WHAT DID YESHUA DO? Jesus/Yeshua made a three-day journey from Nazareth to be in the Temple during the Feast of Dedication/Hanukkah. "Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade. Then the Judean leaders surrounded Him, saying, “How long will You hold us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us outright!” Yeshua answered them, “I told you, but you don’t believe! The works I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me. But you don’t believe, because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:23-32 TLV Yeshua answered them with a declaration that He and the Father are one! Think of the godly wisdom and timing for Yeshua to choose the Temple and the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah, to reveal that He is God! Antiochus of Epiphanies' made a similar claim, the coming anti-Christ will do the same and now here is Yeshua confronting the cultural, political, and religious leaders with the truth that He is the Messiah; "I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him." (John 10:30). "Again Jesus/Yeshua spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12) "I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (John 12:46). We are excited to begin this journey again. During the darkest part of the year as we remember our Messiah. Messiah Yeshua, as the light of the world and show Him forth in: practical application, sharing the gospel, and the Fruits of the Spirit to point others back to Him. As Darren eloquently explains on pg 21-22 of Eight Lights: A Hanukkah Devotional for Followers of Yeshua, "Night One the highest candle or set apart candle you see is the shamash, or servant, its job is to pass the flame to each of the 8 candles of the Hanukkah menorah. Its job is to serve (avodah) the other candles by passing its light and heat to them. It doesn't get counted like the other candles, yet it is always present. Every night we first light the shamash and then use it to light the other candles. It really has a thankless job. The shamash works hard to make the other candles shine brightly, but receives little attention for this important task and is not counted among the special eight lights of Hanukkah." {The devotional can be purchased here: Eight Lights: A Hanukkah Devotional for Followers of Yeshua: Huckey, Darren N.: 9781549853678: Amazon.com: Books } Yeshua said, " So if I, your Master and Teacher have washed your fee, you also ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example-- you should do for each other what I have done for you. Amen, amen I tell you, a servant isn't greater than his master, and the one who is sent isn't greater than the one who sent him..."- John 13: 14-16 TLV Yeshua is Master of all and yet taught as a servant how to be a servant, saying, " I have given you an example-- " Yeshua passed on the "light" to us... "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper so He may be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him. You know Him, because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14: 16-18 Upon Shavuot/Pentecost, what happened? " When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the RUach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit)....Acts 2: 2-4 TLV Amen and Amen! The Holy Spirit fell like fire on the believers! From our family to yours may you be blessed in observance during this time as we shine the light of Yeshua in a dark world and share the gospel as Ambassadors for the Kingdom! Blessings and Shalom as you continue to "pursue the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua"-Phil 4:13 * I am not paid or sponsored in any way to offer or present this book or the other resources found on the blog.*
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Hello everyone! This post is not a theological deep dive study... more like a chat :) Hmm such a simple statement that leads to a deep thought process and follow through. What does it mean? Well I suppose that will look different to everybody because each of our lives are very different. The principle still stands equivalently relevant to each and every person reading this. In teaching our children, and I do mean my husband and I, we teach them that if they are not responsible with small things we cannot bless them with "better, more expensive, more responsibility" type things and opportunities later. A simple example if you break your hot wheels car by repeatedly playing rough with it--I won't buy you a remote control car. For a small child that remote controlled car is a big step up and reward! When my husband and I were newlyweds we lived in a mobile home/trailer whatever you may call it. I was diligent about taking care of it and creating a "homey, comfortable" atmosphere to the best of my ability. Why? As I explained to my husband I want to honor Yah's provision as much as I can in my actions, and behavior with gratitude, and humility. I told my husband until something changes this is the home Yah has provided for us and I honor that provision by taking care of what has been entrusted to us. Am I always cheerful? Is my house always clean? Do I home-cook every meal? (LOL, not hardly)- although a round of applause for ladies better in these areas than I! My disposition in general is not typically what one would call "cheerful" I am a bit of an introvert and intellectual/analytical processor type personality. My husband teases me by calling me "Windows 98" because I am often slow to respond because I pause to think and process prior to speaking. Is the house always clean?- NO, we have kids, I work full-time, homeschool, cart the kids to their activities, and take night classes online..... My husband works more than 55 hours every week and is busy as well. But we keep the house tidy and the children have age-appropriate chores to help and train them up. All of that to say--Being faithful in the small things at this point in life...is honoring Yah by taking care of the blessings He has given to us, including our home. Utilizing those resources for His glory as often as we can in meeting the needs of His church, and the lost, downtrodden, and needy. Being faithful in the small things, right now, means homeschooling our children, and, training them up in the Word and discipling them. This is our season in life. Being faithful in the small things is growing in maturity in my role as wife and mother. Respecting my husband, learning to obey him, and not be contentious. Letting him walk out his role as the leader Yah has provided me a godly husband and that is a blessing. I strive to not make it a more difficult role for him. Being faithful in the small things right now is managing all of the "things" and relying on Yah to repeatedly bring me back to a state of peace when my anxiety begins to creep in...... For you it may be totally different and that's ok. But let us remember the "small things," and be faithful. For our Abba is faithful to us. Adonai—He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.- Deut 31:8TLV Blessings and Shalom as you continue to "pursue the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua"-Phil 4:13 This blog post was written by a guest/friend of mine: Angela Hollon and she does an exquisite job of breaking down one of the more complicated books that is frequently misunderstood. You can check out her blog here: land of honey (landofhoneyblog.blogspot.com) resource: https://messianic-learning.com/commentary/shliachim/communities/galatians/gal3.html https://landofhoneyblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-hebraic-perspective-on-galatians.html Knowing who Abraham was and his journey with God is vital in understanding Galatians. Ezekiel 16:3 As well as who the Galatians were and Paul’s relationship with them. And who the trouble makers were. They were proselytes and they were upset that things had changed since Cornelius in Acts 10. All this is needed to truly understand the context of the conversation taking place in Galatians. Paul and Yeshua spoke against traditions, never Torah. With that said. We can now continue to the basic message. We are made righteous by the work of Messiah. Nothing we can do. Faith produces good works. Works do not produce faith. That’s the most basic context of Galatians. Paul taught Yeshua and Torah and loved them both. He was a Jewish Pharisee. Acts 23:6, 24:14, 25:8 The Set Apart Spirit was given through Messiahs work to walk in His good ways, an inward work to produce an outward action of obedience to His ways. Ezekiel 36:27 Jeremiah 31:33 Torah (law) written on your heart. To love Messiah and to hate the ways He told you to follow is double minded. The only thing that passed was the Levitical priesthood order to the order of Melchizedek. Messiah is now High Priest of Torah! Context matters or you end up hating what He told you to love and that’s not going to go well for you when you face Him. The law isn’t hard when you want to follow it. It will be taught and followed in the millennial reign. The Torah goes forth. Yeshua's kingdom goes forth. Yeshua teaches Torah. Micah 4:2 Zechariah 14 Isaiah 2:1-5 Galatians may well be the most misunderstood book in Scripture. When I was first learning about Torah observance and the Hebrew faith, the idea of keeping the commandments would make sense...and then I would read Galatians and get very confused. It seems to go against so much of Scripture doesn't it? Passages are often pulled out of this book to say that we no longer need to follow YHWH's instructions. But Scripture doesn't contradict itself! Having a better perspective on this book will help us to see how it fits with all of the Word. There are a few things to remember when we read Galatians: -This is not meant to be read on its own but in conjunction with the rest of the Bible. Meaning, it needs to fit with what the rest of Scripture says. -Most translations fail to distinguish between the commandments for how we are to live (love your neighbor, honor the Sabbath day, eat what Scripture permits, do not steal or murder, etc.), from the laws regarding the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system, confusingly lumping them together as "law" or "Torah." Making a distinction sheds so much light on this book! Because I come from a Christian background, I have heard so many times that Galatians says that we are set free from the pointless and burdensome instructions of our Creator. These are some of the verses that used to confuse me. Let's take a closer look to see what Scripture really is saying in these passages. Addressing 'problem verses': Titus was not compelled to be circumcised. -Galatians 2:3 This verse is talking about circumcision and does not mean that Titus wasn't compelled to follow other commandments in Scripture. Circumcision is a weighty topic and one that we won't fully delve into in this article. Remember that Paul did encourage Timothy to be circumcised later and we have no evidence of either of them or Paul disregarding Scripture's instructions in other areas. Peter was at fault for separating himself from Gentiles. -Galatians 2:11 Peter was at fault because the Bible doesn't say he should do this. The idea of separating from Gentiles is a man-made Jewish idea, not something found in Torah. Which is why verse 12 expressly mentions that he withdrew from Gentile believers because of fear of others. He was fearing man's traditions and rules (Judaism's laws in this case) in place of YHWH, which is what Paul called him out for. "Why would you compel a Gentile to live as a Jew?" -Galatians 2:14 It's important to realize that Paul no longer sees his faith as part of Judaism (in 1:13 he says that Judaism was his former way of life). So yeah, why would he expect Gentiles to live as Jews who observe literally thousands of rules not found in Scripture? The context of this alongside his rebuke of Peter keeping Jewish law tells us that Paul does not think believers should follow Jewish law, but he's not saying that all believers shouldn't keep YHWH's commandments. "Man is not declared right by works of Torah." -Galatians 2:16 We should look at this verse from the perspective of, "Man is not declared right by animal sacrifices." This fits with Hebrews 10:4 which tells us it is impossible for animal blood to take away our sins. But even if we look at it from the perspective that we aren't saved by keeping the commandments perfectly, there is no contradiction here. Salvation is a free gift given to those who believe, regardless of my ability to serve him perfectly. However, our actions should reflect our faith! "Through the Torah, I died to Torah." -Galatians 2:19 An easier to understand rendering of this verse would be, "Through Scripture, I died to the Levitical priesthood." It's significant that Paul says through Torah or through Scripture, because he can see that the change from the Levitical priesthood back to the Melchizedek is something that Scripture teaches. He says he is dead to the system of animal sacrifice because it can no longer do anything for him. You need belief to be a son of Abraham. -Galatians 3:7 This fits with what we know about who Hebrews really are. It's not about your bloodline, it's about placing your faith in the Messiah and serving him as Scripture teaches. "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the Torah." -Galatians 3:10 Would Paul have bothered bringing this up if he thought we shouldn't keep any of the commandments and were off the hook of being cursed? I don't think so, and his phrasing is quite telling...he expects believers to have a question about doing 'part' of the Torah instructions because he expected them to follow the commandments given in the Book of the Covenant, without keeping the Levitical Temple system in effect. If it weren't for the Messiah, we would be cursed by not participating in the Levitical system. But now we have the Messiah and he set us free from the curse that comes from stopping Temple sacrifices. "No one is declared right by the Torah." -Galatians 3:11 You can't sacrifice enough animals to be declared right. The blood of animals does not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). That's not an insult to the Levitical priesthood, merely an admission that Yeshua's blood is superior. And of course we aren't declared right by our works either, but that doesn't mean YHWH doesn't want us to live a certain way. -Paul is not writing about all the commandments in Scripture but rather hones in on circumcision and animal sacrifice. -This was written by Paul and Scripture says that his writings are often hard to understand and end up twisted (2 Peter 3:16). It is unrealistic to think that a quick, cursory reading of an English translation will lead us to the proper meaning of this passage when Scripture warns us that it is difficult to understand. Take time to study and search out the true meaning of this misunderstood book. "Torah that came 430 years later does not annul a previous Covenant." -Galatians 3:17 Did you know that most of the commandments for how to live were given before the Levitical priesthood was established? Instructions on the Sabbath, the set apart times, and clean eating were all spoken of well before the Israelites wandered in the desert. Those things aren't annulled or done away with because of the change in the priesthood. This sentence shows us that Scripture makes a distinction of the commandments for how to live and the commandments for the Levitical system. They are not inextricably linked together. This also tells us that the "Two Torahs" are both from Scripture, and Paul is not talking about the oral law (Judaism's man made rules). This Torah was added because of transgressions... -Galatians 3:19 Added is a key word here. What was the Levitical system and animal sacrifice added to? The instructions YHWH had already given on how to live! Transgressions here is talking about the sin of the golden calf. "...until the Seed should come to those this promise was made to." -Galatians 3:19 Until the Messiah comes! The Levitical sacrifices were made until the Messiah. This passage is talking about animal sacrifice and circumcision, but Paul is not saying that the rest of the instructions were just until the Messiah. We see the Messiah and his followers (Paul included) keeping the Torah throughout the New Testament The Torah is not against the promises of YHWH. -Galatians 3:21 Meaning that his instructions go with his promises. You don't throw out the instructions to get to the promises. Yeshua was born under Levitical law. -Galatians 4:4 Messiah was born when the Levitical system was still in operation, in order to redeem those who were under this priesthood. This is both a statement of fact (that the Temple was running when he was born), and a reminder that he comes to us where we are. Becoming enslaved again...observing Gentile ritual days. -Galatians 4:10 Please see that this passage is about turning back to cultural holidays and man-made traditions, not about keeping the Biblical set apart times! Verse 9 talks about turning away from YHWH. Would it make more sense to view celebrating a feast of Scripture as turning away from the Living God, or turning to man-made holidays with roots in paganism as turning away from the Creator? Two covenants: free woman/slave woman allegory. -Galatians 4:24 Take note that these women are from Abraham's time, including the free woman. The Melchizedek priesthood was in effect during Abraham's time, while the Levitical system didn't come into place until hundreds of years later. YHWH's intention was always for his people to have the free woman covenant, but that covenant was rejected by Israel at the sin of the golden calf. The Messiah's sacrifice restores us to the original free woman covenant, including the many commandments on how we are to live such as celebrating the Biblical holidays, not consuming animals that Scripture doesn't permit, and honoring the Sabbath day. Messiah has made us free from the yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1 True freedom only comes from the Messiah. And going back to the allegory of the free woman and the slave woman, the Levitical priesthood is the slave woman. Yeshua set us free from having to sacrifice animals. Declaring yourself right by animal sacrifices severs you from the Messiah. -Galatians 5:4 Yes, saying that your sins are covered because of an animal sacrifice is deeply insulting to the Messiah! But that's what severs you from him; note that this verse doesn't say, "Honoring the Sabbath day severs you from Messiah," or "Keeping the commandments cuts you off." "Do not use freedom as an occasion for the flesh." -Galatians 5:13 Freedom and forgiveness don't make it wise to live foolishly. The Messiah didn't set us free from sin so that we can do whatever we want without consequence. "The entire Torah is completed in one word, love your neighbor as yourself." -Galatians 5:14 This is a summary of the instructions we are supposed to be keeping. Think of it as the description on the back of a book - here's what it's about, see inside for more. "If you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under Torah." -Galatians 5:18 A better rendering of this would be that if we are being lead by the Spirit, we won't return to the Levitical system of animal sacrifice. The Holy Spirit accepts Yeshua's blood offering as superior to the blood of bulls and goats and will not lead you to resume animal sacrifice. This verse is not saying that the Holy Spirit would lead us away from the word of YHWH or his instructions. Paul has just spoken on the Torah telling us to love our neighbor, it would make no sense for him to mean 'Torah' in the same context here...if you are lead by the Spirit you won't love your neighbor? That doesn't fit at all with Scripture. Amen friends! I hope this was as much a blesssing to you as it was for me! Blessings and Shalom in the Name of Yeshua Messiah! - Hello friends, readers, and visitors! Well let's talk about this. Waiting............. Most of us have patience for a few minutes and then start to get irritated. Our limits are generally, well,---- limited. Waiting for a doctor that is running late, waiting for a check to clear, waiting for a package to come in the mail, waiting on a flight, waiting on a prayer, a dream, a hope.... waiting... No one likes it and we teach our children while they are young about patience. Patience is a fruit of the Ruach (Spirit) afterall. Patience is waiting with grace and it's what enables us to live in this demanding world. We develop the ability to evermore " also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us, focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith.," (HEB 12:2 TLV) to walk in: love, joy and peace, and all the other fruits of the Ruach (Spirit) "But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. " (GAL 5:22-23) Typically the things that people struggle with the most have to do with the things nearest to us. Unresolved prayers. We pray in expectant hope for a move of Yah. When we do not see the results within the time we have mentally set. We may feel all sorts of things....entitlement, frustration, hopelessness, despair, anger, resentment etc. Sometimes these reactions are to very sensitive situations.... a desire of the heart, marital struggles, loss of a loved one, a terminally ill loved one..suffering etc. Let's pause for a moment and reflect on these verses above:
Interesting.
Read through that list again and dwell on it. That is from only 2 verses. Regardless of what we are waiting upon. We have KINGDOM ORDERS as Ambassadors and children of the Most High. Where do we draw: strength, patience, joy, peace etc?
Yah did not leave us helpless orphans. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper so He may be with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him. You know Him, because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you. In a little while, the world will no longer behold Me, but you will behold Me. Because I live, you also will live!- John 14:15-19 TLV When you are weak He is your strength. When you are anxious He is your peace. When you are: sad, downtrodden, or overwhelmed He is your source of renewal and joy. No matter what the prayer, or why the wait, or what requires patience.... we must realize and know that HE IS ENOUGH. I have had some prayers answered very quickly and others over a decade in waiting. Either way I can say and I know from experience of my walk with Yah...He is FAITHFUL. HE IS GOOD. I can trust Him. If you are struggling please feel free to reach out for prayer or just someone to listen, I am here. In the waiting as our Fruits develop let us be found following the instructions left for us.
Listen: Natalie Grant - More Than Anything (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube Blessings and Shalom as you continue to "pursue the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua"-Phil 4:13 He is still doing the Heavy Lifting! Well hello everyone! I hope this finds you well. I have been rather quiet this week. More or less from straight exhaustion. I am tired y'all. I find, at least for me, that this type of exhaustion comes more from emotional investment more than even my busy schedule and multiple responsibilities. I have long battled with anxiety and keeping that in check by continuously turning it back and giving it to Yah when it begins to creep in...but that in of itself is a constant back and forth where I must always be attentive. So in the midst of this week this blog was largely ignored. I do not have a large audience. But regardless to those of you that hang out and stick around I like to be here and this week I just wasn't here. My husband was quite supportive when I had a bad day... You know? 1 of those days where it feels as though everything that could wrong is going wrong. In the grand picture of life there are thousands if not millions of people suffering far worse than the issues I had that day. Even so the weight of the issues and responsibilities and expectations became heavy and eventually I broke into tears multiple times that evening. #1 I wanted to be real with you all. I certainly don't have it all together. #2 YAH is STILL GOOD ALL THE TIME #3 He is with us #4 We often carry what was never intended for us #5 WE NEED REST! After my pep talk and hug from my husband. I chose to worship. I cried a lot. But I chose to battle in worship and praise Him through the storm. I didn't fix anything, I didn't try to fix anything..... I just stood and worshipped Him. To the unbeliever this would appear either insane or odd. Regardless it works. He is present, He can fix it, He can strengthen me, He restores peace, He is the Great I AM, HE IS...... I am not. I can press into Him and all His greatness....His peace, His joy, His presence and fill back up. When I am walking in the JOY of Adonai I can then pour out on others and help them find THE WAY TO HIM. If the enemy can wear us down to the point we don't turn back to YAH and seek Him in repentance or renewal of joy and peace. He wins that battle. Because we will remain focused on our issues and be unable to reach out. He told them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to every creature." - MK 16: 15 TLV We have marching orders as ambassadors for THE KINGDOM. For more info on that:
Life is difficult. We all struggle with something. I don't know what your struggle is but I don't need to know details to know the solution: YESHUA. He brings new life He brings healing He brings restoration He brings peace He brings joy He brings strength HE IS ENOUGH. Whatever your stronghold, your struggle, your sin...... HE IS ENOUGH to overcome it and give you a testimony! I want to encourage you as I prepare for the work and school day as wife and momma to little blessings. Yah is able. Yah is ENOUGH whatever today brings. He is ready, He is not caught by surprise, He is not caught off guard. He is present. Shabbat starts tonight at sundownand finishes sundown tomorrow and Yah in His wisdom knew how very much our fragility requires rest and time set aside from everything else for this dedicated time to: worship Him, read, and as a family rest in Him. Shabbat is a blessing given to man! It is our absolute favorite time of the week as a family and I know we will cherish this time with Abba as everything else stops, is set on pause, and we rest in Him. All of the chores are done before Shabbat. Which may not seem like a big thing but it is. At sunset when we acknowledge the start of Shabbat with prayers followed by worship and intercessory prayer. Everyone in the house observes REST. We spend time: in the Bible, prayer, worship, crafts for the kids, napping, playing, watching movies, and time with our church family.... but it's a blessing of a pause. Peace be still and know that I am God. PS 46:10 Observe Yom Shabbat to keep it holy, as Adonai your God commanded you. Six days you are to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to Adonai your God. In it you are not to do any work....Duet 5;12-15 TLV CLICK FOR MUSIC VIDEOS: Joshua Aaron - You Are Holy (As for Me and My House) Lyric Video - YouTube Hallelujah For Every Broken Heart - Crowder (Lyrics) - YouTube Blessings and Shabbat Shalom in the Name of Yeshua Messiah! |
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