Elijah and Jewish Traditions

Mr. N. shared this quote:

"The chair of the prophet of the Lord is vacant."

~ Leonard Ravenhill 

 

And he followed with: In 1 Kings 19:14 Elijah complains to God about how His people had forsaken His covenant. Jewish tradition says that as a result of his zeal, Elijah should have to be present whenever a Jewish boy entered the Covenant of Abraham through the ceremony of circumcision.

 

"The chair of the prophet of the Lord" Leonard Ravenhill is speaking of is a special chair set aside at the circumcision ceremony for Jewish boys. This ornate chair is left unoccupied and is symbolically for the prophet Elijah, or "The Angel of the Covenant." 

 

Malachi 3:1 says (NKJV): 

“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.' (Emphasis mine)

Today, when so many churches and self-proclaimed "Christians" have forsaken God's covenant because it is not politically correct or because it is inconvenient, the vacant "chair of the prophet" stands as a challenge for God's people to remember Who we belong to, what we are called to be in these evil times, and shout from the rooftops that Judgment is coming soon!"

💢💢💢💢

After I did some research and refreshed my memory, I asked for him to consider this:

Take a moment and read from Chapter 18 to get a feel for all that has been going on prior to 1 Kings 19:14. Ahab confronts Elijah and wrongly accuses him for all the troubles they have been experiencing. Verse 18 Elijah points out: "It is not I who have brought trouble on Israel, but you and your father's House, by forsaking the commandments of Yahweh and following (false god) Baalim."

•The 'commandments' are All of God's Instructions (aka Torah)•   

Elijah challenges all the prophets of the false god Baal to a final test (Chapt. 18 verse 23 through 40). Ahab tells Jezebel about what happened, she sends a message to Elijah letting him know he will be dead by the next day.

Elijah wasn't complaining to God. His life had been threatened by Jezebel and he ran from there until a days journey out of Beer-sheba into the wilderness - then he was ready to give up and asked God to take his life. But, instead, one of Yah's messengers/angels lets him know there was still a journey for him to make to Mt. Horeb. As a faithful servant of Yahweh, Elijah carried on.   

When God asked Elijah why he was there, it was because of his unending devotion to God; he acted 'on faith' and continued to Mt. Horeb, even though the Israelites had forsaken Yah's everlasting covenant, torn down His altars, and killed His prophets (which is much more than just failing to circumcise an 8 day old boy or be present when it was done). Elijah was still willing to meet with Yahweh.  

None of this about Elijah has anything to do with circumcision, eight day old baby boys or some ornate chair set aside for him in the future.

"Jewish Tradition" adds a whole lot of man's opinions to the Word of God and that's not a good thing; a stumbling block for some and a snare for others. The 'chair of the prophet' is a fine example of tradition and has nothing to do with Scriptures.  Using this as a teaching platform is misleading as well.  Mr. N told me it was akin to Yahshua teaching with parables.  Do you see how this can lead to misunderstanding? another rabbit trail leading us away from the Truth of Yah's Word?

A parable is usually a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude. Allegory is the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence and a metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable; a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else. 

Y'shua spoke in parables many times, telling stories to illustrate spiritual lessons; stories that are to be understood in order to reveal the hidden meaning of what he was teaching. There is no real mystery. He was teaching us to use our 'brain', to think and reason and not just follow the most popular preacher of the day or what was fashionable at the time.

Matthew 13:34
All these things Y'shua spoke in parables to the crowd, and he would not speak to them without a parable, so might be fulfilled the things which was spoken through the prophet who said, "I will open my mouth with parables and will bring out secrets that were from before the foundation of the world." (Psalms 78:2)

All that being said, I do get his point about so many people who have forsaken Yah's Instructions, commandments, laws, rules, decrees and teachings.... even though he ties it in with 'Churchianity'.  It is by quoting and teaching ideas, opinions and speculation which do not represent the truth of His Word that folks have been led astray, bit by bit, day by day and year after year.

All Praise belongs to Yahweh

I've been thinking on this for a while: 

Where in Scriptures are we told to 'worship Jesus'? 

I've noticed many memes, comments and posts in cyber-land that play into this scenario as if they are ignoring God altogether.  Also, why do people think angels are to be worshipped as well? 

All through the Old Testament (Tanakh) believers worshipped the one true living God - Yahweh.

In Matthew 4 Satan tempts the Son of God three times:

1. Because you're hungry, say to these rocks to become bread

2. Cast yourself down from the edge of the temple, let the angels protect you

3. You can have everything if you worship me

 

Yahshua counters these temptations by quoting from Scriptures:

 

1. 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 the Father.  

2. It is written you will not test Master Yahweh your God.

3. It is written you will worship  Master Yahweh and Him alone will you serve.

When Yahshua says 'it is written' he means that which has been recorded in Scriptures, the Word of God, what we now call the Old Testament.  He was pointing out the difference between the truth which came from the Father, and the 'oral traditions' of the Pharisees, which was the beginnings of the religion Judaism.

1. Deuteronomy 8:3 ~ He subjected you to the hardship of hunger and then gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had ever known, in order to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but may live on anything that the Father decrees.

 

Psalm 91 ~  

I have lightly paraphrased just as an update for today's world. 

 

If we dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the protection of Shaddai,  He will save us and we will find refuge in Him.  We need not fear the terrors of night or attacks during the day, the plague that stalks in the night or the scourge that ravages during the day.  Many will be affected and fall, but it will not reach us.  We will witness the punishment of the wicked because we chose Yahweh as our refuge.  No harm will befall us, no disease will enter our homes.  He will order His Messengers to guard us ..... "they will carry you in their hands lest you hurt your foot on a stone".  We will tread on cubs and vipers; we will trample lions and asps.  This will happen IF we are devoted to Yahweh - He will keep us safe because we know His Name.  When we call upon Him, He will answer, rescuing us in times of distress, showing us His Salvation.

 

2. Deuteronomy 6:16 ~ Do not test Yahweh.... be sure to Keep the Commandments, decrees and laws that Yahweh your God has enjoined upon you.  Do what is right and good in His sight that it may go well with you (so that we make it to the promised land)

 

3. Deuteronomy 6:13 ~ Revere only Yahweh your God and worship Him alone, and swear only by His Name.  Do not follow any gods of the peoples around you, for Yahweh is an impassioned God and His anger could blaze forth against us and wipe us off the face of the earth.

John 4:23

But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.

We are not to be in the practice of angel worship, either. 

Angels have appeared certain times throughout Scriptures and usually appeared as men - no wings, no halos, never as a female - but their divine righteousness became obvious. They usually had a Message for the human from the Creator, which is why they are called Messengers - it is the office they hold.  We have read those visions and descriptions of heavenly beings who are part of Yah's spiritual realm, things yet to be seen by our eyes, but we must not overlook examples of when man actually saw an 'angel' and knew it was a divine being.

Revelation 19:10

So I fell at his feet to worship him (the angel). But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Yahshua. Worship God !

Colossians 2:18

And let no one wish, by subverting the mind, to bring you under bonds that you worship angels; while he is prying into that which he has not seen and is vainly inflated in his fleshly mind.....

 

•This is how the verse reads in the Berean study bible:

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.

So many people are compelled to share the Word of God and some have been snared by what they have been taught without ever taking it to Scriptures for proof.  They are not building on the same foundation as the 12 Apostles and are misleading many.

The Son of God is the corner piece upon which the 12 Apostles built the foundation, teaching everything that Yahshua taught them; which is everything from Yahweh our Father. Ever since then there have been disciples building upon that same foundation.  However, there are people teaching doctrines that only cause cracks in that foundation which become snares for His people who do not love the truth and lack knowledge of what is written in Scriptures.  We have been warned: these are they who will be destroyed.

 

Our songs of praise, our love and obedience is to Yahweh God Almighty first and foremost in all things.  We love Him with our entire being and know how to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This is not the end game but only the beginning.  We also have the testimony of His Son Yahshua - we openly acknowledge he is the Son of Yahweh who was killed and resurrected and will one day return for his followers, those who God gave him from the beginning.

Destroy your collection of icons and idols and put Our Father first.  Read His Instructions and gain understanding.  Stop sharing those images of angels and 'Jesus', Roman death devices and armed spiritual warriors; idol worshipping is also forbidden by Our Father.

 

Heaven and Earth

About knowing the universe, I am convinced we ought not go there. Think back when Yah stopped Nimrod from building that tower - they planned on reaching heaven. If Yah put an end to that endeavor I honestly don't think we have any business dealing with the space program. Nimrod and his people were acting on "pride and arrogance" and the same goes for any space exploration in this day and age - Scientists are blinded by science! It's their religion and money maker.

Psalm 115:15 ~~ May you be blessed by Yahweh, Maker of heaven and earth. The heavens belong to Yah but the earth He gave over to man.

The earth is ours for now and for the following thousand years after Yahshua returns and sets up his kingdom. After that time period Yah will make all things new! The spiritual realm does not belong to us yet. All that knowledge of the Great I AM is yet to be manifest because us mere humans are still in these corruptible bodies. This is where we are meant to live until that day.

 

 

 

Gathered Up at the Last Day

The Rapture is one of those topics of contention that spurred me along in a quest to find the truth of the matter. It is one of the most misunderstood topics in regards to the 'end times' and folks like to divide this event into three possible scenarios: 

Pre-tribulation; Mid-tribulation and Post-tribulation.

 

Most believe that the Tribulation is the final 7 years prior to the return of 'Jesus'. This final time line begins with the signing of a peace treaty - an agreement with many - which apparently brings 'world peace' thanks to that final world leader and his government system. This will actually be a false sense of security, yet every one will be at ease and life goes on. But, after 3-1/2 years things take a turn for the worse, like nothing that has ever happened before. Life seems good the first 3-1/2 years and the bad times, the Tribulation, appears to be the final 3-1/2 years. Realizing this, there is no way for a Pre-trib rapture to take place. Also, after further study, there is not a Mid-trib rapture either. Yahshua returns at the Last Day. We can find written in Scriptures the signs and wonders, the events and mindsets that will become very apparent prior to the return of Messiah, the Anointed One. These things must happen first and then the end will come.

 

Tribulation is defined as:

>Distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution<

This description fits what the state of things will be like 

during the final 3-1/2 years.

 

The Apostle Paul clearly teaches that the first resurrection and the 'catching up' will occur at the return of Yahshua. The sounding of a trumpet signals his return. All eyes will see and understand that the day of wrath has come. Many things will happen before the sounding of that last trumpet and the return of Yahshua. We have been told these things so we will know what to expect, that we Set Apart believers will not be taken by surprise as if by a thief in the night. Our Messiah returns on the Last Day.

 

In Matthew 24:29 we read:

And immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine its light. And the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then will be seen the sign of the Son of man in heaven...  And he will send his (angels) with a large trumpet and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. 

The 7th trumpet is sounded. The earth is ready for harvest. Set Apart believers are removed from the earth temporarily for if their time was not shortened they would not be able to witness, understand and survive the heart breaking destruction to come, the final 7 cups of Wrath. This is akin to when Lot's wife, who was told not to look back at the destruction, did look back and it scared her to death - literally.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ... you should not mourn over them who have fallen asleep (died), like other people who have no hope...  For if we believe that Yahshua died and rose again, even those who sleep will The Father, by His Son, bring with him....  and this we say to you by the word of Yahshua, that we who may survive and be alive at his return will not precede them who have slept (died before us); Because our Master will descend from heaven with a mandate and with the voice of the chief Messenger and with the trumpet of Yahweh; and the dead who are in Yahshua will rise first and then we who survive and are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet him... And so comfort yourselves one another with these words...

 

During my research of this study I have learned a tidbit of info:

The main body of the rapture theory was invented by Ribera, a Catholic Jesuit theologian who published his work shortly after the Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572. Protestants were pointing to the Vatican as the harlot beast system of Revelation. The blood of that horrific Catholic inspired massacre of French Protestants was still being washed off the streets of Paris when the Jesuits presented their rapture theory, designed to take pressure off the Catholic Church system.... The Jesuits also peddled that 'the saints' would not be on Earth during the time of tribulation....
 

The word "rapture" comes from the Latin 'rapere' used by the Vulgate to translate the Greek word 'harpaz', which is rendered by the phrase "caught up" in most English translations.

Do not believe those who say they saw Yahshua (or Jesus) 'here or there' because many false teachers and preachers, self proclaimed prophets and ministers will produce signs and wonders (magic, enchantment, computer enhanced events etc....) in order to help with the growing deception. Even professed believers will be at risk for falling for the charade. Sadly I am seeing this in various cyber space groups.

 

We have been told beforehand so that we may recognize the times we are living in. When the time comes, Yahshua will be seen just as everyone sees the sun rise out of the east and it is seen even in the west, so shall the Son of God be seen. There will be no private viewings prior to this event! He is not walking this earth now but we have been told Satan is the ruler at this time. And even Satan can appear as an Angel of Light.... so beware and pay attention and read Scriptures so you will know the truth and not be taken in by false leadership.

 

There are two sure signs that cannot be missed that are like highway markers letting us know where we are. The first will be when it seems like World War Three is about to break loose and one man saves the day with his solution and it will seem like world peace. When this happens there will be seven years left before the return of our Messiah. The second event is when that same man suddenly changes. He will instill the system that makes all money obsolete as well as claiming he is 'god'. When this happens there will be 3-1/2 years left until the return of the Son of God.

 

There is no 'rapture' prior to any of this. Looking around at world news today we know wars are being played out here and there and the unrest in the Mideast is unmistakable. No matter who is fighting, the main trigger point is that one person who offers up a peace treaty and everyone is won over by him. In the meantime lets live our lives one day at a time.

 

Yahshua refers us back to Daniel, confirming his visions were for a future time.
Matthew 24:15 ~ And when you see the sign of uncleanness and desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, which will stand in the Set Apart place, he that reads, let him understand.
Daniel 9:27  ~ During one week he will make a firm covenant with many. For half a week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and meal offering. At the corner of the altar (in the Set Apart place) will be an appalling abomination until the decreed destruction will be poured down upon this appalling thing.

Here is the link to a study I did on Daniel's visions back in Nebuchadnezzer's day:

Last Govt System

 

 

There is no time like the present to commit ourselves to our Creator and accept His Son.  Read Scriptures daily and let His Spirit show you the truth of God's Word.  

 

 

 

 

Don't Be Led Astray

Ephesians 2:18 ~ Because by Yahshua there is access for us, by one Spirit, to the Father. Wherefore we are not strangers (foreigners) nor sojourners but are fellow-citizens with the Set Apart believers and of the household of Yahweh.

And we are built upon the foundations of the 12 Apostles and the prophets; and Yahshua the Anointed One has become the head of the corner in the edifice. And in him all the edifice is framed together and grows into a Set Apart temple in Master Yahweh; while we also are built in him for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

First Peter 2 ~ Therefore, cease all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and jealousy and backbiting and be like very small children and crave the Word as being the pure spiritual milk by which you are nourished up to life; if you have tasted and seen that Master YHWH is good. You have been drawn to His Son because he is a Living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but with God elect and precious. And you also as living stones are built and become spiritual temples and Set Apart for the offering of Spiritual Sacrifices, acceptable before the Father through His Son the Anointed One.

Romans 12 ~ I plead to you, therefore, my brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, Set Apart and acceptable to Him by rational service to Him. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your minds and discern what is the good and acceptable and the perfect pleasure of Our Father.

This is how it is done folks! We are told to be like young children craving the Word; not to be shaped and controlled by worldly things but to allow our character to be changed by what we have learned by reading Scriptures - His Words - especially His Instructions (Genesis through Deuteronomy). By this we learn to discern what He desires of us, and because we love Him we act accordingly. We have not been called to be 'warriors' = Yahweh is our Warrior.

Exodus 15:2, 3

Yah is my strength and might; He is my deliverance. This is my God and I will glorify Him. The God of my fathers, I will exalt Him - the Warrior - Yahweh is His Name.

There are folks who stir up their 'followers' with this warrior mantra and sometimes it seems as if they are using 'fear' to whip up a mental frenzy. We know the battle is in the spiritual realm and we know we are in the physical realm and we should not be trying to fight a war that is out of our control. That is a big distraction from 'being like little children' don't you think? Folks pushing the Warrior doctrine are leading others down a rabbit trail.

 

Yahweh is our Warrior and our Shield. Putting on the 'armor of God' is clearly explained in Scriptures as to what that means and it does not mean we are to be enlisted as 'warriors'.  We put on Yah's Spiritual Armor so that we may be able to stand against the strategies of the Accuser.

 

Clothing ourselves with
the Spiritual Armor of our Creator consists of 

living our lives in:

•Truth 
•Righteousness
•The Good News of Peace
•Faith which gives Confidence
•Salvation
•The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)
•Constant Prayers for Set Apart Believers

 

It is not our job to save the world - Yahshua will do that at his return. It is not our job to drag anyone to 'church'. It is, however, our responsibility as Set Apart believers to share the Good News of His Kingdom.  This is what is meant by the Seed Parable.

 

The Good News is that our Heavenly Father and His Anointed Son are righteous and just and all who put their Faith in Yahweh are being called into righteousness to walk as Yahshua walked. He is the Way, Truth and Life.

Luke 8:1- Yahshua was going around in the cites and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of God.
Romans 10:13- For everyone that will call on the name of Master Yahweh will have life. How then will they call on him, in whom that have not believed? Or how will they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Or of whom will they hear without a preacher? how will they preach if they are not sent forth? 

In Acts 2:38 we read in order to be saved (from the curse of eternal death) that we are to repent (return to Yah, turning away from our old sin nature) and be immersed (ritually cleansed) so that we may receive His Set Apart Spirit. By sharing the Good News of His kingdom with others we are planting seeds; those who take it to heart can make the choice to get on His Path and move along towards our inheritance = the promised land = the land of Canaan.

 

Here is some sound advice we can apply to this topic from sayings in which truth is found. Also known as Proverbs:

 

📖 Learn wisdom and discipline.

📜 Understand words of discernment (be able to separate truth from deception). 

 

🙏 Acquire discipline for righteousness, justice, fairness and success. Endow the simple with the ability to have sharp insight in practical affairs, and the young with knowledge and foresight.

🚧 If sinners entice you, do not give in, do not go with them. Keep your feet from their path - it leads to evil.

 

👂 Make your ear attentive to wisdom and your mind open to discernment.

📚 If you seek understanding and discernment, search for them as if you were searching for treasures, then you will understand the fear of YHWH and attain knowledge of Him. He is a Shield for those who live blamelessly.

♛ You will understand what is right, just and equitable because wisdom will enter your mind and knowledge will delight you. Foresight will protect you and discernment will guide you and save you from the way of evil men.

So follow the way of the good and keep to the paths of the just, for the upright will inhabit the earth and the blameless will remain in it. 

The wicked shall vanish from the land and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.

Lets not forget:
Yahshua taught us that folks who are poor in spirit, who are mourning, and meek; who hunger and thirst for righteousness; those who are merciful and pure in their hearts; who make peace; and those who are persecuted because of righteousness; are cursed and persecuted and every evil word is spoken about them falsely because of him; that all who do these things and suffer the outcomes should rejoice and be glad because our reward in heaven is great !! Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven where they will be comforted, and they will inherit the earth; they will be satisfied because mercies shall be upon them and they will see Yahweh when that day comes, because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Take a Good Look around

Quote, lightly edited:

.... the fall of Kabul painted a vivid picture of the crumbling of the United States of America. The US military, hell bent on going “woke” with transgenderism and gays in the military, is utterly unable to protect its own personnel overseas....

As Biden’s rigged regime is ending, so is the United States of America as a “united” nation. With outrageous levels of fiat currency money printing, the collapse of the rule of law, blatantly rigged elections, government-enforced censorship of conservative views, media-fomented racial animosity, left-wing efforts to defund the police, racist CRT indoctrination in the schools and even a CDC director “doctor” who cannot admit that only women can get pregnant, the once great United States of America has fallen into a pathetic state of collapse.

The military cannot defend the country, the “President” cannot run the country, the Treasury cannot fund the country and the “science” establishment can’t even bring itself to recommend vitamin D to save the country from a pandemic that was launched by the scientists themselves. The United States government now functions by waging war against its own people with forced shots, engineered food shortages, massive government looting via money printing, and the designation of anti-lock/vax/mask protesters as terrorists.

There is now no federal government agency that serves any real interest of the public. ATF, DEA, FBI, FDA, CDC, IRS, HHS, DHS and more, they only now exist to enhance their own power by waging war against the very people they claim to represent. The FBI runs the terror plots… the CDC runs the biowarfare attacks… the FDA attacks supplements… the ATF tries to banish the Second Amendment… the DEA runs the drugs… and HHS, which is supposed to stand for Health and Human Services, has a decidedly anti-human agenda.

Above all, the federal government under Biden now sees the American people as their enemy.

Beyond the incredible corruption that now characterizes the US federal government, the United States of America remains steeped in a dark, demonic world stemming from mass abortions, infanticide, organ harvesting from babies, the transgender indoctrination and mutilation of children, the rejection of God and the embracing of Lucifer across pop culture, censorship attacks on 'believers' and the embracing of depopulation bioweapons on a national scale, disguised as a public health program.

God knows what's going on, and while He is patient, His patience will run out. We must be prepared for the collapse of civilization as we know it.

Those who are spiritually prepared will be able to walk through that shadowy valley of death and fear no evil. Be prepared both spiritually and physically. Physical preparedness means having our pantries stocked, emergency supplies on hand and readiness for the collapse of food distribution, electricity, telecommunications and the rule of law. Spiritual preparedness means living by the Instructions originally given us by the Creator, standing strong in faith and following in the footsteps of His Son.

 

America has collapsed into a nation of sin, and that sin will eventually be wiped from the Earth at the return of the Son of God - but it is not the end yet.

Teachers•Ministers•Pastors•Preachers

Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest any man rob you by philosophy, or by empty deception, according to the teaching of men and according to the principles of the world and not according to Yahshua the Anointed One.

 

There are many groups available to choose from on Facebook that are spreading the Word of God.  There are many good people looking to learn more and get a better understanding of Scriptures and that is a very good thing.  But here's the catch: there are many people who consider themselves chosen by God to teach, or to share their so called God inspired insights.  And if you follow one of these types you should realize sooner or later that they are not basing their teachings or perceived leadership on Scriptures but on flights of fancy; others are leading by their pride and arrogance.  Others just complicate the simplicity of God's Word with pictures and quotes from ungodly men and women. Somewhere along the line, while their intentions were once good, they fell into one of Satan's snares and have been thoughtfully tossing out those stumbling blocks for their 'flocks'.  When these types consider themselves the center of the group, in essence, they are setting Yahweh aside and teaching others to do the same thing.  One more proof that they are not speaking for God is when confronted with something they shared which isn't quite right, doesn't line up with Scriptures, is slightly out of whack or down right misleading, they immediately go on the defense, praise themselves and gloss over the issue brought to their attention. It is almost narcissistic in nature.

Narcissistic personality disorder — one of several types of personality disorders — is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism.

I am all for helping people move along Yah's Path of Righteousness as others have helped me to keep moving. There is nothing wrong with 'fellowship' found in cyberspace but the danger is in the feel-good tactics used by some (aka ear tickling) to get you hooked, reel you in and keep their group growing.  If you have never met a person in real life you cannot 100% trust them in cyberspace.  Looking for other Set Apart believers online is a challenge. 

Yahweh tells us not to be taken in by those who teach by speculation, who hand out empty deceptions concocted by men according to worldly desires; who ignore the teachings of Yahshua, His Son.

 

The 12 Apostles continued to teach The Way of Yahshua, who taught them everything from Our Father. The disciples continued to teach and follow in the footsteps of Yahshua as they learned from the Apostles. And this is how it should be with us today, we share the Good News of the Kingdom to come, just as the Apostles taught, just as our Messiah taught. And we do this because we were given His Set Apart Spirit.

 

Everything we share we should be able to back up with the written Word of our Creator; not by speculation or imagination or plain old guess work. If we do not know or are not sure of what God instructed we should not substitute what we think is right. This is Not my 'philosophy' but lessons learned from reading Scriptures.