Is it the Adversary or YHWH...

There are those who claim the more they stand up and fight for God, quote Scriptures, and preach repentance because the end it near, the more Satan will attack them.  I'm not seeing that scenario in Scriptures. As a matter of fact, Yahweh tested the mixed multitude of people who left Egypt. He tested them for 40 years to see what was in their hearts, whether or not they would obey Him. It wasn't Satan attacking them. And Satan couldn't even challenge Job without Yah's permission.  So are those folks who claim the Adversary is attacking them simply blind to or not taking responsibility for what's going on in their own personal lives and blaming it on Satan?

"The devil made me do it." 

~ Geraldine

The Flip Wilson Show

We have read that Satan is the prince of this world and the power of the air.  We know there are unclean spirits left over from the Nephilim.  We know giving in to various temptations opens the door for demonic oppression. These are the dark forces that exist, but we are the children of light. If we resist temptation the devil will flee from us. So it should make sense to us that if there are problems arising in our lives right now, maybe it is Yahweh our Father testing us, trying to get our attention again, before that door opens so wide that Satan can lay claim to us. Satan may not be the attacker but he readily waits to devour anyone who strays from the straight path.  

Stop right now and review yourself, your home, family, loved ones and friends. What needs to change?  Are we being 'attacked' or is our Loving Father trying to get us to see something. When we recognize stumbling blocks lets work on removing them instead of covering them up with excuses. I was once guilty of the same tactics.  We are part of Yah's creation and Satan has been trying to get control of it since that day in the Garden; it is their battle and Satan will eventually be cast into the pit. But in the meantime lets live according to our Creator's Instructions so we do not slip and fall into that same pit.

Yah is our Warrior and our Shield - we trust Him to protect us as long as we continue to be part of His Everlasting Covenant.  When we step outside of this agreement we do become available material for Satan and his minions.  Those who claim they are being attacked (demons, evil spirits, Satan etc....) and then try to justify these problems by saying they are 'close to God' is just a cartload of road apples. What is happening is their faith is being challenged, tested, and they are missing the point, covering up the fact by claiming they are being attacked.  I think that mindset will eventually open a door for a demon to take up residence and one will finally know what it is like to be spiritually attacked.

The Reality of Demons

Ephesians 4:26 ~

Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath and give no place to the Accuser...

Anger is one example, but is it the only thing that could allow a demon entry? Anger (or wrath) is mentioned as a “work of the flesh”, and it seems likely that any work of the flesh, in which sin takes place, or is held on to over time, may also give room to a demon.

Galatians 5:19 ~ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, impurity and lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, anger, stubbornness, treacheries, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelry, and all such things. Those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.

If a person is sinning, whether in anger, or by adultery or idolatry or by holding onto and keeping emotional things inside like anger, bitterness, hatred etc... this is what opens a door up for demons to gain entry, get a room, and oppress someone.

A person under demonic oppression has the authority, in the name of Y'shua the Anointed One, by the power of Yah through the His Set Apart Spirit, to command a demon to get out and stay out, and refuse to let it influence them any longer. It is their choice to kick the demon out, and to repent of whatever sinful work of the flesh opened the door to let the demon get in their house in the first place. Always fill that space the demon left with the Word of Elohim, the Truth of His Spirit and the testimony of His Son so as not to allow reentry of any unclean spirit. And if at all possible, have 2 or 3 fellow believers with you as reinforcements and reassurance.

Our most prominent weapon is the Word of YHWH, which is the sword of the Spirit, and we learn to use it by reading Scriptures. Often the battle with demonic oppression is in the mind, and the best weapon to use against excuses and false reasoning which hold onto sin, is with the Word of Elohim. And we have the authority Y'shua gave believers in him to cast out demons, if we allow the Spirit to do it's job.

First John 4

Do not believe all spirits but discriminate among the spirits whether they are of Elohim; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this the Spirit of Elohim is known: every spirit that confesses that Y'shua the Mashiyach has come in the flesh is of Elohim. Every spirit that does not confess that Y'shua the Mashiyach has come in the flesh is not of Elohim but he is of the false messiah of whom you have heard that he comes and now is already in the world. But you children are of Elohim and you have overcome them because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

If we are truly Set Apart believers we will be able to discern false prophets by their teachings, what they confess to be 'true', by taking it back to the Word of Elohim and allowing His Ruach haKodesh to reveal the truth. We allow His Spirit to reveal the intentions of those spirits. 

They who are of the world speak worldly things and the world hears them. We who are of Elohim and know Him recognize one another by His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. By the Ruach haKodesh we recognize the spirit of error: false prophets.

First Timothy 4

But the Spirit says explicitly that, in the latter times, some will depart from the faith and will go after deceptive spirits and after the doctrine of demons. These will seduce by a false appearance and will speak a lie and will be seared in the conscience and will forbid to marry and will require abstinence from meats which Yah has created for use and for thankfulness by them who believe and known the truth. 

Second Corinthians 2:10 ~ And whom you forgive, I also forgive; for that which I forgave to anyone, for your sakes I forgave it in the presence of the Mashiyach; or else Satan should overtake us; for we know his devices.

Second Corinthians 4:4

There are those whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world in order that they will not believe, for if they did believe, the light of the flame of the glory of Y'shua who is in likeness of YHWH, should dawn upon them.

James 2:19 ~ You believe that there is one Elohim; you do well; the demons also believe and tremble.

Who is presently the 'god of this world'? 

Satan.

Ephesians 2

You who were dead in your sins and in your offenses in which you once walk, according to the worldliness of this world and according to the will of the prince and power of the air (Satan), that spirit which is active in the children of disobedience: in which deeds we formerly spoke of in the cravings of our flesh and we found pleasure of our flesh and mind, and we were altogether the children of wrath like the rest of them. But Elohim who is rich in His mercies because of the great love with which He loved us when we were dead in our sins, gave us life with the Mashiyach and rescued us by His grace; and revived us with him and seated us with him in heaven, in Y'shua the Anointed One; that He might show to the coming ages the magnitude of the riches of His grace and His goodness towards us in Y'shua. For it is by His grace we are rescued, through faith; and this is not by our own doings, but it is the gift of Elohim.

Worldliness is sin. Following the world's religions, customs and materialistic values is making void the Instructions from YHWH, making one dead in their sins.

"Be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). So we should guard against temptation and opening doors that would give the devil legal access to influence our lives. For many of us, this means there are certain places we should not go. And obviously we should not participate in occult rituals. But greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4).  There is a difference between vigilance and paranoia. Vigilance in spiritual warfare is rooted in confidence in our Creator and His Word and the authority we have in Him. Paranoia is rooted in fear. Vigilance is offensive; paranoia is defensive." (end quote)

If you allow yourself to become paranoid about demons, you'll constantly be looking for them. Y'shua didn't worry about demons, and the disciples weren't living in that kind of fear. The apostle Paul allowed a demon-possessed girl to follow him around for several days before finally casting the demon out of her. And when he did cast it out, he took only an instant to do so.

Acts 16:16 ~ On one occasion, as we went to the place of prayer, a servant girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' She did this for many days. But becoming greatly troubled, Paul turned to the spirit and said, 'I command you in the name of Y'shua haMashiyach to come out of her.' And it came out at that moment.

After reading all of this, you may begin to wonder about the movies and shows you've watched, books you've read etc.... about demon possession and exorcism and how horrified and fearful they taught us to be. They taught us only a priest, if not only a Catholic priest, had the power to save us. As we have come to learn, Hollywood is not set apart to Elohim and their tools of persuasion have been used against us for many, many years. Fear is the biggest factor used to keep us unbalanced. Ignorance of what is written in Scriptures is a weapon used against us. Doubting the Word of YHWH gives Satan the same opportunity that he used against Adam and Eve who were kicked out of the Garden because of it, and keeps us unstable.

By no means are my intentions aimed to belittle demonic encounters for anyone. This is serious business. I myself have experienced the presence of an entity, in my younger years, long ago. Once you start playing around with new age mysticism and various occult practices you open a door for demonic activity in your life, which can affect those sharing your living space. I had been enchanted by new age mysticism in the 70's and 80's. I was able to have 'out of body' experiences; I could hold an object and tell you how it related to it's past; I could influence people with my strong concentration on the desired outcome. Thankfully one OOBE scared me so badly I never attempted them again. Unknowingly I was a plaything of Satan. I had no idea YHWH was fighting for me then, and I never fully realized it until many years later.

Folks who 'channel' are being duped by an unclean spirit, demonic in nature. These spirits are left overs from the Flood as we were told the Nephilim existed then and after the event. The Flood destroyed the flesh but the ungodly spirits survived. There have always been those who innocently enough experiment with this realm (channeling; automatic writing; remote viewing; esp;) and there are those who, after experiencing this 'power' intentionally enter the realm and will become deeper in debt to Satan. Most folks have been led to believe the one they channel is a spiritual leader, a higher up, an alien full of worldly knowledge coming back to save us from ourselves.  YHWH has already made provisions for our salvation through His Son, Y'shua.  If you don't believe that, then nothing else matters.

Demons are real. They are the left over unclean spirits from the soul-less Nephilim whose flesh was destroyed at the time of the Flood. They began to manifest again during the time of Nimrod. They appear in any form which influences the desired outcome. These forms can range from the likeness of people known to be dead (ghosts, familiar spirits), to the popular images of extraterrestrials (grays, reptilian, Annunaki, beings of light etc...)  In Revelation 16 three of them look like frogs. Demons can influence people. Their 'king' is Abaddon, the angel of the abyss.  We shall have nothing to do with these unclean spirits; we shall not speak to them so as not to invite them in ("What do you want from me!? -- don't ever say that). If by some other behavior they enter our personal space, get right on it and by the authority and power given by Y'shua the Anointed One, command said demon to leave, go back to where it came from and never return. Fill the place it just vacated with Scriptures and prayers to YHWH the Most High.  Give Him thanks and ask for Forgiveness and Protection. Ask Him to shine His Light brighter on the straight path that leads to the narrow gate so you may see all stumbling blocks, snares and rabbit trails Satan has cast in our way hoping to snag as many as possible. Stand strong in the Faith and fight the good fight!

Who's Judging Whom?

Some folks think we who make it into the Kingdom to Come will sit as judges and even judge angels.  Well, you know me, I had to look into it, especially the judging angels part.

❖ ✜ ❖ ✜ ❖

What does it mean, to judge?

: to form an opinion about, after careful thought : to regard (someone/thing) as either good or bad : to make an official decision about

Who is a judge?

One who makes judgments, such as

: a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court: one who gives an authoritative opinion

We have learned about the Messengers/angels being kept in chains until the day of Judgment: Jude 1:6 ~ And the Messengers that did not keep their first estate but left their station, He has reserved in chains unknown under darkness to the judgment of the great day." (These are the ones we read about in Genesis 6:2- the divine beings who took human women that pleased them).  

We have read in Matthew that Messiah said the 12 Apostles will be given positions at his return, so that they may judge: Matthew 19:28 ~ Y'shua said to them, Truly I say to you, that you who have come to follow me in this world, when the Son of man sits new upon the throne of his glory, you will also sit upon twelve seats and you will judge the twelve tribes of Israel..."

The twelve Apostles judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Does this include the entire generational line of Jacob, the commonwealth of Israel, both native born and adopted in? If the Apostles are given the authority to judge, who are we to judge? And who judges the 200 angels who have been kept in chains?

Click Here to go to my study about Nephilim
and Scroll down to "According to Enoch..."

1 Corinthians 6:1 ~ Would any of you, when you have a controversy with a brother, litigate before the sinful, and not before the sanctified? Or don't you know that the sanctified will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you (the sanctified?), are you unfit to decide trivial causes? Don't you know that we (the Apostles?) will judge Messengers? How much more the things that are of the world?" 

Who are the sanctified? Those who are set apart, consecrated, made free from (bondage to) sin, purified, dedicated.

It is only the set apart believers from the beginning of time that will be gathered together just before the Day of Wrath scenario when the plagues are poured out upon those left behind. These who are gathered are they who are sanctified, His Set Apart people. The sanctified judge worldly things. The Apostles judge the 12 tribes. The Messengers being held in chains are judged by whom, come Judgment Day, when worldly things cease to exist.

At this point in the study I don't see that it will be you and me who sit in those seats judging angels, but Y'shua and the twelve Apostles are definitely designated judges, and it is only the 'angels' prior to The Flood who left their station in the spiritual realm that are being kept for judgment day. We know of no others that have fallen or are being kept in chains in darkness. Yet, this raises another question: Is the Day of Wrath the same as Judgment Day, or are these two events separated by the thousand years?

Revelation 20 tells us Satan is locked up in the abyss for the next thousand years which brings us to Ezekiel's prophecy recorded in chapters 38 and 39.

Revelation 20:7 says when the thousand years are completed Satan will be released from his prison and goes forth to seduce the nations, to assemble them for battle. This army, the vast horde, will eventually 'encompass the camp of the Set Apart believers and the beloved city (Jerusalem).
Ezekiel 38:8 notes 'after a long time' YHWH will summon Gog (Satan has been release from the abyss and starts working on summoning/seducing nations/peoples).
Ezekiel 38:10 says Gog gets this idea to attack a people gathered from among nations now living at the center of the earth (Jerusalem, that beloved city). My note here is that those people who are gathered together and living secure whom Gog desires to attack are the camp of Set Apart ones and those living in the city, same ones mentioned in Revelation 20:7.

We are judging now, aren't we?  It's beginning to look like we, as His sanctified people, are judging the things of this world, the here and now. We gain knowledge the further we move along His Path of Righteousness. After careful thought, we form opinions about (something or someone). As we continue to abide by His Instructions, we are able to regard (someone or something) as either good or bad, and through discernment given us by His Spirit, we judge the person or situation and make an official decision about it, according to His rules, laws and commandments. That is how we judge this world, within the bounds of Torah and only those who are part of the body of Y'shua. YHWH takes care of those unbelieving Gentiles.

Second Timothy 4 ~ I charge you before Elohim and our Master Y'shua who is to judge the living and the dead at the manifestation of his Kingdom. I have fought a good fight, I have completed my race, I have preserved my faith; and from now on there is preserved for me a crown of righteousness with which my Master Y'shua, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day; and not me only, but them also who love his manifestations.

Y'shua is the judge of the living and the dead.... the first resurrection is of those who chose the Blessing: Set Apart believers from the beginning of time who have died and are seen rising by the Set Apart believers still alive when that time comes. This is the gathering of Yah's people after the 7th shofar is sounded. This is the 'living' time line we want to be part of, as this is eternal life.  The second resurrection, the Curse, is after the thousand years come to an end, and is known as the second death.

Revelation 20:5 ~ This is the first resurrection. Blessed and Set Apart is he that has part in this first resurrection; over them the second death has no dominion, but they will be and are priests of Elohim and of his Mashiyach and they will reign with him the thousand years. 20:14 ~ And death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, namely, this lake of fire. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire.

Click Here to go to my study To Judge or not to Judge 

Daniel 7:9 ~ As I looked on, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His garment was like white snow, and the hair of His head was like lamb's wool. His throne was tongues of flame; its wheels were blazing fire (Ezekiel's vision). A river of fire streamed forth before Him; myriads upon myriads attended Him; the court sat and the books were opened.

Revelation 20:11 ~ And I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it; from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and were not found. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. And they were judged, each one according to his deeds.  And death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, this lake of fire. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire.

(Both the above quotes from Daniel and Revelation refer to the same event which happens at the end of the thousand year kingdom of Y'shua. The 'dead' are being judged. Anyone not found in the book of life will be thrown into Fire Lake).

John 5:24 ~ I (Y'shua) say to you that whoever hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has life that is eternal, and does not come into judgment but has passed from death into life. 29 ~ And those who have done good things will go forth to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil things to the resurrection of judgment.

Matthew 12:36 ~ I say to you for every vain word that the sons of men speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be made righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.

First Corinthians 4:4 ~ I am not conscious in myself of anything flagrant; yet I am not made righteous by this; for Master YHWH is my judge. Therefore do not pronounce judgments before their time or until MarYah comes, who will pour light upon the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the thoughts of men's hearts; and then will each one have due praise from Him.

Hebrews 9:27 ~ As it is appointed to men that they must once die, and after their death is the judgment; so also the Mashiyach was once offered and by this, he burned away the sins of many; and a second time (at his return) he will appear for the life of them who expect him.

John 5:21 ~ For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, likewise also the Son will make alive to those whom he desires. For the Father does not judge man, rather all judgment He has given to the Son, so that every man who honors the Son also honors the Father who sent him.  

It all comes back to the beginning when YHWH Elohim gave us a choice between the Blessing and the Curse: Life or Death.

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...

To be continued.... 

Freedom

Exodus 12:12- For that night I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down every first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and I will mete out punishments to all the (false) gods of Egypt... And the blood on the houses where you are staying shall be a Sign for you: when I see the blood I will pass over you, so that no plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

YHWH provided an opportunity for His People to be set free from bondage who had been providing slave labor for Pharaoh back in the day. When the time came those who trusted and had faith in the Creator were saved from the 'angel of death' scene by following Yah's Instruction and by the blood of the lamb*. They had painted their doorposts and lintels with the blood from the lamb as a sign to the angel of death to pass over their houses. The same holds true in this day and age. We have the Blood of the Lamb, His Son, as our covering, painted on our hearts and minds, which sets us free from being slaves to our old sin nature. Once again YHWH frees us from bondage to the Babylon System of the world. TPTB successfully brainwashed us here with the American Dream incantation. We didn't know any better, but now we do. It's time to get off the gravy train before it arrives at one of those camps. Let us continue to learn to downsize and live within our means as well as purge our materialistic needy mindset so when the SHTF we are already trained up to comfortably and spiritually endure to the end. When this happens the rest of the world will look as if it has gone insane with all the panic, chaos and hatred that rises to the surface and we will see that the love of many has grown cold. Many will welcome the final world leader, accept his 'name and number' and his promises of 'peace and safety'. 

With our Faith in the One who created us, we have been given the authority to break both those physical and mental chains. We can endure because of our study and knowledge gained via His Spirit as we stay in His Word, have the testimony of Y'shua, and abide by YHWH's Instructions in Righteousness. By his Faith, in our heavenly Father, Noah prepared for the destruction to come. Joseph prepared for the famine to come.  Yah has told us everything that is to happen, just as He told Noah that the Flood would come. Just as He gave dreams and visions and interpretations to Joseph; and then He had it all written down for our sake, for a time such as this.

We can prepare accordingly by putting our Creator first in everything we think, say and do. In this we commit ourselves to abide by His rules, laws, teachings and commands. By this we show our love for YHWH Elohim, our Father in the heavenly realm. 

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 12:11 ~ they overcame the Accuser because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony
Revelation 12:17 ~ the dragon was enraged and made war upon the remnant who keep the Commandments of Elohim and have the testimony of Y'shua.

Sneaky Little Traditions

Traditions have been handed down through the generations and Satan has blindsided us in our excitement to obey our Creator. So I ask, are we doing something because we think it's right or because we know it's right? Are we pleasing ourselves or are we pleasing YHWH by obeying His Command? His Instructions in Righteous Living are not traditions. If we're not careful to see the difference between His original intentions and what man has added over the years, we will inadvertently begin to 'worship' the created thing instead of the Creator. If we do things our own way we are doubting the Word of Yah and have fallen into the same trap set by Satan in the Garden.

Romans 1:25 - They exchanged the truth of Yah for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...

Here is an example of a command, simple to understand, and later turned into a tradition: 

Numbers 15:38 we find the instructions to make fringes on the corners of a garment and to attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. These fringed corners with an attached cord of blue served to help one remember all the commandments of YHWH, to live by them and not follow after our own heart and eyes in lustful urges. These fringes were not beaded, braided, knotted, wrapped or multicolored or to be anywhere but the four corners of a garment. This command was given after a man was found gathering wood on the day of rest. He was made an example of and, in contrast, perhaps willingly disobeyed the command not to do this.

A few verses earlier YHWH says if anyone unwittingly fails to observe any one of the commandments they were instructed to provide a burnt offering; if an individual sinned unwittingly they were to bring a sin offering. Our loving Father was still training up His children. When they accidentally did the wrong thing He allowed them to be forgiven by bringing the appropriate offering to the priest. It makes sense the He would add a little reminder after the fact, The Fringes Command (aka tzitzits), for His people so they would not to do things as they saw fit, but to abide by every word of YHWH. He did something similar after the Nadab and Abihu incident, about drinking too much wine.

So then, if we are abiding by His Instructions, would we substitute one thing for another; add to His Command or do something we think is better? That didn't work out so well for Nadab and Abihu, or the man who decided to gather fire wood on the day of rest. We must not continue to make it up as we go along. His Instructions are set in stone and for all of us.

Making fringes on the corners of a garment and adding a blue cord is the command. The knotting and wrapping of strings is tradition. 

Tradition has turned "fringes" into ornamental tzitzits complete with mystic overtones by wrapping and knotting them, denoting numbers and applying the system of gematria, which is numerology, which is from pagan traditions. That is the 'tradition' I am pointing out.  I do not deny the command or that Set Apart believers, including Y'shua, wore garments with fringed corners.

Mark 7:5

The scribes and the Pharisees ask Y'shua, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the traditions of the elders? His short answer is: "You hypocrites... You have left the Commandment of Elohim and have embraced the tradition of men. ... And you despise the Word of Elohim because of the tradition that you have handed down..."

Mark 7:8 

You have disregarded the commandment of Elohim to keep the tradition of men.” He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the commandment of YHWH to maintain your own tradition.

Mark 7:13

Thus you nullify the word of Elohim by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.

Romans 1:25

They exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...

Jeremiah 9:12

Yahweh replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their fathers had taught them.

Definition of tradition:

1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable

2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions

4: characteristic manner, method, or style

Here is the 'traditional way' to make tzitzits and I share this post from Aish so you can see for yourself how far Yah's command has been perverted from His Instruction and to caution you against purchasing or making these for yourself.  Quote: Each string actually consists of two threads twisted together, and must be spun especially for the sake of Tzitzit. Therefore one should buy Tzitzit that carry a proper rabbinic supervision. Once you've purchased the strings, it's not so difficult to attach them yourself. It's fun and meaningful. The process of putting Tzitzit on the garment is as follows:

• use four strings, one which is longer, to wrap around the others 
• tie the four ends together, to ensure that each string will end up with one end on each side.
• insert the strings into the hole, and be sure to say "Le'shem mitzvat Tzitzit."
• tie a double-knot
• wind the longer string around the others 7 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 8 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 11 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 13 times
• tie a (fifth and final) double-knot (end quote)

Compared to the instruction in Numbers 15:38, 

this reads like a lesson in witchcraft!

Colossians 2:8 

Beware, or else any man make you naked by philosophy and by vain deception, according to the doctrines of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to the Mashiyach...

For the record, I presently do not own a four cornered garment of which to fringe the corners and add a cord of blue. I do think about it and plan to make such a garment, as either a linen or cotton tunic, either fabric would fringe nicely, and I do have a length of blue cord in my sewing box... some day I will do this, but in the meantime I won't substitute tradition for His Word.

Click Here to go to my study

Codes vs YHWH

Here are a few examples of Scriptures which have been twisted by man's imagination resulting in traditions that have been handed down and accepted by many in the Hebrew Roots phase of their lives, as I once did:

• Mezuzahs - The Instruction is to take to heart His Instructions, the laws and the rules, and as it is written in Deuteronomy 6:9 "inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Tradition has it that you write 'the prayer Shema Yisrael' and place it inside a decorative case (mezuzah) which is then attached at an angle to the door frame of an entry way. Then you touch it and/or kiss it each time you pass by it.
• Shabbat observance A Seven Day count which does not always fall on a Sun. or Sat. and teaches how YHWH counts the days, months and years.
• Feast Days (Yah's Moedim) Many specifics relating to His Set Apart times for us cannot be adhered to since the temple and priesthood no longer exist. Also we need take into consideration that Y'shua gave himself as the sacrifice for our atonement from sin, so there is no need of any other offerings to be made.  
• Ram's Horns (shofars) and the two Silver Trumpets and who is to use them:
  Numbers 10:
  Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work.... and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Step back and take some time to read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy again, without looking for some deeper meanings. Read these books as a light surface reading, then read them again... read them one more time, without referring to your Strong's concordance or the Hebrew Greek Interlinear.  See if Yah's Set Apart Spirit has enough to work with in revealing the truth to you.  Don't let objects of Jewish traditions or man's imagination become a distraction, a stumbling block or a snare.  Don't wear those designer tzitzits just because you love to wear them or other's think they are cool. They are not a badge proving your worth nor do they make you a representative of the Most High. Don't envy the guy with the shiny ram's horn or kiss that icon in the doorway. YHWH does not require this type of behavior and we are not honoring Him by doing things the way we think they should be done.

Queen of Heaven

The Queen of Heaven is a heathen goddess (Asherah). 

 

Assyrian cult practices invaded Yah's own precincts and by Jeremiah’s time became a flood. Even within the temple area the worship of heavenly bodies—sun, moon, planets and constellations—had been established. Ishtar, the planet Venus, appeared as the queen of heaven, who as morning star was goddess of war and as evening star was goddess of love and harlotry. This supposed queen was worshiped on the housetops of the city, and the whole family in every household was employed in the ritual of her worship—children would gather fuel, fathers would kindle the fires, and the women would knead the dough and make cakes to her honor.

Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19

The so-called “queen of heaven” was the chief goddess of the pagan pantheon, known by various names in the various nations, notably Ishtar in Babylon, but also Astarte, Ashtoreth, Venus and others. There has been a modern revival of worship of the “goddess” among the feminists of the New Age movement, and even some evangelicals have begun to argue that God is our universal “mother” as well as heavenly Father. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been exalted to the status of deity.

After Nimrod’s death, Semiramis his mother/wife/queen had to maintain her grip and power over the people. In order to solidify her power she invented a religion for the people that would keep Nimrod’s control over them even after his death.

She then gave birth to a son named Tammuz whom she claimed was the reincarnation of Nimrod or the son of the sun god, the incarnation of God, God in the flesh. So Tammuz was “Nimrod in the flesh” and “one” with his father who was “one” with his wife/mother through marriage. Semiramis was the mother of god… the Trinity is born.

• Baal's female counterpart was the goddess Asherah
• Asherah was Ishtar of Babylon, (Queen Semiramis of Babylon deified)
• Ishtar was the mother goddess, the Queen of Heaven...
• Mary has been elevated by the Roman Catholic Church to 'mother of god' including Queen of Heaven status...

Jeremiah 7:18

The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven ....

Jeremiah 44:17

We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her ....

Jeremiah 44:18

But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword .... 

Jeremiah 44:19

The women added, "When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes ... 

This 'queen of heaven' theme carries through 

to the end times prophecies.
  

Click here to go to the study about Mystery Babylon.

The Day of One's Birth

The celebration of birthdays year after year is not something we should be doing. Although, the day of one's actual birth is praiseworthy and a joy beheld by the parents and shared with family, as children are gifts from Elohim, but to make a yearly party out of it doesn't lead to anything good. Yes, this includes the pagan celebration called Christmas that many people have been duped into thinking as the day Messiah was born.

As punishment for disobeying that one commandment: 

Genesis 3:16 To (Eve) He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children....

Should we celebrate the day, elevating ourselves to such importance, forgetting that we caused our mothers great physical pain?

Pharaoh had his chief baker impaled during his birthday party: 

Genesis 40:20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. ... He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation of the dream.

Job makes sin offerings for his sons who celebrate their birthdays: 

Job 1:4 And his sons went and had a feast in the house of each on his day, and sent and invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it came to be, when the days of feasting had gone round, that Job would send and set them apart, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings – the number of them all – for Job said, “It might be that my sons have sinned and cursed Elohim in their hearts.”

John the Immerser is beheaded at Herod's birthday party: 

Matthew 14:6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 

With that scenario in mind, I will include a link to this information:

Bad Dancing

There is nothing wrong with knowing how many years we have lived. Knowing the age of people was kept track of since there were age requirements in regards to taxes and military service. The ages of those recorded in the genealogies give us a time frame to work with in our studies. It is the adopted pagan practice of celebrating the day with drinking, eating and dancing (party time) that has been passed on down through the generations that we should stop doing.  

Birthday celebrations are actually rooted in paganism. The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: "The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles."
Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal in their book The Lore of Birthdays: "Mesopotamia and Egypt were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope."
So, there is a direct connection between the Pagan practice of birthday celebrations and astrology (horoscopes and fortune telling).

Also, The World Book Encyclopedia (volume 3, page 416) states:

"The early Christians did not celebrate [Y'shua's] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone's birth to be a pagan custom." 

Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.

Notice also the record of the first century historian Josephus: The Jews in Christ’s day knew God’s attitude toward birthday celebrations, “Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children” (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion, Book II, section 26).