What Are You Believing?

Yahweh does not change!
Malachi 3: 6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

But you have believed Satan’s lie that He changed through His Son who came in the flesh in Y’shua/Jesus... but neither did He …nor does He change according to Hebrew 13: 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The law/Torah is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good. But you have believed Satan’s lie that it is bondage or that it was nailed to the cross. Just read Romans 7: 12 "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good". It can't be both bondage and holy.

Colossians 2: 14 says “the handwriting of ordinances that were against us were nailed to the cross and taken out of the way”. You erroneously believe that is referring to Yahwehs’ commands.
How can His commands be ‘bondage” or “against us” when Proverbs 6: 3 says this about His law, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

All of Psalms 119 is about loving and cherishing Yahweh's law and delighting in all of His counsel. How can it be anything but good for us? Would a God of love give us instructions that were too hard to bear or not for our good? Just what kind of Father do you believe He is?

Is it possible that Paul spoke of more than one "law" and maybe there was only "one" English word to use for translating all of them? That would certainly show that we have not been "rightly dividing the word of truth", would it not?

If Yahweh's commandments/ law is "the way of life" and Satan wishes to destroy your life, don't you think one of His plans would be to try and steal from you "the way of life"?
What better way to steal that from you than to convince you through a slick twisting of scriptures and what they really mean. Peter warned about the writings of Paul being twisted by those unlearned in the scriptures.

Many wrongly say that no one can obey all of Yahweh’s instructions but that’s just another lie from Satan. For it is the very death of our Messiah that is mocked with that proclamation. His commandments are His definition of love.

Y'shua's death is what sets us free from sin. And you are made free from the “law of sin and death” through the cross. That does not mean that you no longer have to worry about your sin, on the contrary,
Hebrew 10: 29 says, "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
His death has made it possible for you to be able to obey with a desire in your heart to do so. Read Jeremiah 31: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;
Do you not understand what it means to have His Torah written on your heart. That is the “new covenant”! It’s called grace. But again, you have believed the lie that grace gives you a license to throw out all the instructions that Yah gives and you can now make up your on standards for living. What did Paul have to say about that:
Romans 3:
31 Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.

Most try to claim someone is merely trying to “earn” their salvation when they speak of obeying Yahweh’s laws. Oh really? What did Y’shua/Jesus say about His commandments?
John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Most believe Y’shua/Jesus gave a “new” commandment, but they need to learn how to rightly divide the word because “HE” does not change it is the same from the beginning.
2 John
5 And now I ask you, Kuria, not as though I wrote a fresh command to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.; 6 And this is the love, that we walk according to His commands. This is the command, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

You say that it’s only a law of love now, but you need to understand that "that" very love is what was taught from the beginning.
Matthew 22:
37 And Yeshua said to him, “ ‘You shall love YaHWeH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the first and great command. 39 “And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”

Give it a good study and you will soon see that all of those instructions that you have allowed Satan to convince you to be bondage are the very instructions of our Father on how it is “HE” wants you to express that love….towards Him and your neighbor.

He has now made a way for it to be possible for you to obey those instructions but you are too busy trying to convince yourself and others of a lie instead of taking the time to “prove it” with the scriptures. 1 Thessallonians 5: 21 says, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil."

We are clearly told in scripture NOT to let anyone judge us in food or in Sabbaths or feast days except the "body of Messiah", ...but because of a lack of understanding and everyone just rehashing what someone else has taught, most of us believe that that verse tells us we can eat whatever we want and call any day a sabbath and disregard the appointed times of our Father Yahweh. They are erroneously called the "Jew's holidays". Maybe that's because they were the only ones who were keeping them. There again, the term "Jew" has been used to mean different things. When will we learn to rightly divide the word?

Now here is the one that really blows the mind:
Do you really think that those who are trying to show you that it is a good thing to obey Yah and to follow His instructions are the ones that are preaching “another gospel” or… are leading people down some wicked cultic path? Or maybe "they" are the ones scripture speaks of about "falling away in the last days". Really? If so, here is your logic: “Look at those people doing what the scriptures say…Look at those people following those “feast days of Yahweh”…look at those people who are “keeping His Sabbaths”….the nerve of them folks trying to be so obedient to the scriptures, which are the instructions from our Creator”.
???
Can you not see how wacked that view is?
Go and meditate on Psalms 119. Consider it diligently.



Do you really think that all those instructions in His Torah/law were given and all that blood was shed just so one day He could tell us that those things are “old” and passed away …that they no longer apply…and that somehow “you” are more special than all those just because you have some philosophical understanding and get a warm fuzzy feeling with the head knowledge of the Messiah" and now all you have to do is stay busy with "this worldly life" and call on Him when "you" need it, until He "snatches you away from the hard times ahead"? As though "you" are above being tried in the fire. That "rapture before tribulation", is just another lie.
Stop assuming that the first part of the bible is only about stoning people and bloody sacrifices. Was our heavenly Father not worthy of animals sacrificed in His honor or to glorify Him; Yet animals are slaughtered all the live long day for our gluttonous consumption without a second thought.
All of His words were given for our instruction and correction. His words are life. His commandments are how we determine what "sin" is.
We need a savior because we know that we have sinned when we understand what sin is after learning it in His word. If there is no more instructions as to what sin is, how then do you tell someone they need a savior?
And after we have met our redeemer in Y'shua Messiah and accepted His blood as our atonement it should be even more of a pleasure to obey our Father and apply all of His instructions to our life, not toss them out as though they are some burdensome bother that had us in bondage.

One of the biggest lies of all is to believe that it doesn't matter anymore. IT DOES matter. It's a blood covenant now. His blood is on all of our hands. He gave His life. No one took it. Don't let it be in vain for you.
Yahweh have mercy on us all.

Only Yahweh can open the eyes of the blind, so may it be that none of us will assume that we have it all figured out and have no further need to search out the riches that He has provided in His word.

Are you really sure that what you believe or what you've been "taught" is what Yahweh is saying in His Word? Just because "we" are sincere people does not mean it's impossible for us to be wrong. Are you believing the "Truth"? Or maybe just a twisted version of it?


We all need to learn how to rightly divide the word and prove all things!

Shalom my friends

To Choose Or Be Chosen

There is a boasting that goes on amongst those of "other religions". Of how peaceful it is and how in harmony they are with their "god state" etc. And how in harmony they are with the “earth”. How wonderful it is to just “be”. Etc, etc. etc. They are most boastful of the fact "they" are the ones that choose their own faith or religion.

This boasting is usually coupled with the ridicule of the scriptural Yahweh, the one “I” see as the One and Only Creator. The Only Mighty One. Those of other “faiths” will exclaim how it's so unhealthy and such a “negative” “religion” and such drudgery to follow Him. “They” proclaim one is dragged into it by fear, and only attracted to Yahweh by fear. They usually express their “knowledge” of Him as this blood thirsty people murdering god that “demands” your slave-like obedience with no mercy or eternal torment is your just reward.

They always seem to only know the twisted stories told and defined by the ones who falsely claim to walk with Him. Along with reverberating all of the horrific history associated with Yahweh, notwithstanding that that history was perpetuated by those who have no clue of who He is either. The same ones who claim a twisted and fabricated form of Him” as a “religion”.

Their steadfast analysis is that “they” know way more and that their hearts hold the keys to all that is right. So good riddince to this “evil god of the bible” who keeps them in bondage to rules and all sorts of travesties. And so off they go on their heartfelt religious journey. Singing the words of Bon Jovi no doubt with great resolution “...It's … my … life! ...”.

If I was so inclined my response to one would be:

First off, if you are not enjoying Yahweh Almighty with peace and a willing spirit you have not met Him with a spiritual kinship. Indeed the flesh is in total conflict with Him. He is Spirit. You do not know Him intimately enough to even claim any personal dealings with Him. Except maybe that which is likened to someone who just had head knowledge or impressions drawn from others and their fabricated experiences. There's plenty of them out there. But head knowledge does not equate to intimacy or “knowing” someone especially of the magnitude of the Almighty Yah.

There is a resistance from a very serious enemy of Yahweh that wants nothing more than to confuse, misrepresent and also make it look like one big ugly journey for those seeking or even those just observing.

He wants to steal all of the truth away or foul it up so no one will even desire to learn of it. He has a very good success rate going too.

And what of “those” in other religions and their “joyful” experiences? No pressures, bliss and peace , life is good and so on. Maybe they have it so easy because they do not have an enemy if they are already against Yahweh. What gain would this enemy get out of making one miserable who is already doing exactly what he desires, turning to other gods or other miscellaneous religions of faith. He's quite content with one worshiping any one or anything as long as it's not Yahweh. He doesn't care what you call it because He ultimately gets the glory. And glory is what he seeks and to be exalted above Yahweh.

Our whole lives, regardless of what you believe, is patterned after the concept of working “now” to receive great rewards “later”. Whether it's just “cooking” so you can eat. Or the weekly job so as to pay for the things you need and enjoy. Or investing in any lifelong goal , work harder and the rewards are bigger and brighter.

It is the same with Yahweh's will for us in this life. Because of the wayward heart of man and falling for the deception of that same enemy right from the beginning, the one that deceives through the weak flesh of man, the original plan was thwarted. But Yahweh, in His love, has provided a way that allows us to overcome that obstacle and look forward to the rewards that we work towards in the life to come. Even beyond those we already receive upon walking with Him now.

And those rewards we look forward to in Him will be without resistance and will last for all eternity.

I don't follow Yahweh because I “fear” Him. Well, to be fair maybe I did have a negative fear of Him before I learned the truth and the magnitude of love He has for me. And that He desires nothing but the best for me.

But now I have a reverential fear of Him just like any child has of their parents. My desire to follow Him and love Him comes from the fact that He loves me first. He provides for me. He teaches me and allows me to see things that others can never see outside of a relationship with Him.

I am saddened at so many who expect too much from a relationship with Him when they have only indulged in a relationship based on what “they” can get out of it. So many expect every single thing to be laid out on a platter with perfect understanding and all the blessings to boot with minimal time invested. And no compromising on their part. Isn't that the ruin of many relationships the world over?

But I will testify loudly, the more you invest the better it gets.

Yes, believing and following Yahweh and His instructions is so WAY contrary to the world. And is least accepted by the world. But, it's not the created world that it's contrary with. It's the world of man and all that “he” thinks is right. Whether by his “education” of the things in this world, or by his “heart”. Which is all heavily influenced and led by the god of this world. The very one who desires to destroy it and those in it. That same enemy of Yahweh and all who choose to follow Him. Scripture tells us that the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.

Scripture also says that the heart is wicked and deceitful above all things. We cannot follow our heart outside of the instructions given by Yahweh. If we do, we will eventually fall in a trap so cleverly laid by our enemy who seeks but to steal, kill and destroy. We will be deceived into believing that which is good is evil and that which is evil is good. And we would be none the wiser.

Like a child that is safe in the protection and comfort of loving parents, I'm quite content to abide in the safe comforting Spirit of Yahshua Messiah until He comes again. And for anyone that doesn't feel that safety with Him, well, they just don't know Him.

So to all those who boast of their own choosing and enjoy their “fit to style” religion, I'll stick with the one who chooses me.

Oh I still get to make the choice to accept His will or not. But if He is the Creator of all things, a loving Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and quite literally the source of the "fountain of youth", why wouldn't I?

Yahweh has called me out. I gladly follow. His word is a lamp to my feet. It's not too difficult at all to submit to perfect love. I am chosen and choose to be.

(Image from Wild Olive Tees)

Why, Why, Why!

Why does it bother "ME" when I take a stand for my walk and try to clean up around my trolling zone?

Why does it feel bad to "ME" for shining the light if it happens to fall on another and expose some of their deeds?

Why does it feel so rotten to "ME", when I'm sure "they" continue to justify their own actions as though "God" accepts what is outright purposeful sin because their understanding of His love is based on some philosophical mumbo jumbo, touchy feely mess that tolerates anything in this world for the sake of fitting in?

Why does it all bother "ME" if I feel I have rocked "their" boat?

Why does it feel at times that what I perceive to be meant by "guard your heart" in scripture, is so horrible to execute in this world? A world that I must live in till the end?

I fear sometimes that I'm complaining like those in the wilderness when they were thinking of how "good" they thought they had it in Egypt even though they were in bondage. They remembered how they had plenty of tasty food and other provisions. They remember how certain things were not even an issue in their daily lives.

I remember how "live and let live" was so easy. And following my own interpretation of "God" and his will was not that big a deal. Where "love" and "living right" was not really that big a deal. It was all about just live and love no matter what somebody thinks, believes are does.

I feel this, and yet know that where I am now and all that I have learned has brought me so much closer to where I long to be.

But I still ask...

Why does it have to seem so hard at times?

Why does it hurt "ME", if "I'm" on the right track?

Why?

The Strength of a Mother

In honor of Mothers day I would like to share an attribute I admire in my Mother.

She has a certain strength about her.

I'm not referring to what most would think of when thinking of strength in a Mother. Not that she doesn't have that but what I speak of is different.

The kind of strength I refer to is of a rare kind.

It's a strength that many would be too reluctant to even desire.

Mothers the world over are being honored today for all of the wonderful things they have done for their children. But this day and time too much of that is defined by the amount of "worldliness" that can be provided.

But what of the Mothers that are strong enough to go against the grain of the world?

Not having to "fit in" in every single way. Not needing that cookie cutter lifestyle that has been dubbed the "American Dream".

Many are waking up to the truth we have been blind to. Recognizing we have not been taught the faith that was once delivered to the saints. And instead of following the scriptures as intended, we have only been following the traditions of man all backed by a highly commercialized world that likes to convince us that we are mean or wicked if we don't let our children partake of it all.

So what of the Mothers who are strong enough to lay tradition aside and follow the truth? Those mothers that are willing to teach the truth to their children instead of a bunch of made up stories, which is only a nice way of saying lies, just to give a kid a thrill and "fit in" with the rest of the world. And that's probably more so the mother won't look bad to the others. The, "I" don't want "my" kid to be left out ... what would the rest of "my" family or "my" friends think of "me", kinda' reasoning? Who is it really for, the child or the parent?

What of the mothers who love their children enough to share the unpopular truth of the scriptures. No matter if the world does shun them and think they're strange are accusing them of robbing their children of some "worldly" fun?

I know all of my Mothers' children are grown now, but she is one that is seeing the truth and instead of trying to make up excuses to continue with the rest of the world and stay in that comfort zone, she has accepted the truth and is adjusting her life accordingly.

This is the kind of strength I'm speaking of. And I have to believe that if her children were still small that she would have done the same. Love us enough to tell the truth no matter how much it hurt or didn't "fit in" with what the majority would have done. That's what real love does. Real love chooses the best route for any occasion over what's expected or "right" in the eyes of the "world".

Strength enough to go against the grain of the popular ways of the world. Even some of the most favored traditions within a family can't topple this strength.

So many mothers have taken pride in giving their children all of the worldly frills, while many haven't given a second thought to the fact that truly "scriptural" people are not of this world no matter where they live. And they are rather about the business of learning and teaching their children the ways of another kingdom. The kingdom lifestyle of Yahweh.

In the end we see this kind of strength is really a result of love. However, not the kind of love that the world portrays. But a love that is built on truth.

This is exactly the kind of people Yahweh welcomes into His family when they are willing to choose His ways above the world. No matter how much it goes against the grain.

So, to all the moms out there that have committed to truth over traditions, I pray you will continue to be strengthened and increasing in the knowledge of the truth. And to those who have not yet crossed over, I pray your time has come.

I love you Mom. And so glad we are sisters in Yahshua.

Have a blessed day with much Shalom.

"Oh That They Had Such a Heart..."

Oh, that they had such a heart in them...” ( Deut. 5: 29 ) “

Jeremiah 31:

33 "I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people"

Yahshua died in our stead so that we would be able to hear and obey without it being a struggle. The only thing that has changed within the commandments since His death and resurrection is the Levitical Priesthood, the sacrificial system and the writing of the commandments from the tablets of stone to that of our hearts. Yahshua said He did not come to destroy the commandments. He taught a deeper understanding so that we could worship Yahweh not only in truth but in spirit as well. He makes it possible by giving us the same spirit that He walked in. That's putting on the righteousness of Messiah. Walking as He walked. Not saying “I believe” and then claiming you have nothing to do but sit back and wait for some made up “glory train” to come and wisk you away while continuing to live a sinful life.

The “saints” are NOT people who merely say a prayer or just believe. Revelation 14 tells us that “ 12 Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones,2 here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of יהושע. ( The Scriptures )

“12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” ( KJV )

“12 This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.” ( NET )

The commandments were never Moses' commandments or Moses' law, however Yahweh clearly used Moses as His mouthpiece to convey His commandments to the people.

Deuteronomy 5

1 And Mosheh called all Yisra’ĕl, and said to them, “Hear, O Yisra’ĕl, the laws and right-rulings which I speak in your hearing today. And you shall learn them, and guard to do them. 2 “יהוה our Elohim made a covenant with us in Ḥorĕḇ. 3 “יהוה did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. 4 “יהוה spoke with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. 5 “I stood between יהוה and you at that time, to declare to you the Word of יהוה – for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain – saying:

6 ‘I am יהוה your Elohim who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage.

7 ‘You have no other mighty ones against My face.

8 ‘You do not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, 9 you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה your Elohim, am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.

11 ‘You do not bring1 the Name of יהוה your Elohim to naught, for יהוה does not leave him unpunished who brings His Name to naught.

12 ‘Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, as יהוה your Elohim commanded you. 13 ‘Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath2 of יהוה your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, so that your male servant and your female servant rest as you do. 15 ‘And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Mitsrayim, and that יהוה your Elohim brought you out from there by a strong hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore יהוה your Elohim commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

16 ‘Respect your father and your mother, as יהוה your Elohim has commanded you, so that your days are prolonged, and so that it is well with you on the soil which יהוה your Elohim is giving you.

17 ‘You do not murder.

18 ‘You do not commit adultery.

19 ‘You do not steal.

20 ‘You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.

21 ‘You do not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor do you desire your neighbour’s house, his field, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbour.’

22 “These Words יהוה spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a loud voice, and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

23 “And it came to be, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders, 24 and said, ‘See, יהוה our Elohim has shown us His esteem and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. Today we have seen that Elohim speaks with man – and he lives! 25 ‘And now why should we die? For this great fire is consuming us. If we hear the voice of יהוה our Elohim any more, then we shall die. 26 ‘For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and does live? 27 ‘You go near and hear all that יהוה our Elohim says, and speak to us all that יהוה our Elohim says to you, and we shall hear and do it.

28 “And יהוה heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and יהוה said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. 29 ‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them, to fear Me and to guard all My commands always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever! 30 ‘Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 ‘But you, stand here by Me, and let Me speak to you all the commands, and the laws, and the right-rulings which you are to teach them. And they shall do them in the land which I am giving them to possess.’

32 “And you shall guard to do as יהוה your Elohim has commanded you – do not turn aside, to the right or to the left. 33 “Walk in all the way which יהוה your Elohim has commanded you, so that you live and it be well with you. And you shall prolong your days in the land which you possess.

Deuteronomy 6

1 “And this is the command, the laws and right-rulings which יהוה your Elohim has commanded, to teach you to do in the land which you are passing over to possess, 2 so that you fear יהוה your Elohim, to guard all His laws and His commands which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days be prolonged. 3 “And you shall hear, O Yisra’ĕl, and shall guard to do, that it might be well with you, and that you increase greatly as יהוה Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 “Hear, O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one! 5 “And you shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might. 6 “And these Words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart, 7 and you shall impress them upon your children, and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up, 8 and shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 “And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10 “And it shall be, when יהוה your Elohim brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya῾aqoḇ, to give you great and good cities which you did not build, 11 and houses filled with all kinds of goods, which you did not fill, and wells dug which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied 12 be on guard, lest you forget יהוה who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage. 13 “Fear יהוה your Elohim and serve Him, and swear by His Name.

14 “Do not go after other mighty ones, the mighty ones of the peoples who are all around you, 15 for יהוה your Elohim is a jealous Ěl in your midst, lest the displeasure of יהוה your Elohim burn against you, then He shall destroy you from the face of the earth.

16 “Do not try יהוה your Elohim as you tried Him in Massah. 17 “Diligently guard the commands of יהוה your Elohim, and His witnesses, and His laws which He has commanded you. 18 “And you shall do what is right and good in the eyes of יהוה, that it might be well with you, and you shall go in and possess the good land of which יהוה swore to your fathers, 19 to drive out all your enemies from before you, as יהוה has spoken.

20 “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the witnesses, and the laws, and the right-rulings which יהוה our Elohim has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Mitsrayim, and יהוה brought us out of Mitsrayim with a strong hand, 22 and יהוה sent signs and wonders, great and grievous, upon Mitsrayim, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes. 23 ‘And He brought us out from there, to bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. 24 ‘And יהוה commanded us to do all these laws, to fear יהוה our Elohim, for our good always, to keep us alive, as it is today. 25 ‘And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.’

Now,

Fast forward to when Messiah Yahshua comes on the scene to make a public announcement concerning His being here in the flesh at that time.

Matthew 5:
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. 18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. 19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens. "

We know He came to be the "lamb of Yahweh" to pay a penalty that we owe. But now that He's paid that penalty, for our disobedience of the commandments, do we continue to be disobedient? Does the "law", as it's called in some places, still apply?

And what did He mean by "fulfill" or "complete", depending on the translation? If He says He did not come to destroy the law, it's obvious that fulfill or complete does not mean to destroy either . He fulfilled that which He came to fulfill at that time. He clearly said that until heaven and earth passed the law would still stand. All of prophecy has yet to be fulfilled.

Obviously we have been taught twisted scripture that's making it sound like He was declaring everything was finished on the cross, but that just can't be because heaven and earth have not passed away yet. This is due to our not rightly dividing the word of truth and taking verses out of the context they are presented in.

Are the commandments no more applicable to us since Yahshua paid the price? Can we kill someone since Messiah didn't? Can we steal now since Messiah didn't? Certainly not! And neither can we pick and choose which commands we want to obey either. The new covenant, or more correctly called the renewed covenant, is supposed to be transferred to our hearts now instead of those tablets of stone. Not thrown out the window to leave our Fathers kingdom lawless.

We also misunderstand if we think anyone was ever "saved" by keeping the commandments. The commandments were not given to as a way of salvation. Grace from Yahweh is the only thing that saves us. Without His mercy and grace we are all doomed.

Because we trust that Yahshua paid a debt we owe does not give us a license to live contrary to the eternal word of Yahweh.

Here is what Paul states of the matter.

Romans 3: 31 "Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah."

Even though obeying the commandments does not completely save us we are still to follow them as obedient children of the Father. We are told that "if you love me, keep my commandments" in John.

Just because there is a "religion" out there that says "the law was done away", is no reason for us to be disobedient to the instructions Yahweh gives for His people to live set apart (holy) lives.

And just because there is a "religion" out there that has added a whole lot of unnecessary extra laws to Yahweh's original instructions doesn't mean that obeying His intended instructions are beyond our capabilities. But those "religions" are built on the traditions of "man" and not the Torah of Yahweh that He has given to His called out people.

If we would take some time to seek out His will for us as He intended, instead of counting on some "religious" figure to give us all the answers we might be surprised at how much Yahweh opens our eyes to the truths staring us in the face right there in His written word.

I have spent most of my life believing along with the majority. But now Yahweh has shown mercy on me and He's opening my eyes to many things that I once would have thought strange, or just plain wrong according to the way I had always believed, or the traditions that I had learned.
Now I celebrate His truth amongst a growing number, however humble, that is calling out and searching for the ancient paths, the faith once delivered to the saints.

Yahshua Messiah is the word made flesh. You can not have one without the other. If we lack understanding of worshiping Yahweh in spirit and truth, as He desires, maybe we have not yet learned how to "rightly divide the word of truth".

Where ever the hearts is, there you'll find your treasures. What is it that you treasure?

Our heart either belongs to the Eternal Father Yahweh, or it will vanish away with the ways of the world.

I pray you have such a heart as he desires.

Shalom my friend

In The World, Not of the World

What kind of folks do you look forward to hanging out with? What kind of things do they do?

What are their interests or hobbies in their idle time?

Who you "willfully" and idly hang out with and what you "tolerate" says a lot about your relationship and just how "set apart" or "holy" you really are.

We have to make proper choices when adjusting our lives to the will of Yahweh as the Holy Spirit leads. This includes even those we associate with in this life that we choose to associate with . This is not the
same as “being in the world”, as in associating with those we have to work with or those we
come into contact with while attending to our daily activities. But the ones we choose to be with in idle time.
Neither does this include family that we live with that are not of the same mind and heart.

This is what Paul said of the matter:

1 Corinthians 5: 9 “I wrote to you in my letter not to keep company with those who whore. 10 And I certainly did not mean with those of this world who whore, or with the greedy of gain, or swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.” 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone called ‘a brother,’ if he is one who whores, or greedy of gain, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one”

It's important enough that Paul references it to mean those who are considered

“brethren” that we should avoid. "Don't even eat with them" he says. I'm sure that implies a

chosen private setting such as the home or others outside of just regular public dining. It's a no compromise zone.

Surely it has some effect on us or maybe it's a witness against those who do those things. I would say both.

He goes on to say: 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But Elohim judges those who are outside. And put away the wicked one from among you!”

( that should be enough to show that the popular phrase “don't you judge me” has been misused to justify sin in many cases)

Again in 2 Thessolonians 6 But we command you, brothers, in the Name of our Master Yeshua Messiah, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly...”

But we should also be careful how we handle these situations as Paul notes here:

2 Thessolonians 3: 13 And you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, note that one, and do not keep company with him, so that he is put to shame. 15 However, do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

These matters should be handled with care.

We would want the same mercy shown to us if ever we strayed in our walk. Being kind is not

tolerating sin however. We stand against wrong behavior, showing that it will not be tolerated

as the world tolerates sin.

Making these kinds of choices does not imply that one thinks he is “better” per se' than another. It's about the influences that others have in your life and loving someone enough with “tough love” actions that say “I love you enough to do this even if you do get mad at me”.

We should take heed to the instructions given to us for the “working out our own salvation”

and establishing good habits and keeping company with others doing the same to help one another grow.

We, as people, tend to be more like chameleons than we realize. We will slowly take on the “color” or characteristics of those around us. Therefore we should surround ourselves with those of whom we choose to be like.

If we want to be godly people learning of the ways of our heavenly Father, we should choose

the company of like minded people.

However, choosing to be like the world doesn't really take much effort because it's already all

around us so we are admonished to “come out from among them”.

Bitter and sweet, light and dark, right and wrong just don't mix therefore

2 Corinthians 6: 14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya?al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore, “come out from among them and be separate, says Yahweh, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. 18 “And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says Yahweh the Almighty.

To take this admonition even further we should look at another area in our lives that many give much of their time to.

Entertainment.

Predominantly idle time spent in front of the Television. The eyes, ears and mouth of the world. And, the biggest advertising agency worldliness has. This also extends into the movie theaters along with the “games” our children play.

Are murdering, stealing, adultery, filthy language, etc, what we call "entertainment"? Fun?

Watching a good"movie/story" on television, or an all out event to a theater, with a message of

goodness prevailing in the end is great.

But to sit there and indulge in one that is loaded with evil suggestions, pornographic images

and the likes is another. We have allowed ourselves to be "entertained" by purely sinful

behavior. We should shun such images and words and not allow them into our homes much less

our minds. Instead of protecting and guarding our minds we make a conscience choice to feed on this stuff.

Would you choose to let an adulterous scene take place in your home? Or the making

of a porn film? You do when you turn on the television and tune into that show or movie that portrays that very thing. We can try and justify it away by saying “the story is what I'm looking at” or maybe if a scene was only a few seconds long we'll think no harm was done. We can come up with all sorts of excuses and ways to try and justify sin, but having it in “pretend” form on a screen doesn't make the behavior less sinful.

Remember, Yahshua told us that if we even think something like lusting after someone or being

angry in our hearts that it is sin. How much more if we partake of someone elses' imaginations

that they have hired people to act out?

There are better choices if we really must sit and feed on what's coming out of that box that we love to have entertain us.

“Imagine” if you will if we spent as much time praying for the lost, and seeking out the treasures

that our heavenly Father desires to share with us; That which is found in the place where He

desires to feed us from; His words, the scriptures; The window into His will, and His kingdom.

This is an area that we should consider diligently in our lives if we choose to be “set apart” unto

the will of Yahweh. Yahshua didn't give His life so that we could continue in sin in any form or fashion.

Being in the world is one thing. However, what you do and who you associate with, other than

necessity, is another. There is a difference.

While in the world we don't have to be of the world.

Shalom