Example for Us

1 Corinthians 10

I would have you know, my Brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were immersed by Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that attended them, and that Rock was the Mashiyach. Nevertheless, with most of them Elohim was not pleased, for they fell in the wilderness.

Now these things were an example for us, that we might not desire evil things as they did. Neither should we serve idols as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”  We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. Neither let us tempt the Mashiyach, as some of them tempted and were destroyed by serpents. Neither should you complain, as some of them did and they perished by the Destroyer. 

All these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. Elohim is faithful, and he will not let you be tried beyond your ability, but will make an issue of your trial, that you may be able to sustain it.

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to the wise; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of thanksgiving that we bless, is it not fellowship of the blood of Yahshua? The bread that we break, is it not fellowship of the body of Yahshua? Because there is one bread, so we are all one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what the Gentiles sacrifice they offer to demons and not to Yahweh Elohim. I do not want you to be associates of demons. You cannot drink the cup of Yahweh and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke Yah to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Everything is in my power; but everything is not profitable. Everything is in my power, but everything does not build up. Let no one seek his own things but also the things of his fellow man.

Eat (according to Instructions about clean foods found in Leviticus) what is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is Yahweh's, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the pagans invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if they tell you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Elohim. Give no offense to Jew or Gentile nor to the assembly of Elohim; even as I also, in everything, please everyone, I do not seek my own advantage, but what is profitable to many, that they may live.

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.