Meaningless Repetition

Matthew 6

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.  So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Pray, then, (as a suggestion) in this way:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

Give us the bread of our need this day.

And forgive us our offences, 

as we also have forgiven those who have offended us.

Do not lead us into difficult testing, 

but deliver us from the Evil one. 

Yours is the kingdom and the power 

and the glory forever.

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

What is commonly referred to as 'The Lord's Prayer' is an example to teach us how to speak to Yahweh. Let us not fall into the habit of making it meaningless repetition, a chant, something memorized and spoken without thought. 

We acknowledge Him first, whose Name is Yah-weh. He is the only living Elohim. We express our desire to obey His will - as it is in heaven so shall it be on this earth - His perfect governing system for our health and well being. We ask Him to provide for our daily needs, not so much our 'wants'. We desire bread (physical nourishment) and understanding of His Words (spiritual nourishment). We must be willing to forgive others if we desire His forgiveness, so get busy and review yourself to uncover any grudges you may have held onto.  Forgive those who have done you wrong and don't forget to forgive yourself for past behavior (this may take a few days for some of us). He will test us as He did the Hebrews along with the mixed multitude that traveled the wilderness 40 years, in order to reveal what is in our hearts, whether or not we will obey His Instructions.  We would rather be delivered from the deceptions of Satan than go through difficult testing.  We know His is the Kingdom to come and it is His power and glory we will someday witness with our own eyes when He restores all things.

The importance of prayer cannot be overstated. Yet, to be in divine communication with our Creator, there is no need for:

• Prayer beads
• Chants and mantras
• Prayer circles
• Wine and wafers
• Candle lighting

Quote:
We are called to be a Set Apart people because He is Set Apart and this is done by welcoming His Spirit inside of us and having His Instructions written upon our hearts so that we may live according to the Ancient Paths, also know as The Way. (A.G.Roth)

Prayer is a spiritual conversation. 

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 Rabbi, the Note and what the...

This is a reprint of a cover story that first appeared in the April 2007 issue of Israel Today Magazine, which I edited just to shorten the article for posting here. (My response to this whole thing follows the reprint- Dusty)

A few months before he died, one of the nation’s most prominent rabbis, Yitzhak Kaduri, supposedly wrote the name of the Messiah on a small note which he requested would remain sealed until now. When the note was unsealed, it revealed what many have known for centuries: Yehoshua, or Yeshua (Jesus), is the Messiah.

With the biblical name of Jesus, the Rabbi and kabbalist described the Messiah using six words and hinting that the initial letters form the name of the Messiah. The secret note said:

Concerning the letter abbreviation of the Messiah’s name, He will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid.

This I have signed in the month of mercy,

Yitzhak Kaduri

The Hebrew sentence (translated above in bold) with the hidden name of the Messiah reads:

Yarim Ha’Am Veyokhiakh Shedvaro Vetorato Omdim

ירים העם ויוכיח שדברו ותורתו עומדים

The initials spell the Hebrew name of Jesus יהושוע . Yehoshua and Yeshua are effectively the same name, derived from the same Hebrew root of the word “salvation” as documented in Zechariah 6:11 and Ezra 3:2. The same priest writes in Ezra, “Yeshua (ישוע) son of Yozadak” while writing in Zechariah “Yehoshua (יהושוע) son of Yohozadak.” The priest adds the holy abbreviation of God’s name, ho (הו), in the father’s name Yozadak and in the name Yeshua. (the abbreviation of the name of Elohim is 'Yah')

With one of Israel’s most prominent rabbis indicating the name of the Messiah is Yeshua, it is understandable why his last wish was to wait one year after his death before revealing what he wrote.

When the name of Yehoshua appeared in Kaduri’s message, ultra-Orthodox Jews from his Nahalat Yitzhak Yeshiva (seminary) in Jerusalem argued that their master did not leave the exact solution for decoding the Messiah’s name.

Israel Today spoke to two of Kaduri’s followers in Jerusalem who admitted that the note was authentic, but confusing for his followers as well. “We have no idea how the Rabbi got to this name of the Messiah,” one of them said.

In an interview with Israel Today, Rabbi David Kaduri, 80, the son of the late Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, denied that his father left a note with the name Yeshua just before he died. “It’s not his writing,” he said when we showed him a copy of the note.

Kaduri’s Portrayal of the Messiah

A few months before Kaduri died at the age of 108, he surprised his followers when he told them that he met the Messiah. Kaduri gave a message in his synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, teaching how to recognize the Messiah. He also mentioned that the Messiah would appear to Israel after Ariel Sharon’s death. (The former prime minister is still in a coma after suffering a massive stroke more than a year ago.) Other rabbis predict the same, including Rabbi Haim Cohen, kabbalist Nir Ben Artzi and the wife of Rabbi Haim Kneiveskzy.

Kaduri’s grandson, Rabbi Yosef Kaduri, said his grandfather spoke many times during his last days about the coming of the Messiah and redemption through the Messiah. His spiritual portrayals of the Messiah—reminiscent of New Testament accounts—were published on the websites Kaduri.net and Nfc:

“It is hard for many good people in the society to understand the person of the Messiah. The leadership and order of a Messiah of flesh and blood is hard to accept for many in the nation. As leader, the Messiah will not hold any office, but will be among the people and use the media to communicate. His reign will be pure and without personal or political desire. During his dominion, only righteousness and truth will reign.
“Will all believe in the Messiah right away? No, in the beginning some of us will believe in him and some not. It will be easier for non-religious people to follow the Messiah than for Orthodox people.
“The revelation of the Messiah will be fulfilled in two stages: First, he will actively confirm his position as Messiah without knowing himself that he is the Messiah. Then he will reveal himself to some Jews, not necessarily to wise Torah scholars. It can be even simple people. Only then he will reveal himself to the whole nation. The people will wonder and say: ‘What, that’s the Messiah?’ Many have known his name but have not believed that he is the Messiah.”

Farewell to a ‘Tsadik’

Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri was known for his photographic memory and his memorization of the Bible, the Talmud, Rashi and other Jewish writings. He knew Jewish sages and celebrities of the last century and rabbis who lived in the Holy Land and kept the faith alive before the State of Israel was born.

He was charismatic and wise, and chief rabbis looked up to him as a Tsadik, a righteous man or saint. He would give advice and blessings to everyone who asked. Thousands visited him to ask for counsel or healing. When he died, more than 200,000 people joined the funeral procession on the streets of Jerusalem to pay their respects as he was taken to his final resting place.

“When he comes, the Messiah will rescue Jerusalem from foreign religions that want to rule the city,” Kaduri once said. “They will not succeed for they will fight against one another.”

​

The very first thing that came to mind, for me, was Y'shua said not to let ourselves be deceived. I can't shake the feeling that this rabbi may be an example. His idea that Y'shua's return is a 2 part plan doesn't ring true. The one who will be revealed is the man of sin, the lawless one, that final world leader commonly called The Antichrist. 

Y'shua the Messiah​ knows who he is and what he is doing.  He was revealed in his lifetime as the son of Elohim.  Yahweh has also ​told us beforehand (Old Testament)​ so that we would 'know' what is to occur and not be deceived.

Read in Matthew 24:

Let no man deceive you - many will come in His Name and will claim to be the Mashiyach/Anointed One/Messiah/Savior and many will they deceive.... Many false prophets will arise and deceive many. If anyone says the Messiah is 'here' or 'there' do not believe it for false messiahs and lying prophets will arise and produce signs and great wonders in order to deceive.... Therefore if they say he is in the wilderness, do not go out -OR- he is in the inner chamber (temple), do not believe it. For as the sunshine comes out of the east and is seen in the west, thus will be the coming of man....

The big deal being made about this Rabbi's note is that it indicates the name of the son of God is Yahshua (Y'shua) - but this is nothing new - his name is found in the ancient Hebrew texts, so that was a red flag for me.​ Mr. Kaduri caused quite a stir, no doubt, but also confused many Orthodox Jews. Here is a quote from the article:

"Israel Today spoke to two of Kaduri’s followers in Jerusalem who admitted that the note was authentic, but confusing for his followers as well. “We have no idea how the Rabbi got to this name of the Messiah,” one of them said.

I truly believe that this rabbi is setting folks up for the appearance of the anti-messiah​, and this could play into the demon/alien story line as well. This rabbi is quoted as teaching:

“The revelation of the Messiah will be fulfilled in two stages: First, he will actively confirm his position as Messiah without knowing himself that he is the Messiah. Then he will reveal himself to some Jews, not necessarily to wise Torah scholars. It can be even simple people. Only then he will reveal himself to the whole nation. The people will wonder and say: ‘What, that’s the Messiah?’ Many have known his name but have not believed that he is the Messiah.”

Scripture gives us very detailed information concerning the end times and what to expect prior to the return of Yahshua. When he returns all eyes will see him and know the time of God's Wrath has come.​ Yahshua was revealed to the religious Jewish leaders of his day and they rejected him. When he returns it will be for the whole world to witness, not just the modern day nation-state of Israel, or a few select Jews or rabbis.  This rabbi and his note are part of those things Y'shua warns against when he says Do Not Be Deceived.

Strong Delusion

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.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

For the mystery of the Evil One already begins to be operative and only if that which now hinders will be taken from the midst, then at length will that Evil One be revealed who Master Y'shua will consume by the breath of his mouth and will bring to nothing by the visibility of his coming.

What shall be this 'strength of a deception', this strong delusion that befalls those who do not seek out the truth?  And what is it that was 'hindering' this evil mystery from going into full operation?  I would like to note, after that which hinders is taken from the midst, the Evil One will be revealed.  I believe Mr. Evil One is revealed 3-1/2 years into the final seven years when Satan fully possesses the end times world leader and he claims to be 'god'.

2 Thessalonians begins in regards to the return of Y'shua and our standing strong in our Faith in him, that we should not be uprooted in our mind nor be troubled or deceived. Paul writes that before the Son of Elohim returns, first will come a defection and that man of sin will be revealed; the son of perdition; who is an opponent and exalts himself above all that is called Elohim and praiseworthy; so that he also sits in the temple of Elohim as a deity and displays himself as if he were a deity.

The defection is also called the 'falling away' or the 'great apostasy' which is the fallen state of Christianity as a whole.  Even in Paul's day there was an all-Gentile church forming which aimed to throw off Torah and reinvent Messiah to put him more in line with Hellenism, polytheism and paganism.  The Defection (which is already in progress) will become evident when the Final World Leader takes his place.  The Truth of the Matter will be fully evident 3-1/2 years later.

Quote from AGR:
The phrase 'son of perdition' in Aramaic is the same as the Hebrew 'abaddon' which means "destruction" and is torn from the pages of the Dead Sea Scrolls, alluding to sons of light and sons of darkness.

This delusion, whose undercurrent is the workings of Satan, is allowed to grow stronger as Yahweh steps aside. It begins to peak when the final world leader makes a firm agreement with many and folks believe an end to all wars has begun.  They will believe they now live in a world of peace and safety. This sense of safety is delusional, because, according to Scriptures, this is the quiet before the abomination of desolation reveals his true intentions, reaching full strength.

The workings of Satan have been progressing since the Garden episode. Can he only take center stage if Yahweh removes His hedge of protection from us, as the example written in the book of Job? Will this guy be so convincing that even the Set Apart believers could fall for it?  Maybe, and only through 'conditioning', which has been going on for some time: not knowing the Truth of Elohim leaves the door wide open for believing the lies.

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....

The worship of the image of the beast and taking the 'mark' are two things that can happen if one does not Love the Truth.  Not only is Y'shua the Truth, he is also the Way and the Life.

John 14:6 - Y'shua said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by me.  If you would have known me, you would also know my Father."

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Therefore, my brothers, be established and persevere in the Commandments which you have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle. And by our Master Y'shua the Mashiyach himself, and Elohim our Father who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through his grace, comfort your hearts and establish in yourselves every good word and in every good work.

We must be firmly rooted in the Instructions of Yahweh as we have learned from knowing Yahshua so that we do not fall for the coming strong deception.  His Spirit teaches us discernment and shows us The Way as he reveals The Truth wherein we receive our reward - the gift of our soul - Life eternal.

Prepare for the Kingdom to Come

Matthew 13:10

Then the disciples came to Y'shua and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to you, but not to them."

What are those mysteries wrapped up in parables for us to discover? Could this be part of what it means to seek Yahweh as if searching for treasure?  We shall not be destroyed for lack of knowledge as we continue our study of His Word.

Mark 4:26

The Kingdom of Elohim is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.

Matthew 13:31

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

Matthew 13:33

The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened."

Matthew 13:44

The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Matthew 13:45

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.

Matthew 18:23

the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 20:1

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Matthew 22:2 

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 

Matthew 25:1

At that time the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Part of Seeking Elohim is trying to understand the parables told by His Son. They are not mysteries and can be solved. Yahshua wants us to 'think', use our brains as we seek truth and understanding. I've been told that Scriptures interpret themselves and have found this to be true, which is why we each need to read and study them for ourselves. Not everyone will recognize the Good Shepherd's voice because they lack understanding.  We gain understanding by putting Yahweh first in all things, every day.  We read His Word every day so that the Spirit within us has something to work with!  None of this is by ourselves, but through the will of the Father.

Luke 17:20

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of Elohim would come, Yshua replied, "The coming of the kingdom of Elohim is not something that can be observed."

Romans 14:17

For The Kingdom of Elohim is not eating and drinking, but the righteousness and the peace and the joy in the Ruach haKodesh.

The Ruach haKodesh is the Spirit of Elohim. It is this same Spirit Y'shua gave to his disciples after he ascended to heaven. It is this same Spirit that comes to life within us as we continue to read and study the Word of Elohim, Yahweh, our Creator.

So, lets break down the above verses into the action noted in each:

Scattering of Seed

Share the teachings of Yahshua and Yah's Instructions for righteous living. Spread the Good News of the nearness of the Kingdom of Yahweh, the earthly Kingdom of Yahshua. Sow them seeds! Let them fall where they may and pray they take hold, but also know when its time to move on.

Mustard Seed

If we had Faith as small as a mustard seed we could command a tree to be uprooted.  It is to our benefit to grow in the Faith once delivered, no matter how little of it we have to start with.

Yeast
Just a little goes a long way. One person's testimony can affect three other people, and on and on.

Search for Hidden Treasure

The Good News is the Kingdom to come, after the return of Y'shua, we who have been gathered, shall be placed upon our soil - the Promised Land. Yahweh is our treasure. Once we find His Son, we also will find the Creator.

Fine Pearls

Revelation 21:21 describes the 'gates' of the New Jerusalem, which is the Bride of the Lamb.  The 12 gates are twelve pearls, each pearl was one gate. The New Jerusalem event occurs after the thousand years of Y'shua's earthly kingdom, at the time when Yahweh restores all things.  This is indeed a treasure worth seeking!  This is our reward, the life of our souls, life eternal.

Settling Accounts

Get your own house in order before Judgment Day. Get rid of all ungodliness in your life. Forgive those who have done you wrong and don't forget to forgive yourself. 

Workers for the Harvest

Isaiah 5:7 "For the vineyard of Elohim is the house of Israel and the seedlings He lovingly tended are the men of Judah."  Teach one another the Word of Yahweh. Share your testimony and the truth of Yahshua. Help one another prepare for the harvest, when Set Apart believers are gathered together at his return.

Wedding Banquet

We have been invited to this banquet, the one prepared by the Father for His Son. We've been given plenty of time to get ready to attend.

Meet the Bridegroom

Let us be properly prepared - full of the Ruach haKodesh = The Spirit of Truth, prior to the return of Y'shua.  If we are full of His Spirit (pure olive oil) we will not fall for whatever deceptions come our way, nor shall we wander off still searching.  We will enter into the banquet hall before the door is shut and locked. 

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

We have been told beforehand all these things that will take place somewhere in the future, whether near or far.  The rules and regulations apply to each and everyone of us and it is our choice to take heed and act accordingly, for our well being; or we choose not to pay attention and go on living, drinking, eating and letting ourselves be distracted by daily life, until its too late. Just as the door to the ark was closed in the days of Noah, and no one could enter afterward, so shall the door to the banquet hall be closed and locked.  It will be too late for those who ignored all the signs and wonders, who did not study and learn His Instructions in Righteousness, who did not recognize the Good Shepherd's voice.

Who's Who?

This study points out what Y'shua the Mashiyach said about himself, the Son of Elohim, in order to clear up the popular belief that people think "Jesus is God".

Scripture quotes are from the Aramaic English New Testament. Some are lightly paraphrased by me.  I usually tag each chapter and verse so you know where to start reading, and always expect you take what you learn back to Scripture to study it for yourself. 

Recorded in the book of Matthew, even Yahweh says Y'shua is His Son.

"Allow it for now as it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness" and he was immersed and arose from the water - heaven was opened up to him.  And then the Spirit of Elohim descended upon him and a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

The Ruach haKodesh took Y'shua to the desert to be tempted by the Accuser. Even Satan refers to him as the Son of Elohim when he tests Y'shua by saying:

If you are the son of Elohim:

• say to these rocks 'become bread'

• throw yourself off the edge of the temple 

• bow down and worship me

The Son of Yahweh Elohim replies, quoting from Torah:

• It is written that the Son of man does not live by bread alone, but by all the Words that proceed from the mouth of Elohim (Deuteronomy 8:3)

• do not test Master YHWH your Elohim (Deuteronomy 6:16)

• Leave enemy, for it is written that you will worship Master YHWH your Elohim and Him alone will you serve (Deuteronomy 6:13)

Satan departs, Y'shua leaves Nazareth and dwells in Capurnakhum, on the side of the sea by the border of Zebulon and Naptali.  From then he began to preach and to teach repentance and he preached the Hope of the Kingdom of Heaven.

1 John 4:14  

And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent His Son, a Redeemer for the world.  Whoever confesses Y'shua to be the Son of Elohim, Elohim abides in him and he abides in Elohim.  We have believed and known the love which Elohim has towards us: Elohim is Love and whoever abides in love, abides in Elohim.  His love is perfected with us so there will be nothing to hide come judgment day.

1 John 5:10  

Whoever believes in the Son of Elohim has this testimony in himself. And whoever believes not, Elohim has made him a liar by not believing the testimony which Elohim has testified concerning His Son. And this is the testimony that Elohim has given to us life eternal and this life is in His Son. Everyone who takes hold of the Son takes hold of life - those who don't will not know eternal life.

Mark 1:1  

The beginning of the Good News of Y'shua the Anointed One, the Son of Elohim

Matthew 27:43 

He put his trust in Elohim, let Him save him now if He is please with him. For he (Y'shua) said that, I am the Son of Elohim.

John 20:31  

Indeed, these things are but written that you might believe that Y'shua is the Anointed One, the Son of Elohim, and when you believe you might have in his name life that is eternal.

Romans 1:4  

And was made known as the Son of Elohim by power and by the Ruach haKodesh, who arose from the dead, Y'shua the Mashiyach, our Master.

2 Corinthians 1:19   

For the Son of Elohim, Y'shua the Mashiyach, was not 'yes and no' but it was 'yes' in him; for all the promises of Elohim, in Y'shua, are 'yes, for which cause we - through Y'shua - give our Amen to the glory of Elohim. 

Ephesians 4:13 - Until we all become one and the same, in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, and one complete man according to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Mashiyach: and that we might not be children uprooted and turned about by every direction of wind by the wrong doctrines of men who plot to seduce by their cunning: but that we might be established in our love and that every thing in us might progress in Y'shua the Anointed One who is the head: and from him the whole body is framed together and strongly melded by all the connecting points, according to the gift that is delivered by measure to each member for the growth of the body, that his structure may be perfected in love.  We do not walk as the other Gentiles who walk in the vanity of their mind, and they are dark in their understandings and are alienated from the life of Elohim because this knowledge is not in them, and because of the blindness of their heart they have cut off their hope and have given themselves over to lust and to the practice of all uncleanness in their greed.  You have not learned this from Y'shua if you have truly heard him, and by him have learned, as the truth is in Y'shua.

I must conclude, after reading these statements recorded throughout Scriptures, that Yahshua is not "God" - he is the Son of our Elohim, whose name is Yahweh.

On the other hand..... 
The Spirit of Yahweh caused an ovum of Maryam to become fertilized, so Y'shua is born of the Spirit but also of water (amniotic fluid).  The glory of Elohim is seen, recognized, noticed within the person of Y'shua, who came to do the will of the Father.  

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from Yah. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.  This is how you will know the Spirit of Yah: Every spirit that confesses that Y'shua has come in the flesh is from Yah,  and every spirit that does not confess Y'shua is not from Yah. This is the spirit of the anti-messiah, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time.…

The Spirit of Y'shua dwells inside a person - this refers to the spirit of man being born from the beginning into the image of Elohim, which is evidenced by living a Set Apart life unto YHWH, having His Instructions written upon the heart and growing in the attributes of Y'shua, which we read about in:
Isaiah 11 - A shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse, a twig shall sprout from his stock. The spirit of Yahweh shall alight upon him:
A Spirit of wisdom and insight; counsel and valor; devotion and reverence for YHWH; he shall have a sense of Truth by his reverence for YHWH...

This Spirit is what makes us One as they are One - the Spiritual realm yet to come.

Yahshua is Not God but is the vessel that contains the Spirit of Elohim.

That Pagan World

Over the years I have posted here and there, and shared several links to the topic of the Pagan Origins of the many things we take for granted. This is an important study and the knowledge needs to be shared - again.  Don't let yourself become overwhelmed or angry or discouraged. What I am sharing is a result of my research and study and reading Scriptures that started over fifteen years ago when I innocently looked for the origin of christmas... the journey had to start somewhere! I don't claim to be any sort of scholar, but I know a lot more now than I did back then.  And we are not the first to search these things.  Once you start looking, there have been many before us seeking truth.

I will include as much as I can and pray for this to be a source of light to those searching for His Path, continually seeking Him so that He will cause the Ruach haKodesh (His Set Apart Spirit) to reveal to you Truth in everything.

The Ten Commandments begin with Yahweh, our Creator, telling us He is the one true Elohim and that we shall have no other gods besides Him.  He goes on to define those gods as man made images (idols) of things in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters and Not to bow down to them or serve them. He is serious about this and will pass on the guilt of doing such things to the generations that reject Him and He will show kindness to the generations who love Him AND keep His commandments. He also knows that Satan will set up counterfeits along the way.  It is important for us to recognize the Spirit of Yahweh so as to identify the devices of Adversary.

To 'bow down to them' is to exalt, to think very highly of them, seeing them as powerful, lesser, greater or in place of YHWH. Whether made of stone, wood, gold or silver and in the image/symbols of what we think angels look like (heavens above) or man, or animal fetishes or representing fish or other things in the water, we are not to serve them.

Look around. You will notice right away a variety of images in a variety of forms representing heaven, earth, waters, sea, air, the elements -- things Yahweh said right off the get-go not to make. He wants us to be Set Apart (righteous); set apart from the world and its pagan ways, those subtle temptations that cause us to doubt the Creator, as when Satan said to Eve, "You are not going to die, but Elohim knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and bad."

Then what happened?
In short, they tried to hide themselves from Yahweh because of their guilt and were eventually kicked out of the Garden.

Right from the beginning Satan has been tempting us. It is our Faith in the Creator and our obedience to His Instructions, which are for our health and well being, reinforced by (witnessed) the life and death of His son, Y'shua Messiah that we choose to be Set Apart, resisting temptation cause the devil to flee from us.

Who would have thought that types of  Dance could be pagan?

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 5:20)

Most folks already are aware of when Messiah was born.

The Origin of Christmas Tree

Just as early Christians recruited Roman pagans by associating Christmas with the Saturnalia, so too worshippers of the Asheira cult and its offshoots were recruited by the Church sanctioning “Christmas Trees”.  Pagans had long worshipped trees in the forest, or brought them into their homes and decorated them, and this observance was adopted and painted with a Christian veneer by the Church. 

 ~ Here is what God says: “... Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven [the stars]; for the heathen are dismayed at them [millions ignore this plain statement of God and read their horoscopes daily]. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree…” (Jeremiah. 10:2-5).

The Origin of Mistletoe

Norse mythology recounts how the god Balder was killed using a mistletoe arrow by his rival god Hoder while fighting for the female Nanna. Druid rituals use mistletoe to poison their human sacrificial victim. The Christian custom of “kissing under the mistletoe” is a later synthesis of the sexual license of Saturnalia with the Druidic sacrificial cult.

The Origin of Christmas Presents

In pre-Christian Rome, the emperors compelled their most despised citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the Saturnalia (in December) and Kalends (in January). Later, this ritual expanded to include gift-giving among the general populace. The Catholic Church gave this custom a Christian flavor by re-rooting it in the supposed gift-giving of Saint Nicholas.

The Origin of Santa Claus  

Nicholas was born in Parara, Turkey in 270 CE and later became Bishop of Myra. He died in 345 CE on December 6th. He was only named a saint in the 19th century.  He was among the most senior bishops who convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and created the New Testament. The text they produced portrayed Jews as “the children of the devil” who sentenced Jesus to death.

In 1087, a group of sailors who idolized Nicholas moved his bones from Turkey to a sanctuary in Bari, Italy. There Nicholas supplanted a female boon-giving deity called The Grandmother, or Pasqua Epiphania, who used to fill the children's stockings with her gifts. The Grandmother was ousted from her shrine at Bari, which became the center of the Nicholas cult. Members of this group gave each other gifts during a pageant they conducted annually on the anniversary of Nicholas’ death, December 6.

The Nicholas cult spread north until it was adopted by German and Celtic pagans. These groups worshipped a pantheon led by Woden –their chief god and the father of Thor, Balder, and Tiw. Woden had a long, white beard and rode a horse through the heavens one evening each Autumn. When Nicholas merged with Woden, he shed his Mediterranean appearance, grew a beard, mounted a flying horse, rescheduled his flight for December, and donned heavy winter clothing.

In a bid for pagan adherents in Northern Europe, the Catholic Church adopted the Nicholas cult and taught that he did (and they should) distribute gifts on December 25th instead of December 6th. 

In 1809, the novelist Washington Irving (most famous his The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle) wrote a satire of Dutch culture entitled Knickerbocker History. The satire refers several times to the white bearded, flying-horse riding Saint Nicholas using his Dutch name, Santa Claus.

Dr. Clement Moore, a professor at Union Seminary, read Knickerbocker History, and in 1822 he published a poem based on the character Santa Claus: “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in the hope that Saint Nicholas soon would be there…” Moore innovated by portraying a Santa with eight reindeer who descended through chimneys.

The Bavarian illustrator Thomas Nast almost completed the modern picture of Santa Claus. From 1862 through 1886, based on Moore’s poem, Nast drew more than 2,200 cartoon images of Santa for Harper’s Weekly. Before Nast, Saint Nicholas had been pictured as everything from a stern looking bishop to a gnome-like figure in a frock. Nast also gave Santa a home at the North Pole, his workshop filled with elves, and his list of the good and bad children of the world. All Santa was missing was his red outfit.

  

1931, the Coca Cola Corporation contracted the Swedish commercial artist Haddon Sundblom to create a coke-drinking Santa. Sundblom modeled his Santa on his friend Lou Prentice, chosen for his cheerful, chubby face. The corporation insisted that Santa’s fur-trimmed suit be bright, Coca Cola red. And Santa was born – a blend of Christian crusader, pagan god, and commercial idol. (I never heard this one about Coca-Cola - ckc) 

The origins of Easter

John 4:22-24 You worship something that you do not know. But we worship what we know, for life is from the Yehudeans (Messiah is referred to as the Lion of Judah). But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, indeed. For the Father, He seeks worshippers as these. For Elohim is Spirit and those who worship they must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Mark 7:6-7 Messiah says, Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) the prophet did well prophesy about you hypocrites! As it is written that 'This people honor me with their lips (words) but their hearts are very distance from me. And vainly they fear me while they are teaching the doctrines of the (man made) commandments of the sons of men.

My husband and I don't 'celebrate' Purim or Hanukkah because they are not 'commanded' by Elohim. I realize they are of historical value, like the 4th of July or Memorial Day (which we do not celebrate, either).

Chanukah is a man made tradition. 

Quote: (John 10:22-24). Notice that this is the only reference to the festival of Chanukah (חַג חֲנֻכָּה) that occurs in all of Scriptures. Some additional "extra biblical" sources include the testimony of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who likewise referred to the commemoration of the Maccabees as an eight day "festival of lights", and various midrashim that quote Hillel and Shammai (i.e., two famous sages that predated the time of Yeshua) discussing the method of kindling the lights of the Chanukah menorah. One midrash states that Chanukah was to be regarded as an acronym for Chet Nerot veHalakhah K'bet Hillel ("eight candles and the law according to the House of Hillel"), referring to Hillel's view (his opinion) that we should light one candle on the first night and increase the amount by one every day (Shammai, on the other hand, thought we should light eight candles on the first night and reduce one every subsequent night). According to early Jewish tradition (preserved in Megillat Antiochus, 2nd Century AD), since the Maccabees were unable to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at its proper time in the fall, they decided that it should be observed after the Temple was restored, which they did on the 25th of the month of Kislev in the year 164 B.C. Since Sukkot lasts eight days, this became the time frame adopted for Chanukah."  End Quote.

John 10:22 gives us a time frame, noting the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) occurred in Jerusalem and it was winter and Y'shua was walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon. (note: this is the only time Hanukkah is mentioned in Scriptures - there's no 2 or 3 other times to bear witness or support its importance as a feast day.)  Folks think because Messiah was 'there' that he was 'celebrating' but I think the reason he was there was because he was 'teaching', as he was accustomed to doing, not so much partaking of the feast. 

John 10 starts out with his Sheep Parable, then the feast day is mentioned, then: The Jews surround him again asking how long will he keep them waiting: "if you are the Mashiyach, tell us!" He lets them know that he HAS told them but they do not believe because 'they are not of his sheep'. Perhaps noting the feast day and the fact these Jews were celebrating it (which is why they were at the temple) and then Y'shua saying they were not his sheep, lets us know it is not of Elohim and we should not partake of it, either.

Y'shua was not celebrating Chanukah - he was present, on the porch of the Temple. It appears he was taking the opportunity to teach to those who had gathered there.  The lead in verses to John 10:22 sets the tone for what's going on.  In 10:7 he says that he is the Gate of the flock. He goes on to say if a man should enter by him (the Gate) he will live, enter and go out and find pasture. (No man comes to the Father except by Y'shua). He says he is the Good Shepherd that lays his life down for the flock. He knows those who are his and they know him. Then he says in 10:16 that he also has other sheep, those not of this sheepfold. It is necessary for me to bring them and they will hear my voice and all the flocks will become one and there will be One Shepherd. (I love this! He just told us the sheepfold is the House of Israel and the other sheep are those who have chosen to obey YHWH and have the testimony of His son - we will be One People with One Faith and One Elohim!) Well, once again Y'shua causes a stir among the Yehudeans, they don't believe, they don't recognize their Shepherd's voice and think Y'shua is possessed.

Here's info on Purim   

As a reminder, No matter what one uses for research and reference material, ALWAYS take what you have gleaned and measure it against Scriptures, the Word of God our Creator. His Ruach haKodesh - His Set Apart Spirit - will reveal the Truth as long as we maintain our Faith in the one true God. It's not about religion, but His perfect government system.  Judaism is a religion. Christianity is a religion. Islam is a religion, etc...