no other gods besides Me.

You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them.

I YHWH am your Elohim, impassioned, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children upon the third and the fourth generations of those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those w ho love Me and keep My commandments.

You shall not swear falsely by My Name for I will not clear one who does.

Remember the sabbath day and keep it set apart. Six days you shall do all your work but the seventh day is a sabbath of Mine. You, your family, your hired hands or your work animals or the stranger who is visiting your town shall do no work. I made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them in six days and on the seventh I rested, therefore I blessed the sabbath day and set it apart.

Honor your mother and father that you may long endure in the Promised Land that I am giving you.

You shall not murder, or commit adultery or steal or bare false witness against one another. You shall not covet your neighbor's house or wife or anything that belongs to him.

The Reason not to be of The Season

Many years ago I became interested in learning about our family traditions, from whence they originated and why we celebrate these assorted holidays.  One major holiday is Christmas and that is where I began. The results I share in this study are from Scriptures and information gleaned from other research on this same topic by many others. Don't take my word for it always study it out for yourselves.

"Christ" is not the reason for the season.

Jesus Christ is not his name.  He had Hebrew parents who gave him a Hebrew name: Yah-shua (Y'shua).  He was born about 6 months after his cousin, John. This is an historically correct fact.

In the story leading up to Y'shua's inception, his mother-to-be, Mary, came to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John. It is through this account, found in Luke, chapter 1, that we are able to more closely fix the date of the birth of Messiah.

Luke indicates that Elizabeth’s husband was Zechariah and a priest of the course of Abia. While on duty, as a priest, he was visited by an angel and informed his wife was to have a son to be named John. After his obligations to the ministry ended, he departed to his house. He and Elizabeth conceived a child.

During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and informed her she was going to have a son. Mary goes to visit her cousin, and stayed with her about three months.

In order to fix the time of conception, one must look to the time of Zachariah's ministry. At that time, the priests were divided into 24 classes and it is known that each class officiated at the Temple in turn for a week. If it is known when the course of Abia was when Zachariah  officiated, one can trace the times of the succession of courses backward or forward. I trust the research of those who traced this time line and were able to calculate the beginning of Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy began in the fourth week of December, when Mary came to visit.

Using Zachariah’s ministry, Elizabeth’s pregnancy term and Mary’s visit at the start of her sixth month, this shows the conception of Y'shua in the first part of the last week of December and His birth occurring on or around September 29, 2 BC - not December 25.

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There is a common defense put forth by folks who celebrate x-mas when it has been pointed out that Y'shua was not born on Dec. 25th... they say 'any time is a good time to honor christ...' Our Father in Heaven clearly points out not to have any thing to do with idols or heathen traditions like cutting down a tree and putting it up in your home, decorating it and bowing down before it (the act of placing gifts beneath the tree).  These things do not honor our Creator.  We must not celebrate christmas. It has nothing to do with Yahweh the Father, Yahshua the Son but falls under the heading of Abominations.

IF you really want to honor Yahweh, then do as He says, not what man says. Give up man made traditions and Y'shua will fill those spaces with His Set Apart Spirit.

Yahweh is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
 but everyone to come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]

Here are assorted links that delve into the origins of other man made traditions as well as days our Father set as holy. I pray you find time to check them out, do a little searching on your own and you will find the truth really will set you free. You'll be free of worries, anxiety, insecurity, and loneliness just to name a few!

I try to maintain link lists, but if you come across one that no longer works, I'd appreciate it if you would let me know so that I may remove it.

Easter

Palm Sunday

Passover 

Exodus

1599 Geneva Bible (the one before King James)

Holidays

One Stop Scripture Spot

Genesis

Faith> Grace> Works

A study I've been working on compelled me to look up the definition of 'Grace' in the Webster dictionary:

Pleasing quality; favor; thanks; A sense of what is right and proper; the unmerited love and favor of The Creator towards mankind; divine influence acting in a person to make the person pure (righteous/clean/set apart); morally strong; a special virtue, gift or help given to a person by Elohim.

Grace is a gift from Elohim that does not replace Torah. Torah is the set of instructions to show us what is right and proper. Grace shows His favor towards us, in that through His Set Apart Spirit He helps us to understand His commands and how to apply them to our lives that we may be righteous, morally strong.   YHWH, by His Grace, gave us the gift of His Laws and free will to choose Life eternal by obeying, keeping, observing and living by them.

There is a point of contention among 'believers' in regards to being 'saved'. There is the 'once saved always saved' mindset along with being 'saved by grace' and the 'saved by faith' and the 'saved by works' facets of this one topic.  

Acts 2:38 tells us in order to be saved (from the curse of eternal death) that we are to repent (return to Yah, turn from our sinful ways) and be immersed (mikveh/baptised/ritually cleansed) so that we may receive the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). 

If we do turn away from our sinful ways and return to the Creator and His Teachings and be immersed symbolizing our intentions, then we are ready to receive the gift of His Set Apart Spirit.  If we make the first move then Yah will follow up, giving us His unmerited love and favor.  It is a process, not an end-all.  We never stop learning until the day He restores all things!

2 Thessalonians 2:16

And may our Master Y'shua the Mashiyach himself, and Elohim our Father who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and a good hope through His grace, comfort your hearts and establish yourselves in every good word and in every good work.

In the letter to the Romans, Paul refers to himself as a servant of Y'shua, who was called, sent and separated to the Good News of Elohim and acknowledges it is from Him whom we have received grace and a mission... to the end that all may obey the faith among whom are called by Y'shua.

Grace doesn't just happen - it is a result of our Faith.  Faith is our belief, our trust in YHWH Elohim.  In trusting Him we choose to obey His Instructions. The result is Righteousness - we become morally justified and freed from sin.

Hebrews 11

Now faith is the persuasion of the things that are in hope as if they were an actual fact, and it is the manifesting of the things not seen. For by faith we understand that the worlds were shaped by the Word of Elohim and that things seen originated from those that are not seen.

By faith, Abel offered to Elohim a better sacrifice ... and on account of it he is testified of being righteous... By faith, Enoch was translated and did not taste death ... there was testimony of him that he pleased Elohim.

Without faith, man cannot please Elohim.

He who draws near to Elohim must believe His existence

and that He will recompense those who seek Him.

By faith, Noah when he was told of the things not seen, obeyed Yahweh and made an ark... and became righteous which is by faith.  By faith, Abraham, when called, obeyed... departed to the place of his inheritance while he had no idea where he was going. By faith he became a resident in the land that was promised... All these died in faith and did not receive their promise but they saw it from a distance and rejoiced in it, and they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

1 Peter 1:6-9 ... when you are under some pressure by the various trials that pass over you (it is) so that the proof of your faith may appear more precious than refined gold that is tested by fire, to glory and honor and praise at the manifestation of Y'shua: whom having not seen, you love; and in the faith of whom you rejoice with the joy that is glorious and beyond expression, that you many receive the reward of your faith, the life of your souls...

Faith and Grace are part of a harmonious connection between us and YHWH.

Paul's desire is to give the gift of the Spirit through which we become established and find comfort together in faith. The Good News reveals the righteousness of Elohim, from faith to faith, as it is written, 'The righteous by faith will live.'

We find in the writings of James chapter 2:

What is the use if a man says 'I have faith' yet he has no works? Can his faith restore life?" James continues to give the example of a fellow believer who is cold and hungry and another says to him, 'go in peace...warm yourself and be full', then he does not give him the necessities (clothing and food), what is the use? Consoling a person without providing the need is faith without works... whereas providing the need, whether food, clothing or shelter, is 'works' which reveals faith.

James 2:17 reads: 

"So also faith alone, without works, is dead. For a man may say you have faith and I have works; show me your faith that is without works and I will show you my faith by my works."

James 2:24 

You see that by works a man is justified and not by faith alone.

Galatians 3:23 

"But before faith came, Torah was guarding us while we were confined from the faith about to be revealed." 

Andrew Gabriel Roth offers insight: 

In this regard "Torah" can be compared with any righteous values a soul voluntarily imposes upon himself. However, as a spiritual relationship is established with YHWH and Y'shua, a soul is elevated to much higher levels of spiritual awareness and accountability.

Galatians 3:12 

Thus Torah is not made by faith, but whosoever will do the things that are written in it, will live in it. (Leviticus 18:5: You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them...) 

John 20:29 

Y'shua said to him, "Now that you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who do not see me and believe."

If you continue to study Scripture then Knowledge and Understanding will increase, baggage falls away, the narrow gate opens and the straight path is revealed. Halleluyah! and praise Elohim for His steadfast love that all would have the opportunity and choose to turn from sin and return to Him - the One who created us!  This is the path we journey along towards our real home. We come across many stepping stones as well as stumbling blocks, but our Faith keeps us steady.

By our Faith we receive His Grace as we live by His Instructions.  It is just natural to follow up caring for fellow believers and by doing these good works we are morally justified, accounted as righteous.

Love

Lovely definitions of Love:
 

Mark 12:29 - Y'shua said the 1st Commandment is 'Shema (hear and obey) O Israel! Master YHWH is one - Love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, all your mind and strength. The 2nd is like it - Love your neighbor as yourself' (Leviticus 19:18)
 

Luke 6:35 - Love your enemies and do good to them and lend a hand and do not cut off the hope of man. Be merciful as your Father is merciful... for the measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you. Take the beam out of your own eye then you will be able to see to take out the straw that is in the eye of your brother.
 

Romans 12:9 - Let not your love be full of deceit, but be haters of evil things and adhere to good things. Love one another, honor one another, be active and not slothful. Be fervent in spirit. Work for Y'shua. Be joyful in your hope/Good News. Be patient under your afflictions and preserving in prayer. Be communicators to the wants of the Set Apart believers. Be kind to strangers. Bless your persecutors, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with them who rejoice and weep with them who weep. Do not indulge in arrogant thoughts, but unite yourselves with the humble minded. Be not wise in your own estimations. Repay no man evil for evil but let it be to your study to do good before all men.
 

1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is patient and kind. Love is not envious, does not shout loudly and is not boastful. Love does nothing that causes shame, and seeks not her own (ego-strokers). Love is not passionate, and thinks no evil. It does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes for all and endures all. Love will never cease (His steadfast love is eternal). These three things are abiding: Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

Nothing Has Changed

Right off the bat we are told it is Satan 
who causes us to doubt the Word of Yah. 

This doubt causes division among His People. 

If we aren't of one mind how can we be a Light unto others?

If we won't accept the written word as truth, 

if we doubt that Yahweh says what He means 
and does what He says, 

then we fall into that same trap Satan 
set in the Garden of long ago.

Nothing has changed. 

The rules are the same and the consequences are the same.

It is up to us to seek Him as if looking for treasure. 
By seeking YHWH we follow the trail 
and avoid those stumbling blocks
of bad translations, doctrines of man 
and those wolves in sheep's clothing.

Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, 
is our road map out of the world system
that we may find our way back home 
returning to our Creator.

We know God speaks to His People as it is written in Scriptures. We also know even those who witnessed His Works first hand eventually fell away from following His Teachings.

In the beginning Yahweh established Himself as the Creator of: Light; Sky; Earth; Lights in the Sky; Sea Creatures; Birds that Fly; Animals, insects and man. Then He blesses the 7th day and rests. Many years later He tells us to remember the 7th day, to rest and do no work on that day (commandment #4 of the 10.) We obey this instruction as a 'sign' that we have chosen to be Set Apart because our Creator is Set Apart.

YHWH has told us the end from the beginning so we will recognize that when these events occur, it was He, the Living Elohim, who told us beforehand. We can trust that Yah is the One True God. 

YHWH Elohim provides the instructions needed that all will be well for us. His Instructions are recorded in Genesis through Deuteronomy.  If we read Scriptures every day His Spirit will begin to reveal the Truth of His Word and we shall gain understanding. This is the path of righteousness we choose to travel.

God placed man in the Garden to tend it. He put us in His Creation to take care of things until the Time of the End (of life as we know it.)   The Adversary, Satan, has been corrupting the system ever since he caused Eve to doubt the Word of God by asking: Did God really say...? Doubt causes division and Satan uses that same tactic against us in this day and age.

If we continue to read and study Scriptures our understanding will increase and give way to wisdom that we may discern the times we are in and not fall victim to Satan's deceits. Satan has a counterfeit for everything God put in place.

We can say anything, profess to be believers, but it is the intentions of our heart that will be eventually revealed. YHWH's People are recognized as Set Apart because not only do they 'talk the talk' by they 'walk the walk'.

Our lifestyle becomes Set Apart by our choice to obey YHWH and live according to His rules. This is what it means to be a Light unto the Nations (other peoples).

If we love Elohim the Creator whose name is YHWH, then we obey His Instructions. He, in turn, keeps His promise made to Abraham so many years ago: Yah will gather us from the corners of the earth, from the places we have been scattered and set us on the Promised Land of Canaan.

We trust our Heavenly Father that we will find ourselves back in that Garden.

The Perfect Government System

My sister and I have been discussing the term 'legalistic' as it is used by Christians against keeping Torah.  My conclusion is that it is not about legalism but rather a free will choice: 

Obey His Commands or Don't obey His Commands, simple as that.

 

'Torah' is the Hebrew word and translates to the English word 'Instructions'.

Christians seem to think it is impossible to keep the Dos and Don'ts provide by The Father; His laws, rules and regulations, and would rather follow man made church traditions.  Without knowing it, most Christians keep about 200 of the 613 Commandments.  Of the 613, not all apply to you and me.  Some apply only to the Temple and Priests (n/a today because the Temple doesn't exist). Some apply only to Judges or agriculture, some for just men and some for just women.

Yah provided His Owner's Manual, His set of instructions in righteous living for His created.  It contains the terms and conditions of His Covenant between Himself and mankind - a contract.  His Instructions are found in Genesis through Deuteronomy and are meant for everyone.  It is YHWH's perfect system of government.  Spiritual guidelines make up His Faith conditional covenant which, through the observance of Messiah, brings blessings.  Reading Scriptures reveals the mystery of His Kingdom; provides a spiritual connection with Y'shua; provides prophetic discernment and is pleasing to YHWH our Creator and His Anointed One, Y'shua.

Yah's Instructions reveal sin as we learn right from wrong.  It specifies what is good and acceptable conduct according to our Creator and provides guidelines for righteousness and repentance.

Andrew G. Roth, in his Aramaic English New Testament, breaks down the 613 Mitzvot (Commandments) into categories: The 248 Positive (Dos) and the 365 Negative (Don'ts).  I will list those categories here for you.

There are 248 Positive Commands as they pertain to these categories:

• YHWH
• Torah
• Temple and Priests
• Sacrifices
• Vows
• Ritual Purity
• Donations to Temple
• Sabbatical Year (Jubilee)
• Animals for food
• Festivals
• Community
• Idolatry
• War
• Social
• Family
• Judicial
• Slaves (bondservants)
• Torts

There are 365 Negative Commands and they pertain to:

• Related practices to idolatry
• Prohibitions resulting in historical events
• Blasphemy
• Temple, Sacrifices and Priests
• Dietary Laws
• Nazarites
• Agriculture
• Loans, Business, Treatment of Slaves
• Justice
• Incest and Forbidden Relationships
• The Monarchy

Yah's Commandments are common sense law for our health and well being.  We will experience this system after the return of Y'shua during his thousand year reign on this earth.  By reading and studying Scriptures now we will know what is expected of us.  He has shown us the End from the Beginning!

It is not up to us to decide how we should honor our Creator - it is about what He wants, not what we think and feel is the right thing.  If we love Him we keep His Commandments.  Even Y'shua said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)  Also, "He who has my Commandments with  him and keeps them (obeys the Word of God) is he who loves me and will be loved by my Father."  (John 14:21)  And, "If you keep my Commandments you will abide in my love, just as I have kept the Commandments of my Father...: (John 15:10).  Y'shua kept Torah.

 Our Father in heaven gave us free will.  He is long-suffering, waiting for us to choose to love Him and by keeping His Commandments we show that love.

To Dance or Not to Dance

Several months ago the topic of dance came up within the Torah Study Group I was attending.  A sister came across a website which went into the pagan origins of what some today refer to as Hebraic Dance, or Davidic Dance, or praise and worship dance = Circle Dance.  I followed up this topic with my own study, both within scripture and via resources on the web.  Bottom line - Acceptable dance, whirling and twirling (dancing) is Spontaneous Reaction to Joy, not something planned, choreographed and taught to others.

Examples of Joyful Dancing in Scriptures:
Exodus 15:20,

1 Samuel 18:6-7. 2 Samuel 6:14-23,

Jeremiah 31:4,
Psalm 30:12, Psalm 149, 150:4,
Judges 11:34 (mixed emotions here)
Judges 21:21-23

 

In a rush to embrace the Hebraic Roots/Messianic movement, some good hearted gentiles are overlooking some facts.  Just as we have learned about the origins of the holidays and have quit partaking in them, learned dance steps have pagan origins, too.  We cannot tolerate what is wrong in an attempt to make things right.  We cannot mimic pagan ways and think we are honoring our Creator as He Himself said we cannot take something unholy and make it holy.

Here are some links that delve into the origins of what is being passed off as praise and worship:

 

Is Dancing Biblical?

What does Scripture Say?

Mayim Mayim
this site (Israeli folk dance) has a pdf showing the particular steps called the 'grapevine'
which is what ties in with paganism...

Grapevine Step
same style as the Hebrew Folk Dance
Spiral-Grapevine-Weaver's Dance defined

 

There is so much deception in our life which is a tool used by Satan to keep us from gaining knowledge, to keep us from YHWH our Elohim.  I am thankful for Jamie who brought this topic to my attention to begin with!  Time to take the blinders off!  Be Set Apart because He Is Set Apart :-)

 

 

Part of His Creation

This world shall pass, but every word of Yahweh lasts forever.

His Instructions are being written upon our hearts via His Spirit.  He has given us instructions on how to live physically so we may learn how to live spiritually.  We choose to become servants and recognize that we belong to our Creator, the Elohim of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Eve is our example of yielding to temptation as she did not trust the Word of YHWH. This brought sin upon us all, as Man fell from grace.  Abraham is our example of trusting whole heartedly in YHWH.  Noah is our example of faithfulness and willingness to obey Elohim.  Y'shua is our example of living righteously and Yah is our example of love.

Although we are born sinners, His Plan allows us to learn the Way of redemption.  As we learn and repent, we are instructed to share this Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven with others so they, too, can travel the straight path to the narrow gate that leads to Eternal Life.  Realize we are all children of Yahweh Elohim.  It is by choice some deny Y'shua as Son of Yahweh, that He is our only hope for survival.  Yahweh our Elohim will forgive ignorance as He wants everyone to have the opportunity to find the Truth and come out of the darkness (I am a good example of that).  Once we've had our eyes opened by Truth, Faith will guide us on the path of righteousness as we grow spiritually.

Love your neighbors as yourself and love our Heavenly Father with all your heart, soul and might.  If we accomplish this, all else falls into place.  For it is the Love of Yahweh that put us here in the first place and it is that same Love that will restore all things when the time comes, at the end.

We are to forgive those who have done us wrong and YHWH will forgive us for our wrong doings.  Pray for others to soften their hearts so the Word of Elohim can come in.  Y'shua is the Light of the World, the Way and the Truth and no one comes to the Father except through the Son.  Seek Him sincerely and let Him into your life - your life will change when you willingly hand it over to Yahshua, the Son of our Creator and King of the Universe!  Halleluyah!

Many have the attitude 'you're born, you live and then you die' and believe they have no control over the outcome of their lives.  Therefore, they don't feel responsible for their actions.  Few realize there is a spiritual battle going on for our souls that began long before we were physically born into this world.  In the long run, YHWH has already won, but you and I are in the midst of this battle which is playing out.  Temptations and Deceptions are everywhere and most people don't recognize them for what they are- Diversions from seeking the Truth, the Way and the Light of the World.  We also face trying times in our lives which are necessary, for some, as a test of faith, to strengthen it.  Some need these challenges in order to bring about a keener awareness of the bigger picture.  If we stay in our own little corner of our own little world, how are we to know what to do when events take place during the end times?  How will we know who to trust if we haven't been paying attention all these years?

It is very important now to dust off the cover and read your bible from Old Testament through the New Testament, again and once more, each day.

There is purpose to our lives and that is to Love Yah, Love our neighbor as we love ourself and treat others as we'd like to be treated.  Do all our work and chores in six days, then rest on the seventh day count from each new moon, Yah's Sabbath day rest made for man.  Don't tell lies or be envious of others. Don't take what doesn't belong to you.  Don't plan on murdering anyone as Revenge belongs to YHWH.  Don't let your actions bring dishonor on your family.  Behave yourself and control your animal lusts! Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman.  Don't misuse the name of Elohim, Yahweh, and don't try to replace Him with carved statues of other so called gods and idols. YHWH is the one true living Elohim!  He cares for us, His creation.  

To protect us from The Adversary, Satan, the devil, Yahweh gave us His Son, Y'shua who was killed, sacrificed not only to save us from sin but to fulfilled Torah/Old Testament prophecy.  The blood shed by Y'shua is what symbolically washes us clean from our sins. He is Yah's weapon against Satan and his temptations, demons and deceptions and reminds us that that old Dragon makes us slaves to the world system.  And the worse is yet to come.  That is why hardships befall us in our life time, to prepare us to be strong in faith in Yahweh.  What we have gone through will seem like small potatoes in comparison to the final three and half years.  Those with the seal of Elohim in their foreheads will be saved, protected from the end time events designed to convince the remaining Gentile, pagan, non-believers to get on board or choose eternal torment.  Some of us need minor prodding to see the difference between good and evil, others will simply refuse to see and believe.

If you know about our Creator, whose name is Yahweh (YHWH) but haven't chosen to belong to Him, time is running out.  If you've heard about salvation but haven't sought it out, now would be a good time.  The Son of Elohim was born to Hebrew parents who were told by an angel of Yahweh to name the child 'Yahshua'.  Call upon His Name and have a conversation with Him in the quiet of your mind.  The words will come, you'll see.  You don't need to wait until you're in dire straights to reach out to Him.  Drop your pre-conceived notions, be earnest and willing to receive His Love and Forgiveness.  There's plenty of room on the path back home, but there is not plenty of time left for you to make that decision.

Born, Again

There are a lot of instructions from our Heavenly Father as to how He would like us to live while on earth. His Son our Messiah points out: Love YHWH with all your heart, your soul and all your might - and - Love your neighbor as you love yourself - that these are the two most important laws on which all the other commandments hang.  Yahweh is Love and love is powerful stuff!  Besides Love is Trust. In trusting Y'shua, accepting him as our Messiah, Son of the Creator, we prepare to be spiritually born again which counts toward our salvation. Apostle Peter said that we have been born again not from some seed that will decay, but from one that cannot decay, through the living Word of Elohim that lasts forever. Peter also said, 

"Without having seen him, you love him. Without seeing him now, but trusting in him, you continue to be full of joy that is glorious beyond words. And you are receiving what your trust is aiming at, namely, your deliverance."

I recently received a letter from a dear friend who claims she has not nor does she need to be born again - I assume she thinks that by just 'believing' she will be found in the Book of Life.  She was responding to a letter I sent her in which I was sharing the depths that my faith has brought me while searching for the least translated version of the bible. That is when I discovered the 'Messianic Community' and those who have found their Hebrew Roots. It seemed a natural progression, the results of years of research, study and desire to know our God.  Reading a version of the bible and attending church once a week is not what YHWH had in mind - although it is a beginning for many seeking the Truth.

My friend admits she has always 'believed', but I am convinced she does not understand what it is she believes, nor does she really understand His Word, otherwise she'd have no problem with being born again! I am not a scholar nor do I claim to completely understand Scriptures, but as a believer in search of His Truth, I know how to read and find answers in the Teaching of Y'shua, Son of the Creator. Our Heavenly Father has shared His Plan with us so that we may choose Life.  

My friend told me not to send any religious literature (not share my faith) and then told me "...your beliefs are yours and ours are ours. Please, lets leave it at that."

After I read that remark I began to wonder just who it is she has always believed in.  And I can't leave it at that - like all best friends, she and I have always told each other everything - I won't let her cut me off like this - I must offer her evidence from Scriptures to show her why she needs to be Born Again, and this blog is my warm-up for that reply!  A good Sabbath study!

Born Again, a rite of passage:

John 3- I tell you that unless a person is born again from above he cannot see the Kingdom of Elohim... unless a person is born from water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

I admit even though I am on His Path I still fight against temptations as I try not to conform to this world. I am not 'holier than thou' by any means, but may be further along The Path than others, as there are multitudes ahead of me. It is our duty to help those who need it - we will be judged and rewarded by the deeds we perform during our earthly lives.  If I do not reach out to my friend on this topic of salvation, of being born of the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) and accepting Y'shua as the Messiah, her name may be erased from the Book of Life and I would be judged accordingly.

The reason why you need to be "spiritually" born is because you have never been spiritually born to begin with. So when the Bible speaks of being “born again,” it actually means “born for the second time.” You were born physically into this world, but you were born without the Spirit of God in your soul (spiritually dead). Yes, He created you, but He gave you a free will to decide for yourself where you will spend eternity.

Fairy Tales

I was born in 1955. As a child I loved stories, especially fairy tales.  Mom had a book by The Brothers Grimm in which were stories like Rapunzel, The Three Billy Goat Gruff, Hanzel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, which I would read over and over - I had such an imagination that these stories played out in my head like a movie as I read them!  The pictures drawn to depict different scenes in each story intrigued me as well. I was fascinated and completely drawn into the stories which is why they were so popular - almost every child was enchanted by them!  These stories introduce fairies, gnomes, ghosts, goblins, giants, good witches and bad witches into our creative young minds.  And with that we were led away from God the Creator before we even got a chance to know Him.  This is the handiwork of Satan, the deceiver, that old serpent the devil.  With all this fantasia, who needs a god?

In the mid-sixties, for me, fairy tales gave way to a love of science fiction (fairy tales for grown ups).  Dad had a collection of paperbacks, some by Isaac Asimov, and I read many of them. Sometimes Dad would plug in the small TV in our bedroom so we could watch late night sci-fi shows (in black and white) on Friday or Saturday nights. I remember watching the Twilight Zone, War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still and One Step Beyond. Mom didn't approve... she knew we'd have bad dreams!  But she didn't know how deeply those fairy tales and science fiction were forming my world.  

Outer Space was big food for my imagination! And there were more TV shows that kept me hooked- The Time Tunnel, Lost in Space, The Jetsons, The Thunderbirds, Superman, My Favorite Martian and many more.  Life on other planets beyond our galaxy was real to me.  I would stare out into the sky trying to see as deep into space as I could, both daylight hours and nighttime, wishing a starship would come and take me away. I use to draw pictures of flying saucers, beaming down a ray of light that would levitate frightened young girls, still in their night gowns, taking them up into their ships. I believed that aliens came to earth, genetically impregnated the apes, mixing their DNAs and created man, the man of evolution stature. Of course, at that time, I had no idea I was standing at the doorway and peering into the occult - a world without God the Creator.

As I got older- marijuana, alcohol and a mix of recreational drugs helped to fuel my already colorful imagination and push me through that doorway. The New Age movement became the next attractant for me, taking me deeper into science fiction, offering a way to 'live it' while embracing the Alien/Evolution theory (another fairy tale for adults). In my quest of self enlightenment I could even have 'out of body' experiences (one such event scared me so much that I never attempted to go further in that area).  Mom had a couple of books, one by Edgar Cayce and another by a channeler, Elizabeth (I forgot her last name) who were both psychics. They gained popularity in the late 60's early 70's, if I remember correctly. So ESP and other paranormal abilities fit right in with my conditioning. Television programs still played a part with shows like I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, Star Trek... my brain was ripe for the picking, but it was Satan doing the harvest.

Even though I'm using my own life as an example to put forth this 'pre-conditioning' idea as a technique to take us away from our Creator, I am not an isolated event... almost every child has been told fairy tales, but I cannot prove that every child found them as a Great Escape, as I did. Speaking of 'escapes', who didn't love the movie 'Wizard of Oz'? Innocent enough story, eh?  Consider this:

L. Frank Baum, the author of the Wizard of Oz was a member of the Theosophical Society, which is an organization based on occult research and the comparative study of religions.  Baum had a deep understanding of Theosophy and, consciously or not, created an allegory of Theosophic teachings when he wrote the Wizard of Oz.

The Theosophical Society is an occult organization, mainly based on the teachings of Helena P. Blavatsky, which seeks to extract the common roots of all religions in order to form a universal doctrine.

also:

The three declared objects of the original Theosophical Society as established by Blavatsky, Judge and Olcott (its founders) were as follows:

“First —To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or color.
Second — To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and Science.
Third — To investigate the unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.”

This is only one example of fairy tales being used to alter the thinking of young minds, but I believe all stories that ignore our Creator and dishonor Him are not beneficial for the development of a child.  And YES I enjoyed the movie Wizard of Oz and I'm no longer afraid of the flying monkeys, but... this is just one more fairy tale in a collection of many that are aimed at young minds with a possible controlled result.  Today we have Harry Potter, Avatar, Contact and other movies promoting transhumanism, without God or mixing Him with aliens.

What brought this on was, we watched 'Hook' the other night, (Robin Williams finds out he is really Peter Pan - Dustin Hoffman plays Capt. Hook) and in the back of my head I'm criticizing the flick for not honoring the Father. Sure it's an enjoyable film, a funny twist on an old fairy tale, harmless! But- as with most fairy tales, fables and other children's stories, belief in the One True God is absent. Is this by accident? Of course not. The Father of Lies, Satan, deliberately eliminated Adonai our God from these stories. We call it 'entertainment' - but it's nothing but a pack of creative lies.

Now, consider this:

The Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) if full of colorful events that would make wonderful stories to tell children. Each event is its own story: The Creation, Eden, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, The Nephilim, Noah and the Flood, Nimrod and Babylon, the life and times of Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Ishamel and Isaac... these are but a fraction of the Word and barely touch the Good News of the Kingdom of YHWH our Creator. The gospels are historically true happenings as exciting and mesmerizing as any fairy tale and they honor Him! The stories include demons, witches, amazing feats, signs and wonders, tragic events and miracles that stir every emotion. When you tell these stories to your children they are given a sound foundation from which to develop into honest, fair and just adults who love God their Creator. Imagine the type of community that would arise from good folk like that?  There is no deception, no lies, no tricks to cause one to stumble and fail, rather, the gospels well equip one to survive against the constant attacks made by Satan and his minions. In other words, these stories prepare us for life!

I am ashamed that I wasted so many years avoiding Yahweh our Creator. I certainly would have been spared many unnecessary heartaches and pains.  Since that is not the case, my past is the basis for these writings - a comparison to ponder.  Yahweh our Creator will forgive us the follies of our youth.  His Son, Yahshua, shed his blood to atone for our sins. Together they shine their Light on the Path of Righteous Living on which the Set Apart Spirit of Father Yahweh leads us to understanding, wisdom and truth.